Mass Occurrence Research Articles

Mass occurrences of Sandeels (Ammodytes spp.) causing aggregations of diving ducks

In autumn 1999, large, compact flocks of foraging diving ducks, particularly Common Eiders Somateria mollissima, were observed within and at the mouth of Trondheimsfjord in Central Norway. Some of these aggregations were at places previously not known as particularly rich feeding grounds. This situation continued through the winter, and still existed in March 2000. Investigations on these feeding grounds showed that the only possible prey species occurring in significant quantities was Sandeel (only Ammodytes tobianus was verified). Although most of the fish were swallowed before the birds reached the surface, some ducks (including Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca and Goldeneye Bucephala clangula) were observed eating Sandeels. Sandeel populations fluctuate in size annually and shoals are very patchily distributed. Consequently, the very variable occurrence in time and space of this food resource may occasionally bring about unusually dense and patchy aggregations of various species of diving ducks. Due to the specific habitat requirements of the Sandeel, these aggregations may also occur at localities that are not generally preferred feeding grounds for diving ducks, as was the case here. These findings may be relevant for some monitoring projects involving populations of diving ducks in marine environments.

Sensory neurapraxia after distal biceps repair is not associated with patient-reported outcomes or satisfaction: a retrospective cohort study

Cutaneous neurapraxia is the most common complication following distal biceps tendon repair (DBTR). Currently, no patient demographic factors have been implicated in its occurrence, course, or resolution. The purpose of this study is to explore various patient demographics and their association with postoperative neurapraxia. Further it investigates how mental health scores correlate with patient-reported outcomes, and whether occurrence of neurapraxia alters this association. This retrospective review evaluates a consecutive series of patients who underwent distal biceps repair with a single-incision cortical button technique. Patients with reported outcome data at a minimum of 1year (n=47) were included for analysis. Demographic data including age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, smoking status, and occurrence of neurapraxia were recorded. Patient-reported outcome measures include the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons-Elbow score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation score, Visual Analog Scale for pain, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Score, and Veterans RAND 12 (VR-12) Mental Component Score and Physical Component Score quality-of-life assessment. Postoperative neurapraxia of any duration occurred in 45% (21/47) of patients in this cohort following DBTR. Of these, 62% (13/21) reported resolution of symptoms by the latest follow-up. Mean time to resolution of neurapraxia was 148days. Patient age, body mass index, smoking history, time to surgery, tear thickness, and increasing surgeon experience across the study period were not significantly associated with the incidence or time to resolution of postoperative neurapraxia. Scores for patient satisfaction, Visual Analog Scale, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, VR-12 Mental Component Score, VR-12 Physical Component Score, and flexion ROM did not differ significantly between patients with and without postoperative neurapraxia. Patient satisfaction following DBTR was not significantly associated with postoperative neurapraxia. Patient and surgical characteristics did not influence the occurrence or time to resolution of neurapraxia. The occurrence of postoperative neurapraxia did not result in significant functional limitations.

Mass occurrence of planktic dendroid graptolite synrhabdosomes (Calyxdendrum) from the Early Ordovician Fezouata biota of Morocco

The genus Calyxdendrum is here revised to include planktic dendroid graptolites from the Ordovician (Tremadocian to Sandbian). The mass occurrence of Calyxdendrum amicabilis n. sp. from the Fezouata biota represents one of the few occurrences of synrhabdosomes of dendroid morphology that have ever been discovered. Composite structures, formed from about four to six slender, conical tubaria of the species appear as umbrella-shaped synrhabdosomes. In these, the individual tubaria are connected by their short nemata forming an irregularly shaped proximal membrane. The species is found in the late Tremadocian Sagenograptus murrayi Biozone of the Bou Izargane section in the Ternata plain north of Zagora, Morocco. The mass occurrence is interpreted to represent planktic dendroid colonies transported by low velocity currents or moving actively into different water regions on a wide shallow shelf region. They settled in the “soupy” soft sediment, where they were subsequently compacted in the now lithified mudstone. Planktic dendroids of the genus Calyxdendrum are so far known exclusively from the peri-Gondwana region, but may prove to show a wider biogeographical distribution when better known.

Effects of harmful microalgae on the behavior and morphology of ephyrae of the moon jellyfish Aurelia aurita

Although microalgae typically serve as prey for jellyfish ephyrae in marine food webs, this study investigated the potential of harmful microalgae to produce detrimental effects on the moon jellyfish Aurelia aurita. Understanding the biological interactions between Aurelia and microalgal species is crucial, particularly considering their common co-occurrence in coastal waters worldwide. We examined the effects of 11 protist strains, comprising seven species of harmful microalgae and two non-toxic microalgae, on A. aurita ephyrae. The rhythmic pulsation behavior of A. aurita was significantly suppressed when exposed to the raphidophytes Heterosigma akashiwo and Chattonella marina var. ovata and the dinoflagellates Amphidinium carterae, Coolia canariensis, and Pfiesteria piscicida. Notably, the media filtrates of all H. akashiwo strains and C. marina var. ovata killed ephyrae, implying a possible extracellular release of chemicals. This study discovered novel interactions between microalgae and jellyfish ephyrae, implying that harmful algal blooms may suppress mass occurrences of Aurelia medusae.

Preliminary studies of selected Lemna species on the oxygen production potential in relation to some ecological factors.

Dissolved oxygen is fundamental for chemical and biochemical processes occurring in natural waters and critical for the life of aquatic organisms. Many organisms are responsible for altering organic matter and oxygen transfers across ecosystem or habitat boundaries and, thus, engineering the oxygen balance of the system. Due to such Lemna features as small size, simple structure, vegetative reproduction and rapid growth, as well as frequent mass occurrence in the form of thick mats, they make them very effective in oxygenating water. The research was undertaken to assess the impact of various species of duckweed (L. minor and L. trisulca) on dissolved oxygen content and detritus production in water and the role of ecological factors (light, atmospheric pressure, conductivity, and temperature) in this process. For this purpose, experiments were carried out with combinations of L. minor and L. trisulca. On this basis, the content of oxygen dissolved in water was determined depending on the growth of duckweed. Linear regression models were developed to assess the dynamics of changes in oxygen content and, consequently, organic matter produced by the Lemna. The research showed that the presence of L. trisulca causes an increase in dissolved oxygen content in water. It was also shown that an increase in atmospheric pressure had a positive effect on the ability of duckweed to produce oxygen, regardless of its type. The negative correlation between conductivity and water oxygenation, obtained in conditions of limited light access, allows us to assume that higher water conductivity limits oxygen production by all combinations of duckweeds when the light supply is low. Based on the developed models, it was shown that the highest increase in organic matter would be observed in the case of mixed duckweed and the lowest in the presence of the L. minor species, regardless of light conditions. Moreover, it was shown that pleustophytes have different heat capacities, and L. trisulca has the highest ability to accumulate heat in water for the tested duckweed combinations. The provided knowledge may help determine the good habitat conditions of duckweed, indicating its role in purifying water reservoirs as an effect of producing organic matter and shaping oxygen conditions with the participation of various Lemna species.

Association Between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Occurrence of Esophageal Cancer

Aim: Esophageal cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer deaths globally, has been linked to body mass index (BMI). Studies have shown varying associations between BMI and different subtypes of esophageal cancer, namely adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. However, there is limited literature from Pakistan on this topic. This study aims to investigate the association between BMI and the occurrence of esophageal cancer in a Pakistani population. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at the Oncology Department of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Pakistan. Participants included patients over 18 years old with suspected adenocarcinoma or squamous carcinoma of the esophagus. The study utilized a non-probability consecutive sampling technique, and data was collected using a predefined proforma. The association between BMI and types of esophageal carcinoma was analyzed using Chi-square tests. Results: The study found a statistically significant relationship between increasing BMI and the risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. Conversely, a lower BMI was associated with a higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma. These findings align with existing literature that suggests different BMI associations with esophageal cancer subtypes. Conclusion: This study underscores the distinct relationships between BMI and different types of esophageal cancer. It highlights the importance of considering BMI as a factor in the risk assessment for esophageal cancer, particularly in the Pakistani population. Keywords: Esophageal Cancer, Body Mass Index (BMI), Adenocarcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Unravelling the genetic mechanisms and paleoenvironmental controls of early Cretaceous Oyster Mass occurrences (OMOs), Neuquén Basin, west-central Argentina

Lower Valanginian oyster mass occurrences (OMOs) from the Neuquén Basin of Argentina are analyzed using a multidisciplinary approach, including the description of their sedimentological signature and stratigraphic contacts, assessment of taphonomical attributes, and paleontological and paleoecological characteristics. These OMOs present a wide distribution in the study area, with lateral continuity for at least 2.5 km and up to 12 m thick. They occur within a single stratigraphic interval, constrained in terms of sequence stratigraphy and biostratigraphy. Three stacked tabular OMOs separated by mudstone levels were recorded in all the studied localities. The associated lithofacies point to a mainly outer ramp paleoenvironment, below storm wave base and occasionally disturbed by exceptional, distal storm flows. Internally, the OMOs share a common vertical trend characterized, from base to top, by a gradual increase in oyster abundance and a transition from mainly reclining, disarticulated oysters to articulated, cementing oysters conforming build-ups. Hence, a mainly biogenic origin is proposed, with autobiostromes grading vertically to bioherms. This vertical trend was interpreted in terms of development stages, namely, colonization, expansion, climax and extinction, which were in turn related to specific paleoenvironmental controls. Particularly, the OMOs establishment and development were associated to low sedimentation rates, salinity fluctuations and high nutrient input as a result of high primary productivity. At a larger scale, the overall paleoenvironmental conditions and subtropical geographical position of the basin were detrimental for most reef builders typical of the Cretaceous period (e.g., corals, sponges, rudists), and could have favored oyster proliferation and OMOs development instead.

Biodiversity and distribution patterns of blooming jellyfish in the Bohai Sea revealed by eDNA metabarcoding

BackgroundThe mass occurrence of scyphozoan jellyfish severely affects marine ecosystems and coastal economies, and the study of blooming jellyfish population dynamics has emerged in response. However, traditional ecological survey methods required for such research have difficulties in detecting cryptic life stages and surveying population dynamics owing to high spatiotemporal variations in their occurrence. The environmental DNA (eDNA) technique is an effective tool for overcoming these limitations.ResultsIn this study, we investigated the biodiversity and spatial distribution characteristics of blooming jellyfish in the Bohai Sea of China using an eDNA metabarcoding approach, which covered the surface, middle, and bottom seawater layers, and sediments. Six jellyfish taxa were identified, of which Aurelia coerulea, Nemopilema nomurai, and Cyanea nozakii were the most dominant. These three blooming jellyfish presented a marked vertical distribution pattern in the offshore regions. A. coerulea was mainly distributed in the surface layer, whereas C. nozakii and N. nomurai showed a upper-middle and middle-bottom aggregation, respectively. Horizontally, A. coerulea and C. nozakii were more abundant in the inshore regions, whereas N. nomurai was mainly distributed offshore. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed a strong correlation between the eDNA of the three dominant blooming jellyfish species and temperature, salinity, and nutrients.ConclusionsOur study confirms the applicability of the eDNA approach to both biodiverstiy evaluation of blooming jellyfish and investigating their spatial distribution, and it can be used as a supplementary tool to traditional survey methods.

TRANSFUSION AND INFUSION THERAPY FOR MASSIVE BLOOD LOSS. PART 3. PHYSIOLOGICAL PREREQUISITES AND LIMITATIONS WHEN USING PLASMA AND PLATELETS FOR HAEMOSTATIC RESUSCITATION

Haemotransfusion for massive bleeding (MB) should be used according to the principles of hemostatic resuscitation and simultaneously restore both oxygen transport (which we wrote about in detail in our previous publication) and compensate for the deficiency of coagulation factors and platelets. Coagulation factors (especially fibrinogen) and platelets are passively lost with the bleeding and are consumed during clot formation. Although the principles of haemostatic resuscitation are known and actively promoted already after a decade, the logistical problems with the availability of single-group fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and, even more so, platelets and cryoprecipitate at the stage of the beginning of resuscitation, are still not resolved. Poor logistics of blood product supply and organizational issues interfere with implementing the principles of haemostatic resuscitation into the routine clinical practice of treating MB in Ukraine. A deficiency of blood components at the initial stage of resuscitation pushes some doctors to transfuse crystalloid and even colloid solutions, which in MB can increase coagulopathy due to blood dilution. In this article, we present the pathophysiological rationale for early recovery of coagulation factors by performing balanced haemostatic transfusion therapy using FFP and cryoprecipitate. With MB, there is often a need for rapid correction of coagulopathy, and when the patient's blood group has not yet been determined, or when single-group FFP is still not ready for transfusion, then the urgent need for FFP transfusion from a universal AB donor (IV group). Creation of reserves of FFP from a universal donor AB (IV) is advisable in the admission of medical institutions, especially those where, in the case of MK or the numerous and mass occurrence of patients, the occurrence of a deficiency of FSP of another blood group is likely. In the absence of sufficient components and blood products containing coagulation factors and platelets, the possibility of transfusion of warm whole blood or cold whole blood should be considered.

Antibacterial effect of eucalyptus (Melaleuca leucadendra) ecoenzyme produced by Lamongan’s MSMEs against Salmonella Typhi

Typhoid fever is a disease with extensive epidemiological distribution, causing high morbidity and mortality. The lack of effectiveness in prevention and treatment contributes to its continued mass occurrence. Salmonella Typhi bacteria are the main etiological cause of typhoid fever and have demonstrated resistance to various typhoidal antibiotics. This study aims to explore alternative possibilities for these issues, both curatively and preventively. Eucalyptus (Melaleuca leucadendra) is known to contain numerous antibacterial compounds, with 1.8 cineole as the main antibacterial compound. This compound exerts antibacterial effects by disrupting bacterial cell membranes and walls. Ecoenzyme are also recognized for their antibacterial effects, containing antibacterial compounds such as acetic acid, citric acid, lipase enzyme, trypsin enzyme, and amylase enzymes. This research is a laboratory experimental study conducted using the agar-well diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar media, with the diameter of the inhibition zone as the test result. The findings indicate that all tested concentrations of eucalyptus ecoenzyme (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%) show no inhibitory zone in all three test replications. This result suggests that eucalyptus (Melaleuca leucadendra) ecoenzyme produced by Lamongan’s MSMEs does not exhibit antibacterial effects on Salmonella Typhi.

An Overview of Orthoptera Mass Occurrences in Croatia from 1900 to 2023.

During the last century, well-known locust species, such as Calliptamus italicus and Dociostaurus maroccanus, have produced outbreaks of varying degrees in the Balkans. The literature data on outbreaks in the region are scarce, and Croatia is not an exception. This study summarized the data on 23 Orthoptera mass occurrences in Croatia from 1900 to 2023 from 28 localities, representing 12 species. This is a low level of outbreak activity compared with other locust and pest grasshopper species in other parts of the world. The species with the most reporting is C. italicus with altogether six mass occurrences, while second is Barbitistes ocskayi and Miramella irena with three records, and in the third, place D. maroccanus and Gryllotalpa sp., each with two mass occurrences having been reported. One of the most notable swarms is that of Anacridium aegyptium which occurred around Šibenik in 1998, and this paper provides the first account of it, 25 years after it took place. The most recent outbreaks took place in 2022, and the most notable one was that of D. maroccanus swarm in Štikovo. The 2022 and 2023 reports were brief and muted, despite the affected agriculturists claiming significant damages.

Early response of understory vegetation to the mass dieback of Norway spruce in the European lowland temperate forest

Spruce-dominated forests are commonly exposed to disturbances associated with mass occurrences of bark beetles. The dieback of trees triggers many physical and chemical processes in the ecosystem resulting in rapid changes in the vegetation of the lower forest layers. We aimed to determine the response of non-tree understory vegetation to the mass dieback of Norway spruce (Picea abies) in the first years after the disturbance caused by the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) outbreak. Our study area was the Białowieża Biosphere Reserve covering the Polish part of the emblematic Białowieża Forest, in total 597 ​km2. The main data source comprised 3,900 phytosociological relevés (combined spring and summer campaigns) collected from 1,300 systematically distributed forest sites in 2016–2018 – the peak years of the bark beetle outbreak. We found that the understory responded immediately to mass spruce dieback, with the most pronounced changes observed in the year of the disturbance and the subsequent year. Shade-tolerant forest species declined in the initial years following the mass spruce dieback, while hemicryptophytes, therophytes, light-demanding species associated with non-forest semi-natural communities, as well as water-demanding forest species, expanded. Oxalis acetosella, the most common understory species in the Białowieża Forest, showed a distinct fluctuation pattern, with strong short-term expansion right after spruce dieback, followed by a gradual decline over the next 3–4 years to a cover level 5 percentage points lower than before the disturbance. Thus, our study revealed that mass spruce dieback selectively affects individual herb species, and their responses can be directional and non-directional (fluctuation). Furthermore, we demonstrated that the mass dieback of spruce temporarily increases plant species diversity (α-diversity).

Synanthropic spread of some salt tolerant plant species along roadsides in the continental part of Croatia

Our research was carried out in northern Croatia from 2018 to 2022 and we investigated the distribution of salt-tolerant plant species along roads (mainly along motorways) in a total of 51 study sites. We were the first to detect Cochlearia danica, a halophyte characterized by an Atlantic distribution, in the Croatian flora. We demonstrated the distinct roadside spread of Desmazeria marina, Parapholis incurva and Sagina maritima in a northerly direction towards the interior of the mainland. We recorded the mass occurrence of several salt-tolerant species already well documented in Central Europe along the surveyed motorways (e.g. Plantago coronopus, Spergularia marina) and provide data on other weeds that have spread along major roads. Three species found (Desmazeria marina, Puccinellia distans subsp. distans, Parapholis incurva) are included in the Croatian Red List.

End-Permian marine ecosystem collapse was a direct consequence of deforestation: Evidence from the Kockatea Shale of the Perth Basin, Western Australia

The end-Permian mass extinction event resulted in devastated continental biomes, desolated land, and toxic waters. Anoxia led to widespread extinctions in marine ecosystems, affecting most oceanic clades. In this paper, the palynofacies of the marine Kockatea Shale, Western Australia, was studied in drill cores Hovea-3 and Redback-2, with the aim of linking changes in the marine and continental realms across the Permian–Triassic boundary interval in Australia. We show that the post-extinction ‘Dead Zone’ of the Frazer Beach Member of the Sydney Basin, eastern Australia, whose base is dated to 252.10 ± 0.06 Ma, directly correlates to the lower part of the Kockatea Shale in the Perth Basin, the so-called Inertinitic Interval. We demonstrate that the extinction of Permian Glossopteris forests observed in the Perth Basin had an immediate impact on the marine faunas due to the massive buildup of organic matter, leading to euxinia in the photic zone and ultimately pushing the marine faunas to an ecological extinction. The last lingering occurrence of marine invertebrates of Permian aspect occur in layers that may tentatively mark the Permian–Triassic boundary, positioned just below the appearance of Triassic floras of the Kraeuselisporites saeptatus Zone (equivalent to the Lunatisporites pellucidus Zone). A striking feature at the base of the Early Triassic Sapropelic Interval of the Hovea Member is the sudden and synchronous appearances of anomalously abundant acritarchs and lycophyte spores, alongside the mass occurrence of the bivalve Claraia, allowing correlation with the rise of the eastern Australian post-extinction pioneer floras in the Early Triassic. This demonstrates a significant lag time between the recovery of the terrestrial versus the marine pioneer biota in high-latitude Gondwana, with a significant delay for the faunal recovery.

Upper Carnian to Rhaetian (Upper Triassic) conodont and carbon-isotope stratigraphy of the Csővár borehole succession, Hungary

A total of 125 samples from core from the Csővár borehole (north-central Hungary) were investigated for conodont bio- and carbon-isotope chemostratigraphy. This 620 m thick continuous pelagic carbonate succession comprises strata from the upper Carnian to upper Rhaetian, including both, the Carnian-Norian and the Norian-Rhaetian stage boundaries. The mass occurrence of the Metapolygnathus communisti conodont group followed by the occurrence of Primatella gulloae mark the base of the Norian in the lowermost part of the section, which allows good correlation with the Pizzo Mondello section (Sicily, Italy). The lower Norian conodonts of the core belong predominantly to the genus Ancyrogondolella. Subdivision of the middle Norian interval is hampered by the lack of fully adult specimens. The upper Norian shows a greater diversity than the rest of the Norian, and the rich assemblages give an insight into the evolutionary transition from Misikella hernsteini to Mi. posthernsteini (sensu stricto). The first occurrence of Mi. ultima in the core changes the previous views of the thickness of the upper Rhaetian in the Csővár area and emphasizes the necessity of re-calibration of the isotope stratigraphic results of previous studies. The carbon-isotope results show distinct fluctuations and trends. Some of them are similar to literature data, others are different. It can be stated from the new data that a ∼ 2 ‰ long-term δ13C background decline throughout the Norian is most probably global in extent. Negative carbon-isotope excursions occur in Norian substages: (upper) Alaunian, lower Sevatian, middle Sevatian and upper Sevatian. Distinct positive δ13C excursions are present across the Alaunian-Sevatian boundary and the Norian-Rhaetian boundary, and the climax of the latter is located in the lower part of the posthernsteini Zone. This last isotope event is particularly important because at the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) candidate for the base of the Rhaetian stage at Pignola (Southern Apennines, Italy) a distinct negative δ13C excursion has been reported for this stratigraphic level.

Development of a Phenology Model for Egg Hatching of Walking-Stick Insect, Ramulus mikado (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae) in Korea

The walking-stick insect Ramulus mikado is occasionally considered a forest pest, as its mass occurrence can cause severe defoliation. It overwinters as eggs on the ground surface, and the hatched nymphs climb up to the host trees in spring. In this study, temperature-dependent development experiments were performed on R. mikado eggs under three constant temperatures (23.3, 28.3, and 29.2 °C) to extend the previously reported thermal response. The development times of eggs collected in summer and winter were also compared to investigate how development status is influenced by the seasons. The lower and upper developmental thresholds and thermal constants of R. mikado eggs were estimated to be 6.1 °C, 29.2 °C, and 1707.8 DD, respectively. The starting point for effective temperature effects on the eggs was estimated to be 1 August, based on the results of the experiment on field-collected eggs. A phenology model was constructed by using a development completion model scaled by the thermal constant, with a starting point of degree-day accumulation. The model showed good agreement, with a deviation of 3.2 ± 2.95 days between prediction and observation. The developed phenology model is useful for determining the appropriate timing for management decision-making regarding this insect.

Harmful entomofauna in forestry and green infrastructure

The national invention of the forests of the Republic of Srpska established over 100 species, with the entire volume of wood mass being dominated by deciduous trees (beech 45%, oak 8%, other deciduous trees 7%, tribal deciduous trees 3%). Beech has the largest share in state forests in the supplies (43%), followed by fir about 20%, and spruce by 16%. Of the harmful endomofauna of fir, one third are gradeogenic species, which can cause great economic and environmental damage. Harmful endomofauna of beech number 32 species, of which economically significant primary species are prone to mass occurrences and trophical relations related to the leaf (15.75% of species). Harmful endomofauna of oak species represent 40 most common species. Outbreaking primary species make up one quarter, feed predominantly on leaves and cause defoliation (50%). Harmful for seeds or acorns are 15% of pests, which can have a detrimental effect on the reproduction and regeneration of oak forests. The most common pests in spruce forests are species that occur frequently and can only occasionally cause minor damage (56.25%). The most economically important are bark beetles and wood borers, which tend to outbreak (12.5%) and cause dammage on a hudge area. Outbreaking species are also pest of seed and cones, which participate in the spruce pest complex with 14.58%. Pests in nurseries are important for reproduction in forestry and for providing nursery stock for the establishment of green infrastructure. Of the 54 harmful species, almost a quarter are non-native species (24.07%). Often, non-native pests are transferred from nurseries to public green spaces, green corridors, and entrepreneurs are ofteen serving as a pathway for introduction of non-native harmful species into forest ecosystems. Therefore, ornamental plants are rightly considered the most important pathways for introduction of invasive alien species in mannaged and protective forests. Non-native and invasive species that are introduced in the Republic of Srpska e.g. emerging pests are folowing: Aproceros leucopoda, Cameraria ohridella, Corythucha arcuata, Corythucha ciliata, Cydalima perspectalis, Eopineus strobi, Gillettella cooleyi, Leptoglossus occidentalis, Metcalfa pruinosa, Obolodiplosis robiniae, Phyllonorycter platani, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, Stictocephala bisonia etc. Most of these species are pests in nurseries and ongreen infrastructure. Some native insect species appear as emerging pests due to their increase of population , as an answer to changing weather conditions. One example is the ash wasp Tomostethus nigritus (F.) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), which in the last ten years appear in local outbreaks in tree lines or other green areas at the territory of Southeastern Europe from the Balkan Peninsula to the Nordic countries. Increased populations of Zeuzera pyrina (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) were also applied in nurseries and on elements of green infrastructure. Due to the climate change, the species Ovalisia (Palmar) festiva migrated from the Mediterranean area, setting a dangerous pest in nurseries, while the linden bug Oxycarenus lavaterae is common on lindens, building large colonies but so far with no significant damage on trees. In order to prevent introduction and stop the spread of alien invasive species, there is need to ensure the maintenance of a high level of health protection status in agriculture, green infrastrucrure and forestry.

Pierwsze stanowisko Stereocaulon pileatum Ach. (Stereocaulaceae, Ascomycotina Licheniasti) na niżu polskim

A new locality of rare lichen species, Stereocaulon pileatum, in the Wielkopolska region was found in 2017 in the vicinity of Wieruszów city. The lichen grew massively on small melaphyre stones on the railway embankment over a lenght of almost 2 kilometers. The optimal habitat conditions are confirmed not only by the mass occurrence, but also by the good health of the thallus and the presence of numerous fruiting bodies. It is a species known in Poland from only 15 sites in the mountains. It is under strict legal protection and having the EN category in the “Red List of Polish Lichens”.

Mass occurrence of echinoids in an Oligocene hydrocarbon-seep limestone from the Olympic Peninsula, Washington State, USA

AbstractLoose limestone blocks of a newly recognized hydrocarbon-seep deposit from the lower Oligocene Jansen Creek Member of the Makah Formation were collected on a beach terrace close to the mouth of Bullman Creek in Washington State, USA. The limestone consists largely of authigenic carbonate phases, including 13C-depleted fibrous cement forming banded and botryoidal crystal aggregates with δ13C values as low as –23.5 ‰. Lipids extracted from the limestone yielded molecular fossils of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME), dominated by compounds of an ANME-2/DSS consortium with δ13C values as low as −106 ‰, indicating formation at an ancient methane seep. The fossil inventory of the seep deposit is remarkable, consisting almost solely of echinoid remains, whereas typical seep biota are absent. Varying preservation of the echinoid fossils indicates parautochthonous deposition, corroborated by evidence for high fluid flow at the ancient seep, possibly responsible for displacement of echinoids after death. Although a full taxonomic description of the echinoids cannot be given, almost all fossils were assigned to one taxon of irregular spatangoids, except for a single regular echinoid. Abundance and lifestyle of the irregular spatangoids in the Bullman Creek echinoid seep deposit resemble those of the fossil Tithonia oxfordiana from an upper Jurassic seep deposit in France and extant Sarsiaster griegii from modern seeps in the Gulf of Mexico. The Bullman Creek echinoid deposit probably represents a fossil analogue of the Gulf of Mexico Sarsiaster mass occurrence, indicating that the adaptation of spatangoid echinoids to chemosynthesis-based ecosystems ranges back at least to the earliest Oligocene.

Mass Occurrence of Tadpole Deformities in Toad Species of the Genus <i>Duttaphrynus</i> (Bufonidae) in the Himalaya (Uttarakhand, India)

In April and May 2019, we examined seven tadpole samples of two bufonid species Duttaphrynus stomaticus (one site) and Duttaphrynus himalayanus (six sites) taken in the Yamuna River and its tributaries, and the Bhagirathi River at altitudes from 687 m up to 2448 m above sea level; the western part of the Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. Seven categories of larval deformities were recorded: scoliosis, kyphosis, shortened tail, rounded tip of the tail, bifurcated tip of the tail, opercular chamber defect, and edema. The occurrence of malformed tadpoles calculated from a sample size ranged from 3.3 to 13.6%. Water mineralization levels were fluctuated in the limits 37 – 330 mg/dm3, exceeding 100 mg/dm3 in three cases. There was no significant correlation between share of abnormal animals or abnormalities frequency and mineralization as well as with altitude. Mass occurrence of malformed tadpoles was revealed in two places: the Aglad Nadi (= Algar River, 10%, site 1, 687 m) and the town Purola (9.9 – 11.8%, sites 2 and 3, 1339 – 1349 m). Both places were associated with human activity: cattle grazing and residential agrolandscape, respectively. Enlarged rate of anomalies on the town territory may be explained by a synergy between complex of drivers (mineralization, fertilizers and pesticides) that can lead to amplification of general impact on larval morphogenesis. Thus, we reported the first record of mass larval abnormalities in amphibians for the Garhwal in particular and for the Himalaya in general. Formerly published data evidenced that another malformation hotspot of amphibians was situated at the Western Ghats, peninsular India.