Effects of plant taxonomic position on soil nematode communities in Antarctica.

Antarctica terrestrial ecosystems are facing the most threats from global climate change, which is altering plant composition greatly. These transformations may cause major reshuffling of soil community composition, including functional traits and diversity, and therefore affect ecosystem processes in Antarctica. We used high-throughput sequencing analysis to investigate soil nematodes under 3 dominant plant functional groups (lichens, mosses, and vascular plants) and bare ground in the Antarctic region. We calculated functional diversity of nematodes based on their diet, life histories, and body mass with kernel density n-dimensional hypervolumes. We also calculated taxonomic and functional beta diversity of the nematode communities based on Jaccard dissimilarity. The presence of plants had no significant effect on the taxonomic richness of nematodes but significantly increased nematode functional richness. The presence of plants also significantly decreased taxonomic beta diversity (homogenization). Only mosses and vascular plants decreased nematode functional beta diversity, which was mostly due to a decreased effect of the richness difference component. The presence of plants also increased the effect of deterministic processes potentially because environmental filtering created conditions favorable to nematodes at low trophic levels with short life histories and small body size. Increasing plant cover in the Antarctic due to climate change may lead to increased diversity of nematode species that can use the scarce resources and nematode taxonomic and functional homogenization. In a future under climate change, community restructuring in the region is possible.

Efectos de la posición taxonómica de las plantas sobre las comunidades de nemátodos del suelo en la Antártida Resumen Los ecosistemas terrestres de la Antártida enfrentan las mayores amenazas del cambio climático global, que está alterando gravemente la composición de plantas. Estas transformaciones pueden provocar una reorganización importante de la composición de la comunidad del suelo, incluyendo atributos y diversidad funcionales, y por lo tanto afectar los procesos ecosistémicos en la Antártida. Utilizamos análisis de secuenciación de alto rendimiento para investigar nemátodos del suelo debajo de tres grupos funcionales de plantas dominantes (líquenes, musgos y plantas vasculares) y de suelo desnudo en la región de la Antártida. Calculamos la diversidad funcional de nemátodos con base en su dieta, historia de vida y masa corporal mediante hipervolúmenes n­dimensionales de densidad del núcleo. También calculamos la diversidad beta taxonómica y funcional de las comunidades de nemátodos con base en la disimilitud de Jacard. La presencia de plantas no tuvo efecto significativo sobre la riqueza taxonómica de nemátodos, pero incrementó su riqueza funcional significativamente. La presencia de plantas también disminuyó la diversidad beta taxonómica (homogenización) significativamente. Solo musgos y plantas vasculares disminuyeron la diversidad beta funcional de nemátodos, lo cual se debió principalmente a un menor efecto del componente de diferencia de riqueza. La presencia de plantas también incrementó el efecto de los procesos determinísticos posiblemente porque el filtrado ambiental creó condiciones favorables para los nemátodos de niveles tróficos inferiores con historias de vida corta y tamaño corporal pequeño. El incremento de la cobertura de plantas en la Antártida debido al cambio climático puede conducir a una mayor diversidad de especies de nemátodos que pueden utilizar los escasos recursos y a la homogenización taxonómica y funcional de los nemátodos. En un futuro bajo el cambio climático, es posible la reestructuración comunitaria en la región.

A genetic atlas for the butterflies of continental Canada and United States.

Multi-locus genetic data for phylogeographic studies is generally limited in geographic and taxonomic scope as most studies only examine a few related species. The strong adoption of DNA barcoding has generated large datasets of mtDNA COI sequences. This work examines the butterfly fauna of Canada and United States based on 13,236 COI barcode records derived from 619 species. It compiles i) geographic maps depicting the spatial distribution of haplotypes, ii) haplotype networks (minimum spanning trees), and iii) standard indices of genetic diversity such as nucleotide diversity (π), haplotype richness (H), and a measure of spatial genetic structure (GST). High intraspecific genetic diversity and marked spatial structure were observed in the northwestern and southern North America, as well as in proximity to mountain chains. While species generally displayed concordance between genetic diversity and spatial structure, some revealed incongruence between these two metrics. Interestingly, most species falling in this category shared their barcode sequences with one at least other species. Aside from revealing large-scale phylogeographic patterns and shedding light on the processes underlying these patterns, this work also exposed cases of potential synonymy and hybridization.

Osteohistological insight into the growth dynamics of early dinosaurs and their contemporaries.

Dinosauria debuted on Earth's stage in the aftermath of the Permo-Triassic Mass Extinction Event, and survived two other Triassic extinction intervals to eventually dominate terrestrial ecosystems. More than 231 million years ago, in the Upper Triassic Ischigualasto Formation of west-central Argentina, dinosaurs were just getting warmed up. At this time, dinosaurs represented a minor fraction of ecosystem diversity. Members of other tetrapod clades, including synapsids and pseudosuchians, shared convergently evolved features related to locomotion, feeding, respiration, and metabolism and could have risen to later dominance. However, it was Dinosauria that radiated in the later Mesozoic most significantly in terms of body size, diversity, and global distribution. Elevated growth rates are one of the adaptations that set later Mesozoic dinosaurs apart, particularly from their contemporary crocodilian and mammalian compatriots. When did the elevated growth rates of dinosaurs first evolve? How did the growth strategies of the earliest known dinosaurs compare with those of other tetrapods in their ecosystems? We studied femoral bone histology of an array of early dinosaurs alongside that of non-dinosaurian contemporaries from the Ischigualasto Formation in order to test whether the oldest known dinosaurs exhibited novel growth strategies. Our results indicate that the Ischigualasto vertebrate fauna collectively exhibits relatively high growth rates. Dinosaurs are among the fastest growing taxa in the sample, but they occupied this niche alongside crocodylomorphs, archosauriformes, and large-bodied pseudosuchians. Interestingly, these dinosaurs grew at least as quickly, but more continuously than sauropodomorph and theropod dinosaurs of the later Mesozoic. These data suggest that, while elevated growth rates were ancestral for Dinosauria and likely played a significant role in dinosaurs' ascent within Mesozoic ecosystems, they did not set them apart from their contemporaries.

The effect of urbanization on species composition and trophic guilds of bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) in the Brazilian Savanna.

Urban environments present less environmental heterogeneity in relation to the natural ones, affecting the biodiversity of bats and the ecological processes in which they participate. In this way, we will identify how urbanization influences the structure of bat communities in the municipality of Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. We compared species composition, guilds and bat richness in a gradient that crossed urban, semi-urban and natural areas in the municipality of Goiânia, contained in the Cerrado biome. We captured a total of 775 bats of 16 species distributed in three families. Urban areas had a higher species abundance, while semi-urban areas had a higher species richness. The three types of environments have different compositions, the urban one being more homogeneous, the fauna in these areas is composed of generalist species, which benefit from this process. The diversity present in semi-urban areas is a consequence of the intersection between urban and natural fauna, which is why urban expansion needs to occur in a planned manner to minimize the impacts of this process and ensure the maintenance of biodiversity.

South American Archaeological Isotopic Database, a regional-scale multi-isotope data compendium for research.

The South American Archaeological Isotopic Database (SAAID) is a comprehensive open-access resource that aggregates all available bioarchaeological stable and radiogenic isotope measurements, encompassing data from human individuals, animals, and plants across South America. Resulting from a collaborative effort of scholars who work with stable isotopes in this region, SAAID contains 53,781 isotopic measurements across 24,507 entries from individuals/specimens spanning over 12,000 years. SAAID includes valuable contextual information on archaeological samples and respective sites, such as chronology, geographical region, biome, and spatial coordinates, biological details like estimated sex and age for human individuals, and taxonomic description for fauna and flora. SAAID is hosted at the PACHAMAMA community within the Pandora data platform and the CORA repository to facilitate easy access. Because of its rich data structure, SAAID is particularly well-suited for conducting spatiotemporal meta-analyses. It serves as a valuable tool for addressing a variety of research topics, including the spread, adoption, and consumption intensification of food items, paleo-environmental reconstruction, as well as the exploration of mobility patterns across extensive geographic regions.

Biofiltration of n-butyl acetate with three packing material mixtures, with and without biochar.

Two cost-effective packing materials were used for n-butyl acetate removal in lab-scale biofilters, namely waste spruce root wood chips and biochar obtained as a byproduct from a wood gasifier. Three biofilters packed with spruce root wood chips: without biochar (SRWC), a similar one with 10% of biochar (SRWC-B) and that with 10% of biochar impregnated with a nitrogen fertilizer (SRWC-IB) showed similar yet differing maximum elimination capacities of 206 ± 27, 275 ± 21 and 294 ± 20 g m-3 h-1, respectively, enabling high pollutant removal efficiency (>95% at moderate loads) and stable performance. The original biochar adsorption capacity was high (208 ± 6 mgtoluene g-1), but near 70% of it was lost after a 300-day biofilter operation. By contrast, the exposed impregnated biochar drastically increased its adsorption capacity in 300 days (149 ± 7 vs. 17 ± 5 mgtoluene g-1). Colony forming unit (CFU) and microscopic analyses revealed significant packing material colonization by microorganisms and grazing fauna in all three biofilters with an acceptable pressure drop, up to 1020 Pa m-1, at the end of biofilter operation. Despite a higher price (14 vs. 123 €m-3), the application of the best performing SRWC-IB packing can reduce the total investment costs by 9% due to biofilter volume reduction.

Harnessing the potential of microalgae-based systems for mitigating pesticide pollution and its impact on their metabolism.

Due to increased pesticide usage in agriculture, a significant concentration of pesticides is reported in the environment that can directly impact humans, aquatic flora, and fauna. Utilizing microalgae-based systems for pesticide removal is becoming more popular because of their environmentally friendly nature, ability to degrade pesticide molecules into simpler, nontoxic molecules, and cost-effectiveness of the technology. Thus, this review focused on the efficiency, mechanisms, and factors governing pesticide removal using microalgae-based systems and their effect on microalgal metabolism. A wide range of pesticides, like atrazine, cypermethrin, malathion, trichlorfon, thiacloprid, etc., can be effectively removed by different microalgal strains. Some species of Chlorella, Chlamydomonas, Scenedesmus, Nostoc, etc., are documented for >90% removal of different pesticides, mainly through the biodegradation mechanism. The antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, as well as the complex structure of microalgae cell walls, are mainly involved in eliminating pesticides and are also crucial for the defense mechanism of microalgae against reactive oxygen species. However, higher pesticide concentrations may alter the biochemical composition and gene expression associated with microalgal growth and metabolism, which may vary depending on the type of strain, the pesticide type, and the concentration. The final section of this review discussed the challenges and prospects of how microalgae can become a successful tool to remediate pesticides.

Setting restorative goals with a regional outlook: Mine-rehabilitation outcomes influence landscape connectivity.

Mining is increasing worldwide and is typically associated with highly negative environmental impacts, such as habitat loss and fragmentation. To counteract these effects and improve restoration practices, decisions, such as setting mine rehabilitation goals, could incorporate the assessment and restoration of landscape connectivity into their regional and local-scale planning. The overarching goal of this work was to assess landscape connectivity for flora and fauna and explore mine-rehabilitation scenarios that can be used as a tool for prioritising biodiversity outcomes. Our study area comprised the Fitzroy Basin (Queensland, Australia), where the disturbance footprints from mining cover a cumulative area of 121,239 ha. We considered two scenarios: rehabilitation to agriculture and restoration to native ecosystems. To compare these scenarios, we created differential maps, which highlighted that restoring to native ecosystems represented connectivity gains over agricultural rehabilitation goals. These maps revealed three ways to prioritise rehabilitation outcomes, giving priority to mines that: 1) presented medium to high connectivity values, 2) covered a large area of influence (contributing to connectivity on a larger scale, regardless of current flow values), and 3) showed a gain of important paths/corridors. We explored four case studies and found that three benefited from restoration outcomes, while the fourth did not benefit by either scenario. Our methods can be used for decision-making in restoration ecology and conservation, including mine rehabilitation priorities and goals, as well as for evaluating connectivity gains or losses.

A synopsis of the genus Cylindrostethus Fieber 1861 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Gerridae).

Cylindrostethus Fieber, 1861 is one of the most striking genera of water striders (Insecta: Hemiptera: Gerridae) and has Pantropical distribution. Members of this group can be recognized by the very long, cylindrical body; the short antennomere IV; the short labium not reaching the mesosternum; and by characteristics of the abdomen of males and females. Although Neotropical representatives of the genus have been revised, there are pending taxonomic issues related to this fauna, and that of the Eastern Hemisphere has been barely studied in recent years. Here, we present a short note about the authorship of Cylindrostethus, an updated key to all species of the genus, a new synonymy, and the description of a previously unknown macropterous male of C. hungerfordi Drake and Harris.

[Resources and utilization of medicinal plants in countries and regions involved in "the Belt and Road" Initiative].

The protection, development, and utilization of medicinal plant resources are important cornerstones of maintaining human health. However, due to factors such as the reduction of high-quality land resources, deterioration of ecological environments, and excessive and disorderly resource development, medicinal plant resources are becoming scarce, and some of them are insufficiently supplied. With the proposal of "the Belt and Road" Initiative, the cooperation between China and "the Belt and Road" partners(the countries and regions involved in "the Belt and Road" Initiative)is increasingly close, which provides a new opportunity for carrying out trade of medicinal plant resources and alleviating the problem of imbalance and relative inadequacy of medicinal plant resources in countries. This study first determined the distribution and species information of plant resources in countries and regions involved in "the Belt and Road" Initiative by investigating the database of plant distribution and that of medicinal plant resources. Then, according to the published data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES), this study identified the rare and endangered medicinal plants and the medicinal plants under trade control in countries and regions involved in "the Belt and Road" Initiative and finally sorted out the list of potential medicinal plant resources in countries and regions involved in "the Belt and Road" Initiative that can be used by China. This data resource can not only be used for the overall protection of important endangered species but also scientifically guide the development and utilization of medicinal resources, providing guidance and a theoretical basis for the sustainable development of medicinal plant resources in countries and regions involved in "the Belt and Road" Initiative.

Trapping of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in seagrass beds: Ubiquity across a vertical and horizontal sampling gradient.

Seagrass beds can trap large amounts of marine debris leading to areas of accumulation, known as 'sinks', of anthropogenic particles. While the presence of vegetation can enhance accumulation, less is known about how the trapping effect changes from vegetated to less vegetated patches. To test this, vegetation and sediment were sampled along a vegetation percent cover gradient from the centre of seagrass beds to nearby less vegetated patches. To determine whether trapped particles can lead to increased accumulation in associated fauna, gastropods were also collected from the transects laid across this gradient. Extracted anthropogenic particles were counted and characterised. Particles were detected in all sample types and reached quantifiable limits in at least 50% of sediment and gastropod samples. There was no significant difference in the distribution of particles found in seagrass beds compared to less vegetated patches, suggesting other factors contribute to the trapping efficiency of biogenic habitats besides simply the presence or absence of vegetation.

Checklist of monogeneans from Egyptian marine fishes, including some newly collected species.

A checklist of 113 monogenean species parasitizing marine fishes (60 species) from different localities in Egypt is provided. The list is supplemented by eight newly collected monogenean species from Red Sea fishes, off Safaga and El-Quseir. Five of these species are new Egyptian records: Calydiscoides euzeti Justine, 2007, Calydiscoides rohdei Oliver, 1984, Lethrinitrema austrosinense (Li & Chen, 2005) Sun, Li & Yang, 2014, Pseudohaliotrema sphincteroporus Yamaguti, 1953, and Pentatres sphyraenae Euzet & Razarihelisoa, 1959. Furthermore, Lutjanus ehrenbergii (Peters), Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskål), Lethrinus mahsena (Forsskål), Siganus stellatus (Forsskål), and Sphyraena flavicauda Rüppell represent new host records. The current study also lists nine monogenean species from the Gulf of Aqaba for which the coordinates of the sampling localities were not clearly defined, but which could also belong to the Egyptian fauna as the gulf is part of the Red Sea basin. Dactylogyrus aegyptiacus Ramadan, 1983 is transferred to Ecnomotrema Kritsky, 2023 as E. aegyptiacum (Ramadan, 1983) n. comb. Entobdella aegyptiacus Amer, 1990, Polylabroides aegyptiacus Mahmoud & Shaheed 1998, Gotocotyla sigani Abdel Aal, Ghattas & Badawy, 2001, Neohexostoma epinepheli Abdel Aal, Ghattas & Badawy, 2001, Neothoracocotyle commersoni Abdel Aal, Ghattas & Badawy, 2001, Acleotrema maculatum Morsy, El Fayoumi & Fahmy, 2014, Diplectanum harid Morsy, El Fayoumi, Al Shahawy & Fahmy, 2014, and Pseudorhabdosynochus chlorostigma Morsy, El Fayoumi, Al Shahawy & Fahmy, 2014, are considered species inquirendae. Paranaella diplodae Bayoumy, Abd El-Hady & Hassanain, 2007 is considered incertae sedis. Allencotyla lutini El-Dien, 1995 and Lamellodiscus diplodicus Bayoumy, 2003 are regarded as nomina nuda.

Diversity and Distribution of Culicidian Fauna in Urban and Rural Areas of Setif Region (North-East Algeria).

Objective: The study explored larval mosquito breeding sites in urban and rural areas from March 2021 to February 2022 in the North-East region of Algeria to provide information on larval biology and ecology of different mosquito species. Methodology: It focused on the effect of the physicochemical characteristics of the breeding sites (pH and water temperature), area, and months on the larval mosquito abundance. Diversity index and equitability were calculated for the registered mosquito species in both areas. Results: Months significantly affected the larval mosquito abundances, with a clear abundance increase from March to August 2021, and then, a clear decrease to February 2022. The interactions between rural and urban areas, water pH, and water temperature as well affected the mosquito abundance. Twelve species of Culicidae were identified and distributed in three genera: Culex, Culiseta, and Aedes. Culex pipiens was the most dominant species in rural and urban sites, with a rate of 69% and 48%, respectively. In rural site, Aedes caspius and Aedes vexans occupied the second position with value of 7-8% each. In urban sites, the second position was occupied by Culiseta longiareolata (36%) and then by Culex theileri (10%). In terms of site diversity, only one site was highly diversified in rural sites, El Hchichia (H' = 1.12 bits). In urban sites, Setif Center, Guellel an Ain Trick, had almost similar diversity with values between 1.03 and 1.04 bits. Equitability values were 0.48 in rural sites and 0.55 in urban sites. Therefore, the Culicidae species presented in these study sites are moderately balanced. Conclusion: The present study provides key tools for planning a better vector control through the information on the effect of some factors on the proliferation of mosquitoes in the urban and rural sites of the Setif region and on the Culicidae diversity and abundance.

Description of the parasitic fauna of a specimen of Didelphis albiventris at Rio Grande do Sul.

Didelphis albiventris is considered the most common marsupial in Rio Grande do Sul. With omnivorous and synanthropic habits, it can serve as a host to various parasites, playing an important role in maintaining their biological cycle. Despite being a widespread and abundant species, it has a relatively little-known parasitic fauna. Therefore, the aim of this study was to report the diversity of parasites in a fecal sample from D. albiventris in Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil. Modified Centrifugal-flotation and Spontaneous sedimentation techniques were used, revealing a high taxonomic diversity of parasites. Eggs of Ancylostoma spp., Toxocara spp., and Anoplocephalidae were reported for the first time in the host in the southern region of the country, along with the first report of pseudoparasitism by Syphacia spp. and Monocystis spp. in this animal species. The presence of different parasites in the feces of D. albiventris is of utmost importance, primarily for public health, but also for understanding the biodiversity of parasites present in wildlife, which has been poorly studied until now. This allows the implementation of effective strategies for controlling, preventing and treating these diseases.

Didelphis albiventris é considerado o marsupial mais comum no Rio Grande do Sul. Com hábitos onívoros e sinantrópicos, pode servir de hospedeiro para diversos parasitas, desempenhando importante papel na manutenção do seu ciclo biológico. Apesar de ser uma espécie difundida e abundante, possui uma fauna parasitária relativamente pouco conhecida. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi relatar a diversidade de parasitas em uma amostra fecal de D. albiventris no Rio Grande do Sul, Sul do Brasil. Foram utilizadas técnicas modificadas de flutuação centrífuga e sedimentação espontânea, revelando uma alta diversidade taxonômica de parasitas. Ovos de Ancylostoma spp., Toxocara spp. e Anoplocephalidae foram relatados pela primeira vez no hospedeiro na região sul do país, juntamente com o primeiro relato de pseudoparasitismo por Syphacia spp. e Monocystis spp. nesta espécie animal. A presença de diferentes parasitas nas fezes de D. albiventris é de extrema importância, principalmente para a saúde pública, mas também para a compreensão da biodiversidade de parasitas presentes na vida selvagem, que tem sido pouco estudada até agora. Isto permite a implementação de estratégias eficazes para controlar, prevenir e tratar estas doenças.

Dive Hazards: Barotrauma, Flora, Fauna, Equipment, and Free Diving.

ABSTRACT: Present-day diving comes in various forms, from utilizing sophisticated diving equipment to relying solely on one's ability to hold their breath. The diver and physician must be aware of the many common medical conditions and environmental considerations of this unique activity. While barotrauma remains the most common dive-related injury, injuries and accidents also are related to diving equipment-related accidents and exposure to marine flora and fauna. In addition, breath-hold diving, which includes free diving, snorkeling, and tasks, is an activity humans have done for thousands of years for recreation or survival. This article will update the dangers of diving and methods to prevent or treat injuries.

Diphyllobothrium sp. and Other Parasites of Migrating and Rare Fish Species in the Southern Baltic Sea and Coastal Waters, Poland.

The present study is the first to analyse the parasite fauna of sole Solea solea, dab Limanda limanda, hake Merluccius merluccius, whiting Merlangius merlangus, and plaice Pleuronectes platessa in the Pomeranian Bay, as well as saithe Pollachius virens from the Szczecin Lagoon (Poland). The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of parasites in migrating and rare fish in the Pomeranian Bay and the Szczecin Lagoon and to determine the composition of the diet of these fish. The fish for analysis were obtained in the years 2010-2019. The typical marine nematode Capillaria (Procapillaria) gracilis, rarely recorded in Poland, was found, in addition to the following parasites: Ichthyophonus hoferi, Trichodina jadranica, Diphyllobothrium sp., Dichelyne (Cucullanellus) minutus, Raphidascaris acus, Anisakis simplex, Contracaecum osculatum, Hysterothylacium aduncum, Pseudoterranova decipiens, and Echinorhynchus gadi. Because the fish species analysed in the study are not typically present in the Baltic (with the exception of plaice), and because we do not know how long they feed while they are in the Baltic, we cannot be certain which parasites they acquired in the water bodies analysed in the study and which were introduced during the migration of fish. Although these fish are outside of their normal geographic range (except for plaice), in the new environment, there were enough suitable intermediate hosts for the parasites of these fish to complete their life cycle and survive.

The Three-Dimensional Reference Interaction Site Model Approach as a Promising Tool for Studying Hydrated Viruses and Their Complexes with Ligands.

Viruses are the most numerous biological form living in any ecosystem. Viral diseases affect not only people but also representatives of fauna and flora. The latest pandemic has shown how important it is for the scientific community to respond quickly to the challenge, including critically assessing the viral threat and developing appropriate measures to counter this threat. Scientists around the world are making enormous efforts to solve these problems. In silico methods, which allow quite rapid obtention of, in many cases, accurate information in this field, are effective tools for the description of various aspects of virus activity, including virus-host cell interactions, and, thus, can provide a molecular insight into the mechanism of virus functioning. The three-dimensional reference interaction site model (3D-RISM) seems to be one of the most effective and inexpensive methods to compute hydrated viruses, since the method allows us to provide efficient calculations of hydrated viruses, remaining all molecular details of the liquid environment and virus structure. The pandemic challenge has resulted in a fast increase in the number of 3D-RISM calculations devoted to hydrated viruses. To provide readers with a summary of this literature, we present a systematic overview of the 3D-RISM calculations, covering the period since 2010. We discuss various biophysical aspects of the 3D-RISM results and demonstrate capabilities, limitations, achievements, and prospects of the method using examples of viruses such as influenza, hepatitis, and SARS-CoV-2 viruses.

Helminth infection in wild boars in Primorye, Russia.

Wild boars have a worldwide distribution and also have major economic, veterinary, and medical importance. Due to a small amount of data on the parasitic fauna of wild boars in the Russian Far East, especially in Prymorye territory, a post-mortem parasitic examination of 20 wild boars was provided. The general prevalence was 25%, and a total of six helminth species, including one larva stage, were found. The most prevalent helminth species were Gnathostoma doloresi (25%) and Metastrongylus elongatus (20%). Followed by Trichuris suis and Ascaris suum (15%). The lowest prevalence was registered for Cysticercus tenuicollis (the larvae stage of T. hydatigena). Parasites were found in each region, with the highest prevalence registered in the Chuguevskii region. Totally 100% of adult boars were positive for helminth infections, instead of 60% of young specimens. Some helminthes found (G. doloresi, T. suis, A. suum) have zoonotic potential and can be involved in the circulation of human parasitic diseases, especially in rural areas. Further research work on parasitic infections in wild boars in Prymorye is necessary due to the high prevalence of helminthes in wild boars.

Molecular detection of ruminal micro-flora and micro-fauna in Saudi Arabian camels: Effects of season and region.

This study investigated and explored the availability of micro-flora and micro-fauna in the ruminal contents of Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) from three different regions in Saudi Arabia along with two seasons. Samples were prepared and tested by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This study confirmed that the bacterial flora were dominating over other microbes. Different results of the availability of each microbe in each region and season were statistically analyzed and discussed. There was no significant effect of season on the micro-flora or micro-fauna however, the location revealed a positive effect with Ruminococcus flavefaciens (p < 0 0.03) in the eastern region. This study was the first to investigate the abundance of micro-flora and micro-fauna in the ruminal contents of camels of Saudi Arabia. This study underscores the significance of camel ruminal micro-flora and micro-fauna abundance, highlighting their correlation with both seasonality and geographic location. This exploration enhances our comprehension of camel rumination and digestion processes. The initial identification of these microbial communities serves as a foundational step, laying the groundwork for future in-depth investigations into camel digestibility and nutritional requirements.

The BALA project: A pioneering monitoring of Azorean forest invertebrates over two decades (1999-2022).

Globally, there is a concerning decline in many insect populations, and this trend likely extends to all arthropods, potentially impacting unique island biota. Native non-endemic and endemic species on islands are under threat due to habitat destruction, with the introduction of exotic, and potentially invasive, species, further contributing to this decline. While long-term studies of plants and vertebrate fauna are available, long-term arthropod datasets are limited, hindering comparisons with better-studied taxa. The Biodiversity of Arthropods of the Laurisilva of the Azores (BALA) project has allowed gathering comprehensive data since 1997 in the Azorean Islands (Portugal), using standardised sampling methods across islands. The dataset includes arthropod counts from epigean (pitfall traps) and canopy-dwelling (beating samples) communities, enriched with species information, biogeographic origins, and IUCN categories. Metadata associated with the sample protocol and events, like sample identifier, archive number, sampled tree species, and trap type are also recorded. The database is available in multiple formats, including Darwin Core, which facilitates the ecological analysis of pressing environmental concerns, such as arthropod population declines and biological invasions.