Natural Food Sources Research Articles

Contribution of natural food environments to nutritional intake and biomarker status: insights from the women of indigenous santhal communities of Jharkhand, India

BackgroundMany indigenous communities reside in biodiverse environments replete with natural food sources but show ​poor access and utilization.MethodsTo understand the links between indigenous food access, dietary intakes, and biomarkers, we conducted a cross-sectional study among women of the Santhal Community (n = 211) from 17 villages in the Godda district of Jharkhand, India. Survey methods included household surveys, dietary intake assessment (24 HDR) and micronutrient and inflammatory biomarkers' estimation.ResultsThe diversity in access to foods from different natural sources expressed as Food access diversity index was low. This led to poor consumption and thus a low Minimum Dietary Diversity. The mean nutrient intake was less than the estimated average requirement for all nutrients. Women with higher dietary diversity scores had higher nutrient intakes. Thiamine and calcium intakes were significantly higher in women consuming indigenous foods than non-consumers. One-fourth of the women had elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers. The prevalence of iron deficiency was approximately 70%. Vitamin A insufficiency (measured as retinol-binding protein) was observed in around 33.6% women, while 28.4% were deficient. Household access to natural food sources was associated with specific biomarkers. The access to kitchen garden (baari) was positively associated with retinol-binding protein levels and negatively with inflammatory biomarkers, while access to ponds was positively associated with ferritin levels.ConclusionThe findings highlight the role of access to diverse natural foods resources, including indigenous foods, for improving nutrition security in indigenous communities. Nutrition and health programs promoting indigenous food sources should include the assessment of biomarkers for effective monitoring and surveillance.

Status and distribution of an introduced population of European Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis) in the western Great Lakes region of North America

Despite the importance of monitoring introduced species, reports of non-native birds are often initially dismissed by observers. This leads to serious information gaps about source localities, founding numbers, and growth and expansion of potential new populations. Here, we report on European Goldfinches in North America between 2001 and 2021, focusing on the western Great Lakes region. We compiled over 7000 records of European Goldfinches from multiple sources; over 3300 records were from the western Great Lakes. This species was initially reported widely in this region, but over time, birds were most consistently reported between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois. They have been breeding in this area continuously since 2003 and the number of reported observations has increased in recent years. From our compiled records, we describe their distribution, breeding status, nesting phenology, and natural food sources. From import records, we provide evidence that the likely primary founding event of this population was release or escape from a cage bird importer in northern Illinois and provide information on possible origins. We briefly discuss possible ecological impacts. We highlight weaknesses in the way data on non-native species are currently collected and how it has impeded our ability to thoroughly reconstruct the recent history of this species in the western Great Lakes region. Formal study is needed on this population of European Goldfinches, including their potentially increasing population and range, ecology, and an evaluation of the potential effects on native ecosystems.

Trans-palmitoleic acid, a dairy fat biomarker, stimulates insulin secretion and activates G protein-coupled receptors with a different mechanism from the cis isomer.

Dietary trans-palmitoleic acid (trans 16:1n-7, tPOA), a biomarker for high-fat dairy product intake, has been associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in some cross-sectional and prospective epidemiological studies. Here, we investigated the insulin secretion-promoting activity of tPOA and compared them with the effects evoked by the cis-POA isomer (cPOA), an endogenous lipokine biosynthesized in the liver and adipose tissue, and found in some natural food sources. The debate about the positive and negative relationships of those two POA isomers with metabolic risk factors and the underlying mechanisms is still going on. Therefore, we examined the potency of both POA isomers to potentiate insulin secretion in murine and human pancreatic β cell lines. We also investigated whether POA isomers activate G protein-coupled receptors proposed as potential targets for T2DM treatment. We show that tPOA and cPOA augment glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) to a similar extent; however, their insulin secretagogue activity is associated with different signaling pathways. We also performed ligand docking and molecular dynamics simulations to predict the preferred orientation of POA isomers and the strength of association between those two fatty acids and GPR40, GPR55, GPR119, and GPR120 receptors. Overall, this study provides insight into the bioactivity of tPOA and cPOA toward selected GPCR functions, indicating them as targets responsible for the insulin secretagogue action of POA isomers. It reveals that both tPOA and cPOA may promote insulin secretion and subsequently regulate glucose homeostasis.

Using chlorophyll extract as a natural food source for Carassius auratus and adult male Wistar Hannover rats

Using chlorophyll extract as a natural food source for Carassius auratus and adult male Wistar Hannover rats

Fabrication, characterization and biological properties of pectin and/or chitosan-based films incorporated with noni (Morinda citrifolia) fruit extract

Noni ( Morinda citrifolia ) fruit is a natural food source rich in antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds. In this study, the phytochemicals of noni fruit extract (NFE) were identified by using HPLC-ESI-qTOF/MS method. Subsequently, casting method was adopted to prepare pectin and/or chitosan (CH)-based films incorporated with NFE. The influence of NFE addition on the physicochemical, microstructure, and biological properties of pectin and/or CH-based films was evaluated. Results confirmed that incorporation of NFE into pectin and/or CH-based films increased the tensile properties, water vapor permeability (WVP) and opacity of the films, but declined the thickness, moisture content and water solubility slightly. However, pectin-based films showed higher water solubility than CH-based films followed by pectin/CH-based films. In addition, the addition of NFE slightly decreased the film's thermal stability, and CH-based films showed better thermal stability compared to pectin or pectin/CH-based films. Regardless of the NFE addition, no significant morphological changes of pectin and pectin/CH-based films were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Compared with the control films, the average roughness of CH-based film surface was evidently increased. FTIR results showed that the addition of NFE had no remarkably influences on chemical structures of the films. More importantly, the addition of NFE effectively improved the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the pectin and/or CH-based films, which was due to phenolic compounds existed in NFE. In short, pectin and/or CH-based films incorporated with NFE is characterized with eco-friendliness, reliability and multiplex bio-activities, which is expected to be a promising alternative for the plastics food packaging film. • Phenolic compositions of noni fruit extract (NFE) were identified by LC-MS/MS. • Pectin and/or chitosan-based edible films incorporated with NFE were fabricated. • Physicochemical properties of the prepared films were investigated and compared. • Incorporated with NFE improved the tensile strength and opacity of the films. • Incorporated with NFE slightly decreased the film's thermal stability. • Incorporated with NFE enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the films.

Review on Vitamin Producing and Probiotic Properties of Lactobacillus, Derived from Tribal Fermented Foods

Though almost all natural food sources contain vitamins, vitamin deficiencies are still prevalent in the World. In India, both macro and micronutrient deficiency diseases are very common due to low consumption of nutritional foods, consumption of foods with low nutritive value, improper cooking methods, poor socio-economic conditions etc. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the best choice after food stuffs to reduce the burden of nutrient deficiency diseases. Recently lactic acid bacteria have been hugely used in the food industry for fermentation due to its numerous functions and health benefits. Fermentation with probiotic lactic acid bacteria not only enhances the nutritive value and digestibility of the foods but also enhances vitamin concentration due to their vitamin producing capability. Certain strains of lactic acid bacteria can synthesize B-group vitamins such as folate, cobalamine, riboflavin etc. This review listed current papers showing the probiotic and vitamin-producing properties of tribal fermented foods derived from Lactic acid bacteria including Lactobacillus. This review expects that the probiotic vitamin producing Lactobacillus strains can be used as a starter culture for the fermentation process to prepare indigenous fermented foods and helps in preventing clinical and subclinical vitamin deficiencies among tribal community.

Neurotransmitters Regulation and Food Intake: The Role of Dietary Sources in Neurotransmission

Neurotransmitters (NTs) are biologically active chemicals, which mediate the electrochemical transmission between neurons. NTs control numerous organic functions particularly crucial for life, including movement, emotional responses, and the physical ability to feel pleasure and pain. These molecules are synthesized from simple, very common precursors. Many types of NTs have both excitatory and inhibitory effects. Neurotransmitters' imbalance can cause many diseases and disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, depression, insomnia, increased anxiety, memory loss, etc. Natural food sources containing NTs and/or their precursors would be a potential option to help maintain the balance of NTs to prevent brain and psychiatric disorders. The level of NTs could be influenced, therefore, by targeting dietary habits and nutritional regimens. The progressive implementation of nutritional approaches in clinical practice has made it necessary to infer more about some of the nutritional NTs in neuropsychiatry. However, the importance of the intake of nutritional NTs requires further understanding, since there are no prior significant studies about their bioavailability, clinical significance, and effects on nerve cells. Interventional strategies supported by evidence should be encouraged.

The Effect of Traditional Home Remedies on Glycemic Control among People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)

Traditional home remedy consumption is a typical ancient practice in India. These traditional home remedies are found to have beneficial effects on many chronic conditions. This study was designed to explore the effect of traditional home remedies on glycemic control in people with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). In this study, 148 type-2 DM patients aged between 35 and 70 of both genders, participated. Among 148 type-2 DM patients, 102 T2DM patients use traditional home remedies along with oral anti-diabetic drugs, while the remaining 46 are non-users. The details of age, duration of type- 2 DM, glycated Hb (HbA1c) values, and use of traditional home remedies were obtained from a cross-sectional survey. The HbA1c value of 7-8% was considered an optimal target glycemic control, and ≤ 7% was considered poor control. A mean and SD were used to represent descriptive statistics. An independent sample test was used to compare the mean HBA1c between the fenugreek users and non-users by considering p<0.05 as statistically significant. The majority of type- 2 DM in our study group used Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) (76.47%). A small proportion of our study group is using Azadirachta indica (Indian lilac or neem) (7.84%), Momordica charantia (bitter guard) (3.93%), and Aegle marmelos L. (Bengal quince or bael) (2.94%). The HbA1c levels in the majority of the traditional home remedy users were within the recommended target levels. The mean HbA1c levels of fenugreek non-users were significantly higher (p<0.001) than fenugreek users. In conclusion, our study shows that type-2 DM traditional home remedy users have better glycemic control than non-users. Home remedies are potent natural food sources that can be used with anti-diabetic drugs. However, such a use should be done with the knowledge of treating doctors, which may help to achieve better glycemic control and prevent type-2 DM-related complications.

Proximate, Minerals, and Vitamin C Contents of Selected Wild Edible Plants in Lasta District, Northeastern Ethiopia

Wild edible plants (WEPs) are the natural food source that can help to mitigate food insecurity and improve starvation in low income countries including Ethiopia. Despite the widespread use of WEPs in Ethiopia, studies on the nutritional contents of Ethiopian WEPs are limited. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the nutritional value (proximate, mineral, and vitamin C contents) of the most consumed seven wild edible plants collected from Lasta District, Northeastern Ethiopia. The nutritional parameters including proximate, macro and micronutrients, and also vitamin C contents of the selected seven wild edible plants were evaluated using standard food analysis methods (moisture by dry-oven method, ash by high-temperature incineration in an electric muffle furnace, fat by Soxhlet extraction procedure, protein by Kjeldahl process, minerals by Atomic absorption spectrometer and atomic emission spectrometry and vitamin C by using a spectrophotometer). One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the nutritional content variations of selected WEPs. The proximate composition of the 7 WEPs came in the respective ranges of moisture (6.50–9.77 g/100 g); ash (6.99–26.35 g/100 g); crude protein (13.1–33.63 g/100 g); crude fat (1.08–9.83 g/100 g); crude fiber (6.21–43.77 g/100 g); utilizable carbohydrate (30.11–66.25 g/100 g) and gross energy (213.05–414.80 Kcal/100 g). The mineral composition of WEPs (mg/100 g dry weight) for macronutrients ranged from 25.53–37.99 Na, 56.65–72.79 Mg, 14.40–43.57 K, 44.35–60.14 Ca, and for micronutrients it ranged from 10.51–27.96 Fe, 8.35–23.87 Zn, 14.08–23.20 Cu, and 7.99–19.08 Mn. The vitamin C contents of WEPs (mg/100 g dry weight) ranged from 2.16–70.42 except in Haplocarpha rueppelii leaves in which its vitamin C content is below the detection limit. The outcome of the investigation indicates that the proximate, mineral and vitamin C contents of the WEPs included in the analysis were higher than those of some common crops (sorghum, rice, wheat, barley and maize), indicating their nutritional contribution to the human diet in the studied area. These wild food sources make up a good part of the traditional subsistence system of the people of Lasta District alongside their common food crops and other food sources.

Fine-scale assessment of Chlorella syrup as a nutritional supplement for honey bee colonies

Habitat loss, climate change, and global agriculture have a non-negligible effect on the reduced abundance and diversity of floral resources. Malnutrition and nutritional stress are consequences of the combination of these factors with considerable impact on honey bee health and colony losses. The solution to inadequate natural sources for beekeeping is the additional feeding of honey bee colonies with food supplements. The algae Chlorella is a natural food source, with a nutrient profile similar to natural pollen, thus it has promising application in beekeeping. We evaluated Chlorella vulgaris syrup as a dietary supplement in the view of the oxidative stress that may be caused by long term administration to the colonies. Consuming Chlorella syrup did not influence the activity of digestive enzymes of summer honey bee workers, however, lipase activity insignificantly increased. After Chlorella application to colonies, we also observed insignificantly higher gene expression of antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxid dismutase1 in adult workers; however, in larvae the expression of those genes was not affected. Surprisingly, the gene expression did not correspond with enzyme activity in adult bee abdomens. In Chlorella fed colonies, we recorded a higher concentration of vitellogenin, which plays multiple roles in honey bee physiology, i.e., antioxidant, storage protein, or immunity-related functions. Our new findings brought evidence that Chlorella did not negatively affect the digestion or oxidative balance of honey bees, thus its application as a pollen supplement can be fully recommended for maintaining the health of honey bee colonies during periods of dearth.

Quorum Sensing Based Drug Screening Against Vibrio Cholerae

The QS method is a means of bacterial cell-to-cell communication, which uses extracellular signal molecules called autoinducers to transmit information between cells.Bacteria can use QS to collaborate on tasks. The pathogen Vibrio cholerae uses QS to inhibit the development of virulence factors and the formation of biofilms. Cholera is caused by the Gram-negative, curved bacteria Vibrio cholerae (Clemens et al., 2017). There are also a number of virulence components produced by this disease, including cholera hemolysin (CH), toxin-co-regulated pilus (TCP), flagellum, etc. By constraining the target protein, HapR, with adequate bioactive compounds, the pathogenic activity of in vibrio cholerae can be suppressed.Bioactive substances from various natural food sources were chosen and analysed for their quorum quenching effect against HapR protein utilising bioinformatics methods. The in-silico analysis produced notable results for thirteen of the 25 substances evaluated, with the best docking score. These chemicals could be employed for QSI-based therapeutics against vibrio cholerae infections and could be suggested for in vitro and in vivo investigations.

Variation in foraging strategies of New Zealand albatross species within a dominance hierarchy

ABSTRACT Co-occurring species sharing a limited resource are thought to adopt alternative strategies to coexist. Here, we investigate four species of co-occurring albatrosses in southern New Zealand that share food resources but differ in dominance status to test for variation in strategies to acquire supplemental food provided by ecotourism boats. We found evidence for distinct foraging strategies consistent with each species’ dominance rank. Buller’s albatross (Thalassarche bulleri) was the most subordinate species and frequently pursued scraps of fish on the periphery of the feeding flocks and avoided interacting with other species. Salvin’s albatross (Thalassarche salvini) and White-capped albatross (Thalassarche cauta) were intermediate in dominance status; both had fast responses to fish and typically pursued the largest fish scraps, though T. cauta successfully stole fish while T. salvini did not. In contrast, Southern Royal albatross (Diomedea epomophora) was the dominant species and did not avoid interactions with other species and pursued the largest fish scraps but was slower to respond compared with some subordinates. Natural food sources approximate the scenarios seen behind ecotourism boats, suggesting that differences in foraging strategies are likely present without human intervention. Overall, our results suggest that foraging strategies associated with dominance hierarchies could help structure seabird communities.

Growth Rate of Microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata at Different Culture Scales

Nannochloropsis oculata is a microalgae that acts as a natural food source in fisheries. The need for N. oculata can be met through progressive culture starting from laboratory scale culture to provide inoculant stock to mass culture using concrete tubs. The culture of N. oculata begins with the preparation and sterilization of culture media and equipment, fertilizer production, microalgae culture starting from the laboratory scale, intermediate scale, and mass scale, observing the density of microalgae and water quality. The lag phase of N. oculata occurs on the first and second days, the exponential growth phase lasts for four days, followed by a stationary phase that occurs on the seventh day. Peak population density of N. oculata on all culture scales occurred on day 6 with culture density in glass containers 14.58x106 cells/mL, carboy culture 11.6x106 cells/mL, intermediate culture 5.1x106 cells/mL, and mass culture 9.85 x106 cells/mL. The growth rate of microalgae N. oculata from the beginning of growth to day 6 was highest on the intermediate scale. The size of the container and the different composition of fertilizer at each culture scale caused differences in the peak population density and growth rate of N. oculata. Production of N. oculata can be carried out in bulk while still paying attention to every stage of culture preparation and microalgae culture activities as a standard operating procedure for microalgae culture to prevent contamination. Keywords: progressive culture, microalgae, Nannochloropsis oculata

Marketing Strategy of Honey in Sarining Trigona Pertiwi Beekeeper Bongkasa Pertiwi Village

Honey bees are one of the potential forest resources to be developed and cultivated. Marketing is an important part of business development. The purpose of this study is to identify of factors that affect honey business cultivation and to obtain the strategy for business development of the business Trigonola Laevicep honey in Sarining Trigona Pertiwi. The method used in this research is the descriptive method using questionnaire, observation, interview, and documentation. The data found were analyzed using descriptive analysis and continued with SWOT analysis. The research found that the main factors contribute for business are as follows; assistance from universities and related institutions, mentoring/training, increasing consumer demand for kele-kele honey, regulations or rules and trends, development of promotional media through social media, the existence of online marketing, the climate and environment supporting the development of honeybee, the availability of natural bee food source plants, and the affordable selling price of kele-kele honey. Several strategies that can be carried out in business development including: Human resources who are highly committed to the development of the kele-kele honey bee cultivation business, assistance from universities and related institutions, kele-kele honey products developed to make derivative products so that consumers can choose more varied products, marketing is done through social media so that the product is more widely known not only in the Bongkasa Pertiwi area, increasing the availability of plants as natural bee food sources, preventing pests and diseases, and the packaging made according to quality standards to ensure the safety of the products.

The effects of Borrelia infection on its wintering rodent host

In seasonal environments, appropriate adaptations are crucial for organisms to maximize their fitness. For instance, in many species, the immune function has been noticed to decrease during winter, which is assumed to be an adaptation to the season’s limited food availability. Consequences of an infection on the health and survival of the host organism could thus be more severe in winter than in summer. Here, we experimentally investigated the effect of a zoonotic, endemic pathogen, Borrelia afzelii infection on the survival and body condition in its host, the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), during late autumn–early winter under semi-natural field conditions in 11 large outdoor enclosures. To test the interaction of Borrelia infection and energetic condition, four populations received supplementary nutrition, while remaining seven populations exploited only natural food sources. Supplementary food during winter increased the body mass independent of the infection status, however, Borrelia afzelii infection did not cause severe increase in the host mortality or affect the host body condition in the late autumn–early winter. While our study suggests that no severe effects are caused by B. afzelii infection on bank vole, further studies are warranted to identify any potentially smaller effects the pathogen may cause on the host fitness over the period of whole winter.

Neotropical bromeliads as food sources for birds: a systematic review and perspectives on the management of ecological interactions

The loss of interactions and ecosystem functions is a concerning by‐product of pervasive Anthropocene species decline and extinction. Ecological interactions between species sustain the provision of ecosystem processes, especially those mediated by trophic relationships such as pollination and predation. At the local habitat scale, the diversity of natural food sources may increase the diversity of interactions, thus enhancing the stability of local communities and ecosystem functioning. Here I discuss the importance of bromeliads as a potential provider of additional trophic interactions with birds, a key animal group in the Neotropics. Based on 88 studies published between 1965 and 2020 across the Neotropical region, I observed that bromeliads act as ‘wildlife restaurants’ by providing an additional food source throughout the year in almost all Neotropical ecosystems for at least 162 bird species (mostly hummingbirds). These plants (both epiphytic and terrestrial forms) can provide nectar, flowers, water for drinking, invertebrates, small vertebrates, seeds, and fruits, as well as nest materials and substrates. Given these trophic relationships between bromeliads and birds, actions to restore the richness and abundance of these plants in changed habitats would potentially enhance the local diversity of birds. I discuss and recommend the use of bromeliad transplantations as a relevant conservation tool for birds and some implications for the maintenance of species and interaction diversity in natural and agricultural habitats.

Use of a Feeding Station by Andean Condors in Central Chile

Abstract Organic waste disposals are a valuable food source for vultures. However, some negative collateral effects may result from their use. I documented Andean Condors' (Vultur gryphus) use of a feeding station, which was established in central Chile to reduce risks associated with condors' use of landfills. I also evaluated the changes in that use over time. The feeding station was in place between 2010 and 2016, from July to December, which are the months with the lowest food availability and the highest presence of condors at the landfill. Between 2010 and 2012, the daily maximum abundances were 85, 72, and 82 condors each respective year. In 2013, the daily maximum abundance peaked at 146 condors, but abundance subsequently decreased until 2016, possibly due to the availability of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) carcasses associated with an outbreak of myxomatosis. The abundance of the four sex/age classes was highest for immature females, followed by adult females, immature males, and adult males. This contrasts with counts in areas not associated with a predictable source of food, where adult males are the most numerous (Pavez and Estades (2016), Journal of Raptor Research 50:23–32). The high proportion of immature females at the feeding station may reflect a feeding strategy that compensates for their lower social status and foraging effectiveness. Given the current situation in Chile, with the reduction of natural food sources and subsequent increasing use of landfills by condors, it is important to evaluate the use of feeding stations as a management tool during certain times and places.

Potential Active Constituents from Opophytum forsskalii (Hochst. ex Boiss.) N.E.Br against Experimental Gastric Lesions in Rats.

Opophytum forsskalii (O. forsskalii) is a desert plant that belongs to the Aizoaceae family. Although it is a natural food source for Bedouin tribes in northern Saudi Arabia, there is little information on its active metabolites. Therefore, the secondary metabolites of the hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves of this species were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass chromatography (LC-MS). LC-MS identified a total of 30 secondary metabolites. These compounds represented two main categories among sixteen classes. Among them, flavonoids represented the largest proportion with eleven metabolites while fatty acids provided seven compounds. In addition, the extract was evaluated for its gastroprotective effect against gastric lesions induced by different models, such as indomethacin, stress, and necrotizing agents (80% ethanol, 0.2 mol/L NaOH, and 25% NaCl), in rats. For each method, group 1 was used as the control group while groups 2 and 3 received the leaf extract at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. The ulcer index (UI) and intraluminal bleeding score (IBS) were measured for each method. In addition, gastric tissue from the ethanol method was used for the analysis of nonprotein sulfhydrates (NP-SH), malondialdehyde (MDA), total protein (TP), and histopathologic evaluation. Pretreatment with O. forsskalii significantly decreased UI (p < 0.01) and IBS (p < 0.01) at 400 mg/kg. Pretreatment with O. forsskalii significantly improved total protein levels (p < 0.01) and NP-SH (p < 0.001) compared to the ethanol ulcer groups. MDA levels increased from 0.5 to 5.8 nmol/g in the normal groups compared to the ethanol groups and decreased to 2.34 nmol/g in the O. forsskalii pretreatment. In addition to the gastroprotective markers, histopathological examination of gastric tissue confirmed the gastroprotective potential of O. forsskalii extract against ethanol.

Primary Composition and Pigments of 11 Red Seaweed Species from the Center of Portugal

Macroalgae have been regarded as a natural food source since ancient times, their nutritional value being not only proven by recent studies, but also triggering further in-depth research efforts on the matter. The present study aims to provide an insight into the nutritional potential of selected red seaweed species collected in central Portugal by specifically comparing the moist yield and ash content, crude protein, total lipids, carbohydrates and pigment content between species and, ultimately, finding out if there are differences between taxa. The results obtained highlighted the most nutritionally appealing species, namely, Plocamium cartilagineum with respect to protein content (23.18% dw) and Sphaerocococcus coronopifolius with respect to carbohydrate content (40.23% dw), while none of the species studied showed a lipid content higher than 1.80% dw. Regarding pigment content, the highest concentrations of phycoerythrin, carotenoid and chlorophyll a were obtained, respectively, from P. cartilagineum (0.09 mg.mL−1), Porphyra umbilicalis (1.88 µg.g−1 fw) and Jania rubens (38.41 µg.mL−1). We concluded that there are significant differences between the species studied regarding their nutritional profile, with a marked difference between Corallinales and all other species not belonging to this order; regarding pigment content, this variation between orders was not observed. Nevertheless, all the studied species may act as promising complements in a human healthy diet.

Impact of disturbance and dietary shift on gastrointestinal bacterial community and its invertebrate host system.

The gut microbiome is one of the most important sites of host-microbe interactions, however, mechanisms governing the responses of host-associated microbes to changing environmental conditions are poorly understood. To address this, we investigated individual and combined effects of dietary changes and increase in salinity (from freshwater to salinity 3) or antibiotic concentration on the gastrointestinal bacterial community of the aquatic snail Ampullaceana balthica. In parallel, the energy reserves of the host were quantified. A change of natural food source to biofilm forming green algae Scenedesmus obliquus as well as the combined treatment of salinity and S. obliquus decreased the richness and changed the composition of the A. balthica gastrointestinal bacterial community. In these treatments Pseudomonas became the dominant bacterium. However, energy reserves of the host were higher in these treatments compared to the reference aquaria specimens and the combined treatment of antibiotics with S. obliquus. The presence of antibiotics inhibited the dominance of Pseudomonas and resulted in lower energy reserves despite S. obliquus feeding. Therefore the host seems to be able to adapt and replace its bacterial community composition to respond to mild changes in salinity and food source. Antibiotics in the water can disturb this self-regulating mechanism. Our study underlines the ability of aquatic macroinvertebrates to respond to sudden changes in food source and mild shifts in salinity. Moreover, it emphasizes the strong impact of the food source on the gastrointestinal microbiome and the importance of generalists during disturbance.