European Journal of Zoology

Arthropod Diversity in an Urban Forest from Miami Dade County, Florida, US

Luis Cendan — 2024-06-28

Arthropods are excellent candidates for studying how the formation of urban ecosystems impacts the environment for several reasons. Foremost of these is the variety of roles played by arthropods in ecosystem functioning (e.g., food web dynamics, nutrient cycling and redistribution, and pollination) with many of these roles being economically important [e.g. pollination by domestic bees is an $18 billion/year industry in the US alone]. Urban ecosystems have been neglected in ecological research. Arthropods are abundant in urban settings, but little is known about how these animals respond to urbanization. In this project, we present data on species composition and structure of the communities of arthropods from Saint Thomas University Urban Forest, in the city of Miami Gardens, Miami Dade County, State of Florida, USA. In order to conduct our samplings, we set up 16 pitfall traps, as is usually done for invertebrate soil biodiversity. We then sorted and identified collected individuals using a Dissecting Microscope. Data were analyzed using PAST to calculate diversity indices of the sites studied and species organization. We collected a total of 31 species distributed in 21 Families and 13 Orders. Most species were identified up to the species level. Total number of individuals was 2147, representing a high abundance. The most abundant species was Solenopsis molesta, represented by 1313 individuals. Invertebrates are sensitive to climatic and ecological alterations. Their small bodies desiccate easily, a factor which may limit their evolutionary response to accelerated temperature increases. Consequently, the understanding, preservation, and development of urban forests can provide an avenue through which the conservation of local communities is sustained, starting with some of its most numerous and ecologically sensitive species.

First Record of Alien Species Craspedacusta sowerbii Lankester 1880 in a Stream of Sardinia (Italy)

Gian Marco Marrosu — 2023-12-23

In recent decades, the number of invasive alien species introduced outside of their natural distribution range has increased. These species can rapidly spread from the place of introduction, acting as agents of change, threatening ecosystems, habitats, and indigenous species. Craspedacusta sowerbii Lankester, 1880 has invaded freshwater systems all over the world. This article reports the first occurrence of this freshwater jellyfish in a stream on the island of Sardinia, Italy. There is no previous data useful to understand the development of this species in the river systems of the island where streams are usually seasonal, with a strong water reduction, and native animal species are concentrated in a few pools during critical seasons. In our study, we carried out an observation of the phenomenon in order to provide preliminary information about this new population, its characteristics, and environmental features. Endangered and extremely rare endemic species, such as Discoglossus sardus and Euproctus platycephalus, live in Sardinian streams, so this is one more reason to focus on the biological invasion processes of this organism in order to understand its role in this ecosystem’s ecological functioning.

Prevalence and Morphological Identification of Digenean Trematode Species Recovered from Infected Organs of Lizardfish (Saurida undosquamis)

Layla Omran Elmajdoub — 2023-11-06

Helminthic parasites of the marine fish (Saurida undosquamis) are investigated. Out of 192 specimens of the Saurida undosquamis were collected from the local market of Misurata city in Libya. The prevalence rate of Trematoda helminths in examined fish Saurida undosquamis, was high. Based on the morphological and morphometric characterization represented different species of Trematoda (Lecithochirium sp., Lecithochirium grandiporum, Aponurus laguncula, Neotorticaecum sp, Allocreadium sp, and Gonocerca sp.) was isolated of the total examined fish (185%, 96.4%) were infected with different species of Trematoda. The density of Trematoda was around 9390, and they were collected from the gills, stomach, and anterior and posterior parts of the intestine in all seasons, but Trematode infection was observed in the liver and muscles, the high-density rate in winter (4199), followed by autumn (3291), with non-significant differences between density rates in all seasons (P > 0.05). This study found a high infection rate with Lecithochirium sp. in the examined Saurida undosquamis.

Dicliptera laxata (Acanthaceae) (C. B. Clark) Unblocks an Abamectin-Blocked Estrous Cycle and Restores Cyclicity in Female Albino Rats

Egbe Ben Besong — 2024-08-08

The farmers of the Buea municipality, Fako Division, South-West Region, Cameroon extensively use Abamectin or Aba, a phytosanitary insecticide which targets insects such as mites, thrips species and leaf miners. In this area, the local population also uses Dicliptera laxata traditionally as a fertility enhancer and in stabilizing risky pregnancies in women. This study was aimed at evaluating the actions of Dicliptera laxata aqueous extract on the estrous cycle and reproductive system of Aba-treated female rats. A total of 30 adult female rats of the confirmed regular cycle were daily treated orally with a 2 ml/kg Abamectin for a period of 45 days, accompanied by the evaluation of the cytology of their vaginal smears at 5 days intervals. From the 46^th day, they were subsequently treated with the leaf-aqueous extract of Dicliptera laxata for 15 days and were terminated on the 61^st day during which blood and reproductive organs were collected for biochemical assays and relative weight indices. Chronic (45 days) exposure of normal cycled female rats to Abamectin witnessed a blockade in their estrous cycle, a significant drop in plasma estradiol and progesterone concentration, and a significant drop in the percentage weight of organs. Administration of Dicliptera laxata leaf-aqueous extract to these Aba-treated females resulted in a return to the regularity of their estrous cycle, with animals receiving the 300 mg/kg dose of plant extract recording a 60% regulation in the first week and 100% in the second week as compared to animals treated with distilled water that recorded a 0% and 20% regulation in the first and second week of treatment, respectively. Also, the animals that received 300 mg/kg body weight of the extract registered significant (p < 0.05) rise in plasma concentrations of progesterone and estradiol (36.44 ± 1.69 pg/mL and 77.73 ± 3.82 pg/mL, respectively) as compared to animals that received distilled water which showed 22.54 ± 2.19 pg/mL plasma progesterone and a 44.90 ± 7.63 pg/mL plasma estradiol concentrations, respectively. The actions of the leaf-aqueous extract of D. laxata could be attributed to the presence of phytochemicals including steroids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids and saponins in our extract, which have been reported to have important pharmacological effects on female reproduction. D. laxata, therefore, constitutes a potential treatment of female infertility and our findings justify its folkoric use by the Bakweri tribe in enhancing fertility. It can be used to stalize risky pregnancies and prevent miscarriages.

Assessment of External and Internal Quality Traits of Eggs of Wild Double-spurred Francolinus Pternistic bicalcaratus sourced from three States in Nigeria

Muideen Alade Yisau — 2023-05-06

This research experiment was carried out to examine egg parameters of wild Double-spurred francolin eggs sourced from three different states. A total of 27 eggs from three states were used in evaluating internal and external traits quality of the wild eggs which components of their internal and external parameters were measured. Collected data was subjected to One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Among the states, egg quality parameters were significantly different relative to yolk width and albumen index (p≤0.05) while the egg morphometric parameters relative to egg width (p≤0.01) and egg weight (p≤0.05). Results of Pearson’s correlation coefficients showed significant association (p≤0.05) between egg weight and different external and internal egg quality parameters. This study concluded that wild Double-spurred eggs will be best sourced in Ogun state if domestication objective is based on quality of eggs and best source in Oyo State and Osun state if the objective is on Morphometric parameters.