This study investigated the diversity and distribution of dwarf crocodiles in eight bushmeat markets in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The markets surveyed were New Benin, Oliha, Uselu, Oba Market, Ekiuwa, Ugbighokogho, Evbotubu, and Third Market between October 2022 and May 2023. A multi-method approach was employed, combining observation and measurement techniques. The Shannon-Wiener Index (H'), Simpson's Index (D), and Species Evenness (E) were calculated to determine the diversity and distribution of dwarf crocodiles. The results showed that Ekiuwa and Ugbighokogho markets had the highest Shannon-Wiener Index (H') values of 0.84 and 0.86, respectively, indicating higher species diversity. These markets also had the lowest Simpson's Index (D) values of 0.41 and 0.39, respectively, indicating lower species dominance. Additionally, Ekiuwa and Ugbighokogho markets had the highest Species Evenness (E) values of 0.92 and 0.94, respectively, indicating a more even distribution of individuals among species. However, when considering the monthly variation, Oliha, Ugbighokogho, and 3rd Market had the highest Shannon-Wiener Index (H') values of 1.05, 1.06, and 1.05, respectively, indicating higher species diversity. The results suggest that some markets have higher species diversity and evenness, indicating a more sustainable trade. The study recommends that conservation efforts focus on regulating the trade in dwarf crocodiles and promoting sustainable harvesting practices.
Since 1998, phytoplankton communities have been systematically studied at five stations in the northern and central parts of the Venice Lagoon (VL). The long-term maintenance of this phytoplankton data series, alongside similar datasets for other communities (e.g., zooplankton, macrozoobenthos, and macrophytes), has contributed to the inclusion of the VL as a site in the Italian Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) network. In this paper, we synthesize key insights into the phytoplankton ecology of the VL’s LTER stations, based exclusively on published studies. Specifically, we provide an overview of phytoplankton taxonomic composition, morphological traits, seasonal succession, long-term trends and interactions with the other components of the planktonic communities.
The aim of this review is to reconstruct the scientific research on cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins carried out in the artificial lakes of Sardinia (Italy), the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, over a period of about 50 years, from the 1970s to the present. The information contained in scientific articles in Web of Science and Scopus databases was analysed using specific keywords. In addition, scientific articles not included in the above-mentioned databases were considered if they were published after a peer review process or if they were available on the website of public institutions. The analysis resulted in the identification of 60 scientific papers containing information on cyanobacteria and/or cyanotoxins, leading to a list of 77 taxa signalled and four groups of cyanotoxins ascertained (microcystins, anatoxin, cylindrospermopsin; β-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine, BMAA). In addition to these results, we point out the research we are carrying out and would like to continue in the future, a future in which it will be extremely important to be able to juggle the expected progressive affirmation of cyanobacteria and related issues. We highlight the difficulty of finding scientific articles published before the 2000s in the most widely used databases (Web of Science and Scopus), despite the fact that the production is rich and cutting-edge compared to the period in which the research was carried out. Finally, we signal the importance of close collaboration between institutions to obtain the results reported, the overcoming of disciplinary boundaries and the development of a collaborative rather than competitive environment between different research groups in dealing with such complex topics.
The nearshore region of a coastal ecosystem is an everchanging, dynamic, transitional zone between land and open sea. It is a highly productive area because of sufficient sunlight and nutrients. The main aim of this research is to study the diversity and abundance of zooplankton especially holoplankton and meroplankton in relation with physicochemical factors for one year with their seasonality. Along with the diversity indices, multivariate ordination indices like Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) were applied to study the diversity and their relationship with physicochemical factors. PERMANOVA was also used to test whether the abundance and physicochemical factors differed significantly across sampling sites and seasons. The study showed that holoplankton diversity in the Fishing Harbour (FH) was highest during the pre-monsoon season and lowest during the post-monsoon season. The meroplankton diversity was the highest during the pre-monsoon season and lowest during the monsoon season which was also recorded from the FH. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that Salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and primary productivity as the significant physicochemical parameters affecting the Holoplankton and Meroplankton diversity. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) for holoplankton showed that salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and primary productivity were positively related with copepods. While non-copepod species were positively related with salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen except primary productivity. Similarly, meroplankton groups showed positive correlation with temperature only.
This paper introduces and summarises a selection of contributions that were presented during a workshop on cyanobacterial blooms held at S. Michele all’Adige (Trento) in December 2023. The meeting originated with an increasing interest in a reciprocal exchange of knowledge and experiences between government bodies and research institutions following the widespread cyanobacterial blooms detected in the southern Alpine area and other Italian regions. The papers have been collected in the special issue “Potentially toxic cyanobacteria blooms in the southern Alps and the Italian peninsula”.
