Fish community responses to restoration of a eutrophic coastal bay.

Interest in coastal restoration measures is increasing, but information about subsequent ecosystem recovery processes is limited. In Björnöfjärden on the Baltic Sea coast, Stockholm archipelago, a pioneering case study to reduce coastal eutrophication led to improvements and initially halved phosphorus levels. Here, we evaluate the effects of the restoration on the local fish assemblage over one decade after the measures.

Rapid re-establishment of top-down control at a no-take artificial reef.

Establishment of artificial reefs and no-take areas are management measures available for restoring deteriorated marine ecosystems, compensating for habitat loss and strengthening harvested populations. Following the establishment of no-take artificial reefs in western Sweden to compensate for hard bottoms lost to a shipping lane, we detected rapid positive effects on crustaceans and demersal fish compared to fished reference areas. The relative abundance and size structure of European lobster (Homarus gammarus) increased strongly in the no-take area indicating more than doubled and tripled egg production in 5 and 10 years, respectively.

Combined effects of human pressures on Europe's marine ecosystems.

Marine ecosystems are under high demand for human use, giving concerns about how pressures from human activities may affect their structure, function, and status. In Europe, recent developments in mapping of marine habitats and human activities now enable a coherent spatial evaluation of potential combined effects of human activities. Results indicate that combined effects from multiple human pressures are spread to 96% of the European marine area, and more specifically that combined effects from physical disturbance are spread to 86% of the coastal area and 46% of the shelf area.

Cleaning up seas using blue growth initiatives: Mussel farming for eutrophication control in the Baltic Sea.

Eutrophication is a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems globally with pronounced negative effects in the Baltic and other semi-enclosed estuaries and regional seas, where algal growth associated with excess nutrients causes widespread oxygen free "dead zones" and other threats to sustainability. Decades of policy initiatives to reduce external (land-based and atmospheric) nutrient loads have so far failed to control Baltic Sea eutrophication, which is compounded by significant internal release of legacy phosphorus (P) and biological nitrogen (N) fixation. Farming and harvesting of the native mussel species (Mytilus edulis/trossulus) is a promising internal measure for eutrophication control in the brackish Baltic Sea.

Predicting the effects of eutrophication mitigation on predatory fish biomass and the value of recreational fisheries.

Improving water clarity is a core objective for eutrophication management in the Baltic Sea, but may influence fisheries via effects on fish habitat suitability. We apply an ensemble of species distribution models coupled with habitat productivity functions and willingness-to-pay estimates to assess these effects for two coastal predatory fish species, European perch (Perca fluviatilis) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). The models predicted a 37% increase in perch and 59% decrease in pikeperch biomass if reaching the reference level for water clarity in the Baltic Sea Action Plan.

Linking consumer physiological status to food-web structure and prey food value in the Baltic Sea.

Declining physiological status in marine top consumers has been observed worldwide. We investigate changes in the physiological status and population/community traits of six consumer species/groups in the Baltic Sea (1993-2014), spanning four trophic levels and using metrics currently operational or proposed as indicators of food-web status. We ask whether the physiological status of consumers can be explained by food-web structure and prey food value.

Relative impacts of fishing and eutrophication on coastal fish assessed by comparing a no-take area with an environmental gradient.

Understanding the relative impacts of pressures on coastal ecosystems is central for implementing relevant measures to reach environmental management objectives. Here, survey data on the species and size composition of coastal fish are evaluated in relation to fishing and eutrophication, by comparing a long-standing no-take area to an environmental gradient in the Baltic Sea. The no-take area represents an intermediate eutrophication level, but the species composition resembles that seen at low eutrophication in areas with fishing.

External nutrient loading from land, sea and atmosphere to all 656 Swedish coastal water bodies.

Identifying the main sources of nutrient loading is a key factor for efficient mitigation of eutrophication. This study has investigated the pathways of external nutrient loading to 656 coastal water bodies along the entire Swedish coastline. The studied water bodies have been delineated to meet requirements in the European Union's Water Framework Directive, and recent status assessments have shown that 57% of them fail to attain good or high ecological status with respect to nutrients.

Distribution of mesopredatory fish determined by habitat variables in a predator-depleted coastal system.

Shallow nearshore habitats are highly valued for supporting marine ecosystems, but are subject to intense human-induced pressures. Mesopredatory fish are key components in coastal food webs, and alterations in their abundance may have evident effects also on other parts of the ecosystem. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the abundance of coastal mesopredatory fish, defined as mid-trophic level demersal and benthic species with a diet consisting predominantly of invertebrates, and ambient environmental variables in a fjord system influenced by both eutrophication and overfishing.

Divergence within and among Seaweed Siblings (Fucus vesiculosus and F. radicans) in the Baltic Sea.

Closely related taxa provide significant case studies for understanding evolution of new species but may simultaneously challenge species identification and definition. In the Baltic Sea, two dominant and perennial brown algae share a very recent ancestry. Fucus vesiculosus invaded this recently formed postglacial sea 8000 years ago and shortly thereafter Fucus radicans diverged from this lineage as an endemic species.

Structure activity relationships of fused bicyclic and urea derivatives of spirocyclic compounds as potent CCR1 antagonists.

A series of fused bicyclic and urea derivatives of spirocyclic compounds were designed, synthesised and evaluated in vitro as potent CCR1 antagonists. In particular, 4 (7nM), 44 (1.3nM), 48 (0.

Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationships of zwitterionic spirocyclic compounds as potent CCR1 antagonists.

A series of zwitterionic spirocyclic compounds were synthesised. In vitro data revealed that these compounds were potent CCR1 antagonists. In particular, 2, 4, 11 and 20 inhibited CCR1 mediated chemotaxis of THP-1 cells in a functional assay.

Top-down regulation, climate and multi-decadal changes in coastal zoobenthos communities in two Baltic Sea areas.

The structure of many marine ecosystems has changed substantially during recent decades, as a result of overexploitation, climate change and eutrophication. Despite of the apparent ecological and economical importance of coastal areas and communities, this aspect has received relatively little attention in coastal systems. Here we assess the temporal development of zoobenthos communities in two areas on the Swedish Baltic Sea coast during 30 years, and relate their development to changes in climate, eutrophication and top-down regulation from fish.

Impact of nandrolone decanoate on gene expression in endocrine systems related to the adverse effects of anabolic androgenic steroids.

Elite athletes, body builders and adolescents misuse anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) in order to increase muscle mass or to enhance physical endurance and braveness. The high doses misused are associated with numerous adverse effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of chronic supratherapeutic AAS treatment on circulating hormones and gene expression in peripheral tissues related to such adverse effects.

Rapid speciation in a newly opened postglacial marine environment, the Baltic Sea.

Background: Theory predicts that speciation can be quite rapid. Previous examples comprise a wide range of organisms such as sockeye salmon, polyploid hybrid plants, fruit flies and cichlid fishes. However, few studies have shown natural examples of rapid evolution giving rise to new species in marine environments.

The anabolic androgenic steroid nandrolone decanoate affects mRNA expression of dopaminergic but not serotonergic receptors.

The abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) at supratherapeutic doses is a problem not only in the world of sports, but also among non-athletes using AASs to improve physical appearance and to become more bold and courageous. Investigations of the possible neurochemical effects of AAS have focused partially on the monoaminergic systems, which are involved in aggressive behaviours and the development of drug dependence. In the present study, we administered nandrolone decanoate (3 or 15 mg/kg/day for 14 days) and measured mRNA expression of dopaminergic and serotonergic receptors, transporters and enzymes in the male rat brain using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Enhancing concentration, mood and memory in healthy individuals: an empirical study of attitudes among general practitioners and the general population.

Aim: To study attitudes towards enhancing concentration, mood and memory in healthy individuals among the general public and general practitioners (GPs).

Methods: A questionnaire consisting of vignettes including three cases dealing with enhancement of concentration, mood and memory was sent during 2006 to 1000 randomly selected people from Stockholm and 300 GPs. We asked about the use of pharmaceuticals for healthy individuals for the benefit of others and the benefit to oneself; we also asked whether or not society should pay the cost.

Reduced activity of monoamine oxidase in the rat brain following repeated nandrolone decanoate administration.

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are known as doping agents within sports and body-building, but are currently also abused by other groups in society in order to promote increased courage and aggression. We previously showed that 14 days of daily intramuscular injections of the AAS nandrolone decanoate (15 mg/kg) reduced the extracellular levels of the dopaminergic metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) in the nucleus accumbens shell using microdialysis. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the same dose regimen of nandrolone decanoate may affect the activities of the dopamine-metabolizing enzymes monoamine oxidases A and B (MAO-A and MAO-B).

Altered extracellular levels of DOPAC and HVA in the rat nucleus accumbens shell in response to sub-chronic nandrolone administration and a subsequent amphetamine challenge.

Associated with acts of violence and polydrug use, abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) is an increasing problem in society. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether sub-chronic treatment with the AAS nandrolone decanoate affects dopamine release and dopamine metabolism in the rat nucleus accumbens shell, before and after an amphetamine challenge. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received daily i.

Opposite effects of gamma(1)- and gamma(2)-melanocyte stimulating hormone on regulation of the dopaminergic mesolimbic system in rats.

By use of the brain microdialysis technique we show that administration of gamma(1)-melanocyte stimulating hormone (gamma(1)-MSH) into the ventral tegmental area of anaesthetized rats causes an increase in the release of extracellular dopamine and its metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in the nucleus accumbens, while gamma(2)-MSH causes the opposite effect. Moreover, gamma(2)-MSH pre-treatment considerably reduced the gamma(1)-MSH-induced effects. Our findings suggest an opposing action of two gamma-MSH-activated pathways on the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, which could be important in the maintenance of a balanced psychoactivation state.

Anabolic androgenic steroid nandrolone decanoate reduces hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin mRNA levels.

Supratherapeutical doses of anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) have dramatic effects on metabolism in humans, and also inhibit feeding and reduce the rate of body weight gain in rats. In order to test the hypothesis that the AAS metabolic syndrome is accompanied by alterations in the central melanocortin system, we evaluated body weight, food intake and hypothalamic agouti-related protein (AgRP) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA levels following administration of different doses of the anabolic androgenic steroid nandrolone decanoate. In order to distinguish changes induced by the steroid treatment per se from those resulting from the reduced food intake and growth rate, we also compared the effect of nandrolone decanoate on AgRP and POMC mRNA expression with both normally fed, and food restricted control groups.

Chronic infusion of a melanocortin receptor agonist modulates dopamine receptor binding in the rat brain.

Previous studies have shown that melanocortin peptides have facilitatory effects on dopaminergic neurotransmission. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that chronic exposure to melanocortin receptor agonists causes a prolonged release of dopamine resulting in changes in the expression of dopamine receptor subtypes. Using an autoradiographic approach we found that a 2 week intracerebroventricular infusion of the melanocortin receptor agonist melanotan-II induced changes in dopamine D(1)-like and D(2)-like receptor binding in several regions of the rat brain.