Resolving taxonomic uncertainty in vulnerable elasmobranchs : are the Madeira skate (Raja maderensis) and the thornback ray (Raja clavata) distinct species?

Skates and rays constitute the most speciose group of chondrichthyan fishes, yet are characterised by remarkable levels of morphological and ecological conservatism. They can be challenging to identify, which makes monitoring species compositions for fisheries management purposes problematic. Owing to their slow growth and low fecundity, skates are vulnerable to exploitation and species exhibiting endemism or limited ranges are considered to be the most at risk. The Madeira skate Raja maderensis is endemic and classified as ‘Data Deficient’ by the IUCN, yet its taxonomic distinctiveness from the morphologically similar and more wide-ranging thornback ray Raja clavate is unresolved. This study evaluated the sequence divergence of both the variable control region and cytochrome oxidase I ‘DNA barcode’ gene of the mitochondrial genome to elucidate the genetic differentiation of specimens identified as R. maderensis and R. clavate collected across much of their geographic ranges. Genetic evidence was insufficient to support the different species designations. However regardless of putative species identification, individuals occupying waters around the Azores and North African Seamounts represent an evolutionarily significant unit worthy of special consideration for conservation management

Dry mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion of vegetable wastes with animal manures using leach bed reactor

Anaerobic digestion is an environmentally sustainable technology for converting a variety of organic solid feedstocks to energy in the form of methane. To improve methane yield, the digestion of more than one waste is commonly applied. This study aimed to investigate the dry anaerobic co-digestion (TS of 20%) of vegetable wastes (VW) and animal manures (cow manure (CM) and poultry manure (PM)) through conducting biochemical methane potential (BMP) assays at different substrate to inoculum (S/I) ratio. Fractionation and fluorescence analyses showed that organic matter of VW was less accessible and less complex compared to that of CM and PM. The highest methane yields of mono-digestion experiments were registered with S/I 0.5. Best results of methane yield were observed by the co-digestion of VW and CM (284�mL/g VS), which was about 2.3-fold higher than that of VW mono-fermentation. This finding was confirmed at a laboratory-scale leach bed reactor. Result showed an increase of biogas yield from 220 to 445�mL/g VS, during mono and co-digestion, respectively. The co-digestion of VW and CM mixture led to the enhancement of both methane yield and digestate quality in comparison to mono-digestion. 2021, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.This research was supported by ERANETMED project (01 DH 17060) BIOGASMENA: Demonstration of biogas technology for rural communities in the Mena region.Scopu

A case of hermaphroditism in Tortonese’s stingray, Dasyatis tortonesei (Elasmobranchii: Rajiformes: Dasyatidae) from the lagoon of Bizerte, Tunisia

A normal hermaphrodite Tortonese’s stingray, Dasyatis tortonesei Capapé, 1975, captured in the brackish Lagoon of Bizerte (north-eastern Tunisia) is described in this note. It was a large specimen measuring 685 mm total length, 350 mm disk width, and 2190 g of the total body mass. The specimen externally presented medial cuspidate tooth rows on both jaws, and two claspers were present, that were rigid and calcified although shorter than those observed in normal specimens. The dissection of the abdominal cavity revealed on each side, an ovary normally developed that contained yolked oocytes, a complete genital tract and an uterus less developed than in normal adult. Conversely the testes were rudimentary, both Leydig’s glands were developed and a complete, slightly convoluted, male duct existed on the left side only. In all, 13 cases of normal (4) and abnormal (9) hermaphroditism, including the Tunisian D. tortonesei, have been found in batoid species, to date, confirming that the phenomenon is very rare among these chondrichthyan fishes

Preparation of chitosan gel

Aerogel conditioning of the chitosan makes it possible to prepare porous solids of significant specific surface. The increase in the chitosan concentration or the degree of acetylation decreases the specific surface of the synthesized chitosan gel. Whereas drying with supercritical CO2 more effectively makes it possible to preserve the volume of the spheres of gel and to have a more significant specific surface in comparison with evaporative drying

Study of interaction between chitosan and active carbon in view of optimising composite gels devoted to heal injuries

In order to develop biomaterials useful in reconstructive surgery, mechanism of adsorption of chitosan onto activated carbon has been investigated. Activated carbons have been characterised using SEM, NH3 adsorption and 129Xe NMR spectroscopy. Adsorption of chitosan on activated carbon in acid aqueous solution increases when the degree of acetylation of chitosan decreases. Sterilization does not modify the adsorption capacity of the studied sample of activated carbon