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Molecular and morphological characterisation of the metacercariae of two species of Cardiocephaloides (Digenea: Strigeidae) infecting endemic South African klipfish (Perciformes: Clinidae) /
No full textSouth African clinids are a major component of the temperate intertidal regions that are also known to participate in life cycles and transmission of several groups of parasites. However, the knowledge of trematode diversity of these fishes is incomplete. In this study, two species of Clinus Cuvier, the super klipfish Clinus superciliosus (Linnaeus) and the bluntnose klipfish Clinus cottoides Valenciennes, were collected from six localities along the South African coast and examined for the presence of trematodes. Metacercariae of Cardiocephaloides Sudarikov, 1959 were found in the eye vitreous humour and brain of C. superciliosus and in the eye vitreous humour of C. cottoides. Detailed analyses integrating morphological and molecular sequence data (28S rDNA, ITS2 rDNA-region, and COI mtDNA) revealed that these belong to two species, Cardiocephaloides physalis (Lutz, 1926) and an unknown species of Cardiocephaloides. This study provides the first report of clinid fishes serving as intermediate hosts for trematodes, reveals that the diversity of Cardiocephaloides in South Africa is higher than previously recorded, and highlights the need for further research to elucidate the life cycles of these trematode species. The broad geographical distribution of Cardiocephaloides spp. was confirmed in the present study based on molecular sequence data. The host-parasite interactions between clinid fishes and metacercariae of Cardiocephaloides are yet to be explored
Mycobiota in the carposphere of sour and sweet cherries and antagonistic features of potential biocontrol yeasts /
No full textSour cherries (Prunus cerasus L.) and sweet cherries (P. avium L.) are economically important fruits with high potential in the food industry and medicine. In this study, we analyzed fungal communities associated with the carposphere of sour and sweet cherries that were freshly harvested from private plantations and purchased in a food store. Following DNA isolation, a DNA fragment of the ITS2 rRNA gene region of each sample was individually amplified and subjected to high-throughput NGS sequencing. Analysis of 168,933 high-quality reads showed the presence of 690 fungal taxa. Investigation of microbial ASVs diversity revealed plant-dependent and postharvest handling-affected fungal assemblages. Among the microorganisms inhabiting tested berries, potentially beneficial or pathogenic fungi were documented. Numerous cultivable yeasts were isolated from the surface of tested berries and characterized by their antagonistic activity. Some of the isolates, identified as Aureobasidium pullulans, Metschnikowia fructicola, and M. pulcherrima, displayed pronounced activity against potential fungal pathogens and showed attractiveness for disease control
Taxon-level assessment of the data collection quality in Atlas Florae Europaeae: insights from the case of Rosa (Rosaceae) in Eastern Europe /
No full textBy the method of data re-collection and re-assessment, we here test the completeness of distribution areas of the species and species aggregates of Rosa in Eastern Europe as mapped in volume 13 of Atlas Florae Europaeae (AFE), and discuss insights into the issues connected with the data. We found many new occurrences which are additions to the published maps: 1068 records of species and 570 records of species aggregates. The new occurrences are listed with references to the sources, and the updated AFE maps are provided. The greatest increase by new native occurrences was revealed for the species that are widespread or taxonomically complicated, and by new alien occurrences for the species that currently expand their secondary distribution areas. The mapping work published in 2004 is considered good, with minor omissions caused by possible oversights and incomplete sampling. The majority of new additions originated in the period after the original data collection. Nearly the same amount of new data originated from larger and smaller herbarium collections, underlining the value of small collections for chorological studies. We found that only ca 20% of new records based on herbarium specimens have been published, thus highlighting the need for data papers for publication of distributional data. The greatest increase by new records based on herbarium specimens was found for insufficiently studied territories (Belarus, central, northern and eastern parts of Russia), whereas the same level of increase for the territories with reasonably good coverage (Latvia) was achieved by observations. We conclude that the overall sparsity of published records in Eastern Europe is caused by a lower level of data collection rather than by poor data availability, and that floristic surveys based on herbarium specimens cannot compete in speed and density of records with observation-based surveys, which may become the main source of distributional information in the future
Fiziologinė žirnių reakcija į sintetinių auksinų ir auksinų tipo herbicido poveikįvv.
No full texthe effect of exogenously applied 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) on growth and antioxidant defence of pea plants, preliminary treated with two synthetic auxin compounds 1-[2-chloroethoxycarbonyl-methyl]-4-naphthalenesulfonic acid calcium salt (TA-12) and 1-[2-dimethylaminoethoxycarbonylmethyl]naphthalene chlormethylate (TA-14) was examined. All chemicals were applied by foliar spraying. Applied alone, TA-12 and TA-14 had no significant effects, but they modulated the 2,4-D induced changes on most investigated biochemical parameters. The shoot fresh weight reduction caused by 2,4-D was partially overcome by the use of TAs. The use of TAs partially overcame the shoot fresh weight reduction induced by 2,4-D. Apart from this, no significant changes were observed in the other biometric parameters. Treatment with 2,4-D did not enhance lipid peroxidation, and hydrogen peroxide content was slightly increased. These data indicate that treatment with 2,4-D did not cause severe oxidative stress, which is also confirmed by the results of the antioxidant defence system. The application of 2,4-D provoked mild accumulation of thiol-containing compounds, free proline and phenolic compounds and increased the antioxidant enzyme activities (GST, SOD, CAT, POD and GR) to a moderate degree. Pretreatment with TAs noticeably decreased the non-enzymatic antioxidants (free proline, total phenolics and total low-molecular thiols) compared to plants treated with 2,4-D only. Except for GR, TAs pretreatment returned the enzyme activities to levels close to the controls. Based on the results obtained, we suggest that the application of both synthetic auxins could modulate 2,4-D herbicide effects.vvv
New species of plume moths (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae) from china, sichuan province /
No full textThree new species of plume moths are described from southwestern China (Sichuan Province): Platyptilia butvila Ustjuzhanin, Kovtunovich et Saldai-tis sp.n., Platyptilia duda Ustjuzhanin, Kovtunovich et Saldaitis, sp.n., and Hellinsia alena Ustjuzhanin, Kov-tunovich et Saldaitis, sp.n. Additionally, the paper con-tains new data on the distribution of four other species of the family one of which, Amblyptilia direptalis (Walk-er, 1864) is reported from China for the first time
Cyana shirakawai, a new species from south-eastern Xizang, China (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini) /
No full textA new species of the genus Cyana Walker, 1854, Cyana shirakawai sp. n. is described from Motuo and Bomi Counties of the Xizang Autonomous Region of China. The diagnostic comparison is made with Cyana divakara (Moore, [1866]) and Cyana britomartis N. Singh & Volynkin, 2020. The lectotype is designated for Bizone divakara Moore, [1866]. Adults and male and female genitalia are illustrated
Avian malaria and related parasites from resident and migratory birds in the brazilian atlantic forest, with description of a new Haemoproteus species /
No full textDetermining the prevalence and local transmission dynamics of parasitic organisms are necessary to understand the ability of parasites to persist in host populations and disperse across regions, yet local transmission dynamics, diversity, and distribution of haemosporidian parasites remain poorly understood. We studied the prevalence, diversity, and distributions of avian haemosporidian parasites of the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon among resident and migratory birds in Serra do Mar, Brazil. Using 399 blood samples from 66 Atlantic Forest bird species, we determined the prevalence and molecular diversity of these pathogens across avian host species and described a new species of Haemoproteus. Our molecular and morphological study also revealed that migratory species were infected more than residents. However, vector infective stages (gametocytes) of Leucocytozoon spp., the most prevalent parasites found in the most abundant migrating host species in Serra do Mar (Elaenia albiceps), were not seen in blood films of local birds suggesting that this long-distance Austral migrant can disperse Leucocytozoon parasite lineages from Patagonia to the Atlantic Forest, but lineage sharing among resident species and local transmission cannot occur in this part of Brazil. Our study demonstrates that migratory species may harbor a higher diversity and prevalence of parasites than resident species, but transportation of some parasites by migratory hosts may not always affect local transmission
Caloplaca tephromelae (Teloschistaceae), a new lichenicolous species from Tasmania /
No full textCaloplaca tephromelae Kantvilas, Suija & Motiej., a lichenicolous species growing on saxicolous thalli of species of Tephromela, is described from Tasmania. The new species is characterized by lecanorine to zeorine apothecia with a whitish grey thalline margin devoid of anthraquinone pigments, a non-inspersed hymenium, paraphyses without oil vacuoles and ascospores 10–14 × 5–8 μm, with a septum 5–8 μm thick. It is compared with selected taxa of Caloplaca s. lat. that share these salient features. Molecular data support the distinctiveness of the new species but do not suggest any obvious close relatives
High iron requirements for growth in the nuisance alga Gonyostomum semen (Raphidophyceae) /
No full textThe bloom-forming freshwater alga Gonyostomum semen is associated with acidic, mesotrophic brown water lakes in boreal regions. However, researchers have been unable to conclusively link G. semen abundance and bloom formation to typical brown water lake traits, that is, high water color and DOC (dissolved organic carbon) concentrations. Iron is a main driver of water color in boreal lakes, and a recent study of lake monitoring data indicated a connection between lakes with high G. semen abundance and iron concentrations >200 µg · L−1. Thus, iron may be the missing link in explaining G. semen abundance and growth dynamics. We experimentally assessed the effects of different iron concentrations above or below 200 µg · L−1 on the growth of G. semen batch monocultures. Iron concentrations 200 µg · L−1 did not. Moreover, the iron concentration of the medium required for growth was higher than for other common phytoplankton (Microcystis botrys and Chlamydomonas sp.) included in the experiment. These results indicate that G. semen requires high levels of iron in the lake environment. Consequently, this and previous findings using lake monitoring data support the hypothesis that high concentrations of iron favor the formation of high-density G. semen blooms in boreal brown water lakes. As lakes get browner in a changing climate, monitoring iron levels could be a potential tool to identify lakes at risk for G. semen blooms, especially among lakes that provide ecosystem services to society
ConservePlants: An integrated approach to conservation of threatened plants for the 21st Century /
No full textEven though plants represent an essential part of our lives offering exploitational, supporting and cultural services, we know very little about the biology of the rarest and most threatened plant species, and even less about their conservation status. Rapid changes in the environment and climate, today more pronounced than ever, affect their fitness and distribution causing rapid species declines, sometimes even before they had been discovered. Despite the high goals set by conservationists to protect native plants from further degradation and extinction, the initiatives for the conservation of threatened species in Europe are scattered and have not yielded the desired results. The main aim of this Action is to improve plant conservation in Europe through the establishment of a network of scientists and other stakeholders who deal with different aspects of plant conservation, from plant taxonomy, ecology, conservation genetics, conservation physiology and reproductive biology to protected area's managers, not forgetting social scientists, who are crucial when dealing with the general public.vvvv