Young Specimens Research Articles

New cetacean fossils from the late Cenozoic of South Africa

Marine sediments from the western coast of southern Africa record the origin of the Benguela Upwelling System, one of the most productive in the world. High productivity, in turn, is reflected in a diverse marine mammal fossil assemblage, comprising whales, dolphins and a phocid seal. Here, we describe new records of baleen whale (mysticete) fossils from the early Pliocene localities of Saldanha Steel, Milnerton and Langebaanweg, as well as several potentially younger specimens trawled from offshore sediments. The presence of the extinct rorquals Diunatans and Fragilicetus suggests biogeographical links with the eastern North Atlantic and, thus, potentially antitropical population structuring. The trawled specimens also include rorquals (e.g., the blue whale, Balaenoptera cf. musculus), as well as a right whale (Eubalaena) and a pygmy right whale (Caperea). The latter is the first fossil of this family every discovered in Africa, and only the seventh specimen to be reported worldwide.

EARLY PLEISTOCENE SEROTINE BAT <i>EPTESICUS PRAEGLACIALIS</i> (VESPERTILIONIDAE, CHIROPTERA) FROM THE TAURIDA CAVE IN CRIMEA

The cranial and mandibular remains of a large serotine bat Eptesicus praeglacialis Kormos, 1930 are described from the Lower Pleistocene deposits of the Taurida cave in the central Crimea. This is the first finding of the skull material of E. praeglacialis and the first record of the species in Crimea. Judging by the tooth wear stages, the remains of both young and adult specimens are present in the taphocenosis. The small mammal tooth marks on the bones (caused by eating the remnants of soft tissues) in the absence of signs of digestion, characterizing materials from the predatory bird pellets, indicate that the taphocenosis includes the remains of E. praeglacialis individuals that used the cave as a shelter and died there. This corresponds to the idea of appearance of hibernation in caves as a climatically determined ecological adaptation in some European forest-dwelling bats (including Eptesicus) at the Pliocene–Pleistocene transition.

TOXOPLASMOSIS IN BLACK-FACED LION TAMARIN (Leontopithecus caissara)

Neotropical primates are susceptible to several parasitic diseases, the most relevant of which is toxoplasmosis. The black-faced lion tamarin is one of the most endangered callitrichid, with no more than 400 individuals in the wild. A young specimen of black-faced lion tamarin died acutely after being rescued and sent to the Sorocaba Zoological. This is the first report of acute fatal toxoplasmosis in L. caissara in Brazil.

Interactions between oceanographic variables and population structure of the yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788) in the Western Central Atlantic

AbstractPelagic fish species, such as tunas, represent important resources for the fishing fleets of several countries. Identifying spatiotemporal distributions of abundance, structure of sizes, weights and influences of environmental variables is extremely important to promote sustainable catches and efficient management plans for fisheries stocks. This present study aimed to analyse the spatiotemporal distribution of Thunnus albacares, their relationships with oceanographic variables, as well as size and weight structure, and the proportions of life stages/phases in catches, mainly within the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone. Data were obtained on longline fleet catches; the sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll‐a (Chla) were measured in an area ranging from 42.2° to 24.8° W and 5.9° S to 8.8° N; the lunar cycle was also studied. Generalised Additive Models and spatial statistics techniques were used to model the effect of the variables on catch per unit effort (CPUE) and on length structure. The results indicate that the distribution, abundance and length structure of T. albacares are strongly associated with environmental (SST and Chla), temporal (year, months, seasons and moon phases) and spatial (latitude, longitude and hemisphere) variables. The comparison of catch sizes with the first length at maturity (L50) indicated that approximately half of the catches are on young specimens, showing great variation over the years, reaching 74.8% in 2012. These results show that providences should be taken focusing on mitigating young specimens' capture and the sustainable exploitation of tuna in the Atlantic. The patterns of CPUE and length strongly support the feeding and spawning migration hypotheses.

The analysis of specific structure of lichens of the pine and birch wood in the neighborhood of Big Kyzykul Lake (Minusinsky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai)

The paper presents a multidimensional analysis of pine-birch forest lichens in the vicinity of Big Kyzykul Lake (Minusinsky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai). The studies on the species composition of lichens were conducted from 2013 to 2016. The material was collected in the summer and autumn months by the route method. Based on the authors own collections, the species composition of lichens was determined for the first time, including 46 species from 22 genera and 11 families. The paper presents a list of lichen species of the study area with the indication of the Russian and Latin names, families to which they belong, life forms, ecological groups, the substrate the species grew on as well as the years of collection. The systematic analysis has determined a predominance of the families Parmeliaceae and Cladoniaceae, and genera Cladonia, Hypogymnia, Usnea, Physcia. The analysis of life forms has showed a predominance of bushy (20 species) and leafy (17 species) lichens. The ecological analysis has revealed a predominance of mesophyte lichens (37 species). The substrate analysis has showed a dominance of a group of epiphytes (32 species), which mainly settle on the base, trunks and branches of pine. In total, 4 forophytes have been identified in the study area Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula pendula, Populus tremula. The forophytes like the Picea abies and the Populus tremula in the vicinity of Big Kyzykul Lake are represented by single young specimens, in this regard, and epiphytic lichens on them are insignificant.

Old design – New material: An early Final Palaeolithic bone projectile point from Bärenkeller cave site (Thuringia, Germany), and its implications for the evolution of osseous armatures and the environmental development in Lateglacial Central Europe

The transition from the late Pleniglacial to the Lateglacial in Central Europe brought about fundamental transformations of hunter-gatherer ways of life. Linked to profound climatic and environmental changes, the Late Upper Palaeolithic represented by the Magdalenian comes to an end, and the Final Palaeolithic represented by the Federmesser-Gruppen starts. This cultural shift between 13 and 12 ka cal. BC is particularly evident in lithic hunting armature, with frontally-hafted points gaining in importance to the detriment of laterally hafted backed bladelets. The changes in osseous projectile weaponry are still poorly understood. A double-bevelled projectile point made of red deer or elk bone from Bärenkeller cave site in Central Germany was radiocarbon-dated to the second half of GI-1e and is thus contemporary with the early Final Palaeolithic attested in the region. Together with already known, condiderably younger specimens from Northern Germany and Central Poland, this finding shows that the concept of double-bevelled osseous points survived the end of the Magdalenian and coexisted with lithic points and osseous barbed points during the Lateglacial. The rapid faunal exchange in the Central European low mountain range, however, required a much earlier shift from reindeer antler as the primary resource to other large cervids than in the lowlands to the north.

First adult record, redescription and distribution of Stemonosudis elongata (Aulopiformes: Paralepididae)

The original description of Macroparalepis elongatus Ege, 1933 (family Paralepididae) was based on a young specimen taken from Sri Lanka. No adult information is available since it was described. Six additional specimens, including three adults and three young specimens, were found in the museum collections. The adult morphology is described for the first time and its distribution range is now extended to South Pacific Ocean off New Caledonia and Australia, and the Western Indian Ocean off Madagascar. Detailed description and comparison of these specimens and the holotype, as well as a revised diagnosis for the species, are provided.

First reliable Korean record of a nemipterid fish, Pentapodus nagasakiensis (Perciformes: Nemipteridae)

The morphological characteristics of the Japanese whiptail, Pentapodus nagasakiensis are described firstly in detail based on a single young specimen (58.0 mm in SL) collected from off Seogwipo, Jejudo Island, Korea. The species is characterized by having a forked caudal fin without filamentous rays, a naked lower limb of preopercle, and a pearly-white stripe on the mid-lateral body when fresh. This study represents the first reliable record of P. nagasakiensis in the Korean waters.

Quantifying how altered lacunar morphology and perilacunar tissue properties influence local mechanical environment of osteocyte lacunae using finite element modeling

Previous studies have demonstrated that osteocyte lacunar morphology and perilacunar bone tissue properties undergo alterations due to physiological and pathological processes such as aging, lactation, diseases, and treatments. However, the influence of these alterations on the apparent mechanical properties of the bone and the local mechanical environment of osteocyte lacunae has not been evaluated in detail. The goal of this study is to quantify the influence of osteocyte lacunar morphology and perilacunar tissue properties on local mechanical environment around lacunae and the apparent mechanical properties of the bone using three-dimensional FE models of lacunae networks with varying lacunar morphology and perilacunar properties based on previously reported experimental data. To attain this goal, a parametric study using models with different lacunar/perilacunar properties, including lacunar density (Lc.D), orientation (Lc.Φ), volume (Lc.V), and equancy (Lc.Eq), as well as perilacunar modulus (Pl.E), and size (Pl.S) was carried out. In addition, a specific case study using models derived from aged and young bone specimens was performed. Our results showed that the highly strained tissue around lacunae increased linearly with increasing Lc.D and Lc.V, reduced exponentially with decreasing angle of major axis of lacunae from the loading direction and with increasing Pl.E, and increased exponentially with increasing Pl.S. The change in apparent elastic modulus with modifications in lacunar morphology was very small whereas the change in perilacunar modulus had a more substantial influence on the apparent elastic modulus. Lacunar strain amplification was reduced by increasing Lc.Φ, and Pl.E and increased with increasing Lc.V within the range of 1.5 and 2.3. No significant difference was seen in the apparent elastic modulus of models derived from young and aged bone models. However, young bone showed substantially larger amount of highly strained tissue around lacunae compared to the aged bone. This difference was amplified when the perilacunar tissue property modifications were incorporated in the models. In summary, the results indicate that modifications in the osteocyte lacunar morphology and perilacunar tissue properties can significantly alter local tissue deformation around lacunae which may impact osteocyte mechanosensitivity.

BEACHED SEA TURTLES ON THE COAST OF FORTALEZA, CEARÁ, BRAZIL, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION OF THE TÁXON

The Ceará’s state coast belongs to one of the most important areas of the South Atlantic for migration and feeding of sea turtles. Thus, the present study observed (1) which species occur in Fortaleza, (2) which species and sex are beached the most, (3) the life stage and (4) season that they most strand. We aimed to update existing information regarding the occurrence of sea turtles in Fortaleza, evaluate if seasonality influences beaching behavior, register the beached species on the coast of Fortaleza, and investigate the beaching behavior. This study was carried out in Fortaleza, Brazil. Data were obtained through monitoring and reports provided by the local community, from January/16 to December/19. A total of 112 beached turtles of four species were observed, and younger specimens were more observed. No significant differences appeared between the years, months, and the rainy/dry seasons on the number of the strandings. Females were observed more than males for all species, perhaps due to the use of the region as a migratory route for breeding and foraging. This is the first data for Ceará State published in a scientific paper, which can be used as the basis to raise awareness in the general population, and government, regarding the vulnerability of these organisms.
 Keywords: Chelonia mydas, juvenile turtles, female turtles, human activities, northeastern.

Differentiation of cannabis types based on cannabinoid content

Cannabis is the most widely used drug. In recent years, interest in cannabis has grown significantly. From 2009 to 2019, seizures of marijuana increased by 72%, while hashish decreased by 9%. The cannabis products available in Europe today include those with a high content of Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol - Δ 9 -THC (much higher than a few years ago), as well as many products containing hemp extracts, with a low Δ 9 -THC content, which are sold on the legal commercial market. The popularity of products with low Δ 9 -THC content has become a challenge for forensic laboratories. Cannabis identification is based on the quantification of the total percentage content of Δ 9 -THC and Δ 9 -THC-2-carboxylic acid (Δ 9 -THCA-A) in dry plant material. The varieties with the content of these compounds >0.20% are classified as narcotic type cannabis in Poland. This distinction is often only possible by quantitative chemical analysis of the leaves and inflorescences of mature, non-pollinated and unfertilized female cannabis varieties. In some cases, chemical analyzes related to the content of Δ 9 -THC and Δ 9 -THCA-A may not be sufficient, e.g., when testing early growth stage plants, the stems of cannabis plants, or the plant material of male narcotic varieties used in seed production (due to the low content of the mentioned compounds). Therefore, it is necessary to look for other markers (in the form of characteristic cannabinoids) that could indicate whether it is fiber or narcotic type of cannabis. This research is a part of a broader project that mainly aims to create a genetic database for the identification of cannabis varieties (2020-2022). This project (DOB-BIO10/02/01/2019) is funded by the National Center for Research and Development as part of competition No. 10/2019 for funding research and development work for national defense and security. Samples of narcotic type cannabis and hemp plants, grown from certified or commercially available seeds in special chambers, were analyzed by means of ultra- performance liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric detection (UPLC-PDA). Cultivated cannabis plants were cut at various stages of growth in order to check for variability in the composition of individual cannabinoids during plant growing. Various plant fragments were analyzed: inflorescences, leaves, stems, and sometimes the whole plants (in the case of young specimens). Relative areas of 18 cannabinoids (in relation to the internal standard) were analyzed, as well as the concentrations of four key compounds: Δ 9 -THC, Δ 9 -THCA-A, CBD and CBDA. The chemical analyzes showed a strong relationship between the cannabinoid profile and a specific plant variety, and also indicated that the content of individual cannabinoids depends on the part of the plant being tested (usually the highest in the inflorescence samples, lower in the leaves, and the lowest in the plant stems). Two markers were tested in the study, i.e. the ratio of the sum of the concentrations of Δ 9 -THC and Δ 9 -THCA-A to the total concentration of CBD and CBDA, as well as the ratio of the sum of the content of Δ 9 -THC and CBN to the content of CBD (the latter recommended by UNODC). Chemical testing of the sum of Δ 9 -THC and Δ 9 -THCA-A is insufficient to determine the variety of cannabis plants. Therefore, two markers composed of Δ 9 -THC, Δ 9 -THCA-A, CBD, CBDA, and CBN were tested in the study to distinguish cannabis from hemp plants. The results are promising, however in some cases they may indicate the need for genetic testing of cannabis.

PROBABLE JUVENILE FRONTAL OF DASPLETOSAURUS HORNERI (DINOSAURIA: THEROPODA) FROM THE TWO MEDICINE FORMATION OF MONTANA, WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR TYRANNOSAURID ONTOGENY

A partial left frontal (UCM 55499) of a small tyrannosaurid theropod from the Campanian Two Medicine Formation of Montana is described, and is considered to probably represent a juvenile of Daspletosaurus horneri. UCM 55499 compares favorably with the frontals of other young juvenile tyrannosaurid specimens, and its diminutive size suggests that the element comes from a small juvenile individual. Differences (including width of the nasal process, and degree of expansion of the postorbital buttress and the caudal shelf) between it and frontals of the larger individuals of Daspletosaurus horneri are similar to those between juveniles and adults of other tyrannosaurids such as Tyrannosaurus rex, suggesting that overall ontogenetic trends in the frontal bone of Daspletosaurus horneri are largely consistent with the patterns seen in other tyrannosaurids.

Post-cure and γ-irradiation effects on the elastoplastic behavior of structural epoxy adhesive bulk specimens

The present work studies the effects of γ-irradiation on 3M™ Scotch-Weld™ EC-2216 B/A Gray, a commercial two-part flexible epoxy adhesive. The study aims to determine its mechanical characteristics by tensile testing bulk adhesive specimens and quantify the effect of different γ-ray doses (generated from a 60Co source) on the mechanical behavior of the adhesive. The elastoplastic stress-strain curve of the adhesive has been described until failure, varying the absorbed dose up to 500 kGy.Furthermore, a behavior evolution of the adhesive after the cure has been observed and described. The mechanical stabilization occurs between 48 and 85 days after the nominal end of the cure. It has been found that young specimens show a behaviour well described with a two-parameter power law, while for the other specimens, the Ramberg-Osgood model is more appropriate since it can also modelize their initial linear trend. A crosslinking increment can be hypothesized during this period, which could justify the overall embrittlement and stiffening of the adhesive.The adhesive, on the whole, has good mechanical stability after irradiation in the inspected interval, showing a reduction of Young’s modulus. Tensile strength and elongation at break result being quite stable with the absorbed dose, though the statistics for those parameters is poor because of the relevant quantity of invalid fractures.Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and colorimetric analysis have also been performed to investigate the modifications induced by γ-irradiation.

Quantitative characterization of 3D structure of vellus hair arrector pili muscles by micro CT.

Vellus hair is the fine, wispy hair found over most of the body surface, and the arrector pili muscles (hair muscle) serve to raise these hairs. Hair muscles are also critical for skin regeneration, contributing to the maintenance of stem cells in epidermis and hair follicles. However, little is known about their fundamental properties, especially their structure, because of the limitations of conventional two-dimensional histological analysis. We aimed to quantitatively characterize the structure of vellus hair muscles by establishing a method to visualize the 3D structure of hair muscle. We observed young female abdominal skin specimens by means of X-ray micro CT and identified hair muscles in each cross-sectional CT image. We then digitally reconstructed the 3D structure of the hair muscles on computer (digital-3D skin), and numerically evaluated their structural parameters. Vellus hair muscles were clearly distinguished from the surrounding dermal layer in X-ray micro CT images and were digitally reconstructed in 3D from those images for quantification of the structural parameters. The mean value of number of divisions of vellus hair muscles was 1.6, mean depth was 943.6 μm from the skin surface, mean angle to the skin surface was 28.8 degrees, and mean length was 1657.9μm. These values showed relatively little variation among subjects. The mean muscle volume was approximately 20 million μm3 but showed greater variability than the other parameters. Digital-3D skin technology is a powerful approach to understand the tiny but complex 3D structure of vellus hair muscles. The fundamental nature of vellus hair muscles was characterized in terms of their 3D structural parameters, including number of divisions, angle to the skin surface, depth, and volume.

Ultrastructural characterisation of young and aged dental enamel by atomic force microscopy.

Recent advances in atomic force microscopy (AFM) have allowed the characterisation of dental-associated biomaterials and biological surfaces with high resolution. In this context, the topography of dental enamel - the hardest mineralised tissue in the body - has been explored with AFM-based approaches at the microscale. With age, teeth are known to suffer changes that can impact their structural stability and function; however, changes in enamel structure because of ageing have not yet been explored with nanoscale resolution. Therefore, the aim of this exploratory work was to optimise an approach to characterise the ultrastructure of dental enamel and determine potential differences in topography, hydroxyapatite (HA) crystal size, and surface roughness at the nanoscale associated to ageing. For this, a total of six teeth were collected from human donors from which enamel specimens were prepared. By employing intermittent contact (AC mode) imaging, HA crystals were characterised in both transversal and longitudinal orientation (respect to surface plane) with high resolution in environmental conditions. The external enamel surface displayed the presence of a pellicle-like coating on its surface that was not observable on cleaned specimens. Acid-etching exposed crystals that were imaged and morphologically characterised in high resolution at the nanoscale in both the external and internal regions of enamel in older and younger specimens. Our results demonstrated important individual variations in HA crystal width and roughness parameters across the analysed specimens; however, an increase in surface roughness and decrease in HA width was observed for the pooled older external enamel group compared to younger specimens. Overall, high-resolution AFM was an effective approach for the qualitative and quantitative characterisation of human dental enamel ultrastructure. Future work should focus on exploring the ageing of dental enamel with increased sample sizes to compensate for individual differences as well as other potential confounding factors such as behavioural habits and mechanical forces.

Techniques for bone assessment and characterization: porcine hard palate case study

The hard palate plate has an important structural function that separates the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx. Incomplete regeneration of palatal fistulae in children with a cleft palate deformity after primary palatoplasty is a relatively common complication. To date, the information about the physicochemical bone features of this region is deficient, due to the low availability of human samples. Swine and human bone share anatomical similarities. Specifically, pig bones are widely used as experimental animal models in dental, orthopedic, or surgical techniques. The aim of this study was to show different techniques to evaluate and characterize alternative properties of pig hard palate bone, compared to commercial hydroxyapatite, one of the most used biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration. Chemical analyses by Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) showed calcium and phosphate ions as the main constituents of bone, while magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium, and zinc ions were minor constituents. The calcium phosphate molar ratio (Ca/P) in the bone was low (1.1 ± 0.2) due to the very young specimen sample used. The FTIR spectrum shows the presence of phosphates ions (PO43-) and the main characteristics of collagen type I. The XRD results showed that the hard palate bone has a mixture of calcium, octacalcium dihydrogen phosphate (OCP), and apatite, where OCP is the predominant phase. Besides, this research demonstrated that the young bone has low crystallinity and small crystal size compared with commercial hydroxyapatite (HA). The palatine process of maxilla density and porosity data reported, suggest that the palate bone is getting closer to the compact bone with a 52.78 ± 2.91% porosity and their mechanical properties depend on the preparation conditions and the area of the bone analyzed.

Ancient DNA extraction methods for herbarium specimens: When is it worth the effort?

PremiseHerbaria harbor a tremendous number of plant specimens that are rarely used for molecular systematic studies, largely due to the difficulty in extracting sufficient amounts of high‐quality DNA from the preserved plant material.MethodsWe compared the standard Qiagen DNeasy Plant Mini Kit and a specific protocol for extracting ancient DNA (aDNA) (the N‐phenacylthiazolium bromide and dithiothreitol [PTB–DTT] extraction method) from two different plant genera (Xanthium and Salix). The included herbarium materials covered about two centuries of plant collections. To analyze the success of DNA extraction using each method, a subset of samples was subjected to a standard library preparation as well as target‐enrichment approaches.ResultsThe PTB–DTT method produced a higher DNA yield of better quality than the Qiagen kit; however, extracts from the Qiagen kit over a certain DNA yield and quality threshold produced comparable sequencing results. The sequencing resulted in high proportions of endogenous reads. We were able to successfully sequence 200‐year‐old samples.DiscussionThis method comparison revealed that, for younger specimens, DNA extraction using a standard kit might be sufficient. For old and precious herbarium specimens, aDNA extraction methods are better suited to meet the requirements for next‐generation sequencing.

First record of Achatina fulica Bowdich, 1822 (Mollusca, Achatinidae), for the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Achatina fulica Bowdich, 1822, is here officially recorded for the first time for Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. It is now known to occur in every Brazilian state. The species is on the list of the 100 worst invasive species in the world. One young specimen of giant African snail was found in a garden of a residential building in the municipality of Porto Alegre. A hypothesis is that it was accidentally introduced through gardening. It can cause economic losses and diseases in human beings.

First record of the blackfish Centrolophus Niger (Teleostei: Centrolophidae) from the Lebanese waters in the eastern Mediterranean sea.

A young specimen of the blackfish, Centrolophus niger (Gmelin, 1789) was reported for the first time from the Lebanese waters. It was caught and photographed by a professional fisherman in Beirut, on 15th November 2014. The present note reports details about this first record.

Marthamyces manglicola, a new species (Ascomycota, Marthamycetaceae) on black mangrove from Cozumel Island, Mexico

Background and Aims: The genus Marthamyces is characterized by its orbicular to polygonal apothecia, immersed within the host tissue, erumpent from the substrate surface, by the hymenium with pruinose appearance due to the presence of small crystals on its surface and amongst the paraphyses, and by filiform, 0- to 3-septate ascospores. Members of this genus grow on leaves of plants throughout the world, mainly in the tropics and subtropics. The aims of this study are to describe and illustrate Marthamyces manglicola as a new species that grows on Avicennia germinans (black mangrove) from Cozumel Island and to elaborate a key to all species of the genus Marthamyces described until now.Methods: Specimens were collected on fallen leaves of black mangrove in Punta Sur Ecological Park, Cozumel Island Biosphere Reserve. Field data and morphological characteristics were recorded using the traditional techniques in mycology. The material was deposited in the ENCB herbarium of the Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional.Key results: Marthamyces manglicola is characterized by its apothecia opening by 3-5 pruinose and yellowish white to pale yellow flaps, a hymenial surface greyish blue to dull blue in young specimens, fading to bluish white to pale blue or pale yellow in mature apothecia. Microscopically, it has paraphyses swelling slightly near the apex, with several short, finger-like projections and straight to slightly curved ascospores on release. A key to all described species of Marthamyces is presented.Conclusions: Marthamyces manglicola on Avicennia germinans (black mangrove) is the only species of this genus described from mangroves.