As a proxy for pollutants that may be simultaneously present in urban wastewater streams, the effects of two microplastics-polystyrene (PS; 10, 80 and 230 μm diameter) and polymethylmethacrylate ...(PMMA; 10 and 50 μm diameter)-on fertilisation and embryogenesis in the sea urchin
with co-exposure to the pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin were investigated. Synergistic or additive effects were not seen for plastic microparticles (50 mg L
) in combination with cypermethrin (10 and 1000 μg L
) based on evaluation of skeletal abnormalities or arrested development and death of significant numbers of larvae during the embryotoxicity assay. This behaviour was also apparent for male gametes pretreated with PS and PMMA microplastics and cypermethrin, where a reduction in sperm fertilisation ability was not evidenced. However, a modest reduction in the quality of the offspring was noted, suggesting that there may be some transmissible damage to the zygotes. PMMA microparticles were more readily taken up than PS microparticles, which could suggest surface chemical identity as potentially modulating the affinity of larvae for specific plastics. In contrast, significantly reduced toxicity was noted for the combination of PMMA microparticles and cypermethrin (100 μg L
), and may be related to less ready desorption of the pyrethroid than PS, as well as cypermethrin activating mechanisms that result in reduced feeding and hence decreased ingestion of microparticles.
Mosquitoes pose a risk to human health worldwide, and correct species identification and detection of cryptic species are the most important keys for surveillance and control of mosquito vectors. In ...addition to traditional identification based on morphology, DNA barcoding has recently been widely used as a complementary tool for reliable identification of mosquito species. The main objective of this study was to create a reference DNA barcode library for the Croatian mosquito fauna, which should contribute to more accurate and faster identification of species, including cryptic species, and recognition of relevant vector species.
Sampling was carried out in three biogeographical regions of Croatia over six years (2017-2022). The mosquitoes were morphologically identified; molecular identification was based on the standard barcoding region of the mitochondrial COI gene and the nuclear ITS2 region, the latter to identify species within the Anopheles maculipennis complex. The BIN-RESL algorithm assigned the COI sequences to the corresponding BINs (Barcode Index Number clusters) in BOLD, i.e. to putative MOTUs (Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units). The bPTP and ASAP species delimitation methods were applied to the genus datasets in order to verify/confirm the assignment of specimens to specific MOTUs.
A total of 405 mosquito specimens belonging to six genera and 30 morphospecies were collected and processed. Species delimitation methods assigned the samples to 31 (BIN-RESL), 30 (bPTP) and 28 (ASAP) MOTUs, with most delimited MOTUs matching the morphological identification. Some species of the genera Culex, Aedes and Anopheles were assigned to the same MOTUs, especially species that are difficult to distinguish morphologically and/or represent species complexes. In total, COI barcode sequences for 34 mosquito species and ITS2 sequences for three species of the genus Anopheles were added to the mosquito sequence database for Croatia, including one individual from the Intrudens Group, which represents a new record for the Croatian mosquito fauna.
We present the results of the first comprehensive study combining morphological and molecular identification of most mosquito species present in Croatia, including several invasive and vector species. With the exception of some closely related species, this study confirmed that DNA barcoding based on COI provides a reliable basis for the identification of mosquito species in Croatia.
Diptera, with their participation in pollination, significantly contribute to the maintenance of plant diversity, and they also have great potential for assessing habitat health and preserving it. A ...decline in their abundance and diversity has been recorded worldwide as a consequence of biotic, abiotic, and anthropic alterations. In addition to pollinators, these orders include agricultural and forestry pests, which are a threat to both cultivated and wild plants that are very important to the economy. Many pests have escaped from their native areas, and it is important to monitor their spread to implement sustainable means of control. Our study provides baseline information on Diptera and Vespidae diversity in the Mediterranean mosaic of agroecosystems, giving information on the importance of human influence on insect diversity. We carried out an insect inventory in Istria, Croatia, using a set of traps placed in the proximity of beehives. This study was also important in determining the presence of pests and newly introduced species. A total of 94 species from 24 families were recorded-7 important agricultural pests of Diptera and 17 new records for Croatia. The correlation between species diversity and environmental and anthropogenic factors leads to the conclusion that total insect species richness, pest species richness, and the first findings depend on human activities. The number of honeybee colonies negatively correlated with species richness, while anthropic influence positively affected total and pest species richness.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Ticks are significant vectors of pathogens in human and veterinary medicine and have been identified as (re)emerging health threats. The primary objective of this study was to collect new data on the ...fauna of hard ticks within the region of Istria with a focus on spatial distribution using a geographical information system (GIS). All tick specimens were collected over three years (2020–2023), and this research included all 41 self-government units of Istria and Brijuni Islands National Park. Ticks were collected using the flagging/dragging method and manually from hosts (humans, domestic, or wild animals). In addition, morphological identification using tick keys was performed. The obtained data were used to create maps and feed models and to predict risk assessments. Collected data reveal the predominant presence of Ixodes ricinus, accounting for (n = 446) or 48.1% of the tick population. Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) follows with (n = 253) or 27.23%, and Hyalomma marginatum represents (n = 136) or 14.64% of the tick species collected using the host method in the region. Tick–host relationships are complex and influenced by a range of ecological and environmental factors. The results of this research will contribute to a better understanding, identification, and prediction of the changes in their geographic ranges and help in the prevention and control of zoonosis transmitted to humans by ticks. The obtained results mapped using GIS support the first study on the spatial distribution of ticks in the region of Istria in Croatia.
Hesperomyces virescens
(Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales), a fungal ectoparasite, is thus far reported on
Harmonia axyridis
from five continents: North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. While it ...is known that
He. virescens
can cause mortality of
Ha. axyridis
under laboratory conditions, the role of biotic and abiotic factors in influencing the distribution of
He. virescens
in the field is unknown. We collected and screened 3,568 adult
Ha. axyridis
from 23 locations in seven countries in Central Europe between October and November 2018 to test the effect of selected host characters and climate and landscape variables on the infection probability with
He. virescens
. Mean parasite prevalence of
He. virescens
on
Ha. axyridis
was 17.9%, ranging among samples from 0 to 46.4%. Host sex, climate, and landscape composition did not have any significant effect on the infection probability of
He. virescens
on
Ha. axyridis
. Two color forms, f.
conspicua
and f.
spectabilis
, had a significantly lower parasite prevalence compared to the common
Ha. axyridis
f.
novemdecimsignata
.
Some wild, morphologically diverse taxa of the genus Iris in the broad Alpine-Dinaric area have never been explored molecularly, and/or have ambiguous systematic status. The main aims of our research ...were to perform a molecular study of critical Iris taxa from that area (especially a narrow endemic accepted species I. adriatica, for which we also analysed genome size) and to explore the contribution of eight microsatellites and highly variable chloroplast DNA (ndhJ, rpoC1) markers to the understanding of the Iris taxa taxonomy and phylogeny. Both the microsatellite-based UPGMA and plastid markers-based maximum likelihood analysis discriminated three main clusters in the set of 32 analysed samples, which correspond well to the lower taxonomic categories of the genus, and support separate status of ambiguous regional taxa (e.g., I. sibirica subsp. erirrhiza, I. x croatica and I. x rotschildii). The first molecular data on I. adriatica revealed its genome size (2C = 12.639 ± 0.202 pg) and indicated the existence of ecotypes. For future molecular characterisation of the genus we recommend the utilisation of microsatellite markers supplemented with a combination of plastid markers.
As a proxy for pollutants that may be simultaneously present in urban wastewater streams, the effects of two microplastics-polystyrene (PS; 10, 80 and 230 μm diameter) and polymethylmethacrylate ...(PMMA; 10 and 50 μm diameter)-on fertilisation and embryogenesis in the sea urchin Arbacia lixula with co-exposure to the pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin were investigated. Synergistic or additive effects were not seen for plastic microparticles (50 mg Lsup.−1) in combination with cypermethrin (10 and 1000 μg Lsup.−1) based on evaluation of skeletal abnormalities or arrested development and death of significant numbers of larvae during the embryotoxicity assay. This behaviour was also apparent for male gametes pretreated with PS and PMMA microplastics and cypermethrin, where a reduction in sperm fertilisation ability was not evidenced. However, a modest reduction in the quality of the offspring was noted, suggesting that there may be some transmissible damage to the zygotes. PMMA microparticles were more readily taken up than PS microparticles, which could suggest surface chemical identity as potentially modulating the affinity of larvae for specific plastics. In contrast, significantly reduced toxicity was noted for the combination of PMMA microparticles and cypermethrin (100 μg Lsup.−1), and may be related to less ready desorption of the pyrethroid than PS, as well as cypermethrin activating mechanisms that result in reduced feeding and hence decreased ingestion of microparticles.
Lisna uš
Cinara cedri
strana vrsta hrvatske apidofaune, zabilježena je na području Pule (Istra, Hrvatska) na libanonskom cedru (
Cedrus libani).
Uz morfološku, provedena je i molekularna ...identifikacija vrste. Standardizirani fragment mitohondrijskog gena za podjedinicu I citokrom c oksidaze (tzv. DNA barkod regija) korišten je kao molekularni biljeg. Monitoringom u razdoblju od 2013. do 2015. godine nisu utvrđene populacije ove vrste na širem području niti povećana brojnost na istoj lokaciji.
Aphid species
Cinara cedri
(Mimeur, 1936), the unusual species of the Croatian aphid fauna, was recorded in the area of Pula (Istria, Croatia) on October 23rd, 2012 (Figure 2,3). It was found in the southern part of the town on
Cedrus libani
tree. The species was identified by combined morphological and molecular approaches. Standardised fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene (DNA barcode region) was used as a molecular marker. Molecular analysis supported morphological identification of specimens as
Cinara cedri
.
Phylogenetic analysis placed Pula specimens within highly supported, monophyletic
Cinara cedri
clade. In the overlaping region (629 bp) their sequences are identical to the sequence of
Cinara cedri
from China, while the pairwise genetic distance between them and 56 other
Cinara
species included in analysis were greater than 7.7 % (Figure 4 b). Identification through Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) web platform (currently containing DNA barcode sequences of 99 species of genus
Cinara
), matched Pula specimens to
Cinara cedri
with 99.7 % probability of placement.
Monitoring conducted during the time period of 2013 – 2015 in the wider area has not revealed either new populations of this species or the population increment at the original location.
Azijska pamučna štitasta uš
Takahashia japonica
Cockerell (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Coccidae), vrsta je porijeklom iz Japana. U Europi je prvi put pronađena 2017. godine u Italiji te 2018. godine u ...Velikoj Britaniji. U ovom radu dajemo pregled prvog nalaza vrste
T. japonica
u Hrvatskoj. Prvi nalaz kukca
T. japonica
uočen je 2019. godine u Puli (Istarska županija, Hrvatska), a vrsta je determinirana u proljeće 2020 godine. Kako bi što učinkovitije prikupili terenske podatke, pokrenuli smo kampanju po načelu „građani znanstvenici“ pod naslovom: “Traži se neobičan kukac -
Takahashia japonica
”. Poziv za dostavu dojava s lokacijama poslan je svim komunalnim gradskim poduzećima u Istri, javnim ustanovama zaštićenih područja, nevladinim udrugama te je podijeljen u lokalnim novinama i radio postajama. Specifična morfologija ooteka omogućila je lako prepoznavanje ove vrste i osigurala pouzdanost dojava građana. Tijekom kampanje prikupljeno je ukupno sedam dojava u širem središtu grada Pule. Najčešća biljka domaćin bila je
Acer
sp. i
Morus alba
L. od kojih su neka stabla pretrpjela značajnu defolijaciju te propadanje krošnje. S obzirom na ograničenu zarazu i relativno mali broj zaraženih stabala opravdano je pokušati provesti potpuno uklanjanje ove vrste. Postupci mjera ranog otkrivanja i brzog iskorjenjivanja invazivnih štetočina u skladu su s Pravilnikom br. 1143/2014 Europskog parlamenta i Vijeća te Europske i Mediteranske Organizacije za Zaštitu Bilja (EPPO). Aktivnosti iskorjenjivanja dogovorene su s gradskim komunalnim poduzećem Herculanea d.o.o. koji je odgovoran za hortikulturu i zaštitu biljaka u gradu Puli.
The Asiatic string cottony scale
Takahashia japonica
Cockerell (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Coccidae) is a species native to Japan. The first record in Europe was observed in Italy in 2017 and again in UK in 2018. In this paper, we provide an overview of the first record of
T. japonica
in Croatia. First appearance of
T. japonica
was in 2019 in Pula (Istrian County, Croatia) but the species was determined in spring 2020. In order to collect the field data as efficiently as possible we launched a citizen scientist campaign under title: “A search for an insect –
Takahashia japonica
”. The campaign was shared to city utility companies in Istria, public institutions of protected areas, NGOs, local newspapers and radio stations. The specific morphology of the eggsacs enabled easy recognition of this species and ensured the accuracy of citizens’ reports. During the campaign we have collected in total seven reports in the city of Pula. The most common host plant of
T. japonica
was
Acer
sp. and
Morus alba
L. some of which have suffered significant defoliation and tree decay. Given the limited infestation and the relatively small number of infected trees, next step is to carry out a complete eradication of the species. The procedures of early detection measures and rapid eradication of invasive pest is in accordance to Regulation no. 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council and by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). In the end, eradication activities have been agreed with the city utility company Herculanea d.o.o. which is responsible for horticulture and plant protection in the city of Pula.
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