Evaluating the Potential to Extract High-Resolution Paleoclimate Information from the Near-Shore New Zealand Molluscan Species Austrovenus stutchburyi

<p>Li, B, Mg, Al, Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, Ba and U/Ca ratios were measured by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for 11 modern Austrovenus stutchburyi clams to assess the potential of this molluscan species as a proxy for paleo-ocean temperature and environmental change. A. stutchburyi is an intertidal, infaunal, bivalve, widespread in New Zealand coastal regions and throughout the Quaternary-Pliocene sedimentary rock record. Five individuals from Ligar Bay and Estuary (South Island, New Zealand) were analysed to evaluate the variability between individuals calcifying in similar environmental conditions. A further six individuals were sampled from a range of latitudes (38˚ to 40˚) in the North Island, New Zealand to evaluate variability between individuals from different environments. A strong positive correlation between growth rate and Mg, Al, Mn, Sr, Ba and U/Ca ratios was observed, and a marked negative correlation was found between the same trace element/Ca ratios and ontogenetic age as growth rates slow during the molluscs' life. Thus, biological effects are the primary influence on trace element incorporation in A. stutchburyi. No clear seasonal variations were observed in the Mg and Sr/Ca ratio profiles through A. stutchburyi shells representing time periods of several years. Furthermore, for two shells for which chronologies could be reliably constructed, there were no significant correlations between Mg and Sr/Ca ratios and sea surface temperature. When Mg/Ca ratios were normalised to Sr/Ca ratios in order to eliminate the growth rate effect on trace element incorporation into the mollusc shells, some of the remaining variations appeared to visually correlate positively with sea surface temperature in several sections of a shell. However, a quantitative correlation did not confirm this (r² = 0.012). It is likely that neither Mg nor Sr incorporation into A. stutchburyi shell are primarily thermodynamically controlled. Several coincident Ba/Ca peaks in two of the Ligar Bay shells are most likely caused by environmental processes such as short periods of phytoplankton blooms or elevated seawater Ba/Ca from river flooding. Mn/Ca and U/Ca variations in A. stutchburyi from different coastal sites with different sediment characteristics appeared to be linked to the redox conditions prevailing at an open ocean sand-dominated environment (Ligar Bay) versus tidal mud flat environments (e.g. Miranda). Thus, while A. stutchburyi is unlikely to be a useful archive for past coastal ocean temperatures, it holds considerable promise for tracking past changes in coastal ocean productivity and river run-off, as well as sediment redox conditions.</p>

Evaluating the Potential to Extract High-Resolution Paleoclimate Information from the Near-Shore New Zealand Molluscan Species Austrovenus stutchburyi

<p>Li, B, Mg, Al, Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, Ba and U/Ca ratios were measured by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for 11 modern Austrovenus stutchburyi clams to assess the potential of this molluscan species as a proxy for paleo-ocean temperature and environmental change. A. stutchburyi is an intertidal, infaunal, bivalve, widespread in New Zealand coastal regions and throughout the Quaternary-Pliocene sedimentary rock record. Five individuals from Ligar Bay and Estuary (South Island, New Zealand) were analysed to evaluate the variability between individuals calcifying in similar environmental conditions. A further six individuals were sampled from a range of latitudes (38˚ to 40˚) in the North Island, New Zealand to evaluate variability between individuals from different environments. A strong positive correlation between growth rate and Mg, Al, Mn, Sr, Ba and U/Ca ratios was observed, and a marked negative correlation was found between the same trace element/Ca ratios and ontogenetic age as growth rates slow during the molluscs' life. Thus, biological effects are the primary influence on trace element incorporation in A. stutchburyi. No clear seasonal variations were observed in the Mg and Sr/Ca ratio profiles through A. stutchburyi shells representing time periods of several years. Furthermore, for two shells for which chronologies could be reliably constructed, there were no significant correlations between Mg and Sr/Ca ratios and sea surface temperature. When Mg/Ca ratios were normalised to Sr/Ca ratios in order to eliminate the growth rate effect on trace element incorporation into the mollusc shells, some of the remaining variations appeared to visually correlate positively with sea surface temperature in several sections of a shell. However, a quantitative correlation did not confirm this (r² = 0.012). It is likely that neither Mg nor Sr incorporation into A. stutchburyi shell are primarily thermodynamically controlled. Several coincident Ba/Ca peaks in two of the Ligar Bay shells are most likely caused by environmental processes such as short periods of phytoplankton blooms or elevated seawater Ba/Ca from river flooding. Mn/Ca and U/Ca variations in A. stutchburyi from different coastal sites with different sediment characteristics appeared to be linked to the redox conditions prevailing at an open ocean sand-dominated environment (Ligar Bay) versus tidal mud flat environments (e.g. Miranda). Thus, while A. stutchburyi is unlikely to be a useful archive for past coastal ocean temperatures, it holds considerable promise for tracking past changes in coastal ocean productivity and river run-off, as well as sediment redox conditions.</p>

Boric acid toxicity in some selected molluscan species

: Survivability of animals is correlated with their fecundity and fertility success. Widespread use of enormous organic and inorganic ingredients as pesticides, molluscicides and insecticides contaminate ecosystems leading to hazardous effects on the life cycle of animals, their biological processes and reproduction. Present work aimed for toxicity assessment of boric acid against some selected molluscan species through evaluation of their mortality by determination of LC50. For toxicity assessment three different molluscan species were used. By applying standard procedure, LC50 was estimated at different concentrations of boric acid for different exposure periods. This study indicated that freshwater snail Bellamya bengalensis was more sensitive for boric acid, whereas slug, Semperula maculate was least sensitive against boric acid after different period of exposure.

Molluscan Diversity Influenced by Mangrove Habitat in the Khors of Qatar

The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Qatar is a rapidly developing region within the Arabian Gulf, where monitoring of changes in benthic biodiversity and its functioning is needed. The influence of mangroves and seasonality on the nearshore subtidal molluscan diversity at three distinct khors (nearshore tidal bays) – natural mangroves (Al Dhakhira), planted mangroves (Al Mafyar) and no-mangroves (Dawhat Zekreet) – are investigated in this study. This study concludes that even the sub-tidal area is influenced by mangroves, and mangroves increase the diversity of molluscs compared to the site that lacks mangroves. The maximum salinity (59.8 psu) was observed at Dawhat Zekreet during summer, and the minimum (41.44 psu) at Al Dhakhira in winter. Chlorophyll a level was low for all the khors, and rarely exceeded 1 μg/L, depicting oligotrophic waters. Al Dhakhira demonstrated the highest molluscan species richness (32), and shared 28 species in common with Al Mafyar. Dawhat Zekreet had the fewest mollusc species number and no mangroves. When cumulative diversity over all seasons was considered, Dawhat Zekreet exhibited the lowest species richness; Al Dhakhira, the highest. Some mangrove regions have been already utilized for developmental activities, and Qatar needs to continue the program of mangrove conservation as a vital habitat for molluscs.

Identification and classification of innexin gene transcripts in the central nervous system of the terrestrial slug Limax valentianus

In invertebrates, innexin is involved in the formation of single-cell membrane channels and intercellular gap junction channels. Generally, there are multiple isoforms of innexin family proteins in various animal species, which enable the precise regulation of channel function. In molluscan species, the sequence information of innexins is still limited and the sequences have not been classified.This study examined the innexin transcripts expressed in the central nervous system of the terrestrial slug Limax valentianus and identified 16 transcripts of 12 innexin isoforms, including the splicing variants. To examine the function of molluscan innexin isoforms, phylogenetic analysis was performed using the innexin sequences of molluscan species. Next, the phosphorylation, N-glycosylation, and S-nitrosylation sites in the isoforms were predicted to characterize the innexin isoforms. Further, 16 circular RNA sequences of nine innexin isoforms were identified in the central nervous system of Limax. The identification and classification of the gene transcripts of molluscan innexins provided novel insights for understanding the regulatory mechanism of innexins in the central nervous system.

Diversity of mollusks (bivalves and gastropods) in degraded mangrove ecosystems of Kolaka District, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

Hasidu LOAF, Jamili, Kharisma GN, Prasetya A, Maharani, Riska, Rudia LOAP, Ibrahim AF, Mubarak AA, Muhasafaat LO, Anzani L. 2020. Diversity of mollusks (bivalves and gastropods) in degraded mangrove ecosystems of Kolaka District, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 5884-5892. Mollusks are one of the mangrove organisms whose classes are bivalves and gastropods. It plays an important role in mangrove and marine ecosystems as filter feeders, predators, and herbivores. This study aims to knows the diversity and abundance of mollusks (bivalves and gastropods) in several mangrove ecosystems in the Kolaka coastline as well as the similarity of these locations. This study was conducted in mangrove ecosystems of Induha Village, Mangolo Village, Tahoa Village, and Towua Village of Kolaka District, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, from July to August 2019. This is a transect method stretched along a 100 m line perpendicularly from the seaward. The size of the mollusks subplot was 1 m2 and placed along the line transect. Each line transect comprises 10 subplots. To analyze the diversity index, evenness index, and its abundance, Kaleida Graph 4.0 version was used. This research indicates that the mollusks consist of 4 families of bivalves with 6 species and 10 families of gastropods with 182 species. It also found out 23 species of mollusks scattered to each location. The molluscan species which spread in all four mangrove ecosystems were Terebralia sulcata, Nerita planospira, and Batillaria multiformis. In Induha, the mollusks species were Anadara notabilis and Drupella margariticola. Meanwhile, Saccostrea cucullata, Pirenella incisa, Clithon oualaniensis, and Clithon pulchellum were only found in Towua. The diversity index of bivalves in each location was categorized as low diversity index category, as well as gastropods were categorized as medium diversity index. The highest diversity index of gastropods was in Induha (H' = 1.96). It was supported by the good mangrove ecosystem for mollusks' habitat. The lowest diversity index of gastropods was in Towua (1.41). This research depicts that three kinds of species with high abundance rate whose rates were >1 ind/m2are located in two different locations namely; P. incisa (3.9 ind/m2) and S. cucullata (3.2 ind/m2) in Towua and followed by B. multiformis (2 ind/m2) and Isognomon ephippium (1.2 ind/m2) in Mangolo.

Catalogue of New Zealand land, freshwater and estuarine molluscan taxa named by Frederick Wollaston Hutton between 1879 and 1904

Details are provided on 16 land snail genera, eight freshwater molluscan species, one estuarine species, 47 land snail species and varieties from New Zealand, and a further three land snail species putatively from New Zealand, which were described by Frederick Wollaston Hutton between 1879 and 1904. Original primary type material of 54 species was located during the present study. Lectotypes are designated for: Amphidoxa cornea Hutton, 1882, Amphidoxa jacquenetta Hutton, 1883, Amphidoxa perdita Hutton, 1883, Charopa cassandra Hutton, 1883, Cyclotus charmian Hutton, 1883, Fruticicola adriana Hutton, 1883, Gerontia cordelia Hutton, 1883, Gerontia pantherina Hutton, 1882, Microphysa pumila Hutton, 1882, Patula jessica Hutton, 1883, Patula lucetta Hutton, 1884, Patula sylvia Hutton, 1883, Patula tapirina Hutton, 1882, Pfeifferia cressida Hutton, 1883, Phrixgnathus celia Hutton, 1883, Phrixgnathus haasti Hutton, 1883, Phrixgnathus marginatus Hutton, 1882, Phrixgnathus phrynia Hutton, 1883, Rhytida australis Hutton, 1882, Strobila leiodon Hutton, 1882, Thalassia propinqua Hutton, 1882, Therasia thaisa Hutton, 1883, Therasia valeria Hutton, 1883 and Zonites helmsii Hutton, 1882. A neotype is designated for Rhytida citrina Hutton, 1882. Primary type material of the following taxa is figured herein for the first time: Amphidoxa lavinia Hutton, 1883, Cyclotus charmian Hutton, 1883, Fruticicola adriana Hutton, 1883, Leptopoma pannosa Hutton, 1882, Patula lucetta Hutton, 1884, Patula sylvia Hutton, 1883, Patula tapirina Hutton, 1882, Phacussa helmsi var. maculata Hutton, 1884, Phrixgnathus ariel Hutton, 1883, Phrixgnathus celia Hutton, 1883, Rhytida australis Hutton, 1882, Rissoa vana Hutton, 1873, Testacella vagans Hutton, 1882, Trochomorpha hermia Hutton, 1883 and Zonites helmsii Hutton, 1882. New taxonomic combinations introduced herein include Phacussa lucetta (Hutton, 1884) and Therasia propinqua (Hutton, 1882). Amphidoxa lavinia Hutton, 1883, Charopa cassandra Hutton, 1883, Patula timandra Hutton, 1883 and Trochomorpha hermia Hutton, 1883 are treated as junior synonyms of Tasmaphena sinclairii (Pfeiffer, 1846), Phacussa fulminata (Hutton, 1882), Fectola infecta (Reeve, 1852) and Advena campbellii (Gray, 1834), respectively.

Die Molluskenfauna zwischen Friedland und den Brohmer Bergen (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) – ein Exkursionsbericht

Das 39. Kartierungstreffen der Arbeitsgruppe Malakologie Mecklenburg-Vorpommern konzentrierte sich auf die Landschaft östlich der Stadt Friedland, wo bisher eine besonders lückenhafte Datenlage bestand. Es wurden insgesamt 92 Molluskenarten nachgewiesen, davon 55 Land- und 37 Süßwasserarten. The mollusc fauna between Friedland and the Brohmer Berge (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania): a field trip report The 39th mapping meeting of the malacology working group in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania focused on the landscape east of the city of Friedland as data available from this area had been particularly scarce. Altogether 92 molluscan species were detected, 55 of them being land species and 37 freshwater species.