Particulate organic matter in the Northern and Central Adriatic

The particulate organic matter distribution and its elemental composition in the northern and central Adriatic Sea during different seasonal periods are shown, highlighting the principal processes and factors influencing their distribution and characteristics. In the low salinity waters the concentrations of particulate carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus were higher and more variable than in the dense waters, mainly due to dilution effects which induce an abundant phytoplankton growth. Generally in summer the particulate organic matter distribution followed the trophic gradient while in winter resuspension events often became more important. Differences between summer and winter were more evident in the diluted waters and were mainly due to the seasonal heat exchanges and to the fresh water inputs. Marked differences in C/P ratios were observed in the POM: high ratios in the northern diluted waters and low in the more saline waters and in the central Adriatic.     

First assessment of persistent organic pollutants in the Greater rhea (Rhea americana), a near-threatened flightless herbivorous bird of the Pampas grasslands

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are still globally distributed and can exert different effects on ecosystems. Little is known about the...     

Comparisons of dental morphology in river stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae) with new fossils from the middle Eocene of Peruvian Amazonia rekindle debate on their evolution

Endemic South American river stingrays (Potamotrygonidae), which include the most diversified living freshwater chondrichthyans, were conspicuously absent from pre-Neogene deposits in South America despite the fact that recent phylogenetic analyses strongly suggest an older origination for this clade. To date, the rare representatives of this family were mostly represented by ambiguous isolated remains. Here, we report 67 isolated fossil teeth of a new obligate freshwater dasyatoid (Potamotrygon ucayalensis nov. sp) from the fossiliferous level CTA-27 (Yahuarango Formation), near Contamana, in the Peruvian Amazonia. We assigned this sample to a new representative of Potamotrygon by comparison with numerous fresh jaws of living specimens of Potamotrygonidae, thus providing the first detailed review of dental morphology for this poorly understood clade. These new fossils fill a long stratigraphic gap by extending the family range down to the middle Eocene (～41 Mya). Moreover, the relative modernity and diversity in tooth morphology among Eocene freshwater stingrays (including Potamotrygon ucayalensis nov. sp. and coeval North American dasyatoids) indicate that the hypothetically marine ancestor of potamotrygonids probably invaded the rivers earlier than in the middle Eocene. The first potamotrygonids and affiliates were possibly more generalized and less endemic than now, which is consistent with an opportunistic filling of vacated ecospace.     

Microsporidia parasites disrupt the responses to cadmium exposure in a gammarid

Microsporidia parasites are commonly found in amphipods, where they are often asymptomatic, vertically-transmitted and have several effects on host sexuality and behaviour. As amphipods are often used as models in ecotoxicological studies, we investigated the effect of microsporidian infections on energy reserves and defence capacities of Gammarus roeseli under cadmium stress. Only females were infected by two microsporidia parasites: Dictyocoela roeselum or Dictyocoela muelleri. In physiological conditions, microsporidia had no major effect on energy reserves and defence capacities of G.?roeseli, while under cadmium exposure, energy reserves and antioxidant defence were weaker in infected females. Moreover, higher malondialdehyde levels detected in infected females revealed that they suffered more cellular damages. Our results suggest that microsporidia may affect gammarid fitness in stressful conditions, when parasitic stress cannot be compensated by the host. Consequently, microsporidia parasites should be a factor necessary to take into account in ecotoxicology studies involving amphipods.     

PARTICULATE ORGANIC MATTER IN THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ADRIATIC

The particulate organic matter distribution and its elemental composition in the northern and central Adriatic Sea during different seasonal periods are shown, highlighting the principal processes and factors influencing their distribution and characteristics.

In the low salinity waters the concentrations of particulate carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus were higher and more variable than in the dense waters, mainly due to dilution effects which induce an abundant phytoplankton growth.

Generally in summer the particulate organic matter distribution followed the trophic gradient while in winter resuspension events often became more important. Differences between summer and winter were more evident in the diluted waters and were mainly due to the seasonal heat exchanges and to the fresh water inputs.

Marked differences in C/P ratios were observed in the POM: high ratios in the northern diluted waters and low in the more saline waters and in the central Adriatic.     

Effects of low glyphosate-based herbicide concentrations on endocrine-related gene expression in the decapoda Macrobrachium potiuna

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are the most used herbicides worldwide and are considered as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDC) for non-target...