Unanticipated population structure of European grayling in its northern distribution: implications for conservation prioritization

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The European grayling (<it>Thymallus thymallus</it>) is a salmonid fish native to Europe, with a distribution ranging from England and France to the Ural Mountains of north-western Russia. The majority of grayling populations inhabit freshwater rivers and lakes but some populations also occupy brackish water in northern parts of the Baltic Sea. Previous population genetic studies have demonstrated that grayling populations in Finland, Estonia and Russia belong to a single mitochondrial lineage and exhibit high levels of differentiation even at a small geographic scale. As a result, we predicted that grayling populations should not cluster regionally. Despite the extensive amount of genetic research that has been carried out on grayling, comprehensive national-level information on population structure of grayling in Northern Europe is still lacking. Yet this is the level at which populations are currently managed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found unanticipated population structure of grayling clustering into three groups largely corresponding to the northern, Baltic and south-eastern geographic areas of Finland using 13 microsatellite loci. We also found a high level of genetic differentiation among the groups and moderate to high differentiation within the groups. This combined with low variability strongly indicates that genetic drift and limited migration have a major impact on grayling population structure. An allele size permutation test indicated that mutations at microsatellite loci have not significantly contributed to genetic differentiation among the three Finnish groups. However, at the European scale, mutations had significantly contributed to population differentiation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This research provides novel genetic information on European grayling in its northern distribution range and has clear implications for supporting country-scale conservation efforts. Specifically, the strong between population divergence observed indicates that single populations should generally be recognized as separate management units. We also introduced an alternative prioritization strategy for population conservation based on the evaluation of the relative roles of different evolutionary forces shaping the gene pools. We envision that the proposed approach to categorize populations for conservation will be a useful tool for wildlife researchers and conservationists working on a diverse range of organisms.</p

Effects of multiple targeted repelling measures on the behaviour of individually tracked birds in an area of increasing human–wildlife conflict

1. Some animal populations are rapidly increasing in numbers and expanding their ranges, leading to intensified human–wildlife conflicts. A wide range of tools has been developed to repel animals from areas where they are suspected to cause damage. For waterfowl, direct comparisons of multiple repelling methods have so far focused only on species´ presence, total numbers, cost effectiveness or subsequent damage assessments, but not on individual behaviour. 2. Here, we investigated the individual responses of free-flying geese to three repelling methods using high-resolution tracking data. In an experimental setup, tracked individuals were repelled by human approach, gunshot sound or handheld lasers. 3. We found that repelling success and return time to the field where the repelling took place increased when individuals were repelled multiple times. Travel distances after the repelling events were longer after human approach and gunshot sound compared to the handheld laser treatments. In spring, the probability to return to the same field was higher after repelling with handheld lasers, but no difference between treatments was evident in autumn. We observed no increase in the probability to visit accommodation fields, where geese were allowed to forage and were not repelled, after the repelling events. 4. Synthesis and applications. We found no strong differences between the three methods regarding the repelling effectiveness and the resulting behaviour of the tracked geese. However, the higher return rates of individuals after repelling with handheld lasers in spring suggest that this method might be less effective in situations with bright sunlight or very large aggregations of geese. Apart from these limitations, we can recommend handheld lasers for repelling as they might reduce energetic losses for the geese and disturbance of non-target wildlife. Since repelling by gunshot sound and handheld lasers was twice as fast as repelling by human approach, those methods will reduce working hours by 50% and therefore be more cost-effective in practice

Solar System Objects in the ISOPHOT 170 micron Serendipity Survey

The ISOPHOT Serendipity Survey (ISOSS) covered approximately 15 % of the sky at a wavelength of 170 micron while the ISO satellite was slewing from one target to the next. By chance ISOSS slews went over many solar system objects (SSOs). We identified the comets, asteroids and planets in the slews through a fast and effective search procedure based on N-body ephemeris and flux estimates. The detections were analysed from a calibration and scientific point of view. Through the measurements of the well-known asteroids Ceres, Pallas, Juno and Vesta and the planets Uranus and Neptune it was possible to improve the photometric calibration of ISOSS and to extend it to higher flux regimes. We were also able to establish calibration schemes for the important slew end data. For the other asteroids we derived radiometric diameters and albedos through a recent thermophysical model. The scientific results are discussed in the context of our current knowledge of size, shape and albedos, derived from IRAS observations, occultation measurements and lightcurve inversion techniques. In all cases where IRAS observations were available we confirm the derived diameters and albedos. For the five asteroids without IRAS detections only one was clearly detected and the radiometric results agreed with sizes given by occultation and HST observations. Four different comets have clearly been detected at 170 micron and two have marginal detections. The observational results are presented to be used by thermal comet models in the future. The nine ISOSS slews over Hale-Bopp revealed extended and asymmetric structures related to the dust tail. We attribute the enhanced emission in post-perihelion observations to large particles around the nucleus. The signal patterns are indicative of a concentration of the particles in trail direction.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, 6 tables; Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Effects of multiple targeted repelling measures on the behaviour of individually tracked birds in an area of increasing human-wildlife conflict

1. Some animal populations are rapidly increasing in numbers and expanding their ranges, leading to intensified human-wildlife conflicts. A wide range of tools has been developed to repel animals from areas where they are suspected to cause damage. For waterfowl, direct comparisons of multiple repelling methods have so far focused only on species ' presence, total numbers, cost effectiveness or subsequent damage assessments, but not on individual behaviour. 2. Here, we investigated the individual responses of free-flying geese to three repelling methods using high-resolution tracking data. In an experimental setup, tracked individuals were repelled by human approach, gunshot sound or handheld lasers. 3. We found that repelling success and return time to the field where the repelling took place increased when individuals were repelled multiple times. Travel distances after the repelling events were longer after human approach and gunshot sound compared to the handheld laser treatments. In spring, the probability to return to the same field was higher after repelling with handheld lasers, but no difference between treatments was evident in autumn. We observed no increase in the probability to visit accommodation fields, where geese were allowed to forage and were not repelled, after the repelling events. 4. Synthesis and applications. We found no strong differences between the three methods regarding the repelling effectiveness and the resulting behaviour of the tracked geese. However, the higher return rates of individuals after repelling with handheld lasers in spring suggest that this method might be less effective in situations with bright sunlight or very large aggregations of geese. Apart from these limitations, we can recommend handheld lasers for repelling as they might reduce energetic losses for the geese and disturbance of non-target wildlife. Since repelling by gunshot sound and handheld lasers was twice as fast as repelling by human approach, those methods will reduce working hours by 50% and therefore be more cost-effective in practice.</p

Heinäveden reitillä merkittyjen taimenten ja järvilohien vaellukset, kasvu ja pyynti vuosina 2009–2022

Taimenen ja järvilohen vaellusten pituutta ja suuntaa, pyyntikokoa, kasvua ja pyyntimenetelmiä selvitettiin pyydystämällä vesistöistä 501 taimenta ja 30 järvilohta ja merkitsemällä ne t-ankkurimerkeillä Heinäveden reitillä Vuoksen päävesistöalueella vuosina 2009–2019. Kalat pyydystettiin merkintään virtavesiltä vapavälineillä ja verkolla ja järviltä vapavälineillä. Taimenten merkintäpituuden keskiarvo ja vaihteluväli olivat 40 ja 15–79 cm ja järvilohen vastaavasti 54 ja 20–88 cm. Taimenista arviolta 50–90 % oli luonnossa syntyneitä, järvilohista mahdollisesti muutama. Lisäksi Heinäveden koskiin istutettiin 1821 ankkurimerkittyä 2-vuotiasta taimenta vuosina 2012–2017 ja Kermajärvelle 727 ankkurimerkittyä 2-vuotiasta järvilohta vuonna 2012. Tulokset perustuvat vapaa-ajankalastajilta saatuihin merkkipalautuksiin ja -havaintoihin. Virtavesillä merkityistä 487 taimenesta saatiin 66 palautusta merkintävirtavesiltä ennen kalojen mahdollista järvivaellusta, 16 palautusta järviltä, 7 palautusta toisesta koskesta järven toiselta puolelta ylä- tai alavirrasta sekä 8 palautusta merkintäkoskista mahdollisesti järvivaelluksen tehneinä. Järvillä merkityt 14 taimenta tuottivat 4 palautusta järviltä ja 1 palautuksen koskilta. Merkityistä istukkaista saapui vain 14 palautusta. Järvilohista saatiin 6 palautusta järviltä ja 1 palautus koskilta. Virtavesillä merkittyjen ja järviltä pyydettyjen taimenien lähtöpituuden vaihteluväli oli ainakin 29–77, mutta mahdollisesti 21–86 cm. Virtavesillä merkittyjen taimenten pyyntipituuden keskiarvo ja vaihteluväli olivat 53 ja 29–86 cm, järvillä merkittyjen taimenten 56 ja 50–70 cm, merkittyjen taimenistukkaiden 42 ja 23–69 cm, järvillä ja virtavesillä merkittyjen järvilohien 54 ja 45–73 cm sekä merkittyjen järvilohi-istukkai-den 53 ja 40–76 cm. Virtavesillä merkittyjen taimenten merkinnän ja pyynnin välinen pituuskasvu ja ajanjakso olivat keskimäärin 8 cm ja 415 vrk. Pituuskasvu ja ajanjakso olivat keskimäärin sitä pienempiä mitä suurempana kala oli merkitty. Pituuskasvun keskiarvo oli vain 6 ja 3 cm merkintäpituusluokissa 40–56,9 cm ja ≥57 cm. Koskista järvivaellukselle lähteneistä taimenista saatiin 11 palautusta ylävirran ja 12 palautusta alavirran puoleisilta järviltä. Vaellusmatka merkintäkosken niskalta tai alareunalta pyyntipaikalle suorinta vesireittiä pitkin oli keskimäärin 19 kilometriä. Pisimmät vaellukset olivat 139 km ylävirtaan ja 56 km alavirtaan. Taimenen kaikkien merkintäryhmien merkkipalautuksissa saaliksi otetuista kaloista pyydystettiin verkolla ja vavalla 87 ja 13 %. Järvilohella vastaavat osuudet olivat toisinpäin, 27 ja 73 %. Järviltä saatujen merkkipalautusten perusteella villin järvitaimenen ja järvilohen elinkierron toteutuminen järvivaelluksella oli todennäköisesti niukkaa tutkimusjaksolla Heinäveden reitillä ja Vuoksen päävesistön läntisessä osassa. Kalastuskuolevuus järvillä oli todennäköisesti suuri lajien elinkiertoon suhteutettuna

The impacts of environmental warming on Odonata: a review

Climate change brings with it unprecedented rates of increase in environmental temperature, which will have major consequences for the earth's flora and fauna. The Odonata represent a taxon that has many strong links to this abiotic factor due to its tropical evolutionary history and adaptations to temperate climates. Temperature is known to affect odonate physiology including life-history traits such as developmental rate, phenology and seasonal regulation as well as immune function and the production of pigment for thermoregulation. A range of behaviours are likely to be affected which will, in turn, influence other parts of the aquatic ecosystem, primarily through trophic interactions. Temperature may influence changes in geographical distributions, through a shifting of species' fundamental niches, changes in the distribution of suitable habitat and variation in the dispersal ability of species. Finally, such a rapid change in the environment results in a strong selective pressure towards adaptation to cope and the inevitable loss of some populations and, potentially, species. Where data are lacking for odonates, studies on other invertebrate groups will be considered. Finally, directions for research are suggested, particularly laboratory studies that investigate underlying causes of climate-driven macroecological patterns

Microfluidic analysis techniques for safety assessment of pharmaceutical nano- and microsystems

This chapter reviews the evolution of microfabrication methods and materials, applicable to manufacturing of micro total analysis systems (or lab‐on‐a‐chip), from a general perspective. It discusses the possibilities and limitations associated with microfluidic cell culturing, or so called organ‐on‐a‐chip technology, together with selected examples of their exploitation to characterization of pharmaceutical nano‐ and microsystems. Materials selection plays a pivotal role in terms of ensuring the cell adhesion and viability as well as defining the prevailing culture conditions inside the microfluidic channels. The chapter focuses on the hepatic safety assessment of nanoparticles and gives an overview of the development of microfluidic immobilized enzyme reactors that could facilitate examination of the hepatic effects of nanomedicines under physiologically relevant conditions. It also provides an overview of the future prospects regarding system‐level integration possibilities facilitated by microfabrication of miniaturized separation and sample preparation systems as integral parts of microfluidic in vitro models.Non peer reviewe

Expression of a prostate-associated protein, human glandular kallikrein (hK2), in breast tumours and in normal breast secretions

The recent demonstration of human glandular kallikrein (hK2) expression in a breast carcinoma cell line has suggested that this putatively prostate-restricted, steroid hormone-regulated protease may also be expressed in breast epithelium in vivo and secreted into the mammary duct system. Given that the only substrate yet identified for hK2 activity is the precursor of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the expression of which in breast carcinomas may be associated with favourable prognosis, our purpose was to examine the expression pattern of both hK2 and PSA in breast tumour tissues. Cytosolic extracts of 336 primary breast carcinomas prepared for routine oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) analysis, as well as 31 nipple aspirates from six women with non-diseased mammary glands, were assayed for hK2 and PSA using immunofluorometric assays developed by the authors. In the tumour extracts, measurable hK2 and PSA concentrations were detected in 53% and 73% of cases respectively, and were positively correlated to each other (r = 0.59, P = 0.0001). Higher concentrations of PSA and hK2 were found in tumours expressing steroid hormone receptors (P = 0.0001 for PSA and P = 0.0001 for hK2, by Wilcoxon tests for both ER and PR), and both PSA (r = 0.25, P = 0.0001) and hK2 (r = 0.22, P = 0.0001) correlated directly with PR levels. A negative correlation between patient age and PSA (r = –0.12, P = 0.03) was also found. Both proteins were present in nipple aspirate fluid at relatively high concentrations which were positively correlated (r = 0.53, P = 0.002). The molecular weights of the immunoreactive species quantified by the hK2 and PSA assays were established by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and were consistent with the known molecular weights of hK2 and PSA. Together these data provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that both malignant breast tissue and normal breast secretion contain measurable quantities of hK2, and that the degree of hK2 expression or secretion is directly proportional to the expression of PSA and steroid hormone receptors. hK2 expression may therefore be a marker of steroid hormone action in breast tissue. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig