The challenges of integrating biodiversity and ecosystem services monitoring and evaluation at a landscape-scale wetland restoration project in the UK

There is an increasing emphasis on the restoration of ecosystem services as well as of biodiversity, especially where restoration projects are planned at a landscape scale. This increase in the diversity of restoration aims has a number of conceptual and practical implications for the way that restoration projects are monitored and evaluated. Landscape-scale projects require monitoring of not only ecosystem services and biodiversity but also of ecosystem processes since these can underpin both. Using the experiences gained at a landscape-scale wetland restoration project in the UK, we discuss a number of issues that need to be considered, including the choice of metrics for monitoring ecosystem services and the difficulties of assessing the interactions between ecosystem processes, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Particular challenges that we identify, using two pilot data sets, include the decoupling of monetary metrics used for monitoring ecosystem services from biophysical change on the ground and the wide range of factors external to a project that influence the monitoring results. We highlight the fact that the wide range of metrics necessary to evaluate the ecosystem service, ecosystem process, and biodiversity outcomes of landscape-scale projects presents a number of practical challenges, including the need for high levels of varied expertise, high costs, incommensurate monitoring outputs, and the need for careful management of monitoring results, especially where they may be used in making decisions about the relative importance of project aims.

Some biological and ecological considerations for research in the management of the fisheries of Lakes Victoria and Kyoga

There is little doubt that the exploitation of the current fisheries of Lakes Victoria and Kyoga requires close monitoring with a view to enforce adherence to prudent management practices. Many indigenous fishes have gradually disappeared from the commercial fishery of both lakes. In the Uganda portion of Lake Victoria for instance Okaronon and Wadanya (in press) have shown that:- 1. The once preponderant haplochromiine taxon ceased to feature in the commercial catches in 1979. 2. The lung-fish (Protopterus aethiopicus) which formerly contributed significantly to the commercial landings had declined to minor species status by the mid 1980s. 3. The catfishes Clarias mossambicus and Bagrus docmac, formerly major fish species, contributed insignificant quantities to the commercial fishery since the early and mid 1980s, respectively. Similar trend have been "reported in the Kenya and Tanzania portions of Lake Victoria (Bwathondi, 1985; Mainga, 1985, Witte and Goudswaard, 1985). On the other hand since their establishment all round the lake in the early to mid 1980s some introduced fishes namely Nile perch (Lates niloticus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) built up impressive stocks in Lake Victoria (Ssentongo and Welcomme, 1985, Okaronon et al. 1985; Okaronon and Wadanya, in press). Togetther with the native pelagic cyprinid Rastrineobola argentea or Dagaa/Mukene the introduced fishes have contributed unprecidented catches, stimulating vibrant commercial fisheries which have yielded significant social economic benefits to the peoples of the three states riparian to the Lake (Reynolds and Greboval, 1988; Kudhongania et al in press). The impressive landings particularly of the Nile perch and Nile tilapia have also led to rapid industrialisation of fish processing in East Africa mainly for the export market. Fish export has now the potential of a major foreign exchange enterprise in the region.

Monitoring pollutants in occupied spaces.

There is increasing evidence of a causal link between airborne particles and ill health and this study monitored the exposure to both airborne particles and the gas phase contaminants of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in a nightclub. The present study followed a number of pilot studies in which the human exposure to airborne particles in a nightclub was assessed and the spatio-temporal distribution of gas phase pollutants was evaluated in restaurants and pubs. The work reported here re-examined the nightclub environment and utilized concurrent and continuous monitoring using optical scattering samplers to measure particulates (PM10) together with multi-gas analysers. The analysis illustrated the highly episodic nature of both gaseous and particulate concentrations in both the dance floor and in the bar area but levels were well below the maximum recommended exposure levels. Short-term exposure to high concentrations may however be relevant when considering the possible toxic effects on biological systems. The results give an indication of the problems associated with achieving acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) in a complex space and identified some of the problems inherent in the design and operation of ventilation systems for such spaces.

The status of weed biological control in Vanuatu

Biological control of weeds in Vanuatu began in 1935, with the introduction of the tingid Teleonemia scrupulosa to control Lantana camara. To date, nine biological control agents have been intentionally introduced to control eight weed species. Seven of these agents have established on their respective hosts while an eighth, Zygogramma bicolorata, an agent for Parthenium hysterophorus has only recently been released and establishment is unlikely. The fate of a ninth agent, Heteropsylla spinulosa, released for the control of Mimosa diplotricha is unclear. Six other biological control agents, including Epiblema strenuana which was first detected in 2014 on P. hysterophorus on Efate have spread into the country unintentionally. Control of the target weeds range from inadequate to very good. By far the most successful agent has been Calligrapha pantherina which was introduced to control Sida acuta and Sida rhombifolia. The beetle was released on 14 islands and managed to spread to at least another 10 islands where it has effectively controlled both Sida spp. Control of the two water weeds, Eichhornia crassipes by Neochetina bruchi and N. eichhorniae and Pistia stratiotes by Neohydronomus affinis, has also been fairly good in most areas. Two agents, T. scrupulosa and Uroplata girardi, were released on L. camara, and four other agents have been found on the weed, but L. camara is still not under adequate control. The rust Puccinia spegazzinii was first released on Mikania micrantha in 2012 and successfully established. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it is having an impact on M. micrantha, but detailed monitoring is required to determine its overall impact. Future prospects for weed biological control in Vanuatu are positive, with the expected greater spread of recently released agents and the introduction of new agents for P. hysterophorus, L. camara, Dolichandra unguis-cati and Spathodea campanulata.

Integrated indicator framework and methodology for monitoring and assessment of hazardous substances and their effects in the marine environment

Many maritime countries in Europe have implemented marine environmental monitoring programmes which include the measurement of chemical contaminants and related biological effects. How best to integrate data obtained in these two types of monitoring into meaningful assessments has been the subject of recent efforts by the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Expert Groups. Work within these groups has concentrated on defining a core set of chemical and biological endpoints that can be used across maritime areas, defining confounding factors, supporting parameters and protocols for measurement. The framework comprised markers for concentrations of, exposure to and effects from, contaminants. Most importantly, assessment criteria for biological effect measurements have been set and the framework suggests how these measurements can be used in an integrated manner alongside contaminant measurements in biota, sediments and potentially water. Output from this process resulted in OSPAR Commission (www.ospar.org) guidelines that were adopted in 2012 on a trial basis for a period of 3 years. The developed assessment framework can furthermore provide a suitable approach for the assessment of Good Environmental Status (GES) for Descriptor 8 of the European Union (EU) Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

Effect of temperature on genomic and some biological indices during embryonic and larval development of Caspian trout Salmo trutta caspius Kessler, 1877

Since 1966 especially recent decade, Caspian trout (Salmo trutta caspius Kessler, 1877) considered as a strategic endemic species for Caspian Sea fisheries resources also coldwater aquaculture in Iran. Nowadays habitat condition effects on this subspecies during life stages, artificial breeding and incubation period noticed by research and execution sessions of fisheries in Iran. Incubation duration of Caspian trout from artificial fertilization followed by green egg and eyed egg, hatching and yolk sac absorption identified as most sensitive stages for fish and any pollution, stress and deviation by natural life conditions of embryo up to larvae could provide possible mortalities and observable or hidden alterations. Among all vital factors for Caspian trout welfare even in conservation plans and stocks rehabilitation programs or recent attempts for domestication of this fish for introduction to cold water aquaculture industry, water temperature as the most important physical factor which might conserve or induce stress to rearing environment condition is not considered yet. In hatcheries activities, the temperature for incubation and rearing Caspian trout eggs is determining by available water temperature and wide range of temperatures in governmental or private farms is using depend on the water resources availability. Also global climate change consideration and increase temperature trend accompany with group of physical and chemical factors provided by fish farm discharges and other source points entered to the migration pathway of Caspian trout in spawning season were not investigated before. Natural spawning migration pathway is upstream of Caspian tout south and south west rivers especially in Cheshmehkileh upstream in Tonekabon, Iran directed this research focus on the mentioned location. For simulation of natural spawning bed for Caspian trout, water supplied from the upstream of Daryasar branch as headwater of Cheshmehkileh River which provided REDD water condition for in vitro incubation. Green eggs treatments of wild and F1 cultured brooders both 3+ were incubated. Incubation implemented in dark, constant temperature (4, 8, 12 degree centigrade) and DO–pH–temperature digital monitoring in 3 recycling incubators ended to yolk sac absorption and entering larval stage. Hatching success, possible genome alterations by HSP70 gene expression and comet assay implemented as diagnostic tools in 3 life stages of eyed egg– Alevin and Larvae. Numbers and diameters of larvae white fiber muscles measured by histology experiment and Hematoxylin–eosine staining. Results stated significant effect of incubation temperature on hatching success, genome and white fiber muscles of wild and F1 samples. Hatching success measured as 31% and 38% for cultured and wild cold treatments, 79% and 91% for normal and 64% and 73% for warm cultured and wild treatments respectively. Considerable mortality occurred for cold treatment and 8 degree centigrade stated the best thermal condition in normal incubator according to hatching success in wild Caspian trout samples.

Application of an online-biomass sensor in an optical multisensory platform prototype for growth monitoring of biotechnical relevant microorganism and cell lines in single-use shake flasks

In the context of this work we evaluated a multisensory, noninvasive prototype platform for shake flask cultivations by monitoring three basic parameters (pH, pO2 and biomass). The focus lies on the evaluation of the biomass sensor based on backward light scattering. The application spectrum was expanded to four new organisms in addition to E. coli K12 and S. cerevisiae [1]. It could be shown that the sensor is appropriate for a wide range of standard microorganisms, e.g., L. zeae, K. pastoris, A. niger and CHO-K1. The biomass sensor signal could successfully be correlated and calibrated with well-known measurement methods like OD600, cell dry weight (CDW) and cell concentration. Logarithmic and Bleasdale-Nelder derived functions were adequate for data fitting. Measurements at low cell concentrations proved to be critical in terms of a high signal to noise ratio, but the integration of a custom made light shade in the shake flask improved these measurements significantly. This sensor based measurement method has a high potential to initiate a new generation of online bioprocess monitoring. Metabolic studies will particularly benefit from the multisensory data acquisition. The sensor is already used in labscale experiments for shake flask cultivations.

Novel Analytical Methodologies for the Monitoring of Traditional and Non-traditional Pollutants in different Environmental Compartments of South Florida

Routine monitoring of environmental pollution demands simplicity and speed without sacrificing sensitivity or accuracy. The development and application of sensitive, fast and easy to implement analytical methodologies for detecting emerging and traditional water and airborne contaminants in South Florida is presented. A novel method was developed for quantification of the herbicide glyphosate based on lyophilization followed by derivatization and simultaneous detection by fluorescence and mass spectrometry. Samples were analyzed from water canals that will hydrate estuarine wetlands of Biscayne National Park, detecting inputs of glyphosate from both aquatic usage and agricultural runoff from farms. A second study describes a set of fast, automated LC-MS/MS protocols for the analysis of dioctyl sulfosuccinate (DOSS) and 2-butoxyethanol, two components of Corexit®. Around 1.8 million gallons of those dispersant formulations were used in the response efforts for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010. The methods presented here allow the trace-level detection of these compounds in seawater, crude oil and commercial dispersants formulations. In addition, two methodologies were developed for the analysis of well-known pollutants, namely Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and airborne particulate matter (APM). PAHs are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and some are potent carcinogens. Traditional GC-MS analysis is labor-intensive and consumes large amounts of toxic solvents. My study provides an alternative automated SPE-LC-APPI-MS/MS analysis with minimal sample preparation and a lower solvent consumption. The system can inject, extract, clean, separate and detect 28 PAHs and 15 families of alkylated PAHs in 28 minutes. The methodology was tested with environmental samples from Miami. Airborne Particulate Matter is a mixture of particles of chemical and biological origin. Assessment of its elemental composition is critical for the protection of sensitive ecosystems and public health. The APM collected from Port Everglades between 2005 and 2010 was analyzed by ICP-MS after acid digestion of filters. The most abundant elements were Fe and Al, followed by Cu, V and Zn. Enrichment factors show that hazardous elements (Cd, Pb, As, Co, Ni and Cr) are introduced by anthropogenic activities. Data suggest that the major sources of APM were an electricity plant, road dust, industrial emissions and marine vessels.

Molecular probes for monitoring mitochondrial movement and function

This thesis explores two distinct parts of mitochondrial physiology: the role of mitochondria in generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial morphology and dynamics within cells. The first area of research is covered in Chapters 1-8. Mitochondrial biofunctionality and ROS production are discussed in Chapter 1, followed by the strategy of targeting bioactive compounds to mitochondria by linking them to lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cations (TPP) (Chapter 2). ROS sensors relevant to the research are reviewed in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 presents design and synthesis of novel probes for superoxide detection in mitochondria (MitoNeo-D), cytosol (Neo-D) and extracellular environment (ExCellNeo-D). The results of biological validation of MitoNeo-D and Neo-D performed in the MRC MBU in Cambridge are presented in Chapter 5. A dicationic hydrogen peroxide sensor that utilizes in situ click chemistry is discussed in Chapter 6. Preliminary work on the synthesis of mitochondria-targeted superoxide generators, which led to the development of mitochondria-targeted analogue of paraquat, MitoPQ, is presented in Chapter 7. A set of bifunctional probes (BCN-Mal, BCN-E-BCN and Mito-iTag) for assessing the redox states of protein thiols is discussed in Chapter 8 along with their biological validation. The second part of the thesis is aimed at the study of mitochondrial morphology and dynamics and is presented in Chapters 9-11. Chapter 9 provides background on the classes of fluorophores relevant to the research, the phenomenon of fluorescence quenching and the principle of photoactivation with examples of photoactivatable fluorophores. Next, the background on mitochondrial morphology and heterogeneity is presented in Chapter 10, followed by the ways of imaging and tracking mitochondria within cells by conventional fluorophores and by photoactivatable fluorophores exploiting super-resolution microscopy. Chapter 11 presents the design and synthesis of four photoactivatable fluorophores for mitochondrial tracking, MitoPhotoRhod110, MitoPhotoNIR, Photo-E+, MitoPhoto-E+, along with results of biological validation of MitoPhotoNIR. The results and discussion concludes with Chapter 12, which is a summary and suggestions for future work, followed by the chemistry experimental procedures (Chapter 13), materials and methods for biological experiments (Chapter 14) and references.

The role of anglers' perceptions and habits in biological invasions: perspectives from the Iberian Peninsula

Anglers are a recognized vector for invasive fauna, with both intentional and accidental introductions reported worldwide. * The purpose of this study was to investigate the Iberian freshwater angler's habits and perceptions related to biological invasions, using an international and bilingual survey in Spain and Portugal. * The results showed that anglers from both countries cover great distances to fish, and that they commonly visit several places and fish during consecutive days, representing a major risk for invasions. Yet, anglers' activity patterns throughout the year are not constant: the summer months involve more intense activity and, hence, entail higher risk. * In both countries, the preferred fish species were invasive, and their introductions were reported more often than native species, with motivations being country-dependent. * The use of live bait was not frequent, but sometimes invasive species were used and the release of unused bait in the water was reported very frequently. * Most anglers recognize that introductions have environmental impacts and that anglers have an active role in intentional introductions. However, only a minority is aware of the angler's role in accidental transportation of invasive species. * These findings on anglers' behaviour patterns and perceptions may be used to model invasion risks and also improve monitoring and awareness programmes led by government agencies.

The role of angler’s perceptions and habits in biological invasions: Perspectives from Iberian Peninsula

1. Anglers are a recognized vector for invasive fauna, with both intentional and accidental introductions reported worldwide. 2. The purpose of this study 2. The purpose of this study was to investigate the Iberian freshwater angler’s habits and perceptions related to biological invasions, using an international and bilingual survey in Spain and Portugal. 3. The results showed that anglers from both countries cover great distances to fish, and that they commonly visit several places and fish during consecutive days, representing a major risk for invasions. Yet, anglers’ activity patterns throughout the year are not constant: the summer months involve more intense activity and, hence, entail higher risk. 4. In both countries, the preferred fish species were invasive, and their introductions were reported more often than native species, with motivations being country-dependent. 5. The use of live bait was not frequent, but sometimes invasive species were used and the release of unused bait in the water was reported very frequently. 6. Most anglers recognize that introductions have environmental impacts and that anglers have an active role in intentional introductions. However, only a minority is aware of the angler’s role in accidental transportation of invasive species. 7. These findings on anglers’ behaviour patterns and perceptions may be used to model invasion risks and also improve monitoring and awareness programmes led by government agencies.