Beyond marine paper parks? Regulation theory to assess and address environmental non‐compliance

1. Many marine protected areas (MPAs) around the world are ‘paper parks’. A key factor contributing to their ineffectiveness is non‐compliance with the rules in place. 2. This paper contributes to the existing academic discussion on ‘paper parks’ by drawing on critical regulation scholarship to develop a theoretical framework to assess and address compliance gaps in MPAs. 3. The theoretical insights are then explored using a case study of the second largest Italian MPA (the ‘Penisola del Sinis‐Isola di Mal di Ventre’), employing a multidisciplinary perspective built on both biological and socio‐legal expertise. 4. The biological study consists of a review including existing unpublished data on biological resources in the MPA coupled with new analyses on the effects of sea urchin harvesting restrictions. The socio‐legal research consists of the analysis of primary qualitative research in the form of semi‐structured interviews conducted with key stakeholders at the local and regional level in 2014, followed by two workshops (one with stakeholders and one with the general public) in 2015 to discuss the research findings collectively. 5. The results show that the Sinis MPA is not achieving its conservation goals, primarily because of actors' non‐compliance with the rules. The interviews with key stakeholders reveal a number of interlinked social, normative and calculative motivations at the basis of non‐compliance. Policy solutions are then offered. 6. This study offers a novel analysis on ‘paper parks’ that may be applicable to other MPAs experiencing similar compliance issues. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of stocking density on reared Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) larval growth,muscle development and fatty acids composition in a recirculating aquaculture system

This study evaluated the effects of rearing density on muscle growth and development in Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii) larvae. Three different stocking densities were tested: low (LD, 30 larvae/l), mid (MD, 80 larvae/l) and high (HD, 150 larvae/l) in a recirculating aquaculture system. Larvae were sampled at hatching (T0), schooling (T1) and complete yolk‐sac absorption (T2) stage and were weighed and processed for muscle tissue histometrical analyses and for qualitative morphological study analyses; fatty acid profile was also determined by Gas Chromatography—Flame Ionization Detector analysis. Low‐density larvae presented a higher weight than MD or HD at T2 (p < 0.05). Histometrical analysis revealed that total muscle area was similar at T1 and T2, but higher than T0, while it was lower at HD at schooling (p < 0.05). The fatty acid profile revealed no differences between densities while, during development, there was a selective consumption: sparing or increasing of essential fatty acids to the detriment of their precursors. Our study suggests that lower densities appear to be more suitable to rear Siberian sturgeon in this particular stage of development. Indeed, larvae reared at the lower density were heavier and longer while larvae reared at the higher density showed lower muscle proliferation rate. As a consequence, LD larvae may exert an increase of potential growth at a mid‐long term.     

Isoprenoid, lipid, and protein contents in intact plastids isolated from mesocarp cells of traditional and high-pigment tomato cultivars at different ripening stages

This study reports quali-quantitative analyses on isoprenoids, phospholipids, neutral lipids, phytosterols, and proteins in purified plastids isolated from fresh fruits of traditional (Donald and Incas) and high-pigment (Kalvert and HLY-18) tomato cultivars at four ripening stages. In all of the investigated cultivars, lycopene, β-catotene, lutein, and total carotenoids varied significantly during ripening. Chromoplasts of red-ripe tomato fruits of high-pigment cultivars accumulated twice as much as lycopene (307.6 and 319.2 μg/mg of plastid proteins in Kalvert and HLY-18, respectively) than ordinary cultivars (178.6 and 151.7 μg/mg of plastid proteins in Donald and Incas, respectively); differences in chlorophyll and α-tocopherol contents were also evidenced. Phospholipids and phytosterols increased during ripening, whereas triglycerides showed a general decrease. Regardless of the stage of ripening, palmitic acid was the major fatty acid in all cultivars (ranging from 35 to 52% of the total fatty acids), followed by stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and myristic acids, but their relative percentage was affected by ripening. Most of the bands detected on the SDS-PAGEs of plastid proteins were constantly present during chloroplast-to-chromoplast conversion, some others disappeared, and only one, with a molecular weight of ~41.6 kDa, was found to increase in intensity.     

Development of genomic predictions for Angus cattle in Brazil incorporating genotypes from related American sires

Genomic prediction has become the new standard for genetic improvement programs, and currently, there is a desire to implement this technology for the evaluation of Angus cattle in Brazil. Thus, the main objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of evaluating young Brazilian Angus (BA) bulls and heifers for 12 routinely recorded traits using single-step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP) with and without genotypes from American Angus (AA) sires. The second objective was to obtain estimates of effective population size (N_e) and linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the Brazilian Angus population. The dataset contained phenotypic information for up to 277,661 animals belonging to the Promebo breeding program, pedigree for 362,900, of which 1,386 were genotyped for 50k, 77k, and 150k single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panels. After imputation and quality control, 61,666 SNPs were available for the analyses. In addition, genotypes from 332 American Angus (AA) sires widely used in Brazil were retrieved from the AA Association database to be used for genomic predictions. Bivariate animal models were used to estimate variance components, traditional EBV, and genomic EBV (GEBV). Validation was carried out with the linear regression method (LR) using young-genotyped animals born between 2013 and 2015 without phenotypes in the reduced dataset and with records in the complete dataset. Validation animals were further split into progeny of BA and AA sires to evaluate if their progenies would benefit by including genotypes from AA sires. The N_e was 254 based on pedigree and 197 based on LD, and the average LD (±SD) and distance between adjacent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across all chromosomes were 0.27 (±0.27) and 40743.68 bp, respectively. Prediction accuracies with ssGBLUP outperformed BLUP for all traits, improving accuracies by, on average, 16% for BA young bulls and heifers. The GEBV prediction accuracies ranged from 0.37 (total maternal for weaning weight and tick count) to 0.54 (yearling precocity) across all traits, and dispersion (LR coefficients) fluctuated between 0.92 and 1.06. Inclusion of genotyped sires from the AA improved GEBV accuracies by 2%, on average, compared to using only the BA reference population. Our study indicated that genomic information could help us to improve GEBV accuracies and hence genetic progress in the Brazilian Angus population. The inclusion of genotypes from American Angus sires heavily used in Brazil just marginally increased the GEBV accuracies for selection candidates.     

Influence of Marolo (Annona crassiflora Mart.) Pulp Intake on the Modulation of Mutagenic/Antimutagenic Processes and Its Action on Oxidative Stress In Vivo

Brazilian savanna constitutes a valuable ecoregion that contributes to the supply of fruit known worldwide for its nutritional value and peculiar flavors. Among them, the Marolo (Annona crassiflora Mart.) fruit is known for its use in folk medicine. In order to establish the safety of Marolo for human consumption, this study evaluated the following: the chemical composition of Marolo pulp; its mutagenic and antimutagenic activities using micronucleus test; and the oxidative stress induced in the livers of mice fed a diet containing 1%, 10% or 20% pulp. It was observed that the chemical composition of marolo pulp was similar to that of common fruit; nevertheless, its lipidic content and energetic values were higher. In the mice fed experimental diets, the biochemical parameters of the blood serum showed normal levels of glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol. The micronucleus test indicated neither mutagenic nor antimutagenic effects of Marolo consumption on bone marrow cells but showed potentialization of cyclophosphamide (CP). The oxidative stress levels observed indicated that CP was not exerting a great influence on the induction of reactive oxygen species. As the whole fruit is a complex matrix, the interactions between its components could be responsible for its negative and positive biological effects.     

Prevalence of Demodex canis‐positive healthy dogs at trichoscopic examination

Demodex canis is thought to be present in small numbers in the skin of most healthy dogs; however, available data on the prevalence of normal dogs harbouring D. canis are scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate, using microscopic examination of plucked hairs, the prevalence of healthy dogs harbouring D. canis. Seventy‐eight clinically healthy dogs with no history of dermatological problems and clinically normal skin and hair coat were included in the study. Five areas (perioral skin 2–3mm from both labial commissures, periungual skin of the third digit of both anterior paws and chin) were examined in each dog. Fifty to sixty hairs were plucked from each skin site and microscopically examined. No D. canis mites were observed and only one adult form of Demodex injai was found in the labial commissure of one dog. Based on these results, the estimated prevalence of healthy dogs harbouring D. canis in clinically normal skin should not exceed the threshold of 5.4%, with 95% confidence level. Considering our and previous findings, we propose that, although small numbers of D. canis might inhabit the skin of normal dogs, the probability of finding these mites in normal dogs is low. Consequently, in most cases, the presence of a D. canis mite in the skin should not be considered as indicative of normality.     

In vitro establishment of shoot meristems of Ilex paraguariensis and identification of endophytic bacteria

Yerba mate(Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil.)is a species of great economic,social and environmental importance for the southern regions of Brazil,Uruguay and Argentina.Currently the most diverse products are obtained from mate leaves,including mate tea.The objective of this study was to establish shoot meristem cultures(meristematic dome and a few primordia)of elite clones and identify the endophytic bacteria present in the explants.We tested the effect of clones(F1,F2,A03 and A07),culture media(MS,1/2MS,1/4MS and WPM),cytokinins(kinetin,BA and 2iP),activated charcoal(1,2 and 3 g L^-1),and disinfecting agent(sodium hypochlorite and mercuric chloride)on in vitro establishment.F1 and F2 clones were the most responsive for shoot meristem in vitro culture.WPM medium supplemented with 8.8 lM 2iP,0.2 lM NAA and 3 g L^-1 activated charcoal was the most suitable for the in vitro establishment of the F1 clone.No phytotoxic effect of the disinfectant was observed and some meristems sprouted.The isolated endophytic bacterium was identified for the first time in yerba mate as Agrobacterium larrymoorei.To conclude,we were able to establish in vitro culture of yerba mate using meristems as explants but the tissues were not free of endophytic microorganisms which could interfere with explant response.