scholarly journals Not Only Environmental Conditions but Also Human Awareness Matters: A Successful Post-Crayfish Plague Reintroduction of the White-Clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) in Northern Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raoul Manenti ◽  
Benedetta Barzaghi ◽  
Alessandro Nessi ◽  
Sara Cioccarelli ◽  
Mauro Villa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Public Meetings ◽  
Dissemination Activity ◽  
Primary Caretakers ◽  
Local Extinctions ◽  
Human Awareness

In Europe, invasive freshwater crayfish are not only changing freshwater ecosystems, but they are also leading to local extinctions of native freshwater crayfish. This is particularly evident for the populations of red swamp crayfish and spiny-cheek crayfish in northern Italy, which are threatening the last and isolated populations of the white-clawed crayfish. Here, we describe the steps that accompanied a successful reintroduction of the white-clawed crayfish in an Italian stream (Park Monte Barro) that, although isolated from other freshwater sites, suffered from an illegal introduction of the spiny-cheek crayfish in 2013. After the removal of presumably all the introduced spiny-cheek crayfish individuals, we started periodical surveys (twice a year) of the stream to confirm the absence of further introductions and to monitor environmental conditions. Prior to the reintroduction of the white-clawed crayfish that started in autumn 2018, we developed an intense dissemination activity to raise awareness of white-clawed crayfish features and importance among landowners surrounding the stream, including those suspected of the introduction of the spiny-cheek crayfish: we organized public meetings and we performed seven direct visits, house to house, to the local people providing information on good practices for white-clawed crayfish conservation. From 2018 to 2020, every autumn, we reintroduced a batch of 3-month-old white-clawed crayfish juveniles, and we developed a program for the monitoring of crayfish growth and density, water quality, and direct landowners’ disturbance of the site. We detected a significant increase of the white-clawed crayfish total length (TL) from the first reintroduction (October 2018) to June 2020. In 2020, crayfish were consistently larger than in the 2019 surveys; some of them were able to breed less than 2 years after the first reintroduction. In 2020, the estimated density of large crayfish reached 0.57 individuals/m2, which is lower than the density observed prior to extinction. We did not detect any case of human disturbance of the site. Our results underline that the reintroduction actions could be more effective when the stakeholders having the greatest potential impact on the species are identified, informed, and involved as primary caretakers of the activities.

Late-Holocene asynchronous extinction of endemic mammals on the eastern Canary Islands

The Holocene ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 801-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Rando ◽  
Josep Antoni Alcover ◽  
Jacques Michaux ◽  
Rainer Hutterer ◽  
Juan Francisco Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Canary Islands ◽  
Late Holocene ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Tyto Alba ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
European Contact ◽  
Black Rat ◽  
Local Extinctions ◽  
Ams Dating

The Lava mouse ( Malpaisomys insularis), and the Canarian shrew ( Crocidura canariensis) are endemic of the Eastern Canary Islands and islets. The former is extinct while Canarian shrew survives in the two main islands and two islets. In order to provide insights regarding causes and processes contributing to the extinction of these endemic mammals: (i) we established last occurrence dates for Lava mouse, and first records for two exotic species – House mouse ( Mus musculus) and Black rat ( Rattus rattus) – through direct 14C AMS dating of collagen from bones; (ii) we analysed recent material from Barn owl ( Tyto alba gracilirostris) roosting sites to evaluate its impact on Canarian shrew in the presence of introduced rodents. The new data strongly suggest that the extinction of Lava mouse was the result of an accumulative process of independent disappearances (or ‘local extinctions’) affecting the isolated populations. The timing of the introduction of the Black rat on the main islands (before Middle Age European contact in Lanzarote and after Middle Age European contact in Fuerteventura) matches with the last occurrence dates for the presence of Lava mouse on these islands, and are very probably their cause. The losses of these Lava mouse populations occurred in an asynchronous way, spreading across at least six centuries. On small islands, hyperpredation emerges as the most plausible process to explain the disappearance of the Lava mouse in the absence of rat populations, although stochastic processes can not be definitively excluded.

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal Variations in Microcystin Concentrations and in the Proportions of Microcystin-Producing Cells in Several Microcystis aeruginosa Populations

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (14) ◽  
pp. 4750-4759 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Sabart ◽  
D. Pobel ◽  
E. Briand ◽  
B. Combourieu ◽  
M. J. Salençon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microcystis Aeruginosa ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Cyanobacterial Blooms ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variations ◽  
Potential Toxicity ◽  
Genotype Composition ◽  
Over Time

ABSTRACT With the aim of explaining the variations in microcystin (MC) concentrations during cyanobacterial blooms, we studied several Microcystis aeruginosa populations blooming in different freshwater ecosystems located in the same geographical area. As assessed by real-time PCR, it appeared that the potentially MC-producing cells (mcyB +) were predominant (70 to 100%) in all of these M. aeruginosa populations, with the exception of one population in which non-MC-producing cells always dominated. Apart from the population in the Grangent Reservoir, we found that the proportions of potentially MC-producing and non-MC-producing cells varied little over time, which was consistent with the fact that according to a previous study of the same populations, the intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) genotype composition did not change (38). In the Grangent Reservoir, the MC-RR variant was the dominant microcystin variant throughout the bloom season, despite changes in the ITS composition and in the proportions of mcyB + cells. Finally, the variations in total MC concentrations (0.3 to 15 μg liter−1) and in the MC cellular quotas (0.01 to 3.4 pg cell−1) were high both between and within sites, and no correlation was found between the MC concentrations and the proportion of mcyB + cells. All of these findings demonstrate that very different results can be found for the proportions of potentially MC-producing and non-MC-producing cells and MC concentrations, even in M. aeruginosa populations living in more or less connected ecosystems, demonstrating the importance of the effect of very local environmental conditions on these parameters and also the difficulty of predicting the potential toxicity of Microcystis blooms.

scholarly journals Multiple drivers of decline in the global status of freshwater crayfish (Decapoda: Astacidea)

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1662) ◽  
pp. 20140060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia I. Richman ◽  
Monika Böhm ◽  
Susan B. Adams ◽  
Fernando Alvarez ◽  
Elizabeth A. Bergey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Freshwater Biodiversity ◽  
Face Threats ◽  
Global Status ◽  
Alternative Means

Rates of biodiversity loss are higher in freshwater ecosystems than in most terrestrial or marine ecosystems, making freshwater conservation a priority. However, prioritization methods are impeded by insufficient knowledge on the distribution and conservation status of freshwater taxa, particularly invertebrates. We evaluated the extinction risk of the world's 590 freshwater crayfish species using the IUCN Categories and Criteria and found 32% of all species are threatened with extinction. The level of extinction risk differed between families, with proportionally more threatened species in the Parastacidae and Astacidae than in the Cambaridae. Four described species were Extinct and 21% were assessed as Data Deficient. There was geographical variation in the dominant threats affecting the main centres of crayfish diversity. The majority of threatened US and Mexican species face threats associated with urban development, pollution, damming and water management. Conversely, the majority of Australian threatened species are affected by climate change, harvesting, agriculture and invasive species. Only a small proportion of crayfish are found within the boundaries of protected areas, suggesting that alternative means of long-term protection will be required. Our study highlights many of the significant challenges yet to come for freshwater biodiversity unless conservation planning shifts from a reactive to proactive approach.

scholarly journals Skeletal polymorphism and genetic drift in a Delhi frog, Rana cyanophlictis – a follow-up study

1978 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manjit Singh Grewal
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Drift ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Population Diversity ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Follow Up Study

SUMMARYFour isolated populations of the skipper frog, Rana cyanophlictis were first studied in 1965 and then again in 1975. The genetical changes were measured by the incidence of 19 non-metrical skeletal variants. It was found that these populations have changed very little in 10 years, although the inter-population diversity, as judged by the estimates of divergence, is less now than previously. This could be due to the similar environmental conditions prevailing in Delhi and its neighbourhood from where these frog populations were collected.

scholarly journals Impact of meteorological conditions and air pollution on Covid-19 pandemic transmission in Lombardy region, Northern Italy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Lolli ◽  
Ying-Chieh Chen ◽  
Sheng-Hsiang Wang ◽  
Gemine Vivone
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Lombardy Region

Abstract Italy was the first, among all the European countries, to be strongly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Sars-CoV-2). The virus, proven to be very contagious, infected more than 9 million people worldwide (in June 2020). Nevertheless, it is not clear the role of air pollution and meteorological conditions on virus transmission. In this study, we quantitatively assessed how the meteorological and air quality parameters are correlated to the Covid-19 transmission in Lombardy (Northern Italy), the region epicenter of the virus outbreak. Our main findings highlight that temperature and humidity related variables are negatively correlated to the virus transmission, whereas air pollution (PM2.5) shows a positive correlation. In other words, Covid-19 pandemic transmission prefers dry and cool environmental conditions, as well as polluted air. For these reasons, the virus might easier spread in unfiltered air-conditioned environments. Those results will be supporting decision makers to contain new possible outbreaks.

Exploring the Ecology and Indicator Value of Some Larvae of Odonata Genera in Colombia

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 829-837
Author(s):  
Laura L Garzón-Salamanca ◽  
Carlos A Rivera-Rondón ◽  
Hernán Aristizabal ◽  
Dimitri Forero
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Working Party ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Taxonomic Resolution ◽  
Indicator Organisms ◽  
Indicator Values ◽  
Indicator Value ◽  
Water Characteristics

Abstract Bioindication is a method to assess environmental conditions using indicator organisms. In Colombia, water quality evaluation is mostly performed following the Biological Monitoring Working Party/Colombia method (BMWP/Col), which uses aquatic macroinvertebrates at the taxonomic family level. Studies on potential bioindicators are important to produce comprehensive information on the requirements of macroinvertebrates and their value for water quality bioindication. We studied the larval ecology of several common genera of Odonata from Colombian freshwater ecosystems and assigned an indicator value to each genus. The physical and chemical water characteristics of 1,022 sites surveyed in Colombia from 2005 to 2016 were analyzed using a principal component analysis (PCA). The relationship between environmental conditions and Odonata genera found was studied using multiple logistic regressions between sample coordinates of the first three axes of the PCA and occurrence of the respective genus. We assigned an indicator value for each genus using the logistic regression and the water quality of samples. The highest indicator values were assigned to genera, which were mainly explained by the PCA axis associated with water quality, showed a high odds ratio to this axis, and were found in ecosystems with excellent water quality. The indicator values suggested for each taxon are, Brechmorhoga Kirby, 1894, 8; Macrothemis Hagen, 1868, 4; Micrathyria Kirby, 1889, 4 (Libellulidae); Progomphus Selys, 1854, 7 (Gomphidae); Acanthagrion Selys, 1876, 4; and Argia Rambur, 1842, 7 (Coenagrionidae). Differences in water quality preferences in genera of the same family suggest that higher taxonomic resolution may allow more detailed environmental assessments.

scholarly journals Noble Crayfish Are More Sensitive to Terbuthylazine than Parthenogenetic Marbled Crayfish

2020 ◽  
Vol 231 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Laurenz ◽  
Lena Lietz ◽  
Heinz Brendelberger ◽  
Kai Lehmann ◽  
Arne Georg
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Hatching Rate ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Toxicological Studies ◽  
Noble Crayfish ◽  
Marbled Crayfish ◽  
Median Effective Concentration

AbstractWe investigated the sensitivity of two freshwater crayfish species (Astacus astacus and Procambarus virginalis) during embryonic development to chronic exposure to the herbicide terbuthylazine under laboratory conditions. The assessed parameters included time of embryonic development, survival rate, hatching weight and histopathology of hepatopancreas. LC50 (median lethal concentration) and ED50 (median effective concentration) were estimated. We were able to determine effects of terbuthylazine for every investigated parameter. For noble crayfish, the LC50 value after 45 days was 0.11 mg/L, and the histology of the hepatopancreas showed effects starting from 0.025 mg/L. Other parameters revealed effects starting at concentrations of 1.6 mg/L for weight and 6.4 mg /L for embryonic development time and hatching rate. Marbled crayfish only showed effects concerning the hatching rate and survival rate at concentrations without a clear dose-effects curve. As a conclusion, our data shows the risk of terbuthylazine in existing concentrations in freshwater ecosystems to non-target organisms and also the need of toxicological studies on directly affected species in addition to the use of model organisms.

Molecular mechanisms for environmentally induced and evolutionarily rapid redistribution (plasticity) of meiotic recombination

Genetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reine U Protacio ◽  
Tresor O Mukiza ◽  
Mari K Davidson ◽  
Wayne P Wahls
Keyword(s):  
Fission Yeast ◽  
Frequency Distribution ◽  
Meiotic Recombination ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Recombination Rates ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Broad Dynamic Range

Abstract It has long been known (circa 1917) that environmental conditions, as well as speciation, can affect dramatically the frequency distribution of Spo11/Rec12-dependent meiotic recombination. Here, by analyzing DNA sequence-dependent meiotic recombination hotspots in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, we reveal a molecular basis for these phenomena. The impacts of changing environmental conditions (temperature, nutrients, osmolarity) on local rates of recombination are mediated directly by DNA site-dependent hotspots (M26, CCAAT, Oligo-C). This control is exerted through environmental condition-responsive signal transduction networks (involving Atf1, Pcr1, Php2, Php3, Php5, Rst2). Strikingly, individual hotspots modulate rates of recombination over a very broad dynamic range in response to changing conditions. They can range from being quiescent to being highly proficient at promoting activity of the basal recombination machinery (Spo11/Rec12 complex). Moreover, each different class of hotspot functions as an independently controlled rheostat; a condition that increases the activity of one class can decrease the activity of another class. Together, the independent modulation of recombination rates by each different class of DNA site-dependent hotspots (of which there are many) provides a molecular mechanism for highly dynamic, large-scale changes in the global frequency distribution of meiotic recombination. Because hotspot-activating DNA sites discovered in fission yeast are conserved functionally in other species, this process can also explain the previously enigmatic, Prdm9-independent, evolutionarily rapid changes in hotspot usage between closely related species, subspecies, and isolated populations of the same species.

Molecular systematics reveals multiple lineages and cryptic speciation in the freshwater crayfish Parastacus brasiliensis (von Martens, 1869) (Crustacea : Decapoda : Parastacidae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Miranda ◽  
Kelly M. Gomes ◽  
Felipe B. Ribeiro ◽  
Paula B. Araujo ◽  
Catherine Souty-Grosset ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Genetic Distances ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
Lake Basin ◽  
Gene Pools ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Isolated Populations

The characterisation of intraspecific genetic diversity in representatives of the South American crayfish genus Parastacus Huxley, 1879 is here carried out for the first time by comparing populations of Parastacus brasiliensis (von Martens, 1869) as currently defined. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers indicate the existence of multiple lineages, of which only one can be considered as P. brasiliensis sensu stricto. In addition, there are seven other lineages, one of which is the subspecies Parastacus brasiliensis promatensis Fontoura & Conter, 2008, which is here elevated to species level. We thereby increase to 14 the number of recognised species within Parastacus in South America. Genetic distances among P. brasiliensis sensu stricto and the lineages ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ increase with geographical distances, suggesting isolation by distance as an important driver of diversification, and eventually speciation, in these burrowing crayfishes. Parastacus brasiliensis occurs mainly in the Guaíba Lake basin and studied populations show limited connectivity and gene flow, probably due to habitat fragmentation. On the basis of genetic and distribution data, the conservation status of P. brasiliensis sensu stricto is confirmed as Near Threatened (NT). These findings lead us to encourage the establishment of preservation areas for isolated populations. The importance of preserving the newly recognised distinct gene pools in order to maintain overall genetic diversity is emphasised.

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