The impact of publication on freshwater pearl mussel conservation: To conceal or to reveal the location of threatened habitats?

• 1. The freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera, is a threatened species. One of the threats faced by this species is direct extermination by poachers, and therefore some researchers conceal information on the locations of pearl mussel habitats. For example, some researchers do not publish the names of the rivers where pearl mussels occur, whereas other researchers do.
• 2. Concealing the names of rivers containing pearl mussels makes them unknown not only to potential offenders but also to administrators, nature conservation practitioners, and ordinary citizens. As a result, no protection measures are undertaken, which is all the more regrettable as damage to pearl mussel habitats can occur accidentally.
• 3. Concealing details of the location of pearl mussel habitats in publications has an adverse impact on the work of specialists, as they do not have access to enough information to study and analyse the biology and distribution of these molluscs.
• 4. One river with pearl mussels in the Gulf of Finland was initially described anonymously (as ‘River B’). Unfortunately, the river was subject to severe human impact, and the largest aggregation of pearl mussels was almost exterminated in the process of constructing a new electric supply line.
• 5. Concealing information on pearl mussel habitats in the Russian section of the Baltic Sea basin was also shown to have been a poor decision. Although the threat from potential poachers was insignificant because of the low commercial value of pearl mussels, the authorities remained uninformed about the existence of valuable habitats.
• 6. The question of whether the locations of pearl mussel habitats should be concealed or revealed in scientific publications does not have an unambiguous answer and should be considered on a case‐to‐case basis; however, the cases for which disclosure is reasonable seem to be more numerous.

     

Rediscovery of the largest population of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in the Leningrad oblast (north‐west Russia)

• 1. An internationally important population of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) was rediscovered in a small river in north‐west Russia.
• 2. A survey of visible mussels in 2008/2009 indicated an estimated population of 40 000 individuals. This is the largest population currently known in the Leningrad oblast and is comparable with the entire pearl mussel population of some western European countries.
• 3. The average density of visible mussels was 29.6 individuals m^?2 in the middle part of the river. In the four largest mussel beds maximum densities of 1000+ individuals m^?2 were recorded. Such densities are exceptional and have not been reported elsewhere in Europe during the last 100 years.
• 4. Live juvenile mussels were recorded, indicating that that this population is viable, although further investigation is required to establish its status.
• 5. Analysis of the population age structure, based on the measurement of empty shells, showed an age class distribution similar to those reported for other healthy Margaritifera populations.
• 6. Only two live juveniles were found. However, this is likely to be due to the survey being restricted to counts of visible mussels only, and the age structure being based on the analysis of dead shells.
• 7. The population's current status and possible reasons for its survival in this river are discussed. Conservation measures should include the construction of a fish ladder to make fish migration through the culvert possible, removal of a metal screen preventing fish migration from the upper reaches of the river to the lake, reduction of recreation activities, and providing the local children's camp with water treatment facilities. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

The biological correction of agro-photosynthesis of soil plant productivity

Abstract

The monograph examines the main ways to correct the productivity of agricultural crops, the component composition of soil organic matter, the morphological classification of humus, the agro-ecological and trophic functions of soil organic matter. Attention is paid to the environmental aspect of soil fertility and the fundamentals of the functioning of the soil—plant system. The effect of non-root treatment of plants with solutions of humic substances on the physiology and biochemistry of plants is described. The main directions of the effective solution of problems arising from adaptive intensification of the production process of agricultural crops in agro-landscape farming are substantiated. The monograph is intended for specialists in the field of agronomy, agro-chemistry, crop production, soil science, agro-ecology, as well as for graduate students and students of higher and secondary special educational institutions of these specializations.     

Four New Sulfated Polar Steroids from the Far Eastern Starfish Leptasterias ochotensis: Structures and Activities

Three new sulfated steroid monoglycosides, leptaochotensosides A–C (1–3), and a new sulfated polyhydroxylated steroid (4) were isolated from the alcoholic extract of the Far Eastern starfish Leptasterias ochotensis. The structures of compounds 1–4 were established by extensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS) analyses and chemical transformations. Although the isolated compounds did not show any apparent cytotoxicity against melanoma RPMI-7951 and breast cancer T-47D cell lines, leptaochotensoside A (1) demonstrated inhibition of T-47D cell colony formation in a soft agar clonogenic assay at nontoxic doses. In addition, this compound decreased the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced colony formation of mouse epidermal JB6 Cl41 cells. The cancer preventive action of 1 is realized through regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway.