Pigment and Fatty Acid Heterogeneity in the Sea Slug Elysia crispata Is Not Shaped by Habitat Depth

Long-term retention of functional chloroplasts in animal cells occurs only in sacoglossan sea slugs. Analysis of molecules related to the maintenance of these organelles can provide valuable information on this trait (kleptoplasty). The goal of our research was to characterize the pigment and fatty acid (FA) composition of the sea slug Elysia crispata and their associated chloroplasts that are kept functional for a long time, and to quantify total lipid, glycolipid and phospholipid contents, identifying differences between habitats: shallow (0–4 m) and deeper (8–12 m) waters. Specimens were sampled and analyzed after a month of food deprivation, through HPLC, GC-MS and colorimetric methods, to ensure an assessment of long-term kleptoplasty in relation to depth. Pigment signatures indicate that individuals retain chloroplasts from different macroalgal sources. FA classes, phospholipid and glycolipid contents displayed dissimilarities between depths. However, heterogeneities in pigment and FA profiles, as well as total lipid, glycolipid and phospholipid amounts in E. crispata were not related to habitat depth. The high content of chloroplast origin molecules, such as Chl a and glycolipids after a month of starvation, confirms that E. crispata retains chloroplasts in good biochemical condition. This characterization fills a knowledge gap of an animal model commonly employed to study kleptoplasty.

Peningkatan Performa Viabilitas Benih Beberapa Varietas Padi (Oryza sativa L.) Dengan Organik Priming Ekstrak Tauge

Quality seed is one of the determining factors of successful agricultural cultivation. Seeds that have been stored for a long time will experience seed deterioration, which is characterized by a decrease in seed viability. Improving seed viability can be done by seed invigoration. One of the seed invigoration techniques is organic priming by using organic substances extracts that are rich in phytohormones such as auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellins. The purpose of Organic priming is to improve the seed physiological and biochemical condition that related to growing speed, growing simultaneity, and germination. Mung bean sprout extract can be used as an extract for organic priming because it is proven to contain phytohormones. This study aims to determine the interaction between varieties and concentrations of bean sprout extracts and the best combination of varieties and extract concentrations on the viability of rice seeds. The research was carried out in April - June 2020 at the Laboratory of Agricultura Biology, Agriculture Faculty, Lambung Mangkurat University. The experiment was arranged based on Factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD) 4x6 with Three replications. The variables observed were seeds germination, simultaneity of seedlings growth and speed of seedlings growth. The results showed that the interaction factor between varieties and concentration had a very significant effect on increasing seed viability and the best combination was found in Baroma varieties with concentrations of 20 % and if concentrations higher or lower than 20 % performance of rice seed viability will decrease. The highest percentage of seed germination was found in Baroma varieties with a concentration of 20 % (v4k3), which is 82.67 % not significantly different from Baroma varieties with a concentration of 10 % (v4k2) and INPARA 3 varieties with a concentration of 20 % (v1k3). The highest percentage of simultaneity of seed growth was found in Baroma varieties with a concentration of 20 % (v4k3), which is 81.50 % not significantly different from Baroma varieties with a concentration of 10 % (v4k2), Mutant line No. 14 with a concentration of 20 % (v3k3), and INPARA 3 variety with a concentration of 20 % (v1k3), while the fastest percentage of seed growth rate is in Baroma with a concentration of 20 % (v4k3), which is 29.50% significantly different from all varieties and other bean sprout extract concentrations.

ВМІСТ ВАЖКИХ МЕТАЛІВ У КОРМАХ, ОРГАНІЗМІ ТВАРИН ТА ПРОДУКЦІЇ ТВАРИННИЦТВА В АГРОЕКОЛОГІЧНИХ УМОВАХ ЗАКАРПАТТЯ

We studied the content of Cadmium, Lead, Strontium and Nickel in the biological systems: environment – feed – animal – livestock products in agroecological conditions of Zacarpathian region. It is noted that the content of Cadmium and Strontium in soil samples taken from commercial land PAL «Lastochka», Uzhgorod district, Zacarpathian region did not exceed the maximum allowable concentrations, whereas the levels of Lead and Nickel were higher. The content of investigated elements in water used for watering cows in farm was 0.02–1.02 mg/l and did not exceed the maximum allowable concentrations which is up to veterinary and sanitary requirements. It is known from the literary sources that there is interdependency between the heavy metals level in soil and their accumulation in farming cultures. The obtained results of the study of heavy metals in feed (hay, straw, wheat, mixed fodder) harvested on the farm did not exceed the maximum allowable concentrations of studied elements in feed rations for animals. It is known that heavy metals in fodder transform in animal organism and have influence on the intensity of metabolic processes, physiological and biochemical condition and animal productivity. Concentrations of the elements in cows’ whole blood and hair were within physiological values. Absolute content of Cadmium, Lead, Strontium and Nickel in the milk of studied cows were under 0.014; 0.02; 0.15 and 0.2 mg/kg, respectively and did not exceed the maximum allowable concentrations.The analysis of coefficient of correlation between the heavy metals content in biological systems: environment – feed – animal – livestock products revealed the strong correlation between the heavy metals content in soil and water, in straw and mixed fodder, in blood, hair and milk, and the poorly expressed correlation between their content in catena: water – straw – blood – milk.

Thermal windows supporting survival of the earliest life stages of Baltic herring (Clupea harengus)

Peck, M. A., Kanstinger, P., Holste, L., and Martin, M. 2012. Thermal windows supporting survival of the earliest life stages of Baltic herring (Clupea harengus). – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 529–536. Projecting climate-driven changes in marine systems will require knowledge on how thermal windows affect the vital rates of key species. To examine the potential, direct effect of climate-driven warming on southwest Baltic herring, we quantified the survival, development, and biochemical condition of embryos (eggs and yolk-sac larvae) at ten temperatures between 2.9 and 21.7°C. Viable hatch was highest from 7 to 13°C, <20% at 2.9°C and 0% at 21.7°C. Between 5 and 19°C, increasing temperature (T) decreased the time to 50% hatch (Ht, h,): Ht = 4461.9 × T − 1.24 (r2 = 0.98, p < 0.0001). Using degree-days [°d = T (°C) × age (d)] could normalize some (but not all) thermal effects. Most hatching occurred 90–120°d post-fertilization, unfed larvae lost 0.33 µg dry mass (DM) °d−1, larvae did not survive >160°d post-hatch. RNA–DNA ratios rapidly decreased between 50 and 80°d post-hatch, whereas DNA ×DM−1 increased throughout the yolk-sac phase and likely provides a stronger indicator of irreversible starvation. The critical, “mixed feeding” stage is likely 60–100°d post-hatch. The broad thermal tolerance of herring embryos makes “direct”, negative effects of warming unlikely; however, a lack of common methods among studies makes it difficult to project how climate warming will affect embryos of different fish populations and species.