First report of microplastics presence in the mussel Mytilus chilensis from Ushuaia Bay (Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina).

Microplastics contamination is reported for the first time on Mytilus chilensis from Ushuaia Bay, one of the most remote areas of South America. Our results demonstrate the occurrence of microplastics in all samples, with an average of 8.6 ±â€¯3.53 items per individual. Fibers and fragments were the most abundant, with a percentage of 77.91 and 17.44%, respectively. The average length of the fibers was 742.3 ±â€¯702.1 µm, while the average cross-sectional area of fragments was 1944.80 ±â€¯960.94 µm2. The polymers identified were polyamides, semi-synthetic cellulosic materials, and PVC copolymers. The number of microplastics per individual was greater than those reported in even more populated regions. Probably, the modifications included in the technique led to optimize the extraction of MPs, reflecting the detection of a greater number of particles. M. chilensis could play a role in an extensive evaluation of MPs in the Ushuaia Bay, providing information on the interaction of MPs and biota.

Brooding in the Southern Ocean: The Case of the Pterasterid Sea Star Diplopteraster verrucosus (Sladen, 1882).

Diplopteraster verrucosus is a sea star that incubates its offspring in nidamental chambers. The offspring rely exclusively on maternally provided nutrition. The retention of the embryonic stages allows the allocation of nutritional supplies from the female to the brooded juveniles during the brooding period. The main objectives of this study are, first, to quantify the reproductive investment of D. verrucosus and, second, to describe the morphology, energetics, and oxidative metabolism throughout early ontogenetic stages. A skewed sex ratio of 2:1 females:males was found, and 17 of 39 females were brooding. Both brooding and non-brooding females showed higher energy density and total antioxidant capacity in their gonads than males. We identified three cohorts of offspring being retained within the female body simultaneously. Energy density and reactive oxygen species increased significantly with the offspring's volume throughout ontogeny. Moreover, we found evidence of at least two key events during ontogeny. First, the depletion of antioxidants, the increase of reactive oxygen species, and the development of a complete digestive system appear to trigger feeding on the mothers's pyloric caeca. Second, another oxidative imbalance appears to be associated with the release of the brooded juveniles to the environment. Therefore, oxidative balance and energetic variances may be associated with development of autonomous feeding and juvenile release in D. verrucosus.

Effects of recreational activities on Patagonian rocky shores.

Recreational activities can be an important source of anthropogenic disturbance in intertidal benthic assemblages. On rocky shores, activities such as trampling, snorkeling and the handling of organisms may have a negative effect on benthic communities by modifying the abundance and distribution of key species. Here, we describe and quantify impacts due to recreational activities on benthic communities on a Patagonian rocky shore by investigating their resilience to two types of human disturbance: vehicle traffic and human trampling. To evaluate the effects of these activities, we carried out an observational study and assessed post-disturbance assemblage recovery. The rocky shores is most intensively visited during summer, and marked differences in the distribution and abundance of benthic species among disturbed and control plots were found after this season. The benthic community on the high intertidal was weakly impacted by disturbance generated due to vehicle traffic in summer (one vehicle on a single occasion, pulse disturbance); which did not affect the cover of dominant species. This suggests that the high intertidal community would be resistant to the passage of one vehicle on a single occasion. The effects of continuous trampling (press disturbance) were drastic and the community of the mid intertidal level did not recover before the next recreational season. Mid intertidal communities exposed to press disturbances require more than one tourist season of human inactivity to recover from anthropogenic effects, suggesting that resilience mechanisms in this community operate at broad timescales. Our findings highlight the need to establish and implement management actions that contemplate the nature of the disturbance and intertidal level to minimize habitat degradation due to human recreational activities.

Toxicity, repellency and flushing out in Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) exposed to the repellents DEET and IR3535.

DEET and IR3535 are insect repellents present worldwide in commercial products; their efficacy has been mainly evaluated in mosquitoes. This study compares the toxicological effects and the behavioral responses induced by both repellents on the blood-sucking bug Triatoma infestans Klug (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), one of the main vectors of Chagas disease. When applied topically, the Median Lethal Dose (72 h) for DEET was 220.8 µg/insect. Using IR3535, topical application of 500 µg/insect killed no nymphs. The minimum concentration that produced repellency was the same for both compounds: 1,15 µg/cm2. The effect of a mixture DEET:IR3535 1:1 was similar to that of their pure components. Flushing out was assessed in a chamber with a shelter containing groups of ten nymphs. The repellents were aerosolized on the shelter and the number of insects leaving it was recorded for 60 min. During that time, 0.006 g/m3 of the positive control tetramethrin flushed out 76.7% of the nymphs, while 1.76 g/m3 of DEET or IR3535 flushed out 30 and 0%, respectively. The concentrations required for both compounds to produce toxicity or flushing out are too high to have any practical applications. However, they showed a promising repellency. Additional research should be done to evaluate their possible use for personal protection against T. infestans bites.

Effect of seasonality on oxidative stress responses and metal accumulation in soft tissues of Aulacomya atra, a mussel from the South Atlantic Patagonian coast.

This study investigated the effects of pollution and its interaction with temperature on the oxidative status of the ribbed mussel Aulacomya atra in the southern Atlantic Patagonian coast. Animals were collected from four sites with different degree and type of human activity impact, during the summer and winter of 2011. Seawater chromium, copper, manganese, nickel and zinc concentrations were measured, as well as metal accumulation, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, reduced glutathione levels, and enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase in gills and digestive glands. Metal bioaccumulation and oxidative stress responses in both tissues were generally higher in mussels from harbor areas. Water temperature had a remarkable effect on gill SOD activity and protein oxidation during winter in mussels from all locations. Methodologically, we conclude that measuring both metal bioaccumulation and oxidative stress responses allowed for a more accurate assessment of the biological effects of metal present in seawater.