Calcium carbonate content in surface sediments and benthic fauna on Antarctic shelves

We analyzed 214 new core-top samples for their CaCO3 content from shelves all around Antarctica in order to understand their distribution and contribution to the marine carbon cycle. The distribution of sedimentary CaCO3 on the Antarctic shelves is connected to environmental parameters where we considered water depth, width of the shelf, sea-ice coverage and primary production. While CaCO3 contents of surface sediments are usually low, high(> 15%) CaCO3 contents occur at shallow water depths (150-200 m) on narrow shelves of the eastern Weddell Sea and at a depth range of 600-900 m on the broader and deeper shelves of the Amundsen, Bellingshausen and western Weddell Seas. Regions with high primary production, such as the Ross Sea and the western Antarctic Peninsula region, have generally low CaCO3 contents in the surface sediments. The predominant mineral phase of CaCO3 on the Antarctic shelves is low-magnesium calcite. With respect to ocean acidification, our findings suggest that dissolution of carbonates in Antarctic shelf sediments may be an important negative feedback only after the onset of calcite undersaturation on the Antarctic shelves. Macrozoobenthic CaCO3 standing stocks do not increase the CaCO3 budget significantly as they are two orders of magnitude lower than the budget of the sediments. This first circumpolar compilation of Antarctic shelf carbonate data does not claim to be complete. Future studies are encouraged and needed to fill data gaps especially in the under-sampled southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean sectors of the Southern Ocean.

Sea turtles recovered at the Wild Fauna Recovery Center in Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)

[EN] Since the beginning of the 1990's, the Wild Fauna Recovery Center in Gran Canaria Canary Islands, Spain) has received a large number of injured animals for recovery. Apart from birds and mammals, a considerable number of sea turtles representing different species are gathered each year. During the last five years (1999-2003), more than 100 turtles were sheltered annually; more than 80% successfully recovered and were released.

Die Vielfalt Argentiniens : Darstellung der Geographie der verschiedenen Landschaftszonen, auch im Hinblick auf das Klima, die Flora und die Fauna – Beispielhafte Erläuterungen zu den sich daraus ergebenen wirtschaftlichen Teilbereichen von Landwirtschaft, Bodenschätzen und Tourismus

[s.c.]

Farmers’ knowledge and use of soil fauna in agriculture: a worldwide review

General knowledge of the small, invisible, or hidden organisms that make soil one of the most biodiverse habitats on Earth is thought to be scarce, despite their importance in food systems and agricultural production. We provide the first worldwide review of high-quality research that reports on farmers’ knowledge of soil organisms in agriculture. The depth of farmers’ knowledge varied; some farming communities held detailed local taxonomies and observations of soil biota, or used soil biological activity as indicators of soil fertility, while others were largely unaware of soil fauna. Elicitation of soil biota knowledge was often incidental to the main research goal in many of the reviewed studies. Farmers are rarely deliberately or deeply consulted by researchers on their existing knowledge of soil biota, soil ecology, or soil ecological processes. Deeper understanding of how farmers use and value soil life can lead to more effective development of collaborative extension programs, policies, and management initiatives directed at maintaining healthy, living soils.

Study and comparison on freshwater snail fauna in the paddy fields and related river and lake (Babolroad & Parishan) water supply in Mazandaran & Frace provinces of Iran

As a result of this investigation, for the first time from Babolroud river in Iran is 15 species identified, which they belong to 8 genera, from 7 families. The most and least distribution, 13 and 5 species, belong to Miandasht and Rostaye Anarestane Babol stations respectively, which they are 50 kilometers away from each other. Also 20 species belong to 10 genera from 6 families were identified in Parishan lake. The most the distribution belong to stations 1 and 5 with 6 and 18 species respectively. The most commonly distributed family is Lymnaeidae with 6 species: Lyamnaea truncatula, L. auricularia, L. palustris, L. pereger, L. stagnalis and L. gedrosiana, which L. trancatula is identified as the most frequent and has medical importance. L. stagnalis is identified to be the most important to agriculture. Planorbis planorhis, Physa acuta, Lymnaea pereger, Bithynia tenculata and Vavata piscinalis are reported for the first time from this region.

Diagnóstico de los recursos bosque, fauna silvestre, suelo y agua, en la finca El Morro, San Miguelito, Río San Juan, Nicaragua, 2013

Este estudio fue realizado en la finca El Morro, San Miguelito, Río San Juan, el objetivo fue e valuar las características biofísicas de los recursos bosque, fauna silvestre , agua y suelo existentes en la finca. Se aplicó un inventario con diseño de muestreo sistemático utilizando tamaño de parcela de acuerdo a los diferentes tipos de cobertura vegetal , tales como : bosque abierto, tacotal y árboles disp ersos en potrero . Se ubica ron sobre el diseño del inventario dos parcelas circulares, con un radio de 15 metros, separadas a un a distancia de tres km entre ellas, la toma de datos de fauna silvestre se hizo , simultánea al levantamien t o de la información florística. P ara la caracterización se tomaron 20 muestras de suelo en cada tipo de cobertura vegetal para determinar el estado físico y químico del mismo. S e evaluó la calidad del agua para consumo humano en las dos fuentes hídricas existentes. En bosque abierto se encontraron 29 especies y 18 familias. Las familias con más individuos fueron : Bignoniaceae, Caesalpinaceae, Fabaceae y Mimosaceae ; en el tacotal se encontraron 26 especies y 19 familias , sobresaliendo en número de individuos, Tiliaceae, Bixaceae, Sterculiaceae y Mimosaceae; en el área de árboles dis pe rsos potreros se registraron 34 especies y 21 familias , siendo Anarcadiaceae, Fabaceae, Mimosaceae y Sterculiaceae las de mayor abundancia de individuos. El índice de diversidad de Shannon - Wiener indica que todos los tipos de vegetación tienden a la heterogeneidad o equitatividad en especies e individuos. En los tres estratos se encontraron 26 especies de aves, 7 de mamíferos y 8 de reptiles . Se evaluó el pH, nitrito, nitrato, amonio, fosfato, dureza de carbono, dureza total y oxígeno del agua, encontrando que es apta para consumo humano, sin embargo, no se hizo análisis biológico, por tanto se desconoce la concentración de coliformes fecales de las dos fuentes. La textura de los suelos en los tres tipos de vegetación es arcillosa

Fauna edáfica sob modelos em estágio inicial de restauração de floresta subtropical

The goal of this study was to compare areas under different forest restoration technologies in relation to abundance, richness, diversity and composition of the present fauna in the litter and soil. The treatments evaluated were: natural regeneration (RN); high diversity tree plantations (L) and nucleation (N). An area of secondary forest was included in the study as a reference of soil conditions. The experimental design was in randomized block with four replications. Samples were collected for extraction of mesofauna (October/2012; July and October/2013) and macrofauna (June and October/2013) in six points of each plot, totaling 24 samples per treatment. For collecting soil macrofauna was used TSBF method. The mesofauna was collected with a metal cylinder and extracted by Berlese-Tüllgren funnel. Litter and soil were collected separately at each point and the fauna was identified level of class/taxonomic order. The springtails were classified using morphotypes. In total, considering the mesofauna, macrofauna and three times collected were accounted 28618 organisms. In relation soil mesofauna, the evaluated technologies did not differ, after three years of restoration, in relation to total abundance of organisms and community composition. The Shannon diversity index (H), in soil mesofauna, followed a human impact gradient. This index was higher in natural regeneration, which not was undergone technical interventions and showed higher moisture in the soil. The tree planting technology, under the control of volunteer plants in total area, showed lower H index. In the case of litter mesofauna, the technologies did not differ in relation the mean richness, total abundance of organisms and community composition. Considering edaphic macrofauna, technologies did not differ in relation to the abundance and richness, and in the evaluation of June/2013, RN showed higher H index and differed in relation to the community composition of other technologies. In October/2013 evaluation, the differences between the technologies in relation to H index were narrower and these did not differ in terms of composition of soil macrofauna community. In litter macrofauna, in June/2013, the RN presented greater richness and H index when compared to other technologies and in evaluation October/2013 technologies did not differ in relation to community composition, richness and mean abundance of organisms. In the case of springtails, technologies after three years in the restoration process, did not differ in relation to the abundance, richness and composition of Collembola community for different morphotypes. The secondary forest, in relation to forest restoration technologies, presented greater abundance of saprophages, predators and greater diversity of morphotypes of springtails. From these results it, we recommended to natural regeneration by to have the lowest cost of deployment, followed by nucleation and online planting. The animals should be monitored over time, in the restoration technologies, as well as the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil, in order to understand the possible changes in the composition and diversity of organisms.

Influência dos fatores abióticos sobre a variação espaço-temporal de paralonchurus brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1875) (pisces, sciaenidae) componente da fauna acompanhante da pesca de camarões no litoral Norte de São Paulo

Knowledge of the environmental factors influence on the spatial-temporal variation of fishes is important to fisheries management and conservation. Thus, the aim of this work was to analyze the influence of the abiotical factors on the spatial-temporal distribution of Paralonchurus brasiliensis (Pisces, Sciaenidae) caught by-catch with the shrimp fishing of Ubatuba and Caraguatatuba regions, north coast of São Paulo State. The fishes were captured every month from January to December 2002. Samples were collected by otter trawl at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35m depths. The temperatures (surface and bottom), salinities (surface and bottom), sediment features and organic matters were verified for each depth. During all period of the study 12.642 specimens of P. brasiliensis were captured at Ubatuba and 17.166 at Caraguatatuba, which totalized the biomass of 267 for the first and 339kg for the other region. The females outnumbered males in fish population. The greatest values of biomass and number of individuals were registered at the summer and autumn seasons, while the lowest values were observed at the winter and spring seasons. The greatest abundances were found from 15 to 25m depth. In this study, it was verified that P. brasiliensis is a coastal waters associate species. The spatialtemporal distribution of P. brasiliensis is affected by intrusion of SACW and depth for the coastal region and by depth and sediment in sheltered areas such as Caraguatatuba

Comparative phylogeography of the western Indian Ocean reef fauna

Assessing patterns of connectivity at the community and population levels is relevant to marine resource management and conservation. The present study reviews this issue with a focus on the western Indian Ocean (WIO) biogeographic province. This part of the Indian Ocean holds more species than expected from current models of global reef fish species richness. In this study, checklists of reef fish species were examined to determine levels of endemism in each of 10 biogeographic provinces of the Indian Ocean. Results showed that the number of endemic species was higher in the WIO than in any other region of the Indian Ocean. Endemic species from the WIO on the average had a larger body size than elsewhere in the tropical Indian Ocean. This suggests an effect of peripheral speciation, as previously documented in the Hawaiian reef fish fauna, relative to other sites in the tropical western Pacific. To explore evolutionary dynamics of species across biogeographic provinces and infer mechanisms of speciation, we present and compare the results of phylogeographic surveys based on compilations of published and unpublished mitochondrial DNA sequences for 19 Indo-Pacific reef-associated fishes (rainbow grouper Cephalopholis argus, scrawled butterflyfish Chaetodon meyeri, bluespot mullet Crenimugil sp. A, humbug damselfish Dascyllus abudafur/Dascyllus aruanus, areolate grouper Epinephelus areolatus, blacktip grouper Epinephelus fasciatus, honeycomb grouper Epinephelus merra, bluespotted cornetfish Fistularia commersonii, cleaner wrasse Labroides sp. 1, longface emperor Lethrinus sp. A, bluestripe snapper Lutjanus kasmira, unicornfishes Naso brevirosris, Naso unicornis and Naso vlamingii, blue-spotted maskray Neotrygon kuhlii, largescale mullet Planiliza macrolepis, common parrotfish Scarus psicattus, crescent grunter Terapon jarbua, whitetip reef shark Triaenodon obesus) and three coastal Indo-West Pacific invertebrates (blue seastar Linckia laevigata, spiny lobster Panulirus homarus, small giant clam Tridacna maxima). Heterogeneous and often unbalanced sampling design, paucity of data in a number of cases, and among-species discrepancy in phylogeographic structure precluded any generalization regarding phylogeographic patterns. Nevertheless, the WIO might have been a source of haplotypes in some cases and it also harboured an endemic clade in at least one case. The present survey also highlighted likely cryptic species. This may eventually affect the accuracy of the current checklists of species, which form the basis of some of the recent advances in Indo-West Pacific marine ecology and biogeography.

Abundância das formas imaturas de Psaroniocompsa incrustata ( Lutz, 1910) (Diptera: Simuliidae) em um criadouro natural no rio Pium/RN, e sua fauna associada

The species psaroniocompsa incrustata (Lutz, 1910) was studied in relation to its abundance in different and seasonal periods, the physico-chemical of the breending ground and the fauna predation added to the immature of the species. The study was developed during eight months, from April to July, 2005 (rainy season) and from October, 2005 to January, 2006 (drought season), in one natural breending ground situated in the Pium river, that is part of the hydrographical basin of the Pirangi river in Rio Grande do Norte. The immature of Simuliidae were collected manually in vegetal substrate. At the same place, it was made one sampling of the associated fauna using Suber collectors and the measurement of the environment variants. It was also made one analysis of the stomach content of possible enemies of the simulídeos, to observe the predation of the associated fauna. It was collected 7.713 samples, all from de species P. Incrustata, it was observed a bigger abundance in the drought season, and the entomologic fauna associated totalizing 20.1314 species, distributed in the kinds: Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Trichoptera, e Hemiptera, with a bigger representativity of Dipteros. The analysis of the stomach content of the species from the families Libellulidae and Hydropsychidae showed the presence of the simulídeos in only 4% of the material analysed, therefore it was not confirmed the presence of one efficient biological control of the simulídeos in this breending ground

Mineral and organic pollution in river Sabor (Northeastern Portugal): ecotoxicological effects on freshwater fauna

Aquatic ecosystems are final collectors of all kinds of pollution as an outcome of anthropogenic inputs, such us untreated industrial and municipal sewage and agricultural pollutants. There are several aquatic ecosystems that are threatened by mineral and organic pollution. In Northeastern Portugal, near Bragança, different watercourses are suffering negative impacts of human activities. It has been developed several studies in the monitoring of environmental impacts in these river basins, namely in Rio Fervença, affected by organic pollution, and in Portelo stream, affected, since 2009, by the collapse and continuous input of mining deposits. In this sense, the present study aimed to continue the monitoring study of ecological status of freshwater ecosystems of Northeastern Portugal, namely the following objectives: a) mineral pollution effects of mining deposits sudden incorporated into Portelo stream; b) organic pollution due to domestic and industrial inputs in River Fervença. Also, since fish are useful experimental models to evaluate toxicological mechanisms of contaminants, c) acute toxicity tests with Cu were conducted in laboratory conditions. During 2015/2016, it was made abiotic and biotic characterization of 16 sampling sites distributed by both Portelo and Fervença rivers, tributaries of main River Sabor (Douro Basin). Several physicochemical parameters were determined and Riparian Quality (QBR Index) and Channel Quality (GQC) Indexes were determined for habitat evaluation. Fish and invertebrate communities were sampled, according to protocols of Water Framework Directive (WFD). Several metrics were determined, with particular emphasis on the Biotic Index IBMWP and the Northern Portuguese Invertebrate Index (IPtIN). Acute toxicity tests were conducted with an Iberian fish species, common barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei) and some plasmatic electrolytes levels were evaluated, to assess their contribution to mitigate osmoregulatory adverse effects of Cu. Also, same electrolytes were measured after changing to clean water, in attempt to assess fish capacity to reverse this situation. Results obtained for both rivers showed a significant level of disturbance that affected decisively water, habitat and biological quality of aquatic ecosystems. Mineral and Organic Pollution in River Sabor (NE Portugal): Ecotoxicological Effects on Freshwater Fauna Due to this change of environmental conditions in Portelo stream (extreme pH values, high conductivity and presence of heavy metals), several biological metrics (e.g. taxonomic richness, abundance, diversity, evenness) confirmed, comparatively with reference sites, a substantial decrease on ecological integrity status. The same pattern was found for Fervença River; however other water parameters, namely the content of most limiting nutrients (e.g. N and P) seemed to have more influence in the composition and structure of macroinvertebrate and fish communities. In fact, despite the operation of the Sewage Treatment Plant of Bragança, Fervença River presented significant levels of disturbance that affected decisively the quality and ecological integrity of the aquatic ecosystem. The synergic effect of domestic and industrial pollution, intensive agriculture, regulation and degradation of aquatic and riparian habitats contributed to the decrease of ecological condition, namely in the downstream zones (after Bragança). The results for acute toxicity, showed that fish can change Na+ and K+ levels face to Cu exposition and, depending of Cu concentration tested, can also return to normal levels, providing some insights to that are believed to occurred in fish population, near the Portelo mines. The low ecological integrity status detected in the lotic ecosystems in NE Portugal as a result of mineral and organic pollution deserves the development of several measures for rehabilitation and improving of water quality. On the other hand, environmental education actions are needed to contribute to improvement of ecological integrity of the river and its conservation.

Does spatial distribution of fauna depend on algal belts on intertidal boulder fields of the French Basque coast ?

To determine good ecological status and conservation of the Sub-Marine area of the Bay of Biscay, the implementation of a new rocky intertidal habitats monitoring is needed. A protocol has been adapted from the Brittany protocol for the water body FRFC11 "Basque coast" for the two indicators "intertidal macroalgae" and "subtidal macroalgae" under the Water Framework Directive to qualify the ecological. However no protocol has been validated for fauna in front of meridional characters of the benthic communities. Investigations carried out on macroalgae communities on intertidal area in WFD framework, since 2008, constitute an important working basis. This is the aim of the Bigorno project (Intertidal Biodiversity of the south of the Bay of Biscay and Observation for New search and Monitoring for decision support), financed by the Agency of Marine Protected Areas and the Departmental Council. To implement knowledge, a sampling protocol has been used in 2015 on the boulder fields of Guéthary. This site is part of Natura 2000 area "rocky Basque coast and offshore extension "It constitutes also a Znieff site and restricted fishing area. The sampling strategy considers the heterogeneity of substrates and the presence of intertidal microhabitats. Two main habitats are present: "mediolittoral rock in exposed area habitat" and "boulder fields". Habitat "intertidal pools and permanent ponds" is also present but, it is not investigated. Sampling effort is of 353 quadrats of 0.1 m², drawn randomly according to a spatially stratified sampling plan, defined by habitat and algal belts. Taxa identification and enumeration are done on each quadrat. The objective of this work is to expose results from data collected during 2015 sampling program. The importance of characterizing benthic fauna communities spatial distribution belonging to the Basque coast according to algal belts defines during the WDF survey was highlighted. Concurrently, indicators of biodiversity were studied.

Nuevos datos sobre la fauna del Cámbrico Inferior (Marianense) de Llerena (Badajoz)

Se dan nuevos datos sobre los invertebrados fósiles encontrados en el río Viar (Badajoz) de edad Cámbrico Inferior (Mananense), dándose una relación de fauna que consiste en: Trilobites (Serrodiscus, Termierella, Aldonaia, Saukianda e Hicksia), Celentéreos (Scenella), Braquiópodos (inarticulados indet.) y Moluscos (Hyolitha).

Aspectos da economia alimentar do Bronze Pleno da Beira Alta : a fauna de grandes mamíferos das «Salas 2 e 20» do Buraco da Moura de S. Romão (Seia)

Estuda-se a associação de grandes mamíferos recolhida em unidades estratigráficas das "Salas 20 e 2" do Buraco da Moura de S. Romão (Seia) correspondentes a uma ocupação do Bronze Pleno. Devido à natureza predominantemente ácida dos terrenos de toda a região beirã, restos faunísticos como os agora estudados são excepcionais. Tal facto valoriza as conclusões obtidas do seu estudo, não apenas sobre as bases de subsistência e hábitos alimentares, mas também acerca da economia das populações que, no Bronze Pleno, ocuparam a Bacia do Alto Mondego. Comprovou-se uma importante actividadepastoril, documentada pela predominância, no espectro faunístico, dos bovinos e ovinos e onde a caça ocupava um lugar muito secundário. Tal situação reforça a proposta de atribuição da degradação do coberto florestal da área serrana como tendo origem antrópica, datando talvez desde o IV milénio a. C., ligando-se á necessidade da obtenção de terras de pastoreio.