First record of Ektaphelenchoides pini associated with Ips sexdentatus on Pinus nigra laricio in Italy

In February 2015, an unexpected windstorm downed five hectares of a European black pine Pinus nigra subsp. laricio forest formation located close to Vallombrosa, Florence (Central Italy). In the following spring, an extensive survey was conducted in the area. Felled trees, stumps and all the suitable plant material were screened for the presence of the pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, by sampling wood and bark. Bark beetles were then collected from the gallery systems on the inner side of bark samples and observed in the laboratory. The following bark beetles were morphologically identified: Ips sexdentatus, Orthotomicus erosus, O. laricis and Pityogenes bidentatusa. The dissection of Ips sexdentatus allowed the extraction of numerous nematodes that were morphologically and molecularly identified as Ektaphelenchoides pini. Conversely, only few nematode specimens were isolated from either pine bark or wood. These individuals could be only molecularly identified and belonged to an undescribed nematode taxon. Even though no PWN was recorded in the investigated sites, our survey allowed the detection of a new association between E. pini and I. sexdentatus on P. nigra.     

Conservation of newt guilds in an agricultural landscape of Belgium: the importance of aquatic and terrestrial habitats

• 1. Amphibians are declining worldwide in response to local and global pressures. Pond‐breeding species are particularly vulnerable to environmental change because they rely on two components of the landscape: aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Agricultural practices are changing rapidly at world and local scales. As a consequence, farm ponds and their surrounding terrestrial landscapes will probably be affected.
• 2. This study investigated the main habitat determinants for the occurrence of four species of newts (genus Triturus) inhabiting the Pays de Herve, a rural area in Belgium. Newt occurrence was determined for 258 ponds and the effect of habitat on distribution determinants was evaluated using generalized linear models.
• 3. Newts were found in 42% of the ponds. Contrary to expectations, the distribution of newts was not positively associated with a high density of ponds. However, a low occurrence of newts and the low water depth of many ponds suggest a low quality of habitats. Proximity to forest, deep water, and an absence of fish in ponds are factors that significantly favour newts, but terrestrial habitat requirements vary among species.
• 4. These results indicate the necessity of maintaining both forest and meadow patches in close proximity to ponds inhabited by newts, and of controlling fish introduction in those ponds. These findings stress the importance of conservation and management of terrestrial and aquatic habitats for maintaining amphibian diversity.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of Spirulina and plant oil on the growth and lipid traits of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) fingerlings

The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of diets with Spirulina and plant oils (POs) inclusion for white sturgeon weaning and their effects on the fatty acid (FA) composition of fish flesh. Three isoproteic (45%) and isoenergetic (21 MJ kg^?1 DM) diets were formulated: one fish meal‐based diet integrated with fish oil (FMO) and two 40% Spirulina meal‐based diets integrated with corn (SPC) or soybean (SPS) oils respectively. One hundred and thirty‐five white sturgeon fingerlings (mean weight 17.5 g) were stocked randomly in nine fibreglass tanks. At the end of the trial, which lasted 71 days, the growth performance traits and somatic indexes were determined. The chemical composition, gross energy and FA profile were determined on the fish fillets. No significant effects were observed for the growth performances or fillet chemical composition. The FA profile of the fillets reflected those of the diets. In particular, the fillets of the fish fed with the SPC and SPS diets were lower in n‐3 FA, due to the substitution of fish oil (FO) with POs. It is possible to replace FO and meal in sturgeon; therefore, Spirulina meal integrated with POs could be a good alternative to sturgeon diet.     

Assessing the potential of marine Natura 2000 sites to produce ecosystem‐wide effects in rocky reefs: A case study from Sardinia Island (Italy)

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Interleukin-10 expression by real-time PCR and homology modelling analysis in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus Labrax L.)

In this paper we investigate the interleukin-10 (IL-10) expression and 3D modelling of the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.). IL-10 is a regulatory cytokine that has been intensively studied in mammals and has been found mainly involved in the suppression or deactivation of activated immune responses. The full-length sea bass IL-10 cDNA consists of 1015 bp and is translated in a predicted molecule of 187 amino acids. A multiple alignment of this peptide with other known sequences showed the conservation of fundamental IL-10 family characteristics. Expression analysis by real-time PCR in control fish showed a high basal expression in the head kidney (HK), followed by gut and brain. In vitro treatment of HK leucocytes with LPS showed an intense increase of IL-10 expression at 4 h and a significant decrease at 24 h, with PHA-L no differences were evidenced. A 3D model for sea bass IL-10 was obtained by accurate homology procedures and putative interaction residues with the IL-10 receptor described. The results suggested that sea bass IL-10 could be involved in anti-inflammatory responses, but further experiments are needed to assess its importance in response to pathogenic agents, vaccinations and immunostimulants.     

Food risk trade‐off in the Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphin: An exploratory case study

1. Based on optimal foraging theory, animals are expected to maximize foraging benefits whilst minimizing risks. Despite risking being subjected to anthropogenic impacts such as water contamination, marine traffic, and underwater noise, estuaries have been identified as the preferred habitat of the Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis, IPHD). However, it remains unclear why this vulnerable species favours such risky habitats.
2. Here, an exploratory case study in Zhanjiang estuary, China, was conducted to test the hypothesis that IPHDs select estuarine habitats as a trade‐off that maximizes foraging opportunities whilst minimizing the risk of mortality.
3. The results showed that IPHDs accept greater mortality risks for higher food rewards but select habitats with lower risks when food rewards are similar between two locations.
4. Although this type of information is important for underpinning models for individual dolphins, its principal role is to show environmental protection agencies why IPHDs favour estuaries despite the increased mortality risks.
5. Habitat conservation plans should carefully consider prey stocks, possibly through the presence of marine protected areas near estuaries, as local overfishing may lead vulnerable cetacean populations to take greater risks.