Search results for "Cer"
showing 10 items of 24496 documents
Distinct protoconchs recognised in three of the larger Mediterranean Cerithium species (Caenogastropoda: Cerithiidae)
2017
The gastropod genus Cerithium includes several polymorphic species which are hardly distinguishable using a morphological approach based on teleoconch characters. Here we show that protoconch characters can be reliably used to identify the larger Mediterranean species (Cerithium alucastrum, C. repandum and C. vulgatum), and to assess their intraspecific variability. Based on a large amount of morphological data, we show that a multispiral, strongly sculptured protoconch (traditionally associated with C. vulgatum) is found in C. alucastrum. This species originated in the Pliocene. A multispiral, weakly sculptured protoconch, not observed previously, is reported for C. vulgatum. A paucispiral…
Unexpected increases in rotifer resting egg abundances during the period of contamination of Lake Orta
2016
<p>Despite their ecological importance and rapid response to environmental changes, rotifers are rarely included in palaeolimnological studies. Here, we describe changes in abundance (ABD) and morphotype (MTs) diversity of rotifer resting eggs in the sediments of deep subalpine Lake Orta, Italy, covering a period prior to (pre-) 1926, during long-term ammonia and metal pollution from a rayon factory, and subsequent recovery of water quality. Following the pollution and bacterial oxidation of the ammonia, Lake Orta became the largest and deepest acid lake in Europe. Recovery of water quality followed both a ban on the discharge of industrial wastes, and a liming intervention in 1989 an…
Purine auxotrophy: Possible applications beyond genetic marker
2019
Exploring new drug candidates or drug targets against many illnesses is necessary as "traditional" treatments lose their effectivity. Cancer and sicknesses caused by protozoan parasites are among these diseases. Cell purine metabolism is an important drug target. Theoretically, inhibiting purine metabolism could stop the proliferation of unwanted cells. Purine metabolism is similar across all eukaryotes. However, some medically important organisms or cell lines rely on their host purine metabolism. Protozoans causing malaria, leishmaniasis, or toxoplasmosis are purine auxotrophs. Some cancer forms have also lost the ability to synthesize purines de novo. Budding yeast can serve as an effect…
First data on microflora of loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nests from the coastlines of Sicily (Italy)
2020
ABSTRACT Caretta caretta is threatened by many dangers in the Mediterranean basin, but most are human-related. The purposes of this research were: (i) to investigate microflora in samples from six loggerhead sea turtle nests located on the Sicilian coast and (ii) to understand microbial diversity associated with nests, with particular attention to bacteria and fungi involved in failed hatchings. During the 2016 and 2018 summers, 456 eggs and seven dead hatchling from six nests were collected. We performed bacteriological and mycological analyses on 88 egg samples and seven dead hatchlings, allowing us to isolate: Fusarium spp. (80.6%), Aeromonas hydrophila (55.6%), Aspergillus spp. (27.2%) …
New Mitochondrial Gene Rearrangement in Psyttalia concolor, P. humilis and P. lounsburyi (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Three Parasitoid Species of Econo…
2020
The family Braconidae consists mostly of specialized parasitoids, some of which hold potential in biocontrol of agricultural pests. Psyttalia concolor, Psyttalia humilis and Psyttalia lounsburyi are parasitoids associated with Bactrocera oleae, a major pest of cultivated olives. The native range of Psyttalia concolor is the Mediterranean, and P. humilis and P. lounsburyi are native to sub-Saharan Africa. This study reports the mitochondrial genomes of the three species, thus laying the foundation for mitogenomic analyses in the genus Psyttalia. Comparative mitogenomics within Braconidae showed a novel gene arrangement in Psyttalia in involving translocation and inversion of transfer RNA gen…
Effect of temperature on pollen germination for several Rosaceae species: influence of freezing conservation time on germination patterns
2019
[EN] Between February 2018 and April 2018, flowers were collected from eight Rosaceae species. Flowers were kept in a freezer at -20 degrees C for three freezing times (Treatment 1, two months; Treatment 2, four months; Treatment 3, six months). After extracting pollen, in vitro germination was induced in a culture medium and incubated at six different temperatures for 72 h. The percentage of pollen germination, average pollen tube length and maximum pollen tube length were measured. Pollen germination was maximum for all species between 15 degrees C and 30 degrees C. Cydonia oblonga, Malus sylvestris, Prunus avium, Prunus domestica, Prunus dulcis, Prunus persica and Pyrus communis obtained…
Erosion of Lizard Diversity by Climate Change and Altered Thermal Niches
2010
It is predicted that climate change will cause species extinctions and distributional shifts in coming decades, but data to validate these predictions are relatively scarce. Here, we compare recent and historical surveys for 48 Mexican lizard species at 200 sites. Since 1975, 12% of local populations have gone extinct. We verified physiological models of extinction risk with observed local extinctions and extended projections worldwide. Since 1975, we estimate that 4% of local populations have gone extinct worldwide, but by 2080 local extinctions are projected to reach 39% worldwide, and species extinctions may reach 20%. Global extinction projections were validated with local extinctions o…
Cercospora beticola toxins. IX. Relationship between structure of beticolins, inhibition of plasma membrane H+ -ATPase and partition in lipid membran…
1996
Beticolins are yellow toxins produced by the fungus Cercospora beticola. The effect of one of them, beticolin-1, has been investigated on corn root plasma membrane H + -ATPase (EC 3.6.1.35) at different purification levels (plasma membrane fraction. partially, or highly purified enzyme). The results obtained demonstrated that (1) the purified proton pump was inhibited directly by low amounts of the toxin (I 50 =1.62 ± 0.18 μM), (2) the biological effects of beticolin-1 were similar to those of CBT (Cercospora beticola toxin). Furthermore, it was established that the efficiency of the different beticolins was clearly related to their ability to interact with the lipid bilayers, determined by…
An annotated checklist of bryophytes of Europe, Macaronesia and Cyprus
2020
Introduction. Following on from work on the European bryophyte Red List, the taxonomically and nomenclaturally updated spreadsheets used for that project have been expanded into a new checklist for the bryophytes of Europe. Methods. A steering group of ten European bryologists was convened, and over the course of a year, the spreadsheets were compared with previous European checklists, and all changes noted. Recent literature was searched extensively. A taxonomic system was agreed, and the advice and expertise of many European bryologists sought. Key results. A new European checklist of bryophytes, comprising hornworts, liverworts and mosses, is presented. Fifteen new combinations are propo…
Molecular Phylogeny of Tintinnid Ciliates (Tintinnida, Ciliophora)
2012
We investigated the phylogeny of tintinnids (Ciliophora, Tintinnida) with 62 new SSU-rDNA sequences from single cells of 32 marine and freshwater species in 20 genera, including the first SSU-rDNA sequences for Amphorides, Climacocylis, Codonaria, Cyttarocylis, Parundella, Petalotricha, Undella and Xystonella, and 23 ITS sequences of 17 species in 15 genera. SSU-rDNA phylogenies suggested a basal position for Eutintinnus, distant to other Tintinnidae. We propose Eutintinnidae fam. nov. for this divergent genus, keeping the family Tintinnidae for Amphorellopsis, Amphorides and Steenstrupiella. Tintinnopsis species branched in at least two separate groups and, unexpectedly, Climacocylis branc…