Isolation and Characterization of Endophytic Fungi from Medicinal Plant Warburgia ugandensis

The aim of this study was to isolate fungal endophytes from medicinal plant Warburgia ugandensis and determine antimicrobial activity of their metabolites on three human pathogens; (Candida albicans 90018, E coli 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus 29213). Seventeen (17) endophytic fungi were isolated and identified as; Nigrospora oryzae, Aspergillus flavus, Cladosporium sp. (2), Fusarium Oxysporum, Phomopsis sp.(2), Colletotrichum acutatum, Altanaria sp. (2), Cochliobolus sativus, Bionectria ochroleuca, Phyllosticta gardeniicola, Guignardia mangiferae, Tricharina gilva, Diaporthe amygdali and Trichoderma harzianum. Phytochemical screening of their metabolites showed absence of phenols and alkaloids; presence of saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols and glycosides in most of the extracts. Most of the fungal endophytes didn’t seem to have active metabolites after screening for presence of antimicrobial activities. Extracts from Phomopsis mali, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium oxysporum had minimum antimicrobial activity. The study showed that fungal endophytes can be a potential source of metabolites which can be useful in pharmaceutical industry. Key words: Fungal endophytes, Warburgia ugandensis, phytochemicals, active metabolites, antimicrobial activit

Size-dependent distribution and feeding habits of Terebralia palustris in mangrove habitats of Gazi

Abstract The gastropod Terebralia palustris often dominates the surface of muddy to sandy substrates of intertidal mudflats and mangrove forests, where they clearly destabilize the sediment. In the present study, it was investigated whether and to what extent the behaviour of juvenile and adult snails differs among habitats (mudflat vs. mangrove stand) in a Sonneratia alba mangal at Gazi Bay, Kenya. For this purpose we: (1) examined their distribution along three landesea transects; and (2) applied stable isotope analysis to determine the feeding patterns of different-sized snails from the mangrove and mudflat habitats. Additionally, we investigated if these gastropods exert an impact on microphytobenthic (diatom) biomass, and whether this is size-dependent. The latter objective was met by either enclosing or excluding different-sized snails from experimental cages on the intertidal mudflat and the subsequent assessment of a change in pigment concentration of the sediment surface. In agreement with several previous studies conducted in other mangroves and geographical locations, a spatial segregation was demonstrated between juveniles (more common on the mudflat) and adults (more common in the mangrove forest). On the intertidal mudflat juveniles avoided sediment patches characterized by highly saline water in intertidal pools and a high mud content, while adults tended to dwell on substrates covered by a high amount of leaf litter. Stable carbon isotope analysis of the foot tissue of snails sampled from the S. alba stand and the mudflat indicated a transition in food source when a shell length of 51 mm is reached. Considering the d 13 C value of juveniles, it seems they might be selecting for microphytobenthos, which might explain their preference for the mudflat. The diet of size classes found in both habitats did not differ significantly, although juveniles inhabiting the mangrove forest were slightly more depleted in 13 C compared to those residing on the mudflat. Assuming juveniles feed on benthic microalgae and considering the lower microalgal biomass inside the mangrove forest, this may be a consequence of a higher contribution of other, more 13 C depleted organic carbon sources, like phytoplankton, to their diet. Experimental results indicate a negative, but insignificant, impact on benthic diatom biomass by juveniles (due to grazing) and adults (due to physical disturbance). This finding seems to be in agreement with the results of the stable carbon isotope analysis, strongly suggesting the selective feeding of juvenile T. palustris on benthic diatoms

A blueprint for an inclusive, global deep-sea Ocean Decade field programme

The ocean plays a crucial role in the functioning of the Earth System and in the provision of vital goods and services. The United Nations (UN) declared 2021–2030 as the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The Roadmap for the Ocean Decade aims to achieve six critical societal outcomes (SOs) by 2030, through the pursuit of four objectives (Os). It specifically recognizes the scarcity of biological data for deep-sea biomes, and challenges the global scientific community to conduct research to advance understanding of deep-sea ecosystems to inform sustainable management. In this paper, we map four key scientific questions identified by the academic community to the Ocean Decade SOs: (i) What is the diversity of life in the deep ocean? (ii) How are populations and habitats connected? (iii) What is the role of living organisms in ecosystem function and service provision? and (iv) How do species, communities, and ecosystems respond to disturbance? We then consider the design of a global-scale program to address these questions by reviewing key drivers of ecological pattern and process. We recommend using the following criteria to stratify a global survey design: biogeographic region, depth, horizontal distance, substrate type, high and low climate hazard, fished/unfished, near/far from sources of pollution, licensed/protected from industry activities. We consider both spatial and temporal surveys, and emphasize new biological data collection that prioritizes southern and polar latitudes, deeper (> 2000 m) depths, and midwater environments. We provide guidance on observational, experimental, and monitoring needs for different benthic and pelagic ecosystems. We then review recent efforts to standardize biological data and specimen collection and archiving, making “sampling design to knowledge application” recommendations in the context of a new global program. We also review and comment on needs, and recommend actions, to develop capacity in deep-sea research; and the role of inclusivity - from accessing indigenous and local knowledge to the sharing of technologies - as part of such a global program. We discuss the concept of a new global deep-sea biological research program ‘Challenger 150,’ highlighting what it could deliver for the Ocean Decade and UN Sustainable Development Goal 14

Psammonema waweri sp. n. (Nematoda: Desmodoridae), a brood protecting free-living marine nematode from the Continental Shelf and slope sediments along the Kenyan Coast

Psammonema waweri is the third species in the recently described genus Psammonema, (Verschelde & Vincx, 1995) after the type species P. ovisetosum and P. kuriani ( Jacob et al., 2015). It is characterized by large loop-shaped amphids that overlap both the anterior and posterior part of the cephalic capsule, a lateral alae that begins posterior of the pharyngeal region, and two types of body setae (long thin setae that are extra long at the mid body in females, and short ones). Psammonema. waweri differs from P. ovisetosum in the lateral alae that begins at the pharyngeal in the latter, and posterior of the pharyngeal region, in the former species, in the male amphids which are a closed loop in P. waweri and an open-loop in P. ovisetosum. The female of the species protects the developing eggs by attaching them to the ventral mid body anterior and posterior of the vulval region, while in P. ovisetosum eggs are attached only at the anterior region of the vulva Thus, theavulva tends to be more anterior (still > 50 % of body length) in P. waweri than in P. ovisetosum. Amended diagnosis of the genus Psammonema is also provided in this paper.

Papillonema danieli gen. et sp.n. and Papillonema clavatum (Gerlach, 1957) comb.n. (Nematoda, Desmodoridae) from the Ceriops mangrove sediments of Gazi Bay, Kenya

A new genus, Papillonema gen.n., is erected to accomodate the two species P. danieli gen. et sp.n. and P. clavatum (Gerlach, 1957) comb.n. from intertidal sediments of a tropical mangrove. Papilionema gen.n. is characterized by prominent papilliform labial sensillae, an elongate muscular terminal bulb (up to 60% of pharyngeal length), and three precloacal supplements. Comments are given on the use of the terms 'head capsule', 'head region', and 'cervical setae'

The mangrove forests as nursery habitats for the ichthyofauna of Mida Creek (Kenya, East Africa)

This study investigated the presumed nursery function of mangroves for the ichthyofauna in East African swamp forests, Mida Creek. The species and size composition of the fish fauna and their trophic interactions were studied for five stations. Samples were collected during 5-6 consecutive days close to spring tide in mid-July 2011. Fish were caught using different types of passive fishing gear, such as large and small fyke nets, gill nets and, additionally, beach seines. All individuals were identified to species level, measured and preserved for further analyses. Stomach content analysis was applied to provide information about their diet. Stable isotope analysis was used to detect whether the source of primary production for the higher trophic levels is mangrove-related or not. A total of 27 fish species was recorded in a catch of 938 teleost specimens. Our analyses showed that a majority of fish belonged to the zoobenthivorous/omnivorous trophic mode, since they were partially feeding on invertebrates and on various other food sources. Two species (Sphyraena barracuda and Synodus variegatus) exhibited a mixed diet, with a piscivorous preference. Results concerning the population structure suggested that the fish community of Mida mainly consists of transient species. Juveniles were numerically more abundant in the whole Creek than adults. These findings support the hypothesis of a nursery function of the mangrove forests, Mida Creek

New Desmodoridae (Nematoda: Desmodoroidea) : three new species from Ceriops mangrove sediments (Kenya) and one related new species from the North Sea

Three new species of nematodes (Chromaspirina okemwai sp.n., Pseudochromadora interdigitatum sp, n. and Eubostrichus africanus sp. n.) from Ceriops mangrove sediments and one new species (Eubostrichus longosetosus sp. n.) from the North Sea, along the Belgian coast, are described. Chromaspirina okemwai is characterized by four cephalic sensillae and unispiral amphids; Pseudochromadora interdigitatum has unique lateral alae where body annules split into two, three or four smaller ones. Eubostrichus africanus has short (6 mu m) cephalic and subcervical setae and five pairs of strong broad based setae at the tail region; Eubostrichus longosetosus has long (14 mu m) cephalic and subcervical setae, three pairs of strong setae on the tail and two fine ones at the tail tip. Eubostrichus parasitiferus as described by Hopper and Cefalu (1973) is given a new name, E. hopperi sp. n. A revision of the genus Chromaspirina and Pseudochromadora is also included