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Individual Variation in Movement Behavior of Stream-Resident Mediterranean Brown Trout (Salmo trutta Complex)
Get PDFUnderstanding individual movement patterns in stream-resident salmonids is critical for conservation and river management, particularly in Mediterranean streams characterized by high environmental variability. We tagged 997 Mediterranean brown trout (Salmo trutta complex) and conducted an 11-month mark–recapture study using Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) technology to assess movement behavior in the Flamisell River (Ebro Basin, northeastern Iberian Peninsula). Movements followed a leptokurtic distribution, with 81.8% of the individuals classified as sedentary (median movement = 24.9 m) and 18.2% as mobile (median movement = 376.2 m). Generalized linear models revealed distinct drivers of fish movement for each group. In sedentary trout, movement was mainly influenced by mesohabitat type, season, sex, and body size, with males and larger individuals moving farther. In mobile trout, mesohabitat type, density, and body size were key predictors. Movement patterns were repeatable over time, indicating consistent behavioral tendencies. These results support a bimodal movement strategy and highlight the importance of individual variation. Conservation planning should account for both sedentary and mobile groups to preserve functional and genetic connectivity and improve resilience of Mediterranean streams.This research was financially supported by the Biodiversity Conservation Plan of ENDESA.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
First record of Gonipterus platensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and its egg parasitoid Anaphes nitens (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in Paraguay
Get PDFGonipterus platensis Marelli (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) has been detected for the first time in the Caazapá Department, Paraguay. This species is closely related to the eucalyptus snout beetle, which is an invasive pest native to Australia, that causes serious damage to eucalyptus plantations. Gonipterus platensis belongs to a complex of cryptic species (Gonipterus scutellatus species complex) that share morphological similarities, making species differentiation challenging. In addition, oothecae parasitized by Anaphes nitens Girault (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) were found. This record highlights the importance of conducting further studies on the biology and establishment of G. platensis in Paraguay as well as exploring the potential of biological control using A. nitens as a part of an integrated pest management strategy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Determining toxins and harmful contaminants in starfish for future application as organic fertilizer and animal feed
Get PDFStarfish play a crucial role as extraordinary predators in marine ecosystems. They often prey on bivalves, which serve as primary economic resources in certain regions, making their management a top priority. As a result, cleaning operations have been conducted to remove starfish from the coasts, leading to the accumulation of significant waste. Within the context of the circular economy, there is potential for valorizing starfish, transforming them from waste products into valuable resources. However, before doing so, it is essential to analyze the contaminants that starfish can accumulate. To address this, a study was conducted to analyze pollutants in two species of starfish: Marthasterias glacialis and Asterias rubens, collected from the Galician Spanish shores. The goal was to assess their suitability for use as animal feed or fertilizer in agriculture. The study employed optimized methodologies to analyze trace elements, saponins, marine toxins and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The validated protocols for determining these contaminants in starfish showed an acceptable performance in detection, showing the quality parameters of the analytical analysis (recoveries, precision, limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ)). Results indicated that concentrations of the legislated contaminants in the starfish samples from the Galician shores did not exceed the current EU legislation standards. Consequently, in terms of toxicology, starfish matrix could be considered a suitable raw material for the use in animal feed or as crop fertilizer.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. This work was supported by Fundación Biodiversidad, Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto demográfico, through Programa Pleamar cofinanced by Fondo Europeo Marítimo y de Pesca (FEMP), and CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya. The MS laboratory (S2MOs) was funded by the “Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (FRS-FNRS)” through the acquisition of the Waters QToF Premier and the Waters SYNAPT G2-Si mass spectrometers. Philippe Savarino is grateful to the F.R.I.A for financial support.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Side effects of pesticides used in organic and conventional tomato crops on Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris, a parasitoid of Tuta absoluta
Get PDFBACKGROUND
Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris is a key biological control agent of Tuta absoluta, one of the most destructive pests in tomato crops worldwide. As part of integrated pest management (IPM) programs, pesticides are commonly applied to control multiple pests. However, their compatibility with parasitoids such as D. gelechiidivoris remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the impact of eight commonly used pesticides on D. gelechiidivoris through four exposure routes relevant to field conditions.
RESULTS
Among the pesticides tested, spinosad and cyantraniliprole were the most toxic, causing up to 90% adult mortality via fresh residues and topical exposure. These compounds also showed high ingestion toxicity and completely suppressed parasitoid emergence from parasitized hosts. Conversely, sulfur, spiromesifen and spirotetramat had a low impact on adult survival, and allowed parasitoid emergence rates similar to the control. Notably, Bacillus thuringiensis significantly reduced female egg load without increasing adult mortality, indicating a sublethal reproductive effect. Overall, pesticide impact varies depending on the exposure route, with contact and topical exposure generally leading to higher mortality than ingestion or effects on immature stages.
CONCLUSION
This study highlights substantial variation in the side effects of IPM-compatible pesticides on D. gelechiidivoris. While some products were highly disruptive, others proved more selective and compatible with biological control. These findings support more informed pesticide selection in tomato IPM, balancing effective T. absoluta control with the conservation of key parasitoids. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.We thank Víctor Muñoz, Pilar Hernández and Marc Vila-Sala for their valuable technical assistance throughout the experimental work. This research was supported by the ADOPT-IPM project funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe programme (grant agreement no. 101060430) and through Operation 16.01.01 for Innovation Cooperation under the Rural Development Programme of Catalonia 2014–2022. The CERCA Programme of the Generalitat de Catalunya provided additional support.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Can we mitigate pain associated with castration in beef cattle at early (<6 months of age) ages? A review from a Canadian perspective
Get PDFThe objective of this paper was to review the literature regarding castration method, age, and pain mitigation strategies assessed in young beef calves under 6-months-of-age, summarize study findings and provide guidance regarding best practice for controlling pain in young calves. Collectively, research shows that knife castration resulted in a greater number and magnitude of acute indicators of pain lasting up to 7 days, while banding caused both acute and longer-term pain associated with inflammation lasting several weeks. In addition, calves <2-months-of-age generally healed faster, had reduced physiological responses, and had better growth recovery post-castration compared to calves between 2 and <6-months-of-age. Administration of a local anesthetic in combination with an analgesic effectively reduced behavioural and physiological indicators of pain. Given that less pain was observed in younger calves, knife castration resulted in shorter-term pain with faster healing than banding, and pain control is more easily achieved for acutely painful procedures; knife castration soon after birth (≤2-months-of-age), conducted using pain control is recommended. Future studies should focus on comparing the effects of varying castration techniques within castration methods as well as drug delivery and timing techniques that could further improve pain control strategies in castrated calves.The authors declare no specific funding for this workinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Automated pixel-based quantification of porcine circovirus 2 genome in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues using in situ hybridisation
Get PDFIntroduction: Detection of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) in lymphoid tissues is essential for diagnostic and research purposes. In situ hybridisation (ISH) enables the localisation of viral genomes in tissue sections but is traditionally assessed visually, which may introduce subjectivity.
Methods: This study developed an automated pixel classifier to quantify the PCV2 genome using RNAscope® ISH technology. Four lymphoid tissues (tonsils and tracheobronchial, mesenteric, and superficial inguinal lymph nodes) from 66 experimentally inoculated pigs were analysed. PCV2 labelling was assessed both visually (scores 0–3) and digitally (percentage of labelled area).
Results: A strong correlation was observed between visual and digital ISH scoring (ρ = 0.96), allowing the definition of digital thresholds corresponding to visual scores. Among all tissues, TBLN exhibited the highest PCV2 labelling. This tissue was further evaluated by PCV2 quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), showing a high correlation with digital ISH results (ρ = 0.85).
Discussion: These findings demonstrate the reliability of digital pathology tools for objective quantification of PCV2 in lymphoid tissues. Automated scoring enhances consistency, reduces observer bias, and improves diagnostic efficiency in PCV2 research and surveillance.The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This work was funded by Ceva Santé Animale, and Mònica Sagrera is also holder of an Industrial Doctorat grant from the Catalan Government (Spain), with the reference no. 2022 DI 56.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Secondary Production and Biomass Dynamics of Mediterranean Brown Trout (Salmo trutta Complex) in Pyrenean Headwater Streams
Get PDFFish secondary production integrates multiple demographic parameters, including population density, growth, mortality, and recruitment, and thereby provides a comprehensive measure of ecological performance. It is also a valuable tool for assessing the ecological integrity of stream ecosystems and the responses of fish populations to habitat alteration, climatic variability, and anthropogenic pressures. Despite its relevance, empirical estimates of fish production remain limited due to methodological constraints. In this study, we quantified secondary production and production-to-biomass (P/B) ratios for Mediterranean brown trout (Salmo trutta complex) across six headwater stream reaches in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula, characterized by contrasting hydrological regimes, channel morphology, and water chemistry. Field sampling was conducted over two consecutive annual cycles (2008/2009 and 2009/2010) at all sites, with extended monitoring at two reaches until 2017 to assess long-term variability. Annual trout production, over the two consecutive annual cycles, ranged from 30.9 to 167.8 kg ha−1 year−1 (mean = 82.2 kg ha−1 year−1), and mean P/B ratios ranged from 0.61 to 1.13 (mean = 0.80). These values fall within the intermediate range reported for brown trout globally and reflect the constrained energy dynamics of Mediterranean streams. Higher production was generally associated with strong age-1 recruitment, elevated standing biomass, and greater water alkalinity. Long-term analyses revealed that interannual variation in trout production was significantly correlated with discharge variability, with higher production occurring under more stable flow conditions. However, in addition to flow variability other factors, such as habitat complexity, may modulate local productivity. Consequently, interannual fluctuations at the long-term sites revealed substantial demographic variability influenced by site-specific environmental conditions. These findings offer reference baselines for Mediterranean trout populations and contribute to the ecological basis for their conservation and management.This research received no external funding.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Andrzej Witkowski was right: Tryblionella compressa is not a Tryblionella
Get PDFTryblionella punctata was described by W. Smith in 1853, transferred to Nitzschia by
Grunow in 1880, and returned to Tryblionella in 1990 by Round et al., when the genus was restored
and 41 species transferred into it from Nitzschia. Meanwhile, the species was claimed to be a synonym of Pyxidicula compressa by Boyer, who made the new combination Nitzschia compressa,
though most authors continued to use N. punctata. The 1990 restoration of Tryblionella was not
accepted by some, including Andrzej Witkowski et al. in their key work on coastal marine diatoms
[2000, Diatom Flora of Marine Coasts], but others did accept it and M. Poulin accordingly made
the new combination T. compressa. Although we demonstrate that T. compressa (as currently understood in the literature and exemplified by isolates from a coastal lagoon) has wide valves, an almost
marginal raphe system, a strongly undulate valve face and a marginal ridge, like most species assigned to Tryblionella, molecular evidence indicates that it is not related to the group containing the
type of Tryblionella, T. acuminata. Instead, it belongs to a clade (Bacillariaceae clade 8B) containing lanceolate Nitzschia species such as N. amphibia, N. inconspicua and N. reskoi, as well as Denticula kuetzingii. Some morphological characters support the same relationship, notably the structure of the girdle, which has alternating wide and narrow bands in the epitheca. Morphology suggests
further that T. lanceola is a close relative. Both species need to be removed from Tryblionella but
Bacillariaceae clade 8B does not correspond to any single accepted, named genus and there is no
named monophyletic group to which they can yet be transferred. Until a consensus is reached about
generic circumscriptions in the Bacillariaceae, we suggest that the classification of the two species
should revert to the pre-1990 state (i.e. assignment to Nitzschia), to maximize continuity with older
literature and maintain the current naming of isolate CCMP561, which is a strain widely used in
genomic and biochemical studies. This also solves the problem that, on the basis of Bailey’s description and illustrations, ‘compressa’ cannot be used for this species. In contrast, authentic Smith material and illustrations of T. punctata agree well morphologically, though not perfectly, with the three
genetically characterized isolates, allowing them all to be assigned for the moment to N. punctata
sensu lato. Witkowski et al.’s caution about the 1990 changes was abundantly justified.R.T. is grateful for support from SYNTHESYS, http://www.synthesys.info, financed by a European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 ‘‘Capacities’’ Program. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is supported by the Scottish Government's Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division and IRTA receives support from the CERCA Programme/ Generalitat de Catalunya. We thank David Mateu (IRTA) for collecting the Alfacs sample; Dr Shinya Sato (Fukui Prefectural University) for isolating the two strains during a research fellowship at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; and two reviewers for their careful reading and suggestions. Dr Kanae Nishi has worked tirelessly to keep the SEM and light microscopes running at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; without her oversight and understanding, this study would not have been possible and we are very grateful to her. This paper is dedicated to our late colleague and friend Professor Andrzej Witkowski. We will always remember his generosity and good humour, and we miss very much his wisdom and deep knowledge of the diatoms. It is an honour to have known him and worked with him.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Culturomics Reveals Microbial Dynamics in the AppleCarposphere Across Developmental Stages, Altitude andTissue Types
No full textThe apple carposphere harbours a diverse community of microorganisms that could play a crucial role in fruit health andpostharvest preservation. While culture‐independent techniques have advanced our understanding of the apple microbiome, asubstantial portion of this community remains unexplored due to cultivation limitations. In this study, a culturomics approachwas adopted using culture media enriched with apple‐derived nutrients to recover and characterise the epiphytic and en-dophytic bacterial and fungal communities of apple fruits. Aiming to analyse the effects of the altitude and developmental stageof the fruit on these microbial communities. To do this, the impact of altitude (Pyrenees mountain vs. Ebro valley), fruitdevelopmental stage (30 days before harvest vs. harvest) and tissue type (epiphytes vs. endophytes) was assessed on microbialdiversity and composition across four orchards in Catalonia, Spain. Using 13 distinct culture media, 50% more microbial generawere recovered than conventional laboratory media, yielding over 919 isolates, consisting of 489 bacteria, 222 filamentous fungiand 208 yeasts. The results showed that altitude, developmental stage and type of culture media influenced microbial diversityand composition. Richness of endophytic fungi was more influenced by altitude and developmental stage than epiphytic fungaland bacterial communities. On the other hand, bacterial community composition was strongly influenced by the type of culturemedium used. Functional characterisation of isolates revealed potential biocontrol agents and plant pathogens, with somegenera displaying altitude‐specific distributions. Our findings demonstrate that culturomics provides an essential tool to unlockthe hidden diversity of fruit‐associated microbiomes, paving the way for future applications in sustainable agriculture andpostharvest disease management.This work has been financially supported by the Spanish ‘Agencia Estatal de Investigación’ (AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the national project PID2020-117607RR-I00 (ENVIRONAPPLE).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Metagenomic survey reveals Volzhskoe tick virus in Hyalomma ticks for the first time in western Europe, North-Eastern Spain
No full textTicks are reservoirs and vectors of several emerging arboviruses, yet their associated virome remains poorly characterized. Using meta-transcriptomic sequencing, we surveyed Hyalomma marginatum and Rhipicephalus bursa ticks collected from areas with contrasting Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) seroprevalence in wild ungulates in north-eastern Spain, a region with no reported CCHF cases in humans. While CCHFV RNA was not detected, we identified Volzhskoe tick virus (VTV), a recently described member of the class Bunyaviricetes, first identified in Russia, in H. marginatum from the Ports de Tortosa i Beseit Natural Park—making its first report of VTV in Western Europe. These findings suggest a broader distribution of VTV and raise important questions about its potential interactions with CCHFV, pathogenicity and host range. Moreover, our approach underscores the value of metagenomic surveillance for improving our understanding of tick-borne virus ecology.Laura Carrera-Faja was funded through the 2022 FI Scholarship, Departament de Recerca i Universitats, Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain (FI_B 00723). The present study was funded by Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica, Técnica y de Innovación, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Gobierno de España. Proyectos de generación de conocimiento: 2021-2023PID2021-126996OA-I00; PID2024-158857OB-C21. The present study was funded by the Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, Departament de Recerca i Universitats, Generalitat de Catalunya. Projectes de recerca per a la mitigació i adaptació al canvi climàtic: 2023CLIMA00103.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio