Bat responses to climate change: a systematic review

This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordUnderstanding how species respond to climate change is key to informing vulnerability assessments and designing effective conservation strategies, yet research efforts on wildlife responses to climate change fail to deliver a representative overview due to inherent biases. Bats are a species-rich, globally distributed group of organisms that are thought to be particularly sensitive to the effects of climate change because of their high surface-to-volume ratios and low reproductive rates. We systematically reviewed the literature on bat responses to climate change to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge, identify research gaps and biases and highlight future research needs. We found that studies are geographically biased towards Europe, North America and Australia, and temperate and Mediterranean biomes, thus missing a substantial proportion of bat diversity and thermal responses. Less than half of the published studies provide concrete evidence for bat responses to climate change. For over a third of studied bat species, response evidence is only based on predictive species distribution models. Consequently, the most frequently reported responses involve range shifts (57% of species) and changes in patterns of species diversity (26%). Bats showed a variety of responses, including both positive (e.g. range expansion and population increase) and negative responses (range contraction and population decrease), although responses to extreme events were always negative or neutral. Spatial responses varied in their outcome and across families, with almost all taxonomic groups featuring both range expansions and contractions, while demographic responses were strongly biased towards negative outcomes, particularly among Pteropodidae and Molossidae. The commonly used correlative modelling approaches can be applied to many species, but do not provide mechanistic insight into behavioural, physiological, phenological or genetic responses. There was a paucity of experimental studies (26%), and only a small proportion of the 396 bat species covered in the examined studies were studied using long-term and/or experimental approaches (11%), even though they are more informative about the effects of climate change. We emphasise the need for more empirical studies to unravel the multifaceted nature of bats' responses to climate change and the need for standardised study designs that will enable synthesis and meta-analysis of the literature. Finally, we stress the importance of overcoming geographic and taxonomic disparities through strengthening research capacity in the Global South to provide a more comprehensive view of terrestrial biodiversity responses to climate change.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)MUR Rita Levi Montalcini programPortuguese Foundation for Science and TechnologySpanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and UniversitiesJunta de AndalucíaBulgarian National Science FundKaroll Knowledge Foundatio

Molecular prevalence, genetic characterization and patterns of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic small mammals from Cotonou, Benin

Toxoplasmosis, one of the most prevalent parasitic infections in humans and animals, is caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Small mammals play a key role as intermediate reservoir hosts in the maintenance of the T. gondii life cycle. In this study, we estimated the molecular prevalence and provide genetic diversity data for T. gondii in 632 small mammals sampled in four areas of Cotonou city, Benin. Both the brain and heart of each individual were screened through T. gondii-targeting qPCR, and positive samples were then genotyped using a set of 15 T. gondii-specific microsatellites. Prevalence data were statistically analyzed in order to assess the relative impact of individual host characteristics, spatial distribution, composition of small mammal community, and urban landscape features. An overall T. gondii molecular prevalence of 15.2% was found and seven genotypes, all belonging to the Africa 1 lineage, could be retrieved from the invasive black rat Rattus rattus and the native African giant shrew Crocidura olivieri. Statistical analyses did not suggest any significant influence of the environmental parameters used in this study. Rather, depending on the local context, T. gondii prevalence appeared to be associated either with black rat, shrew, or mouse abundance or with the trapping period. Overall, our results highlight the intricate relationships between biotic and abiotic factors involved in T. gondii epidemiology and suggest that R. rattus and C. olivieri are two competent reservoirs for the Africa 1 lineage, a widespread lineage in tropical Africa and the predominant lineage in Benin

Yield and contents of some bioactive components of basil (Ocimum basilicum l.) depending on time of cutting

Basil (Occimum basilicum L.) is an annual plant from Lamiaceae family. It is used as a spice, aromatic and medicinal plant. The yield and quality of basil depends on variety of basil, growing technology and environmental factors such as: Temperature, rainfall, photoperiod, relative humidity and irradiance. The aim of this study was to determine the yield and contents of some bioactive phytochemical components in basil (Ocimum basilicum var. genovese), depending on time of cutting. Field experiments were conducted in Butmir, near Sarajevo. In this research yield of fresh and dry mass, contents of essential oil, total phenols, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity were determined. Experimental results suggested that the time of cutting has a significant impact on yield and bioactive components of basil. The yield of fresh mass ranged from 182.13 g (second cut) to 283.16 g per plant (first cut). Contents of bioactive components were also significantly depending on the time of cutting. High total phenols content, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity in basil were recorded in the second cut

Antimicrobial activity of three essential oils against several human pathogens

Essential oils are products derived from various parts of plants. These products have therapeutic, pharmacological and antimicrobial properties against human pathogens. In this paper, the impact of clove, spruce and pine essential oils against Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus was determined using disc diffusion method. Liquid bacterial inoculum was streaked onto Muller-Hinton agar using the sterile swab. Antimicrobial activity was estimated by measurement of inhibition zone around the discs previously impregnated by essential oil and placed onto agar. Results showed that the antimicrobial activity of essential oils depended on the type of oil and bacterial species. The significantly highest diameter of inhibition zone against tested bacteria was recorded using clove essential oil, whilst the lowest diameter was noticed using pine essential oil. Clove oil was most effective against Staphylococcus aureus, whilst spruce and pine oil against Salmonella spp. compared to other bacteria. Strong positive correlation between the effect of the spruce oil against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, spruce and with clove oil against Staphylococcus aureus was recorded. The results of this research indicate the possible application of essential oil of clove against human pathogens

Dynamics of microbial populations activities after the application of nicosulfuron

When a pesticide gets into soil, it takes part in a number of physical, chemical and biological processes that depend not only on the compound itself, but a number of other factors such as physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil and climatic factors. Microorganisms play an important role in pesticide degradation as they are able to utilize the biogenic elements from those compounds, as well as energy for their physiological processes. On the other hand, pesticides are more or less toxic substances that can have adverse effect on microbial populations and prevent their development, reduce their abundance, deplete their taxonomic complexity and create communities with a lower level of diversity and reduced physiological activity. The aim of this study was to analyze post nicosulfuron application dynamics of microbial populations’ activity in the soil. By standard methodology, soil pH value was determined as slightly acid to slightly alkaline, humus and available K content as moderate to high, and available P content as very low to moderate. Microbial abundance (total number of bacteria, number of ammonification bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes) was determined by agar plate method. The application of nicosulfuron in all samples and at both locations has resulted in increased number of bacteria, fungi and ammonification bacteria and reduction of the number of actinomycetes. The highest positive effect on the number of microorganisms was 15 days after treatment with nicosulfuron

Chromosomes aberations and enviromental factors

Explanation the topic: Changes in genetic material can lead to aberrant cell in the direction of disorders of cellular regulation, malignant transformation, cell death, or if the adjustment was made at the level of the reproductive cells, to genetic changes in some of the consequent off spring. The topic position in scientific/professional public: Breaking of chromosomes can occur spontaneously or can be induced. Chromatid/chromosome breakings can be induced by different environmental factors: chemicals, biological clastogenic agents, accidentally or intentionally. Conclusions: The authors suggest: - making conditions for strong respect of environmental regulations; - to use higher plants for the early detection of environmental mutagens; - create and orderly update National radionuclide database

[Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis among Pregnant Women in Benin: Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression].

International audienceTo assess the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in Benin, we conducted a meta-analysis using the PRISMA criteria. Al research published between 1990 and 2018 on toxoplasmosis among pregnant women Benin were eligible. A total of five databases were investigated, and the extracted data were subjected to a meta-analysis under R 3.1 using both random effect model and fixed effect model. The overall prevalence of toxoplasma-specific IgG among pregnant women was 47% (CI 95%: 40-53) and that of specific IgM was 2% (CI 95%: 1-3). The infection rate in urban areas (52%) was significantly higher than in rural areas (33%). The two main risk factors identified by the various eligible studies were the age of the pregnant women and the consumption of raw vegetables. We show that toxoplasmosis is endemic in pregnant women in Benin, implying that primary prevention measures must be put in place by the competent authorities to control this infection