Three metagenomic libraries were constructed using surface sediment samples from the northern Adriatic Sea. Two of the samples were taken from a highly polluted and an unpolluted site respectively. ...The third sample from a polluted site had been enriched using crude oil. The results of the metagenome analyses were incorporated in the REDPET relational database (http://redpet.bioinfo.pbf.hr/REDPET), which was generated using the previously developed MEGGASENSE platform. The database includes taxonomic data to allow the assessment of the biodiversity of metagenomic libraries and a general functional analysis of genes using hidden Markov model (HMM) profiles based on the KEGG database. A set of 22 specialised HMM profiles was developed to detect putative genes for hydrocarbon-degrading enzymes. Use of these profiles showed that the metagenomic library generated after selection on crude oil had enriched genes for aerobic
-alkane degradation. The use of this system for bioprospecting was exemplified using potential
and
genes from this library.
Istražene su širina ljušture i težina živog organizma u odnosu na dužinu ljušture endolitskogškoljkaša Lithophaga lithophaga (prstac) u specifičnom staništu (svodovi ispod blokova) sastavljenomod ...umjetnih i prirodnih struktura. Umjetne strukture su bile vapnenački blokovi lukobrana(Marina Rovinj, sjeverni Jadran, Hrvatska), izgrađenog 19 godina prije uzorkovanja prstaca.Brojnost prstaca (oko 80 jedinki po 0.1 m2) nije se razlikovala između tipova struktura. Međutim,raspodjela frekvencije dužina u umjetnim strukturama (25. percentil = 3,20, medijan = 4,30 i 75.percentil = 5,10 cm) razlikovala se od one u prirodnim strukturama (25. percentil = 3,66, medijan =5,15 i 75. percentil = 6,20 cm) što je dovelo do značajne razlike u ukupnoj biomasi (0,3 kg po 0.1m2 za umjetne i 0,8 kg po 0.1 m2 za prirodne strukture). Nadalje, procijenjeni parametri regresijskihfunkcija širine u odnosu na dužinu (linearna funkcija) i težine u odnosu na dužinu (alometrijskafunkcija) značajno su se razlikovali, što upućuje na morfometrijske razlike prstaca između tipovastruktura. Analizom varijance nije ustanovljena razlika u širini ili težini prstaca u rasponu dužineod 3 do 3,5 cm. Međutim, širina (aritmetička sredina ± s.d., n = 18) jedinki u rasponu od 5,5 do 6cm bila je značajno manja u umjetnim (1,46 ± 0,13 cm) nego u prirodnim strukturama (1,66 ± 0,10cm). U skladu s time, i težina jedinki u umjetnim strukturama (8,36 ± 1,17 g) je bila manja nego uprirodnim strukturama (12,33 ± 1,48 g). Pretpostavlja se da su navedene razlike bile posljedica većebrzine rasta prstaca u umjetnim nego u prirodnim strukturama. Informacije o biometrijskim karakteristikamaprstaca u različitim staništima su važne za planiranje studija o obnovi prirodne populacijenakon nezakonitog destruktivnog sakupljanja, te takve studije zasada nedostaju.
Shell width and body live weight related to shell length of the endolithic bivalve Lithophaga lithophaga (date mussel) colonizing a specific habitat (vaults under boulders) formed by artificial and natural structures were examined. Artificial structures consisted of limestone boulders of a breakwater (Marina Rovinj, northern Adriatic Sea, Croatia) constructed 19 years before sampling of the date mussel. Date mussels’ density (around 80 individuals per 0.1 m2) did not differ between the two types of structure. However, the length frequency distribution in artificial structures (25th percentile = 3.20, median = 4.30 and 75th percentile = 5.10 cm) differed from that in natural structures (25th percentile = 3.66, median = 5.15 and 75th percentile = 6.20 cm) leading to a substantial difference in total biomass (0.3 and 0.8 kg per 0.1 m2 for artificial and natural structures, respectively). Parameter estimates of regression functions for width against length (linear function) and for live weight against length (allometric function) also significantly differed, indicating variations in date mussels’ morphometry between the two types of structure. Analyses of variance did not detect differences in width or weight for date mussels in the length range from 3 to 3.5 cm. However, width (average ± s.d., n = 18) of individuals in the range from 5.5 to 6 cm was significantly lower in artificial structures (1.46 ± 0.13 cm) than in natural structures (1.66 ± 0.10 cm). Consistent with this, live weight in artificial structures (8.36 ± 1.17 g) was significantly lower than that in natural structures (12.33 ± 1.48 g). It is suggested that these patterns reflect a growth rate of the date mussel that is higher in artificial than in natural structures. Information about date mussels’ biometric patterns in different habitats is important in planning studies assessing the resilience capability of natural populations after illegal destructive harvesting, particularly as,such studies are lacking.
Background and Purpose: The European date mussel (Lithophagalithophaga) is widespread along the whole Mediterranean rocky coastline where it is frequently but illegally harvested. It is well known ...that the growth of the date mussel is very slow; however, patterns of recolonization of exploited surfaces have been scarcely investigated. The objective of this study is to assess colonization patterns of the date mussel on limestone boulders whichhave been in the sea for 19 years. These results could be useful in predicting the reconstitution of natural populations of the date mussel after harvesting.Materials and Methods: Limestone breakwater boulders were placedalong the dike of the Marina of Rovinj (northern Adriatic, Istrian peninsula, Croatia) in 1984. Sampling was carried out in summer 2003 by SCUBA diving from six habitats of different inclination and topography: horizontal, inclined, vertical, sheltered, vaults, and whole stones. The abundance and biomass of L. lithophaga at the Marina were compared with those in natural control locations.Results: At the Marina, no date mussels were found on the horizontaland inclined sides of the boulders, and very few date mussels were found on the vertical side. On the contrary, sheltered and vault sides of boulders and whole stones were intensively colonized by L. lithophaga. In vaults, the abundance was similar to that in nature. In these habitats, L. lithophaga biomasswas generally lower than in nature. However, large date mussels, of lengths from 50 to 70 mm, were already present on boulders of theMarina. They amounted to 35% in the sheltered habitat, 24% in vaults, and 3% ofthe total number in whole stones.Conclusions: An unexpected high colonization rate and growth of datemussels was detected in certain unexposed rocky habitats at the boulders of the Marina. However, on the natural rocky Istrian coast, the date mussel was mostly collected on exposed inclined and vertical rocky surfaces where repopulation after harvesting may require very long periods.
Opisuju se stvaranje i sudbina referentnih zbirki morske istraživačke postaje u Rovinju osnovane 1891. godine. Potkraj Drugog svjetskog rata zbirke i znanstvena oprema su preneseni u Italiju, a ...zgrada Instituta je oštećena. U današnjem Centru za istraživanje mora zoološka zbirka sadrži oko 4520 uzoraka 1160 vrsta i herbarij sa približno 400 svojti/1850 herbarskih jedinica.
The creation and destiny of reference collections deposited at the marine research station in Rovinj (founded in 1891) are described. By the end of the World War II collections and scientific equipment were transported to Italy and the Institute was demolished. At present in the institution now named Center for Marine Research zoological collections comprising 1160 species and 4520 lots, and herbarium of about 400 taxa/1850 herbarium sheets and samples are deposited.
Tijekom 150 godina istraživanja zabilježeno je u pelagičnim i bentoskim ekosistemima Riječkog zaljeva 1086 svojti morske faune. Kod svih svojti izneseni su podaci o općoj i ekološkoj ...rasprostranjenosti, lokalnoj brojnosti i izvorima svih zabilježenih nalaza. Odabranim vrstama spomenuti su tipski lokaliteti, sinonimi ili komercijalna važnost.
In the Rijeka Bay benthic and pelagic ecosystems, 1086 taxa of marine fauna have been recorded in the past 150 years of research. For all taxa, information on the general and ecological distribution, local abundance data and the sources of all records are presented. In some selected species, notes on type localities, synonyms or information of commercial importance are also provided.
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