Molecular phylogeny and DNA barcoding of tropical eastern Pacific shallow-water gorgonian octocorals

The octocoral fauna inhabiting the shallow waters (<50 m) of the eastern Pacific has been the subject of renewed interest, and the taxonomy of the most important genera in the region has been reviewed and clarified. Many new species have been described, significantly increasing the known biological diversity of the region. Despite their importance as potential sister-groups of Caribbean octocorals, the phylogenetic relationships of eastern Pacific octocorals remain poorly studied. Here, using partial mitochondrial MutS and igr1-COI sequences, we provide a phylogenetic assessment of a broad sample of eastern Pacific shallow-water octocorals and investigate their phylogenetic relationships with Caribbean gorgonians. We corroborate the monophyly of Pacifigorgia, Leptogorgia and Eugorgia and provide evidence of a close relationship between Swiftia and Psammogorgia, currently placed in Plexauridae. In addition, the phylogenies obtained here provide insights into the historical biogeography and phylogenetic diversity of the eastern Pacific octocoral assemblages and on character evolution among this diverse faunal assemblage. Finally, we evaluate the classification power of DNA barcoding for identifying species of shallow-water eastern Pacific octocorals and assess the use of a nuclear intron (SRP54) to supplement traditional mitochondrial barcodes in this group of organisms.     

Conspicuous displays in cryptic males of a polytypic poison-dart frog

The evolution of aposematism is linked to increased opportunities for conspicuous sexual displays since detection by potential predators is no longer disadvantageous. Therefore, phenotypic divergence in aposematic species leading to relatively cryptic forms is expected to constrain such opportunities, by restoring the trade-off between natural and sexual selection on the boldness of sexual displays. We asked if and how a derived phenotype of the poison-dart frog Oophaga granulifera that appears relatively cryptic to potential predators exhibits conspicuous sexual displays for potential mates. We used visual modeling of frog contrasts against their natural backgrounds to test if for conspecifics green frogs appear less conspicuous than red frogs as they do for birds. We conducted behavioral observations of focal red and green males to determine if green frogs adjust their display behavior to the availability of potential mates. Dorsal brightness is known to influence female preferences in at least one poison frog species. We found that, despite being less visible under some measures, green frogs may appear as bright as red frogs for conspecifics but not birds, when viewed on dark backgrounds. Additionally, green males called more intermittently than red males when advertising to distant females, but they exhibited a dramatic increase in calling activity in proximity of a female and were as active as red males in this context. Together, our results suggest that green frogs retain context-dependent conspicuousness to conspecifics despite the evolution of relative crypsis to potential predators.     

Health and population-dependent effects of ocean acidification on the marine isopod Idotea balthica

Three populations of the grazing isopod Idotea balthica were exposed to high CO₂ treatment for a period of 20 days to investigate the effect of ocean acidification (OA) on animal health and immunocompetence. The results of the populations from more saline habitats were comparable and showed a 60–80 % decrease in immune response as a result of the high CO₂ treatment. Analysis of protein carbonyls showed no treatment effect, indicating that short-term OA does not increase oxidative protein damage. Meanwhile, the third tested population from the lower saline Baltic Sea had higher background protein carbonyl levels. Ocean acidification in addition to this resulted in 100 % mortality. The results of this study show that OA reduced immunocompetence of this marine isopod. In addition, populations and individuals in poor health are potentially at greater risk to succumb under OA.     

Fatty acid composition of marine macroalgae from the Black Sea and Dardanelles

The fatty acid (FA) composition was determined in 14 species of marine macroalgae belonging to the Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta, which were collected from ?ile in the Black Sea and Kepez in the Dardanelles. Generally, polyunsaturated FAs and monounsaturated FAs were major components (50–77%). Total saturated FAs ranged from 22% to 50%, with 16?:?0 as the most abundant saturate (32–38%). Two samples of Cystoseira barbata collected from a different station had some differences from each other in their contents of 18?:?2n-6 and 18?:?3n-3 and in the 18?:?2n-6/20?:?4n-6 ratios. Green algal species had a significantly higher proportion of unsaturated FAs and a significantly lower proportion of saturated FAs than the red and brown algae. The amount of n-3 FAs was significantly higher in Ulva rigita, Chaetomorpha linum, Enteromorpha linza and Gracilaria verrucosa (8.88, 6.44, 5.31 and 5.24, respectively).     

Effects of bisphenol A on Gammarus fossarum and Lumbriculus variegatus in artificial indoor streams

The impact of bisphenol A (BPA) on Gammarus fossarum and Lumbriculus variegatus was studied in four artificial indoor streams (0, 5, 50 and 500?µg?L^?1 BPA, nominal) over 103 days in a pulse–dose exposure scenario (weekly BPA application). For G. fossarum populations at day 103, the proportions of juveniles and of breeding females from the highest BPA treatment were in tendency reduced. For individually exposed gammarid pairs an EC₁₀ of 17?µg?L^?1 BPA (nominal) for the proportion of reproductive females in the fourth brood was determined. During the first three broods, the largest brood size occurred at the highest BPA concentration, whereas in the fourth brood it decreased concentration-dependently (fourth brood EC₁₀?=?5?µg?L^?1 BPA, nominal). Effects on L. variegatus were a reduced population growth (103?d-EC₁₀ of 2?µg?L^?1 BPA, nominal) and an increase in dry weight and the number of segments in large, complete worms.     

The effects of pesticides on greenhouse workers and their produced products

Pesticides are chemicals used in agriculture but are known to produce adverse effects on humans. In this study, blood activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and levels of malondialdhyde (MDA) were determined in 44 greenhouse workers (24 tomato workers, 20 clove workers) and in tomato (24 samples) and clove (20 samples) products. At the end of this study, blood MDA levels and activities of ALT, AST, and LDH levels in greenhouse workers were significantly increased while SOD and CAT activity levels fell significantly. Pesticide residues were not found in agricultural worker blood. Malathion residues (average 0.8?ppm) were detected in tomatoes (8 samples) in these greenhouses. Data suggest that the health of the greenhouse workers may be adversely affected by pesticides.     

Effects of Matricaria chamomilla L. on lipid peroxidation,antioxidant enzyme systems,and key liver enzymes in CCl4-treated rats

In this study, we investigated the effects of Matricaria chamomilla L. extract (MCE) on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme systems, and several liver enzymes in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-treated rats. Rats were divided into five groups. The first group (control group) was fed on standard feed. The rats in the other groups (CCl₄, MCE50, MCE100, and MCE200) were injected intraperitoneally with 0.8?mL?kg^?1 CCl₄. Moreover, rats in the MCE50, MCE100, and MCE200 groups were gavaged with 50?mg?kg^?1, 100?mg?kg^?1, and 200?mg?kg^?1 MCE, respectively. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, whole blood malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activity levels were measured after 14 days of exposure. ALT and AST in the CCl₄ group increased significantly in comparison to the control group (p?4, MCE50, MCE100, and MCE200 groups at different significance levels. In conclusion, the findings suggest that, depending on the dose administered, MCE decreases CCl₄-induced damage and consequent oxidative stress in rats; it affects the antioxidant system positively.     

Pollutants from land‐based sources in Izmit Bay

Izmit Bay is located at the eastern end of the Sea of Marmara. The Sea of Marmara is an important adjacent area to the Mediterranean Sea. The extent of pollution in the Bay is increased beyond tolerable levels mainly due to substantial and unplanned growth of a large spectrum of industrial activities. A comprehensive project for the prevention and elimination of pollution in Izmit Bay is realised. The assessment of pollution from land‐based sources was the most significant step in this project. The study revealed that the Bay receives a total municipal wastewater flow of 70 000 cu m/day and a total industrial waste discharge of 120 000 cu m/day. The total BOD load was noted to be subdivided as 30 000 kg/day and 75 000 kg/day between municipal and industrial sources respectively. Similar figures were also computed for all the other parameters including nutrients and heavy metals. The evaluation showed that the eastern part of the Bay receives more than 70% of the total pollution load.