Population Status Research Articles

The monsoon-associated equine South African pointy mosquito 'Aedes caballus'; the first comprehensive record from southeastern Iran with a description of ecological, morphological, and molecular aspects.

The equine South African pointy vector mosquito, Aedes caballus, poses a significant threat to human health due to its capacity for transmitting arboviruses. Despite favorable climate for its existence in southeast Iran, previous records of this species in the area have indicated very low abundance. This comprehensive field and laboratory study aimed to assess its current adult population status in this region, utilizing a combination of ecological, morphological and molecular techniques. Four distinct types of traps were strategically placed in three fixed and two variable mosquito sampling sites in the southern strip of Sistan and Baluchistan Province. Subsequently, DNA was extracted from trapped mosquitoes and subjected to PCR amplification using the molecular markers COI, ITS2, and ANT. In total, 1734 adult Ae. caballus specimens were collected from rural areas, with the majority being captured by CO2-baited bednet traps. A notable increase in the abundance of this species was observed following rainfall in February. The genetic analysis revealed multiple haplotypes based on COI and ITS2 sequences, with COI gene divergence at 0.89%, and ITS2 sequence divergence at 1.6%. This suggests that previous challenges in morphological identification may have led to misidentifications, with many adults previously classified as Ae. vexans potentially being Ae. caballus. The findings of this study hold significant implications for public health authorities, providing valuable insights for integrated and targeted vector control and disease management efforts.

The Presence and Population Status of Medicinal Leeches in the Some Wetlands in the Susurluk Basin

In this study, the population status of the wetlands in the Susurluk Basin (except Uluabat and Manyas Lakes) in terms of medicinal leeches and the stock status of the existing areas were investigated. Between March and October 2022 and 2023, studies were carried out in a total of 108 areas, including 26 wetlands in Kütahya, 49 wetlands in Bursa and 33 wetlands in Balıkesir. Medicinal leech population and stock studies were carried out in the wetlands located in Keles Epçeler in Bursa, Balıkesir İvrindi Çelimler and Balıkesir Dursunbey Aşağımusalar regions. A total of 378 medicinal leeches (0.02-5.19 g weight and 10.48-153.92 mm) were sampled from the study areas. The catchable amount of medicinal leeches was determined as 4.956 g for Epçeler, 218 g for Çelimler and 44 g for Aşağımusalar. When the population status and stock amounts of medicinal leeches obtained from wetlands and their habitats were analysed, it was determined that there was a decrease in medicinal leeches as a result of hunting pressure and habitat change and loss. This situation has shown that breeding systems should be increased and the pressure on nature should be reduced against the increasing demand for medicinal leeches in recent years.

Understanding the Right to Development among the People of Noida, Uttar Pradesh: A Case Study

Background: The exercise of a people's innate right to complete sovereignty over all of their natural resources and riches is included in the full realization of their right to self-determination, which is encompassed by the human right to development. It allows all people and communities to fully realize their basic freedoms and human rights by allowing them to engage in, contribute to, and benefit from advancements in the fields of economics, society, culture, and politics. Aim: This study aims to assess the understanding of the right to development as a human right among the people. Materials and Methods: A quantitative approach is employed in this research study to assess the understanding of the right to development as human rights. A descriptive survey research design with a sample size of 60, selected through purposive sampling based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, is utilized. Data is collected using a structured knowledge questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The study evaluates the knowledge of the understanding of the right to development as human rights among the people of Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The analysis of knowledge levels is based on different demographic factors. Among the general population, 36 (60%) had average knowledge, 22 (36.7%) had good knowledge, and 2 (3.3%) had poor knowledge. The socio-demographic variable of educational status of the general population showed a statistically significant association with the knowledge level of understanding the right to development as human rights, while age, gender, and occupational status were not statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Seasonal trends and population status of the highly threatened Pteropus livingstonii in the Comoros archipelago

Flying foxes of the genus Pteropus, especially those inhabiting islands, face increasing pressure from anthropogenic threats. A first step to implementing effective conservation actions is to establish monitoring projects to understand a species’ population status and trend. Pteropus species are highly affected by seasonality which further requires regular, repeated, and long-term data to understand population trends, and reactions to severe weather events. In the present case study, a regular, bi-annual population census was implemented on Comoros between 2016 and 2023 for the highly threatened Livingstone’s fruit bat, Pteropus livingstonii, and compared the results of standardized monitoring to historical population data. Seasonality had a large impact on the number of bats found at roost sites, with more bats present in the wet season, but the data over the past eight years revealed no significant in- or decrease in the number of bats counted on the island Anjouan. We estimated around 1,200–1,500 bats on Anjouan and 300–400 bats on Mohéli, and found that landcover type has no measurable effect on population distribution at roost sites. Our study highlights the need for long-term surveys to understand past population trends and that single counts are not sufficient to draw final conclusions of a species’ status.

Status assessment of a recently reintroduced eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) population in the Palatinate Forest, South-West Germany

To reinforce Eurasian lynx populations in central Europe, 20 lynx from Slovakia and Switzerland were translocated to the Palatinate Forest between 2016 and 2020. Using a systematic camera trapping array consisting of 80 camera trapping sites in a 1,000 km² study area located in the centre of the approximately 1,800 km² Palatinate Forest, we aim to describe the status of the population in the final stages of the reintroduction project in winter and spring 2019/20 and 2020/21. We also use our data to provide a first estimate of population density of the newly established population. With an estimate of 0.52 independent individuals per 100 km², population density in the Palatinate Forest was still significantly lower than the densities of well-established reintroduced populations. The number of independent individuals detected in the study area decreased from 15 individuals in 2019/20 to 11 individuals in 2020/21, thus significantly below the number of lynx translocated. The low abundance in the Palatinate Forest can be explained by the dispersal of several individuals to the Vosges (France), which, together with the Palatinate Forest, form a continuous area of suitable lynx habitat of approximately 8,000 km². Our results may thus reflect the status of a young population that can expand over a potentially large area. Nevertheless, in light of the low population density, we strongly recommend a synchronized and harmonized transboundary monitoring program to keep track of the development of this important Franco-German lynx population. In case population density remains low, supportive measures need to be considered.

Population Status of the Endangered Semi-Mangrove Dolichandrone spathacea on Hainan Island, China

In China, Dolichandrone spathacea is a rare and endangered semi-mangrove plant species with an extremely small population, naturally distributed only in Zhanjiang City and the east coast of Hainan Island. Despite conservation concerns, the population status of D. spathacea has received little scientific attention. In this study, we evaluated the current status of D. spathacea on Hainan Island, China, in order to propose sustainable conservation strategies for future ecological restoration of its natural population. D. spathacea on Hainan Island can be divided into four populations. All the D. spathacea populations present a state of overall dispersion, local concentration, and occasionally sporadic existence, and they exist in geographical isolation. The young, middle, and old D. spathacea plants account for 20.42%, 66.20%, and 13.38%, respectively, indicating that the D. spathacea population on Hainan Island is declining. Furthermore, instead of temporal structure, we used diameter at breast height (DBH) to establish a static life table, draw a population survival curve, and quantify the future development trend through population dynamic analysis and time-series prediction. These results suggest that the D. spathacea population in the Bamen Gulf (Wenchang) and Qingmei Harbor (Sanya) on Hainan Island is sensitive to external disturbances and possesses two main increases in mortality rate—namely, in its juvenile and mature stages—due to competition and anthropogenic interferences, which might be the most important reasons for its endangered status. Depending on the current conditions of the D. spathacea population, we should conserve and expand mature trees in situ, preserve their germplasm resources, rehabilitate their habitats to promote provenance restoration, and conduct artificial cultivation and spreading planting in order to realize the sustainable conservation and management of D. spathacea.

The impact of nutrition on psycho-affective status in an older Cretan population: a cross-sectional study.

Cognitive and mood status influence both personal and social daily activities, with great impact on life quality, particularly among the elderly population. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the psycho-affective status concerning eating habits within an elderly population of the Chania area in Crete, Greece. Cognitive status was assessed in 101 elderly subjects through the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and mood was evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Nutritional status was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Multivariable statistical analysis, after adjustment for age, marital status, education, and comorbidity, highlighted among males a positive association of the MMSE score with vegetable consumption (RR 1.18; 95%CI 1.03‒1.34) and a negative association with potato consumption (RR 0.83; 95%CI 0.72‒0.95). Conversely, among females, no statistically significant association was observed for any food. Further, among males, a protective effect on affective status was identified for chicken meat (RR 0.45; 95%CI 0.27‒0.77), fish (RR 0.41; 95%CI 0.21‒0.82), fruit (RR 0.70; 95%CI 0.52‒0.94), cereals (RR 0.67; 95%CI 0.53‒0.87), and cheese (RR 0.78; 95%CI 0.63‒0.97) consumption. Among females, the adjusted model showed a significant detrimental effect of vegetable consumption (RR 1.33; 95%CI 1.02‒1.73). A predominantly vegetable-based diet-with the notable exception of fruits and legumes-was associated with better cognitive status in males, albeit not in females. A higher intake of fruit, as well as fish, chicken meat, and cheese among males was associated with a better affective status, indicating that adequate protein supply may play a role in maintaining emotional balance.

Assessment of Dietary and Lifestyle Quality among the Romanian Population in the Post-Pandemic Period.

The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus demonstrated the importance of prevention through a healthy diet and lifestyle, the most vulnerable people being those with severe chronic conditions, those who are overweight, and those with an unbalanced immune system. This study aims to examine the nutritional status and lifestyle behaviors of the Romanian population. The evaluation of the eating habits and lifestyle of the Romanian population in the post-pandemic period was carried out based on a cross-sectional observational study with the help of a questionnaire. A total of 4704 valid answers were registered (3136 female and 1568 male respondents). Among the respondents, most of them belong to the young population, 2892 between the ages of 18 and 40, i.e., 61.5%. Most male respondents are overweight (1400) and obese (780). Most respondents indicated a tendency to consume 1-2 meals per day irregularly (p = 0.617). Only 974 respondents adopted a healthy diet, and 578 a healthy lifestyle. The present study reports low adherence to a healthy diet (20.7%) and healthy lifestyle (12.28%), especially among the young population (<30 years). In the current context, it reports a reduced tendency to consume vegetables and fruits among the population, below the daily average recommended by the nutrition guidelines, a tendency towards sedentary behavior, and even deficient hydration of some of the respondents; these negative aspects can create a long-term series of nutritional and psycho-emotional imbalances. Our results evidence that complex surveys among the population are regularly required to investigate nutritional or lifestyle deficiencies; moreover, it could be helpful in further educational measures in nutrition, food, and environmental safety.

Assessment of Nutritional Status And Functional Capacity of Rural Elderly Population In Chattogram, Bangladesh

Background: Bangladesh, like many developing countries, is experiencing population ageing. There is inadequate information regarding the prevalence of malnutrition and functional dependency in community-living rural senior residents in this country. The study aims to determine the nutritional status and functional capacity of the rural elderly population of Chattogram District of Bangladesh and to search for its associated factors. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study included 213 subjects aged 60 years and over from two Upazilla of Chattogram district by a multistage random sampling technique. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire, nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNASF) tool and functional assessment was done using the Modified Barthel self-care index (BSI).Results: The participants’ mean age was 66.1 ± 6.5 years and 51.6 % was female. More than half of the participants (45.4%) were illiterate. The majority of them were living in a joint family with their spouse. About 70% of the participants were from lower socioeconomic classes, 82.2% were not engaged in any vocational activity, 74.6% were entirely dependent economically on others, and 110 (51.6%) had multi- morbidity. The prevalence of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition were 29.9% and 56.8% of the study sample, respectively. About 44% of the participants need help to perform their daily activities. Poor nutritional status was significantly more frequent in elderly subjects aged more than 70 years, in respondents living without a partner, and in older people with multi-morbidity. Conclusion: Poor nutritional status was commonly observed among older adults living in rural areas in Chattogram. The associated factors should be further considered for targeting particularly vulnerable individuals. Bangladesh J Medicine 2024; 35: 76-81

Comparative Health Behaviour of Young People with Disabilities in Hungary: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The health status of Hungary's population is unfavorable, with significant differences in health indicators not only compared to the EU15 but also to the Visegrad countries. Unfavorable health indicators can be disproportionate and particularly affect vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities. In this study, we set out to compare the health behavior of disabled youth and youth with typical development in Hungary. We also aimed to compare the health behavior of adolescents in the Visegrad countries. The eating habits of both groups of young people we examined are unfavorable. Adolescents with disabilities experience a significantly higher rate of school stress than children with typical development in Hungary. The prevalence of somatic complaints and parameters of poor mental well-being are significantly higher in Hungary than in the other Visegrad countries. The results indicate that additional interventions are needed in Hungary and that differentiated, professional health promotion is needed for young people with disabilities. The researchers recommend extending the study to disabled adolescents living in Visegrad countries, on the basis of which an injury-specific health promotion methodology could be developed with international interprofessional cooperation.

Anti-monkeypox virus-neutralizing activities of human immunoglobulin manufactured between 1999 and 2021 and derived from donors in the United States and Japan.

In May 2022, the United Kingdom reported the first case of chained transmission of the monkeypox (mpox) virus without any known epidemiological links to west or central Africa. The monthly number of mpox patients currently has passed a peak and is declining globally, and infected patients include both non-vaccinated and vaccinated individuals. Herein, the virus-neutralizing (VN) activity against vaccinia viruses, which are considered to cross-react with the mpox virus, in the intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) lots derived from donors, including vaccinated Japanese populations, was evaluated to clarify the status of the Japanese blood donor population. VN titres against vaccinia and human mpox viruses in IVIG lots derived from donors in Japan and the United States manufactured between 1999 and 2021 and 1995 and 2001, respectively, were evaluated by neutralization testing. VN titres of IVIG derived from donors in Japan and the United States against vaccinia and mpox viruses showed a slowly decreasing trend between 1999 and 2021. VN titres are expected to decrease in the future since the percentage of vaccinated donors in the donor population seems to have decreased. Therefore, continuous monitoring of VN titres is required.

The bright side of the moon: vocal activity of the Black-banded owl (Strix huhula huhula) in the Yungas Andean forests of Argentina

ABSTRACT In recent years, passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has become one of the main tools for natural history and behavior studies in nocturnal birds. In this study, we explored the Black-banded owl (Strix huhula huhula) vocal activity in the Yungas Andean forests from northwestern Argentina, using one autonomous recording unit from September 2017 to February 2018. We found higher vocal activity on nights with high lunar illumination (76–100%), mainly concentrated during the early night: between 22:00–23:00 h; approximately 1–2 hours after sunset. This study shows the first acoustic phenology pattern of the black-banded owl during a year-round survey with the use of PAM in the Yungas. We highlight the importance of this type of research to gain knowledge on the vocal behavior of Neotropical nocturnal birds. Additionally we highlight the necessity of incorporating PAM, combined with occupation models, to evaluate the population status of threatened nocturnal bird species.

Occurrence and Distribution of Meloidogyne spp. in Fields Rotated with Sweetpotato and Host Range of a North Carolina Population of Meloidogyne enterolobii.

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs, Meloidogyne spp.) are some of the most economically important and common plant parasitic nematodes in North Carolina (NC) cropping systems. Soil samples collected from fields planted with crops rotated with sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.) in 39 NC counties in 2015 to 2018 were processed at the NC Nematode Assay Laboratory. The occurrence of second-stage juvenile (J2) RKN populations was examined based on collection year, month, county, and previous planted crop. The highest number of RKN-positive samples originated from Cumberland (53%), Sampson (48%), and Johnston (48%) counties. The highest average RKN population density was detected in Sampson (147 J2/500 cm3 of soil) and Nash (135 J2/500 cm3 of soil) counties, while Wayne (7 J2/500 cm3 of soil) and Greene (11 J2/500 cm3 of soil) counties had the lowest average RKN population density. Meloidogyne enterolobii is a new invasive species that is impacting sweetpotato growers of NC. The host status of an NC population of M. enterolobii, the guava RKN, was determined by examining eggs per gram of fresh root (ER) and the final nematode egg population divided by the initial population egg count (reproductive factor, RF) in greenhouse experiments. This included 18 vegetable, field, and cover crops and weed species. The tomato 'Rutgers' was used as a susceptible control. Cabbage 'Stonehead', pepper 'Red Bull', and watermelon 'Charleston Gray' and 'Fascination' were hosts and had similar mean ER values to the positive control, ranging from 64 to 18,717. Among field crops, cotton, soybean 'P5018RX', and tobacco were hosts with ER values that ranged from 185 to 706. Members of the Poaceae family such as sweet corn (Zea mays) and sudangrass (Sorghum × drummondii) were nonhosts to M. enterolobii, and the mean ER values ranged from 1.85 to 7. The peanut 'Tifguard' and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) also had lower ER values than the vegetable hosts. Growers should consider planting less susceptible hosts or nonhosts such as peanut, sudangrass, sweet corn, and winter wheat in 2- to 3-year crop rotations to lower populations of this invasive nematode.

Abundance of the northernmost jaguar Panthera onca breeding population

Jaguars are the apex predators of tropical and subtropical ecosystems in the Americas but their conservation is threatened due to habitat loss, poaching, and conflicts over predation. The Northern Jaguar Reserve (NJR) was created by Naturalia A.C. as a project to protect the northernmost jaguar population within an area of 59.3 thousand acres (24.4 ha) of private property. The property also includes other protected species. The present study was conducted to verify the status of this jaguar population in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the NJR, and to contribute to knowledge regarding its ecology. We estimated density using mark-resight and spatially explicit capture-recapture (SERC) models, and evaluated home range through a survey with 56 camera-trap stations over 12 bimonthly periods. In total, we obtained a sampling effort of 40,880 camera-days, registering 2.32 records from 1,000 camera-days. Jaguar density, calculated using the capture-recapture models, ranged from 0.3 to 1.44 indiv./100 km2, while the SERC model estimated a density of between 0.21 and 3.04 indiv./100 km2. The home range was 78.9 km2 for males and 45.1 km2 for females. Long-term population monitoring together with the establishment of Areas Voluntarily Assigned to Conservation, an initiative recently created by the Mexican government, such as the NJR, could be a valid strategy to strengthen jaguar conservation and thereby maintain key ecological processes for other species and their habitat in northwestern Mexico.

First insights into the spatio-temporal ecology of sympatric large carnivores in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal

Abstract Large carnivores play a crucial role in their native ecosystems, but their populations are rapidly declining across the African continent. West Africa is no exception, with large protected areas often forming the last strongholds for these species. Little is known about the population status and ecology of large carnivores in the region, hampering the design and implementation of effective conservation strategies. We conducted a camera-trap survey during the dry season in Niokolo-Koba National Park, the largest terrestrial protected area in Senegal and the second largest in West Africa, to investigate the spatio-temporal ecology of the four large carnivores inhabiting the Park: the spotted hyaena Crocuta crocuta, leopard Panthera pardus, West African lion Panthera leo leo and African wild dog Lycaon pictus. Spotted hyaenas and leopards had the widest spatial distribution and highest probability of site use. Spotted hyaena site use was positively associated with leopard relative abundance index and negatively associated with normalized difference vegetation index, whereas only distance to the nearest road influenced leopard site use. Distance to the Gambian River was the most important covariate positively affecting site use by lions. African wild dog site use was negatively associated with the relative abundance indices of lions and leopards. Lions, spotted hyaenas and leopards showed strong overlap in their activity patterns. By providing new information on the ecology of large carnivores in West Africa, including where they range and which habitats are critical for their survival, our study will facilitate conservation planning. Our findings lay the foundations for future research to conserve these threatened species in West Africa effectively and to guide ranger patrol efforts, which are key for their long-term survival.

Impaired Cardiorespiratory Fitness of Elite Athletes after Asymptomatic or Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Background and Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the health status of professional athletes after recovering from COVID-19 and the impact that SARS-CoV-2 had on their overall cardiorespiratory fitness, which was done by conducting cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Materials and Methods: A total of twenty-seven professional basketball players (Euroleague Basketball and the ABA League) participated in the study. CPET was performed before (as part of their regular preparticipation exam, during the pre-season period), as well as after SARS-CoV-2 infection (after two weeks of home isolation, during the competitive part of the season). CPET was performed on a treadmill, while cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic functions were evaluated by using a breath-by-breath analysis technique (Quark CPET system manufactured by Cosmed, Rome, Italy). Results: Maximal oxygen consumption and aerobic efficiency were significantly reduced after SARS-CoV-2 infection (p = 0.000). An obvious decrease in oxygen pulse was observed during CPET after recovering from COVID-19 (p = 0.001), as was deterioration of ventilatory efficiency. Internal respiration was the most negatively affected. An early transition from aerobic to anaerobic mechanisms of creating energy for work and intensive metabolic fatigue were obvious after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: Although it was believed that SARS-CoV-2 only affects the cardiopulmonary status of the elderly population and people with associated comorbidities, it is clear from this research that professional athletes can also be at certain risk. Even though no pathological cardiovascular and respiratory changes were found in athletes after COVID-19, results showed significantly decreased cardiorespiratory fitness, with an emphasis on internal respiration.

Local Watershed Properties Cannot Explain Divergent Dynamics of Pacific Herring in an Urbanizing Estuary

Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) is a foundational species in Puget Sound (Washington State, U.S.A.) and is subject to many anthropogenic threats. We assessed the overall status of the Puget Sound Pacific herring sub-stock complex and asked whether watersheds with less urban or agricultural land cover, less impervious surface, and lower human density were associated with better stock status. To this end, we developed multiple metrics of sub-stock population status; characterized watershed properties with respect to land use/land cover, percent impervious surfaces, and human density; and used statistical model selection to evaluate the weight of evidence in support of our hypotheses. Overall, the status of sub-stocks was poor; metrics for most sub-stocks indicate a decline from 1996–2021. However, the status metrics of sub-stocks were not related to recent (2016) watershed characteristics or the rate of change in watershed characteristics from the mid-1990s to 2016. While the cumulative effects of local human land use throughout Puget Sound may be contributing to the deterioration of spawning biomass, these results also suggest that other drivers that operate at larger scales (e.g., predation, disease, climate) are likely important.

From past habitats to present threats: tracing North American weasel distributions through a century of climate and land use change

ContextShifts in climate and land use have dramatically reshaped ecosystems, impacting the distribution and status of wildlife populations. For many species, data gaps limit inference regarding population trends and links to environmental change. This deficiency hinders our ability to enact meaningful conservation measures to protect at risk species.ObjectivesWe investigated historical drivers of environmental niche change for three North American weasel species (American ermine, least weasel, and long-tailed weasel) to understand their response to environmental change.MethodsUsing species occurrence records and corresponding environmental data, we developed species-specific environmental niche models for the contiguous United States (1938–2021). We generated annual hindcasted predictions of the species’ environmental niche, assessing changes in distribution, area, and fragmentation in response to environmental change.ResultsWe identified a 54% decline in suitable habitat alongside high levels of fragmentation for least weasels and region-specific trends for American ermine and long-tailed weasels; declines in the West and increased suitability in the East. Climate and land use were important predictors of the environmental niche for all species. Changes in habitat amount and distribution reflected widespread land use changes over the past century while declines in southern and low-elevation areas are consistent with impacts from climatic change.ConclusionsOur models uncovered land use and climatic change as potential historic drivers of population change for North American weasels and provide a basis for management recommendations and targeted survey efforts. We identified potentially at-risk populations and a need for landscape-level planning to support weasel populations amid ongoing environmental changes.

Satellite tagging insights into the seasonal movements and behavior of Mediterranean spearfish (Tetrapturus belone, Istiophoridae)

The Mediterranean spearfish (Tetrapturus belone) is a highly migratory predator, also exploited by commercial and recreational fisheries although its catches are poorly reported. The fishing pressure on this species is currently unknown because catch and landing data are fragmentary. Furthermore, more ecological information (e.g. migratory movements) is needed to establish eventual management measures, and ICCAT has not examined the population status yet. Understanding species migratory movements is crucial for addressing conservation challenges and supporting management decisions. In this study we investigated the migratory movements, seasonal patterns, vertical behavior, and thermal preference of T. belone, with the aim to improve information on its ecology and behavior. Overall, six individuals were tagged in the Strait of Messina and Tyrrhenian Sea with pop-up satellite tags and their movements were mainly restricted to the central Mediterranean. Utilization distributions derived from geolocation revealed an overall and seasonal importance of the Tyrrhenian Sea and Strait of Sicily, as well as variability in winter habitat use. While the fish exhibited similar depth preference, spending the majority of time at depths ≤ 10 m, we observed that the Mediterranean spearfish is also able to perform sporadic deep dives below 200 m. Vertical movement showed a bimodal pattern common in other billfish species, characterized by occupation of shallower, warmer waters during the night and deeper, cooler waters during the day. This research increases knowledge on the migration ecology and habitat preference of T. belone which is important for management of this understudied species.

Dental status of children of early and preschool age in Moscow

INTRODUCTION. Conducting an epidemiological survey allows us to obtain reliable initial data on the level of prevalence and intensity of dental diseases, identify priority needs for providing all types of dental care to children, plan and implement dental programs, focusing on the initial dental status of the child population at different age periods.AIM. To study the dental status of children of early and preschool age based on data from a cross-sectional epidemiological study.MATERIALS AND METHODS. A cross-sectional epidemiological survey of the child population was conducted as part of preventive medical examinations of minors to study the dental morbidity of children of early (1–3 years) and preschool (4–6 years) age in Moscow. The study involved 1470 Moscow children aged 1 to 6 years old. The results of the survey were processed statistically.RESULTS. Data analysis showed that the indicator of the need for oral sanitation tends to increase as children grow older. A statistically significant dependence of the need for rehabilitation on the age group was revealed. The indicator of previously sanitized children is variable at different age periods. The rate of natural sanitation decreases as children grow older. A statistically significant dependence of natural sanitation on the age group was revealed. Categorical variables (absolute and relative) of the need for sanitation are higher among girls in all age groups and lower among boys. But statistically significant differences in the need for sanitation in boys and girls were observed only in the age group 1 year, 3 years and 5 years. In the age groups of 2, 4 and 6 years, there was a similar need for sanitation among boys and girls; no statistically significant differences were identified, despite the fact that categorical variables (absolute and relative indicators) indicated a higher need for sanitation of the oral cavity in girls than boys.CONCLUSIONS. Categorical (absolute and relative) variables indicate that the need for oral sanitation in girls is higher than in boys at all age periods.