BALLAST WATER: A POLYPHASIC APPROACH IN THE  EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL PHYTOPLANKTONIC BIOINVASION

The main transport vector for exotic-invasive species around the world is ballast water in merchant ships, crossing natural biogeographic barriers. This is one of the main factors responsible for the reduction and homogenization of the global biota. As phytoplankton is the main group transported by these vessels, this study assesses the risk of bioinvasion in the port complex of Itajaí and Navegantes (southern Brazil), using a polyphasic approach, mixing classical taxonomy with molecular biology. Ballast water collections were carried out to analyze the traditional taxonomy and for clonal cultivation in the laboratory. A successful cultivation of 12 local strains and 10-ballast water was successful. In the latter case, some fresh water, contrary to the statement by the commanders of the exchange of water in the deep ocean (> 200 m). Molecular identification was performed by sequencing the complete ITS region, confirming the presence of Thalassiosira minuscula Krasske, 1941, harmful and of public health interest, previously not mentioned for the region. The species Pleurosigma W. Smith, 1852; Asterionellopsis glacialis (Castracane) Round, 1990; Trieres mobiliensis (Bailey) Ashworth and E.C. Theriot, 2013; Thalassiosira minima Gaarder, 1951; Skeletonema pseudocostatum Medlin, 1991; Pectinodesmus holtmannii E. Hegewald, C. Bock and Krienitz, 2013; Neodesmus Hindák, 1976; and Pseudopediastrum boryanum (Turpin) E. Hegewald, 2005, were identified. The results indicate the possibility of growth of the species found in the ballast environment, which may negatively alter the disposal environment. Keywords: exotic species, molecular identification, marine phytoplankton, port complex of Itajaí and Navegantes.

Download Full-text

Impact of an Exotic Invasive Pest, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), on Resident Communities of Pest and Natural Enemies in Maize Fields in Kenya

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11061074 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1074

Author(s):

Bonoukpoè Mawuko Sokame ◽

Boaz Musyoka ◽

Julius Obonyo ◽

François Rebaudo ◽

Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Enemies ◽

Spodoptera Frugiperda ◽

Fall Armyworm ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

Growth Stages ◽

Insect Communities ◽

Exotic Invasive Species ◽

Before And After ◽

Exotic Invasive ◽

Lepidoptera Noctuidae

The interactions among insect communities influence the composition of pest complexes that attack crops and, in parallel, their natural enemies, which regulate their abundance. The lepidopteran stemborers have been the major maize pests in Kenya. Their population has been regulated by natural enemies, mostly parasitoids, some of which have been used for biological control. It is not known how a new exotic invasive species, such as the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), may affect the abundance and parasitism of the resident stemborers. For this reason, pest and parasitism surveys have been conducted, before and after the FAW invaded Kenya, in maize fields in 40 localities across 6 agroecological zones (AEZs) during the maize-growing season, as well as at 3 different plant growth stages (pre-tasseling, reproductive, and senescence stages) in 2 elevations at mid-altitude, where all maize stemborer species used to occur together. Results indicated that the introduction of the FAW significantly correlated with the reduction of the abundance of the resident communities of maize stemborers and parasitoids in maize fields; moreover, the decrease of stemborer density after the arrival of FAW occurred mostly at both reproductive and senescent maize stages. It also suggests a possible displacement of stemborers by FAW elsewhere; for example, to other cereals. However, since this study was conducted only three years after the introduction of the FAW, further studies will need to be conducted to confirm such displacements.

Download Full-text

Response of Deeproot Sedge (Cyperus entrerianus) to Herbicide and Prescribed Fire in Texas Coastal Prairie

Invasive Plant Science and Management ◽

10.1614/ipsm-d-14-00021.1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 15-31 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jonathan R. King ◽

Andrew J. Bennett ◽

Warren C. Conway ◽

David J. Rosen ◽

Brian P. Oswald

Keyword(s):

Prescribed Fire ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Rapid Expansion ◽

Coastal Prairie ◽

Multiple Treatment ◽

Exotic Invasive Species ◽

Plant Groups ◽

Exotic Invasive ◽

Dormant Season ◽

In Fire

AbstractIntroduced accidentally from South America, deeproot sedge is rapidly expanding in a variety of habitats throughout the southeastern United States. Of particular concern is its rapid expansion, naturalization, and formation of monocultures in Texas coastal prairie, one of the most imperiled temperate ecoregions in North America. The objective of this research was to examine how deeproot sedge responds to prescribed fire, to the herbicide imazapic, and to treatment combinations of both. Combinations of prescribed fire and imazapic treatments and imazapic-only treatments effectively reduced deeproot sedge cover and frequency. However, plots exposed to dormant season fires (with no imazapic) had greater deeproot sedge cover after burn treatments were applied, indicating that coastal prairie management using only dormant season prescribed fire will not work toward reduction or management of this exotic invasive species. Although deeproot sedge cover was often reduced in fire–imazapic treatment combinations, it was still present in treatment plots. Moreover, desirable functional plant groups (i.e., native bunchgrasses) did not respond positively to the fire–imazapic treatments, but in some instances, woody plant coverage increased. Repeated, long-term approaches using integrated and coordinated efforts with multiple treatment options will be necessary to restore community structure to desired compositional levels. Such integrated approaches should be effective in reducing deeproot sedge frequency, cover, and extent to more manageable levels throughout its introduced geographic range.

Download Full-text

Controlling Purple Jewelweed (Impatiens glandulifera): Assessment of Feasibility and Costs

Invasive Plant Science and Management ◽

10.1017/inp.2017.21 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 254-261

Author(s):

Michaël Leblanc ◽

Claude Lavoie

Keyword(s):

Riparian Vegetation ◽

Stem Density ◽

Impatiens Glandulifera ◽

Work Time ◽

Exotic Invasive Species ◽

Exotic Invasive ◽

Time Required ◽

Density And Biomass ◽

The Relationship ◽

Control Campaign

We experimentally tested the feasibility of a control campaign of purple jewelweed (Impatiens glandulifera), an exotic invasive species in Europe and North America. We evaluated the amount of time and money required to control the plant along riverbanks, with particular attention paid to the recovery of riparian vegetation following hand pulling and bagging. Work time was directly and significantly related to stem density and fresh biomass of the invader, but the relationship was stronger for density. Density and biomass were strongly reduced by the first hand-pulling operation from a mean of 45 to 2 stems m−2 and from a mean of 0.95 kg m−2 to nearly zero, a good performance but not enough to negate the need for a second hand pulling later in the summer. A single hand pulling significantly reduced the cover of purple jewelweed from to 30% to 7%. Riparian vegetation disturbed by the first hand pulling largely recovered during the following 30 d. Expressed over an area of 1 ha, the total amount of time required to control purple jewelweed is 1,400 work hours over 2 yr, or a minimum investment of Can$21,000 (US$17,000). Although controlling a well-established purple jewelweed population is expensive, to properly evaluate the benefits, we must also consider the costs of soil erosion caused by this species.

Download Full-text

Molecular identification of poisonous mushrooms using nuclear ITS region and peptide toxins: a retrospective study on fatal cases in Thailand

The Journal of Toxicological Sciences ◽

10.2131/jts.41.65 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 65-76 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Sittiporn Parnmen ◽

Sujitra Sikaphan ◽

Siriwan Leudang ◽

Thitiya Boonpratuang ◽

Achariya Rangsiruji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Study ◽

Molecular Identification ◽

Its Region ◽

Nuclear Its ◽

Peptide Toxins ◽

Poisonous Mushrooms

Download Full-text

WildTermitomycesSpecies Collected from Ondo and Ekiti States Are More Related to African Species as Revealed by ITS Region of rDNA

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/2012/689296 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Victor Olusegun Oyetayo

Keyword(s):

Sequence Analysis ◽

Phylogenetic Tree ◽

Molecular Identification ◽

Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽

Its Region ◽

Its Sequence ◽

African Countries ◽

African Species ◽

Its Sequence Analysis ◽

Degree Of Similarity

Molecular identification of eighteenTermitomycesspecies collected from two states, Ondo and Ekiti in Nigeria was carried out using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The amplicons obtained from rDNA ofTermitomycesspecies were compared with existing sequences in the NCBI GenBank. The results of the ITS sequence analysis discriminated between all theTermitomycesspecies (obtained from Ondo and Ekiti States) andTermitomycessp. sequences obtained from NCBI GenBank. The degree of similarity of T1 to T18 to gene ofTermitomycessp. obtained from NCBI ranges between 82 and 99 percent.Termitomycesspecies from Garbon with ascension number AF321374 was the closest relative of T1 to T18 except T12 that has T. eurhizus and T. striatus as the closet relative. Phylogenetic tree generated with ITS sequences obtained from NCBI GenBank data revealed that T1 to T18 are more related toTermitomycesspecies indigenous to African countries such as Senegal, Congo, and Gabon.

Download Full-text

Effect of a native tree on seedling establishment of two exotic invasive species in a semiarid ecosystem

Biological Invasions ◽

10.1007/s10530-011-9961-6 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 2763-2773 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Pablo I. Becerra ◽

Ramiro O. Bustamante

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Seedling Establishment ◽

Exotic Invasive Species ◽

Native Tree ◽

Semiarid Ecosystem ◽

Exotic Invasive

Download Full-text

Morphological and molecular identification of phytophthora species from maple trees in Serbia

Genetika ◽

10.2298/gensr1402353m ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 353-368 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ivan Milenkovic ◽

Justyna Nowakowska ◽

Tomasz Oszako ◽

Katarina Mladenovic ◽

Aleksandar Lucic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Identification ◽

Genomic Dna ◽

Its Region ◽

Phytophthora Species ◽

Morphological Identification ◽

First Report ◽

Phytophthora Spp ◽

Isolated Species

The paper presents the results of the study performed with aims to determine the presence and diversity of Phytophthora species on maple trees in Serbia. Due to high aggressiveness and their multicyclic nature, presence of these pathogens is posing significant threat to forestry and biodiversity. In total, 29 samples of water, soil and tissues were taken from 10 different localities, and six different maple hosts were tested. After the isolation tests, 17 samples from five different maple hosts were positive for the presence of Phytophthora spp., and 31 isolates were obtained. After the detailed morphological and physiological classification, four distinct groups of isolates were separated. DNA was extracted from selected representative isolates and molecular identification with sequencing of ITS region was performed. Used ITS4 and ITS6 primers successfully amplified the genomic DNA of chosen isolates and morphological identification of obtained isolates was confirmed after the sequencing. Four different Phytophthora species were detected, including P. cactorum, P. gonapodyides, P. plurivora and P. lacustris. The most common isolated species was homothallic, and with very variable and semipapillate sporangia, P. plurivora with 22 obtained isolates. This is the first report of P. plurivora and P. gonapodyides on A. campestre, P. plurivora and P. lacustris on Acer heldreichii and first report of P. lacustris on A. pseudoplatanus and A. tataricum in Serbia.

Download Full-text