Here, we document the stranding of a striped dolphin
(Meyen, 1833) (Mammalia: Delphinidae), which was found dead in Maltese waters in July 2020. The stranded dolphin exhibited a severe infestation of ...the mesoparasitic copepod,
Koren and Danielssen, 1877 (Copepoda: Pennelidae). Parasites of this genus represent the largest known mesoparasites to infest cetaceans. Under normal circumstances, cetaceans may have a few
individuals attached to them, but cetaceans with compromised health are more prone to heavy infestations. The identification of the parasite was accomplished through morphological and genetic analyses. This incident highlights the significance of monitoring mesoparasitic infestations, offering valuable insights into the health of cetacean populations and emphasizing the potential implications for conservation efforts in the region.
Loggerhead sea turtle,
(Linnaeus, 1758), nestlings were investigated through specimens found dead either after hatching or unhatched (
= 120) from eight nests around the Maltese islands (Central ...Mediterranean). Molecular genetics was used to conduct maternity and paternity tests of the collected specimens utilizing expanded mitochondrial DNA sequences from the control region (858 bp) and 25 microsatellite loci (12 dinucleotide loci and 13 tetranucleotide loci). Mitochondrial data produced two haplotypes, CC-A2.1 and CC-A3.1, with the most common haplotype being present in seven nests. Microsatellite data revealed the identity of six different females that were involved in the deposition of the eggs in the eight turtle nests analysed. This confirms that two females laid multiple nests. Additionally, microsatellite data allowed for the determination of multiple paternity, with one clutch being sired by two fathers. These results are useful for monitoring the genetic diversity of loggerhead sea turtle nestlings and of the turtle mothers and fathers contributing to future turtle offspring, which rely on Maltese sandy beaches for their successful start to life. Effective conservation management benefits from merging scientific knowledge with effective measures at potential nesting sites to avoid losses of nestlings caused by human negligence.
The Shortfin mako shark, Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810, is a globally distributed highly migratory pelagic shark species, occurring mostly in temperate and tropical regions, including the ...Mediterranean Sea where it is by-caught during fishing activities targeting other economically important fish species. The aim of this study is to investigate the genetic connectivity of the Shortfin mako from the central Mediterranean Sea to previously studied populations. The mtDNA control region (CR), 977 bp, of 37 I. oxyrinchus specimens collected between 2004 and 2012 from landings in Malta were analysed, and we identified nine haplotypes, including three newly discovered haplotypes that may be unique to the Mediterranean Sea and which represent 16.7% of the studied individuals. These haplotypes, together with variations in haplotype frequencies, led to significant FST and ϕST values between the Mediterranean population and other global populations, with the exception of that from the north Atlantic Ocean. This study provides the first insight of the mtDNA CR diversity of this critically endangered species in the Mediterranean Sea and highlights the importance of conserving this species in the region.
The complete mitochondrial genome of the Haifa grouper, Hyporthodus haifensis (Ben-Tuvia, 1953), has been obtained, through Illumina next-generation sequencing, and annotated. This mitogenome was ...found to be 16,525 bp long and to contain 37 genes, a control region, and the L-strand replication origin. The overall base composition of the complete mitogenome for this species was found to be 28.55% A, 28.07% C, 16.32% G, and 27.06% T. This study also looked into the mitogenome phylogenetic relationships of H. haifensis within the tribe Epinephelini and adds to the genetic resources currently available for the species.
The objective of this study is to describe the genetic population structure and demographic history of the endangered marine fish, Epinephelus marginatus, within Malta's Fisheries Management Zone for ...the purpose of localised conservation planning. Epinephelus marginatus is a long-lived, sedentary, reef-associated protogynous hermaphrodite with high commercial and recreational value that is at risk of extinction throughout its global distribution. Based on global trends, population substructuring and gaps in local knowledge this has led to an increased interest in evaluation of local stock. Assessment of Maltese demography was based on historical and contemporary catch landings data whilst genetic population structure and regional connectivity patterns were evaluated by examining 175 individuals collected within the central Mediterranean region between 2002 and 2009 using 14 nuclear microsatellite loci. Demographic stock assessment of Maltese E. marginatus' revealed a 99% decline in catch landings between 1947 and 2009 within the Fisheries Management Zone. A contemporary modest mean size was observed, 3 ± 3 kg, where approximately 17% of the population was juvenile, 68% female/sex-changing and 15% were male with a male-to-female sex ratio of 1:5. Genetic analysis describes the overall population of E. marginatus' within the Fisheries Management Zone as decreasing in size (ƟH = 2.2), which has gone through a significant size reduction in the past (M = 0.41) and consequently shows signs of moderate inbreeding (FIS = 0.10, p < 0.001) with an estimated effective population size of 130 individuals. Results of spatially explicit Bayesian genetic cluster analysis detected two geographically distinct subpopulations within Malta's Fisheries Management Zone and that they are connected to a larger network of E. marginatus' within the Sicily Channel. Results suggest conservation management should be designed to reflect E. marginatus' within Malta's Fisheries Management Zone as two management units.
This work presents the first outcomes resulting from a DNA barcode reference library of lepidopteran species from Malta. The library presented here was constructed from the specimens collected ...between 2015 and 2019 and covers the genetic barcodes of 146 species (ca. 25% of lepidopterous Maltese fauna), including four newly recorded Lepidoptera species from the Maltese islands: Apatema baixerasi, Bostra dipectinialis, Oiketicoides lutea, and Phereoeca praecox. The DNA reference barcode library constructed during this study was analyzed in conjunction with publicly available DNA barcodes and used to assess the ability of the local DNA barcodes to discriminate species. Results showed that each species occupies a different BOLD BIN; therefore, DNA barcoding was able to discriminate between the studied species. Our data led to the formation of 12 new BOLD BINs—that is, OTUs that were identified during this work—while nearly 46% of the barcodes generated during this study were never recorded on conspecifics, further indicating the uniqueness of genetic diversity on these central Mediterranean islands. The outcomes of this study highlight the integrative taxonomic approach, where molecular taxonomy plays an important role for biodiversity investigation in its entirety.
Vitamin D (VD) is a pro-hormone that has long been known as a key regulator of calcium homeostasis and bone health in both children and adults. In recent years, studies have shown that VD may exert ...many extra-skeletal functions, mainly through a relevant modulation of the innate and adaptive immune system. This has suggested that VD could play a fundamental role in conditioning development, clinical course, and treatment of several autoimmune disorders, including celiac disease (CD) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). The main aim of this review is to evaluate the relationships between VD, CD, and IBDs. Literature analysis showed a potential impact of VD on CD and IBDs can be reasonably assumed based on the well-documented in vitro and in vivo VD activities on the gastrointestinal tract and the immune system. The evidence that VD can preserve intestinal mucosa from chemical and immunological damage and that VD modulation of the immune system functions can contrast the mechanisms that lead to the intestinal modifications characteristic of gastrointestinal autoimmune diseases has suggested that VD could play a role in controlling both the development and the course of CD and IBDs. Administration of VD in already diagnosed CD and IBD cases has not always significantly modified disease course. However, despite these relevant problems, most of the experts recommend monitoring of VD levels in patients with CD and IBDs and administration of supplements in patients with hypovitaminosis.
Here, we report the first complete mitochondrial genome for the smalltooth sand tiger shark, Odontaspis ferox (Risso, 1810). The circular mitochondrial genome was found to be 16,682 bp in length and ...contains 37 genes, a control region and the replication origin of the L-strand (O
L
). The base composition of this mitogenome is 32.6% A, 23.3% C, 12.8% G, and 31.3% T. Phylogenetic analysis of Lamniformes indicates that O. ferox did not group with Carcharias taurus and so the taxonomic classification of Odontaspididae needs to be revised. This study promotes conservation genetics for this poorly studied shark species which is listed critically endangered in the Mediterranean Sea.
Here we report the first distribution record of the genus
Micromeriella
Betrem, 1972 (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae) from the archipelago of Malta, based on two specimens of
Micromeriella aurolea
(Klug, ...1832) collected from the island of Gozo. Although this species is relatively well distributed in the Afrotropical and Palaearctic regions, we extend its distribution to the central Mediterranean islands. Molecular barcoding using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was conducted and compared with the known COI sequences of the genus to confirm the identification of the species.
We report the presence of seven species of Coleoptera newly found on the Maltese Islands in the central Mediterranean. The first species records from the Maltese Islands include:
Ancylopus ...melanocephalus
(Olivier, 1808) (Endomychidae),
Aplidia transversa
(Fabricius, 1801) (Scarabaeidae),
Cercyon quisquilius
(Linnaeus, 1761) (Hydrophilidae),
Hyperaspis duvergeri
Fürsch, 1985 (Coccinellidae),
Lebia cruxminor
(Linnaeus, 1758) (Carabidae),
Smicronyx pauperculus
Wollaston, 1864 (Curculionidae), and
Oxytelus sculptus
Gravenhorst, 1806 (Staphylinidae). The morphological identification of each newly reported species was also confirmed through DNA barcoding.
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