Biochemical alterations induced by Zn and Cd individually or in combination in the serum of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis>

Measurement of serum biochemical parameters in response to metal exposures can be especially useful to help identify target organs of toxicity as well as the general health status of animals. Oreochromis niloticus were exposed to 5.0 mg/L Zn, 1.0 mg/L Cd, and 5.0 mg/L Zn + 1.0 mg/L Cd mixture for 7 and 28 days, and alterations in serum enzyme activities and ion levels were measured. Significant changes in all the biochemical parameters were found to be time dependent. Following metal exposure, alkaline phosphatase activity was elevated at both exposure periods. No changes in activities of lactate dehydrogenase and lipase were observed in response to single or combined Zn and Cd exposure at 7 days while they increased at 28 days. Fish exposed to metals showed a decrease in cholinesterase activity at 7 days followed by a return to control levels at the end of the exposure period. The individual and combined effects of metals caused a decline in levels of Na⁺, Cl⁻, and Ca²⁺, especially at 28 days. K⁺ level increased at 7 days but it returned to control levels with increasing duration of exposure. This study indicated that the alterations in serum parameters may be a result of the target tissue (i.e., liver, gill, and kidney) damage and dysfunction induced by the metals and that these parameters can thus be used to assess the effects of metals on organisms.     

Important invasive species and its pest status in Turkey: Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is a pest of many annual and perennial agricultural products. The species is native to...     

A new pest on soybean in Turkey: Melanagromyza sojae Zehntner (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

Melanagromyza sojae Zehntner (Hemiptera: Agromyzidae) is known as a pest of several leguminous plants, especially Glycine max, soybean, in several countries worldwide. As a result of an alert raised by soybean producers in the province of Adana, which has a large share of soybean production in Turkey, plant samples in which pupae were observed were collected from two soybean fields in Çukurova in the production season in 2018. The samples were kept in the laboratory and the emerging adults were identified morphologically as M. sojae. Observations made in soybean fields in Turkey are presented. A review of the situation for this pest and its control methods are is presented. This is the first report of M. sojae in Turkey. It is therefore recommended to perform a close monitoring of this pest to investigate more in detail the extent of the damage caused by this pest in soybean crops in Turkey, to identify its variety preferences, other other hosts, natural enemies and control methods to be used.     

Coastal uplift and mortality of intertidal organisms caused by the september 1985 Mexico earthquakes

Coastal uplift associated with the great Mexican earthquake of 19 September 1985 and its principal aftershock produced widespread mortality of intertidal organisms along the coast of the states of Michoacán and Guerrero, Mexico. Measurements of the vertical extent of mortality at ten sites provided estimates of the magnitude of the vertical component of deformation along the coast. Within the affected area, uplift ranged from about 12 centimeters to about 1 meter, and no subsidence was observed. The observations are consistent with models of the tectonic deformation that results from buried slip on a shallow-dipping underthrust fault.     

Therapeutic effects of thymoquinone in doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity via oxidative stress,inflammation and apoptosis

Cancer is a lethal disease that is characterized by uncontrolled cell division and proliferation, and it results in death in many organisms. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a therapeutic agent used for treatment of many cancer types, but it induces serious hepatotoxicity. In this study, we aimed to determine possible hepato-therapeutic effects of thymoquinone (THQ) on DOX-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Rats were divided into five groups (n = 8): Control, THQ (10 mg/kg/day/i.p for 14 days), Olive Oil (equal volume with THQ for 14 days), DOX (single dose, 15 mg/kg/i.p on 7th day) and DOX + THQ (10 mg/kg/day/i.p and DOX 15 mg/kg/i.p on 7th day). At the end of the experiment, liver tissues were extracted and evaluated histopathologically. eNOS, iNOS and Cas-3 immunostaining were performed to determine the expression levels. TUNEL method was used to determine apoptotic index. Furthermore, liver tissue total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), TNF-α and TGF-β levels were measured by ELISA assay. The DOX group showed histopathological deterioration compared to Control group. Moreover, apoptotic index, eNOS, iNOS and Cas-3 expressions increased in DOX group. While TAS level of the DOX group decreased, TOS level increased. TNF-α and TGF-β levels increased in DOX group. However, there was improvement in DOX + THQ group compared to DOX group. Moreover, apoptotic cell number, eNOS, iNOS and Cas-3 expressions decreased in DOX + THQ group compared to DOX group. We concluded that thymoquinone can be used as a phytotherapeutic for reducing DOX-induced liver damage.     

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Inorganic Nutrient Concentrations in the Androscoggin and Kennebec Rivers, Maine

A catchment-wide study was conducted to investigate the geography of nutrient dynamics in the Androscoggin and Kennebec Rivers, Maine. While nutrient concentrations resembled relatively pristine waters, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) exhibited dramatic spatial and temporal patterns. Though these rivers are underdeveloped, impacts of human activities upon nutrients are clear. Population was a good predictor for DIN and P concentrations for the Kennebec River, but a poor predictor in the Androscoggin River. Comparison of point-source discharges into each river indicated that the Androscoggin River is influenced by discharges from pulp and paper mills, a finding confirmed by reduced nutrient transport after the closure of two Androscoggin River mills. Nutrient ratio analysis demonstrated a dramatic shift towards Redfield ratios, with DIN:P ratios decreasing from about 200:1 in headwater reaches to below 16:1 near the river outlets. These results may aid in understanding blooms of toxic dynoflagellates in the Gulf of Maine. Ratios were also altered during a prolonged drought period. Results describe a simple relationship between increased nutrient input and human population within single watersheds, with implications for coastal zone ecosystems.     

Effect of Antarctic krillmeal on quality of farmed Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.)

Farmed Atlantic cod with a mean weight of 4.8 kg were maintained for 9 weeks in sea cages and fed diets where the dietary fishmeal component was substituted with increasing proportions (0%, 22%, 63% and 100%) of meal from Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. Wild‐caught cod were included in the study as external control. At termination of feeding, all fish were slaughtered and muscle pH was immediately recorded. The fish were then stored on ice for three days and assessed for muscle pH and objective (skin and fillet colour, and fillet texture) and subjective (sensory evaluation) quality criteria. Replacement of fishmeal with krillmeal in the diets resulted in the skin colour above and below the lateral line to be more red than the control group without krillmeal substitutions, even though this difference was not significant, and with more yellow hue. Additions of krillmeal increased the muscle whiteness and yellow hue compared with the control group and wild fish. There was no difference in red hue between the groups. Muscle pH, texture or sensory attributes were unaffected by dietary inclusion level of krillmeal. Wild‐caught cod deviated in several aspects from the farmed cod. It is concluded that the replacement of fishmeal with Antarctic krillmeal in the diets two months before slaughter did not move the sensory attributes more towards wild fish.     

Effects of Wood Ash Dose and Formulation on Soil Chemistry at Two Coniferous Forest Sites

Harvesting stem biomass from the forest inevitably involves exporting nutrients from the ecosystem. The amount exported is increased when the logging residues are also removed for use as fuel. Recycling of the resulting wood ash has been advocated as a measure to compensate for the nutrient losses and to sustain future forest production. The physical formulation of the wood ash may have an important influence on its effects on soil properties. In this paper, we report effects of two different types of wood ash (one self-hardened and crushed, the other pelleted), with differences in solubility, on soil chemistry in the humus layer and upper 15 cm of the mineral soil, at two coniferous sites in south-central Sweden, 5 yr after their application. The crushed ash was applied at three doses (3, 6 and 9 ton ha^–1), while the pelleted ash was applied at only one dose (3 ton ha^–1). At both sites the soil was podzolized. The two sites differed with respect to soil conditions, despite being situated only a few kilometers apart. The application of wood ash increased both soil pH and base-cation content in the humus layer at both sites. In the mineral soil, the effects were less pronounced. Treatment effects on soil chemistry did not differ between the two ash formulations. The retention (i.e. the extractable amount of nutrients found in the soil that could be attributed to the ash application) of nutrients varied strongly between the two sites, and K retention (ca. 10%) was generally lower than that of Ca and Mg.     

Effects of Liming and Fertilization (N,PK) on Chemistry and Nitrogen Turnover in Acidic Forest Soils in SW Sweden

SW Sweden has very acidic forest soils because of deposition ofair-borne pollutants. Large-scale liming and fertilization have been proposed as countermeasures against a possible future development of forest decline. To test the effects of suggested treatments, liming (3 or 6 t ha¹) and fertilization with easily soluble PK (25 or 50 kg P, 80 or 160 kg K ha¹) or N(20 kg N ha¹ annually in the form of NH₄ NO₃) were applied in different combinations in four experiments in 30–60 yr-old Picea abies forests in SW Sweden. Four yearsafter the initial application of the fertilizers, samples were taken from the O-horizon and the two uppermost 5 cm thick layersof the mineral soil. Their pH(H₂O) and easily extractable Ca, Mg, K, P and inorganic N contents were analyzed. Samples werealso incubated to estimate net N mineralization and potential nitrification rates. Liming increased the pH by 0.6–1 unit in the O-horizon, and by 0.1 unit in the mineral soil. The Ca + Mg content increased by 15–25 kmol_c ha¹ (4–8 foldincrease) in the O-horizon of the limed plots, while an increaseof 5 kmol_c ha¹ (two-fold increase) was observed in theuppermost 5 cm of the mineral soil. Liming did not affect extractable P, K or inorganic N contents. Net N mineralization and potential nitrification rates in the O-horizon were enhanced 1.5- and 6-fold, respectively, by liming, but it had no apparenteffect in the mineral soil. N fertilization caused a slight increase (1.5 kg ha¹) in the content of inorganic N, buthad no effects on the other variables measured. The amount ofextractable P was raised by 16 kg ha¹ in plots given the high P dose (50 kg ha¹), but no other effects of PK fertilization were detected.