Testing how environmental variables affect the survival of freshwater turtle nests and hatchlings using artificial nests and dummy hatchlings.

The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is a wide-ranging, long-living freshwater species with low reproductive success, mainly due to high predation pressure. We studied how habitat variables and predator communities in near-natural marshes affect the survival of turtle eggs and hatchlings. We followed the survival of artificial turtle nests placed in marshes along Lake Balaton (Hungary) in May and June as well as hatchlings (dummies) exposed in September.

Impact of β-Carotene Enrichment on Carotenoid Composition and Gene Expression in Metanauplii.

Background: Carotenoids play essential nutritional and physiological roles in aquatic animals. Since aquatic species cannot synthesize carotenoids de novo, they must obtain these compounds from their diet to meet the physiological and adaptive requirements needed in specific aquaculture stages and conditions. Carotenoid supplementation in represents a promising strategy to enhance pigmentation, health, and growth in aquaculture species, particularly in larvae and other early developmental stages.

Considerations for implementing regulation of decapods in science.

Decapod crustaceans, commonly utilised for pure or applied scientific research and commercial food production, have generally remained outside ethical debate. However, in the last decade many parts of the world have seen an increase in public interest in the welfare of decapod crustaceans and statutory legal protection has been introduced in several countries. Although still limited to a small number of countries and remaining relatively unharmonised, relevant legislation could be increasingly broadened to include decapods in further jurisdictions.

A new species of Gosline, 1951 (Actinopterygii, Ophichthidae) from Taiwan.

A unique species of the flappy-snake eel genus, , is described based on a single specimen (270 mm in total length) collected from Dong-gang, southwestern Taiwan. The new species possesses several characters that are distinct from the only other species in the genus, . can be easily distinguished from by having two papillae inside of nasal tube (vs three in ), 25 branchiostegal rays (vs 29), the dorsal-fin origin positioned behind the tip of the pectoral fin (vs not behind, usually above mid-pectoral fin), and the absence of the maxillary teeth (vs present).

Species of the snake eel genus Whitley, 1940 from Taiwan, with descriptions of a new species and two new records (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae).

The slender snake eel genus from Taiwan is reviewed, and a total of four species are recognized, including a new species described here. is described based on four specimens collected from western Taiwan. It can be distinguished from congeners by the dorsal-fin origin situated above the gill opening, the tip of lower jaw not reaching the base of the anterior-nostril tube, 1 + 3 supraorbital pores, 7-8 predorsal vertebrae, and 147-152 total vertebrae.

A new species of the jawfish genus from Taiwan, northwestern Pacific Ocean (Perciformes, Opistognathidae).

A new species of jawfish genus is described based on a specimen collected from a beach in the Peng-hu Islands during a cold snap. The new species, , differs from its congeners in having a rigid upper jaw, 10-11 + 1 + 19-22 = 31-33 gill rakers, 55 scale rows in lateral series, 10 + 16 = 26 vertebrae, the terminus of the lateral line at the base of the fourth segmented dorsal-fin ray (15 in total rays), the head, nape, dorsal-fin base above lateral line, throat, chest, and pectoral-fin base naked, dorsal fin with eight blotches along its entire base, body with five horizontal dark stripes, nape with two dark blotches in front of the dorsal-fin origin, and a caudal fin with five narrow, dark bands. A detailed description is provided and compared to its similar congeners.

, a new beardfish from the western Pacific (Teleostei, Polymixiiformes, Polymixiidae).

A new species of beardfish, genus , is described based on three specimens collected in Taiwanese waters and off the Chesterfield Islands of New Caledonia. It can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: dorsal-fin rays IV-V, 35-37; gill rakers on outer face of first gill arch 3+1+6=10; scales row between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line vertically 6-8 (S1) and posteriorly 12-14 (S2); pyloric caeca 40; snout rounded, with its surface rough and gelatinous, its tip evidently protrude anterior margin of premaxilla; ctenii on body scales arranged in a wedge-shape, forming three rows; 4 anal-fin spine long, 1.0%-1.

Verification of two barracudina species (Tanaka, 1908) and (Fowler, 1934) (Aulopiformes, Paralepididae).

Examination of the type series of Tanaka reveals that the generally accepted concept of this species does not accord with the type series. A historical review of the literature showed that the characterization of changed over time, and what has been recognized as "" for more than 70 years actually represents a distinct and different species. Among the junior synonyms of "", Fowler, 1934 is resurrected as a valid species herein in a new combination, .

Descriptions of two new dark-body snake eels of the genus (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae) from Taiwan.

Two new species of dark-body snake eels are described based on specimens collected from Taiwan. has a long tail; dorsal-fin origin above posterior third of pectoral fin; tip of lower jaw anterior to anterior-nostril tube; two simple, pointed protrusions along upper lip; preoperculomandibular pores 6 or 7 + 3; teeth on jaws and vomer mostly uniserial, except for biserial on posterior portion of maxilla and anterior portion of symphysis of dentary; vertebral formula 12-55-153 and median fins with narrow dark margins, except the pale fin origins. has a dorsal-fin origin well behind gill opening; mainly 4 rows of teeth on jaws; no protrusions along upper lip; a smaller head; mean vertebral formula 24-64-163 and pale median fins.

QTL mapping provides new insights into emamectin benzoate resistance in salmon lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis.

Background: The salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) is a parasite of wild and farmed salmonid fish, causing huge economic damage to the commercial farming of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the northern hemisphere. The avermectin emamectin benzoate (EMB) is widely used for salmon delousing. While resistance to EMB is widespread in Atlantic populations of L.

Factors influencing pesticide-biocontrol agent compatibility: A metadata-based review.

The complexities of non-target effects of registered pesticides on biocontrol agents (BCAs) hinder the optimization of integrated pest management programs in agriculture. The wealth of literature on BCA-pesticide compatibility allows for the investigation of factors influencing BCA susceptibility and the generalized impacts of different pesticides. We conducted a meta-analysis using 2088 observations from 122 published articles to assess non-target effects on two phytoseiid species (Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis), a parasitoid (Encarsia formosa), and two microbial BCAs (Trichoderma harzianum and Metarhizium anisopliae).

A New Cryptic Species of Splitfin Fish from Taiwan with Revision of the Genus (Acropomatiformes: Synagropidae.

A new species of splitfin fish, sp. nov., from Dongsha Island, Taiwan, South China Sea, is described based on its morphological characteristics, including osteology and otolith morphology, and DNA sequence.

A new web application for determining sample size in freedom-from-disease testing with imperfect tests.

Veterinary surveillance frequently requires study design for freedom-from-disease testing, specifying a sample size to balance higher statistical power with larger sample sizes against increased research and ethics costs, with the recognition that tests can generate false positive and negative results: i.e., tests exhibit imperfect sensitivity and specificity.

New record of Engyprosopon macrolepis (Regan, 1908) from Taiwan (Pleuronectiformes: Bothidae).

Specimens of the largescale dwarf flounder, Engyprosopon macrolepis (Regan, 1908) (Pleuronectiformes: Bothidae), were collected from the fishery landing of Chi-kan, Peng-hu Islands, western Taiwan. Although this species has been recorded from western Pacific Ocean including the Philippines and Japan, it has never been recorded from Taiwanese waters. Therefore, our specimens represent the first record for Taiwanese waters and fill a gap in the distribution of this species between the two countries.

Redescriptions of two Lestidiops species (Aulopiformes: Paralepididae) from Japan, with comments on their morphology.

Specimens of two barracudina species, Lestidiops sphyraenopsis Hubbs and Lestidiops ringens (Jordan & Gilbert), collected from Japan, were examined. Both species were originally described from the northeastern Pacific and are widespread in both sides of northern Pacific Ocean. Diagnoses, detailed descriptions, and complete morphological data for both species are provided.

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) composition of fish sperm: nexus of dietary, evolutionary, and biomechanical drivers.

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) like arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) constitute one-third to half of fish sperm lipids. Fish sperm is rich in phospholipid (PL)-primarily phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and sphingomyelin. DHA is generally the most abundant LC-PUFA in each PL class, followed by competition between ARA and EPA.

Onset of circadian rhythmicity in the brain of Atlantic salmon is linked to exogenous feeding.

An organism's biological processes are adapted to and driven by rhythmicity in the natural environment and periodicity of light is one of the most influential factors. In a developing organism, the onset of circadian rhythmicity might indicate the time point of functional necessity for aligning processes to the environment. Here, the circadian clock mechanism has been studied in the developing brain of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), by comparing the endogenous feeding alevin, independent on the environment for nutritional supply, to the exogenous feeding fry, dependent on the light period for detecting and catching prey.

SYNLAC prime probiotics enhances growth performance, and resistance of white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei to Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei and Vibrio alginollyticus: Insights into immune and metabolic pathway modulations.

This study explores the impact of SYNLAC Prime probiotics on the growth performance, health status, and metabolic profile of white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei. Shrimp fed with the experimental diets, including the control diet without probiotic supplementation, and the diets supplemented with SYNLAC Prime probiotics at concentrations of 10 CFU (g diet) (P5) and 10 CFU (g diet) (P6) for 56 days. Results indicated a significant enhancement in growth performance in probiotic-treated shrimp relative to the control group, attributed to structural improvements in the digestive tract, particularly the increased abundances of B cells in the hepatopancreas.

nano-TiO reduces bioavailability and biotransformation responses to crude oil WAF-associated PAHs in the European sea bass Dicentrachus labrax.

The present study investigates the potential interaction between nano‑titanium dioxide (nano-TiO) and the water accommodated fraction (WAF) of crude oil and associated chemicals on bioavailability and biotransformation responses in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). An in vivo (48-h) waterborne exposure with nano-TiO (10 mgL), crude oil WAF (0.068 gL), alone and in combination was performed.