Effects of algae-enriched rotifers on winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) gene expression during metamorphosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a dietary highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) deficiency on winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus metamorphosis by examining the growth and the expression of genes involved in some key metabolic processes: lipid digestion, oxidative stress, and growth. Three groups of fish were fed rotifers enriched with different blends of microalgae providing different HUFA profiles: (1) a diet comprising a mixture of three microalgae, Nannochloropsis oculata, Isochrysis galbana, and Pavlova lutheri (Cocktail diet), which contained a balanced combination of ecosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (AA); (2) the N. oculata diet (Nanno diet), with a low level of DHA; and (3) the I. galbana diet (Tiso diet), characterized by low levels of EPA and AA. The results indicate that the need for DHA increased from settlement and for EPA and AA from 15 days after settlement. The lower HUFA content in the Tiso and Nanno diets did not affect larval development or lipid reserve accumulation. The superoxide dismutase gene expression suggests a reduced oxidative stress in the Cocktail group, and overall results indicate that gh gene expression could be a valuable indicator of development at the molecular level in response to dietary HUFA quality during metamorphosis in winter flounder.     

Species-specific dinoflagellate vertical distribution in temperature-stratified waters

Thermal stratification is increasing in strength as a result of higher surface water temperature. This could influence the vertical distribution of vertically migrating dinoflagellates. We studied the diel vertical distribution of the dinoflagellates Heterocapsa triquetra and Prorocentrum minimum using stratified laboratory columns with two thermoclines of different strength (ΔT° = 10 or 17 °C), with below cline temperature of 8 °C. Above the thermocline, nutrient depletion simulated the natural summer conditions in the Baltic Sea. Our study shows that H. triquetra and P. minimum can behave differently in terms of their vertical occurrence, both in space and in time when subjected to thermoclines of different strength. Also, both dinoflagellate species showed species-specific distribution patterns. In the ΔT° = 10 °C treatment, H. triquetra cells performed a diel vertical migration (DVM) behavior just above the thermocline, but not in the ΔT° = 17 °C. In the ΔT° = 17 °C, the cells did not migrate and cell densities in the water column decreased over time. Opposing results were observed for P. minimum, where a DVM pattern was found exclusively below the thermocline of ΔT° = 17 °C, while in the ΔT° = 10 °C treatment, no clear DVM pattern was observed, and the highest number of cells were found in the cold bottom water. These results indicate that an increase in thermal stratification can influence species-specific dinoflagellate distribution, behavior, and survival.     

How a songbird with a continuous singing style modulates its song when territorially challenged

In songbirds of the temperate zone, often only males sing and their songs serve to attract females and to deter territorial rivals. In many species, males vary certain aspects of their singing behavior when engaged in territorial interactions. Such variation may be an honest signal of the traits of the signaler, such as fighting strength, condition, or aggressive motivation, and may be used by receivers in decisions on whether to retreat or to escalate a fight. This has been studied intensively in species that sing discontinuously, in which songs are alternating with silent pauses. We studied contextual variation in the song of skylarks (Alauda arvensis), a songbird with a large vocal repertoire and a continuous and versatile singing style. We exposed subjects to simulated territorial intrusions by broadcasting conspecific song and recorded their vocal responses. We found that males sing differently if they are singing spontaneously with no other conspecific around than if they are territorially challenged. In this last case, males produced lower-frequency syllables. Furthermore, they increased the sound density of their song: they increased the proportion of sound within song. They seem to do so by singing different elements of their repertoire when singing reactively. Furthermore, they increased the consistency of mean peak frequency: they repeated syllable types with less variability when singing reactively. Such contextual variation suggests that skylarks might use low frequencies, sound density, and song consistency to indicate their competitive potential, and thus, those song features might be important for mutual assessment of competitive abilities.     

Fuel loss and flexible fuel deposition rates in a long-distance migrant

Most migrating birds alternate flight bouts with stopovers, during which they rest and replenish the fuel used during flight (refueling). The rate of refueling (fuel deposition rate, FDR) affects stopover duration, and hence is an important determinant of the overall time required for migration. Although environmental and endogenous factors affect FDR, the urge to refuel depends on the anticipated distance to be travelled and possibly also on the amount of fuel used during the flight preceding stopover. Combining a field study with a fasting–refueling experiment on long-term captive songbirds, we tested whether the extent of fuel loss prior to refueling indeed affects FDR. In the field study, we took a comparative approach and determined FDR in two subspecies of northern wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) that differ greatly in the distance flown, and thus the extent of fuel used to reach our study (stopover) site. As both winter in western sub-Sahelian Africa, they face the same remaining migration distance. We found that FDR was higher in the subspecies that uses more fuel to get to our study site. Solidifying this result, in the experiment on captive northern wheatears, we found that the extent of fuel loss as a consequence of fasting explained most of the variation in subsequent FDR. The observation that experimental birds losing little fuel did not maximize their FDR suggests there are costs to rapid refueling. Our study shows that FDR is shaped not just by current environmental and endogenous conditions but also by fuel loss prior to refueling.     

Moisture effects on eolian particle entrainment

In wind tunnel experiments, we study the effects of soil moisture on the threshold condition to entrain fine grain sand/silt into eolian flow and the near-bed concentration of airborne particles. To study the effect of particle shape on moisture bonding, we use two types of particles nearly equal in size: spherical glass beads $(d_{50} = 134\,\upmu \mathrm{m})$ and sieved quartz sand $(d_{50} = 139 \,\upmu \mathrm{m})$ . Both are poorly graded soils. We conducted these experiments at low moisture contents $({<}1\,\%)$ . We found that the spherical particles were more sensitive to changes in moisture than the sand, attributable to the large differences in specific surface area of the two particles. The larger specific surface area for sand is due to the surface roughness of the angular sand particle. Consequently, sand “stores” more moisture via surface adsorption, requiring higher soil moisture content to form liquid bridges between sand particles. Based on these findings, we extend the concept of a threshold moisture content, $w^{\prime }$ —originally proposed for clayey soils—to soils that lack any measureable clay content. This allows application of existing models developed for clayey soils that quantify the moisture effect on the threshold friction velocity to sand and silty soils (i.e., clay content $=$ 0). Additionally, we develop a model that quantifies the moisture effects on near-surface airborne particulate concentration, using experimental observations to determine the functional dependence on fluid and particle properties, including soil specific area. These models can be applied to numerical simulation of particulate plume formation and dispersion.     

The proton binding properties of biosorbents

Environmental Chemistry Letters - A broad variety of materials of biological origin have been successfully used in recent decades for the removal of pollutants from waters. These biosorbents...     

Ethics and governance for internet-based conservation science research

Internet-based research is increasingly important for conservation science and has wide-ranging applications and contexts, including culturomics, illegal wildlife trade, and citizen science. However, online research methods pose a range of ethical and legal challenges. Online data may be protected by copyright, database rights, or contract law. Privacy rights may also restrict the use and access of data, as well as ethical requirements from institutions. Online data have real-world meaning, and the ethical treatment of individuals and communities must not be marginalized when conducting internet-based research. As ethics frameworks originally developed for biomedical applications are inadequate for these methods, we propose that research activities involving the analysis of preexisting online data be treated analogous to offline social science methods, in particular, nondeceptive covert observation. By treating internet users and their data with respect and due consideration, conservationists can uphold the public trust needed to effectively address real-world issues.     

Human predisposition to cognitive impairment and its relation with environmental exposure to potentially toxic elements

New lines of evidence suggest that less than 10% of neurodegenerative diseases have a strict genetic aetiology and other factors may be prevalent. Environmental exposures to potentially toxic elements appear to be a risk factor for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and sclerosis diseases. This study proposes a multidisciplinary approach combining neurosciences, psychology and environmental sciences while integrating socio-economic, neuropsychological, environmental and health data. We present the preliminary results of a neuropsychological assessment carried out in elderly residents of the industrial city of Estarreja. A battery of cognitive tests and a personal questionnaire were administered to the participants. Multivariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to identify potential relationships between the cognitive status of the participants and environmental exposure to potentially toxic elements. The results suggest a relationship between urinary PTEs levels and the incidence of cognitive disorders. They also point towards water consumption habits and profession as relevant factors of exposure. Linear regression models show that aluminium (R ² = 38%), cadmium (R ² = 11%) and zinc (R ² = 6%) are good predictors of the scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination cognitive test. Median contents (µg/l) in groundwater are above admissible levels for drinking water for aluminium (371), iron (860), manganese (250), and zinc (305). While the World Health Organization does not provide health-based reference values for aluminium, results obtained from this study suggest that it may have an important role in the cognitive status of the elderly. Urine proved to be a suitable biomarker of exposure both to elements with low and high excretion rates.     

Characterization and modelling of the heat transfers in a pilot-scale reactor during composting under forced aeration

The paper focused on the modelling of the heat transfers during composting in a pilot-scale reactor under forced aeration. The model took into account the heat production and the transfers by evaporation, convection between material and gas crossing the material, conduction and surface convection between gas and material in bottom and upper parts of the reactor. The model was adjusted thanks to the measurements practised during fifteen composting experiments in which five organic wastes were, each, composted under three constant aeration rates. Heat production was considered proportional to oxygen consumption rate and the enthalpy per mole oxygen consumed was assumed constant. The convective heat transfer coefficients were determined on basis of the continuous measurements of the temperatures of both the lid and the bottom part of the reactor. The model allowed a satisfying prediction of the temperature of the composting material. In most cases, the mean absolute discard between the experimental and the simulated temperatures was inferior to 2.5°C and the peaks of temperature occurred with less than 8h delay. For the half of the experiments the temperature discard between the simulated peak and the experimental one was inferior to 5°C. On basis of the calculation of a stoichiometric production of water through oxidation of the biodegradable organic matter, the simulation of water going out from material as vapour also allowed a rather satisfying prediction of the mass of water in final mixture. The influence of the aeration rate on every type of heat loss was characterized. Finally, the model was used to evaluate the impacts on material temperature caused by the change of the insulation thickness, the ambient temperature, take the lid away, the increase or the decrease of the mass of waste to compost.     

Evidence of nitrification and denitrification in high and low microbial abundance sponges

Aerobic and anaerobic microbial key processes were quantified and compared to microbial numbers and morphological structure in Mediterranean sponges. Direct counts on histological sections stained with DAPI showed that sponges with high microbial abundances (HMA sponges) have a denser morphological structure with a reduced aquiferous system compared to low microbial abundance (LMA) sponges. In Dysidea avara, the LMA sponge, rates of nitrification and denitrification were higher than in the HMA sponge Chondrosia reniformis, while anaerobic ammonium oxidation and sulfate reduction were below detection in both species. This study shows that LMA sponges may host physiologically similar microbes with comparable or even higher metabolic rates than HMA sponges, and that anaerobic processes such as denitrification can be found both in HMA and LMA sponges. A higher concentration of microorganisms in the mesohyl of HMA compared to LMA sponges may indicate a stronger retention of and, hence, a possible benefit from associated microbes.