Anthropogenic extinction of Pacific land snails: a case study of Rurutu, French Polynesia, with description of eight new species of endodontids (Pulmonata).

Faunistic surveys are fundamental in the conservation of land mollusks, particularly as a means of achieving accurate estimates of species richness and levels of extinction of endangered taxa. The family Endodontidae comprises one of the most diverse groups of indigenous land snails of Pacific Islands. Due to anthropogenic degradation of their habitats, most members of the family are now extinct or severely endangered. In Rurutu, French Polynesia, 11 species of Endodontidae were previously described (10 endemics), but only 1 is known to have been extant during the first half of the 20th Century. Extensive collections made in Rurutu in 2003 recovered only empty shells of these 11 species, as well as of an additional 8 endemic species of endodontids not known to previous investigators: Australdonta oheatora sp. nov., A. anneae sp. nov., A. sibleti sp. nov., A. florencei sp. nov., A. pakalolo sp. nov., A. teaae sp. nov., Minidonta boucheti sp. nov. and M. bieleri sp. nov. The radiation of endodontids in Rurutu was thus much larger than previously envisaged. However, we hypothesize that all species of the family are now extinct in the island

Radiation and decline of endodontid land snails in Makatea, French Polynesia.

The family Endodontidae Pilsbry, 1895 comprised one of the most diverse groups of indigenous land snails of Pacific Islands. However, due to anthropogenic degradation of their habitats and predation by or competition with introduced species, most members of the family are now extinct or severely endangered. Based on limited and sporadic collections, the endodontid fauna of the raised coral island of Makatea in the western Tuamotu Archipelago was known to consist of four valid species, Mautodontha (Mautodontha) daedalea (Gould, 1846), Kleokyphus callimus Solem, 1976, K. hypsus Solem, 1976 and Pseudolibera lillianae Solem, 1976, the last three of which were endemic. To these, we add 18 new species based on a reappraisal of museum collections and analysis of abundant new material collected in 2005: M. (M.) domaneschii, M. (M.) virginiae, M. (M.) harperae, M. (Garrettoconcha) aurora, M. (G.) occidentalis, M. (G.) temaoensis, M. (G.) makateaensis, M. (G.) passosi, M. (G.) spelunca, K. cowiei, P. solemi, P. matthieui, P. cookei, P. aubertdelaruei, P. extincta, P. paraminderae, P. elieporoii, and P. parva. The recently collected material also revealed new information on the morphology, intraspecific variation and distribution of the four previously known species, which are here revised and re-described. With 22 recognized taxa, the radiation of endodontids in Makatea is second in species richness only to that of Rapa Iti in the Austral Islands, from where 24 endodontids have been described. Despite intensive field work in Makatea in 2005, only M. (M.) daedalea was found alive. All other Makatean endodontids were represented solely by empty and worn shells and are probably extinct.

Assessing the emergence of pro-biodiversity practices in citizen scientists of a backyard butterfly survey

International audienc

Caractérisation expérimentale de la dispersion d'un pseudo-polluant d'usinage

Dans le cadre du développement d'une méthode numérique de conception des captages de polluants sur machines d'usinage, un banc d'essai recréant une situation similaire à une opération de meulage est utilisé. Le jet de polluant particulaire obtenu est caractérisé par la vélocimétrie par suivi de particules (PTV) afin d'obtenir des données d'entrée et de validation pour les simulations numériques. Ensuite, le traçage gazeux par SF6 est utilisé pour mesurer la concentration des plus fines particules. Nous présentons ici ces résultats expérimentaux, ainsi que le banc d'essai réalisé

French scientific names of continental molluscs of France: process for establishing a list of reference

In the biodiversity crisis context and with the increasing general awareness on this issue, conservation of small and poorly-known species is hampered by the fact they only have latine names. In order to communicate for biodiversity conservation, having French names is an advantage which is lacking in terrestrial and freshwater molluscs from France. To remedy this problem, we propose a list of French scientific names for this group, i.e. all species and subspecies known from France. We have listed existing names in legal documents, in usage and in the 18th and 19th centuries scientific literature. The resulting list being incomplete, we had to create new French names, following a series of recommendations adapted from similar works dealing with other taxonomic groups. We conclude by dealing with the issue of the legitimacy and validity of such names. The list of French scientific names is given as an appendix and is downloadable from internetDans le contexte de la crise de la biodiversité et de la prise de conscience par le grand public des enjeux environnementaux, la conservation des espèces petites et méconnues est handicapée par le fait que ces espèces ne peuvent être désignées que par leur nom latin. Dans une optique de communication pour la préservation de la biodiversité, disposer de nom français est un atout qui fait défaut pour les mollusques terrestres et d'eau douce de France. Pour remédier à cela, nous proposons une liste de noms scientifiques français pour ce groupe, et présentons les étapes qui ont permis l'établissement de cette liste. Les taxons concernés sont l'ensemble des espèces et sous-espèces de la faune de France, pour lesquelles nous avons recensé les noms existants, dans les textes légaux, dans l'usage et dans la littérature scientifique des XVIIIe et XIXe siècles. La liste de noms obtenue étant insuffisante, nous avons dû créer de nouveaux noms, en suivant une série de recommandations adaptées de travaux similaires menés sur d'autres groupes. Enfin, nous concluons par la question de la validité et de la légitimité d'une telle liste. La liste des noms scientifiques français est fournie en annexe et téléchargeable sur internet

Understanding PE teachers’ opinions about physical fitness assessment in children aged 10-11 years

Introduction: Physical fitness assessments for children, aged 10-11 years were performed in the province of Luxembourg. Children went to sports centres with their teachers to achieve a battery of 8 tests, evaluating different parameters of their physical fitness. However, this assessment campaign was restricted to the evaluation physical fitness and was focused on performances. Moreover, PE teacher’s involvement in this campaign seemed limited. From October 2023, the framework of the campaign will be modified following recommendations of the new curriculum for health and physical education. Objectives: The aim of this study was to collect PE teachers' opinions about the objectives of the campaign, their role and how the campaign fitted into their PE lessons. Methods: Interviews were conducted to meet forty-five PE teachers involved in the 2022-campaign. Discussions were recorded. Ideas discussed in each interview were transcribed. This procedure was used to create an online survey. Results: Thirty-seven PE teachers completed the online survey. Very few PE teachers were involved in projects regarding the new curriculum. Ninety-two percent of PE teachers prepared their students for the tests. Ninety-two percent of PE teachers informed their students about their results. Results were not discussed with parents. Three-quarters of PE teachers wanted to further integrate the campaign. Conclusion: This survey analysed the impact of this campaign on teachers' interventions, as well as the barriers encountered. This study could allow a better collaboration between PE teachers, parents, researchers, and members of the sports service for the development of future campaigns

The fitness barometer, a tool for physical education teachers

Introduction: Belgium has been working on physical fitness assessment since a couple of years (1994, 2004, 2013). In the Province of Luxembourg, a physical fitness campaign was organised every year for children in grades 5 and 6 (10-11 years). In October 2023 this campaign will be modified to provide motor and physical assessment, and health promotion. Several fitness tests will be removed. Objectives: The aim of this study was to provide a complete fitness barometer with the results of the campaign 2022. Methods: In 2022, 4,344 children aged 10 and 11 years performed 8 fitness tests, assessing upper and lower limbs explosive power, cardio-respiratory endurance, speed, flexibility, and abdominal endurance. Tests were assessed by external assessors. Data were analysed by researchers. R software (Rcmdr) was used for statistical analysis. Four groups were categorized by gender and age. Descriptive statistical analysis of percentiles was conducted for each group. Results: Percentiles divided statistical series into different categories that allowed each child to be placed in relation to usual values of children of his/her province, age, and gender. Results for each child highlight some qualities and weaknesses of his/her physical fitness, at the assessment time. Conclusion: This barometer delivered to PE teachers an individualized profile for each student. Collective results were provided for the PE teacher showing strengths and weaknesses of their class. Physical fitness is one domain of competencies that a person must develop to be physically active. Other domains of competencies should be added to this campaign

Retention and Activation of Blood-Borne Proteases in the Arterial Wall Implications for Atherothrombosis

All forms of atheroma are characterized by a risk of arterial wall rupture leading to clinical complications. This involves medial and adventitial ruptures in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and intimal cap rupture in vulnerable atherothrombotic plaques. Extracellular proteases, including metalloproteinases, locally generated plasmin, and leukocyte elastase, are important molecular mediators of atheroma progression via their matrix degradation properties. The pathological evolution of AAA is linked to the biology of its associated mural thrombus. Indeed, in aneurysmal segments lined by a thrombus, the wall is thinner, the extracellular matrix more degraded, and the adventitial inflammatory response greater than in segments that are not. Several lines of evidence highlight the role of the thrombus, in AAA, as a reservoir of blood-borne proteases that conveys them from the lumen to the diseased wall. In stenosing atheroma, both previous and recent studies provide evidence that recurrent intraplaque hemorrhages play a dominant role in the evolution of the lesion toward vulnerability. In this review, we draw a parallel between the role of protease conveyance and activation of the mural thrombus in AAA and of intraplaque hemorrhages in stenosing atheroma. We hypothesize that intraplaque hemorrhages convey blood-borne proteases into lesions, where they are retained and activated upon thrombus/hematoma formation, thus contributing significantly to their deleterious action

New Species in the Old World: Europe as a Frontier in Biodiversity Exploration, a Test Bed for 21st Century Taxonomy

The number of described species on the planet is about 1.9 million, with ca. 17,000 new species described annually, mostly from the tropics. However, taxonomy is usually described as a science in crisis, lacking manpower and funding, a politically acknowledged problem known as the Taxonomic Impediment. Using data from the Fauna Europaea database and the Zoological Record, we show that contrary to general belief, developed and heavily-studied parts of the world are important reservoirs of unknown species. In Europe, new species of multicellular terrestrial and freshwater animals are being discovered and named at an unprecedented rate: since the 1950s, more than 770 new species are on average described each year from Europe, which add to the 125,000 terrestrial and freshwater multicellular species already known in this region. There is no sign of having reached a plateau that would allow for the assessment of the magnitude of European biodiversity. More remarkably, over 60% of these new species are described by non-professional taxonomists. Amateurs are recognized as an essential part of the workforce in ecology and astronomy, but the magnitude of non-professional taxonomist contributions to alpha-taxonomy has not been fully realized until now. Our results stress the importance of developing a system that better supports and guides this formidable workforce, as we seek to overcome the Taxonomic Impediment and speed up the process of describing the planetary biodiversity before it is too late

Enantioselective regulation of lactate racemization by LarR in Lactobacillus plantarum.

Lactobacillus plantarum is a lactic acid bacterium that produces a racemic mixture of l- and d-lactate from sugar fermentation. The interconversion of lactate isomers is performed by a lactate racemase (Lar) that is transcriptionally controlled by the l-/d-lactate ratio and maximally induced in the presence of l-lactate. We previously reported that the Lar activity depends on the expression of two divergently oriented operons: (i) the larABCDE operon encodes the nickel-dependent lactate racemase (LarA), its maturases (LarBCE), and a lactic acid channel (LarD), and (ii) the larR(MN)QO operon encodes a transcriptional regulator (LarR) and a four-component ABC-type nickel transporter [Lar(MN), in which the M and N components are fused, LarQ, and LarO]. LarR is a novel regulator of the Crp-Fnr family (PrfA group). Here, the role of LarR was further characterized in vivo and in vitro. We show that LarR is a positive regulator that is absolutely required for the expression of Lar activity. Using gel retardation experiments, we demonstrate that LarR binds to a 16-bp palindromic sequence (Lar box motif) that is present in the larR-larA intergenic region. Mutations in the Lar box strongly affect LarR binding and completely abolish transcription from the larA promoter (PlarA). Two half-Lar boxes located between the Lar box and the -35 box of PlarA promote LarR multimerization on DNA, and point mutations within one or both half-Lar boxes inhibit PlarA induction by l-lactate. Gel retardation and footprinting experiments indicate that l-lactate has a positive effect on the binding and multimerization of LarR, while d-lactate antagonizes the positive effect of l-lactate. A possible mechanism of LarR regulation by lactate enantiomers is proposed