Static exposure experiments were conducted to assess the toxicity of dispersed Prudhoe Bay Crude Oil (PBCO) to embryos of the topsmelt (Atherinops affinis). Treatment with the dispersant COREXIT 9500 resulted in greater hydrocarbon concentrations in chemically enhanced water-accommodated fractions (CEWAFs) of oil, relative to the untreated water-accommodated fractions (WAFs). Topsmelt embryo de...

The aim of this study was to improve understanding of several factors related to the ecology and environmental risk of Borrelia infection in northern Florida. Small mammals and host-seeking adult ticks were collected at several sites, and specimens were tested for the presence of Borrelia species, primarily by PCR amplification. Tissues from some vertebrates and ticks were initially cultured in...

To explore the differences in the swimming ability and environmental adaptive abilities between male and female Gambusia affinis, we assessed the differences in burst swimming speeds (Uburst), critical swimming speeds (Ucrit) and their related fin areas, and consumption of energy substances after starvation at 0 (control group), 15, 30, 45, and 60 days, respectively. The results showed that the...

Ixodes scapularis is the principal vector of Lyme disease on the East Coast and in the upper Midwest regions of the United States, yet the tick is also present in the Southeast, where Lyme disease is absent or rare. A closely related species, I. affinis, also carries the pathogen in the South but does not seem to transmit it to humans. In order to better understand the geographic diversity of t...

Blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis is the primary vector of Lyme disease in eastern United States. Borrelia Burgdorfei, the etiological agent of Lyme disease is transferred by ticks of Ixodes species. In recent years, its congener, Ixodes affinis has been expanding its range northwards from its southern population. We were interested in studying how the introduction of this new vector affecte...

Ocean acidification is caused by increasing amounts of carbon dioxide dissolving in the oceans leading to lower seawater pH. We studied the effects of lowered pH on the calanoid copepod Eurytemora affinis during a mesocosm experiment conducted in a coastal area of the Baltic Sea. We measured copepod reproductive success as a function of pH, chlorophyll a concentration, diatom and dinoflagellate...

The taxonomy of the genus Hansreia Halffter & Martínez is reviewed. The genus consists of six species, including three new species: H. peugeoti sp. nov., H. grossii sp. nov., H. krinskii sp. nov. Lectotypes are designated for Hansreia affinis (Fabricius 1801), H. oxygona (Perty 1830) [here considered a valid species] and H. coriacea (Schmidt 1922). The species status of H. coriacea is recognize...

Zeugophora varians Crotch and the family Megalopodidae are newly recorded for New Brunswick, Canada. Twenty-eight species of Chrysomelidae are newly recorded for New Brunswick, including Acalymma gouldi Barber, Altica knabii Blatchley, Altica rosae Woods, Altica woodsi Isely, Bassareus mammifer (Newman), Chrysolina marginata (Linnaeus), Chrysomela laurentia Brown, Crepidodera violacea Melsheime...

Seven new species of Anchastus LeConte, 1853 are described: A. brunneifinibus sp. nov. (Bolivia), A. cuiabanus sp. nov. (Brazil), A. flavonigrothoracicum sp. nov. (Bolivia), A. rubrithoracicum sp. nov. (Brazil, Bolivia), A. thoracoferrugineus sp. nov. (Bolivia), A. transverseplagiatus sp. nov. (Bolivia) and A. uniplagipennis sp. nov. (Bolivia). The female genitalia of A. boulardi Chassain, 2010...

Copper (Cu) accumulation in shoot and root tissues and low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOA) root exudation have been studied in two metallophytes from Central Chile (Oenothera affinis and Imperata condensata) and two agricultural plants (Lupinus albus and Helianthus annus) growing under hydroponics conditions at increasing Cu levels (0, 0.125, 0.250, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg Cu/L). The plants were...