Distribution of the non-indigenous fish species, Lepomis Gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758), in Albania

Pumpkin seed, Lepomis gibbosus L., is a native fish species to the eastern North America and is introduced to Europe freshwaters during the late nineteenth century and now appears to be wide spread in numerous countries. During the last two decades, the species spread rapidly into the Albanian inland water bodies. The distribution and abundance of invasive fish species Lepomis gibbosus L. inhabiting different water ecosystems, natural or man-made, standing or running ones was investigated. The study was carried out during a period of 10 years mostly during active breeding period for pumpkinseeds. The investigated water bodies are located along different water basins of Albania. Habitat quality was assessed after fish sampling. The following biological and physical habitat variables were considered: dissolved oxygen (mg l-1), pH, and water temperature (oC) measured with multi-parametric probes; electro conductivity (μS/cm) was measured with portable conduct meter. Substrate composition was visually estimated in a 1-m-wide band centered across each assessed area

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Greek nine-spined stickleback Pungitius hellenicus (Gasterosteiformes, Gasterosteidae)

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Complete mitochondrial genome of the Ukrainian nine-spined stickleback Pungitius platygaster (Gasterosteiformes, Gasterosteidae)

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Biološke i ekološke karakteristike crnke umbra krameri kao osnov za in-situ i ex-situ zaštitu

The analysis of ecological characteristics and morphological-genetic differentiation of populations of the European mudminnow (Umbra krameri Walbaum, 1792) from the localities Lugomir and Bakreni Batar in Serbia and the locality Gromiželj in Bosnia and Herzegovina provides a basis for future activities related to in situ and ex situ conservation of one of the most endangered species in the region. Physical and chemical habitat parameters, aquatic plant and fish species composition, as well as invertebrate assemblages from mud and submerged vegetation at all investigated localities are consistent with the literature data which indicates that European mudminnow lives in typical habitats within its range. Population structure was analysed with regard to measured body lengths and weights, sex ratio and the age of the sampled individuals. The results show that the mean lengths and weights of the most frequent age classes (1+ and 2+) are rather uniform at all investigated localities. Younger (0+) and older (3+ and 4+) individuals were recorded in Gromiželj; males outnumber females in samples from Lugomir and Bakreni Batar, while females outnumber males in samples from Gromiželj. Individuals from Gromiželj show the highest absolute and relative growth. The growth of this species varies and depends on several factors, such as physical and chemical environmental parameters, food availability, population density, presence of predators, etc. Qualitative and quantitative composition of European mudminnow diet was determined on the basis of its gastrointestinal contents. The obtained results indicate that the European mudminnow is a zoophagous species and an opportunistic predator. The morphological variability (body size and shape) was analyzed using the methods of geometric morphometrics, while the genetic diversity of the analyzed populations was determined by applying the molecular-genetic methods (microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA). These analyses indicate high level of compatibility between the morphological variability and the genetic diversity. Namely, the Danube River population from Lugomir differs from the Sava River populations from Bakreni Batar and Gromiželj, the latter two having a significantly higher level of similarities and relatedness. All obtained results are extremely important for implementing the adequate measures of active protection, conservation, and improvement of recent populations, most notably repopulation, reintroduction, and aquaculture of the European mudminnow in ex situ conditions and at controlled natural spawning sites within their habitats.Na osnovu analize ekoloških karakteristika i morfološko-genetičke diferencijacije populacija crnke (Umbra krameri Walbaum, 1792) sa lokaliteta Lugomir i Bakreni Batar u Srbiji kao i sa lokaliteta Gromiželj u Bosni i Hercegovini, dat je osnov za buduće aktivnosti na in-situ i ex-situ zaštiti jedne od najugroženijih vrsta riba na ovim prostorima. Analiza fizičko-hemijskih parametara vode i kvalitativnog sastava zajednice biljaka, riba, akvatičnih beskičmenjaka iz mulja i submerzne vegetacije pokazala je da su na svim istraživanim lokalitetima rezultati u skladu sa literaturnim podacima koji ukazuju na to da crnka naseljava tipična staništa u okviru svog areala. U odnosu na dužinu i težinu, pol i uzrast uzorkovanih jedinki, analizirana je struktura populacija, koja je pokazala da su na svim istraživanim lokalitetima srednje vrednosti dužinskih i težinskih parametara kod najfrekventnijih uzrasnih klasa (1+ i 2+) prilično ujednačene, da su na Gromiželju evidentirane i mlađe (0+) i starije (3+ i 4+) jedinke, kao i da mužjaci dominiraju u uzorcima iz Lugomira i Bakrenog Batara, a ženke u uzorku iz Gromiželja. Analizom dužinskog i težinskog rasta, najveći apsolutni i relativni priraštaj ustanovljen je kod jedinki sa lokaliteta Gromiželj, a konstatovano je i da rast crnke varira i zavisi od više faktora, kao što su fizičko-hemijski parametri sredine, dostupnost hrane, gustina populacija, prisutni predatori itd. Na osnovu želudačno-crevnog sadržaja utvrđen je kvalitativno-kvantitativni sastav ishrane crnke, koji ukazuje na to da crnka predstavlja zoofagnu vrstu i oportunističkog predatora. Metodama geometrijske morfometrije analizirana je varijabilnost spoljašnje morfologije, odnosno varijabilnost veličine i oblika tela istraživanih populacija, a upotrebom molekularno-genetičkih metoda (mikrosateliti i mitohondrijalna DNK), utvrđena je i genetička raznovrsnost analiziranih populacija. Uz visok stepen podudarnosti dobijenih rezultata korišćenjem navedenih metoda, utvrđeno je jasno razdvajanje dunavske populacije sa lokaliteta Lugomir u odnosu na savske populacije sa lokaliteta Bakreni Batar i Gromiželj, koje pokazuju znatno veći stepen međusobne sličnosti i srodnosti. Svi dobijeni rezultati ovih istraživanja od izuzetne su važnosti za preduzimanje odgovarajućih mera aktivne zaštite, očuvanja i unapređenja stanja recentnih populacija, od kojih su najznačajniji repopulacija, reintrodukcija i akvakultura crnke u ex situ uslovima i u kontrolisanim prirodnim plodištima na samim staništima

A global assessment of freshwater fish introductions in Mediterranean-climate regions

Mediterranean-climate regions (med-regions) are global hotspots of endemism 40 facing mounting environmental threats associated with human-related activities, including the ecological impacts associated with non-native species introductions. We review freshwater fish introductions across med-regions to evaluate the influences of non-native fishes on the biogeography of taxonomic and functional diversity. Our synthesis revealed that 136 freshwater fish species (26 families, 13 orders) have been introduced into med-regions globally. These introductions, and local extirpations, have increased taxonomic and functional faunal similarity among regions by an average of 7.5% (4.6-11.4%; Jaccard) and 7.2% (1.4-14.0%; Bray-Curtis), respectively. Faunal homogenization was highest in Chile and the western Med Basin, whereas sw Cape and the Aegean Sea drainages showed slight differentiation (decrease in faunal similarity) over time. At present, fish faunas of different med-regions have widespread species in common (e.g. Gambusia holbrooki, Cyprinus carpio, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Carassius auratus, and Micropterus salmoides) which are typically large-bodied, non migratory, have higher physiological tolerance, and display fast population growth rates. Our findings suggest that intentional and accidental introductions of freshwater fish have dissolved dispersal barriers and significantly changed the present-day biogeography of med-regions across the globe. Conservation challenges in med-regions include understanding the ecosystem consequences of non-native species at macro-ecological scales.This is an author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The published article is copyrighted by Springer and can be found at: http://link.springer.com/journal/10750.Keywords: Conservation biogeography, Introduced species, Non-native species, Taxonomic homogenization, Functional homogenizatio

Sex difference and intra-operative tidal volume: Insights from the LAS VEGAS study

BACKGROUND: One key element of lung-protective ventilation is the use of a low tidal volume (VT). A sex difference in use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) has been described in critically ill ICU patients.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether a sex difference in use of LTVV also exists in operating room patients, and if present what factors drive this difference.DESIGN, PATIENTS AND SETTING: This is a posthoc analysis of LAS VEGAS, a 1-week worldwide observational study in adults requiring intra-operative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals in 29 countries.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Women and men were compared with respect to use of LTVV, defined as VT of 8 ml kg-1 or less predicted bodyweight (PBW). A VT was deemed 'default' if the set VT was a round number. A mediation analysis assessed which factors may explain the sex difference in use of LTVV during intra-operative ventilation.RESULTS: This analysis includes 9864 patients, of whom 5425 (55%) were women. A default VT was often set, both in women and men; mode VT was 500 ml. Median [IQR] VT was higher in women than in men (8.6 [7.7 to 9.6] vs. 7.6 [6.8 to 8.4] ml kg-1 PBW, P < 0.001). Compared with men, women were twice as likely not to receive LTVV [68.8 vs. 36.0%; relative risk ratio 2.1 (95% CI 1.9 to 2.1), P < 0.001]. In the mediation analysis, patients' height and actual body weight (ABW) explained 81 and 18% of the sex difference in use of LTVV, respectively; it was not explained by the use of a default VT.CONCLUSION: In this worldwide cohort of patients receiving intra-operative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery, women received a higher VT than men during intra-operative ventilation. The risk for a female not to receive LTVV during surgery was double that of males. Height and ABW were the two mediators of the sex difference in use of LTVV.TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01601223

Different Histories, Different Destinies‒Impact of Evolutionary History and Population Genetic Structure on Extinction Risk of the Adriatic Spined Loaches (Genus Cobitis; Cypriniformes, Actinopterygii)

Talk delivered in XV European Congress of Ichthyology. September 8th, 2015. Porto (Portugal)The region of Balkans is often considered as an ichthyologic “hot spot”, with a great number of species and high portion of endemics living in fresh waters in a relatively small area. The Adriatic watershed in Croatia and Herzegovina is inhabited by six spined loach species (genus Cobitis) whose extinction risk estimations were based solely on their extent of occurrence (and/or area of occupancy) and its fragmentation, and conservation proposals do not consider diversity below species level. In this investigation we employed molecular genetic methods to describe present genetic structure of the Adriatic spined loaches and reveal their demographic history. The divergence of the Adriatic lineages inside the genus Cobitis started in Miocene and lasted until Pleistocene epoch. Geological events responsible for shaping recent diversity of spined loaches in the Adriatic basin are: the Dinarid Mountains upwelling, the evolution of Dinaric Lake system, local tectonic activity, river connections during glaciations and differences in sea level. Even though all the investigated species inhabit karstic rivers located in the same geographic area and that were subject of similar geological events, the results obtained reveal great differences in their genetic diversity and structure and point out the necessity of different conservation measures to ensure their future viability. High level of genetic polymorphism is characteristic for species located more to the south. Two species comprised of more than one population have completely different intraspecific structure; populations of C. illyrica are genetically distinct and represent separate evolutionary significant units, whereas intraspecific structure of C. narentana corresponds to metapopulational pattern. Without population genetic data, evolutionary significant units could be easily misidentified. Furthermore, the obtained results affirm that population genetic measurements are able to detect differences among closely located and related species and estimate extinction risk even more accurately than currently applied IUCN criteria.This investigation was supported by the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sport (project no. 119-0000000-3184), the Czech Ministry of Culture (DKRVO 2014/14, National Museum, 00023272) and the SYNTHESYS programme project (ES-TAF-2061 at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales) financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 "Capacities" Programme.Peer reviewe

Distribution géographique des gobies (Gobiidae) en mer Adriatique, avec 13 nouveaux signalements dans sa partie méridionale

[EN] Prior to the present study, the gobiid biodiversity of the Adriatic Sea varied significantly between the northern (98% of the known Adriatic gobiid biodiversity) and central (89%) as compared to the southern Adriatic Sea (39%). Thirteen species are newly recorded for the southern Adriatic area and one for the central Adriatic. The relatively small collecting effort in this survey produced a large increase in the known gobiid biodiversity, which suggests that the low number of known Adriatic gobiid species in the southern Adriatic mirrors only sampling intensity and not the real species richness of the area. The gobiid zoogeography in the Adriatic is compared with that of the Mediterranean.[FR] Antérieurement à cette étude, la biodiversité des Gobiidés de la mer Adriatique variait significativement entre le nord (98% de la biodiversité des Gobiidés connus de l’Adriatique), le centre (89%) et le sud (39%). Treize espèces sont signalées ici comme nouvelles pour le sud et une pour le centre. Un effort de collecte relativement léger contribue ainsi à une augmentation significative de la biodiversité des Gobiidés, ce qui signifie que le petit nombre d’espèces connu à ce jour dans la partie méridionale de l’Adriatique n’est que le reflet de l’effort d’échantillonnage, et non la réalité de la diversité spécifique dans cette zone. La zoogéographie des Gobiidés en Adriatique est comparée à celle de la Méditerranée.RŠ received support from the Czech Ministry of Culture (project MK00002327201) and from the SYNTHESYS Programme (project ES-TAF-1249), financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 “Capacities” Programme at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC).Peer reviewe

Ancient connections among the European rivers and watersheds revealed from the evolutionary history of the genus Telestes (Actinopterygii; Cypriniformes)

In order to better understand the complex geologic history of the Mediterranean area, we have analysed evolutionary history, phylogeographic structure and molecular diversity of freshwater fishes belonging to the genus Telestes. As primary freshwater fishes distributed largely in the Mediterranean basin, this genus represents a suitable model system for investigating the historical biogeography of freshwater drainage systems in southern Europe. In this investigation we have included samples representing all Telestes species and based our analyses on one mitochondrial and one nuclear gene. We have investigated phylogenetic structure inside the genus Telestes, estimated divergence times, reconstructed ancestral distribution ranges and described intraspecific molecular diversity. Diversification of Telestes started in the Early Miocene, when the ancestors of T. souffia, lineage comprising T. croaticus and T. fontinalis, and the one comprising T. pleurobipunctatus and T. beoticus got isolated. The remaining species are genetically more closely related and form a common cluster in the recovered phylogenetic trees. Complex geological history of southern Europe, including formation of continental bridges, fragmentation of landmass, closing of the sea corridor, local tectonic activities, led to complicated biogeographical pattern of this genus, caused by multiple colonization events and passovers between ancient rivers and water basins. Especially pronounced diversity of Telestes found in the Adriatic watershed in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is a consequence of a triple colonization of this area by different lineages, which led to an existence of genetically distinct species in neighboring areas. Significant intraspecific structuring is present in T. souffia, T. muticellus, T. croaticus and T. pleurobipunctatus. Besides in well-structured species, elevated levels of genetic polymorphism were found inside T. turskyi and T. ukliva, as a consequence of their old origin and unconstrained evolutionary history.This work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (project GA15-19382S). IB received support from the SYNTHESYS Programme project CZ-TAF-4228 at the National Museum Prague, financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP7 "Capacities" Programme. RS also received support from the SYNTHESYS Programme project ES-TAF-1187 at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, financed by European Community Research Infrastructure Action under the FP6 "Structuring the European Research Area" Programme.Peer reviewe

Babylonian confusion of gudgeons in the west Aegean drainages inferred by the mitochondrial DNA analyses

Gudgeons (Gobio and Romanogobio, Cypriniformes) are taxonomically very complicated group of primary freshwater fishes. The region of the west Aegean Sea rivers is inhabited by three species according to Kottelat and Freyhof (2007): Gobio feraensis endemic to the Pinios River basin; Gobio balcanicus inhabiting all remaining drainages, from the Aliakmon up to the Marica drainage; and Romanogobio elimeus occurring from the Pinios to the Vardar basin. Recent analysis of barcoding gene cytochrome c oxydase suggested presence of additional two well differentiated lineages in the Aegean rivers (Geiger et al. 2014): Romanogobio banarescui from the Vardar River and Gobio bulgaricus (based on material from Asian part of Turkey only). We have analysed control region (mitochondrial non coding DNA) of gudgeon populations from all larger river drainages from the west Aegean region (Pinios to Marica basins). Included were also several populations from surrounding areas of the Danube River drainage and from the Black Sea rivers. The results are not at all congruent with the proposed taxonomy. MtDNA haplotypes of Romonagobio banarescui were found not only in the Vardar, but also in the lower Aliakmon River. Haplotypes of Romanogibo elimeus were found in the Pinios, upper Aliakmon and Loudias rivers. Situation of genus Gobio is completely confusing; there is no geographic structure in the distribution of haplotypes. Many different haplogroups are shared in some basins, especially in the drainages of the Struma, Mesta and Marica rivers. This indicates complicated evolutionary history of gudgeons in the region, probably having several historical refugia, and with multiple recent contacts of lineages. Our data indicate a contact between the Danubian, Black Sea and Aegean rivers. The taxonomic status of most of the populations of Gobio from the west Aegean area remains unclear