Grey and harbour seals in France : distribution at sea, connectivity and trends in abundance at haulout sites

Grey (Halichoerus grypus) and harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) are sympatric seal species, but they display distinct strategies of habitat use and connectivity between haulout sites. The distribution patterns and variations in relative abundance of both species were investigated along the French coast of the English Channel, at the southern limit of their range where seal numbers are increasing. Regular censuses conducted at all main haulout sites in mainland France showed significant seasonal variations at most sites, with more harbour seals counted during summer (breeding and moulting seasons), and more grey seals during summer only in the eastern English Channel. Trends in maximum haulout numbers at haulout sites showed a significant increase over the last five years, ranging from 9.7 to 30.9% per year for harbour seals, and from 5.8% (in the western English Channel) to 49.2% (in the eastern English Channel) per year for grey seals. These rates of increase in grey seal numbers are not linked to local pup production and most probably result from seal movements from the southwest British Isles and the North Sea, respectively. Aerial surveys conducted across the English Channel showed that most seal observations at sea were concentrated in the north-eastern English Channel. Telemetry showed that the 28 harbour seals tracked remained highly coastal, within a radius of 100 km from their haulout sites, and did not move to other known colonies. Grey seals moved much greater distances, reaching up to 1200 km from their capture site. More than half of the 45 grey seals tracked crossed the English Channel, especially during the breeding season, moving to known colonies in the southwest British Isles and the North Sea. Combining individual tracks and long-term surveys of the seal populations allowed a better understanding of the dynamics of these populations and their connectivity at a larger regional scale. The findings provide direct information for the management of grey and harbour seals within the frame of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and highlight focus areas where potential interactions between the two species should be monitored.PostprintPeer reviewe

ADAM33, a New Candidate for Psoriasis Susceptibility

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder with multifactorial etiology. In a recent study, we reported results of a genome-wide scan on 46 French extended families presenting with plaque psoriasis. In addition to unambiguous linkage to the major susceptibility locus PSORS1 on Chromosome 6p21, we provided evidence for a susceptibility locus on Chromosome 20p13. To follow up this novel psoriasis susceptibility locus we used a family-based association test (FBAT) for an association scan over the 17 Mb candidate region. A total of 85 uncorrelated SNP markers located in 65 genes of the region were initially investigated in the same set of large families used for the genome wide search, which consisted of 295 nuclear families. When positive association was obtained for a SNP, candidate genes nearby were explored more in detail using a denser set of SNPs. Thus, the gene ADAM33 was found to be significantly associated with psoriasis in this family set (The best association was on a 3-SNP haplotype P = 0.00004, based on 1,000,000 permutations). This association was independent of PSORS1. ADAM33 has been previously associated with asthma, which demonstrates that immune system diseases may be controlled by common susceptibility genes with general effects on dermal inflammation and immunity. The identification of ADAM33 as a psoriasis susceptibility gene identified by positional cloning in an outbred population should provide insights into the pathogenesis and natural history of this common disease

Confirmation de la présence de Hydroporus productus Fairmaire, 1880, en Tunisie (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae)

Hydroporus productus Fairmaire, 1880, confirmed from Tunisia (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae). This paper confirms the occurrence of Hydroporus productus Fairmaire, 1880, in Kroumirie Mountains, North West Tunisia, almost 75 years after the collecting of a single specimen in 1937 in El Kef by Dr Normand.Près de 75 années après la capture d’un unique exemplaire par le Dr Normand à El Kef en 1937, cette note confirme la présence de Hydroporus productus Fairmaire, 1880, dans le nord-ouest de la Tunisie, en Kroumirie.Elder Jean-François. Confirmation de la présence de Hydroporus productus Fairmaire, 1880, en Tunisie (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 120 (3),2015. pp. 257-259

Une nouvelle espèce d'Ochthebius pour la faune de France : Ochthebius bifoveolatus Waltl, 1835 (Col., Hydraenidae)

Elder Jean-François. Une nouvelle espèce d'Ochthebius pour la faune de France : Ochthebius bifoveolatus Waltl, 1835 (Col., Hydraenidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 108 (4), octobre 2003. p. 392

Capture récente en France de Cymatia rogenhoferi (Fieber, 1864) et description des stades juvéniles (Heteroptera, Corixidae)

Recent french caught of Cymatia rogenhoferi (Fieber, 1864) and description of the juvenile instars (Heteroptera Corixidae). Cymatia rogenhoferi (Fieber, 1864) (Heteroptera, Corixidae) has been caught in a recently made-man pond located in sand dunes on the western coast of Cotentin (Manche, France). The early stages are described and compared with the stages of the other two known european species of Cymatia, as adapted from Jansson's work (1969).La capture de Cymatia rogenhoferi (Fieber, 1864) (Heteroptera, Corixidae) sur la côte ouest du Cotentin (Manche), dans une mare dunaire récemment creusée par l'Homme, est présentée. Les stades juvéniles sont décrits et une clé de détermination, adaptée du travail de Jansson (1969), permet leur distinction des stades des deux autres espèces de Cymatia européens.Elder Jean-François. Capture récente en France de Cymatia rogenhoferi (Fieber, 1864) et description des stades juvéniles (Heteroptera, Corixidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 107 (1), mars 2002. pp. 43-49

Description du dernier stade juvénile de Parasigara perdubia (Rey, 1894) (Heteroptera, Nepomorpha, Corixidae)

Description of the last juvenile instar of Parasigara perdubia (Rey, 1894) (Heteroptera, Nepomorpha, Corixidae). The juvenile stage V of Parasigara perdubia (Rey, 1894) is described. The identification of the totality of the stages V of all the genera of Corixidae currently present in France is made possible.Le stade juvénile V de Parasigara perdubia (Rey, 1894) est décrit. L’identification de la totalité des stades V de l’ensemble des genres de Corixidae actuellement présents en France est rendu possible.Elder Jean-François. Description du dernier stade juvénile de Parasigara perdubia (Rey, 1894) (Heteroptera, Nepomorpha, Corixidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 122 (4),2017. pp. 409-413

Description du dernier stade juvénile de Parasigara perdubia (Rey, 1894) (Heteroptera, Nepomorpha, Corixidae)

Description of the last juvenile instar of Parasigara perdubia (Rey, 1894) (Heteroptera, Nepomorpha, Corixidae). The juvenile stage V of Parasigara perdubia (Rey, 1894) is described. The identification of the totality of the stages V of all the genera of Corixidae currently present in France is made possible.Le stade juvénile V de Parasigara perdubia (Rey, 1894) est décrit. L’identification de la totalité des stades V de l’ensemble des genres de Corixidae actuellement présents en France est rendu possible.Elder Jean-François. Description du dernier stade juvénile de Parasigara perdubia (Rey, 1894) (Heteroptera, Nepomorpha, Corixidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 122 (4),2017. pp. 409-413

Confirmation de la présence en France de Deronectes platynotus (Germar, 1834) (Col., Dytiscidae)

Elder Jean-François. Confirmation de la présence en France de Deronectes platynotus (Germar, 1834) (Col., Dytiscidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 114 (1),2009. pp. 19-20

Capture récente en France de Cymatia rogenhoferi (Fieber, 1864) et description des stades juvéniles (Heteroptera, Corixidae)

Recent french caught of Cymatia rogenhoferi (Fieber, 1864) and description of the juvenile instars (Heteroptera Corixidae). Cymatia rogenhoferi (Fieber, 1864) (Heteroptera, Corixidae) has been caught in a recently made-man pond located in sand dunes on the western coast of Cotentin (Manche, France). The early stages are described and compared with the stages of the other two known european species of Cymatia, as adapted from Jansson's work (1969).La capture de Cymatia rogenhoferi (Fieber, 1864) (Heteroptera, Corixidae) sur la côte ouest du Cotentin (Manche), dans une mare dunaire récemment creusée par l'Homme, est présentée. Les stades juvéniles sont décrits et une clé de détermination, adaptée du travail de Jansson (1969), permet leur distinction des stades des deux autres espèces de Cymatia européens.Elder Jean-François. Capture récente en France de Cymatia rogenhoferi (Fieber, 1864) et description des stades juvéniles (Heteroptera, Corixidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 107 (1), mars 2002. pp. 43-49

Confirmation de la présence en France de Deronectes platynotus (Germar, 1834) (Col., Dytiscidae)

Elder Jean-François. Confirmation de la présence en France de Deronectes platynotus (Germar, 1834) (Col., Dytiscidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 114 (1),2009. pp. 19-20