A total of 11 species belonging to 10 genera, 3 subfamilies with a total of 133 individual litter ants were collected at the Lembah Harau Nature Tourism Park. The results showed that the ecosystem of ...the Lembah Harau Natural Tourism Park tends to be stable. This is indicated by the index of ant diversity in the natural habitat of 0.98 which is low, while in the disturbed habitat it is 1.83, which is classified as moderate. as well as the dominance index in natural and disturbed habitats, namely 0.56 and 0.18 so that it can be concluded that no species dominates in these two habitats
Microplastics (MP; 1 μm to 1 mm) of various shapes and compositions are ingested by numerous marine animals. Recently, proposals have been made to adopt bivalve molluscs as bioindicators of MP ...pollution. To serve as indicators of MP pollution, however, the proposed organisms should ingest, without bias, the majority of plastic particles to which they are exposed. To test this premise, eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, and blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, were offered variously sized polystyrene microspheres (diameters 19–1000 μm) and nylon microfibers (lengths 75–1075 × diameter 30 μm), and the proportion of each rejected in pseudofeces and egested in feces was determined. For both species, the proportion of microspheres rejected increased from ca. 10–30% for the smallest spheres to 98% for the largest spheres. A higher proportion of the largest microsphere was rejected compared with the longest microfiber, but similar proportions of microfibers were ingested regardless of length. Differential egestion of MP also occurred. As a result of particle selection, the number and types of MP found in the bivalve gut will depend upon the physical characteristics of the particles. Thus, bivalves will be poor bioindicators of MP pollution in the environment, and it is advised that other marine species be explored.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Heavy metals content (Zn, Cu and Hg) were measured in gills, liver, gonads and muscles of perch, Perca fluviatilis (L.) and roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.) from Lake Pluszne (north-eastern Poland). ...Correlations between heavy metals levels and total length, weight, HSI, GSI and FCF were examined. As expected, muscles contained the significantly highest values of Hg (P ≤ .05). The concentrations of Zn were significantly higher in gills of roach and gonads of perch (P ≤ .05), while the liver of fish accumulated significantly more Cu than other organs (P ≤ .05). In all organs of perch the higher content of mercury was found (P ≤ .05). The value of Zn and Cu was highest in organs of roach (P ≤ .05) (with the exception of Zn in muscles P > .05). Sequence of metals in both species was Zn > Cu > Hg. Only in muscle tissue, Hg was significantly positive correlated with weight of roach (r = 0.811, P = .045) and perch (r = 0.652, P = .041), and total length of roach (r = 0.806, P = .005). A positive relationship was also observed between Zn concentration in gills of perch and their weight (r = 0.634, P = .049). In contrary, Zn in gills of roach decreased with weight (r = −0.693, P = .026)) and length (r = −0.668, P = .035). Cu concentration in liver of perch was statistically positively correlated with HSI (r = 0.717, P = .020), whereas Hg content in muscle tissue of roach with FCF (r = 0.643, P = .045). There was negative relationship between Hg in perch gonads and GSI (r = −0.808, P = .005). Metal pollution index (MPI) in gills, liver, gonads and muscles of roach was 7.68, 7.24, 6.77 and 3.13, respectively, whereas in these organs of perch was 3.25 (gills), 4.75 (liver), 5.84 (gonads) and 4.44 (muscles), therefore the contamination of each tissue ranged from very low contamination to low contamination. The concentration of mercury was lower than the maximum acceptable limit estimated by the Commission Regulation (EC) No 629/2008 of 2 July 2008. The values of HI and THQ were below 1, which means that consumption of these fish is not hazardous to the consumer.
•The organs of roach contained more zinc and copper than the same organs of perch.•The organs of perch characterized higher mercury content than organs of roach.•THQ and HI were below 1, therefore fish is not hazardous to the consumer.•Mercury content was below the maximum acceptable level of 0.05 mg/kg.•Fish species and their organs can be good indicators of water quality.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Zusammenfassung
Parasitismus ist in der Natur weit verbreitet und wird als einer der erfolgreichsten Lebensstile angesehen. Im Gegensatz dazu führen parasitologische Themen in biologischen ...Lehrbüchern und Lehrplänen jedoch meist nur ein Schattendasein und adressieren vor allem human‐ und veterinärpathologische Aspekte. Gleichwohl können ökologische Auswirkungen von Parasiten sehr vielschichtig sein. In der Gewässerforschung kann die Erhebung parasitologischer Daten mit relativ kostengünstigen und einfachen (mikroskopischen) Methoden zahlreiche Zusatzinformationen liefern, so z. B. zur Biologie der Wirte, zu trophischen Interaktionen, zur Biodiversität und Qualität aquatischer Lebensräume. Kenntnisse zu den Lebenszyklen und Übertragungswegen der Schmarotzer sind jedoch erforderlich, um aus parasitologischen Daten den größtmöglichen Nutzen für die Beantwortung gewässerökologischer Fragen zu ziehen.
Summary
What fish parasites reveal about their environment
Parasitism is widely common in nature and is considered to be one of the most successful ways of life. In contrast, parasitological topics are rarely presented in biology textbooks and curricula, and when they appear, they focus mainly on the human and veterinary pathological aspects of parasitism. However, the ecological effects of parasites are quite multifaceted. In water research, collecting parasitological data of aquatic hosts is comparatively inexpensive and can often be done with the help of a microscope. The additional knowledge that can be gained from such undertakings, however, can be very valuable and may span from new insights into the hostś biology to trophic interactions, biodiversity, and quality of aquatic habitats. However, information on the life cycles and transmission pathways of the various parasite species is required in order to derive the greatest possible benefit from parasitological data to answer water ecology questions.
Parasiten sind nicht nur abstoßend und lästig! Insbesondere Fischparasiten bieten vertiefte Einblicke in aquatische Lebensräume, weil sich aus ihrem Vorkommen Erkenntnisse zur Ökologie der Wirte und Wirtspopulationen ableiten lässt. Auch in der ökotoxikologischen Forschung kommen sie zum Einsatz.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Accurate patient stratification into prognostic categories and targeting Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)-associated pathways may pave the way for promising trials. We evaluated blood-based ...prognostic indicators using an array of pathological markers. Plasma samples were collected as part of a large, phase III clinical trial (Mitotarget/TRO19622) at months 1, 6, 12 and 18. The ALSFRS-r score was used as a proxy of disease progression to assess the predictive value of candidate biological indicators. First, established clinical predictors were evaluated in all 512 patients. Subsequently, pathologic markers, such as proxies of neuronal integrity (Neurofilament light chain and phosphorylated heavy chain), DNA oxidation (8-oxo-2'-desoxyguanosine), lipid peroxidation (4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, isoprostane), inflammation (interleukin-6) and iron status (ferritin, hepcidin, transferrin) were assessed in a subset of 109 patients that represented the whole cohort. Markers of neuronal integrity, DNA and lipid oxidation, as well as iron status at baseline are accurate predictors of disability at 18-month follow-up. The composite scores of these markers in association with established clinical predictors enable the accurate forecasting of functional decline. The identified four biomarkers are all closely associated with 'ferroptosis', a recently discovered form of programmed cell death with promising therapeutic targets. The predictive potential of these pathophysiology-based indicators may offer superior patient stratification for future trials, individualised patient care and resource allocation.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Reasonable ecological flow based on biological indicator is crucial for river ecosystem health and restoration. Selection of biological indicator, often being the target fishes, is of great ...importance. Differentiating from the traditional way of choosing the rare or economic fishes as the target fishes, a more objective approach was applied in this study. Firstly, the field investigation was conducted to determine the alternative fishes range. Then, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to construct the judgment matrixes, aiming at obtaining the order weight values of the selected fishes and screening for the target fishes. This step made sure that the target fishes were representative for habitat requirement for Huaihe River. Based on fish resources data, 20 alternative fishes were selected, including 12 Cypriniformes, 3 Siluriformes, 4 Perciformes, and 1 Clupeiformes species. The results of the order weight values of the judgmental matrix showed that Parabramis pekinensis might be taken as an target fishes for calculating ecological flow because it could represent hydrological requirement for aquatic biology in the main stream of Huaihe River. This study provided a promising method for target species selection in the rivers where rare and endemic species are unavailable.
Biogeographic patterns in soil bacterial communities and their responses to environmental variables are well established, yet little is known about how different types of agricultural land use affect ...bacterial communities at large spatial scales. We report the variation in bacterial community structures in greenhouse, orchard, paddy, and upland soils collected from 853 sites across the Republic of Korea using 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing analysis. Bacterial diversities and community structures were significantly differentiated by agricultural land-use types. Paddy soils, which are intentionally flooded for several months during rice cultivation, had the highest bacterial richness and diversity, with low community variation. Soil chemical properties were dependent on agricultural management practices and correlated with variation in bacterial communities in different types of agricultural land use, while the effects of spatial components were little. Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, and Acidobacteria were enriched in greenhouse, paddy, and orchard soils, respectively. Members of these bacterial phyla are indicator taxa that are relatively abundant in specific agricultural land-use types. A relatively large number of taxa were associated with the microbial network of paddy soils with multiple modules, while the microbial network of orchard and upland soils had fewer taxa with close mutual interactions. These results suggest that anthropogenic agricultural management can create soil disturbances that determine bacterial community structures, specific bacterial taxa, and their relationships with soil chemical parameters. These quantitative changes can be used as potential biological indicators for monitoring the impact of agricultural management on the soil environment.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
In this study honey bees, propolis and leaves of pine trees were sampled from five different points of industrial district in Izmir-Turkey during spring 2014. These samples were used as biological ...indicators for heavy metal pollution of the environment. Heavy metals including cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury were determined in samples. Results showed the high levels of heavy metal contamination, especially in propolis samples. Mercury not detected in the all analyzed samples.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The Karkonosze National Park, an unique mountainous biosphere reserve, is influenced by long-distance anthropogenic atmospheric transport of among others trace elements and additionally by local ...tourist centres, which may be supplementary sources of pollution. Discharged trace elements are non-degradable, and their level must be precisely monitored. Therefore, the concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb and Zn in Polytrichum commune and Polytrichastrum formosum collected from the Karkonosze sites influenced only by long-range pollution and from sites in the vicinity of local tourist centres were established. P. commune and P. formosum revealed the ability to accumulate higher concentrations of trace elements while growing in locally contaminated sites in comparison with sites free from such pollution. Therefore, both species may be utilised for bioindication in the Karkonosze National Park. Elevated levels of trace elements in both species (except for Hg) in comparison with concentrations typical for mosses from unpolluted sites point to the existence of pollution of this area. P. commune was a better bioindicator of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb and Rb than P. formosum, probably because of the larger gametophytes and its morphology, which appears prone to an increased uptake of trace elements from the atmosphere.
•P. commune and P. formosum may be used for bioindication in the Karkonosze.•Both species present higher trace element concentrations in the polluted sites.•P. commune is a better bioindicator than P. formosum.•Local tourist centres corresponded to a higher trace elements pollution.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
The use of certain types of plants to determine the accumulation of HMs (heavy metals) has yielded quite consistent results in the research fields. Many researches have focused on particular types of ...HMs due to their common presence in the air (Pb, Cd, Ni, Co, Cr to name a few). However, it is equally as important to shed light on other types of HMs and the scale of their existence in our atmosphere, hence this paper. Blue spruce (
Picea pungens
) tree organs were used in an experiment to calculate the recent concentration of HMs. The research concentrates on Ca, Cu, and Li elements in the washed and unwashed needles, branches, and barks, and these organs were evaluated depending on the organ age. The study results showed that the concentration of the elements subjected to the research changed depending on the organ, washing status and organ age, and that the lowest concentrations of Ca and Cu elements were obtained in the barks in general. In relation to the organ age, it was found that there was an increase in the concentration of Ca with age, and that the concentration of Li element was inversely proportional to age.
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