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Summer aggregation of common eagle ray, Myliobatis aquila (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatidae), in the Marine Protected Area of the Egadi Islands (southwestern Tyrrhenian Sea)
Full text linkWe report for the first time in Italian waters a periodic and frequent presence of a summer aggregation of common eagle ray Myliobatis aquila in the island of Marettimo (southwestern Tyrrhenian Sea), which is part of the Marine Protected Area of the Egadi Islands. These aggregation could be related to different phenomena such as reproduction, feeding or simply as a transit zone
On the occurrence of Eudiaptomus gracilis (G.O. Sars, 1863) (Copepoda: Diaptomidae) in Madeira (Portugal)
Full text linkCalanoid copepods belonging to the diaptomid genus Eudiaptomus Kiefer, 1932 were collected in an artificial water body on the island of Madeira, Portugal. The morphological and molecular identification of the collected specimens unequivocally proved that they belong to the allochthonous species Eudiaptomus gracilis (G. O. Sars, 1863), possibly unwarily introduced along with fish stockings or ornamental aquatic plants. In the sampled site, the species co-occurred with the non-native cyclopoid copepod Acanthocyclops americanus (Marsh, 1893) and some anomopod species. This is the first record of the species for Portugal and the whole Macaronesia, whereas the possible presence of E. gracilis in the Iberian Peninsula should
be verified.Copépodos calanoides pertenecientes al género de diaptómido Eudiaptomus Kiefer, 1932 fueron recolectados en una masa de agua artificial en la isla de Madeira, Portugal. Las identificaciones morfológicas y moleculares de los especímenes recolectados demostraron inequívocamente que pertenecían a la especie alóctona Eudiaptomus gracilis (G. O. Sars, 1863), posiblemente introducida inadvertidamente con introducciones de peces o plantas acuáticas ornamentales. En la localidad muestreada, la especie coexistía con el copépodo ciclopoide no nativo Acanthocyclops americanus (Marsh, 1893) y algunas especies de anomopodos. Esta es la primera cita de la especie para Portugal y para Macaronesia, aunque la posible presencia de E. gracilis en la Península Ibérica necesita verificación
First data on the genetic structure of Trachemys scripta populations in Sicily (Testudines: Emydidae)
Full text linkThe pond slider Trachemys scripta is one of the most widespread alien turtle species in the world. Its
unregulated trade and the consequent uncontrolled releases into the wild led to negative impacts on the native turtles of
the invaded areas. In Italy, alien pond sliders are widely spread, and the occurrence of hatchlings and well-established
populations is known in some areas. However, to date in Sicily, only a single female of Trachemys scripta laying eggs was
reported. Besides that, nothing is known about the actual reproduction success and establishment of self-sustaining
T. scripta populations in Sicily. Therefore, based on 14 previously characterised highly polymorphic microsatellite loci,
we aimed to unravel if the alien turtles successfully reproduce in Sicily, in both natural and semi-natural areas (i.e., lake
“Biviere di Gela” and “Parco d’Orléans”, respectively). Our results show a clear structuring of the two studied
populations. Several full-sibling relationships between the sampled turtles were found, suggesting actual reproduction in
the wild of the pond sliders in Sicily. However, further sampling is desirable since no parent-offspring relationships were
observed in the studied populations. Due to our results, systematic monitoring of alien pond sliders in the whole of Sicily
is crucial for better planning of mitigation strategies in order to protect the native biota of Sicilian inland waters
No evidence of DUI in the Mediterranean alien species Brachidontes pharaonis (P. Fisher, 1870) despite mitochondrial heteroplasmy
Full text linkTwo genetically different mitochondrial haplogroups of Brachidontes pharaonis (p-distance 6.8%) have been identified in the Mediterranean Sea. This hinted at a possible presence of doubly uniparental inheritance in this species. To ascertain this possibility, we sequenced two complete mitogenomes of Brachidontes pharaonis mussels and performed a qPCR analysis to measure the relative mitogenome copy numbers of both mtDNAs. Despite the presence of two very similar regions composed entirely of repetitive sequences in the two haplogroups, no recombination between mitogenomes was detected. In heteroplasmic individuals, both mitogenomes were present in the generative tissues of both sexes, which argues against the presence of doubly uniparental inheritance in this species
CHERAX DESTRUCTOR (CLARK, 1836) AND CHERAX QUADRICARINATUS (VON MARTENS, 1868): SAFETY AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY- Premio "YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD"
No full textTwo species of freshwater Parastacidae (Cherax quadricarinatus and Cherax destructor) are used for breeding in several country and to date also in Italy in one aquaculture plant located near Catania (Sicily). Although they are Australian, they seem to have some of the peculiar properties that make it important, strategic and highly appreciated species for aquaculture facilities in Italy. In fact, they mature early, have multiple reproductive cycles in a year, females can lay over a thousand eggs
in a single brood and seem to tolerate wide ranges of temperature (Haubrock et al., 2021). Several authors have studied the Cherax genus from different points of view: diseases, moulting
phases and the immune responses under stress conditions (Mac Loughlin et al., 2016; Sacristán et al., 2016; Foysal et al., 2020). To date, even if it is known the economic value of these species, the nutritional properties for human were not yet evaluated. The economic expenses behind the maintenance of an aquaculture facilities must certainly be justified by: i) maintenance of species that can guarantee a competitive product on the market; ii) their good nutritional levels as well as for the
organoleptic characteristics. Our study, conducted as part of a project “POFEAMP 02/INA/17’ (02/INA/17, PO-FEAMP 2014-2020”, represents for the first time a preliminary evaluation of some macronutrient parameters important to know the nutritional properties of these animals. For this reason, some parameters, as the level of total protein, cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose and lactate dehydrogenase in two Cherax species, Cherax quadricarinatus and Cherax destructor were evaluated in haemolymph and in muscle tissue. These results can be useful both for evaluating the good health of these animals kept in aquaculture facilities and for evaluating better their nutritional properties. In the future, these Cherax species could increase their consumption and allow their greater presence in
dietary habits
A MESOCOSM STUDY: BEHAVIOURAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS RESPONSES OF CHERAX QUADRICARINATUS AFTER EXPOSURE TO ACOUSTIC SIGNAL
No full textDNA taxonomy of the potamid freshwater crabs from Northern Africa (Decapoda, Potamidae)
No full textThe Mediterranean area, from southern Balkans to western Maghreb, is inhabited by the Potamon subgenus Euthelphusa, with three currently recognised species. The Maghrebian species P. (E.) algeriense is isolated from other Potamon species by the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahara Desert, and nearly no molecular data are currently available for this taxon. Present study investigated the mtDNA and nuDNA diversity in Potamon algeriense s.l. with the aims of exploring its molecular diversity pattern throughout its known distribution range, and testing the possible presence of cryptic taxa currently lumped under this binomen. The phylogenetic and DNA taxonomy analyses showed the presence of two well‐supported clades of species rank within P. algeriense s.l, with an eastern clade including the populations from Tunisia and Numidia, and a western, highly structured clade including the populations from central Algeria and Morocco. In agreement with a typical Maghrebian biogeographic pattern, the distribution of these two species shows a clear east–west divide, with a disjunction zone located in Kabylia, and a strong link between molecular diversity and segregation within different hydrographical basins is evident. The Maghreb thus proved to host an unexpectedly high genetic diversity of, and to constitute a biodiversity hot‐spot for, the Potamon subgenus Euthelphusa. In the light of the existence of two well‐characterised species currently lumped under P. algeriense s.l., and of their noteworthy molecular structuring, the status of Maghrebian Potamon populations should be re‐assessed for both the species present in the area, which are to be considered as independent management units
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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