An abundance assessment of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Lower River Shannon candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) was undertaken between July and October 2010 using photo-identification. European Union Member States are obliged to designate SACs for bottlenose dolphins to protect important habitats. The Lower River Shannon is the only cSAC in Ireland for this species. A cumulative total of 273 bottlenose dolphins were photographed during the 12 transects, and from these a total of 116 individual animals were identified. They were categorized as follows: 71 with Severity Grade 1 marks, 21 with Severity Grade 2 marks, and 24 with Severity Grade 3 marks. There were 50 dolphins with permanent marks (Severity Grade 1) recorded on both sides of the dorsal fin, 64 on the left hand side only, and 57 on the right hand side only. There was an overlap, with some dolphins occurring in more than one category. Estimates of abundance were calculated using left side, right side, and both side identifications. The proportion of dolphins with re-identifiable marks (Severity Grade 1 only) ranged from 0.60 to 0.63. The estimated abundance of marked individuals was elevated depending on the estimated proportion of marked individuals in the population to give a final estimate of 107 ± 12, CV = 0.12 (95% CI = 83 to 131). Previous abundance estimates for bottlenose dolphins in the Lower River Shannon cSAC ranged from 114 in 2008 to 140 in 2006; the present estimate was within this range and also within the 95% Confidence Intervals for all surveys carried out to date. This suggests that, within the power of the survey technique, the population of bottlenose dolphins in the Lower River Shannon cSAC is relatively stable.
While biocatalytic transformations are very powerful in enantioselective synthesis, frequently occurring under mild conditions, and proceed with extraordinary selectivity, there are practical challenges associated with the use of biocatalysis, such as limited substrate scope, stability, and reusability. Recent technological developments, for example immobilization, continuous flow, and molecular biology, all contribute towards enhancing the use of enzymes in synthesis.
The Shannon Estuary is home to Ireland's only known resident population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and is designated as a candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) for this species. Proper conservation management of these dolphins requires an understanding of the social structure of this population. Four years of photoidentification data (2005 to 2009, excluding 2007) were used to construct sociograms that complement a cluster analysis of individually marked dolphins and their associates. The results found little evidence of social stability or group fidelity for this study's dolphin population. Analysis of dolphins observed in consecutive years showed that the probability of group members encountering an individual dolphin in the second year did not depart from a random model. The social parameters for this resident population seem to be typical for this species. Bottlenose dolphins are found to exhibit a highly fluid, dynamic social structure within which individuals change their composition and associates regularly. These dolphins in the Shannon Estuary appear to live in a fission-fusion based society.
Microbial enzymes from pristine niches can potentially deliver disruptive opportunities in synthetic routes to Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and intermediates in the Pharmaceutical Industry. Advances in green chemistry technologies and the importance of stereochemical control, further underscores the application of enzyme-based solutions in chemical synthesis. The rich tapestry of microbial diversity in the oceanic ecosystem encodes a capacity for novel biotransformations arising from the chemical complexity of this largely unexplored bioactive reservoir. Here we report a novel ω-transaminase discovered in a marine sponge Pseudovibrio sp. isolate. Remote stereoselection using a transaminase has been demonstrated for the first time using this novel protein. Application to the resolution of an intermediate in the synthesis of sertraline highlights the synthetic potential of this novel biocatalyst discovered through genomic mining. Integrated chemico-genomics revealed a unique substrate profile, while molecular modelling provided structural insights into this ‘first in class’ selectivity at a remote chiral centre.
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