Trophic Response to Multiple Stressors Using Species Sensitivity (SSD) Distribution Models

For three decades, the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) has been the primary ecotoxicological tool to assess the effects of toxicants on species biodiversity. Despite prolific use by international environmental protection organizations and application in a wide range of ecosystems, there are several problems. 1) The hazardous concentration to protect 95% of a taxonomic group (HC5) is rejecting a portion of species that may have significant ecological roles. 2) Confidence intervals are entirely based on the number of species available with toxicological data and infer a large range of what is considered a “safe” concentration. 3) The minimum sample size to produce an SSD produces broad confidence intervals. 4) The parameters for data inputs to produce SSDs are not universal. 5) The trophic structure for an endpoint or location is not considered. In this research we use four taxonomic groups were used to represent a riparian food web; phytoplankton, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and predators. Individual and community SSDs were generated using zinc and copper with at least 10 species from each taxonomic group. Our findings suggest that the phytoplankton HC5 is less than zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and predators. Furthermore, the range defined by confidence intervals for phytoplankton is from 0.06 ug/L to 33.23 ug/L indicating a high degree of uncertainty for a safe regulatory concentration to protect multiple trophic levels. Since copper is an algaecide, the HC5 toxicity is greater than zinc for a community SSD. Future studies of SSDs must incorporate trophic response to phytoplankton toxicants, and trophic levels in toxicant regulation

First record of the sisal weevil, Scyphophorus acupunctatus, in Cyprus

Τον Μάιο του 2013, αριθμός ενηλίκων κολεοπτέρων εντόμων σημειώθηκε εντός φερομονικών παγίδων που είχαν τοποθετηθεί στο έδαφος (pitfall), για την παρακολούθηση των πληθυσμών του ρυγχοφόρου των φοινικοειδών Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) σε διάφορες περιοχές της Κύπρου. Στην συνέχεια το είδος τους ταυτοποιήθηκε στο Μπενάκειο Φυτοπαθολογικό Ινστιτούτο, χρησιμοποιώντας την κλείδα της Vaurie (1971), ως το Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Το είδος S. acupunctatus βρέθηκε για πρώτη φορά στην περιοχή της Γερμασόγειας της επαρχίας Λεμεσού (34o71′81″N, 33ο08′56″E) και στην περιοχή της Κισσόνεργας της επαρχίας Πάφου (34°81′67″N, 32°40′00″E). Κατά τη διάρκεια του 2013 και του πρώτου τριμήνου του 2014, το έντομο βρέθηκε επίσης σε φερομονικές παγίδες του ρυγχοφόρου σε ολόκληρη τη χώρα.In May 2013, numerous adults of a coleopteran insect species that later was identified as the sisal weevil, Scyphophorus acupunctatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), were accidentally captured in both pitfall and funnel traps placed across Cyprus for the monitoring of red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). S. acupunctatus was found for the first time in the Germasogeia area of the Limassol district (34°71′81″N, 33°08′56″E) and in the Kissonerga area of the Paphos district (34°81′67″N, 32°40′00″E). During 2013 and early 2014, numerous adults of this species were also collected from red palm weevil traps from all over Cypru

Editorial: Mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases

A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases represents a major goal in cardiovascular medicine. Mitochondrial dysfunction has emerged as major player in the development of cardiovascular diseases, with potential therapeutic implications. Mitochondrial dysfunction encompasses mitochondrial complex disruption, mitochondrial uncoupling, and cristae remodeling and swelling, which in turn cause ROS accumulation, energy stress, and cell death

Enhancing the VANET Network Layer

The aim of this thesis is to examine existing VANET network layer functionality and to propose enhancements to the VANET network layer to facilitate vehicular (V2X) communication. This thesis proposes three enhancements to the VANET network layer which address many of the issues with V2X communication, these enhancements are: a geographic overlay allowing vehicles to localize themselves; an IPv6 addressing strategy which embeds positional information within an IP address allowing for location based routing; and finally a novel position based routing protocol which has two primary advantages over existing protocols, firstly removing unnecessary overhead information and control communication, and secondly support for multiple types of V2X communication models. The simulation results show that the proposed enhancements are well suited in low and medium vehicular density environments. Based on the observed behaviors the author recommends further modification and study of position based routing protocols