Abundance and population characteristics of the invasive sea urchin Diadema setosum (Leske, 1778) in the south Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean)

Background The Indo-Pacific sea urchin Diadema setosum has invaded the Mediterranean Sea and has spread along many locations in the southeastern part of the basin, where established populations exist on the shallow subtidal rocky shore. Diadema setosum is a ubiquitous species, of particular ecological importance due to the high levels of grazing pressure it imposes on benthic communities. Its biology, however, is not adequately studied, especially along its introduced range of distribution. The present study examines the population status of D. setosum outside its native range, in the Dodecanese island complex, south Aegean Sea. Thirty-four stations located across 16 islands were surveyed by scientific SCUBA-diving (up to a depth of 10 m) in December 2019 and June-July 2020. Samplings included: (i) visual census along transects to estimate relative abundance and population density, and (ii) random collection of specimens from densely populated stations to assess biometry and reproductive condition (histological examination of gonads) of D. setosum. Results Diadema setosum was found in 21 out of the 34 surveyed stations. The species had sparse populations of well-hidden individuals in rocky crevices, but with dense localized patches in Agathonisi, Leros, Kalymnos, Pserimos, Symi, Alimia and Chalki islands. In those seven islands, mean population density was 2.5 ± 1.48 individuals m−2. Diadema setosum had denser populations in shallower depths but larger dimensions in deeper; these results suggest segregated density and size patterns along a depth gradient. The size structure, according to the size frequency distribution of the test diameter, was unimodal with a fitted mode at 4.0–4.5 and 6.5–7.0 cm in shallow and deep populations, respectively. The examined morphometric relationships followed negative allometry, as previously suggested for the species within its native range of distribution, and test diameter appeared to be a good predictor of biomass. Diadema setosum specimens had immature gonads in winter and mature in summer, suggesting a synchronous reproductive pattern. These results conform to previous data from temperate populations of the species. Conclusions Differences in local environmental conditions, e.g. hydrodynamics and habitat type, together with biotic interactions, e.g. recruitment and competition, probably shape D. setosum population in the south Aegean distributional range. The establishment of D. setosum has severe implications on benthic communities and local sea urchin populations demanding management measures to prevent the forecasted further expansion of this invasive species.

Reproduction of the sea urchin Tripneustes depressus (Camarodonta: Toxopneustidae) in Bahía de La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Introduction: Sea urchin gonads (roe or uni) are considered a culinary delicacy worldwide. However, only a few species are considered edible and commercialized. The sea urchin Tripneustes depressus has generated the interest of producers in Baja California Sur, Mexico, due to the quality of its gonads. A biological basis for designing a management strategy is key to consider its commercial exploitation. Objective: To determine the reproductive season of T. depressus through description of the gonad stages and reproductive cycle, and to establish its relationship with environmental factors. Methods: We collected monthly samples (October 2016-September 2017), recording in-situ temperature and photoperiod. We evaluated a sample of 1 055 specimens for demographic characteristics, using total weight (g) and test diameter (cm). We also did a histological analysis of gonads from 178 individuals. Results: Average test diameter was 9.70 ± 0.03 cm (5-12.50 cm). Based on the proportion into the gonad of sexual (gametes) and somatic (nutritive phagocytes) cells, we propose five gonad stages (growing, premature, mature, spawning, and intergametic) for both sexes. There were two times of the year when gonads were heaviest and closely corresponded to the growing stage, coinciding with the highest proportions of nutritive phagocytes. Gonad development (growing and premature stages) peaks in the months with the longest daylight periods, with spawning in the shortest daylight periods. Conclusions: Gonad wet weight and adjusted gonad weight are good indicators of the reproductive season of T. depressus. The lowest gonad wet weights were matched the spawning peak in the shortest daylight period (January and March).

Evaluation of Physicochemical Parameters of Piroxicam 20 mg Tablets Commercially Available in District Larkana, Sindh

The objective of this study is to evaluate the physicochemical parameters of Piroxicam 20 mg Tablet brands. A comparative qualitative research study was conducted for a period of six months. A total of five different brands of active Piroxicam tablets were selected. All samples were purchased from various local markets of Larkana Sindh. These collected samples were coded as PIX01, PIX02, PIX03, PIX04 and PIX05 for minimalism. Specific physicochemical quality control lab tests included Aesthetic test, Diameter and Thickness test, Weight variation, Mechanical strength and Friability test were performed on each sample according to standards and results were compared. Packing of all samples was observed according to GMP guidelines. Data was analyzed by using statistical software SPSS 24.00. Most of the brands were within official limits of United State Pharmacopeia (USP) except brand PIX05 showing variation in hardness test, whereas two brands PIX03 and PIX05 fail in friability test as well as powder material seen inside of blisters in aesthetic test. Dissolution test for each brand of Piroxicam was performed in which PIX02, 04 and 05 failed. It was concluded that from this study after in vitro physical evaluation of various brands of Piroxicam tablets, most of the brands are being manufactured under compliance of GMP guidelines as well as specifications described under USP. Traces of powder material inside of blister in aesthetic test and unsatisfactory result in friability and hardness test in same brand indicating the deviation of GMP guidelines and USP specification which may cause the out of specification result in chemical test.

Comparative In-vitro Evaluation of Different Captopril Tablet Brands Commercially Available in Sindh, Pakistan

Pharmaceutical products of standard quality are very important in appropriate management of diseases. However, substandard drugs are failing to achieve the therapeutic outcomes. In this study, six brands of Captopril tables having two strengths (three brands of 50 mg, and three brands of 25 mg), were collected from local pharmacies of Sindh. Standards of United States of Pharmacopeia (USP) were used for comparison of Captopril brands. Wide ranges of physicochemical standard quality control tests of USP were performed and results were recorded. All six brands of captopril tablets met the standard of aesthetic test, and weight uniformity test, diameter test and thickness test and disintegration test in which dissolved within fifteen minutes. Four brands of captopril tablet meet the standard of hardness test, whereas two brands fails to meet the standard with average hardness in brand C25-2 (3.05 ± 0.32), and brand C25-3 (2.28 ± 0.40). Five brands of captopril tablet meet the standard of friability test whereas one brand C25-3 fail to meet the standard with average loss of 6.22%. All six brands of captopril tablet meet the standard of dissolution test and dissolved not < 80% in 20 minutes. In last all six brands of captopril tablet meet the standard of assay test and contain the captopril within 90-110%. It was concluded that all brands of Captopril tablets meet the standard of USP and are therapeutically equivalent, so Physicians can prescribe them cost-effectively and interchangeably.

Morphometrics, gonad index, intestine index and latern index of sea urchins, Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus, 1758) Tiwoho and Kampung Ambong Beach, North Sulawesi

Two populations of Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus, 1758) from two different habitats, Tiwoho and Kampung Ambong, show variations in morphometric and physiological characteristics. The average test diameter of the Tiwoho population is larger than the Kampung Ambong population. Although the two regressions of the test diameter – total weight relationship between the Tiwoho population and the Kampung Ambong population are identical, the T. gratilla of Tiwoho population has an isometric growth pattern whereas the Kampung Ambong population shows a negative allometric growth pattern. The two regressions of the test diameter – test height show identical slopes and intercepts and reveal an isometric growth for the two populations. For both populations, the gonad index is not affected by variations in the test diameter, but the gonad index of the Kampung Ambong population is greater than the gonad index of the Tiwoho population. Similarly, there is no significant relationship between the two variables, intestinal index, and test diameter, for both populations, and no significant difference in the intestinal index – test diameter regressions between the two populations. The relationship between the latern index – test diameter shows the lantern index remains constant with changes in the diameter test for the Tiwoho population. As for the Kampung Ambong population, the lantern index decreases with increasing test diameter. The two regressions of lantern index – test diameter show differences in the slopes of the lines, and this means that in adult size, the lantern index of the Tiwoho population is larger than the Kampong Ambong population. The low of the lantern index and the high of gonad index in Kampong Ambong could indicate more availability of food for sea urchins at this location compared to Tiwoho. Differences in food availability in the environment are thought to determine differences in the energy allocation strategies of the two populations of sea urchins T. gratilla.Key words: Tripneustes gratilla, allometric analysis, gonad index, intestinal index, lantern index, Tiwoho, Kampung Ambong.ABSTRACTDua populasi Tripneustes gratilla (Linnaeus, 1758) dari dua habitat yang berbeda, Tiwoho dan Kampung Ambong, menunjukkan variasi dalam karakteristik morfometrik dan fisiologis. Diameter cangkang rata-rata populasi Tiwoho lebih besar dari populasi Kampung Ambong. Meskipun kedua regresi hubungan diameter cangkang – berat total antara populasi Tiwoho dan populasi Kampung Ambong adalah identik, T. gratilla populasi Tiwoho memiliki pola pertumbuhan isometrik sedangkan populasi Kampung Ambong menunjukkan pola pertumbuhan alometrik negatif. Dua regresi diameter cangkang - tinggi cangkang menunjukkan kesamaan kemiringan dan intersep dan memperlihatkan pertumbuhan isometrik untuk dua populasi. Untuk kedua populasi, indeks gonad tidak dipengaruhi oleh variasi diameter cangkang, tetapi indeks gonad populasi Kampung Ambong lebih besar dari pada indeks gonad populasi Tiwoho. Demikian pula, tidak terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara kedua variabel, indeks usus dan diameter cangkang, untuk kedua populasi, dan tidak terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan regresi indeks usus - diameter cangkang antara kedua populasi. Dalam hubungan diameter cangkang - indeks latern menunjukkan bahwa indeks lentera tetap konstan dengan perubahan diameter cangkang untuk populasi Tiwoho. Sedangkan untuk populasi Kampung Ambong, indeks lentera berkurang dengan meningkatnya diameter cangkang. Dua regresi indeks lentera – diameter cangkang menunjukkan perbedaan dalam kemiringan garis, dan ini berarti bahwa pada ukuran dewasa, indeks lentera populasi Tiwoho lebih besar dari populasi Kampung Ambong. Indeks lentera yang rendah dan indeks gonad yang tinggi di Kampung Ambong dapat mengindikasikan lebih banyak ketersediaan makanan untuk bulu babi di lokasi ini dibandingkan dengan di Tiwoho. Perbedaan ketersediaan makanan di lingkungan diperkirakan menentukan perbedaan dalam strategi alokasi energi dari dua populasi bulu babi T. gratilla.Kata kunci: Tripneustes gratilla, analisis allometrik, indeks gonad, indeks usus, indeks lentera, Tiwoho, Kampung Ambong

Density of the blue-black urchin Echinotrix diadema (Linnaeus, 1758) in Tomini Bay, Indonesia

The blue-black urchin has been widely known and utilized as food in the world, including Indonesia because sea urchin gonad can be consumed. However, the utilization of sea urchins in Gorontalo has not been performed. On the other hand, natural resources information is needed as the database for natural resources management in Tomini Bay. The aim of this study is to document the blue-black urchin Echinotrix diadema. This study conducted at Blue Marlin Beach, South Leato, Gorontalo, from November 2019 to December 2020. Sea urchin density was calculated with a 1 m × 1 m transect quadrate that positioned at interval 5 m in distance along 15 m of the transect line at the coral reef ecosystem. In parallel with the measurement of the density, sea urchin test diameter was measured with a Vernier caliper (0.01 mm accuracy), and the water temperature was measured with a thermometer. The results show that the average of sea urchin density is 3 ind. m–2 in November and December and 1 ind.m–2 in January. That density has no significant difference among the month. Moreover, the average size of the sea urchin test diameter is 60 mm in November, 63 mm in December, and 66 mm in January. The seawater temperature is 34 °C in November, 37 °C in December, and 33 °C in January. That results show that sea urchin density in the blue marlin beach is very low.

Impact of Overfishing on Density and Test-Diameter Size of the Sea Urchin Tripneustes gratilla at Wakatobi Archipelago, South-Eastern Sulawesi, Indonesia

Sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla is one of an economically important fisheries resource product for localities at Wakatobi archipelago. High demands for sea urchin gonad have intensified high fishing activity. The hypothesis of this study is that sea urchins in Wakatobi have been overfished. To answer that hypothesis, the density and its test diameter size were measured at two different sites. Those two sites are Pulau Tomia (resident area) and Pulau Sawa (nonresident area and very distant from the localities). The results show that sea urchin density and its test diameter are significantly different. The densities (mean±SE) T. gratilla at Pulau Sawa and Pulau Tomia were 10±0.6 (ind.m-2) and 2.7±0.9 ind.m-2, respectively. Moreover, the test diameter at Pulau Sawa and Pulau Tomia were 69.7±2.1 mm and 58.5±1.7 mm (mean±SE), respectively. These results have shown that overfishing has occurred. Therefore, sea urchin with test diameter 66–75 mm, 76–85 mm, and 86–95 mm have disappeared at Pulau Tomia. The Conclusion reveals that fishing of sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla at Pulau Tomia has been overfished.

Permian Fusulinid Rugososchwagerina (Xiaoxinzhaiella) from the Shan Plateau, Myanmar: Systematics and Paleogeography

Eastern Myanmar is an indispensable part of the Cimmerian Continent with Gondwana provenance. Fusulinids from Eastern Myanmar remain poorly known despite their biochronological and paleogeographical significance. This paper describes Rugososchwagerina (Xiaoxinzhaiella) subrotunda sp. nov. and Chusenella quasidouvillei of Murgabian age (Middle Permian) from the Thitsipin Formation at the Pindaya in the Shan Plateau, Eastern Myanmar. Taxonomic analysis of this new collection and of Rugososchwagerina (s.l.) in the literature leads us to suppress Xiaoxinzhaiella Shi, Yang & Jin, 2005 as a subgenus of RugososchwagerinaMiklukho-Maklay, 1959. This subgenus is diagnosed with much tighter coiling and reduced septal folding in juvenarium as well as relatively smaller test diameter throughout the ontogeny, compared with Rugososchwagerina (s.s.) which is typified by R. yabeiSkinner & Wilde, 1966. Furthermore, our comprehensive review reveals that the known occurrences of R. (Xiaoxinzhaiella) are strictly confined within blocks that previously constituted the Cimmerian Continent during the Permian period, and they were even more widespread than Rugososchwagerina (s.s.) among these blocks. Therefore, the previous understanding that Rugososchwagerina (s.l.) is characteristic for the Middle Permian Cimmerian region can be refined. We propose that R. (Xiaoxinzhaiella) is more appropriate as the truly endemic foraminiferal index signifying Cimmerian affinity.

Impact of overfishing on density and test-diameter size of the sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla at Wakatobi Archipelago, south-eastern Sulawesi, Indonesia

Sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla is one of an economic important fisheries resources product for localities at Wakatobi archipelago. High demands for sea urchin gonad have intensified high fishing activity. We hypothesize that sea urchins at Wakatobi have overfished. To answer that hypothesizes; we measure the density and its test diameter size at two different sites. They are Pulau Tomia (inhabited area) and Pulau Sawa (uninhabited area and very distant from the localities). The results show that sea urchin density and its test diameter is significantly different. The densities (mean ± SE) Tripneustes gratilla at Pulau Sawa and Pulau Tomia are 10 ± 0.6 (ind./m2) and 2.7 ± 0.9 ind./m2, respectively. Moreover, the test diameter at Pulau Sawa and Pulau Tomia are 69.7 ± 2.1 mm (mean ± SE), and 58.5 ± 1.7 mm (mean ± SE), respectively. These results have indeed shown that overfishing has occurred. Therefore, sea urchin with test diameter 66–75 mm, 76–85 mm, and 86–95 mm have disappeared at Pulau Tomia. Our conclusion reveals that fishing of sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla at Pulau Tomia has overfished.