German Oceanographic Museum

Abstract Lassa virus (LASV) transmission varies markedly across West Africa, yet its local drivers are poorly understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study in nine villages across three Nigerian states, testing 1,874 individuals for LASV IgG antibodies and analyzing questionnaire data for correlates of exposure. Overall seroprevalence was 3.3% but was highly heterogeneous, ranging from 1.6% to 5.2% between states. We found no consistent demographic, environmental, or behavioural risk factors, and age-seroprevalence patterns differed markedly between villages. Furthermore, we observed no significant village-wide spatial clustering of seropositive households. Our findings indicate that LASV exposure is driven by complex, hyper-local factors rather than by generalizable risk profiles or geography. This challenges the efficacy of spatially-targeted interventions, supporting instead household-level mitigation strategies and integrated One Health approaches to control this endemic disease. Article Summary Line Lassa virus seroprevalence in rural Nigeria exhibits marked village-level heterogeneity, indicating that transmission is driven by hyper-local, household-scale dynamics rather than broad regional risk factors.

Abstract The study of stranded animals is a valuable aid to monitoring marine mammals globally. However, the utility of strandings data depends on their quality and representativeness, which is affected by various biological, physical, social and economic factors. An analysis of how stranding networks work could help understand limitations in the data collected and facilitate correcting for or even eliminating them. In 2021, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea’s Working Group on Marine Mammal Ecology carried out an expert consultation using a questionnaire to provide insight into the contribution of European stranding networks as a monitoring tool in European countries with Northeast Atlantic and adjacent coasts (hence also including some networks operating along the Mediterranean coast). A key aim was to identify ways to improve data on mortality of marine mammals due to fishery bycatch. The present paper is the first of a two-part series based on the responses to the questionnaire by 45 organisations from 19 countries, and focuses on characterising the activities and capacities of the stranding networks surveyed, identifying differences within and between countries, highlighting strengths and weaknesses, and providing recommendations to enhance the value and credibility of the information collected. The second paper will focus on the information specifically related to mortality due to fishery bycatch. Stranding networks provide extensive spatio-temporal coverage of European coastlines, but their activities may be constrained by limited resources as well as limitations imposed by the stranding process. There is a need for better coordination and standardisation of the collection and analysis of data and samples and increased spatial coverage to fill gaps. To improve data quality, in particular to support assessment of impacts of threats such as bycatch, more necropsies and associated sample analysis are needed. It would also be advantageous to collect more information from less fresh animals, record search effort, and give greater attention to pinnipeds and non-marine mammal taxa. We also highlight the need to make information available and the potential value of a common database. Streamlining the reporting of results at the European level and providing systematic funding to stranding networks in accordance with their needs are necessary steps to optimise their role as a tool for the long-term monitoring of marine mammals and other marine megafauna in Europe.

Morphological and molecular analyses identifed Biacanthus debera n. sp. (Cyclopoida: Taeniacanthidae) as the second member of the previously monotypic genus Biacanthus which was originally proposed to accommodate Anchistrotos pleuronichthydis (type species by original designation). Biacanthus debera n. sp. is associated with the Longnosed-fivespot Flounder Pseudorhombus ocellifer (Paralichthyidae) and can be differentiated from B. pleuronichthydis by two key features: the tip of the terminal segment of the maxilliped showing a stronger curvature (approximately 90° vs 120°) and the presence of transverse rows of minute spinules on the ventral surface of the anal somite that are absent in the type species. Although recent phylogenetic studies have challenged the monophyly of the Bomolochidae and Taeniacanthidae, the present analysis based on 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, and cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) sequence data of a broad sampling of members from both families obtained in Japanese coastal waters revealed different phylogenetic relationships. Our analysis supported the early divergence of Pseudotaeniacanthus (here proposed as the type genus of Pseudotaeniacanthidae n. fam.) in apposition of two distinct monophyletic clades, representing the Taeniacanthidae and Bomolochidae, respectively. A comprehensive list of parasites known to infect P. ocellifer is provided.

ABSTRACTIn autumn 2017, an unusual mortality event of Baltic grey seals (Halichoerus grypus grypus) occurred at the German Baltic coast. An alarming 23 carcasses of healthy, well‐fed, male large grey seals were found in a confined area in the Greifswald Bay (Mecklenburg‐Western Pomerania) in < 10 weeks from September to December. From 1997 to 2016, only a total of 30 grey seal carcasses were found along the entire coast of Mecklenburg‐Western Pomerania, with an annual maximum of eight seals in 2014. Pathological investigations were conducted on 19 seals, showing acute cardiac and circulatory failure of unknown origin. However, toxicological, virological, bacteriological and other presumed causes of acute death could be excluded. These findings in combination with inquiries about fishing permits in that region indicated that the seals likely died as by‐catch in a fyke net. A legal complaint was therefore filed because of the death of the legally protected grey seal. Although no offender was finally identified, this caused a series of consequences. Public prosecutors encouraged the fisheries authority to establish precautionary provisions. The use of scientific data and fishermen's expertise in by‐catch prevention techniques and regulations resulted in a new provision for fyke net permits in the Greifswald Bay. Since 2020, the entrance opening size for fyke nets must now not exceed 75‐cm circumference and no more comparable suspected by‐catch cases of grey seals were found in this area until 2022, emphasizing the potential of technical modifications of fishing gear to mitigate marine mammal by‐catch. This study shows how effective conservation measures established based on provisions, media attention, pathological assessments, scientific long‐term data sets and open‐minded efforts can protect a marine species from fisheries by‐catch.

Many animals alternate between different media, such as air and water, thanks to specific adaptations. Among birds, penguins (Sphenisciformes) have the most extreme morphological, physiological, and behavioural adaptations to their amphibious lifestyle. Their auditory perception of sound, potentially matching different impedances in air and under water, is largely unknown particularly in terms of whether their underwater adaptations may have affected their in-air hearing capacity. In this context, we investigated the hearing ability of four captive Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) in air using psychophysical hearing tests. The 50% hit rate was found to be below 76 dB rms re 20 µPa between 0.250 kHz and 10 kHz, with most sensitive hearing at 2 kHz (mean threshold of 15.3 dB rms re 20 µPa). The four penguins showed large inter-individual variation in sensitivity at a given frequency but within a common audiogram shape. Despite the variability, penguins detected 0.250 kHz at comparably low sound levels (mean = 36.8 dB rms re 20 µPa) after a rapid decline of sensitivity at 0.500 kHz (mean = 64.1 dB rms re 20 µPa). This finding was unexpected, and it is therefore difficult to interpret whether it is an artefact of the methods or a biologically relevant finding. An extensive discussion is presented and suggests that this finding may be biologically relevant but would need further investigation to reveal the underlying mechanisms.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-024-82942-2.

The genus Peronospora is the largest genus of the oomycetes, fungus-like members of the kingdom Straminipila that also contains amoeboid (e.g., Leukarachnion) and plant-like (e.g., Laminaria) lifeforms. Peronospora species are obligate biotrophic plant pathogens, causing high economic losses in various crops and ornamentals, including Plantago species. Several species of Plantago are used as speciality crops and medicinal plants. In this study, Peronospora species parasitic on Plantago were investigated based on morphology and phylogenetic analyses using two nuclear (ITS, nrLSU) loci and one mitochondrial (cox2) locus. As a result of these investigations, 10 new species are added to the already known Peronospora species on Plantago. Interestingly, it was found that four independent species are parasitic to Plantago major, highlighting that the reliance on the host plant for pathogen determination can be misleading in Peronospora. Taking this into account, morphological and phylogenetic analyses should be conducted as a prerequisite for effective quarantine regulations and phytosanitary measures. Citation: Mu M, Choi Y-J, Kruse J, et al. 2024. Single host plant species may harbour more than one species of Peronospora - a case study on Peronospora infecting Plantago. Persoonia 52: 94-118. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2024.52.04 .

Two new species of the uropeltid snake genus Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 are described from Sri Lanka. Rhinophis martin sp. nov. is described from 11 type specimens from the Rakwana Massif, and another 22 specimens from the same region are referred to this new species. Rhinophis dinarzardae sp. nov. is described from eight type specimens from the Knuckles Massif, and another 64 specimens from the Knuckles and adjacent hills are referred to this new species. Rhinophis martin sp. nov. has apparently not been reported previously under any scientific name, but is distinct in scalation, colour pattern and DNA. Rhinophis dinarzardae sp. nov. has long-been confused with the superficially similar R. philippinus, from which it differs by having more ventral scales, by occurring in the northern part of the Knuckles Massif and adjacent hills to the West rather than in the Central Highlands upland region (and possibly areas to the South and West) of Sri Lanka, and in DNA sequence data. The new descriptions take the inventory of currently recognised, named uropeltid species in Sri Lanka to 20, all members of the genus Rhinophis.

Lithobius (Lithobius) iranicus Attems, 1951, is recorded for the first time since its original description and is rediagnosed and redescribed based on recent and type material deposited at the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (NHMW). The revision of the species includes genetic information from three loci and modern illustrations of its key morphological characters. Restudy of the syntypes of two nominal species collected in the same expedition, Lithobius inaequidens Attems, 1951, and L. rhiknus Attems, 1951, reveals no reliable distinguishing characters from L. iranicus, with which they are placed in junior subjective synonymy. Lithobius inquiriendus Attems, 1951 is based on immature specimens from southern Iran that likely include two species, neither of which can be confidently identified as conspecific with L. iranicus. Incorporating L. iranicus in a molecular phylogeny for Lithobiidae recovers it as an isolated lineage allied to a clade of mostly Palaearctic species of Lithobius (Lithobius).