Entanglement and ingestion of microfibers by the oyster pea crab Zaops ostreum, an endosymbiont of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica.

The kleptoparasitic pea crab Zaops ostreum lives within the gills of bivalves, including the economically important eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica. Previous research along the east coast of central Florida has found an average of 2.3 pieces of plastic per oyster.

Oyster reef restoration facilitates the recovery of macroinvertebrate abundance, diversity, and composition in estuarine communities.

Historic declines in oyster populations have resulted in diminished production of ecosystem services and habitat function in many estuaries. Due to the important role of oysters in ecosystem function, scientists and resource managers have employed oyster reef restoration to mitigate declines, recover essential ecosystem services, and better habitat function. Yet, there are knowledge gaps regarding the impact of restoration efforts on ecologically valuable mid-trophic level organisms inhabiting these systems.

In-situ microplastic egestion efficiency of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica.

Microplastics (MP) are a pervasive environmental pollutant that enter coastal water bodies, posing an ingestion risk to marine biota. This study quantified the ability of the Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) to egest MP in-situ in their biodeposits - feces and pseudofeces. Oysters of all sizes were able to egest environmental MP at a mean rate of 1 MP per 1 h through feces, and 1 MP per 2 h through pseudofeces.

Hydrodynamic and biogeochemical evolution of a restored intertidal oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reef.

Oyster reef restoration is increasingly used as a tool for restoring lost ecosystem services in degraded aquatic systems, but questions remain about the efficacy of the practice and when/if restored reefs may behave similarly to intact natural reefs. In this case study, field observations highlighted short- (<1 month post-restoration) and longer-term (30 months; 3 recruitment cycles) transformations in canopy, hydrodynamic, and biogeochemical characteristics of a restored intertidal oyster reef relative to nearby intact and degraded reefs. Within 12 months of restoration, live oyster density (326 oysters/m), mean shell length (47 mm), and mean canopy height (76 mm) did not differ significantly from those observed on a reference reef.

Large-scale variation in wave attenuation of oyster reef living shorelines and the influence of inundation duration.

One of the paramount goals of oyster reef living shorelines is to achieve sustained and adaptive coastal protection, which requires meeting ecological (i.e., develop a self-sustaining oyster population) and engineering (i.

Replacement of oyster reefs by mangroves: Unexpected climate-driven ecosystem shifts.

Increases in minimum air temperatures have facilitated transitions of salt marshes to mangroves along coastlines in the southeastern United States. Numerous studies have documented mangrove expansion into salt marshes; however, a present-day conversion of oyster reefs to mangrove islands has not been documented. Using aerial photographs and high-resolution satellite imagery, we determined percent cover and number of mangrove patches on oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon, FL, USA over 74 years (1943-2017) by digitizing oyster reef and "mangrove on oyster reef" areas.

Microplastic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tracts in birds of prey in central Florida, USA.

A study was conducted to quantify the abundance of plastic pollution in the gastrointestinal tracts in birds of prey. Data was collected from all birds retrieved from the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in central Florida, USA from January to May 2018. Individuals were either dead prior to reaching the Center or died within 24 h of arrival with no food consumed during captivity.

Quantity and types of microplastics in the organic tissues of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica and Atlantic mud crab Panopeus herbstii from a Florida estuary.

This study determined the quantity and diversity of microplastics in water and soft tissues of eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and Atlantic mud crabs (Panopeus herbstii) in Mosquito Lagoon, a shallow, microtidal estuary along the east coast of central Florida. One-liter water samples had an average of 23.1 microplastic pieces (n = 15).

Correction: Genetic structure provides insights into the geographic origins and temporal change in the invasive charru mussel (Sururu) in the southeastern United States.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Genetic structure provides insights into the geographic origins and temporal change in the invasive charru mussel (Sururu) in the southeastern United States.

In 2004, Mytella charruana (d'Orbigny, 1842) (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Mytilidae) became established along the coast of the southeastern United States (SE-US). Using mitochondrial DNA sequencing (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I), we compared genetic variation throughout its native range in South America to its invasive range in the SE-US. Samples from the SE-US were collected in 2006 and 2010 enabling a temporal comparison to evaluate possible genetic changes of the invasive population.

An alternate dissection approach to the female urogenital triangle.

Traditional dissections of the female urogenital (UG) triangle can lead to early destruction of the erectile tissues, associated musculature, and neurovascular structures. Here, we present an alternate dissection of the female UG triangle. Rather than begin the female UG triangle dissection with the fatty tissue of the labia majora, we utilize an early identification of the suspensory ligament of the clitoris to organize the dissection.

A qualitative study of continuing education needs of rural nursing unit staff: the nurse administrator's perspective.

Background: This study reports perceptions of the continuing education (CE) needs of nursing unit staff in 40 rural healthcare facilities (10 hospitals and 30 long-term care facilities) in a rural Midwestern U.S. region from the perspective of nurse administrators in an effort to promote a community-based academic-practice CE partnership.

Robotic-assisted surgery and the need for standardized pathways and clinical guidelines.

Robotic surgical techniques are revolutionizing the way surgery is performed in an effort to improve patient outcomes. Although current literature is limited, studies have shown that patients who undergo robotic-assisted procedures experience reduced surgical time, scarring, blood loss, pain, infection rates, and lengths of stay compared with patients who undergo open or laparoscopic procedures. Currently, start-up costs for robotic systems are high and include the major equipment purchase as well as supplemental equipment purchases and staff member training.

Superficial peroneal nerve (superficial fibularis nerve): the clinical implications of anatomic variability.

The purpose of this study is to refine further the knowledge about the anatomic variability of the superficial peroneal nerve in the middle third of the leg. Approaching the superficial peroneal nerve in this location is required: 1) when either the deep or the superficial peroneal nerve must be resected for the treatment of dorsal foot pain; 2) when a neurolysis of the superficial peroneal nerve is required; 3) when a fasciotomy must be performed either for trauma or for exertional compartment syndrome surgery; and 4) during elevation of a fasciocutaneous or fibular flaps. Because of the variability encountered during these procedures, a prospective study was carried out via lower extremity cadaver dissection with fresh, frozen specimens.