The sighting of giant bivalves and tubeworms at the Rose Garden vent field on the Galapagos Rift in 1977 marked the discovery of hydrothermal vents, a turning point for modern biology. The following decade saw a flurry of taxonomic descriptions of vent endemic species from the first vents. With the finding of high-temperature \'black smokers\' on the East Pacific Rise, exploration shifted away from Galapagos. A faunal list of Galapagos vents with 65 species was published in 1991, then updated to 74 species in 2006. Since then, few expeditions revisited the Galapagos Rift. Here, we revisited several Galapagos vents including recently confirmed high-temperature sites and inactive sulfide mounds. From our collecting efforts and observations, we update the faunal list to 88 species including 15 new records, restricted to obvious vent associates. Accurate regional faunal lists are important for understanding the biogeography of vent fauna, and our list will also be valuable for setting management strategies. less

Obesity is a common health problem in captive wildlife. Since the obesity status of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in China has not previously been investigated, we recorded seven relevant variables (sex, age, daily feed supply, proportion of high-calorie feed, outdoor enclosure area, outdoor time, and foot disorder) related to obesity in 204 captive Asian elephants through field investigation of 43 elephant-raising facilities. Assessment of obesity was based on visual body condition scoring for each individual. It revealed that obesity was prevalent for captive Asian elephants (especially elephants in zoos) in China. Over 70% of captive Asian elephants in China were overweight or in obesity to various degrees. Statistical analysis showed that for elephants in zoos, insufficient outdoor time might be the primary potential cause of obesity. We suggested facilities to extend the outdoor time and control the supply of high-calorie feed (e.g., fruits, vegetables, pellets, etc.) for captive elephants, thereby alleviating obesity through increased exercise and a suitable energy intake. Moreover, all facilities should implement positive reinforcement training to facilitate regular physical examinations, including foot health checks and blood sampling. This training would improve the ability to collect more precise information relating to elephant health, obesity, and the evaluation of animal welfare. less

Following detection of novel highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in Newfoundland, Canada in late 2021, avian influenza surveillance in wild birds was scaled-up across Canada. Herein, we present results of Canada\'s Interagency Surveillance Program for Avian Influenza in wild birds during the first year (November 2021 - November 2022) following the incursions of HPAIV from Eurasia. Key objectives of the surveillance program were to (i) detect the presence, distribution and spread of HPAIV and other avian influenza viruses (AIVs), (ii) detect wild bird morbidity and mortality associated with HPAIV, (iii) identify the range of wild bird species infected by HPAIV, and (iv) characterize detected AIV. A total of 6,246 sick and dead wild birds were tested, of which 27.4% were HPAIV positive across 12 taxonomic orders and 80 species. Geographically, HPAIV detections occurred in all Canadian provinces and territories, with the highest numbers in the Atlantic and Central flyways. Temporally, peak detections differed across flyways, though the national peak occurred in April 2022. In an additional 11,295 asymptomatic harvested or live captured wild birds, 5.2% were HPAIV positive across 3 taxonomic orders and 19 species. Whole genome sequencing identified HPAIV of Eurasian origin as most prevalent in the Atlantic flyway, along with multiple reassortants of mixed Eurasian and North American origins distributed across Canada, with moderate structuring at the flyway scale. Wild birds were victims and reservoirs of HPAIV H5N1 2.3.4.4b, underscoring the importance of surveillance encompassing samples from sick and dead, as well as live and harvested birds to provide insights into the dynamics and potential impacts of the HPAIV H5N1 outbreak. This dramatic shift in presence and distribution of HPAIV in wild birds in Canada highlights a need for sustained investment in wild bird surveillance and collaboration across One Health partners. less

Nasopharyngeal myiasis in European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is a pathological condition caused by the larval stages of Cephenemyia stimulator, a fly from the Oestridae family. These larvae reside in the host\'s upper respiratory tract for months, inducing significant tissue damage and clinical symptoms. The lifecycle of Cephenemyia stimulator is complex, involving three larval stages before maturation into adult flies, with each stage contributing to the progressive pathology observed in the host. Despite their prevalence, the histopathological effects of these larvae in the nasopharyngeal and nasal cavities have been understudied. Our study fills this knowledge gap by providing a detailed histopathological analysis of the affected tissues, using various staining techniques to reveal the extent and nature of the damage caused by these parasitic larvae. This histopathological examination reveals significant alterations within the nasopharyngeal mucosa and nasal cavity, including erythematous changes, mucosal metaplasia, fibrosis, and tissue necrosis. Parasitic cysts and eosinophilic infiltration further characterize the infestation\'s impact, compromising not only the mucosal integrity but also potentially the olfactory function of the affected animals. This research is crucial for understanding the impact of myiasis on the health of roe deer populations and could have significant implications for wildlife management and conservation. less

Protist species are distributed worldwide. The processes that enabled this global distribution are unclear. One possible means is through the oceanic dispersal of freshwater protists, although this has not been investigated in detail to date. Here, the ability of resting cysts to tolerate saline conditions is examined as a possible mechanism that enables the oceanic dispersal of protists. Resting cysts of Colpoda cucullus, a freshwater soil protist, can tolerate saline conditions of at least 3.5% NaCl for more than one week. A transcriptome analysis showed that the relative levels of expression of genes associated with membrane function are increased in resting cysts, indicating that salinity tolerance is associated with reconstruction of the cell membrane. Additionally, the outer layer of the cyst wall, a shell-like ectocyst, includes chitin. This may function as a form of biological armor that protects the cell from physical stress during oceanic dispersal. less

The endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) showed limited recovery from the cessation of industrial whaling until 2011, and has since been in decline. Research is therefore focused on identifying what factors are limiting recovery and what conservation actions will be most effective. A compromised reproductive rate is one of the primary reasons for this lack of recovery, yet there is no consensus on how to quantify reproductive performance. As one potential solution, we propose a relatively simple approach where we calculate the theoretical maximum number of calves each year. Comparing this expected number to those observed provides a means to quantify the degree to which reproduction is being compromised and trends thereof over time. Implementing this approach shows that, between 1990 and 2017, the number of calves born never came close to the theoretical maximum, resulting in overall reproductive performance being only about 27% of that expected. In addition to quantifying the magnitude of the reproductive problem, this approach should also be useful for quantifying the role of reduced reproductive performance in limiting species recovery, and for aiding research programs focused on identifying what factors are compromising reproduction. less

The study was designed to ascertain the diagnostic efficacy of hand-held digital refractometer in determining total protein. The Sipli sheep (n=141) were grouped as per gender (females=99, males=29) and age (G1=up till 1 year, G2=from 1 to 2 years, G3=above 2 years). The results regarding the overall mean (+/-SE) values and RIs for the TPs attained through serum chemistry analyzer (TP1) and hand-held digital refractometer (TP2) were non-significantly (P greater than or equal to 0.05) different (59.2 +/- 1.6g/L and 59.8 +/- 0.5g/L, respectively). However, the RIs were quite different between the two TPs being 45.1-95.7g/L and 57.0-67.0g/L for TP1 and TP2, respectively. Similar results were seen for gender-wise and group-wise results. On the contrary, the results regarding correlation coefficient and logilinear regression showed a negative correlation between the two TPs (r=-0.0244) with an adjusted r-square of 0.059 (5.9% probability). Furthermore, the results for Cronbach alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient between TP1 and TP2 showed that the values for single measure and average values were lower between TP1 and TP2 being -0.135 and -0.313. Bland and Altman test between TP1 and TP2 also showed a weak level of agreement between the two methods of detecting TP. A proportional bias on the distribution of data around the mean difference line was noticed between TP1 and TP2 (Mean= 0.5; 95% CI= 39.8 to -40.9) with a standard deviation of biasness being 20.58. In a nutshell, the hand-held digital refractometer cannot be used as an on-farm POCT device for determining serum TP in sheep. However, certain other models of refractometers with higher sensitivity and specificity may be utilized in future studies to establish these conclusions for other species of livestock. less

This paper concerns the tear properties and behaviour of Bombyx mori silk cocoons. The tear resistance of cocoon layers is found to increase progressively from the innermost layer to the outermost layer. Importantly, the increase in tear strength correlates with increased porosity, which itself affects fibre mobility. We propose a microstructural mechanism for tear failure, which begins with fibre stretching and sliding, leading to fibre piling, and eventuating in fibre fracture. The direction of fracture is then deemed to be a function of the orientation of piled fibres, which is influenced by the presence of junctions where fibres cross at different angles and which may then acts as nucleating sites for fibre piling. The interfaces between cocoon wall layers in Bombyx mori cocoon walls account for 38% of the total wall tear strength. When comparing the tear energies and densities of Bombyx mori cocoon walls against other materials, we find that the Bombyx mori cocoon walls exhibit a balanced trade-off between tear resistance and lightweightness. less

The sustainability of zoo populations is dependent on maintaining genetic diversity and controlling heritable disease. Here, we explore the integration of whole genome sequencing data in the management of the international zoological population of western lowland gorillas, focusing on genetic diversity and heritable diseases. By comparing kinship values derived from classical pedigree mapping and whole genome sequencing, we demonstrate that genomic data provides a more sensitive measure of relatedness. Our analysis reveals a decrease in genetic diversity due to closed breeding, emphasizing the need for genetic interventions to mitigate potential negative impacts on population fitness. We identify contributing factors to the decreasing genetic diversity including breeding within a closed population, unknown kinship among potential mates, and disproportionate genetic contributions from individual founders. Additionally, we highlight the potential heritability of idiopathic myocardial fibrosis (IMF), a common cardiovascular pathology observed in zoologically housed gorillas, and identify a novel genetic variant in the TNNI3K gene associated with this condition. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating molecular data into ex-situ population management strategies, and advocate for the adoption of advanced genomic techniques to optimize the genetic health and diversity of zoologically housed western lowland gorillas. less

Monoplacophoran molluscs have been dubbed \"living fossils\" due to their absence in the fossil record for about 375 million years, until Neopilina galatheae Lemche, 1957 was trawled off Costa Rica in 1952. Since then, over 35 species of living monoplacophorans have been discovered. Nevertheless, in situ observations of these rare deep-sea animals remain scant. Here, we observed and collected an intact specimen of N. galatheae using a remotely operated vehicle from 2460 m deep on the Eastern Galapagos Spreading Center. The animal was found attached to the glassy surface of solidified basalt lava flow, and no feeding trails were found near the animal. Such hard substrate is in contrast with previous records that were trawled on sand and mud, suggesting Neopilina can be found on a wide range of substrates. This is the first time this species was collected since 1959, and represents a southeast range extension of about 1000 km for the species. less