Ecological Status of a Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758) Population at the Southern Edge of its Distribution (River Paiva, Portugal)

An important population of the critically endangered pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera (Linnaeus, 1758) was surveyed at the edge of its southern distribution (River Paiva, Portugal). Although an earlier study suggested that this population had a very low number of individuals (<500), a narrow distribution, and was mainly comprised by old specimens our data contradict these findings. Our assessment estimated a population with probably more than 5,000 individuals distributed across 80 km of the river length. From the 32 sites surveyed, 19 contained M. margaritifera with higher abundances verified in the middle and upper parts of the river (a maximum of 78 ind. per 100 m of river stretch was recorded). The pearl mussels showed a clear preference for areas near the banks, in shallow water, sandier and gravel sediments, and a high degree of riparian vegetation cover. The population structure was skewed with a very high percentage of large (and old) animals but 3.7 % of the individuals collected were juveniles (<60 mm in length); therefore, this population can be considered functional. Environmental characterization indicated that this river is still in excellent or good condition although some areas showed deterioration due to discharge of domestic effluents. The main conservation requirements of M. margaritifera in the River Paiva include maintaining the water quality (and if possible stopping the discharge of domestic effluents), increasing riparian vegetation cover, removing several weirs to increase connectivity, and increasing trout density.     

‘Green On Green’: Public perceptions of wind power in Scotland and Ireland

The wind energy debate represents a new kind of environmental controversy which divides environmentalists of different persuasions who attach contrasting priority to global and local concerns. Case studies of public attitudes towards existing and proposed windfarm developments in Scotland and Ireland are used to test three counter-intuitive hypotheses derived from previous attitudinal research. These are: (a) that local people become more favourable towards windfarms after construction; (b) that the degree of acceptance increases with proximity to them; and (c) that the NIMBY syndrome(not-in-my-back-yard) does not adequately explain variations in public attitudes. All three hypotheses are supported by this study. Large majorities favour wind power development in principle and in (local) practice. Although some aspects of NIMBY attitudes exist, the surveys reveal an ‘inverse NIMBY’ syndrome, whereby those with windfarms in their ‘backyard’ strongly support the technology. The research endorses the view that aesthetic perceptions, both positive and negative, are the strongest single influence on individuals' attitudes towards wind power projects. Comparison of the current institutional factors driving wind energy development with those during earlier eras of hydro-power development and large-scale afforestation emphasizes the need for strategic planning guidance. The potential for using a planning-led approach to windfarm developments by adopting ‘Indicative Windfarm Strategies’ is discussed.     

Pregnancy outcome after transcervical cvs with a flexible biopsy forceps: Evaluation of risk factors

The pregnancy outcome of 1936 women who had transcervical chorionic villus sampling (CVS) with a flexible biopsy forceps was evaluated. Follow-up until 4 weeks after delivery was 99.4 per cent. Various patient- and procedure-related risk factors for spontaneous loss (fetal or neonatal death) were analysed using stepwise logistic regression analysis. The overall spontaneous loss rate was 4.5 per cent. Factors found to be significantly associated with spontaneous loss were quantity of villi ≤ 15 mg (relative risk (RR) 2.13), a history of first-trimester miscarriage (RR 1.87) or delivery between 16 and 27 weeks (RR 3.87), cervical culture positive for anaerobes (RR 4.52) or group B streptococcus (RR 3.62), post-procedural bleeding >3 days (RR 1.99), and multiple insertions (RR 2.64). Significant differences in loss rates between individual operators were found. A learning effect was not present. There were no infants born with terminal transversal limb anomalies in our series.     

Could the predation risk hypothesis explain large-scale spatial sexual segregation in fallow deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dama dama</Emphasis>)?

Large-scale spatial segregation was assessed by means of radio-telemetry in 48 fallow deer studied for 4 years. Three hypotheses have traditionally been used to explain sexual segregation: (1) the predation risk hypothesis, (2) the forage selection hypothesis, (3) the activity budget hypothesis. The first of these seems to be a valid explanation of large-scale segregation in fallow deer at San Rossore, where the use by the two sexes of areas characterized by intense anthropic disturbance, during the day, was compared with other areas not affected by human pressure. Males showed a high use of disturbed areas, both during the day and the night, with the exception of the rutting period, when they reached more remote areas to mate. Females frequented disturbed areas only during the night, with the exception of the birth period, when sexual segregation peaked because females never used these areas, not even during the night. The forage selection hypothesis was invalid on a large scale, considering that no differences between the degree of day and night sexual segregation were to be expected. However, the predation risk hypothesis seems not to be a valid explanation of small-scale sexual segregation, when further subdivisions of disturbed areas are considered, because sexes proved to be segregated also during the night in the area they both used. This emphasizes both the importance of scale in understanding ecological processes, since a combination of many different factors may be responsible for the evolution of sexual segregation in ungulates, and the importance of human pressure in influencing deer behaviour.Communicated by T. Czeschlik     

Olfaction in the female sheep botfly

The nasal botfly Oestrus ovis (Diptera, Cyclorrhapha: Oestridae) is a myiasis-causing insect species, which affects the health of sheep, goats and humans. Gravid females are viviparous and larviposit into the animal’s nostrils. Host-searching and larvipositing flies are visually guided and influenced by climatic conditions, whereas olfaction seemed to play no role in this process. However, here, we show that the antennae of adult O. ovis female flies are relatively small but well developed and inhabited by several types of olfactory sensilla. Further, we show that the antennal lobes of this species receive input from antennal afferents and consist of a clearly defined glomerular organisation. We also give the first evidence of the fly’s ability to detect several synthetic odour compounds. Our findings provide a morpho-functional basis for future investigations on olfactory-mediated behaviour of this insect pest.     

Localization of granulatimide alkaloids in the tissues of the ascidian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Didemnum</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">granulatum</Emphasis>

Ascidians are a notable source of nitrogen-bearing secondary metabolites with a wide range of biological activities. Although many biologically active compounds have been isolated from ascidians, it is often unclear whether the animal or associated microbial symbionts such as bacteria or fungi are the true biosynthetic source of the metabolites. We have addressed the question of the biosynthetic source of the alkaloids granulatimide and isogranulatimides by localizing these compounds within the ascidian. In this work, we demonstrate that granulatimide is stored in Didemnum granulatum tunic bladder cells. Analysis by confocal fluorescence microscopy at the granulatimide emission range indicated the presence of fluorescent cells as highly vacuolated cells found dispersed in the ascidian tunic. Since this is the most exposed ascidian tissue, it is possible that these alkaloids may have a protective role, either as sunscreens and/or as feeding deterrents.     

Ecological sexual segregation in fallow deer (Dama dama): a multispatial and multitemporal approach

We questioned the different interpretations of ecological sexual segregation from a novel perspective, i.e., by carrying out diverse temporal and spatial scale analyses within a long-term study (1984–2003). Thus we combined spatial (small/large) and temporal (small/large) scale analyses to identify the factors generating sexual segregation in fallow deer in San Rossore, Italy. The study site was divided into an eastern sector characterized by human disturbance (DS) and a western undisturbed sector (US). According to census data, human presence increased in DS from 1984, and while females gradually abandoned it, males remained—thus supporting the predation risk hypothesis (large spatial and temporal scale)—and actually increased their presence in DS, where they seemingly benefited from a lower female density. This supported the indirect competition hypothesis. The analysis of data on a large temporal and small spatial scale confirmed that intersexual competition, in particular for grass, was higher in a crowded pasture in US. Observations by means of radio-telemetry of 23 adult females and 25 adult males (1997–2001, reduced temporal and large spatial scale) showed that large scale segregation was relevant during the day and disappeared at night, when disturbance was absent and also the females reached DS. This also supported the predation risk hypothesis. Moreover, sexes showed different habitat choices inside DS at night, thus supporting the forage selection hypothesis (small spatial and temporal scale). In conclusion, failure to address the whole set of combinations of spatial and temporal scale analyses would have led to monocausal explanations of ecological sexual segregation.     

Where is the best site for wave energy exploitation? Case study along the coast of northern Latium (ITALY)

The present work proposes a siting process for the detection of a suitable site for wave energy exploitation. The choice of a suitable site is based on the good agreement between energy availability, environmental sustainability, and equipped facilities to exploit wave energy. The case study in the northern Latium coast is explicative because in this area there are several activities that affect marine ecosystems, and the introduction of renewable energies promote the reduction of anthropic pressures. The nearshore wave power is studied through the numerical wave model (CMS-Wave), and available wave buoys along the coast were used to compare numerical results. In correspondence with Civitavecchia harbour, the largest nearshore wave energy was found; the large depth in front of the breakwater allows to conserve a great part of offshore wave power, with an average dissipation rate of 10 % less than offshore, with mean annual available wave energy of 25.4 MWh/m and seasonal fluctuation of 5.4 MWh/m. This area appears to be an optimal site for nearshore and shoreline wave energy device tests and installations, for energy availability (intermediate level respect Mediterreanean Sea), low potential environmental impact, easier accessibility, and policy oriented towards a larger sustainability of harbour activities.     

Benthic vegetation,chlorophyllα and physical-chemical variables in a protected zone of a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Lesina,Italy)

Phytoplankton and benthic vegetation biomass undergoes spatial-temporal changes in relation to their life cycle, but also to meteorological conditions, physical-chemical variables, organic input and internal dynamism. The main aim of this work was to observe the effect of all environmental variables on the vegetative dynamic process in a protected zone of a Mediterranean costal lagoon (Lesina lagoon, SE Italy). Seven samplings were performed from 2010 to 2012 at 30 sites for nutrient and chlorophyll analyses, while TOC measurements and wet biomass evaluation were performed at 10 sites. Temperature, salinity and oxygen saturation were also measured by multiparametric probe and a visual census for vegetation was performed. Sites close to freshwater inflow were characterized by lower temperature and salinity, and high nitrate, with maxima of 191.05 μM in May 2010 and more than 250 μM in October 2010. Silicates drastically decreased from May 2010 (87.57 μM) to July 2010 (6.15 μM) and increased again in October (74.99 μM). Chl a concentrations were not on average higher than 6 mg m^?3, but peaks of 20 mg m^?3 were observed during May 2011 and May 2012. Benthic vegetation wet biomass collected in 2010 was approximately twice that collected in 2012, with a maximum of 27,554 g m^?2 and a dominance of macroalgae (70 % in May 2010 and 40 % in August 2010). During period 2010, a simultaneous and drastic decreasing of both mean values of wet biomass and chl a was observed from May to October 2010. During period 2012 a shift of vegetation biomass was shown from May (phytoplankton prevalence) to August 2012, with angiosperm prevalence (more than 30 %).