Ancient specimens and DNA contamination: a case study from the 12S rRNA gene sequence of the "Linh Duong" bovid (Pseudonovibos spiralis)

In 1993, several unusual horn sheaths, collected in the South of Vietnam, were regarded as evidence for a new mammal species, Pseudonovibos spiralis. However, the taxonomic status of P. spiralis remains a highly controversial subject: firstly, it has been related to three different groups of the family Bovidae: Antilopini (gazelles), Bovini (oxen, bisons, and buffaloes), and Caprini sensu lato (goats, sheep and allies). Secondly, certain horns have been shown to be faked. Most recently, it has been suggested, on the basis of 12S rRNA gene sequences, that P. spiralis was a new species of buffalo. I demonstrate here that this conclusion was inaccurate, and base this on the grounds that: (1) the putative sequence of P. spiralis is shown to be a chimera obtained from three different species: Bos taurus, Bubalus bubalis and Saiga tatarica, and (2) several factors indicate that the specimen used was not authentic. This new study confirms earlier suggestions that the horns used to formally describe P. spiralis were bogus and were in fact derived from the horns of domesticated cattle (Bos taurus). The data suggest that P. spiralis never existed.     

MEASURING EVAPORATION WITH CERAMIC BELLANI PLATE ATMOMETERS1

ABSTRACT: Ceramic atmometers were tested to determine their usefulness for measuring evaporation in water resources applications. Field experiments were used to evaluate the precision, responsiveness to a range of potential evaporation conditions in a forested catchment, and interpretation of water loss of Bellani plate atmometers. The experiments, conducted from April to October in a warm, humid climate in the southeastern United States, indicate that atmometers can be reliable monitoring instruments for estimating potential evaporation. The small size, portability, low internal thermal mass, low cost, and ability to integrate the effect of radiation, air temperature, humidity and windspeed into one direct measurement of potential evaporation, make atmometers a useful instrument for certain water resources applications.     

Evaluating the impact of extreme temperature based indices in the 2003 heatwave excessive mortality in Portugal

This paper analyses the impact of the 2003 European heatwave on excessive human mortality in Portugal, a country that presents a relatively high level of exposure to heatwave events. A total of 2399 excessive deaths are estimated in continental Portugal, which implies an increase of 58% over the expected deaths. When these values are split by gender, it is seen that women increase (79%), was considerably higher than that recorded for men (41%). The increment of mortality due to this heatwave was detected for all the 18 districts of the country, but its magnitude was significantly higher in the inner districts close to the Spanish border. When we split by gender all districts reveal significant mortality increments for women, while the impact in men's excess deaths is not significant over 3 districts. Several temperature derived indices were used and evaluated in their capacity to explain, at the regional level, the excessive mortality (ratio between observed and expected deaths) by gender. It is shown that the best relationship is found for the total exceedance of extreme days, an index combining the length of the heatwave and its intensity. Both variables hold a linear relationship with r = 0.79 for women and a poorer adjustment (r = 0.50) for men. Additionally, availability of mortality data split by age also allowed obtaining detailed information on the structure of the population in risk, namely by showing that statistically significant increments are concentrated in the last three age classes (45–64, 65–74 and 75 or more). The use of air conditioning systems in some Portuguese hospitals had a major impact on the decrease (up to 40%) in excessive mortality values. A finer approach is relevant for prevention strategies, since it allows to identify better the target population of any preventive strategy regional and national authorities may be interested to implement.     

Mantle-to-shell CaCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> transfer during shell repair at different hydrostatic pressures in the deep-sea vent mussel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bathymodiolus azoricus</Emphasis> (Bivalvia: Mytilidae)

Calcium carbonate transfer was experimentally examined in hydrothermal mussels Bathymodiolus azoricus, which were collected from 850 m depth at Menez Gwen hydrothermal vent site (31°31′W, 37°50′N) on the Mid Atlantic Ridge in May 2007. In each of four 10-day experiments, groups of mussels were maintained at atmospheric pressure or re-pressurised to depths relevant to their site of occurrence, i.e. 850 m depth at Menez Gwen, 1,750 m at Lucky Strike (31°31′W, 37°18′N) and 2,300 m at Rainbow (31°31′W, 36°13′N). The shells of experimental mussels were perforated and mantle tissue was fixed for light and TEM studies at days 7 and 10 following the injury. Simultaneously, haemocytes from the extrapallial fluid (EPF) at the site of induction were studied. At day 7 the response was most intense in the middle fold of the mantle margin and possibly proportional to hydrostatic pressure. At day 10 the epithelial cells on the mantle surface facing the body cavity produced copious organic secretions that avidly bound calcium. Haemocyte migration was noted within the mantle tissue, and the haemocytes at the mantle surface facing the shell had a Ca-positive granular content. Large haemocytes were detected in the EPF at the injury site, and some showed evidence of an immune reaction while others showed Ca-positive granular content. These results suggest that haemocytes are involved in shell repair in these deep-sea mussels just as in some freshwater and shallow marine molluscs.     

Analysis of energy security and sustainability in future low carbon scenarios for Brazil

This study estimated a series of indicators to assess the energy security of supply and global and local environmental impacts under different mitigation scenarios through 2050 in Brazil, designed with the integrated optimization energy system model MESSAGE‐BRAZIL. The assessment of interactions between environmental impacts and energy security dimensions was complemented through the application of life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Overall results imply energy security establishes more synergies than trade‐offs in increasingly stringent mitigation scenarios, especially patent within the sustainability dimension, which increases energy security and provides additional benefits regarding climate change mitigation and air pollution emissions. It is still necessary to extend analysis to other energy sectors in addition to the power supply sector and to promote a better understanding of repercussions of energy scenario expansion in energy security.     

Experimental evidence for a significant contribution of cellulose to indoor aerosol mass concentration

An apartment bedroom located in a residential area of Aveiro (Portugal) was selected with the aim of characterizing the cellulose content of indoor aerosol particles. Two sets of samples were taken: (1) PM₁₀ collected simultaneously in indoor and outdoor air; (2) PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 collected simultaneously in indoor air. The aerosol particles were concentrated on quartz fibre filters with low-volume samplers equipped with size selective inlets. The filters were weighed and then extracted for cellulose analysis by an enzymatic method. The average indoor cellulose concentration was 1.01 ± 0.24 μg m^?3, whereas the average outdoor cellulose concentration was 0.078 ± 0.047 μg m^?3, accounting for 4.0% and 0.4%, respectively, of the PM₁₀ mass. The corresponding average ratio between indoor and outdoor cellulose concentrations was 11.1 ± 4.9, indicating that cellulose particles were generated indoors, most likely due to the handling of cotton-made textiles as a result of routine daily activities in the bedroom. Indoor cellulose concentrations averaged 1.22 ± 0.53 μg m^?3 in the aerosol coarse fraction (determined from the difference between PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentrations) and averaged 0.38 ± 0.13 μg m^?3 in the aerosol fine fraction. The average ratio between the coarse and fine fractions of cellulose concentrations in the indoor air was 3.6 ± 2.1. This ratio is in line with the primary origin of this biopolymer. Results from this study provide the first experimental evidence in support of a significant contribution of cellulose to the mass of suspended particles in indoor air.     

Impact of salt-marsh management on fish nursery function in the bay of Aiguillon (French Atlantic coast), with a focus on European sea bass diet

The Bay of Aiguillon is a national French Nature Reserve of great importance for birds. Recently, the managers of the Reserve (ONCFS-LPO) paid attention to the influence of saltmarshes management on the nursery function for fish feeding in creeks at high tide. A study carried out from March to July 2012 aimed to evaluate the use of saltmarshes by fish juvenile fraction according to the mowing intensity in salt marshes surrounding creeks: ceased, irregular or annual mowing. This community approach was completed by a focus on the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax individual diet, vacuity index and growth, and the biomass of a main potential prey (the amphipod Orchestia gammarella). Whatever the mowing intensity, the juvenile fraction was very high for the main species, which were the grey mullet Liza ramada, the European sea bass, undetermined clupeid and the European flounder Platichthys flesus. Adult and subadult for these species were anecdotic or totally absent. Despite very different biomasses of amphipods between mown and natural sites, vacuity index, prey composition and their relative abundance in the diet of European sea bass juveniles were little different, contrary to their hypothetical growth (i.e. when assuming site fidelity), which appeared higher in non-mown site. The low distance between sampling sites could allow fish exchange over time between optimal and suboptimal creeks to feed on, as a hypothesis to explain such results. Because mowing was subsidized by European Union (EU) to favour open habitats for geese and maintain an economic activity, indirect impacts on nursery for fish called into question the appropriateness of such agro-environmental measure on natural habitats, and related fish nursery function.     

An Evaluation of Several In-Lake Restoration Techniques to Improve the Water Quality Problem (Eutrophication) of Saint-Augustin Lake,Quebec, Canada

Increasing phosphorus (P) content and decreasing water quality of Saint-Augustin Lake, Quebec City, Canada, has led to implementation of an Integrated Watershed Management Plan to restore the lake. As a part of the plan, the effects of different restoration techniques on lake water quality and biological community (i.e., biological compatibility) were assessed during an isolated water enclosure study and laboratory microcosm assay, respectively. The restoration techniques include: (i) coagulation of P by alum only (20 mg L⁻¹), (ii) active capping of sediments using a calcite layer of 10 cm, and (iii) a complete method involving both alum coagulation and calcite capping. The results showed that the total P (TP) was greatly decreased (76–95 %) by alum + calcite, followed by calcite only (59–84 %). Secchi depth was 106 % greater and chlorophyll a concentrations were declined by 19–78 % in the enclosure which received both alum and calcite. Results of the biological compatibility test showed that total phytoplankton biomass declined by 31 % in microcosms composed of alum + calcite. No significant (P > 0.05) toxic effect was found on the survival of Daphnia magna and Hyalella azteca in both alum only and alum + calcite microcosms. Although the alum + calcite technique impaired the survival of Chironomus riparius, the midge emergence was much higher compared to alum only and control. Overall, the alum + calcite application was effective in controlling P release from sediment and lowering water column P concentrations, and thus improving the water quality and aquatic life of Saint-Augustin Lake. However, the TP concentrations are still higher than the critical limit (20 μg L⁻¹) for aquatic life and the water column remained in the eutrophic state even after treatment. Increased TP concentrations, to higher than ambient levels of the lake, in the water column of all four enclosures, due to bioturbation artefact triggered by the platform installation, likely cause insufficient dosages of alum and/or calcite applied and reduced their effectiveness.     

Potential control of toxic cyanobacteria blooms with Moroccan seaweed extracts

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Marine macroalgae are a promising source of diverse bioactive compounds with applications in the biocontrol of harmful cyanobacteria blooms...