Ophirasterol, a new C31 sterol from the marine sponge Topsentia ophiraphidites

Analysis of the sterol fraction obtained from the Colombian Caribbean sponge Topsentia ophiraphidites revealed that this sponge is a rich source of C30 and C31 sterols. Among them, a new C31 sterol, named ophirasterol, was isolated, and its structure was established as (22E,24R)-24-(1-buten-2-yl)cholesta-5,22-dien-3beta-ol (1) by spectral means and comparison with synthetic C-24 epimers with known configuration. Other isolated C30 and C31 sterols were the known 24-ethyl-24-methyl-22-dehydrocholesterol (2), 24-isopropyl-22-dehydrocholesterol (3), 24-isopropylcholesterol (4), 24-ethyl-24-methylcholesterol (5), 24-isopropenyl-25-methyl-22-dehydrocholesterol (6) and 24-isopropenyl-25-methylcholesterol (7), and 24-isopropenyl-22-dehydrocholesterol (8).     

Distribution and abundance of marine turtles in the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam

To establish baseline data on the distribution, abundance and threats to marine turtles in Viet Nam we conducted surveys with local fishers, community members and provincial Ministry of Fisheries staff from 17 of Viet Nam’s 29 coastal provinces. These data indicate that five species of marine turtle reside in Viet Nam’s waters (loggerhead, olive ridley, leatherback, green and hawksbill turtles), and four species nest on Viet Nam’s beaches (all of the above except the loggerhead turtle). It is evident from these data that significant declines have occurred in both foraging and nesting populations of all five marine turtle species found in Viet Nam. The greatest current threats to marine turtle populations in Viet Nam are habitat degradation, the accidental and opportunistic of turtles capture by fishers and the direct take of nesting females and their eggs. Successful conservation efforts have been made in recent years through collaboration between international Non Government Organisations and several Vietnamese Government Ministries. Continued success of these projects and the development and implementation of marine conservation policy will depend upon building awareness among Government employees, fishers and the general public about marine turtle biology, ecology, and the need to protect them.     

Diversity and biotechnological potential of the sponge-associated microbial consortia

Sponges are well known to harbor diverse microbes and represent a significant source of bioactive natural compounds derived from the marine environment. Recent studies of the microbial communities of marine sponges have uncovered previously undescribed species and an array of new chemical compounds. In contrast to natural compounds, studies on enzymes with biotechnological potential from microbes associated with sponges are rare although enzymes with novel activities that have potential medical and biotechnological applications have been identified from sponges and microbes associated with sponges. Both bacteria and fungi have been isolated from a wide range of marine sponge, but the diversity and symbiotic relationship of bacteria has been studied to a greater extent than that of fungi isolated from sponges. Molecular methods (e.g., rDNA, DGGE, and FISH) have revealed a great diversity of the unculturable bacteria and archaea. Metagenomic approaches have identified interesting metabolic pathways responsible for the production of natural compounds and may provide a new avenue to explore the microbial diversity and biotechnological potential of marine sponges. In addition, other eukaryotic organisms such as diatoms and unicellular algae from marine sponges are also being described using these molecular techniques. Many natural compounds derived from sponges are suspected to be of bacterial origin, but only a few studies have provided convincing evidence for symbiotic producers in sponges. Microbes in sponges exist in different associations with sponges including the true symbiosis. Fungi derived from marine sponges represent the single most prolific source of diverse bioactive marine fungal compounds found to date. There is a developing interest in determining the true diversity of fungi present in marine sponges and the nature of the association. Molecular methods will allow scientists to more accurately identify fungal species and determine actual diversity of sponge-associated fungi. This is especially important as greater cooperation between bacteriologists, mycologists, natural product chemists, and bioengineers is needed to provide a well-coordinated effort in studying the diversity, ecology, physiology, and association between bacteria, fungi, and other organisms present in marine sponges.     

A genome‐wide association study for a proxy of intermuscular fat level in the Italian Large White breed identifies genomic regions affecting an important quality parameter for dry‐cured hams

Intermuscular fat content in protected designations of origin dry‐cured hams is a very important meat quality trait that affects the acceptability of the product by the consumers. An excess in intermuscular fat (defined as the level of fat deposition between leg muscles) is a defect that depreciates the final product. In this study we carried out a genome‐wide association study for visible intermuscular fat (VIF) of hams in the Italian Large White pig breed. This trait was evaluated on the exposed muscles of green legs in 1122 performance‐tested gilts by trained personnel, according to a classification scale useful for routine and cheap evaluation. All animals were genotyped with the Illumina PorcineSNP60 BeadChip. The genome‐wide association study identified three QTL regions on porcine chromosome 1 (SSC1; accounting for ~79% of the SNPs below the 5.0E?04 threshold) and SSC2, two on SSC7 and one each on SSC3, SSC6, SSC9, SSC11, SSC13, SSC15, SSC16 and SSC17. The most significant SNP (ALGA0004143 on SSC1 at 77.3 Mb; P_FDR < 0.05), included in the largest QTL region which spanned about 6.8 Mb on SSC1, is located within the glutamate ionotropic receptor kainate type subunit 2 (GRIK2) gene. Functional annotation of all genes included in QTL regions for VIF suggested that intermuscular fat in the Italian Large White breed is a complex trait apparently influenced by complex biological mechanisms also involving obesity‐related processes. These QTL target mainly chromosome regions different from those affecting subcutaneous and intramuscular fat deposition.     

Ecotourism disturbance to wildfowl in protected areas: historical, empirical and experimental approaches in the Camargue, Southern France

Ecotourism is becoming very popular, especially in protected areas where wildlife concentrate and is easier to observe, but the consequences of associated disturbance have seldom be quantified other than in the short-term, making the sustainability of this activity untested. We combined a historical, an empirical and an experimental approach to assess the long-, medium- and short-term consequences of disturbance to wintering wildfowl (Anatidae) in a wetland of international importance in the Camargue, Southern France. In the short-term, disturbance made teal (Anas crecca) move away temporarily from observation blinds without leaving the waterbody. Wildfowl fed more after disturbance, disrupting their normal resting activities. In the medium-term, waterbodies with more tourists did not host fewer birds: conversely the most heavily disturbed one hosted the highest wildfowl density. In the long term, wildfowl numbers were not related with the number of visitors. When practiced with appropriate guiding of people, and where appropriate facilities are provided to limit human disturbance as done here, ecotourism may not affect wintering wildfowl other than reversibly in the very short term. The legitimate demand of the public for access, even in fragile protected areas, may therefore be sustainable under some conditions.     

Free amino compounds and cell volume regulation in erythrocytes from different marine fish species under hypoosmotic conditions: the role of a taurine channel

Erythrocytes from the marine fish species ballan wrasse (Labrus berggylta Ascanius), bullhead (Myoxocephalus scorpius L.), cod (Gadus morhua L.), dab (Limanda limanda L.), eelpout (Zoarces viviparus L.), flounder (Platichthys flesus L.), lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.), sole (Solea solea L.) and turbot (Scophthalmus maxima L.) possess the capacity for regulatory volume decrease. This property was demonstrated in vitro by reduction of the osmolality of the incubation medium from 330 to 255 mosmol·kg^-1. During the 4-h incubation period only the lumpfish cells completely regained the original volume. Twenty-seven free amino compounds were present in detectable amounts in the erythrocytes. At normal osmolality the taurine content was between 14.0 mol·g dry weight^-1 (lumpfish) and 147.4 mol·g dry weight^-1 (sole). Except in the bullhead, taurine was the quantitatively dominating amino compound in the erythrocytes from all species, and accounted for betwee 23% (lumpfish) and 88% (sole) of the total content of free amino compounds. In each species the regulatory volume decrease was associated with a reduction in the cellular content of taurine. Taurine contributed to between 6% (lumpfish) and 36% (flounder) of the cell shrinkage. There was a significant negative correlation, however, between the cellular concentration of taurine at normal osmolality and the capacity of the cells for regulatory volume decrease. Gamma-aminobutyric acid and/or glycine also contributed to the process of volume regulation, but to a lesser extent than taurine. The volume regulatory efflux of taurine and -aminobutyric acid were mediated by taurine channels. It is suggested that these channels also mediated the reduction in the cellular contents of glycine.Abbreviations cmp counts per minute - dw dry weight - GABA -amino-n-butyric acid - MW molecular weight - SD standard deviation - ww wet weight     

Incidence of haemolysin-positive and drug-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila in freshly caught finfish and prawn collected from major commercial fishes of coastal South India

The incidence of Aeromonas hydrophila in freshly caught finfish and prawns from four major commercial fish landing sites of coastal South India was studied for a period of one year. Among 514 analysed samples of seafood (410 finfish and 104 prawn), 37% of them (37.3% of finfish and 35.6% of prawn) were contaminated with A. hydrophila. A total of 255 strains of A. hydrophila were isolated. Of the total isolates, about 78.4% of them were producers of haemolysin. All strains were resistant to bacitracin and all were sensitive to chloramphenicol. The results indicate that the strains originated from high-risk sources. The presence of A. hydrophila is an indication of marine contamination. The increasing presence of haemolysin-producing multiple drug-resistant A. hydrophila in fish and prawn may become a potential human health hazard.     

基于景观生态学“源-汇”理论的市域尺度生态功能分区——以内蒙古通辽市为例

市域尺度的生态功能分区对于市域生态资源的有效保护和合理利用起着不可替代的指导作用。现阶段较为被动而静态的功能分区研究忽视了市域生态资源在城镇化发展中的剧烈变化。而景观生态学的"源-汇"概念和相关手段,将区域生态功能空间格局与不断变化的生态过程之间建立了联系,在生态功能分区科学理性的研究实践中运用前景广阔。运用景观生态学"源-汇"理论,以内蒙古通辽市为例,通过对于研究区域中"源"景观的划分,设定不同景观要素的阻力值,构建基于"源"动态特征的最小累计阻力模型,计算得出阻力面。并进一步通过寻找阻力面突变点来确定分区阈值,最终确定通辽市域尺度生态功能的5大分区,最后提出有针对性的分区管控措施与指引。研究将市域生态要素在城市化下的动态演变与生态安全格局进行有机关联并制定科学的分区策略,为市域生态空间的优化及管理提供了理论依据。     

Evaluating the performance of benthic multi-metric indices across broad-scale environmental gradients

The usefulness of benthic multi-metric indices when assessing seafloor integrity across broad environmental gradients should be deliberated, as their lack of transparency might hide important sources of variation and fail to identify environmental change. This study compares the performance of two multi-metric indices; the Benthic Quality Index (BQI) and the Brackish water Benthic Index (BBI) between three sub-basins in the Baltic Sea. Both indices reflect the salinity-driven gradient in macroinvertebrate diversity and composition as well as changes in bottom water oxygen concentrations. The relative contribution of predictor variables for explaining index variation does, however, differ between sub-basins, resulting in the indices representing different aspects of the benthic community along the environmental gradient. This context-dependency is caused by inherent differences in benthic community characteristics between the sub-basins of the Baltic Sea, and how the communities are portrayed by the indices. An increased transparency of the importance of the different predictors for directing index values is needed for coherent classifications over broad environmental gradients, such as those occurring in large estuarine water bodies. Use of a weight of evidence table to combine multiple indicators would preserve transparency and be more likely to provide a robust assessment method that would detect seafloor degradation at an early stage.