Our current understanding of the silicon (Si) cycle in the ocean assumes that diatoms dominate not only the uptake of silicic acid, but also the production and recycling of biogenic silica (BSi), and that other organisms with siliceous skeletons, including sponges, radiolarians, and silicoflagellates, play a negligible role. In this study, we reexamine some aspects of the potential contribution by sponges and present in vitro evidence that BSi in the form of sponge spicules redissolves into silicic acid at far slower rates than those known for diatom frustules. We also show that the retention of Si by siliceous sponges in some sublittoral and bathyal environments is substantial and that sponge populations function as Si sinks. Additionally, by reanalyzing published information on sponge growth and BSi content, we estimate that BSi production rates by sublittoral sponges in Si-poor and Si-rich marine areas fall quite close to values known for diatom assemblages. Therefore, sponges may affect Si cycling dynamics and Si availability for diatoms, particularly in Si-depleted environments. Altogether, our data strongly suggest that the role of sponges in the benthopelagic coupling of the Si cycle is significant.

BackgroundAedes japonicus is an invasive vector mosquito from Southeast Asia which has been spreading across central Europe since the year 2000. Unlike the Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) present in Spain since 2004, there has been no record of Ae. japonicus in the country until now.ResultsHere, we report the first detection of Ae. japonicus in Spain, at its southernmost location in Europe. This finding was triggered by the citizen science platform Mosquito Alert. In June 2018, a citizen sent a report via the Mosquito Alert app from the municipality of Siero in the Asturias region (NW Spain) containing pictures of a female mosquito compatible with Ae. japonicus. Further information was requested from the participant, who subsequently provided several larvae and adults that could be classified as Ae. japonicus. In July, a field mission confirmed its presence at the original site and in several locations up to 9 km away, suggesting a long-time establishment. The strong media impact in Asturias derived from the discovery raised local participation in the Mosquito Alert project, resulting in further evidence from surrounding areas.ConclusionsWhilst in the laboratory Ae. japonicus is a competent vector for several mosquito-borne pathogens, to date only West Nile virus is a concern based on field evidence. Nonetheless, this virus has yet not been detected in Asturias so the vectorial risk is currently considered low. The opportunity and effectiveness of combining citizen-sourced data to traditional surveillance methods are discussed.

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We sampled benthic macroinvertebrates above and below a point source effluent in La Tordera stream (NE, Spain) over [2001][2002] to assess the effects of nutrient enrichment on the structure, and taxonomic composition of the benthic macroinvertebrate community. Below the point source, discharge, specific conductance and nutrient concentrations were higher than at the upstream reach, while dissolved oxygen (DO) decreased. Macroinvertebrate density was higher at the downstream reach than at the upstream reach on most dates but the two reaches did not differ in macroinvertebrate biomass.On average, taxa richness at the upstream reach was 20% higher than at the downstream reach. Several taxa, especially mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies, were present only at the upstream reach. Shannon diversity was similar between the two reaches on 50% of the dates. Ordination analysis clearly separated the samples of the upstream reach from the samples of the downstream reach in the first axis and corroborated the effect of the point source on the benthic community. The two reaches followed a similar temporal pattern with respect to the distribution of taxa along the second axis of the ordination analysis. Higher similarities between the two reaches in taxa composition, densities and biomass after the spates of April and May 2002, suggest that flooding events may act as a reset mechanism for benthic communities and play an important role in stream restoration.

The development of epilithic cyanobacteria communities in a Mediterranean calcareous stream in the province of Murcia (SE Spain) was studied during the course of one year in an attempt to clarify the environmental variables that influence the production of microcystins. The predominant cyanobacteria were species of Rivularia, which formed conspicuous colonies throughout the year. Seasonally, other species were abundant: Schizothrix fasciculata, Tolypothrix distorta and Phormidium splendidum. All the species collected produced microcystins to a varying degree (up to five varieties), while the benthic community as a whole produced concentrations as high as 20.45 mg m −2 . At the same time, the presence of microcystins dissolved in water was confirmed. Among environmental variables, air temperature and silicate content were positively and strongly correlated with total microcystins, while nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, calcium and flow were negatively correlated with them. Dissolved microcystins were negatively correlated with microcystin LR, P.A.R. and total phosphorus and positively with rainfall. The production of microcystin YR seems to be regulated by different factors from those regulating the other main varieties (microcystin LR and microcystin RR). The data obtained indicate that all the tested benthic cyanobacteria produced microcystins in this shallow calcareous stream, which may contribute to their predominance in the prevailing conditions. The accumulation of microcystins in mucilaginous colonies of other groups of algae poses new questions concerning the possible ecological function of these compounds and needs further study.

We sampled chlorophyll a, benthic organic matter, and benthic macroinvertebrates in June 2001 in La Tordera stream (Catalonia, NE Spain), receiving a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) input. Samples were collected in six equidistant transects in three reaches located upstream (UP), few m below (DW1), and 500 m below the WWTP input (DW2). Our first objective was to assess the effects of the point source on the structure and functional organization of the benthic macroinvertebrate community. Our second objective was to determine if the self-purifying capacity of the stream implied differences between the communities of the DW1 and the DW2 reaches. The WWTP input highly increased discharge, nutrient concentrations, and conductivity and decreased dissolved oxygen. At the DW1 and the DW2 reaches, taxa richness, EPT taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera), and Shannon diversity decreased and gatherer relative density increased relative to the UP reach. At the UP reach, CPOM and FPOM standing crops were similar, whereas at the DW1 and the DW2 reaches CPOM was two times higher than FPOM. Detailed analysis showed that major changes in the benthic community occurred abruptly between 80 and 90 m downstream of the point source (middle of the DW1 reach). At this location, chlorophyll a concentration, density of macroinvertebrates, taxa richness, and scraper relative density increased, whereas gatherer relative percentage decreased. The macroinvertebrate community at the DW2 reach was comparable to that at the second middle of the DW1 reach (DW1B). The macroinvertebrate community at the DW1B and the DW2 reaches were quite similar to that at the UP reach, indicating that the recovery capacity of the stream from nutrient enrichment was high.

Hexamethyldisilizane (HMDS) and tetramethylsilane are organic compounds that are volatile at ambient temperature and which can therefore be used for air-drying biological samples for SEM studies. The techniques using these compounds provide results that are comparable with those obtained by critical point drying, but which involve a very simple process that saves time and money. Both techniques were applied to SEM studies of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera eggs in order to assess their suitability as alternative methods to critical point drying for these kinds of biological material. The results show no morphological differences between eggs HMDS air-dried and critical point-dried.

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