Molecular characterization of the diet of the planktonic community in Málaga Bay (NW Alboran Sea)

The seasonal changes in structure and functioning of the pelagic trophic web in Málaga Bay (NW Alboran Sea) are related to the annual hydrological cycle. However, time series analyses have shown that the relationship between interannual hydrological variability and the plankton community composition is weak. This might be due to different human-induced pressures (nutrient pollution, coastal fisheries) acting on different compartments of the trophic web. The net effect of all these factors would depend on how the ecosystem channels changes in the composition and abundance of each trophic level. Interactions of phytoplankton-ciliates-zooplankton might have a central role in the regulation of the trophic web in Málaga Bay, although the trophic relations of the dominant groups remain still undefined. In order to identify the dominant trophic relationships we aimed to characterise the diet of key ichthyo- and mesozooplankton species in the field. Given that gut content preys (phyto- and microplankton) are fragile and not easy to identify visually, we developed species-specific molecular markers to detect their presence/absence within the predators gut

Deciphering the impact of uncertainty on the accuracy of large wildfire spread simulations

Predicting wildfire spread is a challenging task fraught with uncertainties. ‘Perfect’ predictions are unfeasible since uncertainties will always be present. Improving fire spread predictions is important to reduce its negative environmental impacts. Here, we propose to understand, characterize, and quantify the impact of uncertainty in the accuracy of fire spread predictions for very large wildfires. We frame this work from the perspective of the major problems commonly faced by fire model users, namely the necessity of accounting for uncertainty in input data to produce reliable and useful fire spread predictions. Uncertainty in input variables was propagated throughout the modeling framework and its impact was evaluated by estimating the spatial discrepancy between simulated and satellite-observed fire progression data, for eight very large wildfires in Portugal. Results showed that uncertainties in wind speed and direction, fuel model assignment and typology, location and timing of ignitions, had a major impact on prediction accuracy.We argue that uncertainties in these variables should be integrated in future fire spread simulation approaches, and provide the necessary data for any firemodel user to do soinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Optimized microwave digestion procedure for cadmium analysis of mussel samples

A simple and rapid acid sample digestion method by microwave heating in high pressure teflon bombs is reported for the determination of cadmium in mussels by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) coupled on-line with a flow-injection preconcentration system. Tests concerning the digestion time, the power of the microwaves and the amount of nitric acid were studied with the National Research Council of Canada lobster hepatopancreas marine (Tort-1) as certified reference material. Using 2 min of digestion time and 2 mL of nitric acid, the complete dissolution of 0.2 g of freeze dried sample is possible. The analytical results, obtained with calibration graph as well as by the standard addition method, were agreed well with the certified value of the reference material. This procedure was applied to the determination of cadmium in mussel samples from estuaries in Galicia, Spain

Molecular identification of the zooplanktonic diet of Sardina pilchardus larvae in the SW Mediterranean Sea

Zooplankton are the main prey for small pelagic fishes. The most common small pelagic fish species in the Alboran Sea (SW Mediterranean Sea) is the European sardine (Sardina pilchardus). Despite its commercial importance in the region, little is known about its larval trophodynamics and the role that zooplankton play in their recruitment success. Microscopic characterization of the larval gut contents is challenging as they prey mostly on partly digested microplanktonic organisms. Several molecular tools have been developed that may overcome this caveat. The gut content of sardine larvae (6 - 21 mm standard length) collected over a diel cycle in the Northern Alboran Sea was analyzed by mitochondrial COI metabarcoding, and compared with the field zooplankton community composition. Diel variability was observed in zooplankton relative abundances, both in the larval gut contents and in the field. Sardine larvae preys included several copepod nauplii, but also DNA of cladocera, euphausiid, gastropod and hydrozoa was detected, suggesting an opportunistic foraging behavior, instead of a selective diet.Consejería de Economía, Innovación y Ciencia de la Junta de Andalucía; Unión Europea, Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (P20_00743

Assessment of short-term spatio-temporal variability in the structure of mesozooplankton communities integrating microscopy and multigene high-throughput sequencing

Variability in composition and structure of the mesozooplankton communities in the Bay of Malaga (SW Mediterranean) were characterized during a 26 h cycle using an integrative taxonomic approach. We combined microscopic identification of organisms, with metabarcoding for the genes of the mitochondrial DNA COI and the V9 hypervariable region of the ribosomal RNA 18S. Richness and diversity obtained by microscopy were higher than those measured with COI, as COI did not detect some phyla. COI however allowed for the identification to species level of several taxa that were left at higher taxonomic rank under the microscope. 18S detected a wider range of taxa than COI and microscopy, although with lower taxonomic resolution. Differences between coastal-night and shelf-day zooplankton communities structure were detected by both microscopy and metabarcoding. The combination of these two approaches increased the known copepod species in the SW Mediterranean Sea by 9%. An integrative approach combining morphology and COI metabarcoding is proposed to further facilitate mesozooplankton biodiversity studies.Versión del editor2,24

Vida y obra de Ramón Carciner

Rendir un homenaje a la vida y obra de Ramón Carciner. Con el se pretende: valorar su trayectoria humana; dar a conocer su copiosa, intensa, completa y variada obra literaria que abarca el ensayo, los cuentos, las novelas, la investigación, la docencia universitaria y los libros de viaje; establecer desde el Instituto de Estudios Bercianos pautas de reflexión, de recapacitación y de revisión serena y desapasionada de la cultura y tradición asturiana; y proclamar que el Instituto de Estudios Bercianos admira la obra y la independencia de Carciner. Vida y obra de Ramón Carciner. Se analizan diversos aspectos: su biografía, sus rasgos humanos y personales a través de sus obras, su alejamiento de regionalismos y nacionalismos, sus primeros artículos en la revista Laye, su literatura de viajes, sus paisajes históricos, sus obras sobre el lenguaje, y el modo costumbrista y la voluntad crítica en su escritura. Se realizan comentarios a algunas obras concretas. Su obra permanece al margen de localismos y provincianismos, quedando también alejada de regionalismos y nacionalismos. Sus primeros artículos periodísticos los publicó en la revista Laye, donde destacaron su actitud crítica, su sentido del humor, el predominio del tema de España y sus gentes, sus modelos escogidos por su categoría humana (Unamuno, Ortega y Baroja) y la búsqueda y defensa de lo auténtico, de lo genuino. Sus libros sobre el lenguaje presentan unas características singulares: están tratados con amenidad, en tono didáctico pero sin petulancias, y salpicados con humor e ironía e incluso con sarcasmo. Escribió sobre los siguientes temas: usos y abusos del lenguaje, su origen y evolución, sociolingüística, influencias foráneas versus préstamos lingüísticos, pronunciación, necios, pedantes y/o snobs. Sus libros de viajes se enmarcan dentro del realismo social y cumplen los cinco rasgos comunes característicos de los libros de viaje de esta corriente: recorrido por la región, propósito testimonial e intención crítica, veracidad y realidad precisa, pintoresquismo y estilo propio. Su obra 'Las Américas peninsulares', es la prueba de que Carciner es un intelectual con dimensión de historia.AsturiasES