Arguments against the proposal 2302 by John & al. to reject the name Gonyaulax catenella (Alexandrium catenella)

Versión del edito

A global horizon scan of issues impacting marine and coastal biodiversity conservation

The biodiversity of marine and coastal habitats is experiencing unprecedented change. While there are well-known drivers of these changes, such as overexploitation, climate change and pollution, there are also relatively unknown emerging issues that are poorly understood or recognized that have potentially positive or negative impacts on marine and coastal ecosystems. In this inaugural Marine and Coastal Horizon Scan, we brought together 30 scientists, policymakers and practitioners with transdisciplinary expertise in marine and coastal systems to identify new issues that are likely to have a significant impact on the functioning and conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity over the next 5–10 years. Based on a modified Delphi voting process, the final 15 issues presented were distilled from a list of 75 submitted by participants at the start of the process. These issues are grouped into three categories: ecosystem impacts, for example the impact of wildfires and the effect of poleward migration on equatorial biodiversity; resource exploitation, including an increase in the trade of fish swim bladders and increased exploitation of marine collagens; and new technologies, such as soft robotics and new biodegradable products. Our early identification of these issues and their potential impacts on marine and coastal biodiversity will support scientists, conservationists, resource managers and policymakers to address the challenges facing marine ecosystems

Prevalence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Europe: The Past and the Future

Purpose Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a frequent, complex disorder in elderly of European ancestry. Risk profiles and treatment options have changed considerably over the years, which may have affected disease prevalence and outcome. We determined the prevalence of early and late AMD in Europe from 1990 to 2013 using the European Eye Epidemiology (E3) consortium, and made projections for the future. Design Meta-analysis of prevalence data. Participants A total of 42 080 individuals 40 years of age and older participating in 14 population-based cohorts from 10 countries in Europe. Methods AMD was diagnosed based on fundus photographs using the Rotterdam Classification. Prevalence of early and late AMD was calculated using random-effects meta-analysis stratified for age, birth cohort, gender, geographic region, and time period of the study. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was compared between late AMD subtypes; geographic atrophy (GA) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Main Outcome Measures Prevalence of early and late AMD, BCVA, and number of AMD cases. Results Prevalence of early AMD increased from 3.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1%–5.0%) in those aged 55–59 years to 17.6% (95%

Commentary: Gómez, F., Moreira, D., and López-García, P. (2010). Neoceratium gen. nov., a New Genus for All Marine Species Currently Assigned to Ceratium (Dinophyceae). Protist 161: 35-54

The recent publication by Gómez et al. (2010) described DNA sequence studies that demonstrated a taxonomic distinction between the freshwater and marine taxa of the dinoflagellate genus Ceratium. Since the type of Ceratium is a freshwater species, a segregate genus for the marine species was therefore required. The new genus name Neoceratium was erected, with type species N. furca, and 76 additional new combinations in this genus proposed. In the discussion that accompanied the description, the authors recognized that several legitimate generic names had been proposed in the nineteenth century for different species of Ceratium, but for various reasons these names were rejected, primarily, “to avoid potential confusion derived from the use of previous subgeneric names” (Gómez et al. 2010, p. 44).We contend that the reasons for rejecting these earlier legitimate generic names, each with their type species included in Neoceratium as circumscribed by Gómez et al. (2010), were inadequate and that the name of the newly recognized genus should have been adopted from one of these historical names

Studies on Peridinium aciculiferum and Peridinium malmogiense (=Scrippsiella hangoei): comparison with Chimonodinium lomnickii and description of Apocalathium gen. nov. (Dinophyceae)

The fine structure of the freshwater Peridinium aciculiferum and the closely related Baltic Sea species currently known as Scrippsiella hangoei were examined in serial sections. The species name Peridinium malmogiense is shown to be an earlier synonym of Scrippsiella hangoei and is restored as the name of the species. Although both species have been included in the genus Peridinium, their phylogenetic positions are within the Thoracosphaeraceae, close to the specialized predators known as the pfiesteriaceans and the photosynthetic freshwater Chimonodinium lomnickii. The fine-structural features of the two species proved to be very similar, including the details of flagellar bases and roots, and the type of pyrenoid, which consisted of dilated areas of the chloroplast crossed by two-thylakoid lamellae and not associated with starch sheaths. Comparison with Chimonodinium revealed significant differences, in particular the absence of an eyespot and any trace of microtubules associated with a peduncle, which contrast with the multilayered eyespot and the distinct microtubular basket (MB) of C. lomnickii. The absence of a MB in P. aciculiferum and P. malmogiense is regarded as a character loss within a group of species hypothesized to be derived from a MB-containing ancestor. A phylogenetic analysis based on concatenation of nuclear-encoded small subunit rDNA, internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 including 5.8S sequences agreed with published phylogenies based on genes of the ribosomal operon in closely grouping P. aciculiferum, P. malmogiense and two other species of peridinioids with a similar amphiesmal plate arrangement: P. euryceps and P. baicalense. The four species are regarded as members of the same genus. While one of the closest known relatives of these four species is C. lomnickii, the variable association of this species to several other groups of species in published phylogenies and the differences in fine-structure revealed in the present work advise against transferring the studied species to Chimonodinium. The new genus Apocalathium is described with P. aciculiferum as type species