Early stages of Margaritifera margaritifera glochidiosis in Atlantic salmon: Morphopathological characterization

Freshwater mussels of the order Unionida encyst into the fish mucosa to metamorphose and complete their life cycle, causing a parasitic disease known as glochidiosis. This parasitic stage represents a bottleneck for the survival of naiads, particularly for critically endangered species as Margaritifera margaritifera; however, little is known about the events occurring during this critical stage. Therefore, this study aimed to histologically characterize the development of M. margaritifera glochidiosis in Atlantic salmon to get insight into the pathogenesis of this interaction. Fish exposed to glochidia were sampled during the first 44 days post-exposure, and organs were observed by stereomicroscopy and light microscopy. Glochidia attached to the gills by pinching the lamellar epithelium, whereupon an acute proliferative branchitis engulfed most of the larvae. However, during the first 14 days, a severe detachment of unviable glochidia occurred, associated with the presence of pleomorphic inflammatory infiltrate and epithelial degeneration. In the cases where larvae remained attached, a chronification of the lesions with none to scarce inflammation was observed. These results provide key information to better understand the complex host–parasite interaction during the early stages of glochidiosis and provide valuable information to optimize artificial rearing of naiads in conservation of threatened freshwater mussel populations.     

Sorbent Materials Characterization Based on Mechanical or Thermal Pretreated Montmorillonite Modified by Surfactant Loading for Improved Chromium Retention

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - The treatment efficiency of Chlorella sorokiniana and Scenedesmus species, immobilized in sodium alginate, was evaluated for removing nitrate from groundwater....     

Characterization and Film-Forming Properties of Gelatins from Whitemouth Croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) Skin and Bones

The Whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri), due to its abundance, is considered one of the most traditional and important species fished in the coastal waters and estuaries of South America. The aim of this work was to produce biopolymeric films of gelatins obtained from skin and bones of Whitemouth croaker. The fish gelatins were characterized through the yield, chemical composition, physiochemical, and rheological properties. The films were characterized by tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EAB), water vapor permeability (WVP), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and optical properties. The values of protein yield, hydroxyproline content, gel strength, melting temperature, gelling temperature, and viscosity of the skin gelatin were higher than the values of the bone gelatin. The films obtained of skin gelatin showed all properties and thermal analysis superior in relation to the films of bone gelatin; this can be justified by the best physicochemical and rheological characteristics of the skin gelatin.     

Does full protection count for the maintenance of β‐diversity patterns in marine communities? Evidence from Mediterranean fish assemblages

1. Although it is widely recognized that protection may enhance size, abundance, and diversity of fish, its effect on spatial heterogeneity of fish assemblages and species turnover is still poorly understood.
2. Here the effect of full protection within a Mediterranean marine protected area on β‐diversity patterns of fish assemblages along a depth gradient comparing a no‐take zone with multiple unprotected areas is explored. The no‐take zone showed significantly higher synecological parameters, higher β‐diversity among depths, and lower small‐scale heterogeneity of fish assemblages relative to unprotected areas.
3. Such patterns might likely depend on the high level of fishing pressure outside the no‐take zone, as also abundance‐biomass curves seemed to indicate. Results suggested that full protection could play a role in maintaining high β‐diversity, thus reducing the fragility of marine communities and ecosystems, and spatial heterogeneity may represent a reliable predictor of how management actions could provide insurance against undesirable phase shifts.

     

Canine squamous cell carcinoma: Electrochemotherapy association with surgery and correlation with overall survival

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an important malignancy in dogs, due to its incidence and clinical presentation, which can be of locally aggressive single or multiple lesions with a metastatic potential. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate SCC response to treatment, anatomopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics, disease-free interval and overall survival time. 54 dogs with histopathologically diagnosed SCC were included in this study. Their mean age was 9.16 years with a range of 1–14 years. Of the 54 animals in the study, 34 (65.4%) had white skin and white fur coats. There was a significant correlation between fur coat colour and the development of tumours in areas of sun exposure (p = .001). Animals with tumours in areas of the body exposed to the sun had longer overall survival time than animals with tumours in areas not associated with sun exposure (p = .001). Surgery combined with electrochemotherapy (ECT) yielded a survival rate 32% higher than using a surgical approach alone (HR = 0.32, p = .038, IC = 0.11–0.94). ECT, with or without surgery, had an objective response rate of 90.9%. Local lymph node and/or distant site metastasis at diagnosis, or at some point during follow-up, occurred in 34.6% (18/52) of animals. Animals with tumours in sun exposed locations had more aggressive histopathological characteristics but had longer overall survival time. This is probably due to individualised therapeutic treatment with both surgery and ECT.     

Shedding light on the migratory patterns of the Amazonian goliath catfish,Brachyplatystoma platynemum,using otolith 87Sr/86Sr analyses

1. In the Amazon, migratory catfishes of the genus Brachyplatystoma are apex predators that are important for fisheries and conservation. The life cycle of Brachyplatystoma platynemum Boulenger, 1898 is poorly known, although it has been hypothesized to be very similar to that of Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii Castelnau, 1855, which uses the entire length of the Amazon basin to complete its life cycle (from the Andes to the estuary). This study provides the first data on the migratory patterns of B. platynemum at the individual level using otolith microchemistry.
2. In total, 94 individuals were sampled close to major breeding areas in the Amazon basin (78 fish from the middle and upper Madeira River and 14 fish from the upper Amazon), and their lifetime movements were assessed by measuring variations in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr along transverse sections of their otoliths (ear stones), using laser ablation multi‐collector mass spectrometry (LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS).
3. The migrations of B. platynemum are not as extensive as those of B. rousseauxii, and do not involve natal homing. Furthermore, the estuary is not a nursery area, at least for fish hatched in the Madeira. Nevertheless, B. platynemum migrates several thousand kilometres within the Amazon basin, with transboundary displacements between at least Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.
4. Current and planned hydroelectric development in the Amazon basin will severely disrupt both migration and access to breeding grounds, ultimately affecting the recruitment and population dynamics of these apex predators.
5. The conservation of B. platynemum is crucial for the stability of the Amazonian aquatic food webs. This requires building effective fish passage on the two existing Madeira dams and considering alternative options to the large‐scale hydropower development in the Amazon basin.

     

Climate‐induced vulnerability of fisheries in the Coral Triangle: Skipjack Tuna thermal spawning habitats

We investigated projected changes in sea surface temperature (SST) and the associated impacts on spawning habitat for skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) in the Coral Triangle region (CT). A multimodel aggregate of SST CMIP5 models for the CT region, based on a comprehensive skill validation assessment, was used to identify the five best performing of 36 models tested for inclusion in a regional multimodel ensemble. Monthly 1° SST multimodel aggregate projections for the CT region under RCP8.5 show that increases in SST, as high as 2.8°C (mean value), will likely occur by the end of this century. Using these estimates of SST change, we applied three parameterizations of skipjack tuna spawning temperatures to assess the potential for change in spawning habitat within the CT region. The three spawning temperature parameterizations were as follows: (a) a square‐wave function derived from catch data with boundaries at 26 and 30°C; (b) a symmetric Gaussian function derived from the SEAPODYM models; and (c) an asymmetric Gaussian function that modifies the SEAPODYM curve in (b) to include the results of relevant physiological experiments. All three parameterizations show similar geographic patterns, with the amount of favourable spawning habitat decreasing throughout the central, equatorial CT region and increasing at higher latitudes. However, the three parameterizations show marked differences in the modelled magnitude of change, with an asymmetric Gaussian function (ASGF) showing a regionwide average of 66.1% decline in favourable spawning habitat between 2015 and 2099. These projected changes in tuna spawning habitats are likely to have important consequences on local and regional fisheries management in the CT region.