Sex-specific transcriptomic differences in the immune cells of a key Atlantic-Mediterranean sea urchin

The abundance of the black sea urchin, Arbacia lixula, has been increasing during the last decades likely related to global warming. This thermophilous species has a leading role in maintaining marine barrens in the Mediterranean with the consequent negative impact on coastal rocky ecosystems due to its grazing activity. In this study, we used transcriptomic data from coelomocytes (the cell effectors of the immune system) of females and males of this sea urchin to study potential differences in performance between sexes under laboratory conditions. Differential adaptations, responses to environmental stressors, and resistance against pathogens between sexes may lead to different outcomes in the ongoing expansion of this species in the Mediterranean Sea. Differential expression analyses demonstrated the existence of 120 transcripts, corresponding to 119 genes and two isoforms of the same gene, differentially expressed between coelomocytes of females and males, being 73 up-regulated in males and 47 up-regulated in females. The differential expression patterns were retrieved from a diversity of genes that play different roles related to the immune response due to their antibacterial activity, immune cell activation, cell to cell interaction, intracellular signaling, and detoxification functioning, among others. Our results point out a higher energetic demand of male coelomocytes due to a higher immune activity than females, whereas females have more efficient molecular systems to avoid oxidative stress caused by infections. In conclusion, our study provides evidence of sex-based differences in the expression of genes related to the immune and stress responses in coelomocytes of the sea urchin A. lixula

Optimizing preservation protocols to extract high-quality RNA from different tissues of echinoderms for Next Generation Sequencing

Transcriptomic information provides fundamental insights into biological processes. Extraction of quality RNA is a challenging step, and preservation and extraction protocols need to be adjusted in many cases. Our objectives were to optimize preservation protocols for isolation of high‐quality RNA from diverse echinoderm tissues and to compare the utility of parameters as absorbance ratios and RIN values to assess RNA quality. Three different tissues (gonad, oesophagus and coelomocytes) were selected from the sea urchin Arbacia lixula. Solid tissues were flash‐frozen and stored at −80 °C until processed. Four preservation treatments were applied to coelomocytes: flash freezing and storage at −80 °C, RNAlater and storage at −20 °C, preservation in TRIzol reagent and storage at −80 °C and direct extraction with TRIzol from fresh cells. Extractions of total RNA were performed with a modified TRIzol protocol for all tissues. Our results showed high values of RNA quantity and quality for all tissues, showing nonsignificant differences among them. However, while flash freezing was effective for solid tissues, it was inadequate for coelomocytes because of the low quality of the RNA extractions. Coelomocytes preserved in RNAlater displayed large variability in RNA integrity and insufficient RNA amount for further isolation of mRNA. TRIzol was the most efficient system for stabilizing RNA which resulted on high RNA quality and quantity. We did not detect correlation between absorbance ratios and RNA integrity. The best strategies for assessing RNA integrity was the visualization of 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA bands in agarose gels and estimation of RIN values with Agilent Bioanalyzer chips

Health and wellbeing among retired elite athletes: Empirical evidence

Objectives: The implications that sport retirement generates among high-level athletes has led to an increase in scientific investigations which describe the quality of life associated to the athletes´ health. The main objective of the study was to determinate the primary problems faced by retired athletes. Study design: The search was carried out in 2 databases: Scopus and WOS. 47 articles were found, 34 and 13 respectively. Method: The design of this study is a descriptive, non-experimental path cast post ex facto retrospection. Results: The research shows three dominant content trends about the quality of life of retired athletes: First mental health, where depression, stress and identity problems were the most notable variables. Second, physical health related to injuries and pain threshold. Last, the quality of life associated to physical activity and healthy habits. Conclusions: Mental health is a key factor to consider before, during and after the sporting career but also physical health is also another determining concept to consider. Physical activity is also a key concept in the lives of retired athletes

Analysis of the internal logic of breaking using temporal and sequential parameters

Quantifying the effort of a sport confrontation by determining its temporal structure concerns the scientific community. It has not yet been studied in breaking. The objective was to determine the temporal and sequential structure of men and women breakers. All of the men and women dancers participated in Red Bull BC One 2018 and 2019 (32 women and 32 men). Through observational methodology, we analysed all of the battles (n = 60). In order to obtain the results, we utilised different analytical techniques: descriptive, One-Factor ANOVA, independent sample t-test, effect size and T-Patterns analysis. The level of significance established for the study was ρ ≤ 0.05. The results defined a temporal and sequential structure of the battles of the men and women. Using these results, the breaking professionals would be able to develop precise and adequate training for these athletes. We concluded that there are clear differences between the B-Boys’ and B-Girls’ battles. The men have longer battles, and they use explosive and dynamic movement patterns (Power Move) that lead to shorter and more intense rounds. The women have longer rounds, using patterns with artistic and rhythmic movements (Footwork, Top Rock and Freeze) that lead to less intense outputs, but nevertheless, longer

Stable populations in unstable habitats: temporal genetic structure of the introduced ascidian Styela plicata in North Carolina

14 páginas, 3 tablas, 4 figuras.The analysis of temporal genetic variability is an essential yet largely neglected tool to unveil and predict the dynamics of introduced species. We here describe the temporal genetic structure and diversity over time of an introduced population of the ascidian Styela plicata (Lesueur, 1823) in Wilmington (North Carolina, USA, 34°08′24″N, 77°51′44″W). This population suffers important salinity and temperature changes, and in June every year we observed massive die-offs, leaving free substratum that was recolonized within a month. We sampled 12–14 individuals of S. plicata every 2 months from 2007 to 2009 (N = 196) and analyzed a mitochondrial marker (the gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I, COI) and seven nuclear microsatellites. Population genetic analyses showed similar results for both types of markers and revealed that most of the genetic variation was found within time periods. However, analyses conducted with microsatellite loci also showed weak but significant differences among time periods. Specifically, in the samplings after die-off episodes (August–November 2007 and 2008) the genetic diversity increased, the inbreeding coefficient showed prominent drops, and there was a net gain of alleles in the microsatellite loci. Taken together, our results suggest that recruits arriving from neighboring populations quickly occupied the newly available space, bringing new alleles with them. However, other shifts in genetic diversity and allele loss and gain episodes were observed in December–January and February–March 2008, respectively, and were apparently independent of die-off events. Overall, our results indicate that the investigated population is stable over time and relies on a periodic arrival of larvae from other populations, maintaining high genetic diversity and a complex interplay of allele gains and losses.This research was supported by a grant from the United States–Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF), Jerusalem, Israel (number 2014025), the Spanish Government project CTM2013—48163—and the Catalan Government Grant 2014SGR-336 for Consolidated Research Groups.Peer reviewe

Low genetic diversity and recent demographic expansion in the red starfish Echinaster sepositus (Retzius 1816)

16 páginas, 5 tablas, 7 figuras.Understanding the phylogeography and genetic structure of populations and the processes responsible of patterns therein is crucial for evaluating the vulnerability of marine species and developing management strategies. In this study, we explore how past climatic events and ongoing oceanographic and demographic processes have shaped the genetic structure and diversity of the Atlanto- Mediterranean red starfish Echinaster sepositus. The species is relatively abundant in some areas of the Mediterranean Sea, but some populations have dramatically decreased over recent years due to direct extraction for ornamental aquariums and souvenir industries. Analyses across most of the distribution range of the species based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene and eight microsatellite loci revealed very low intraspecific genetic diversity. The species showed a weak genetic structure within marine basins despite the a priori low dispersal potential of its lecithotrophic larva. Our results also revealed a very recent demographic expansion across the distribution range of the species. The genetic data presented here indicate that the species might be highly vulnerable, due to its low intraspecific genetic diversity.This study was supported by a FPI-MICINN PhD fellowship (BES-2011-044154) to AGC, a ‘Juan de la Cierva’ contract from the Spanish Government to RPP, and the Spanish government research projects BENTHOMICS (CTM2010-22218-C02-) and CHALLENGEN (CTM2103-48163). This paper is a contribution of the Consolidated Research Group 2009SRG665 supported by the Generalitat de Catalunya.Peer reviewe

Connectivity of the Pulley Ridge with remote locations as inferred from satellite- tracked drifter trajectories

Using historical (1994-2017) satellite‐tracked surface drifter trajectory data, we conduct a probabilistic Lagrangian circulation study which sheds light on the connectivity of Pulley Ridge with other locations in the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent areas. The analysis reveals that Pulley Ridge is connected with the North Atlantic, the Caribbean Sea, and most of the Gulf of Mexico. Preferred connecting pathways are identified and arrival times to potential reef sites computed. The study demonstrates the importance of Pulley Ridge as a source for neighboring regions like the Dry Tortugasa, the Florida Keys, Campeche Bank, and the east Florida coast as well as a self‐recruitment area for species with short competence time. The study further suggests that the reefs in the Caribbean Sea, the Dry Tortugas, the western Florida Keys, and the West Florida Shelf can act as sources for Pulley Ridge, indicating the importance of Pulley Ridge as a central refugium for species in the Gulf of Mexico

El género Evax Gaertn. (Compositae) en Galicia (España)

Se presenta una revisión del género Evax en Galicia. Se aporta la descripción de los táxones presentes y una clave para diferenciarlos. Se realiza un estudio biométrico de los aquenios de Evax pygmaea para diferenciar las subespecies. Se incluyen fotografías de sus aquenios y mapas de distribución en el área estudiada. Las poblaciones de E. pygmaea en Galicia son fundamentalmente costeras y se adscriben a la subsp. ramosissima mientras que E. lasiocarpa parece acantonarse en las montañas del SE de la región. Se reivindica la prioridad del nombre E. lasiocarpa Lange ex Cutanda sobre E. carpetana Lange.This is a revision of the genus Evax in Galicia. It is provided a description of the taxa in the region and a key to differentiate them. It becomes a study of biometric achenes of Evax pygmaea to differentiate subspecies. It includes photographs of their achenes and maps of their distribution in the study area. The populations of E. pygmaea in Galicia are mainly coastal and belong to the subsp. ramosissima while E. lasiocarpa seems to be located in the mountains of SE in the region. It claims the priority of the name E. lasiocarpa Lange ex Cutanda on E. carpetana Lange

Digging the diversity of Iberian bait worms Marphysa (Annelida, Eunicidae)

During a visit to polychaete-rearing facilities in the vicinity of Bay of Cádiz (SW Iberian Peninsula, Atlantic Ocean), we sampled two populations of Marphysa (Annelida, Eunicidae) originally occurring at nearby intertidal soft bottoms, one being more than twice as long as the other at the same age. We analysed them using partial sequences of two mitochondrial genes, 16S rDNA and Cytochrome Oxidase I, and classical morphological observations. Our molecular results confirmed that the two populations corresponded to two different species, with PTP species delimitation values ranging from 0.973 (long-bodied species) to 0.999 (short-bodied species). Morphologically, the short-bodied species resembles the recently redescribed M. sanguinea (Montagu, 1813), but differs mainly in having some parapodia with two subacicular hooks (one bidentate and one unidentate) and three types of pectinate chaetae, Two isodont present all along the body, and one particularly large anodont asymmetric appearing only from mid-posterior parapodia. The long-bodied species resembles Marphysa aegypti Elgetany, El-Ghobashy, Ghoneim and Struck, 2018 both in size and in having very robust, unidentate subacicular hooks (single in most parapodia, two-both similar in size and form-in some posterior parapodia), but differs, among other features, in the maxillary formula, the number of acicula per parapodia and the number and shape of pectinate chaetae. Accordingly, we are here fully illustrating and formally describing the two Iberian populations as Marphysa gaditana sp. nov. (short-bodied) and Marphysa chirigota sp. nov. (long-bodied) and we are emending the description of M. aegypti based on our revision of the type material. Also, we discuss on the distribution of the species of the sanguinea-group and on the relevancy of taxonomically robust studies when dealing with species of commercial interest having the potential of being globally spread through human activities, as well as on the misunderstandings caused by the incorrect use of the "cosmopolitan species" concept.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Digging the diversity of Iberian bait worms Marphysa (Annelida, Eunicidae).

During a visit to polychaete-rearing facilities in the vicinity of Bay of Ca´diz (SW Iberian Peninsula, Atlantic Ocean), we sampled two populations of Marphysa (Annelida, Eunicidae) originally occurring at nearby intertidal soft bottoms, one being more than twice as long as the other at the same age. We analysed them using partial sequences of two mitochondrial genes, 16S rDNA and Cytochrome Oxidase I, and classical morphological observations. Our molecular results confirmed that the two populations corresponded to two different species, with PTP species delimitation values ranging from 0.973 (long-bodied species) to 0.999 (short-bodied species). Morphologically, the short-bodied species resembles the recently redescribed M. sanguinea (Montagu, 1813), but differs mainly in having some parapodia with two subacicular hooks (one bidentate and one unidentate) and three types of pectinate chaetae, Two isodont present all along the body, and one particularly large anodont asymmetric appearing only from mid-posterior parapodia. The long-bodied species resembles Marphysa aegypti Elgetany, El-Ghobashy, Ghoneim and Struck, 2018 both in size and in having very robust, unidentate subacicular hooks (single in most parapodia, two-both similar in size and form-in some posterior parapodia), but differs, among other features, in the maxillary formula, the number of acicula per parapodia and the number and shape of pectinate chaetae. Accordingly, we are here fully illustrating and formally describing the two Iberian populations as Marphysa gaditana sp. nov. (short-bodied) and Marphysa chirigota sp. nov. (long-bodied) and we are emending the description of M. aegypti based on our revision of the type material. Also, we discuss on the distribution of the species of the sanguinea-group and on the relevancy of taxonomically robust studies when dealing with species of commercial interest having the potential of being globally spread through human activities, as well as on the misunderstandings caused by the incorrect use of the "cosmopolitan species" concept