Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) interaction with fish farms in the Gulf of Ambracia,western Greece

1. Marine aquaculture, and its fast-growing development, has the potential for wider environmental, ecosystem, and biodiversity impacts. This study assesses the impact of fish farming on a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population within the Gulf of Ambracia (western Greece) between 2007 and 2018. Two different study areas were defined in order to investigate differences on occurrence, abundance, behaviour, and seasonal fluctuations between them: a ‘control area’, in the north-western side of the Gulf; and a ‘fish farm area’, in the south west, where the highest density of fish farm cages is found.
2. A total of 169 daily surveys were dedicated to the control area and 74 days were dedicated to the fish farm area, yielding 104 and 37 sightings, respectively. Both the probability of detecting dolphins (U = 6,763.000, P = 0.002) and the group sizes (U = 578.000, P < 0.001) were smaller around fish farms.
3. Seasonality analyses were restricted to 2007–2008, as this was the period with year-round effort. Results revealed that dolphins were more frequently seen around fish farms in the winter (Kruskal–Wallis test, P = 0.036).
4. From the 40 identified individuals that were re-sighted at least 10 times during the study period, 21 used the fish farm area less than expected according to sampling effort, and 10 of them were never observed in that area (binomial test, P < 0.05).
5. The results revealed an impact of fish farms on the distribution of bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Ambracia. This information should be taken into consideration when defining ecosystem-based management measures within the management plan, which is currently in preparation for this Natura 2000 site.

     

Changes in the Solubility of Corn Proteins through Interaction with the Arabinoxylans in Extruded Nixtamalized Corn Flour Treated with Xylanase

The extrusion process allows the production of nixtamalized corn flour rich in arabinoxylans, which help to prevent cardiovascular and intestinal diseases. During extrusion, physiochemical properties of nixtamalized corn flour are negatively modified. The use of enzymes such as xylanase in order to obtain nixtamalized corn flour using extrusion has been studied as an alternative to reduce these changes in corn flour tortilla. The aim of this research was to evaluate changes in protein solubility of extruded nixtamalized corn flour with and without different concentrations of xylanase enzyme (0.05, 0.075, and 0.1 %, w/w). Soluble proteins of each corn flour were extracted and analyzed by SE-HPLC, while insoluble proteins were determined by the combustion method. In addition, each corn flour was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that the extruded nixtamalized corn flour, with and without xylanase, increased the protein solubility, and this effect was lower in extruded nixtamalized corn flour with xylanase. Insoluble protein diminished in corn flours either with or without xylanase enzyme. The addition of xylanase reduces the effect that the extrusion process has on the solubility proteins of extruded nixtamalized corn flour.     

Chronosequence of Technosols at the Peña Colorada mine in Colima,Mexico: a short-term remediation alternative

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The objective of this study was to examine the pedogenetic evolution occurring in technic hard materials from an iron mine through the characterization of a...     

Early development of the shortfin silverside Chirostoma humboldtianum (Valenciennes, 1835) (Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae)

The shortfin silverside Chirostoma humboldtianum has been considered for culture in Mexico, but success has been limited by a poor knowledge of its early development. First synthesis of the early development of the shortfin silverside is presented to determine conditions suitable for rearing. Brooder maturation was induced through photothermal cycles. C. humboldtianum ova were fertilized in vitro. The eggs were incubated in reconstituted water (160-180 mg/L CaCO₃) at 18 °C and 5 gm of NaCl per litre. During the hatching day, 300 shortfin silversides were stocked and followed up until metamorphosis in order to establish the timing of exogenous feeding, changes in food type, growth and development during critical periods for survival, according to the theory of saltatory ontogeny. Free embryos hatched 12 days after fertilization at 18 °C. First critical point for survival is the beginning of exogenous feeding. Free embryos started mixed feeding on day four of post-hatching (dph), point of no-return was presented towards the end of mixed feeding on 6 dph, larval period began at six (dph) when the anus is opened, and metamorphosis to juvenile was presented at 65 dph with a SL of 19.34 ± 2.28 mm, when scales and fins were well developed. Differences in growth between periods were detected: free embryos growth slower than larvae but mouth size depicted a larger growth rate in the former. Cephalic length and mouth size were negatively related to standard length in embryos and larvae. Mouth size was positively related to cephalic length in free embryos but negative in larvae. Results suggest that during the free embryo phase, growth priorities are directed to the development of apparatuses and systems; whereas, during the larval period, energy is directed to growth in length, mouth size and development of fins, which allows them to increase their swimming velocity, grants them a greater capacity to obtain exogenous food and, in consequence, increases fitness for survival.     

Indirect host effect on ectomycorrhizal fungi: Leaf fall and litter quality explain changes in fungal communities on the roots of co-occurring Mediterranean oaks

Host trees can modify their soil abiotic conditions through their leaf fall quality which in turn may influence the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal community composition. We investigated this indirect interaction using a causal modelling approach. We identified ECM fungi on the roots of two coexisting oak species growing in two forests in southern Spain - Quercus suber (evergreen) and Quercus canariensis (winter deciduous)-using a PCR-based molecular method. We also analysed the leaf fall, litter and soil sampled beneath the tree canopies to determine the concentrations of key nutrients. The total mycorrhizal pool was comprised of 69 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Tomentella and Russula were the most species-rich, frequent and abundant genera. ECM fungi with epigeous and resupinate fruiting bodies were found in 60% and 34% of the identified mycorrhizas, respectively. The calcium content of litter, which was significantly higher beneath the winter-deciduous oak species due to differences in leaf fall quality, was the most important variable for explaining ECM species distribution. The evaluation of alternative causal models by the d-sep method revealed that only those considering indirect leaf fall-mediated host effects statistically matched the observed covariation patterns between host, environment (litter, topsoil, subsoil) and fungal community variables.     

Evaluating Binary Sorption of Phenol/Aniline fromAqueous Solutions onto Granular Activated Carbon and Hypercrosslinked Polymeric Resin (MN200)

Sorption equilibrium of phenol and aniline onto the granular activated carbon and hyperreticulated un-functionalized polymeric resin (MN200) was investigated in single and binary component aqueous systems. Higher loading was obtained for aniline than phenol onto both sorbents, which is probably due to hydrophobic difference between both solutes and the greater electronic density of the aromatic ring of the aniline. Granular activated carbon reported larger uptake than resin MN200 for both solutes, which may be attributed to the better physical properties of the granular activated carbon, for instance, larger surface area. The experimental sorption could be properly described by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Five models for predicting the binary equilibrium sorption isotherm were compared in order to determine the best fit model to correlate binary experimental data: the extended Langmuir isotherm with and without a constant interaction factor, a simplified model based on the single equilibrium factors, the empirical extended Freundlich isotherm and the modified extended Langmuir equation, which considers the synergistic interactions between sorbate–sorbate and not only the competition between them defined by the extended Langmuir model. The modified extended Langmuir model provides the best agreement between predicted and experimental data indicating that the synergistic interactions between solutes play an important role in the binary phenol/aniline sorption system.     

Immune response of BALB/c mouse immunized with recombinant MSPs proteins of Anaplasma marginale binding to immunostimulant complex (ISCOM)

Anaplasmosis, caused by Anaplasma marginale, results in significant economic losses of cattle in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Six major surface proteins (MSPs) were well characterized and designated as MSP1, MSP2, MSP3, MSP4, and MSP5. The objective of this study was to evaluate the humoral immune response of BALB/c mice against the recombinant MSPs, incorporated into immunostimulating complex (ISCOM). The recombinant proteins purified by Ni-NTA columns were incorporated into ISCOM and ISCOMATRIX by the lipid film hydration method. BALB/c mice immunized with ISCOM/rMSPs and ISCOMATRIX/rMSPs vaccines produced whole IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a, in contrast to the negative groups (PBS and ISCOMATRIX adjuvant). All groups that received antigen responded specifically against the rMSPs by Western blotting, showing the rMSP1a (60-105kDa), rMSP1b (100kDa), rMSP4 (47kDa), and rMSP5 (29kDa). Additional studies will have to be performed in cattle to evaluate the humoral and cellular mechanisms of this subunit vaccine and their possible use as protective vaccines against homologous and heterologous strains of A. marginale.     

Direct and indirect detection of 2n eggs in hybrid diploid families derived from haploid tbr × wild species crosses

The analytic-synthetic scheme makes use of haploidization and 2n gametes-mediated sexual polyploidization to incorporate genetic diversity from wild related species in potato breeding. Whereas 2n pollen can be directly screened by microscopy, 2n eggs are routinely screened indirectly by interploid crosses, a time-consuming and inaccurate technique. In five haploid tbr × wild diploid species families with variability for agronomic characters, 2n eggs were screened indirectly to incorporate this germplasm into a useful form and directly by microscopy to establish the feasibility of this approach. For the indirect screening, at least 15 flowers of each of 49 genotypes/family were crossed with a commercial cultivar. Eighty-five fruits were produced; only 15 of them had seeds (1–25). Chromosome numbers were determined in a random sample of five seeds/fruit, resulting diploid in two genotypic combinations and tetraploid in another two. For the direct screening, eight combinations of staining and destaining (times and concentrations) were evaluated in detached ovules to adjust a clarification technique. The best combination was one day of staining and one day of destaining in 0.5 % acetic acid. In an indirectly detected diplogynoid, the average diameters of the central cell nuclei (CCN) and nucleoli (CCNu) were, respectively, 9.3 μ and 3.4 μ. Gametophytes with diametres 1.26 times the average were considered 2n. By crosses, eleven seeds were obtained in one fruit of this clone whereas the 2n egg frequency determined by microscopy was 7%. The direct technique is easy to carry out once the eye is trained and its results better reflect actual 2n gamete frequencies.     

Recurrent selection in autogamous species under forced random mating

Summary Artificial selection in autogamous species is investigated applying standard algebraic techniques to conventional self-pollinating breeding systems as well as to recurrent cross-pollinating ones for both one and two-locus models. More than two loci are considered by means of computer simulations. Allelic and non-allelic genotypic interactions as well as genes with a large effect are considered whenever possible. The overall picture shows a clear superiority of recurrent selection systems over self-pollinating breeding systems when negative linkage disequilibrium is either present or generated as is expected in actual breeding populations. When epistatic interaction enhances the selective advantage of new recombinants the superiority of recurrent selection is even greater.     

RAPD genetic diversity of Albanian olive germplasm and its relationships with other Mediterranean countries

RAPD markers were used for the study of 19Albanian olive cultivars and two wild olives (oleasters). A total of 76polymorphic bands (4.8 polymorphic markers per primer) out of 107 reproducible were obtained using 16 primers. The number of bands per primer ranged from 4 to 10,whereas the number of polymorphic bands ranged from 1 to 9, corresponding to 71%of the total amplification products. All the accessions could be identified by the combination of four primers: OPA-19;OPA-02; OPK-16 and OPP-19. The dendrogram,based on Jaccard's index, included three major groups according to their origin: 1)most of the cultivars from the area of Berat (South of Albania) 2) cultivars from the Centre and Centre-North of Albania and3) cultivars from the Centre and North-West of Albania along with the oleaster from Elbasan. In order to evaluate the origin of Albanian cultivars they were compared to those diffused in other countries like Greece, Italy and Turkey, due to geographical and historical affinity among these countries, by using a one way AMOVA. Although most of the genetic diversity was attributable to differences among cultivars within each country (91.47%) significantφ-values among countries(φ_st = 0.085; p < 0.001)suggested the existence of RAPD phenotypic differentiation. Significant φ-values in all pairs formed by Albania with the other countries were observed. These results are consistent with the autochthonous origin of Albanian cultivars. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.