Massimo F. Marcone

• Professor at University of Guelph

The molecular constituents of Camellia sinensis, in particular epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) and, more remarkably, the galloylated theaflavins, mainly theaflavin-3,3′-di-O-gallate (TF-3,3′-DG), have been reported to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), an enzyme required for the cleavage of its polyproteins, to produce vi...

Bromelain is a complex combination of multiple endopeptidases of thiol and other compounds derived from the pineapple fruit, stem and/or root. Fruit bromelain and stem bromelain are produced completely distinctly and comprise unique compounds of enzymes, and the descriptor “Bromelain” originally referred in actuality to stem bromelain. Due to the e...

As of recent, microgreen vegetable production in controlled environments are being investigated for their bioactive properties. Phytochemicals like glucosinolates (GLS) are highly sensitive to varying spectral qualities of light, especially in leafy greens of Brassica where the responses are highly species-dependent. The accumulation of bioactive G...

This study compares the antioxidant properties (RSADPPH–DPPH radical scavenging activity, FRAP–ferric reducing activity power, and FIC–ferrous ion-chelating activity), the total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF), and catechin profiles, as well as the caffeine content of Azorean Camellia sinensis green tea collected in seasons of two different y...

An untargeted approach to profiling of polyphenolics of Brassicaceae microgreens was employed to characterize the phenolic composition in microgreens grown under 8 different treatments of combined amber (590 nm), blue (455 nm), and red (655 nm) LED, using full MS and HRMS/MS-ESI. Hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA) derivatives predominated the pool of pheno...

Feeding practices have been found to influence gut microbiota which play a major role in immunity of poultry. In the present study, changes in cecal microbiota and humoral responses resulting in the 55 ppm bacitracin (BACI), 1% each of cranberry (CP1) and wild blueberry (BP1) pomace alone or in combination (CP+BP) feeding in broiler Cobb 500 vaccin...

In this study, various ratios of combined red, blue, and amber light-emitting diodes (rbaLEDs) were investigated for their effect on the expression of carotenoid biosynthetic genes and carotenoid accumulation in eight Brassica microgreens. Total and individual (β-carotene, lutein, α-carotene, neoxanthin, and violaxanthin) carotenoids were increased...

This study evaluates the polyphenol profiles as well as caffeine (dry weight basis), and antioxidant activities of green tea (GTs), white tea (WTs), and flowers (Fl) samples from Azorean Camellia sinensis varieties affected by different harvested and processing conditions. Epicatechins derivatives, determined by RP-HPLC/PDAD, presented higher value...

Cold plasma (CP) is generated when an electrical energy source is applied to a gas, resulting in the production of several reactive species such as ultraviolet photons, charged particles, radicals and other reactive nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen species. CP is a novel, non-thermal technology that has shown great potential for food decontamination...

LEDs are applied in controlled environments to produce high-quality microgreens of various nutritional benefit. We investigate different ratios of amber, blue and red LEDs on the synthesis of antioxidant phytochemicals in 8 species of the Brassica genus of microgreens. Microgreens were grown under 8 different LED ratios using combined amber, blue a...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00150.].

Background and objectives Consumption of pulses is recommended by health organizations. Pulses are usually soaked and cooked in water before consumption which alters their nutrient composition and ultimately health benefits. This study investigated the effect of four cooking methods (boiling, pressure, microwave, and slow) and four heating solution...

With the pressure to reduce antibiotics use in poultry production, cost-effective alternative products need to be developed to enhance the bird's immunity. The present study evaluated the efficacy of cranberry fruit by-products to modulate immunity in broiler chickens. Broiler Cobb 500 chicks were fed a control basal diet, basal diet supplemented w...

During Camellia sinensis tea processing, manufacturers usually remove the internodes, which are classified as waste. This study presents the first determination of plant part contribution, particularly internodes, to green tea quality, in order to find the best blend to maximize impact on human health. Catechins, caffeine and free amino acid (FAA)...

Pulses are recommended for healthy eating due to their high content of nutrients and bioactive compounds that can undergo changes during cooking. This study investigated the effects of four cooking methods (boiling, pressure, microwave, slow) and three heating solutions (water, salt, sugar) on the phenolic acids and antioxidant properties of three...

This review extensively discusses various socio environmental factors affecting eating behavior of the general public within Canada including the development and implementation of national policies. A framework representing the determinants of healthy eating can be grouped into four categories i.e., the individual determinants, the economic environ...

This study evaluated the performance, gut microbiota, and blood metabolites in broiler chickens fed cranberry and blueberry products for 30 days. A total of 2,800 male day-old broiler Cobb-500 chicks were randomly distributed between 10 diets: control basal diet; basal diet with bacitracin (BACI); four basal diets with 1 and 2% of cranberry (CP1, C...

The edible goat rennet (EGR) namely Caggiu de crabittu, is a traditional Sardinian foodstuff deriving from the stomach of a weaned (breastfed) kid whose edible part is represented by the milk coagulated inside the abomasum that, before consumption, is subjected to a suitable ripening time. In this study, a preliminary investigation into the microbi...

The global population is expected to rise to 9 billion by the year of 2050 and the demand for food is expected to continually increase for at least another half a century. The overexploitation of land, energy, and water will not only destabilize our ability to produce various food, but the impact that is also done on the environment by the food sys...

Food processing uses tissues or by-products of biological origins in the production of food for human consumption, a technique that has been used by ancient human societies to produce many staples that still remain in the human diet today. In the world of delicacies, however, many of the world’s exquisite delicacies result from using very unique ‘b...

Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), popularly known as the ‘tree of life’, is one of the most important subsistence and commercial palm crops around the world. Global demand for coconut and coconut-based health products is expected to rise with growing populations and industrialization. Coconut cultivation is currently facing biotic and abiotic stressors...

Non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica serovars continue to be an important food safety issue worldwide. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait) fruits possess antimicrobial properties due to their various acids and phenolic compounds; however, the underlying mechanism of actions is poorly understood. We evaluated the effects of cranberry extracts on the...

Millets can be sustainable food sources in future agronomy because of its ability to flourish in harsh climatic conditions, however limited studies exist on the nutritional and hypoglycaemic properties of millets. This study is intended to identify millets as potential functional food ingredients based on their nutrient profile and in vitro starch...

Parboiling is a common method used in rice processing to improve milling yield and physicochemical properties. The current study evaluates parboiling as a pre-treatment step in millet decortication and its impact on phenolic profile and in vitro digestibility of two traditional millet products, steam-cooked couscous and porridge, made from pearl (P...

This study presents information on the biochemical composition (dry weight basis), nutritional aspects, and angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory properties of selected macroalgae (Ulva compressa, Ulva rigida, Gelidium microdon, and Pterocladiella capillacea) from Azores. Moisture content was very high (83.2% to 90.0% of fresh weight). T...

Patulin is a mycotoxin of food safety concern. It is produced by numerous species of fungi growing on fruits and vegetables. Exposure to the toxin is connected to issues neurological, immunological, and gastrointestinal in nature. Regulatory agencies worldwide have established maximum allowable levels of 50 µg/kg in foods. Despite regulations, surv...

Purified phenolic extracts of cooked regular-darkening (RR) and non-darkening (CND) cranberry beans were evaluated for their phenolic content, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and bioavailability using a human colonic carcinoma (Caco-2) cell model. Major compounds included flavanols such as catechin, epicatechin and proanthocyanidins whic...

Rice is a staple food worldwide. In this study, seven African rice (Oryza glaberrima) accessions (ARAs) were evaluated for grain quality attributes, pasting, thermal and in vitro digestion properties in comparison with two Asian rice (Oryza sativa) varieties (ARVs) and a developed cross (O. sativa x O. glaberrima cross). The ARAs were intermediate...

Globally, foodborne diseases continues to be a serious public health problem. Among the infectious bacteria implicated in these diseases, non-typhoidal . Salmonella enterica (NTS) serovars are the major cause of hospitalization and death, followed by . Campylobacter, . Clostridium perfringens, . Escherichia coli O157:H7, and . Listeria monocytogene...

The amylopectin fractions from starch of a series of amylose-extender (ae) maize samples (HYLON® V, VII and VIII starches) were isolated and analysed for their molecular composition and structure. The fractions from all samples contained both a high and a low molecular weight fraction (HMF and LMF), of which LMF increased with the amylose content o...

Enzymatic hydrolysis in combination with gel-permeation and anion-exchange chromatography techniques were employed to characterise the composition of clusters and building blocks of amylopectin from two African rice (Oryza glaberrima) accessions - IRGC 103759 and TOG 12440. The samples were compared with one Asian rice (Oryza sativa) sample (cv WIT...

Various fatty acids, tocopherols, carotenoids and their respective antioxidant contributions in 7 amaranth (AS) and 11 quinoa seeds (QS) samples along with a new evaluation method are reported. Lipid yield was 6.98-7.22% in AS and 6.03-6.74% in QS with unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) being the predominant fatty acids, 71.58-72.44% in AS and 81.44-84....

The surface microbiota of washed-rind cheeses is variable and complex. The processes involved in the production of these cheeses are not fully understood and pathogenic bacteria have been occasionally reported in the smear on the surface of the cheeses. This review describes the prevalent factors that determine development of the complex consortia...

Cranberry beans from regular- (RR) and non-darkening (CND) genotypes were pressure cooked and free, conjugated and bound phenolics were analyzed. Simulated in vitro gastrointestinal digestion was used to assess bioaccessibility of these phenolic fractions. Total phenolic content decreased after cooking and digestion while individual phenolic compou...

Prolonged frozen storage of dough and batter unfavorably affects the quality of end baked products. The effect of air‐classified barley flour fraction rich in β ‐glucan (∼25%) on the quality of bread and cookie baked from frozen dough/batter was investigated. Dough and batter were stored at −18C for 8 and 4 weeks, respectively, and evaluated for ba...

This study investigated whether the amounts and types of fatty acids present in millet plays a role in its known hypoglycemic properties. In a two part study, the first part involved complexing excess amount (2 mmol/g of starch) of palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids to cooked pearl, finger, proso and foxtail millet starches, subjecting the complexe...

In this study, cellulose-soy protein isolate (SPI) composite films were prepared using a hot surface casting technique. The cellulose microfibrils for the films were extracted from soybean pods and stems using a combined acid-alkaline hydrolysis and high-pressure homogenization treatment. For comparison, TiO2-SPI composite films were also prepared...

Edible staghorn sumac (Rhus hirta) fruit extract was applied in conjunction with chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil to promote cytotoxicity of the drugs toward human breast cancer cells MCF-7 while protecting normal cells MCF-10A from drug toxicity. Sumac extract would be a promising chemotherapeutic drug conjugate in cancer chemotherapy.

Composite "wet" alginate films were manufactured from alginate-carbohydrate solutions containing 5% alginate and 0.25% pectin, carrageenan (kappa or iota), potato starch (modified or unmodified), gellan gum, or cellulose (extracted or commercial). The "wet" alginate films were used as a model to understand co-extruded alginate sausage casings that...

Composition of the lipophilic phytochemicals including fatty acids, tocopherols and carotenoids in leaves of 6 quinoa and 14 amaranth cultivars was analyzed. The oil yields in quinoa and amaranth leaves were only 2.72-4.18%, which contained mainly essential fatty acids and had a highly favorable ω-3/ω-6 ratio (2.28-3.89). Pro-vitamin A carotenoids...

Hydrophilic extracts from different parts including leaves, stalks, seeds, flowers and sprouts of 3 Amaranthus species (Amaranthus hypochondriacus, Amaranthus caudatus and Amaranthus cruentus) were characterized for their phytochemical profiles including the phenolics and betacyanins by UHPLC and LC-ESI-MS, and their antioxidant activities by FRAP...

Abstract Previous works on staghorn sumac (Rhus hirta) were mostly dedicated to its phytochemical profiles, antioxidant properties, and antidiabetic potentials. This study explored the potential of staghorn-sumac-derived functional ingredients for food and pharmacological applications. Sumac may have other biological functions, such as inhibitory e...

A biodegradable alternative material to synthetic plastics was explored in this study through the extrusion of soy protein isolate (SPI) composite films containing soy cellulose microfibers (SMF). SMF were isolated from soy pods and stems using a chemo-mechanical method. The fibers produced through successive treatments were characterized by micros...

A common protocol for the extraction of phenolic aglycones or bound phenolics in plants generally involves hydrothermal hydrolysis in an aqueous methanol or ethanol solution containing 2-4 N HCl. However, as shown in the present study, this process also forms 5-(hydroxymethyl)furan-2-carbaldehyde (HMF) and its derivative products 5-(methoxymethyl)f...

This study investigated the physical and molecular starch characteristics of four Canadian-grown millet species: pearl, foxtail, proso, and finger millet. The millet starch granules ranged from about 2.5 to 24 mu m in size and were mainly polygonal with a few spherical ones. Their amylose contents ranged from 28.6 to 33.9%, with finger and pearl mi...

In this study, the physical properties of "wet" alginate films gelled with various divalent cations (Ba(2+) , Ca(2+) , Mg(2+) , Sr(2+) , and Zn(2+) ) were explored. Additionally, the effect of adding NaCl to the alginate film-forming solution prior to gelling was evaluated. Aside from Mg(2+) , all of the divalent cations were able to produce workab...

The unit chain compositions of debranched foxtail, proso, pearl, and finger millet amylopectins and their phi,beta-limit dextrins were analyzed by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography. The phi,beta-limit dextrins reflected amylopectin internal chain profiles. The amylopectins had average chain lengths ranging from 17.94 to 18.12. The rang...

Adaptations in growth dynamics in fish, i.e. how fish prioritise tissue accretion between organs, remains poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of graded feed restriction levels on nutrient deposition in 1·3 g fingerlings and 70 g juveniles. At the whole-body level, highly restricted juveniles strove to maintain body...

Abstract Combining different foods may produce additive, synergistic, or antagonistic interactions that may modify certain physiological effects (i.e., anticancer properties). For investigating these interactions and potential synergetic combinations, thirteen foods from three categories, including fruits (raspberries, blackberries, apples, grapes)...

In this study, electrospun soy protein isolate (SPI) nanocomposite fiber mats were developed utilizing the lowest concentration possible of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) containing the highest levels of anthocyanin-rich red raspberry (Rubus strigosus) extract [ARRE; 20% raspberry powder in 95% ethyl alcohol/water/85% lactic acid (80:19:1; v/v/v)]. Var...

The following study explored how the addition of various proteins (gelatin, soy protein isolate (SPI) and heated/unheated whey protein isolate (WPI)), at two different concentration levels (1% and 2%), affected the mechanical, microstructural and optical properties of calcium cross-linked ‘wet’ alginate films. Additionally, the water holding capaci...

Furan (C4H4O) has been classified as a possible animal and human carcinogen by many international agencies. The formation of furan in three sugar–glycine models using glucose, fructose, and sucrose was investigated using headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry method (HS-GC–MS) with various dual combinations of three important heat processin...

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the most common investigative techniques used by both chemists and biochemists to identify molecular structures as well as to study the progress of chemical reactions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), another type of NMR technology, has extensively been used in medical radiology to obtain sof...

The effect of starch-protein-lipid interaction on the in vitro starch digestibility and expected glycemic index (eGI) of kodo millet flour (MF) was investigated. Debranned MF and the flour with lipid removed, protein removed, or both lipid and protein removed (MF-L-P) were subjected to digestion assays. The in vitro starch digestibility and eGI of...

In order to assess furan content in thermal processed commercial foods available in China, an optimized automated headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method (HS-GC-MS) was developed and validated. Internal standard d4-furan was used with addition of salt (NaCl) into the headspace with an oven temperature 70 °C and equilibration time 30 m...

The presence of furan levels in foods has attracted considerable attention worldwide because furan is considered to be a possible carcinogenic substance to both humans and animals alike. Furan formation in the presence of carbohydrates and ascorbic acid in food during thermal processing is influenced by several factors including pH, temperature and...

The cardio-health-promoting activity of some foods may be due to their specific antioxidant content. The antioxidant activity of a mixture of plant extracts has been shown to differ from the activity of the individual extracts. As a result, the activity of the mixture can be described as synergistic, antagonistic or additive. This in vitro study ev...

The functional properties of wheat are largely dictated by composition and interactions of the gluten proteins. All flours contain gliadin and glutenin, but produce baked products of varying quality, which provides evidence that gluten proteins from different wheats possess different properties. A common method to study differences in gluten proper...

Due to the diverse functionality of plant extracts and their generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status for use in foods, their incorporation into dietary biopolymer‐based packaging materials has recently elicited great interest for food applications. Polysaccharides (e.g., chitosan, alginate), proteins (e.g., soy and whey protein isolates, gelatin...

The texture and microstructure of four commercially manufactured collagen casings and a natural sheep casing (all 23 mm diameter) were examined using shear, puncture, burst, and light transmission tests, as well as light microscopy. Shear force values were significantly higher for uncooked and cooked sausages prepared from natural sheep casing and...

While other extraction methods have been tempted, a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method coupled with the orthogonal array design was investigated for efficient extraction of the phenolic compounds in potato downstream wastes. Four parameters were examined for the MAE of the total phenolic content (TPC) and optimized at 60% ethanol, 80°C, 2mi...

Food is a very complex heterogeneous "material" composed of thousands of different nutritive and nonnutritive compounds embedded in a variety of different plant and animal matrices. Nondesirable biochemical compounds such as environmental contaminants, microbial and plant toxins, and veterinary drugs are also present with their presence posing a da...

This paper reports the fatty acid and triacylglycerol (TAG) compositions of five Amaranthus accessions (RRC1011, R149, A.K343, A.K432, and A. K433) representing two species and a cross between one of these and a third species. Seed oils of these were analyzed by gas chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and their...

To modify the properties of edible soy protein isolate (SPI) films, 0.5% anthocyanin-rich red raspberry (Rubus strigosus) extract (ARRE) (0.5 g raspberry powder in 95% ethyl alcohol/water/85% lactic acid [80:19:1. v/v/v]) was incorporated into film-forming solutions. ARRE resulted in an SPI film having significantly enhanced tensile strength (P < 0...

Seven varieties of sea salt and a Kosher control were characterized by composition, various physical properties and rates of dissolution in artificial saliva. These measures were compared to sensory time–intensity data in which the temporal profile of salt taste of the sea salt crystals was measured by a trained panel (n = 12). Salts contained eith...

Food processing uses tissues or by-products of biological origins in the production of food for human consumption, a technique that has been used by ancient human societies to produce many staples that still remain in the human diet today. In the world of delicacies, however, many of the world’s exquisite delicacies result from using very unique ‘b...

The search for therapeutic anticancer agents from plant-based foods became the work of numerous researchers when epidemiological studies showed a relationship between the low incidence of cancer and the intake of plant-based foods. These researchers were especially interested in plant-based foods with high antioxidant capacities because of the impo...

This review is to provide an update in the recent truffle research with particular emphasis on the chemical properties (nutritional and aromatic profile) and their potential biological activities such as antioxidant, antiviral, anti-microbial, hepatoprotective, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-tuberculoid. In addition,...

There are mainly two protocols in isoflavone analysis, one that involves hydrolysis prior to HPLC analysis and the other direct HPLC analysis. In this study, three different hydrolysis methods were systematically re-evaluated, and compared with direct HPLC analysis. Acidic hydrolysis (1.2–3M HCl in ethanol at 80°C) showed a maximum conversion of ca...

The use of aphrodisiacs dates back thousands of years in Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Roman, and Greek cultures. Although the scientific basis of these substances was not understood, aphrodisiacs were valued for their ability to enhance the sexual experience. Their use allowed for human procreation and the ability to obtain a sexually fulfilling rela...

This study investigated differences in gluten aggregation time and gluten strength using the Hofmeister series in high shear-treated slurries. Two flours (15.1% and 10.6% protein) were evaluated by using a Gluten Peak Tester (GPT). Hofmeister anions including NaF, NaCl, NaBr, NaI, and NaSCN at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1.0M and cations inc...

Different foods possess different bioactive compounds with varied antioxidant capacities. When foods are consumed together, the total antioxidant capacity of food mixtures may be modified via synergistic, additive, or antagonistic interactions among these components, which may in turn alter their physiological impacts. The main objective of this st...

Oxidative stress disturbs the normal redox state within the human body, and thus may trigger many human chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease. Antioxidant properties of some bioactive components in plant-based foods have been proposed to be capable of controlling such disturbances. This hypothesis has initiated a great number of laborat...

Saffron (Crocus sativus, L.) is traditionally used as a coloring or flavoring agent, but recent research has shown its potential to promote health. The constituents of interest include crocin, crocetin, picrocrocin, and safranal which have all demonstrated health promoting properties. Previous studies have found that biological activity of saffron...

A rapid and sensitive method for quantifying iodine in intact starch granules using gas chromatography is described with detection limits as low as 0.2% (w/w) iodine in starch. Sample preparation includes NaBH(4) reduction of the various iodine species associated with starch to the colorless soluble iodide ion, followed by its quantitative derivati...

Samples of Mimolette (France) and Milbenkase (Germany) cheeses traditionally ripened by mites were analyzed to determine the mite species present on each sample. Scientific literature was reviewed to understand which mite species most commonly infest cheese. Morphological features possessed by mites were then studied to understand what unique chara...

Soybean seeds with three different levels (low, intermediate and high) of isoflavones were processed to soy flour and soy protein isolates (SPIs) and developed into functional soy breads. The effect of factors involved in all steps of the process was investigated by tracking the composition and concentration of native forms of isoflavones. The tota...

Food is a very complex heterogeneous “material” composed of thousands of different nutritive and nonnutritive compounds embedded in a variety of different plant and animal matrices. Nondesirable biochemical compounds such as environmental contaminants, microbial and plant toxins, and veterinary drugs are also present with their presence posing a da...

ABSTRACTA series of 11S globulins isolated and purified from genetically different Amaranthus lines were found to be both glycosylated and phosphorylated to varying degrees, i.e., 4.0–7.8% and 0.030–0.058%, respectively. Carbohydrate was found to be N-linked to amino acids in the amaranth globulin and was composed of 28.0% xylose, 34.4% mannose 8.3...

The salt-soluble globulin and its polymerized counterpart from wheat (Triticum aestivum) seed were isolated and purified to homogeneity employing both gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography. The two globulins were purified free of any purothionin (an oxidation-reduction protein) contamination. Some of the physico-chemical properties of pu...

The hippurate hydrolase enzyme of Campylobacter jejuni was expressed in Escherichia coli as a six-histidine-tagged fusion protein. The purified recombinant enzyme was characterized to gain an understanding of the structure and activity of the hippurate hydrolase. The recombinant enzyme had a native molecular mass of 193 ± 11 kDa a reduced molecular...

A few species of swiflets (genus Aerodramus) build edible nests that are consumed by humans worldwide, as a delicacy known as the “Caviar of the East” or as a medicinal food. This study reports on the compositional properties of two types of nest, the white nest and the red “blood” nest. The order of composition (from lowest to highest) was found t...

The effects of chicken breast meat lightness value (L*) on microstructure, protein extraction, and marinating and tumbling was investigated. Pale soft, and exudative (PSE) meat (L* = 57.7, pH 5.72) showed significantly lower salt soluble protein extraction with less heavy myosin chains compared with dark, firm, and dry (DFD) meat (L* = 44.8, pH 6.2...

This research paper reports on the findings of the first scientific investigation into the various physicochemical properties of the palm civet (Kopi Luwak coffee bean) from Indonesia and their comparison to the first African civet coffee beans collected in Ethiopia in eastern Africa. Examination of the palm civet (Kopi Luwak) and African civet cof...

To date, this study constitutes the first scientific investigation into the elucidation of the chemical/physical and nutritional composition and characteristics of the seed of Batis maritima (Saltwort or Beachwort) a C3 perennial, dioecious, high seed bearing, halophytic succulent shrub commonly habitating salt-marshes and salt-flats worldwide. It...