Terrestrial Species Research Articles

Consumer intention to buy products containing fish with better welfare: the role of empathy in an extended value–belief–norm model

PurposeA limited number of studies have aimed at understanding behavior towards animal welfare. However, there are indications that consumers make an important distinction between land animals and fish. As no studies have attempted to explain the factors that influence consumer behavior towards the welfare of fish, this study aims to explain the behavior using the value–belief–norm (VBN) model. In addition, we extend the model by using empathy as a factor influencing the formation of personal norms. This study argues that by adding empathy to the model, we will improve the ability of the VBN to explain moral behavior.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on survey data from 416 Norwegian consumers. A structural equation modeling analysis with latent constructs is used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe findings validate the ability of the VBN model to explain consumer intention to buy products containing fish with better welfare. We also showed that empathy and beliefs strongly influence personal norms. The extended VBN model increased the explained variance of personal norm by 11,54%. Consumers with biospheric values are strongly likely to have empathetic feelings towards fish suffering and believe that fish can feel pain. However, consumers with hedonistic values are significantly negatively related to beliefs and empathy.Practical implicationsBy understanding the role of empathy, companies can develop marketing strategies that appeal to consumers' values, empathy and beliefs and ultimately encourage them to make purchases that support fish welfare.Originality/valuePractically, this study explores consumers' beliefs towards fish welfare and identifies consumers who are more likely to purchase products containing fish with better welfare based on their values.

Habitat Suitability of European Land Systems for Terrestrial Vertebrates

ABSTRACTMotivationAccurate estimates of species distributions are crucial for biogeography, spatial conservation, and for assessing the impacts of human activities on species. However, existing approaches to estimate species distributions have typically neglected the influence of land use intensity, potentially overlooking the negative impacts of high‐intensity land uses on biodiversity. Here, we build a dataset documenting the habitat suitability of European land systems for terrestrial vertebrate species, based on a novel land system map of Europe that factors in land use intensity. Our database offers refined and up‐to‐date information on terrestrial vertebrate distributions in Europe by explicitly considering land use intensity.Main Types of Variables ContainedWe created a table defining the suitability of land use classes as habitats for each species. We then built Area of Habitat (AOH) maps for each species by filtering out unsuitable habitat from the latest available estimates of species ranges. AOH maps were then compared with occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Processed datasets and R scripts are publicly available online, facilitating the use of our approach to refine expert‐based distributions for other taxa, land system classifications and regions worldwide.Spatial Location and GrainThe AOH maps cover the spatial extent of the European Union (EU) with the United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, and the Western Balkans. The AOH maps are at a 1 km2 resolution.Time Period and GrainThe dataset uses information published during the last 10 years.Major Taxa and Level of MeasurementHabitat suitability was documented for 1155 terrestrial vertebrate species known to occur in Europe: 279 mammals, 520 birds, 251 reptiles and 104 amphibians.Software FormatWe provide the habitat suitability table in a comma‐separated values (csv) format. The AOH maps are available as raster files. R scripts are publicly accessible on GitHub.

Safety Assessment on the Safety and Efficacy of a Feed Additive Consisting of Sodium Bisulphate for All Animal Species Except Aquatic Animals (RP1612)

An application was submitted to the Food Standards Agency in July 2022 from Grillo-Werke AG and Jones-Hamilton Co. (‘the applicant’) for a renewal authorisation of the additive containing sodium bisulphate, under the category ‘technological additive’, functional group ‘preservative’ for all terrestrial animal species, and ‘technological additive’, functional group ‘acidity regulator’ for all terrestrial animal species other than cats, mink, pets and other non-food-producing animals. In addition, the applicant requested an authorisation of new use of the additive under the category ‘technological additive’, functional group ‘acidity regulator’ and ‘sensory additive’, functional group ‘flavouring compound’ for all pets and other non-food-producing animals except aquatic animals. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP Panel) concluded that sodium bisulphate remains safe for all terrestrial animal species, consumers of products from animals fed the additive and the environment, under the conditions of authorisation. The additive is a skin, eye and respiratory tract irritant and should be considered as a respiratory and skin sensitiser. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that using the additive as an acidity regulator and sensory additive for pets and other non-food-producing animals, excluding aquatic species, would not introduce any new risks and has the potential to be efficacious. FSA/FSS has reviewed the applicant’s renewal and extension of use application, supporting documentation, and other regulators risk assessments, most notably the EFSA risk assessment opinion and consider sufficient evidence has been demonstrated to conclude without further questions or risk assessment. This document represents the opinion of the FSA and FSS.

Safety Assessment on the Safety and Efficacy of an Additive of Dicopper Chloride Trihydroxide (IntelliBond® C) as a Feed Additive for Use in All Animal Species (RP812)

An application was submitted to the Foods Standard Agency in March 2021 from Trouw Nutrition GB (‘the Applicant’) for the renewal and modification of an additive (IntelliBond® C) containing dicopper chloride trihydroxide, under the category of ‘nutritional additives’ and functional group ‘compounds of trace elements’. The additive is proposed to be used in all animal species. The Advisory Committee on Animal Feedings (ACAF) was asked to review the dossier and the supplementary information submitted by the Applicant, and to advise the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland (FSA/FSS) in evaluating the dossier. The FSA/FSS concluded, based on the ACAF’s evidence, that the additive was fully identified and characterised, and no further concerns were raised for this section of the dossier. The use of the additive at recommended levels of incorporation into feed can continue to be considered safe for the target species and the consumer. Regarding user safety, the additive was determined to be non-corrosive and is not a skin sensitiser, however, is a skin irritant and should be regarded as a potential eye irritant. Following a request for a Phase I environmental risk assessment, the ACAF concluded that the additive poses an acceptable risk to the environment when used at the proposed levels for terrestrial species and land-based aquaculture systems. However, the safety of the additive for marine sediment when used in sea cages could not be concluded upon. It was concluded that the proposed minor modifications to the specifications and other provisions would not affect efficacy and therefore efficacy could be extrapolated from the original authorisation to the modified authorisation. The views of ACAF have been taken into account in this safety assessment which represents the opinion of the FSA/FSS.

An enclosure quality ranking framework for terrestrial animals in captivity

There is a burgeoning interest in measuring and improving animal welfare in captive settings. Recent work has emphasized how enclosure design elements directly impact animal welfare (e.g., from health, behavioral, and reproductive standpoints). Yet, there is no published systematic way for practitioners to quantitatively rank enclosure quality. To address this critical need, we developed a flexible enclosure quality ranking framework for terrestrial animals in captivity. Our enclosure framework comprises 11 broadly applicable and measurable components of enclosure design that have relevance to animal welfare: Display, Size, Shelter, Materials, Environment, Climate, Viewshed, Social, People, Other, and Complexity. Each of these components relates to one or more of the “Five Freedoms” and “Opportunities to Thrive”. In addition to developing the enclosure quality ranking framework, we provide an example of how to apply the framework, and offer suggestions on how to conduct empirical analyses with the ranking data derived from our framework. Once applied, our framework can be used to generate measurable outcomes that practitioners can use to make informed decisions, leading to optimal animal welfare.

Histological investigation of the liver of freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio after intoxication with Ibuprofen

Water contamination has a detrimental impact on streams and rivers, leading to a reduction in the diversity of terrestrial, aquatic, and aerial species. Furthermore, it disrupts the intricate equilibrium of existence. Pharmaceuticals are artificial compounds that belong to several chemical families and exhibit a diverse array of environmental biochemical responses, rendering them the most recent group of pollutants in all aquatic environments. The present study investigated the impact of Ibuprofen on freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio by determining the LC50 value of Ibuprofen during exposure to various concentrations for 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours in sets of aquariums at a concentration of 0.23ml/L. To investigate the impact of Ibuprofen on fish C. carpio, the study evaluates the effects of a sublethal concentration of 1/10th (0.023ml/L) of Ibuprofen LC50 on fish liver histology over a period of 7, 14, 21, and 28 days in both control and treatment aquarium cultures. Following exposure to a sublethal dose of Ibuprofen, significant changes in the behavior of fish and disruption of normal physiology were observed. These changes were clearly displayed through nuclear degeneration, cellular edema, cytoplasmic degeneration, altered hepatocytes, formation of vacuole, increased sinusoidal space, altered central vein, and degeneration of sinusoid. These results indicated that the release of pharmaceuticals had a significant negative impact on fish health and highlighted deterioration in water quality and the ecology of water resources .

Exploring Biodiversity and Food Webs in Sulfur Cave in the Vromoner Canyon on the Greek–Albanian Border

Sulfidic caves support diverse and abundant subterranean communities, including numerous endemic species and complex food webs, though the full extent of species diversity and resource utilization in these ecosystems remains largely unexplored. This paper presents the results of biological surveys conducted from 2023 to 2024 in Sulfur Cave, located in the Vromoner Canyon on the Greek–Albanian border, focusing on microbial, vertebrate, and invertebrate communities and investigating the structure of the subterranean food web. The microbial communities from the different biofilms are dominated by chemosynthetic sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms, specifically filamentous bacteria such as Thiotrix and Beggiatoa. Two species of fish, an eel (Anguilla sp.) and a Cyprinid (Alburnoides sp.), and six bat species from three families (Rhinolophidae, Miniopteridae, and Vespertilionidae) were documented. The invertebrate fauna includes five aquatic species, 25 terrestrial species, and four amphibiotic species. Among these, eight species are endemic, and seven species exhibit troglomorphic traits. Stable isotope analysis showed light carbon and nitrogen values for the terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, suggesting that subterranean communities rely on food produced in situ by chemoautotrophic microorganisms. Our results identified cave areas of significant biological relevance and provided reference data to inform conservation actions aimed at preserving the biodiversity of this sulfidic cave.

Thin lines between native and invasive aquatic plants are common, posing challenges for response efforts

Abstract Lines separating native and invasive plant species can be thin due to close relatedness, obscured by cryptic invasions, or breached by hybridization. Past work suggests these phenomena are especially prevalent in aquatic systems. This could arise from strong filters imposed by aquatic environments magnifying the importance of ‘preadaptation’—non‐native species succeeding where closely related native species occur due to shared traits. If so, there should be stronger signals of preadaptation in aquatic than terrestrial plant invasions, with implications for management. I tested for stronger influence of preadaptation in aquatic than terrestrial invasions by comparing relatedness of invasive and native species in aquatic versus terrestrial flora of the Midwestern USA using herbarium records and taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses. I predicted that aquatic species would constitute an evolutionarily distinct subset of plants; aquatic invaders would be more closely related, taxonomically and phylogenetically, to native aquatic plants than terrestrial invaders are to their native counterparts; and aquatic invaders from the Midwest's primary donor region (the Palearctic) would be more closely related to Midwestern species than are Palearctic aquatic plants that are not invasive in the Midwest. Findings supported the evolutionary legacy of adaptation to aquatic environments being reflected in thin lines separating invasive and native aquatic plants. Aquatic species constituted an evolutionarily distinct subset of plants, and invasive aquatic plants were more closely related to native aquatic plants (taxonomically and phylogenetically) than terrestrial invaders were to terrestrial native species. Additionally, aquatic plants of the Palearctic that are invasive in the Midwest were more closely related to Midwestern natives (phylogenetically, but not taxonomically) than were their non‐invasive counterparts, reinforcing the role of preadaptation. Synthesis and applications: Thin lines separating native from invasive aquatic plants pose challenges for response efforts. For resource managers, the prevalence of cryptic invasions requires dedicated, robust approaches to surveillance. For outreach, finer distinctions between native and invasive necessitate nuanced approaches to communication and education. And when control is needed, it should be implemented cautiously to minimize nontarget impacts to close native relatives, but thoroughly enough to prevent native relatives being displaced by competition and/or introgression.

Shifting baselines clarify the impact of contemporary logging on forest‐dependent threatened species

AbstractDespite the importance of protecting forests and woodlands to achieve global climate and biodiversity goals, logging impacts persist worldwide. Forestry advocates often downplay these impacts but rarely consider the cumulative threat deforestation and degradation has had, and continues to have, on biodiversity. Using New South Wales (Australia) as a case study, we quantify the extent of deforestation and degradation from 1788 (pre‐European colonization) to 2021. We used historical loss as a baseline to evaluate recent logging (2000–2022) and the condition of the remaining native forest and woodland. Condition was quantified by measuring the similarity of a current ecosystem to a historical reference state with high ecological integrity. Using these data, we measured the impacts on 269 threatened terrestrial species. We show that possibly over half (29 million ha) of pre‐1788 native forest and woodland vegetation in NSW has been lost. Of the remaining 25 million ha, 9 million ha is estimated to be degraded. We found recent logging potentially impacted 150 species that had already been affected by this historical deforestation and degradation, but the impacts varied across species. Forty‐three species that were identified as impacted by historical deforestation and degradation and continue to be impacted by logging, now have ≤50% of their pre‐1788 extent remaining that is intact and nine species now have ≤30%. Our research contextualizes the impact of current logging against historical deforestation and highlights deficiencies in environmental assessments that ignore historical baselines. Future land management must consider both the extent and condition of remaining habitat based on pre‐1788 extents.

Senecavirus cetus a novel picornavirus isolated from cetaceans represents a major host switching to the marine environment

Senecavirus A (SVA), an emerging virus that causes vesicular disease in swine, was, until recently, the only member of the Senecavirus genus (Picornaviridae). Here, we report the isolation and complete genome sequence of two isolates of cetacean picornavirus 1 (Senecavirus cetus), a novel picornavirus species of the Senecavirus genus from dead stranded cetaceans from Alaska. One isolate was from a harbor porpoise stranded in 2017, and another from a beluga whale, stranded in 2019. Whole-genome sequencing of Senecavirus cetus strains showed a genome-wide nucleotide identity of 98.8% and a genome size of 7455 nucleotides. The Senecavirus cetus genomes are most similar to SVA with a 58.3% genome-wide pairwise nucleotide identity. Infection of eleven available cell lines from terrestrial and aquatic animals showed that beluga and sheep cells were susceptible to infection by Senecavirus cetus. Phylogenetic and ancestral state reconstruction analyses supported the novel virus being a member of the Senecavirus genus and provided the first evidence of Senecavirus-like picornavirus infecting marine mammals and likely descending from a terrestrial host ancestor. These discoveries provided important information on the evolutionary relationships and taxonomy of picornaviruses and increased our understanding of the genomic characteristics and potential host range of Senecavirus cetus.

Assessment of the feed additive consisting of sodium propionate for all terrestrial animal species for the renewal of its authorisation (BASF SE).

Sodium propionate is authorised containing at least 98.5% of sodium propionate. The applicants requested for the renewal of the authorisation of sodium propionate when used as a feed additive for all terrestrial animal species. The applicant has provided evidence that the additive in the market complies with the conditions of the authorisation. The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP Panel) confirms that the use of sodium propionate under the current authorised conditions of use is safe for the target species, the consumers and the environment. Considering the user safety, the additive is corrosive to skin, eyes and respiratory tract, but is not a skin sensitiser. There is no need for assessing the efficacy of the additive in the context of the renewal of the authorisation.

Optimizing Strategy for Whole-Genome Genotype Imputation in Scallops

Advancements in sequencing technologies have facilitated low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (lcWGS) for detecting millions of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in large populations at low cost. The effectiveness of this approach relies on genotype imputation following lcWGS. While several imputation methods have been applied in human and other terrestrial animals, their performance in aquaculture organisms, particularly mollusks, remains unassessed. Mollusks contribute 70% of mariculture production in China and are characterized by high genetic polymorphism. In this study, we aimed to optimize reference panel construction and evaluate imputation strategies for SNP detection in two scallops, Chlamys farreri and Patinopecten yessoensis, both important bivalve species. High-coverage whole-genome sequencing (hcWGS) data were used to construct haplotype reference panels, and three imputation methods were applied: Beagle5.4, GLIMPSE2, and QUILT. QUILT outperformed other methods, achieving imputation quality scores (IQS) exceeding 0.930 in C. farreri and 0.946 in P. yessoensis, and yielded the highest number of imputed loci in both species. Furthermore, panel construction was optimized by adjusting for genotype quality (GQ) and minor allele frequency (MAF); we determined that a GQ threshold > 20 and an MAF threshold > 0.01 were optimal. We observed that imputation quality improved with increased sequencing depth, plateauing at 0.5×, and varied with sample size depending on the imputation method. A negative correlation was observed between imputation quality and the ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous substitution rates (Ka/Ks) across chromosomal segments, highlighting the influence of selection pressure on imputation efficacy. Collectively, our findings provide an optimized framework for SNP genotyping using lcWGS in scallops, with implications for aquaculture breeding and genetic research.

The first emerging records of a dragonfly in the dark zone of subterranean ecosystems: Exuviae and newly emerged adults of Hyrcanian Goldenring, Cordulegaster vanbrinkae in Danial Cave, northern Iran.

Riverine caves are special habitats that are home to many aquatic and terrestrial species. Some Odonata species and their emerging are recorded at the entrance and in the twilight zones of subterranean habitats around the world. However, the emergence of any Odonata species has not been recorded in the dark zones of caves or other subterranean habitats. We report the first evidence of the emerging of the Hyrcanian Goldenring, Cordulegaster vanbrinkae Lohmann, 1993, as an endemic species of the Hyrcanian biogeographical region, in the dark zone of Danial Cave, in the World Heritage-listed Hyrcanian Forests, northern Iran. During 2020-2023, three newly emerged and three exuviae of the species were recorded in the entrance zone (25 m) and the dark zone of the cave (200-280 m). The main hypothesis of the study is the entry and exit of adults from the cave entrance. However, we still do not know if the newly emerged will leave the cave or not. We still need more study on the biology and ecology of the species inside and around the cave. Danial Cave, with its high biodiversity, is one of the most important caves in the Middle East, and is urgently in need of conservation as a national natural monument.

Fossils indicate marine dispersal in osteoglossid fishes, a classic example of continental vicariance.

The separation of closely related terrestrial or freshwater species by vast marine barriers represents a biogeographical riddle. Such cases can provide evidence for vicariance, a process whereby ancient geological events like continental rifting divided ancestral geographical ranges. With an evolutionary history extending tens of millions of years, freshwater ecology, and distribution encompassing widely separated southern landmasses, osteoglossid bonytongue fishes are a textbook case of vicariance attributed to Mesozoic fragmentation of the Gondwanan supercontinent. Largely overlooked fossils complicate the clean narrative invoked for extant species by recording occurrences on additional continents and in marine settings. Here, we present a new total-evidence phylogenetic hypothesis for bonytongue fishes combined with quantitative models of range evolution and show that the last common ancestor of extant osteoglossids was likely marine, and that the group colonized freshwater settings at least four times when both extant and extinct lineages are considered. The correspondence between extant osteoglossid relationships and patterns of continental fragmentation therefore represents a striking example of biogeographical pseudocongruence. Contrary to arguments against vicariance hypotheses that rely only on temporal or phylogenetic evidence, these results provide direct palaeontological support for enhanced dispersal ability early in the history of a group with widely separated distributions in the modern day.

The application of Global Burden of Animal Diseases methodology to aquatic animal production.

The Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) programme's key objective â€" to provide a systematic approach to determine the burden of animal disease â€" is as relevant to aquatic as to terrestrial animal production systems. However, to date GBADs methods have mainly been applied to terrestrial animal production systems. The challenges in applying GBADs methods, notably the Animal Health Loss Envelope (AHLE), vary considerably by production system. The authors demonstrate how the AHLE can be calculated for rainbow trout production in England and Wales and acknowledge that its application to other systems (e.g. hatchery production, polyculture and no-feed mollusc production) is more complex. For example, in small scale tropical fish production the impact of suboptimal nutrition on production would need to be addressed. Recirculating aquaculture systems have inherent high levels of biosecurity and disease control, and thus low levels of disease. Removing the capital and running costs associated with biosecurity fundamentally changes the system and invalidates the AHLE calculation. Lack of data from many systems, notably small-scale tropical finfish farming, means that expert opinion will be needed to support the application of GBADs methods. While calculation of the AHLE is the focus of this article, it should be noted that attribution to causes and value chain modelling are needed to generate data on the wider societal impact of aquatic animal diseases (and possible interventions), which governments require to support decision-making about resource allocation.

Small towns limit dispersal and reduce genetic diversity in populations of Texas horned lizards.

There is a general expectation that urban populations will be fragmented and the movement of individuals will be restricted leading to low effective population sizes, low genetic diversity, higher inbreeding, and higher differentiation than populations living in more continuous habitat. In this study, we compare the genetic diversity and differentiation of Texas horned lizards that are found in four small towns (Kenedy, Karnes City, Rockdale, and Smithville) in Texas and at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma to populations that occur in 16 natural areas and to an introduced population in South Carolina. We also present more detailed spatial genetic data and home range data for several of the towns. Texas horned lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) living in small towns have lower genetic diversity, higher differentiation, and smaller effective population sizes than populations located in more natural areas. There was evidence for human-mediated movement of lizards into town; however, it has not been enough to counteract the effects of drift. Home range size is smaller in town than in more natural areas. Genetic patterns suggest dispersal occurs over short distances and is inhibited across areas with a high percent of impervious surface and major roads. These data suggest that effective planning to maintain suitable habitat and corridors to facilitate movement is critical to maintaining small terrestrial species like the Texas horned lizard and must be integrated into the early stages of urban development.

Anthropogenic debris as nest material in three swift species: New insights into the interactions of atmospheric pollution with wildlife

Plastic pollution has become a global concern, affecting many species around the world. While well-documented for marine ecosystems, the impact of plastic pollution on terrestrial ecosystems is comparatively limited. In fact, only recently have some studies begun to explore the occurrence, pathways, and impacts of plastic in the atmosphere and on terrestrial species. Here, we assess the presence of synthetic material in nests of three swift species breeding in the Western Palearctic: the common swift (Apus apus), the pallid swift (Apus pallidus), and the alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba). Using data from 487 nests spanning 25 colonies and seven European countries, we show that 36.5 % of the examined nests contained anthropogenic materials, mainly plastic debris. Notably, Pallid swifts' nests, with 85 % of the total nests examined with plastic, rank among birds with the highest plastic content in nests. We also demonstrate that the probability of finding plastic in the nest increased substantially with the human footprint of the landscape. Last, we recorded four cases of swifts entangled in their own nest, a low proportion compared to other species studied previously. Our study provides compelling evidence that plastic pollution may also be considered a concern for other terrestrial species, particularly for birds with highly aerial lifestyles, such as other swifts. The correlation with the human footprint suggests that areas with higher human activity contribute more significantly. Moreover, the entanglement cases, although low, indicate a threat to bird health and welfare. To our knowledge, our study is the first to report a direct interaction between floating plastic debris in the atmosphere and any species. Understanding this interaction is key, not only due to the lack of research on the topic, but also because it highlights that plastic pollution is a multifaceted environmental issue affecting various ecosystem categories, and the broader implications of atmospheric plastic circulation on wildlife and ecosystems health.

Extreme range in adult body size reveals hidden trade-offs among sexually selected traits.

Sexually selected weapons used to monopolize mating opportunities are predicted to trade-off with traits used in competition for fertilization. Yet, the limited size range typically found among adults of a species often precludes clear comparisons between population-level and individual-level relative trait investment. The jousting weevil, Brentus anchorago (Coleoptera: Brentidae), varies more than 26-fold in body mass, which is among the most extreme adult body size ranges of any solitary terrestrial species. We reveal a trade-off at a population level: hypermetric scaling in male weapons (slope = 1.59) and a closely mirrored reversal in allocation to postcopulatory traits (slope = 0.54). Yet, at the individual level, we find the opposite pattern; males that invest relatively more in weapons for their size class also invest more in postcopulatory traits. Across 36 dung beetle and 41 brentine weevil species, we find the allometric slope explains more trait variation at larger body size ranges; in brentines, population-level scaling patterns become more detectable in species with a larger range in adult body size. Our findings reveal that population-level allometries and individual-level trade-offs can both be important in shaping relative trait allocation; we highlight that the adult body size range is rarely examined but may be integral to gaining a deeper understanding of trade-offs in reproductive allocation.

Ants avoid food contaminated with micro- and nanoplastics

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNP) have recently received particular attention in freshwater and marine ecosystems, but less is known about their impact on terrestrial species. Ants can be used as biological indicators for many types of pollutants and are therefore a good candidate to explore the effects of MNP pollution. In the present study, we investigated the ability of workers from seven colonies of the acrobat ant Crematogaster scutellaris to detect MNP in their food. After two days of starvation, groups of ten ants were tested for their preference toward control and polyethylene-treated solutions. Every 5 min over a total 20 min period, the number of workers feeding on either solution was counted. The results showed that C. scutellaris workers could detect and avoid contaminated food, feeding more often on the uncontaminated solution in the first 10 min. However, after 10 min the food preference was no longer significant between the groups, likely owing to feeding satiation. We then assessed whether this feeding behaviour is sufficient to cause the accumulation of MNP in the ant. We thereby provided a solution containing fluorescent MNP (fMNP) at the same concentration as in the previous experiments. Observation of the ants' mouthparts using fluorescent light microscopy showed that after 10 min dense aggregations of fMNP were visible. Further investigations are needed to understand the mechanisms of detection of MNP by ants, and the accumulation dynamics in ants’ bodies. Moreover, the effects of MNP on the integrity and fitness of ant colonies, as well as the potential transfer across terrestrial trophic chains should be explored.

Concentration levels of phthalate metabolites in wild boar hair samples

Phthalates used in the industry penetrate the environment and negatively affect humans and animals. Hair samples seem to be the best matrix for studies on long-term exposure to phthalates, but till now they were used only in investigations on humans. Moreover, the knowledge of the wild terrestrial animal exposure to phthalates is extremely limited. This study aimed to establish of concentration levels of selected phthalate metabolites (i.e. monomethyl phthalate—MMP, monoethyl phthalate—MEP, mono-isobutyl phthalate—MiBP, monobutyl phthalate—MBP, monobenzyl phthalate—MBzP, mono-cyclohexyl phthalate—MCHP, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate—MEHP and mono-n-octyl phthalate—MOP) in wild boar hair samples using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis. MEHP was noted in 90.7% of samples with mean 66.17 ± 58.69 pg/mg (median 49.35 pg/mg), MMP in 59.3% with mean 145.1 ± 310.6 pg/mg (median 64.45 pg/mg), MiBP in 37.0% with mean 56.96 ± 119.4 pg/mg (median < limit of detection—LOD), MBP in 35.2% with mean 19.97 ± 34.38 pg/mg (median < LOD) and MBzP in 1.9% with concentration below limit of quantification. MEP, MCHP, and MOP have not been found in wild boar hair samples during this study. The results have shown that wild boars are exposed to phthalates and hair samples may be used as a matrix during studies on levels of phthalate metabolites in wild animals.