Aerial surveying of the world’s largest leatherback turtle rookery: A more effective methodology for large-scale monitoring

For many marine megavertebrate species it is challenging to derive population estimates and knowledge on habitat use needed to inform conservation planning. For marine turtles, the logistics required to undertake comprehensive ground-based censuses, across wide spatial and temporal scales, are often insurmountable. This frequently leads to an approach where a limited number of index nesting beaches are monitored in great detail by foot. In this study we use nationwide aerial surveying interfaced with ground assessments across three seasons of leatherback turtle nesting in Gabon (Equatorial West Africa), highlighting the importance of a synoptic approach to marine turtle monitoring. These surveys allow the first complete population assessment of this nesting aggregation to be made, identifying it as the world’s largest for the species (36,185-126,480 clutches, approximating to 5865-20,499 breeding females per annum and a total estimate of 15,730 to 41,373 breeding females). Our approach also serendipitously provides insights into the spatial appropriateness of Gabon’s protected areas network, for example (mean ± 1SD) 79 ± 6% (range 67-86%) of leatherback turtle activities recorded during aerial surveys (n = 8) occurred within protected areas (345 km, 58%, of surveyed coastline). We identify and discuss sources of potential error in estimating total nesting effort from aerial surveying techniques and show that interannual variation in nesting is considerable, which has implications for the detection of statistically significant changes in population size. Despite its relative costliness per day, aerial surveying can play an important role in providing estimates of relative population abundance of large vertebrates dispersed over extensive areas. Furthermore, it can provide data on habitat use and deliver real-time information on the spatial efficacy of protected area networks.     

Ecotoxicological characterization of sediment cores from the western Baltic Sea (Mecklenburg Bight) using GC–MS and in vitro biotests

Background, aim, and scope

The Mecklenburg Bight (Western Baltic Sea) near Luebeck, Germany was historically used to dump industrial waste at sea and, thus, sediments in some regions are highly polluted at present. While earlier studies identified hot spots of chemical pollution, little is known about biological activities and impacts on exposed marine organisms. This study aimed to assess the pollution in the Mecklenburg Bight to determine the degree of contamination with sediment-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as well as biological activities.

Materials and methods

Sediment cores with a depth of 30 cm were sampled at a dumping site and at a reference site, sliced in distinct layers, freeze-dried, and processed using the accelerated solvent extraction method. Sediment was characterized measuring total organic carbon (TOC) and soot contents. Concentrations of the 16 EPA-PAHs were determined with chemical analysis (gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy) in each sediment slice and referred to the determined TOC content. Further on, in vitro biotests were applied to determine toxic effects of contaminants in the sediment. The acute neutral red retention assay indicated no specific cytotoxic effects. Arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated activities were measured using the mechanism-specific 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase induction assay. Both biotests were performed with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver cells (RTL-W1). Analyzed compound concentrations and biological activities were given in toxicological equivalent concentrations (chem- and bio-TEQs) to determine shares of analyzed EPA-PAHs to the overall activity.

Results

TOC and soot contents indicated a significant alteration through the sediment core at the dumping site. EPA-PAH concentrations were referred to TOC and indicated elevated concentrations at the dumping site. Maximum PAH concentrations (14 to 16 cm depth; 5.44 µg/g TOC) were 300-fold increased at the dumping site, compared to the reference site (4 to 6 cm depth; 0.017 µg/g TOC). Cytotoxicity as determined in the neutral red retention assay was elevated in some layers at the dumping site (maximum in 4 to 6 cm depth; NR₅₀?=?14 mg/ml), but not correlated with TOC or soot contents. Ah receptor agonist activities were clearly elevated in highly PAH-loaded layers at both sites. At the dumping site, maximum activities were determined reflected by a bio-TEQ of 223,000 pg/g (19 to 22 cm), in contrast to a bio-TEQ of 41,000 pg/g (6 to 8 cm) at the reference site. Further on, shares of EPA-PAHs to the overall activity were determined and contributed >40% at the dumping site and between 4% and 17% at the reference site. Chem-TEQs were found to exceed bio-TEQs in a depth of 11 to 22 cm, indicating the presence of Ah receptor antagonistic or inhibitive compounds.

Discussion

Sediments from the dumping site were determined to be highly contaminated and caused toxic effects in depths that are known to be influenced by dumping activities. In contrast, the reference sediment indicated only near to surface layers to be minor contaminated. In comparison with highly polluted sediments from other marine sites, the contamination of the dumping site could be ranked as elevated. Chem-TEQs exceeding bio-TEQs in a depth of 11 to 22 cm seem to be caused by AhR antagonistic compounds in the dumped material. Furthermore, particle-bound PAH concentrations assessed in this study were discussed against freely dissolved concentrations in interstitial water, as determined in a different study with the same sediment core.

Conclusions

Sediments in the inner Mecklenburg Bight could be shown to be highly contaminated, at least with PAHs, causing articulate increased Ah receptor-mediated activities. Marine organisms may be exposed to these contaminants, in particular when inhabiting the sediment.

Recommendations and perspectives

Further research activities should extend the range of chemically analyzed pollutants and applied biotests and endpoints. Monitoring should close the gap between analytical methods in the laboratory and the field to determine possible impacts on organisms at site.     

Evidence of Damage in Cryopreserved and Fresh Bovine Embryos Using the Tunel Technique

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the quality of bovine embryos cryopreserved in different years in Chiapas, Mexico. The embryos were obtained from a government institution (FIMEGEN) dedicated to promoting embryo transfer among dual-purpose cattle farmers. Forty-three embryos frozen in 1988, 1989, 2000 and 2002 were analysed with the Tunel technique to detect programmed cell death (apoptosis). Eleven fresh embryos were used as controls. Analysis of variance was used in embryos stored in the different years with averages tested using Tukey's test. Student's t-test was employed to compare fresh and frozen cells. Embryos with shorter storage time presented a lower number (p < 0.001) of Tunel-positive cells compared with embryos stored for longer time. On the contrary, when comparing the number of apoptotic cells between frozen and fresh embryos a higher number of positive cells (p < 0.05) were found in the former. The present results suggest that the cryopreservation per se caused damage that compromises the viability of the embryo. Another explanation for the lower pregnancy rate found in the tropics could be irreversible damage caused by poor storage technique in these large operations.     

Microbial biomass and organic matter turnover in wetland rice soils

A decline in rice yields has been associated with intensification of rice production. In continuously irrigated systems this has been attributed to a decline in soil N supply. Nutrient mineralisation and immobilisation is constrained by the quantity and nature of the organic substrates and the physico-chemical environment of the soil system itself. A flooded soil is very different from an aerobic one; electron acceptors other than oxygen have to be used. The transition to continuously anaerobic conditions associated with the intensification of wetland rice systems affects their organic matter turnover and may adversely affect their productivity.     

Seasonal space-use estimates of basking sharks in relation to protection and political-economic zones in the North-east Atlantic

The basking shark Cetorhinus maximus is listed as Vulnerable (A1a,d, + 2d) worldwide, and Endangered (EN A1a,d) in the north-east Atlantic in the IUCN Red List. However, protection for this species is limited in European waters and varies spatially. Without information on the amount of time individuals spend in different areas, any potential risks to population levels from incidental capture, possible future exploitation and climate change will be difficult to assess. To quantify the annual space-use patterns within political-economic zones in the north-east Atlantic we used geolocation data from seven transmitter-tagged basking sharks tracked for 964 days (16,754 km). Basking sharks tagged within the UK protection zone off south-west England and north-west Scotland spent subsequently only about 22% (range, 2.4-47.7%) of time at liberty within this zone, and a further 30% in the UK fishing zone. Although only about 6% of time was spent in the territorial waters of Ireland and France, basking sharks remained in UK, Irish and French fishing and EEZ zones for over 71% of track time (range, 51.4-89.2%). Sharks did not occupy International waters away from the European shelf at any time. These results indicate basking sharks move between different economic zones and were not afforded statutory protection for the major part of the time (78%) they spent within preferred habitat on the European shelf. This demonstrates the limited capacity of the British protection zone for encompassing the greater part of shark space utilisation. Tracked basking sharks regularly crossed national zone boundaries suggesting that conservation measures for this species need to be framed on a European, rather than national, basis. This study highlights the need for better information about the movements and habitat use by marine animals if conservation strategies are to be truly effective.     

Effects of Prolonged Exposure to Low‐Dose Fumonisin B1 in Pigs

From the point of view of human exposure, fumonisins (FB₁, FB₂, FB₃, FB₄), a relatively recently (1988) discovered and identified group of mycotoxins, represent one of the five most important mycotoxin groups causing human disease. In an earlier experiment studying the effects of relatively low doses (10, 20 and 40 p.p.m.) of FB₁ in weaned piglets, it was established that the 4‐week feeding of 10 p.p.m. (mg/kg feed) FB₁ produced mild pulmonary oedema. This suggested the importance of studies with even lower doses of the toxin to determine the tolerable limits. The objective of this experiment was therefore to study the effects of prolonged (8‐week) exposure to still lower concentrations (0, 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg feed) of FB₁. The 8‐week feeding of FB₁ in low concentrations (1–10 p.p.m.) did not cause clinical signs and significant performance impairment in pigs, but rendered irreversible the chronic changes that had already developed in the animals in a dose‐dependent manner. Dissection revealed pathological alterations of the lungs in one of the animals given 1 p.p.m. (n=4), in two animals exposed to 5 p.p.m. (n=5), and in three animals given 10 p.p.m. (n=4). In all three treatment groups, proliferation of the connective tissue fibres, primarily of those around the lymphatic vessels, in the subpleural and interlobular connective tissue of the lungs, extending to the peribronchial and peribronchiolar areas, was seen. The results of this experiment call attention to the risk of prolonged low‐dose toxin exposure, which has very important public health implications.     

Experimental Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar hardjo infection of pregnant cattle

Objective To observe the effect upon the foetus of experimental infection of pregnant cattle with Leptospira borg-petersenii serovar hardjo .
Design A disease transmission study using pregnant cattle.
Procedure Fourteen heifers serologically negative to L hardjo were artificially inseminated and later challenged with a north-Queensland isolate of L hardjo by conjunctival inoculation. The heifers were serologically monitored and their urine examined for the presence of leptospires using culture and fluorescent-antibody tests at appropriate intervals. Elective caesarean sections were performed on pregnant heifers at 6.5 weeks after the challenge. Foetuses were examined using serological, histopathological, microbiological and fluorescent-antibody tests.
Results Ten of the heifers became pregnant, but three subsequently aborted before challenge. After challenge, all 14 heifers seroconverted and L hardjo was isolated from the urine of 6 of the 7 pregnant heifers. No evidence of foetal L hardjo infection was detected. Two of the foetuses had histopatho-logical lesions consistent with Neospora s p infection.
Conclusion It is likely that the isolate of L hardjo used in this study does not normally infect the foetus. Neospora s p may be a more significant cause of bovine reproductive wastage.