scholarly journals Fungal symbionts of Arctic zooplankton induce mortality and reduce swimming activity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
BT Hassett ◽  
E Ershova ◽  
J Berge

ABSTRACTZooplankton are key intermediaries between microbes and higher trophic levels. Elevated temperatures in the Arctic are expected to increase metabolic rates, which in turn will result in increased rates of zooplankton production and foraging. We postulate that this may also be tied to elevated incidence of fungi parasitism in key zooplankton species. We present data of in-situ fungal parasitism in the key Arctic zooplankton species complex Calanus spp. We found that >10% of Calanus specimens were internally parasitized by fungi that had 100% molecular identity to Penicillium chrysogenum. Experimental studies with two strains of P. chrysogenum and Calanus spp. revealed an increased mortality effect suggesting that fungi decrease the survival of overwintering zooplankton, which may have cascading effects on higher trophic levels that feed on Calanus. Moreover, Calanus demonstrated reduced swimming activity in the presence of P. chyrsogenum, indicating that fungi could affect predator avoidance and vertical migration patterns of zooplankton. Semi-thin sectioning of live zooplankton incubated with P. chrysogenum revealed the presence of hyphae throughout the body, underscoring the parasitic nature of P. chrysogenum in Calanus. We hypothesize that as the Arctic warms, the balance between host and pathogen could shift in favor of pathogen reproduction, resulting in a greater effect of fungal pathogens on zooplankton.

Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Joly ◽  
Ophélie Couriot ◽  
Matthew D. Cameron ◽  
Eliezer Gurarie

Animals that deliver a toxic secretion through a wound or to the body surface without a wound are considered venomous and toxungenous, respectively. Hematophagous insects, such as mosquitoes (Aedes spp.), meet the criteria for venomous, and some endoparasitic insects, such as warble flies (Hypoderma tarandi), satisfy the definition for toxungenous. The impacts of these insects on their hosts are wide ranging. In the Arctic, their primary host is the most abundant ungulate, the caribou (Rangifer tarandus). The most conspicuous impacts of these insects on caribou are behavioral. Caribou increase their movements during peak insect harassment, evading and running away from these parasites. These behavioral responses scale up to physiological effects as caribou move to less productive habitats to reduce harassment which increases energetic costs due to locomotion, reduces nutrient intake due to less time spent foraging, and can lead to poorer physiological condition. Reduced physiological condition can lead to lower reproductive output and even higher mortality rates, with the potential to ultimately affect caribou demographics. Caribou affect all trophic levels in the Arctic and the processes that connect them, thus altering caribou demographics could impact the ecology of the region. Broadening the definitions of venomous and toxungenous animals to include hematophagous and endoparasitic insects should not only generate productive collaborations among toxinologists and parasitologists, but will also lead to a deeper understanding of the ecology of toxic secretions and their widespread influence.


Author(s):  
Robert C. Rau ◽  
Robert L. Ladd

Recent studies have shown the presence of voids in several face-centered cubic metals after neutron irradiation at elevated temperatures. These voids were found when the irradiation temperature was above 0.3 Tm where Tm is the absolute melting point, and were ascribed to the agglomeration of lattice vacancies resulting from fast neutron generated displacement cascades. The present paper reports the existence of similar voids in the body-centered cubic metals tungsten and molybdenum.


Polar Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renske P. J. Hoondert ◽  
Nico W. van den Brink ◽  
Martine J. van den Heuvel-Greve ◽  
Ad M. J. Ragas ◽  
A. Jan Hendriks

AbstractStable isotopes are often used to provide an indication of the trophic level (TL) of species. TLs may be derived by using food-web-specific enrichment factors in combination with a representative baseline species. It is challenging to sample stable isotopes for all species, regions and seasons in Arctic ecosystems, e.g. because of practical constraints. Species-specific TLs derived from a single region may be used as a proxy for TLs for the Arctic as a whole. However, its suitability is hampered by incomplete knowledge on the variation in TLs. We quantified variation in TLs of Arctic species by collating data on stable isotopes across the Arctic, including corresponding fractionation factors and baseline species. These were used to generate TL distributions for species in both pelagic and benthic food webs for four Arctic areas, which were then used to determine intra-sample, intra-study, intra-region and inter-region variation in TLs. Considerable variation in TLs of species between areas was observed. This is likely due to differences in parameter choice in estimating TLs (e.g. choice of baseline species) and seasonal, temporal and spatial influences. TLs between regions were higher than the variance observed within regions, studies or samples. This implies that TLs derived within one region may not be suitable as a proxy for the Arctic as a whole. The TL distributions derived in this study may be useful in bioaccumulation and climate change studies, as these provide insight in the variability of trophic levels of Arctic species.


1976 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 790-802 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Coles ◽  
G. V. Haines ◽  
W. Hannaford

A contoured map of vertical magnetic field residuals (relative to the IGRF) over western Canada and adjacent Arctic regions has been produced by amalgamating new data with those from previous surveys. The measurements were made at altitudes between 3.5 and 5.5 km above sea level. The map shows the form of the magnetic field within the waveband 30 to 5000 km. A magnetic feature of several thousand kilometres wavelength dominates the map, and is probably due in major part to sources in the earth's core. Superimposed on this are several groups of anomalies which contain wavelengths of the order of a thousand kilometres. The patterns of the short wavelength anomalies provide a broad view of major structures and indicate several regimes of distinctive evolutionary development. Enhancement of viscous magnetization at elevated temperatures may account for the concentration of intense anomalies observed near the western edge of the craton.


2015 ◽  
Vol 813-814 ◽  
pp. 830-835
Author(s):  
Akkaraju H. Kiran Theja ◽  
Rayapati Subbarao

The drawbacks associated with bio-fuels can be minimized by making modifications to combustion chamber. Modification of combustion chamber is achieved by providing an air gap in between the crown and the body of the piston with the top crown made of low thermal conductivity material. Experimentation is carried on a diesel engine with brass as piston crown material and karanja as test fuel, which is found to be a better alternative fuel based on the tests carried out prior to modification. Investigations are carried out on the performance of the engine with modified combustion chamber consisting of air gap insulated piston with 2 mm air gap with brass crown when fuelled with karanja oil. Comparative studies are made between the two configurations of engine with and without modification at an injection timing of 29obTDC. Performance, heat balance and emission plots are made with respect to brake power. Fuel consumption increased with modification. The mechanical and volumetric efficiencies are similar in both the cases. Indicated and brake thermal efficiencies got reduced with modification. But, it is good to see that HC and CO emissions are showing positive trend. Thus, the present investigation hints the possibility of improvements while making piston modification and providing air gap insulation.


1967 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. DON STEVENS ◽  
D. J. RANDALL

1. Changes in blood pressure in the dorsal aorta, ventral aorta and subintestinal vein, as well as changes in heart rate and breathing rate during moderate swimming activity in the rainbow trout are reported. 2. Blood pressures both afferent and efferent to the gills increased during swimming and then returned to normal levels within 30 min. after exercise. 3. Venous blood pressure was characterized by periodic increases during swimming. The pressure changes were not in phase with the body movements. 4. Although total venous return to the heart increased during swimming, a decreased blood flow was recorded in the subintestinal vein. 5. Heart rate and breathing rate increased during swimming and then decreased when swimming ceased. 6. Some possible mechanisms regulating heart and breathing rates are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Mata Tutor ◽  
Catherine Villoria Rojas ◽  
María Benito Sánchez

Decomposition is a natural process that begins approximately four minutes after death and continues until the body is degraded to simpler biochemical components which are gradually recycled back to the environment. This process is dependent on extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Embalming is a chemical preservation technique that aims to preserve the external appearance of the body in good condition for an indeterminate period. In Spain, there is a lack of experimental studies carried out to analyse the variables that affect decomposition in embalmed bodies, therefore, in accordance with the conclusions reached by previous authors, it is hypothesised that embalmed bodies show quantifiable characteristics during the late stage decomposition which distinguish them from control, unembalmed, cadavers. An anthropological and statistical analysis was performed on 14 individuals from Cementerio Sur de Madrid exhumed after ten years according to the Mortuary Health Law of the Autonomous Region of Madrid. The preliminary results obtained showed that there is a qualitative and statistically significant relationship between the variables evaluated, being the presence or absence of soft tissue the most notable difference. The mortuary or thanatopraxy treatments performed before the burial and the microenvironmental conditions of the burial positively influence the soft tissue preservation on embalmed bodies. These results contribute to the understanding about the decomposition rate of an embalmed cadavers in cemeteries, and the related extrinsic variables.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-78

The article presents the results of laboratory studies to assess the toxicological parameters of montmorillonite clay from the Pogadaevskoye deposit in the West Kazakhstan region in order to use them as an aluminosilicate sorbent in the composition of feeds that reduce the negative effects of mycotoxins on the body of animals and birds. The relevance of research is associated with the cultivation of healthy and highly productive animals and poultry in order to ensure the food security of the Republic of Kazakhstan.The studies carried out to assess the toxicological parameters of montmorillonite clay in order to use them as an aluminosilicate sorbent in experimental animals (rabbits and white rats) allowed the following results to be obtained: Visual study of the intensity of erythema when exposed to the test substance on the skin of rabbits showed their absence (0 points). The study of the intensity of edema (an increase in the thickness of the skin clutch of rabbits) when exposed to the test substance on the skin of rabbits showed no reaction (0 points). Studies evaluating the irritating effect of the test substances on the mucous membranes of the eyes of rabbits by symptoms of damage showed the absence of hyperemia (0 points). Weak eyelid edema (1 point), the minimum amount of discharge in the corner of the eye (1 point). The results of studies on the classification assessment of the test substance for the severity of the irritant effect on the eyes of rabbits showed that the average total score of the severity of the irritative effect corresponds to 1 point. A comprehensive analysis of the results obtained on the basis of scientific and experimental studies to assess the toxicological indicators of montmorillonite clay from the Pogadaevskoye deposit in relation to irritating effects on the skin and mucous membranes of experimental animals (rabbits) showed their harmlessness.


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