The Parasite Fauna of the Gobiid Fish (Actinopterygii, Gobiidae) in the Sukhyi Lyman, Black Sea

The parasite fauna of gobiid fish of the Sukhyi Lyman, Black Sea, is described. Seventeen species of parasites are registered in the gobiids in the water body. The marine tubenose goby Proterorhinus marmoratus has the richest parasite fauna (12 species), the grass goby Zosterisessor ophiocephalus has the fewest number of parasite species (5 species). The microsporidian Loma sp. and ciliate Trichodina domerguei are recorded for the first time for gobiids in the north-western Black Sea. The core of the parasite fauna is formed by metacercariae Cryptocotyle spp. The core, secondary, satellite, and rare species in the parasite community of each host are described. Not only marine and brackish water parasites, but also limnetic species, namely metacercariae D. spathaceum, were registered in the Sukhyi Lyman that differentiates it from the many of localities in the north-western Black Sea.Описана паразитофауна бычковых рыб Сухого лимана Чёрного моря. У бычковых рыб акватории найдено 17 видов паразитов; самая богатая паразитофауна (12 видов) отмечена у морского трубконосого бычка, Proterorhinus marmoratus, меньше всего паразитов (5 видов) — у бычка-травяника, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus. Впервые для северо-западной части Чёрного моря представлены данные по заражённости бычков микроспоридиями Loma sp. и инфузориями Trichodina domerguei. Ядро паразитофауны составляют метацеркарии Cryptocotyle spp. Описаны основные, второстепенные, сопутствующие и редкие виды в сообществе паразитов каждого из хозяев. В отличие от других водоемов северо-западной части Чёрного моря, в Сухом лимане отмечены как морские и солоноватоводные паразиты, так и пресноводные (метацеркарии Diplostomum spathaceum)

Differential immunity as a factor influencing mussel hybrid zone structure

Interspecific hybridisation can alter fitness-related traits, including the response to pathogens, yet immunity is rarely investigated as a potential driver of hybrid zone dynamics, particularly in invertebrates. We investigated the immune response of mussels from a sympatric population at Croyde Bay, within the hybrid zone of Mytilus edulis and Mytilus galloprovincialis in Southwest England. The site is characterised by size-dependent variation in genotype frequencies, with a higher frequency of M. galloprovincialis alleles in large mussels, largely attributed to selective mortality in favour of the M. galloprovincialis genotype. To determine if differences in immune response may contribute to this size-dependent variation in genotype frequencies, we assessed the two pure species and their hybrids in their phagocytic abilities when subject to immune challenge as a measure of immunocompetence and measured the metabolic cost of mounting an antigen-stimulated immune response. Mussels identified as M. galloprovincialis had a greater immunocompetence response at a lower metabolic cost compared to mussels identified as M. edulis. Mussels identified as hybrids had intermediate values for both parameters, providing no evidence for heterosis but suggesting that increased susceptibility compared to M. galloprovincialis may be attributed to the M. edulis genotype. The results indicate phenotypic differences in the face of pathogenic infection, which may be a contributing factor to the differential mortality in favour of M. galloprovincialis, and the size-dependent variation in genotype frequencies associated with this contact zone. We propose that immunity may contribute to European mussel hybrid zone dynamics

Paramagnetic Properties of Fullerene-Derived Nanomaterials and Their Polymer Composites: Drastic Pumping Out Effect

Abstract The evolution of paramagnetic properties of the fullerene soot (FS), fullerene black (FB), and their polymer composites Phenylon C-2/FS, FB has been studied using the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) method. For the first time, a drastic growth of the EPR signals in the FB, FS, and composite samples was observed under pumping out at temperatures T = 20 ÷ 300 °C, which is attributed to the interaction between carbon defects and adsorbed gas molecules, mainly oxygen. It is shown that the ensemble of paramagnetic centers in the FB, FS, and the composite is heterogeneous. This ensemble consists of three spin subsystems 1, 2, and 3 related with different structural elements. The subsystems give three corresponding contributions, L 1, L 2 and L 3, into the overall contour of the EPR signal. The most intensive and broad signal L 3 is caused by 2D electrons from the surface of carbon flakes. Theoretical calculations of the L 3 signal line shape were carried out, and the decay rate of the integral intensity has been obtained for each component L 1, L 2, and L 3 after the contact of the sample with the ambient air. The signal decay process in the bulk composite samples is much slower due to their low gas permeability at room temperature (RT)