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Lake Lesser Prespa in Greece is a vital breeding habitat for the Dalmatian and Great White Pelican and a shelter for numerous rare and endemic species. However, eutrophication processes are distressing the lake system and the outbreaks of cyanobacterial blooms during the warm months may pose a threat to aquatic organisms due to the presence of microcystins (MCs). In this study we hypothesize that nutrients (eutrophication), nutrient-rich pelican droppings (guanotrophication) and warming (climate change) can affect the algal growth and MCs production in the water layer of Lake Lesser Prespa. Seston collected from three lake sites was incubated at ambient (20°C) and high (30°C) temperature with or without the addition of nutrients (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P)), or pelican droppings. Results showed increased chlorophyll-a at higher temperature (30°C). N addition yielded higher chlorophyll-a levels than the non-treated water or when only P was added. The addition of both N and P as well as the addition of pelican dropping resulted in the highest chlorophyll-a at both temperatures. Notably, in the dropping-treatments, cyanobacteria and MCs were promoted while changes were evoked in the relative contribution of toxic MC-variants. Guanotrophication may thus influence the cyanobacterial dynamics and most likely their toxicity profile at Lesser Prespa., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Lake Lesser Prespa and its adjacent pond, Vromolimni in Greece, is a shallow freshwater system and a highly protected area hosting an exceptional biodiversity. The occurrence of microcystins (MCs) producing cyanobacterial blooms in these waters during recent years can be harmful to the wildlife. We tested the hypothesis that both cyanobacterial biomass and MCs are strongly influenced by nutrients (eutrophication) and warming (climate change). Lake and pond water was collected from two sites in each water body in 2013 and incubated at three temperatures (20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C) with or without additional nutrients (nitrogen +N, phosphorus +P and both +N and +P). Based on both biovolume and chlorophyll-a concentrations, cyanobacteria in water from Lesser Prespa were promoted primarily by combined N and P additions and to a lesser extent by N alone. Warming seemed to yield more cyanobacteria biomass in these treatments. In water from Vromolimni, both N alone and N+P additions increased cyanobacteria and a warming effect was hardly discernible. MC concentrations were strongly increased by N and N+P additions in water from all four sites, which also promoted the more toxic variant MC-LR. Hence, both water bodies seem particularly vulnerable to further N-loading enhancing MC related risks., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: It has been suggested, mainly by case reports, that the collective trauma generated by mass calamities may be transmitted to, and have long-lasting effects on, new generations., Aims: To investigate the psychological impact on contemporary Armenians of traumatic events suffered by Armenians during the period 1914-1918., Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study investigating demographic and cultural characteristics of a population of 689 people of Armenian origin, residents of Greece and Cyprus. Subjects were recruited during a range of Armenian cultural, athletic or charitable events. The participants completed a version of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Self-Rating) Scale and a questionnaire including ad hoc questions regarding their relationship to the Armenian community, their attitudes and their source of information about the 1914-1918 events., Results: Over a third (35.7%) of participants presented at least sub-clinical forms of such reactions during long periods of their lives. Women, older people, participants with a close relative lost during the events and those with strong connections to the Armenian community were more vulnerable., Conclusion: The results are indicative of a long-lasting (though gradually fading) cross-generational traumatizing effect of the discussed events. Clinicians having to deal with patients belonging to cultural or ethnic groups that suffered persecutions in the past should take into account the probable effects caused by a trauma-transmission mechanism.