Here we report the occurrence of the two non-native brown macroalgal species Sargassum horneri (Turner) C. Agardh and Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar in San Diego County and describe expansions in their ranges and new invasions on the California and Baja California coasts. Both species have exhibited characteristics of successful invaders: establishing in new areas, spreading locally, and persisting through multiple generations in areas that have been invaded. These species now occur primarily in harbors, but have also invaded open coast sites, suggesting that they can invade areas with relatively high wave action and with well-established native benthic communities. The rapid and uncontrolled spread of these species to date has serious implications for their expansion along the west coast of North America. The ecological and economic consequences of these invasions require further research.

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Aim: We investigated the human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA distribution in oral lichen planus (OLP) samples using non-invasive methods, with the potential for much broader population screening.Methods: Three different non-invasive collection methods (dry storage, lysis buffer preservation, and use of a commercial tool to rake epithelial cells and immersion of the collection device into the provided rinse solution) were evaluated. HPV DNA was detected in brushed or scraped samples of the lesion site using a commercial HPV DNA polymerase chain reaction kit. Results: In the group of patients with OLP lesions, HPV was detected significantly more frequently than in the healthy control group (lysis buffer for control ¼ 2.1%, p ¼ 0.046; DNASAL™ rinse solution for control ¼ 4.2%, p ¼ 0.0003; dry storage for control ¼ 6.3%, p ¼ 0.0001) regardless of the different collection and preservation methods. HPV DNA was detected in 12.85% of the samples preserved in lysis buffer. HPV DNA was detected in 34.28% (p ¼ 0.0048 vs. lysis buffer) of samples preserved in the DNASAL rinse solution. In the case of dry storage, HPV DNA was detected in 38.57% (p ¼ 0.0008 vs. lysis buffer and p ¼ 0.726 vs. DNASAL) of samples. Conclusion:The results suggest that the most effective sample preservation methods are provided by dry storage or DNASAL collection compared to lysis buffer. Our findings indicated that HPV DNA detection in superficial OLP scrapings has potential as a screening tool and has important applications for both research and clinical practice.

The growth response of juvenile round gobies was tested in various salinities to assess the potential performance of the species in widely differing salinities in the Baltic Sea and adjacent waters. An experimental approach analysed the survival, daily food intake and growth of juvenile Neogobius melanostomus from the brackish water region of the Kiel Canal, Germany. Round gobies (TL = 61.5 AE5.3 mm; n = 40) were fed ad libitum (diet = mysid shrimp; energy content = 4.7 cal per mg dry weight) at salinity levels of 0.1, 7.5, 15 and 30 over 12 weeks. Two replicate tanks (125 9 30 9 30 cm; 100 L) were maintained for each salinity level, each holding five specimens at a mean temperature of 19.90°C (AE0.64°C; n = 136). Survival at all levels was 100%, except for 0.1 with 90%. Mean daily food intake (% of body weight) increased from salinity level 0.1 to 15 (from 17.76% to 19.95%); specimens at level 30 showed a more diversified and lower mean food intake (18.44%). Mean cumulative body weight gain appeared greatest at a level of 7.5 (224.52%), closely followed by 0.1 (206.57%) and 15 (191.92%). In contrast, fish growth was significantly lower at a salinity level of 30 (100.57%). Results of the experiment indicate that salinity tolerance estimates of the round goby made by other authors are too low regarding specimens that stem from brackish habitats. Growth patterns of some specimens, even in the salinity 30 treatment, show that a further spread of this species into regions with higher salinities is quite possible.

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The invasion history of alien Prosopis (mesquite) in Israel and Jordan is presented, with a detailed description of the introduction, background and the habitats now infested with Prosopis in these countries. While the number of escaped individuals in Israel is still limited, Prosopis has invaded large areas in Jordan and has become the main invasive alien tree in the Jordan valley. It is also now spreading in the canyons of south Jordan. The distinct prosopis invasion patterns in Israel and Jordan are discussed. Control programs are urgently needed in order to contain the proliferation of Prosopis, which now poses a major threat to natural habitats as well as to fallow fields. The ongoing establishment of dense thickets of Prosopis along wadis with year-round water flow is likely to displace native species such as Acacia raddiana Savi, and to alter the function of natural ecosystems.