Reserve effect of a small North-East Atlantic marine protected area (Arrábida,Portugal) on soft-sediment fish species

1. The implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs) has been widely used as a tool to manage and conserve marine resources and services. Yet, to date, the reserve effect is still weakly evaluated, particularly for soft-sediment habitats.
2. The Arrábida MPA, considered as a biodiversity hotspot, was fully established in 2009 on the west coast of Portugal and is characterized by large expanses of soft-sediment habitats. This MPA was established to protect biodiversity and to ensure the livelihood of the local small-scale fisheries community.
3. Beyond before–after-control–impact (BACI) analyses were carried out on catch data (abundance and biomass) of 351 trammel net sets from experimental fishing campaigns (2007–2019) to study the reserve effect on demersal fish populations.
4. The results show a declining trend in abundance inside and outside the protected area, with significant positive effects only found for undersize commercial species and Solea senegalensis, and a general increase in fish species total length. Despite the lack of any obvious reserve effect, the increase in fish length can be considered as a first sign.
5. Anthropogenic pressures are generalized around the area, and transgressions of the restrictions are frequently observed inside the no-take zone. These can, among other aspects, delay or prevent the expected reserve effects. Therefore, enforcement and/or modification of the spatial plan must be incentivized to achieve the goals of the MPA.

     

The Effect of a Growth Retardant Compound (B4) on Phaseolus Beans

When the growth retardant B₄ was applied to Phaseolus beans at the primary leaf stage or at one week before flowering, a temporary dwarfing effect occurred and less total vegetative growth was produced. Although these pre-flowering treatments delayed the production of peak pod numbers, no effect on final seed yield occurred. In contrast, an application of B₄ during the early pod-fill stage gave a less marked reduction in vegetative tissue, but increased seed yield by 16%. It is suggested that this extra yield may have resulted from a reduction in pod shading by leaves which enabled a greater direct contribution to seed yield from pod photosynthesis. Alternatively, a restriction in growth of new leaves may have given a greater transfer of assimilate to the pods from older leaves.     

Pharmacokinetics of a single intravenous dose of marbofloxacin in adult donkeys

Six donkeys each received 2 mg/kg marbofloxacin as a 10 per cent aqueous solution administered intravenously. Principal pharmacokinetic parameters were determined and two efficacy indices were computed by using pharmacokinetic parameters and selected mic90 values of marbofloxacin against pathogenic equine strains to predict the efficacy of the drug at this dose. The pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin in donkeys was characterised by a large mean volume of distribution at a steady state (1.15 [0.09] l/kg) and a long mean (sd) elimination half-life of 9.24 (1.96) hours. It was also characterised by a relatively slow total body clearance of 0.10 (0.02) l/kg/hour, slower than in horses. Using mic90 values of marbofloxacin against pathogenic equine strains with a daily dose of 2 mg/kg, appropriate values of efficacy indicators were obtained only for Enterobacteriaceae. Daily intravenous doses of 0.33, 2.62 and 20 mg/kg were calculated for evaluation in clinical trials of infections due to Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococci, respectively.     

Fumonisin B-glucose reaction products are less toxic when fed to swine

The effects of fumonisin B-glucose reaction products in swine diets was examined. Pigs were fed diets containing 528 micromol of total fumonisin B/kg (FB), 528 micromol of total FB-glucose adducts/kg (FB-G, 122 micromol of unreacted FB/kg), or 0 micromol of total FB/kg for 15 days to test the efficacy of the FB-G reaction products in detoxifying FB. Weight gain in FB pigs was lower than in FB-G or controls, which was correlated with feed intake reduction in FB pigs. Serum aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and total bilirubin in FB pigs were higher than in FB-G or control pigs. Serum sphinganine/shingosine ratios in FB pigs were higher than in FB-G or control pigs. Microscopic examination of tissues from FB pigs showed generalized liver necrosis and apoptosis with marked cellular pleomorphism and disorganized hepatic cords. The liver and kidneys in the FB-G group appeared to be normal. Tissues of controls were free of lesions. Results suggest that dietary FB-G products are less toxic to swine and may provide an detoxification approach in instances of widespread FB grain contamination (p < 0.05).     

Pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis: regulatory control during transformation of lymphocytes in vitro

The incorporation of uridine into RNA in lymphocytes undergoing transformation induced by phytohemagglutinin parallels its incorporation into the intratcellular pool of acid-soluble nucleotides and coincides with a 20-fold increase in the specific activity of uridine kinase. This increase is dependent upon synthesis of both RNA and protein and is subject to both repression and end-product inhibition by cytidine.