Rare and protected species of Caraboidea (Coleoptera) of the Steppe zone of Ukraine

New data on the distribution, occurrence and ecology of 19 rare and little-known species of Caraboidea from 14 genera were obtained in the result of research at Steppe zone of Ukraine. Herein, Parophonus hirsutulus is given for the fauna of Ukraine for the first time, while Cicindela sylvatica and Carabus coriaceus are recorded for the first time in the Steppe zone. The species Poecilus nitens, Carterus angustipennis lutschniki and Eucarterus sparsutus are registered for the first time in mainland Ukraine, and Acinopus ammophilus is newly found at the steppe of Left-bank Ukraine. The distribution of six rare species in the Steppe zone of Ukraine is specified, namely Calathus mollis, Ophonus minimus, Parophonus planicollis, Ditomus calidonius oriens, Masoreus wetterhallii, and Mastax thermarum. The seasonal occurrence of subspecies Cephalota deserticola sivashensis and Carabus sibiricus errans in biotopes is analyzed. New data on four species of ground beetles protected by the Red Data Book of Ukraine (Cephalota besseri, Carabus hungaricus, Parazuphium chevrolatii, Carterus dama) is provided.

Seasonal Occurrence, Distribution and Group Size of Irrawaddy Dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in the Bay of Brunei, Brunei Darussalam

The uniqueness of the Bay of Brunei makes it an ideal place to be inhabited by Irrawaddy dolphins. However, the increasing potential impacts of anthropogenic factors and environmental changes on the dolphins are alarming. The objectives of this study were to determine the seasonal occurrence and distribution, and to estimate the group size of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Bay of Brunei. Surveys were conducted between January 2016 and April 2018. The total distance surveyed was 2,439.2 km in 189.13 h (survey effort = 13,081.93 km.h). Forty-nine groups of Irrawaddy dolphins were recorded with a sighting rate of 0.37 per 100 km.h. Thirteen of the groups were observed with calves. Overall, the group size ranged between 1 and 15 individuals with a mean of 4.5 individuals (SD = 3.3). There was no statistical significance in the number of dolphin sightings between four different monsoon seasons (Northeast, Southwest, April Inter-monsoon, and October Inter-monsoon) (χ2 = 5.66, df = 3, p > 0.05). The number of sightings and number of individuals suggest that Irrawaddy dolphins are residents of the Bay of Brunei and are in need of a conservation management plan.

Seasonal Occurrence of Cyanobacteria and First Detection of Microcystin-LR in Water Column of Foum-Gleita Reservoir, Mauritania

This work was carried out to study the seasonal occurrence of cyanobacteria and their microcystin-LR in water column of Foum-Gleita reservoir (Mauritania). Limnological and biological factors were investigated at three depths (surface, -3, and -6 m) in this reservoir during a full year. Nutrients were analyzed by Spectrophotometry, phytoplankton was analyzed by Inverted Microscopy, microsystins were analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-tandem Mass Spectrometry and environmental factors relationships were analyzed by Pearson's correlation and Multiple Linear Regression. Physicochemical analyzes have shown that this reservoir is hypereutrophic with dissolved inorganic nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations relatively high, varying from 1.39 to 6.53 and 0.21 to 0.57 mg/L, respectively. Annual surface water temperature was exceptionally high (27.8 ± 3.6°C), characterizing of a Sahelian climatic conditions. Phytoplankton analyzes have shown dominance of two toxic cyanobacteria species Microcystis aeruginosa and Dolichospermum flos-aquae during warm season (May-September). Microcystins analysis revealed presence of only most toxic variant, microcystin-LR. Microcystin-LR concentration in the surface water samples, during cyanobacterial blooms, was consistently high (5.638 µg/L), exceeding 5-times the World Health Organization drinking water limit (1 µg/L), however, it was much lower (0.83 µg / L) at depth (-6 m). Analysis of environmental factors relationships showed that the most influential factors on abundance of Microcystis aeruginosa and Dolichospermum flos-aquae and variability of microcystin-LR concentrations were total phosphorus, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, iron, temperature and pH. Finally, the study clearly demonstrated need for regular monitoring of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in the waters of studied reservoir.

Bovine rabies in Rio Grande do Sul: positivity rates, geographical distribution, and seasonal occurrence

Rabies is a zoonotic disease characterized by acute viral encephalitis. It is almost 100% fatal for infected animals. While cases of human rabies have still been registered in Brazil, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul rabies is considered a controlled disease in urban areas. However, the transmission of bovine rabies – which has been largely associated with the Desmodus rotundus bat – is endemic. Additionally, there are estimates that only 10% of rabies cases are reported. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the positivity rates, geographical distribution, and seasonal occurrence of bovine rabies in RS, as well as the sampling practices in rabies surveillance. Using samples submitted for laboratory diagnosis from 2016 to 2019, we conducted a retrospective study of the sample results, positivity rates, and seasonal occurrence of rabies in cattle. Throughout these four years, less than a third of state municipalities sent samples for diagnosis, suggesting that the occurrence of rabies might still be underestimated in non-sampled areas. A higher number of rabies cases were reported in 2019, a year in which the most diagnosed samples and the highest positivity percentages were recorded. However, the case numbers registered between 2016 and 2019 were not significantly different. We found that the summer and autumn months presented statistically different positivity rates. Besides this, we did not find any positive D. rotundus samples, despite the positivity rates for bovine rabies. Active surveillance, especially of bat populations and under-sampled regions, must be strengthened to correctly estimate the impact of rabies.

Frequency of Dark Septate Endophytes Colonization in Iris germanica L.

Dark septate endophytes (DSE) are a group of fungi from phylum Ascomycota that develop inside healthy root tissue of a wide range of plants from diverse habitats. They play a role in nutrient acquisition and survival of their hosts in limiting conditions. Aim of this research was to identify the seasonal occurrence of dark septate endophytes across a cultivar gradient in urban conditions from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Root samples from six Iris germanica cultivars were collected in spring and autumn. Microscopic assessment was conducted on 2160 root segments. Average DSE frequency in roots of Iris germanica was 14.58%. Analysis of variance revealed that influence exercised by the cultivar was not significant (p=0.37), but the interaction between cultivar and phenophase explained 53.97% of overall variance. DSE were identified in all six cultivars, indicating either to a similar susceptibility of the host genotype or lack of specificity of the fungal endophyte. Unravelling the functional roles of these fungi could contribute to a better understating of plant-fungi interactions in anthropic environments.