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Comparative analysis of endophytic bacterial microbiomes in healthy and phytoplasma-infected European blueberry plants /
No full textPhytoplasma infections pose a significant threat to the ecological equilibrium and economic worth of Vaccinium myrtillus L., the plant’s overall well-being and capacity for fruit production. This study utilized next-generation sequencing techniques targeting the V3–V4 region of 16S rRNA genes to examine the endophytic bacterial communities present in both healthy and infected samples with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni’ and ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii’ related strains. Our findings revealed a total of 1.286 million raw paired-end reads across sequenced samples, which, after quality filtering, resulted in 58,492 high-quality reads without chloroplasts and 1670 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). Infected plants exhibited statistically higher ASV richness (325 ± 71.5) than healthy plants (231 ± 21.9). This divergence suggests that, although more unique taxa were present in infected plants, their distribution was uneven or phylogenetically clustered, resulting in no significant differences in other diversity indices. However, other alpha diversity metrics did not show significant differences between the groups. Beta diversity analyses also indicated no significant differences in community composition between healthy and infected samples. The taxonomic analysis revealed that both groups were dominated by the Pseudomonadota phylum (~47.6%). However, infected plants displayed a higher prevalence of the Acidobacteriota and Myxococcota phyla, whereas healthy plants exhibited a higher prevalence of the Actinomycetota phylum. The data presented in this study suggest that ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ infection may result in mild changes to the bacterial community structure within V. myrtillus. These data provide insights into phytoplasma disease-related changes in the microbial diversity of the plant host
Chemical analysis, repellent, larvicidal, and oviposition deterrent activities of plant essential oils against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae, and Culex quinquefasciatus /
No full textPlant-based essential oils have gained attention as a natural alternative for controlling mosquitoes due to their repellent, larvicidal and oviposition deterrent properties. We tested repellent, larvicidal, and oviposition deterrent effects of essential oils (EOs) of Mentha spicata (L.), Ocimum basilicum (L.), and Abutilon indicum (L.) against three mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) including Aedes aegypti (L.), Anopheles gambiae s. l. Giles, and Culex quinquefasciatus Say by using contact-based technique. In screening bioassays, M. spicata I, M. spicata II, O. basilicum I, O. basilicum II, and A. indicum EOs showed higher repellency against Cx. quinquefasciatus as compared to Ae. aegypti and An. gambiae when tested at 33.3 μg/cm2. In time-span bioassays performed at 33.3 μg/cm2, EO of M. spicata I exhibited 100% repellence up to 45, 30, and 75 min against Ae. aegypti, An. gambiae, and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectively. Interestingly, at this tested dose, M. spicata I and M. spicata II showed higher repellence compared to DEET against Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus after 45 and 75 min, respectively. Their repellency was observed up to 150 and 210 min against Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectively. In larvicidal bioassays, M. spicata I EO proved more toxic against 2nd instar larvae of Ae. aegypti, An. gambiae, and Cx. quinquefasciatus (LC50 = 11.0, 42.9, and 12.6 mg/L, respectively) compared to other tested EOs. In oviposition bioassays, M. spicata I exhibited the highest activity, showing 60%, 46%, and 79% oviposition deterrence against Ae. aegypti, An. gambiae, and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectively, tested at a dose of 600 µg/cm2. Major compounds of M. spicata I, M. spicata II, O. basilicum I, and O. basilicum II EOs were piperitenone oxide (38.8%), piperitone oxide (35.4%), estragole (55.3%), and linalool (43.8%), respectively. In conclusion, M. spicata EO could be used to control mosquitoes and their bites
Enhancing alfalfa (Medicago sativa) seed yield: The effect of honey bee (Apis mellifera) supplementation and efficiency of other pollinators /
No full textAlfalfa (Medicago sativa) is an important fodder crop with 16–25% protein and 20–30% fibre content. It requires pollinators for seed development through a process known as “tripping”. Honey bees are preferred for their easy management and mass rearing to enhance pollination. In a field experiment, we tested three treatments: two honey bee colonies (moderately supplemented), three honey bee colonies (highly supplemented), and a control with no honey bee colonies. The colonies European honey bee, A. mellifera, were used, starting at the flowering stage. We assessed the abundance, foraging, and tripping behaviour of pollinators, as well as the number of seeds per pod, pod weight, and seed weight. Honey bees were the most abundant in supplemented plots, followed by solitary bees, with increased honey bee visitation in the second year. Megachile cephalotes, M. hera, and A. mellifera were the most efficient pollinators regarding seeds per pod and seed weight. The plot with two honey bee colonies had a higher seed yield than the one with three colonies. Conservation of these pollinators and the introduction of managed A. mellifera colonies can lead to sustainable alfalfa seed production. Our findings suggest that honey bee supplementation, along with conservation efforts for solitary bees, can enhance pollination and seed yield in alfalfa
Diet composition of twaite shad, Alosa fallax (Lacépède, 1803), during the spawning migration to the Curonian Lagoon (Lithuania) /
No full textThe nutritional needs of anadromous fish species must be met for successful annual spawning migration and reproduction. Despite its widespread distribution throughout Europe, little is known about the composition of the twaite shad, Alosa fallax, diet in freshwater ecosystems. To redress this, we studied the composition of stomach contents extracted from 287 A. fallax sampled during their spawning migration from the Baltic Sea to the Curonian Lagoon (Lithuania). We found that the diet comprised 32 types of prey, with Insecta (unknown Order), Chironomidae and Daphniidae being the most prevalent taxonomic categories consumed. Our analyses revealed significant differences in the abundance of prey categories (Chironomidae, Insecta—unknown order, and Mysidae) among several size groups of A. fallax, associated with stage of maturity inferred from body length. Despite this being a spawning aggregation, juveniles were also present among the A. fallax we collected. The results imply that feeding behavior and morphometry may be responsible for the differences observed, and further investigation of this topic is warranted
WIMANET: The power of a network in wildlife malaria research /
No full textThe Wildlife Malaria Network (WIMANET) is an EU-COST-funded global network of researchers and stakeholders interested in wildlife malaria and related haemosporidian parasites. The network has six working groups covering a diverse range of core topics within wildlife malaria research, focusing on genetics and genomics, species identification, vectors, haematology, communities, and communication. Up to now, the network includes 229 members from 45 countries including Europe, America, Africa, and Asia, but this number is continually growing. This review outlines the aims and goals of WIMANET, providing a summary of activities and plans for each of the six working groups for the next years. The network is open to new members, and we provide details on how both new and existing members can get involved in the network and take part in activities. WIMANET provides a global platform for collaborative and innovative research, and we encourage all members of the wildlife malaria community (and beyond) to take advantage of the opportunities the network offers
Lake water quality under biomass removal scenarios: Integrating observations and modeling approaches /
No full textEutrophication, driven by excessive nutrient inputs from agriculture, wastewater, and aquaculture, remains a pressing challenge for freshwater ecosystems. In response, the EU Nature Restoration Law (2024) sets ambitious targets for restoring degraded ecosystems, emphasizing the need for effective and scalable lake management strategies. In this study, we assessed current water quality in Lake Simnas (Lithuania) and applied dynamic modeling to evaluate two in-lake restoration scenarios: removing scum-forming cyanobacteria and harvesting emerged macrophytes. While both interventions reduced local biomass, neither led to substantial improvements in chlorophyll-a concentrations or total phosphorus levels. Macrophyte harvesting was particularly ineffective because of the low phosphorus content, limited spatial coverage, and slow growth. In contrast, simulations showed that a 50% reduction in external phosphorus inputs led to a significant improvement in water quality, including a 58% drop in mean TP and a 47% decrease in peak chlorophyll-a. These findings support prioritizing catchment-scale nutrient reduction over isolated biomass removal and highlight the importance of sustained monitoring and integrated management for restoring shallow eutrophic lakes
First records of the black bullhead Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820) and its parasites in Lithuania /
No full textThis study documents a new introduction of Ameiurus melas in Lithuania, discovered within two lentic waterbodies in the summer of 2024. Specimens of A. melas were found at high densities, raising many questions about their potential impacts in the shallow, eutrophic waterbodies in which they were found. Using molecular and morphological identification, the identity of A. melas was confirmed from both waterbodies. The abundance and age structure of A. melas were evaluated and their potential introduction pathways are discussed. An initial parasitological survey revealed that the newcomer co-introduced a monogenean species of North American origin, Ligictaluridus pricei. The study also found that A. melas could facilitate the transmission of local trematodes of the genus Diplostomum in Lithuanian freshwater ecosystems
From experiment to example: evaluating the sustainability of shore nourishment in the Southeastern Baltic (Palanga, Lithuania) /
No full textCoastal erosion and increasingly severe storms present a growing challenge to the sustainable management of sandy shorelines. This study examines the geomorphological, sedimentological and geochemical responses of the Palanga coastal area in the Lithuanian Baltic Sea to beach nourishment projects implemented between 2006 and 2012. A multi-parameter approach was used, combining cross-shore profile monitoring with grain-size, magnetic susceptibility, mineralogical and geochemical analyses, in order to assess sediment redistribution and post-nourishment adjustments. The results demonstrate that nourishment projects substantially increased beach width, height and sand volume; however, the shoreline response was uneven in space and time. Subsequent years were characterised by gradual sediment redistribution along and across the coast, resulting in partial morphological stabilisation. Elevated concentrations of heavy minerals and trace elements immediately after nourishment indicated short-term enrichment from mineralogically distinct material, which was later diluted by natural reworking. The findings demonstrate that properly designed and monitored nourishment enhances coastal resilience, representing a human-induced adjustment within the prevailing coastal morphodynamic regime. While the socio-ecological effects were not directly evaluated, the identified geoindicators offer insights into the physical sustainability of coastal systems, emphasising the importance of evidence-based, adaptive management in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 11, 13 and 14)
Growth-promoting effects of grass root-derived fungi Cadophora fastigiata, Paraphoma fimeti and Plectosphaerella cucumerina on spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) /
No full textMany endophytic fungi are approved as plant growth stimulants, and several commercial biostimulants have already been introduced in agricultural practice. However, there are still many species of fungi whose plant growth-promoting properties have been understudied or not studied at all. We examined the growth-promoting effect in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) induced by three endophytic fungi previously obtained from the roots of Festuca/Lolium grasses. Surface-sterilized seeds were inoculated with a spore suspension of Cadophora fastigiata (isolate BSG003), Paraphoma fimeti (BSG010), Plectosphaerella cucumerina (BSG006), and their spore mixture. Before harvesting, the inoculated plants were grown in a greenhouse, with the barley being in multi-cavity trays for 30 days and ryegrass being placed in an original cylindric element system for 63 days. All three newly tested fungi had a positive effect on the growth of the barley and ryegrass plants, with the most pronounced impact observed in their root size. The fungal inoculations increased the dry shoot biomass between 11% and 26% in Italian ryegrass, but no such impact was observed in barley. The highest root increment was observed in barley. Herein, P. cucumerina and C. fastigiata inoculations were superior to other treatments, showing an increase in root dry weight of 50% compared to 20%, respectively. All fungal inoculations significantly promoted root growth in Italian ryegrass, resulting in a 20–30% increase in dry weight compared to non-inoculated plants. Moreover, a strong stimulatory effect of the fungi-emitted VOCs on the root development was observed in plate-in-plate arrays. In the presence of C. fastigiata and P. cucumerina cultures, the number of roots and root hairs in barley seedlings doubled compared to control plants. Thus, in our study, we demonstrated the potential of the grass root-derived endophytes C. fastigiata, P. fimeti, and P. cucumerina as growth promoters for spring barley and Italian ryegrass. These studies can be extended to other major crops and grasses by evaluating different fungal isolates
New synonyms of Tipula (Vestiplex) balioptera Loew, 1863 (Diptera, Tipulidae) /
No full textBackground The Catalogue of Crane Flies of the World accounts for 196 recent species of subgenus Tipula (Vestiplex) Bezzi, 1924 distributed in Nearctic, Palaearctic and Oriental Regions (Oosterbroek 2024). The current paper provides taxonomic review of T. (V.) balioptera with designation of two new synonyms. New information Tipula (Vestiplex) perretti Alexander, 1928 is designated as junior synonym of T. (V.) balioptera Loew, 1863. Tipula (V.) bo Mannheims, 1967 is removed from synonymy with T. (V.) tchukchi Alexander, 1934 and designated as the second junior synonym of T. (V.) balioptera. Tipula ( V.) tchuckhi Alexander, 1934 is exluded from the list of fauna of Norway, Sweden and Finland and from West Palaearctic Region subsequently