Parasite-host relationships of water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia) and black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in southeastern Spain

Abstract Background: Documentation on water mites in Spain is scarce, as is information on the parasite-host relationship between certain water mite species and representatives of the dipteran family Simuliidae. The discomfort caused to humans and animals by black fies seems to be increasing in recent years. In this context, an investigation of parasitic water mites is of great importance, not only from the point of view of biodiversity, but also in terms of their potential to control black fy populations. Methods: Rivers across a wide region of eastern Spain were sampled to determine the specifc richness of simuliid dipterans and to investigate their possible parasites, such as water mites, mermithid nematodes and microsporidia (fungal microbes). Data on environmental variables, abundance, prevalence and intensity of parasitism on the collected specimens were analyzed. Results: In 10 streams, 15,396 simuliid pupae were collected and checked for the presence of water mite larvae; 426 pupae in seven streams were found to be associated with water mite larvae. Of the 21 simuliid species identifed based on morphological characters, eight were found to be associated with water mite larvae. Water mite infection was not equally distributed among black fy species. Also, the prevalence of parasitism was low and difered among simuliid species, ranging from one to 13 water mites per black fy pupa. Variation at the intra- and interspecifc levels was detected in terms of the number of water mites inside the black fy cocoons. Free-living deutonymphal and adult water mites representing 15 diferent species of six genera and fve families were morphologically identifed. The taxonomic identity of the parasitic mite larvae is unclear at present. Morphologically, they ft descriptions of larval Sperchon (Hispidosperchon) algeriensis Lundblad, 1942, but the possibility cannot be excluded that they represent Sperchon algeriensis, the most abundant species at the adult stage in this study and unknown at the larval stage, or even another species of the genus. A molecular analysis produced for the frst time cytochrome oxidase I gene sequences for S. algeriensis. Conclusions: Our results contribute to current knowledge on Spanish Hydrachnidia and their relationships with simuliids as hosts. However, further research is needed to evaluate the diversity, distribution, bioecology and prevalence of this parasitism

World Ocean Review 2015 : living with the oceans 5. Coasts - a vital habitat under pressure

The fifth World Ocean Review (WOR) explores the coastal habitat and the diverse expectations upon this habitat. It provides a glimpse into millions of years of history, elucidates the theory of continental drift and discusses the many ways in which coasts have changed. It also illustrates how the diverse ecosystem services rendered by the coasts are being subjected to increasing pressure, and profiles measures that will be necessary in the future to respond effectively to the threats from both climate change and natural disasters

World ocean review: Mit den Meeren leben 5. Die Küsten - ein wertvoller Lebensraum unter Druck

Die fünfte Ausgabe des „World Ocean Review“ (WOR) beschäftigt sich mit dem Lebensraum Küste und den vielfältigen Erwartungen, die an diesen Lebensraum gestellt werden. Der WOR 5 gibt einen Einblik in die über Jahrmillionen zurückreichende Geschichte, erläutert die Theorie der Kontinentalveschiebung und erörtert wie sich das Gesicht der Küsten verändert hat. Er zeigt auf, wie die vielfältigen Ökosystemleistungen der Küsten immer mehr unter Druck geraten und stellt Maßnahmen vor, die in Zukunft notwendig sein werden, um den Bedrohungen durch Klimawandel und Naturkatastrophen Herr zu werden

Limno-ecological characteristics and distribution patterns of spring habitats and invertebrates from the Lowlands to the Alps

Springs are autochthonous aquatic ecotones with complex functional properties and heterogeneous eco-morphological structures. Within a small spatial extent, invertebrates are highly diverse and mainly composed of species adapted to the surface–subterranean water interface, the aquatic–terrestrial interface or to the spring habitat itself. In this publication, a first synopsis of limno-ecological case studies of springs from the Lowlands of Schleswig-Holstein, the low mountain ranges of Hesse and Thuringia, the pre-Alps of the Jura Mountains in Switzerland and the Alps in Germany and Switzerland is presented. The field surveys conducted in the different areas focus on an ecological assessment of spring habitats, distribution patterns of the invertebrate fauna and specific regional characteristics. A regional faunistic differentiation of spring-related invertebrate species is evident. A change in the faunistic composition in general and a loss of crenobionts owing to climatic and land-use changes are expected. In addition, it should be noted that long-term monitoring data required to make reliable statements about future developments in the distribution of spring species and to predict habitat conditions are not available

Old Sins Throw Long Shadows – Old and Emerging Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Swiss Environment

Temporal trends and concentrations of dioxins and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the Swiss environment are presented

Emissions of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Switzerland: A Combination of Long-Term Measurements and Modeling

Ambient air concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Zurich, Switzerland, are reported for the years 2011–2013. These measurements reveal a distinct seasonal trend with PCB concentrations in air during the summer that were three to five times higher than in the winter. We used a long-term dynamic multimedia model to analyze the seasonal trend and to back-calculate urban emissions of PCBs. In contrast to previous short-term studies that considered time periods of several days to months to extrapolate annual emissions, the use of long-term field data and the corresponding model reduces the uncertainty in these extrapolations. Comparison with measured PCB concentrations in air shows that our model is able to reproduce seasonal trends of the six indicator PCBs (iPCBs). The good agreement of the model results with measurements over a time period of three years provides confidence in model outputs and allows us to estimate the total annual PCB emissions of Zurich (86 μg capita^–1 d^–1). The resulting summer emissions are nine times higher than emissions during winter. Interestingly, this factor corresponds to the expected increase in PCB volatilization due to the effect of temperature on vapor pressure. This finding implies that PCBs in Zurich are probably released mainly by volatilization from sources that are directly exposed to ambient air temperature (i.e., outdoor sources). The derived emissions are in accordance with previous studies performed at the same location and are also in agreement with an existing emission inventory