Adult Life Stages Research Articles

Interplay of management and environmental drivers shifts size structure of reef fish communities.

Countries are expanding marine protected area (MPA) networks to mitigate fisheries declines and support marine biodiversity. However, MPA impact evaluations typically assess total fish biomass. Here, we examine how fish biomass disaggregated by adult and juvenile life stages responds to environmental drivers, including sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and human footprint, and multiple management types at 139 reef sites in the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) region. We found that total fish biomass generally appears stable across the region from 2006 to 2018, with limited rebuilding of fish stocks in MPAs. However, the metric of total fish biomass masked changes in fish community structure, with lower adult than juvenile fish biomass at northern sites, and adult:juvenile ratios closer to 1:1 at southern sites. These shifts were associated with different responses of juvenile and adult fish to environmental drivers and management. Juvenile fish biomass increased at sites with high larval connectivity and coral cover, whereas adult fish biomass decreased at sites with greater human footprint and SST anomalies. Adult fish biomass decreased primarily in Honduran general use zones, which suggests insufficient protection for adult fish in the southern MAR. There was a north-south gradient in management and environmental drivers, with lower coverage of fully protected areas and higher SST anomalies and coastal development in the south that together may undermine the maintenance of adult fish biomass in the southern MAR. Accounting for the interplay between environmental drivers and management in the design of MPAs is critical for increasing fish biomass across life history stages.

A new species of branchial fish parasitic deep-sea isopod, Brucethoa Aneesh, Hadfield, Smit & Kumar, 2020 (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) from the Indian Ocean, with the transfer of two Elthusa Schioedte & Meinert, 1884 species

Brucethoa isron. sp., a new species of deep-sea cymothoid is described and illustrated from the host fish Spinyjaw greeneye, Chlorophthalmus corniger Alcock, 1894, at depths of 265 to 458 metres from the southwest coast of India. Brucethoa isron. sp. is recovered from the base of the gill cavity, facing the head towards the anterior, and the dorsal body closely adpressed against the gill, while the ventral brood presses against the inner wall of the operculum. Brucethoa isron. sp., the second species of the genus, is characterized by: head weakly immersed in pereonite 1, very elongated body (3.15 times as long as wide); body dorsum not vaulted, almost flat; all coxae short, 0.5 times as the length of corresponding pereonites; sternite 7 with prominent posterior lobes. All adult life stages of the new species are described [including females (ovigerous and non-ovigerous), males, transitional, and juvenile. The species is currently known from the southwest coast of India and is the type locality. Additionally, this research provides valuable ecological insights into Brucethoa isron. sp. and its habitat. As part of the taxonomic contributions, two species, Brucethoa alvaradoensis (Rocha-Ramírez, Chávez-López & Bruce, 2005) comb. n. and Brucethoa epinepheli (Trilles & Justine, 2010) comb. n., are transferred from the Elthusa genus to the Brucethoa genus.

Substantial urbanization-driven declines of larval and adult moths in a subtropical environment.

Recent work has shown the decline of insect abundance, diversity and biomass, with potential implications for ecosystem services. These declines are especially pronounced in regions with high human activity, and urbanization is emerging as a significant contributing factor. However, the scale of these declines and the traits that determine variation in species-specific responses remain less well understood, especially in subtropical and tropical regions, where insect diversity is high and urban footprints are rapidly expanding. Here, we surveyed moths across an entire year in protected forested sites across an urbanization gradient to test how caterpillar and adult life stages of subtropical moths (Lepidoptera) are impacted by urbanization. Specifically, we assess how urban development affects the total biomass of caterpillars, abundance of adult moths and quantify how richness and phylogenetic diversity of macro-moths are impacted by urban development. Additionally, we explore how life-history traits condition species' responses to urban development. At the community level, we find that urban development decreases caterpillar biomass and adult moth abundance. We also find sharp declines of adult macro-moths in response to urban development across the phylogeny, leading to a decrease in species richness and phylogenetic diversity in more urban sites. Finally, our study found that smaller macro-moths are less impacted by urban development than larger macro-moths in subtropical environments, perhaps highlighting the tradeoffs of metabolic costs of urban heat favoring smaller moths over the relative benefits of dispersal for larger moths. In summary, our research underscores the far-reaching consequences of urbanization on moths and provides compelling evidence that urban forests alone may not be sufficient to safeguard biodiversity in cities.

Temporal variation in the relative abundance, suitable habitat selection, and distribution of Ataeniobius toweri (Meek, 1904) (Goodeidae), by life stages, in the Media Luna spring, Mexico

The Media Luna spring, Mexico, is the main reservoir of the endemic and endangered fish Ataeniobius toweri. In the last decades, the ecosystem has been modified by tourism, and the habitat has changed for this species. Therefore, for better conservation management of the natural fish population, it is necessary to understand its abundance status and suitable habitat conditions, in ecological and spatial scenarios, on a temporal scale. In the present study, we modeled A. toweri’s ecological responses and spatial distribution for adult and juvenile life stages, in three summer periods (years 1999, 2009, and 2019). As habitat variables, we used water depth and underwater coverage. Ecological response curves were obtained from a Generalized Linear Model; distribution models were obtained with DOMAIN. In the modeling evaluation, for the Linear Regression Model, we obtained true statistical skills metric > 0.30 and, for DOMAIN, an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.70 with an AUC ratio > 1.00. In general, as the summer periods progressed, we found the highest probability of occurrence (P > 0.20) and distribution (P > 0.60) in areas with conditions of large coverage of underwater vegetation, in the first 1.5 m of depth, and near the shores of the spring. Also, the variations of relative abundance were always observed at sites with these habitat conditions. Thus, we concluded that our models had the performance to discern between suitable and unsuitable habitat conditions for A. toweri, and that areas with little or no anthropogenic pressure are more important for this species.

Molecular Identification of Hyalomma Ticks and Application of Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins as an Effective Biological Acaricide.

Bacillus thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis) is considered one of the most important entomopathogenic microorganisms. It produces potent toxins against insects. Therefore, the present study investigates the bioacaricidal properties of B. thuringiensis on the Hyalomma tick species. Firstly, we identify Hyalomma ticks based on morphological screening and molecular characterization. The cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COX1) gene was selected for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, which resulted in the amplification of 656 bp. The amplified products were sequenced, and the isolated (COX1) gene of ticks was submitted to the gene bank of NCBI (Accession No. OR077934.1). The nucleotide sequences were retrieved from the NCBI data bank by BLASTn analysis, which confirmed that all obtained sequences belong to genus Hyalomma, and multiple alignments confirmed that the sequence of Hyalomma anatolicum Tandojam-isolate (HA-TJ) 100% aligned with Hyalomma analoticum KP792577.1, Hyalomma detritum KP792595.1, Hyalomma excavatum KX911989.1, and H. excavatum OQ449693.1. The generated phylogenetic tree confirmed that sequences of HA-TJ COX1 clustered with a single clad of H. analoticum, H. excavatum, and H. detritum. The acaricidal effect of B. thuringiensis toxins B. thuringiensis spore crystal mix (BtSCM) and B. thuringiensis crystal proteins (Btcps) was evaluated against larvae and adult life stages of Hyalomma ticks in vitro. We applied Btcps and BtSCM separately with different concentrations and calculated the mortality percentage. Adult mortality was estimated at the 8th, 10th, 12th, and 15th days posttreatment and larval mortality after 24 h. During treatment of the adult life stage, at first, ticks were immersed in different concentrations of Btcps and BtSCM for 5 min after the treatments, and the samples were transferred to sterile containers and placed in an incubator with 80% humidity at 23°C. Furthermore, Btcps produced the highest mortality on Day 15, 89 ± 1.00% at a concentration of 3000 μg/mL, followed by the 12th, 10th, and 8th days produced 83 ± 1.91%, 70 ± 1.15%, and 61 ± 1.00%, respectively. BtSCM produced mortality of 69 ± 1.91% on Day 15 at a concentration of 3000 μg/mL, followed by the 12th, 10th, and 8th days at 57 ± 2.51%, 37 ± 1.91%, and 34 ± 2.00%. The present study revealed that B. thuringiensis toxins produced a significant (p < 0.05) increase in mortality rate in adults of Hyalomma ticks. Additionally, Btcps and BtSCM were used to treat the larval stage. The treatments were applied to calculate the mortality percentage via the Laravel packet test. At a 1500 μg/mL concentration, Btcps resulted in the highest mortality of 98 ± 1.15%; this was followed by 1250 μg/mL, 1000 μg/mL, and 750 μg/mL, which produced mortalities of 76 ± 1.63%, 60 ± 1.63%, and 56 ± 1.63%, respectively. In addition, BtSCM produced a mortality rate of 79 ± 2.51% at a concentration of 1500 μg/mL. Furthermore, 75 ± 2.51%, 65 ± 1.91%, and 58 ± 1.15% mortality were observed at concentrations of 1250 μg/mL, 1000 μg/mL, and 750 μg/mL, respectively. The results showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in larval mortality compared to the control group. We conclude that B. thuringiensis toxins are applicable as a bioacaricide.

Identification of critical essential habitat for demersal fish in the Gulf of Guinea

Habitats of three marine fish species of major interest (Epinephelus aeneus, Pseudotolithus senegalensis, and Pagellus bellottii) at both juvenile and adult life stages were identified and mapped in the western part of the Gulf of Guinea. Habitat suitability models (HSMs) were designed to quantify species- and stage-specific fish densities from scientific survey data collected for the last 40 years according to two environmental descriptors (bathymetry, distance to river mouth) and accounting for temporal contrasts. Delta general linear models were selected to fit with the 0-inflated distribution of the fish density data. Despite their high residual deviance, both the prediction accuracy and robustness of these HSMs were satisfactory. HSMs showed a strong influence of bathymetry on stage-specific fish distribution and a lower and non systematic influence of proximity to river mouths. The spatial distribution of juveniles of E. aeneus and P. senegalensis evidenced their concentration in shallow coastal nurseries. The adults of P. senegalensis were also located in nearshore habitats under estuarine influence, whereas adults of E. aeneus were spread towards deeper waters. P. bellottii did not rely on coastal fringes at juvenile or adult stages. Finally, model outputs showed a decrease in abundance in recent decades for all species at both life stages. These HSMs and maps reveal the importance of the coastal fringe as a critical essential habitat for two of the three studied species and the usefulness of space-based management measures to maintain populations and ensure sustainable fishing exploitation.

First description of post-flexion larvae of the West Atlantic trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus

Abstract The West Atlantic trumpetfish Aulostomus maculatus is a species of little commercial importance, but it is frequently used as a study organism in behavioural ecology, and it has been traded in the aquarium industry to some extent. The adult life stage is well described, however its early life history is nearly unknown. This paper provides the first description of post-flexion larvae of A. maculatus, including detailed illustrations, photographs, morphological data, and collection site data of specimens collected during a multipurpose research survey conducted within the Sargasso Sea Subtropical Convergence Zone. The collection site also implies a geographic range expansion, off the continental shelf, of the pelagic larvae stage. This paper hence advances the scientific knowledge about the early life stages, distribution and ecology of this species.

Distribution and composition of Decapod larvae assemblages on the Berlengas archipelago and Peniche coast (western coast of Portugal)

For the first time, the decapod larval community in the Berlenga and coastal Peniche region have been investigated in detail, from a short-term time series (2015 – 2020). Sampling was conducted in two locations, at Berlengas archipelago, and near the coast, at Peniche. The communities found at both stations were revealed to be 80% different in terms of species composition, but species of Brachyura, Caridea, and Anomura were the most abundant in both locations. A marked seasonality, with abundance peaks during summer and autumn, was found for the assemblages near the coast, but absent in the assemblages of the Berlenga region. This suggests that factors other than the environmental variables examined in this study may play a crucial role in shaping the assemblages more offshore. Water temperature, upwelling index, salinity, and chlorophyll-a were the main factors dictating species abundance, especially at Peniche. This emphasizes the significant role of the Iberian upwelling productivity, which in turn influences decapod communities. Also, the progressive warming of coastal water will most likely have a negative impact on the decapod meroplanktonic life forms, with further consequences on recruitment and adult life stages.

Spatial asynchrony and cross-scale climate interactions in populations of a coldwater stream fish.

Climate change affects populations over broad geographic ranges due to spatially autocorrelated abiotic conditions known as the Moran effect. However, populations do not always respond to broad-scale environmental changes synchronously across a landscape. We combined multiple datasets for a retrospective analysis of time-series count data (5-28 annual samples per segment) at 144 stream segments dispersed over nearly 1,000 linear kilometers of range to characterize the population structure and scale of spatial synchrony across the southern native range of a coldwater stream fish (brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis), which is sensitive to stream temperature and flow variations. Spatial synchrony differed by life stage and geographic region: it was stronger in the juvenile life stage than in the adult life stage and in the northern sub-region than in the southern sub-region. Spatial synchrony of trout populations extended to 100-200 km but was much weaker than that of climate variables such as temperature, precipitation, and stream flow. Early life stage abundance changed over time due to annual variation in summer temperature and winter and spring stream flow conditions. Climate effects on abundance differed between sub-regions and among local populations within sub-regions, indicating multiple cross-scale interactions where climate interacted with local habitat to generate only a modest pattern of population synchrony over space. Overall, our analysis showed higher degrees of response heterogeneity of local populations to climate variation and consequently population asynchrony than previously shown based on analysis of individual, geographically restricted datasets. This response heterogeneity indicates that certain local segments characterized by population asynchrony and resistance to climate variation could represent unique populations of this iconic native coldwater fish that warrant targeted conservation. Advancing the conservation of this species can include actions that identify such priority populations and incorporate them into landscape-level conservation planning. Our approach is applicable to other widespread aquatic species sensitive to climate change.

Testing the heat treatment dose for Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) prepupae using the Humble water bath.

The lethal heat treatment dose (time and temperature) for the prepupal life stage of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), emerald ash borer (EAB), was determined through an in vitro application using a carefully calibrated heat treatment apparatus. The lethal and sublethal effects of heat on A. planipennis prepupae were assessed through a ramped heat delivery application, simulating industrial kilns and conventional heat chamber operations, for treatments combining target temperatures of 54 °C, 55 °C, and 56 °C, and exposure durations of 0 min (i.e., kiln temperature ramp only), 15 min, or 30 min. Prepupal EAB larvae did not survive exposure to 56 °C for 15 min or longer, or to 55 °C for 30 min. Sublethal effects were observed for all other treatments. Sublethal effects included delayed development and failure to complete the pupal and adult life stages.

Short- and long-term effects of season-long infestation of Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) on young apple (Malus domestica) and peach (Prunus persica) trees.

Lycorma delicatula White, commonly called spotted lanternfly, is an invasive fulgorid that was first detected in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has spread across Eastern states. Lycorma delicatula is a phloem feeder, and feeding of persistent populations can cause wilt and dieback in host plants. Vineyards in infested regions have experienced vine loss, where damage has been attributed to L. delicatula. Nymphal and adult lifestages have been observed on cultivated apple and peach trees, but the feeding effects of this pest on these crops have not been quantified. Here, we caged young potted apple and peach trees and infested them with 50 nymphal or 25 adult L. delicatula per plant for 3 months and tracked plant health. Horticultural measurements including trunk diameter, height, leaf drop, and photosynthesis rates were recorded before, during, and after the infestation. To evaluate the long-term effects of infestation, all apple and peach trees were removed from pots and planted in an orchard block where their phenology, growth, and physiology could be evaluated the following growing season. Short- and long-term measurements showed no significant differences in apple tree health between infested and noninfested trees. There was a significant reduction in the growth of trunk diameter in peach trees during exposure to early-instar nymphs; infested peach trees also had significantly increased frost damage to buds the following spring. However, there were no long-term impacts on peach growth and physiology. These results indicate that L. delicatula likely will not be a major threat to these deciduous fruit crops.

A walk on the beach: exploring iNaturalist observations of the Atlantic horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, as a tool for conservation

The Atlantic horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, is an ecologically and commercially important species occurring across the south and northeastern coast of the United States. However, populations of this species are experiencing declines due to overcollection, use as bait, and other anthropogenic factors. Citizen science holds great potential as a useful complementary tool to traditional monitoring efforts, so we evaluated horseshoe crab observations uploaded to the citizen science platform iNaturalist. Across 10,094 observations, the majority of which occurred primarily during summer months, the number of observations increased annually from 2008 to 2022, presumably as this platform is gaining popularity in overall use by citizen scientists. Analyzing a subset of images from this dataset, we found evidence of scavenging, ranges in the number of individuals, and additional organisms (molluscs or barnacles) attached to specimens, with 52.7% live versus 38.9% dead, and most images showing a complete specimen (61.6%) and adult life stages (80.3%). Most observations were taken on sand (75.7%), with some in shallow water (9.4%) or in vegetation (7%). We recommend researchers incorporate this freely available database as a complementary conservation tool to document presence and natural history and to monitor population trends both in this species and other marine species.

Day-flying lepidoptera larvae have a poorer ability to thermoregulate than adults.

Changes to ambient temperatures under climate change may detrimentally impact small ectotherms that rely on their environment for thermoregulation; however, there is currently a limited understanding of insect larval thermoregulation. As holometabolous insects, Lepidoptera differ in morphology, ecology and behaviour across the life cycle, and so it is likely that adults and larvae differ in their capacity to thermoregulate. In this study, we investigated the thermoregulatory capacity (buffering ability) of 14 species of day-flying Lepidoptera, whether this is influenced by body length or gregariousness, and whether it differs between adult and larval life stages. We also investigated what thermoregulation mechanisms are used: microclimate selection (choosing locations with a particular temperature) or behavioural thermoregulation (controlling temperature through other means, such as basking). We found that Lepidoptera larvae differ in their buffering ability between species and body lengths, but gregariousness did not influence buffering ability. Larvae are worse at buffering themselves against changes in air temperature than adults. Therefore Lepidoptera may be more vulnerable to adverse temperature conditions during their larval life stage. Adults and larvae rely on different thermoregulatory mechanisms; adults primarily use behavioural thermoregulation, whereas larvae use microclimate selection. This implies that larvae are highly dependent on the area around their foodplant for effective thermoregulation. These findings have implications for the management of land and species, for example, highlighting the importance of creating and preserving microclimates and vegetation complexity surrounding Lepidoptera foodplants for larval thermoregulation under future climate change.

Efficacy of a new fixed-dose combination injectable (0.2 mg/kg doramectin + 6.0 mg/kg levamisole hydrochloride) in Australian cattle against artificial infections of gastrointestinal nematodes

We describe a new fixed-dose combination injectable (FDCI) formulated with doramectin and levamisole hydrochloride (HCl) to target broad and overlapping spectra of gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) through two distinct modes of action. Here, we demonstrate the superior efficacy of the FDCI against mixed populations of cattle GINs in two dose confirmation studies conducted in Australia using artificially induced adult (Study 1) and immature (Study 2) GIN infections. Artificial infections consisted of Cooperia spp., Haemonchus placei, Ostertagia ostertagi, and Trichostrongylus axei. In both studies, cattle were inoculated with third-stage larvae and infections were confirmed by fecal egg count (FEC). Treatment groups in both studies were as follows: (1) negative control (saline, 0.9% sodium chloride), (2) positive control injectable endectocide (Study 1–0.2 mg/kg ivermectin; Study 2–0.2 mg/kg doramectin), (3) positive control injectable anthelmintic (7.5 mg/kg levamisole HCl), and (4) FDCI (0.2 mg/kg doramectin + 6.0 mg/kg levamisole HCl). Cattle were treated either 28 days (Study 1) or 6 days (Study 2) post-infection. On Days 14–16 (Study 1) or Days 20–21 (Study 2) post-treatment, cattle were euthanized and necropsied for the recovery, identification, and enumeration of worms. Treatment efficacy was calculated as reduction in worm burdens of treated cattle compared to saline-treated cattle, and treatments were considered effective if the geometric mean worm burden in the treatment group was reduced by ≥ 95% compared to the negative control group. In both studies, saline-treated cattle remained positive for GIN infections for the study duration. Ivermectin was less than 95% effective against Cooperia spp. (80.2%) and H. placei (24.8%) in Study 1, and levamisole HCl was less than 95% effective against Ostertagia spp. (47.1%) in Study 2. In contrast, the novel FDCI was 100% effective in treating adult and immature life stages of all cattle GINs included in the artificial infections, with no worms recovered at necropsy from doramectin + levamisole HCl-treated cattle. These data show a single administration of the FDCI provides broad-spectrum treatment of economically important cattle GINs.

From masquerading to blending in: ontogenetic shifts in antipredator camouflage in Wallace’s flying frogs

A diversity of defence colourations that shift over time provides protection against natural enemies. Adaptations for camouflage depend on an organism’s interactions with the natural environment (predators, habitat), which can change ontogenetically. Wallace’s flying frogs (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus) are cryptic emerald green in their adult life stage, but juveniles are bright red and develop white spots on their back 1 month after metamorphosis. This latter conspicuous visual appearance might function as antipredator strategy, where frogs masquerade as bird or bat droppings so that predators misidentified them as inedible objects. To test this idea, we created different paraffin wax frog models—red with white spots, red without white spots, green, and unpainted—and placed them in equal numbers within a > 800 m2 rainforest house at the Vienna Zoo. This environment closely resembles the Bornean rainforest and includes several free-living avian predators of frogs. We observed an overall hit rate of 15.5%. A visual model showed that the contrast of red, green and control models against the background colouration could be discriminated by avian predators, whereas green models had less chromatic difference than red morphs. The attack rate was significantly greater for red but was reduced by half when red models had white spots. The data therefore supports the hypothesis that the juvenile colouration likely acts as a masquerade strategy, disguising frogs as animal droppings which provides similar protection as the cryptic green adult colour. We discuss the ontogenetic colour change as a possible antipredator strategy in relation to the different habitats used at different life stages.Significance statementPredation pressure and the evolution of antipredator strategies site at the cornerstone of animal-behaviour research. Effective antipredator strategies can change in response to different habitats that animals use during different life stages. We study ontogenetic shifts in colour change as dynamic antipredator strategy in juvenile and adult Wallace’s flying frogs. We show that the unusual colour pattern of juveniles (bright red with small white spots) likely functions as a masquerade of animal droppings. Specifically, we show that white dotting, which can be associated with animal faeces, acts as the main visual feature that turns an otherwise highly conspicuous individual into a surprisingly camouflaged one. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental exploration of a vertebrate masquerading as animal droppings.

Gut bacterial population and community dynamics following adult emergence in pest tephritid fruit flies

Gut microbiota are important contributors to insect success. Host-microbe interactions are dynamic and can change as hosts age and/or encounter different environments. A turning point in these relationships the transition from immature to adult life stages, particularly for holometabolous insects where there is radical restructuring of the gut. Improved knowledge of population and community dynamics of gut microbiomes upon adult emergence inform drivers of community assembly and physiological aspects of host-microbe interactions. Here, we evaluated the bacterial communities of the pest tephritid species melon fly (Zeugodacus cucurbitae) and Medditeranean fruit fly (medfly, Ceratitis capitata) associated with the pupae life stage and timepoints immediately following adult eclosion. We used a combination of culturing to determine cultivatable bacterial titers, qPCR to determine 16S-rRNA SSU copy numbers, and 16S V4 sequencing to determine changes in communities. Both culturing and qPCR revealed that fly bacterial populations declined upon adult emergence by 10 to 100-fold followed by recovery within 24 h following eclosion. Titers reached ~ 107 CFUs (~ 108 16S rRNA copies) within a week post-emergence. We also observed concurrent changes in amplicon sequence variance (ASVs), where the ASV composition differed overtime for both melon fly and medfly adults at different timepoints. Medfly, in particular, had different microbiome compositions at each timepoint, indicating greater levels of variation before stabilization. These results demonstrate that tephritid microbiomes experience a period of flux following adult emergence, where both biomass and the makeup of the community undergoes dramatic shifts. The host-microbe dynamics we document suggest plasticity in the community and that there may be specific periods where the tephritid gut microbiome may be pliable to introduce and establish new microbial strains in the host.

Discussion Surrounding Theory, Knowledge, and Practical Applications for Clinical Nurse Specialists to Aid Them in Caring for Parents with Cancer Who Have Young Children

PurposeTo identify the theory, knowledge, and practical applications that clinical nurse specialists should consider adding to their “toolkit” to support them in caring for people affected by cancer with young children. Data SourcesExpert opinion and relevant studies on the topic formed the basis of this article. ConclusionA conversation with experts identified five key areas of knowledge important to supporting clinical nurse specialists in caring for people affected by cancer with young children: family-centered and systemic practice, nursing responsibilities and competencies, trauma-informed practice, adult life stages, and stages of child development. Key areas identified have relevance to all healthcare professionals working in cancer care. Implications for Nursing PracticeThis article provides a useful overview of psychological theories important to supporting healthcare professionals in caring for people affected by cancer. A discussion on the boundaries and competencies of the nursing role led to agreement about practical advice rooted in theory and knowledge that could benefit clinical practice. Concepts of emotional labor and the wounded healer were identified as important to inform reflection and supervision when caring for a parent affected by cancer who has a young family.

Residency, home range and inter-annual fidelity of three coastal fish species in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon

In the Gulf of Lion (NW Mediterranean), fish species such as gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata, European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax, and salema Sarpa salpa show seasonal occupation of coastal lagoons, presumably as feeding grounds during their adult life stage. The role of the lagoons in these species' life cycles remains unknown, particularly with respect to their residency, space-use, and inter-annual fidelity. Using acoustic telemetry, the movements of 72 seabream, 58 seabass, and 81 salema were monitored over four years within Prévost Lagoon (Hérault Department, Occitania Region), to characterize (1) the main seasonal patterns of space use inside the lagoon and (2) their annual migrations between the lagoon and the sea. Overall, all three species were highly resident in the lagoon during the spring/summer foraging season; seabass was the only species that also displayed high residency to the lagoon throughout the winter breeding season. The three species showed differences in their space use, although they all mainly inhabited the deep lagoon centre and adjacent shellfish farms, with very small individual home ranges (mean ± SD, 0.12 ± 0.06 km2 over all species). All species showed some inter-annual fidelity to the lagoon (>43% at minimum for seabream) although these fidelity rates were probably underestimated due to fishing mortality, which is probably high during the winter breeding season. Overall, this study reveals that coastal lagoons are key foraging habitats for these species in the Gulf of Lion. The high residency and inter-annual fidelity suggest that any increase of anthropogenic pressure within the lagoon could negatively impact these fish populations. Therefore, protection of such productive habitats could be beneficial for long-term management of emblematic coastal species and the fisheries that they support.

Perturbations in neural stem cell function during a neurotropic viral infection in juvenile mice.

Viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS) often cause worse neurological outcomes in younger hosts. Throughout childhood, the brain undergoes extensive development and refinement to produce functional neural networks. Network function is maintained partly with the help of neural stem cells (NSCs) that replace neuronal and glia subtypes in the two neurogenic niches of the brain (the hippocampus and subventricular zone). Accumulating evidence suggests that viruses disrupt NSC function in adulthood and infancy, but the in vivo impact of childhood infections on acute and long-term NSC function is unknown. Using a juvenile mouse model of measles virus (MeV) infection, where only mature neurons in the brain are infected, we defined the effects of the antiviral immune response on NSCs from juvenile to adult stages of life. We found that (a) virus persists in the brains of survivors despite an anti-viral immune response; (b) NSC numbers decrease dramatically during early infection, but ultimately stabilize in adult survivors; (c) infection is associated with mild apoptosis throughout the juvenile brain, but NSC proliferation is unchanged; (d) the loss of NSC numbers is dependent upon the stage of NSC differentiation; and (e) immature neurons increase early during infection, concurrent with depletion of NSC pools. Collectively, we show that NSCs are exquisitely sensitive to the inflammatory microenvironment created during neuron-restricted MeV infection in juveniles, responding with an early loss of NSCs but increased neurogenesis. These studies provide insight into potential cellular mechanisms associated with long-term neurological deficits in survivors of childhood CNS infections.

Description of Adults of Acentrella nadineae McCafferty, Waltz &amp; Webb, 2009 (Baetidae: Ephemeroptera) with notes on rearing and madicolous behavior of nymphs

Acentrella nadineae McCafferty, Waltz, &amp; Webb, 2009 is broadly distributed in cool, clean, swift rocky streams across parts of the southeast, northeast, and midwestern United States, but currently its adult stages are unknown. The difficulty associated with successfully rearing nymphs of Acentrella species is mostly responsible for our lack of knowledge of adult life stages. New field observations of A. nadineae nymphs from the Hubbard River, Massachusetts, USA were used to modify an already successful rearing system for baetid nymphs to obtain a reared series of male and female imagos for study. Both life stages were photographed alive and are described herein for the first time. In addition, details of the modified rearing system and notes on the unusual madicolous behavior of near final instar nymphs are presented.