Preimaginal stages of Diptera (excluding Chironomidae and Simuliidae) of mountain lakes,their inlets and outlets in the Tatra Mountains (Slovakia)

The occurrence of preimaginal stages of Diptera (excluding Chironomidae and Simuliidae) in the Tatra Mountain lakes, their inlets and outlets, and the influence of acidification on the presence of these taxa were assessed. At 21 sites, 18 Diptera taxa were recorded in 2000 and 2001. The most frequent were Dicranota sp. (73%), Pedicia (C.)rivosa (50%) and Wiedemannia sp. (14%). Diptera were ordinated by RDA; relationships between taxa and environmental variables were significantly determined by temperature and habitat characteristics (altitude, habitat, alkalinity, Ca²⁺, pH, temperature, conductivity). The RDA diagram confirmed the existence of four Diptera assemblage groups corresponding with four habitat types. Group 1 — alpine and subalpine oligotrophic lakes at higher altitudes threatened by acidification, with the acid tolerant taxa Tipula rufina, T. alpium, Dicranota sp. and Rhypholophus sp. Group 2 — subalpine oligotrophic lakes not threatened by acidification with the acid sensitive taxa Wiedemannia sp., Hemerodromia sp., Tipula (S.) benesignata, Orimarga sp., Chionea sp., Pedicia (C.) rivosa and Bazarella subneglecta which prefer higher temperature. Group 3 — subalpine oligotrophic lakes, with the acid sensitive species Berdeniella illiesi, which prefers cold water. Group 4 — outlets of submontane oligotrophic lakes with characteristic taxa Tricyphona sp. and Tipula goriziensis. Acidified alpine and subalpine Tatra lakes are situated mostly at higher altitudes (1705–2145 m. a.s.l.) and have specific taxonomic composition.     

Subtidal Underwater Rock Communities of the White Sea: Structure and Interaction with Bottom Flow

The taxonomic composition and quantitative characteristics of typical subtidal rock communities of the White Sea (biocenosis of Laminaria and biocenosis of Lithothamnion and the sponges Polymastia arctica) were studied. The hydrodynamic activity of the near-bottom water layer within and beyond the communities was estimated using the plaster structures technique. A comparative analysis of our results and the literature data revealed three main types of interactions between the benthic community and the water flow: turbulation of the water flow (mussel banks), smoothing of turbulent pulsations (Laminaria community), and an insignificant effect on the water flow (community of Lithothamnion and sponges).     

Diversity of Prokaryotes in Planktonic Communities of Saline Sol-Iletsk lakes (Orenburg Oblast,Russia)

Prokaryotic diversity was studied in the planktonic communities of six Sol-Iletsk lakes (Orenburg oblast, Russia) varying in salinity level using the Illumina technology of high-throughput sequencing. The extremely halophilic archaea of the phyla Euryarchaeota and Nanohaloarchaeota, as well as the bacterial phylum Bacteroidetes predominated in the communities of lakes with salinity of 285–300‰. Representatives of the phyla Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria, as well as of the class Gammaproteobacteria were predominant in the lakes with salinity 110?180‰. A bloom of Cyanobacteria was observed in Bol’shoe Gorodskoe Lake (10‰ salinity). The dominant OTUs in the lakes with high salinity were represented by archaea Halonotius sp., uncultured Nanohaloarchaea, and bacteria Salinibacter sp. In the lakes with medium salinity level the dominants included gammaproteobacteria Spiribacter sp., alphaproteobacteria Roseovarius sp., flavobacteria Psychroflexus sp., unidentified archaea of the family Haloferacaceae, actinobacteria Pontimonas sp. and Rhodoluna sp. In the lake with low salinity level cyanobacteria of the genus Planktothrix were predominant. Effect of salinity on prokaryotic taxonomic richness, composition, and diversity in planktonic communities of the studied lakes was demonstrated.     

Taxonomy of Soldier Flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) of Sunderban Biosphere Reserve,India

The present communication deals with recording of nine species of soldier flies (Insecta: Diptera: Stratiomyidae) from Sunderban Biosphere Reserve of India, of which, Tinda indica (Walker, 1851), Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758), Odontomyia kashmirensis Brunetti, 1920, Odontomyia viridana (Wiedemann, 1824), Prosopochrysa vitripennis (Doleschall, 1856) are being reported for the first time from this unique and globally acclaimed mangrove ecosystem. Odontomyia kashmirensis Brunetti, 1920 is reported for the first time from the state of West Bengal. A key to identify these species is provided with taxonomic notes.     

Classification of Springs in the Lake Baikal Region by Macroinvertebrate Communities

The macrozoobenthos communities in 15 cold fresh, 12 mineral (sodium chloride), and 19 thermal springs of the Baikal Rift Zone and adjacent areas have been investigated. The classification of springs on the basis of quantitative indicators of abundance was proposed. According to the dominant group of fauna, three types of communities were identified for the cold springs; six types, for mineral springs; and four types, for thermal springs. It was established that communities with the dominance of Chironomidae, Turbellaria, and Oligochaeta are formed in cold springs and communities with the predominance of Gastropoda (one or two species) prevail in thermal springs. It was noted that mineral springs of medium mineralization are characterized by communities with a prevalence of Amphipoda (Gammarus lacustris); those with high salinity are dominated by Brachyceran flies (Diptera, Brachycera).     

The Distribution of Macrozoobenthos Taxa,as Potential Indicators of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems in the Western Bering Sea: 1. Anadyr Bay Area

The composition of common species in some macrozoobenthos groups that are considered as potential indicators of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VME), in the Anadyr Bay area, Bering Sea have been determined based on the results of four benthic surveys using a benthic grab sampler (1985, 2005) and a bottom trawl (2008, 2012). These are soft corals (Gersemia rubiformis), sponges (Myxilla incrustans, Halichondria panicea, and Semisuberites cribrosa), ascidians (Halocynthia aurantium and Boltenia ovifera), bryozoans (Cystisella saccata and Flustra foliacea), barnacles (Chirona evermanni), and the brittle star (Gorgonocephalus eucnemis). The distribution of these animals has been mapped. Aggregations of immobile sestonophages (the former five groups) are formed on hard coarse-grained and mixed sediments in waters with higher hydrodynamic activity (along the southwestern and northeastern coasts of the Anadyr Bay, mainly at depths of 80–90 m). In some cases, sponges and bryozoans in the southern part of the area can descend to a depth of 250 m (in the Navarin Canyon). The mobile filterer G. eucnemis forms aggregations mainly on soft sediments in the central part of Anadyr Bay, at depths of 50–270 m, in the area of a localized spot of near-bottom cold water. According to the results of trawl surveys conducted in 2008 and 2012, the mean biomass of the sponges, the brittle star G. eucnemis, and the sea squirt B. ovifera did not change, whereas the mean biomass of the barnacle Ch. evermanni and sea peach H. aurantium decreased by 6.5 and 3.7 times, respectively. Since the level of trawl fishing activity in the region is not high, the hypothesis has been proposed that the decrease in the abundance of the latter two species is presumably caused by the natural dynamics of their population or can be related to the factor of randomness, as these species are caught in their mosaically distributed local aggregations.     

Flies (Diptera) Associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polygraphus proximus</Emphasis> Blandford, 1894 (Coleoptera,Curculionidae) in Siberia and the Russian Far East

The faunal composition of Diptera (Insecta) inhabiting the galleries of Polygraphus proximus over the territory of Siberia and the Russian Far East was studied. As a result, 14 species of Diptera were discovered representing 8 families. Within its secondary range, the invasive beetle P. proximus Blandford, 1894 is affected not only by the well-known introduced species Medetera penicillata Negrobov, 1970 but also by numerous other widespread predatory flies, such as Medetera excellens Frey, 1909, M. pinicola Kowarz, 1877, Xylophagus cinctus (De Geer, 1776), and Toxoneura ephippium (Zettersted, 1860). Four predatory fly species, M. penicillata, M. signaticornis Loew, 1857, Lonchaea bukowskii Czerny, 1934, and Xylophagus sachalinensis (Pleske, 1925), affect P. proximus within its native range in the Russian Far East. Data on the predation of each species of Diptera on several species of bark beetles testify to their polyphagy. Saprophagous larvae of Dicranomyia modesta (Meigen, 1818), Chalcosyrphus piger (Fabricius, 1794), Xylosciara lignicola (Winnertz, 1867), and Pseudolycoriella unispina (Mohrig et Krivosheina, 1983) were discovered in bark beetle galleries for the first time.     

An approach to bioassess pelagic ciliate biodiversity at different taxonomic resolutions in response to various habitats in the Amundsen Sea (Antarctica)

The rapid melting of glaciers and loss of sea ice will result in changes in habitat conditions that may drive substantial changes in biodiversity. In order to bioassess the changing polar ecosystem and evaluate biological conservation, pelagic ciliate communities at different taxonomic resolutions were studied at five habitats in the Amundsen Sea during the austral summer from December 2010 to January 2011. Distinctive spatial patterns were observed in the communities among the five habitats (oceanic areas, transitional areas, polynyas, edges of glaciers, and edges of sea ice) in response to environmental variability (e.g., temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a, and nutrients). The distributions in the numbers of different taxonomic levels and of three biodiversity indices (Shannon-Wiener H′, Pielou’s J′, and Margalef D) also revealed clear spatial variability with the maximum mean species number and indices in the polynya and maximum genus and family numbers in the transitional area. The presence/absence of data at taxonomic resolutions up to the family level provided sufficient information to evaluate the ecological patterns of pelagic ciliate communities and could accurately reflect habitat variations. The k-dominance curves illustrated clearly that maximum diversity was presented in the polynya at the species level and in the transitional area at the genus and family level. We suggest that the diversity at higher taxonomic resolutions should be considered more in future monitoring. Our findings provide basic data and an approach toward answering important questions about biological conservation, especially the biodiversity at various taxonomic resolutions in response to the increasing climate changes in polar ecosystems.     

Disentangling the stream community impacts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Didymosphenia geminata</Emphasis>: How are higher trophic levels affected?

Human activities frequently result in either intentional or unintentional introductions of species to new locations, and freshwater environments worldwide are particularly vulnerable to species invasions. An introduced freshwater diatom, Didymosphenia geminata, was first discovered in New Zealand in 2004 but there was limited research available to predict the drivers of D. geminata biomass and how biomass variability might influence higher trophic levels (e.g. invertebrates and fish). We examined the effect of D. geminata biomass on benthic invertebrates, invertebrate drift and fish communities in 20 rivers in New Zealand with variable hydrology, physical habitat and water chemistry. Variation in D. geminata biomass was best explained by a model that showed D. geminata biomass increased with time since the last flow event exceeding three times the median annual discharge and decreasing concentration of dissolved reactive phosphorus. Analyses of biotic responses showed that high D. geminata biomass did not affect either invertebrate or fish diversity but altered the structure of benthic communities, changed the composition of drifting invertebrate communities and reduced fish biomass by 90 %, particularly trout. A partial least squares path model was used to disentangle both direct and indirect effects of D. geminata on fish communities and showed D. geminata had a significant negative direct effect on fish communities. This is the first study to show how the potential effects of the introduced diatom D. geminata can impact fish communities and has shown that D. geminata impacts fish both directly and indirectly through changes in their invertebrate prey community.     

The composition and structure of the benthic diatom taxocene (Bacillariophyta) near Cape Fiolent (the Crimea,the Black Sea)

For the first time in the waters of the Cape Fiolent Reserve, a high species richness of benthic diatoms was revealed on natural substrates, 290 species and infraspecific taxa (IT), belonging to 281 species, 68 genera, 32 families, 19 orders, and 3 classes. A total of 68 species and 3 genera were previously registered as new for the flora of the Black Sea; 3 species and 1 taxonomic combination were previously described as new to science, as well as 4 species that did not occur in the Black sea in the past 50 and 100 years of research. Navicula (41 species and IT), Amphora (30), Nitzschia (29), Fallacia (20), Cocconeis (17) and Diploneis (16) were the most represented genera. Only one representative was identified in each of the orders Anaulales, Ardissoneales, Thalassionematales, Rhaphoneidales, and Rhopalodiales. The diversity assessment that was carried out using taxonomic distinctness indices, TaxDI, revealed that the structure of the phylogenetic diatom tree was formed by branches with various species saturation levels and different hierarchical subordination, but with the predominance of polyspecific taxa up to at genera level. The TaxDI values (Δ⁺ = 76.71; Λ⁺ = 361.52) indicate the low evenness and high variability of the structure of the benthic diatom taxocene near Cape Fiolent.     

Metagenomic analysis of microbial communities of the sediments of the Kara Sea shelf and the Yenisei Bay

Microbial diversity in the sediments of the Kara Sea shelf and the southern Yenisei Bay, differing in pore water mineralization, was studied using massive parallel pyrosequencing according to the 454 (Roche) technology. Members of the same phyla (Cyanobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes) predominated in bacterial communities of the sediments, while their ratio and taxonomic composition varied within the phyla and depended on pore water mineralization. Increasing salinity gradient was found to coincide with increased share of the γ-Proteobacteria and decreased abundance of α- and β-Proteobacteria, as well as of the phyla Verrucomicrobia, Chloroflexi, Chlorobi, and Acidobacteria. Archaeal diversity was lower, with Thaumarchaeota predominant in the sediments with high and low mineralization, while Crenarchaeota predominated in moderately mineralized sediments. Microbial communities of the Kara Sea shelf and Yenisei Bay sediments were found to contain the organisms capable of utilization of a broad spectrum of carbon sources, including gaseous and petroleum hydrocarbons.     

Uncultured bacterial diversity in a seawater recirculating aquaculture system revealed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing

Bacterial diversity in a seawater recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) was investigated using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to understand the roles of bacterial communities in the system. The RAS was operated at nine different combinations of temperature (15°C, 20°C, and 25°C) and salinity (20‰, 25‰, and 32.5‰). Samples were collected from five or six RAS tanks (biofilters) for each condition. Fifty samples were analyzed. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were most common (sum of both phyla: 67.2% to 99.4%) and were inversely proportional to each other. Bacteria that were present at an average of ≥ 1% included Actinobacteria (2.9%) Planctomycetes (2.0%), Nitrospirae (1.5%), and Acidobacteria (1.0%); they were preferentially present in packed bed biofilters, mesh biofilters, and maturation biofilters. The three biofilters showed higher diversity than other RAS tanks (aerated biofilters, floating bed biofilters, and fish tanks) from phylum to operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level. Samples were clustered into several groups based on the bacterial communities. Major taxonomic groups related to family Rhodobacteraceae and Flavobacteriaceae were distributed widely in the samples. Several taxonomic groups like [Saprospiraceae], Cytophagaceae, Octadecabacter, and Marivita showed a cluster-oriented distribution. Phaeobacter and Sediminicola-related reads were detected frequently and abundantly at low temperature. Nitrifying bacteria were detected frequently and abundantly in the three biofilters. Phylogenetic analysis of the nitrifying bacteria showed several similar OTUs were observed widely through the biofilters. The diverse bacterial communities and the minor taxonomic groups, except for Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, seemed to play important roles and seemed necessary for nitrifying activity in the RAS, especially in packed bed biofilters, mesh biofilters, and maturation biofilters.     

Fish production in estuaries of Primorye

Production of fish communities in 15 different-types estuaries was assessed based on the data collected as a result of 90 surveys (860 seine stations) conducted in Primorye in 2002–2015. The main contribution to production was made by semi-anadromous species (the so-iuy mullet Liza haematocheilus, Far Eastern redfins Tribolodon spp., and Japanese smelt Hypomesus nipponensis, etc.). In both external (EP _ext) and internal (EP _int) polyhaline estuaries (EP) a substantial portion of the production was provided by resident marine species (mainly by the saffron cod Eleginus gracilis, Far Eastern smooth flounder Liopsetta pinnifasciata, and tidepool gunnel Pholis nebulosa) and southern immigrants (flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus, dotted gizzard shad Konosirus punctatus, Japanese halfbeak Hyporhamphus sajori, and Pacific needlefish Strongylura anastomella). In mesohaline (EM) and oligohaline (EO) estuaries, the proportion of marine residents and southern immigrants was reduced to a minimum, while that of freshwater species (bighead gudgeon Gobio macrocephalus, Prussian carp Carassius gibelio, minnow Phoxinus spp., Amur bitterling Rhodeus sericeus, spiny bitterlings Acanthorhodeus spp., etc.) substantially added to the production of semi-anadromous fish. The mean fish biomass for the vegetation season varied in the 143–1463 mgC/m² range; the mean annual production was 174–4267 mgC/m² and the mean P/B ratio was 0.2–3.2. In 2007, the high annual production in the Artemovka River estuary, 9356 mgC/m², was formed by the juvenile so-iuy mullet of the strong yearclass that hatched in 2006. The lowest mean production and P/B values were typical mainly for the water bodies with a salinity more often close to that of the barrier zones (5–8‰ for α-horohalinicum and 22–26‰ for β-horohalinicum), i.e., for EM and EP _ext. This relationship is explained by the features of the osmotic regulation in fish of various origins and its ontogenetic variations. In particularly, the salinity in EM is more frequently close to the critical salinity (5–8‰, α-horohalinicum); thus, the proportion of juveniles of most of the species in the catches decreases (as their resistance to salinity variations is lower). This results in higher mean values of the specific and absolute production of fish communities in EP _int and EO as compared to those in EM. The conclusion was made that the estimates of fish production in the estuaries of Primorye are similar to those in the well-studied estuaries of the temperate, subtropical, and tropical zones. Moreover, they are comparable to the fish production estimates for mesotrophic and eutrophic lakes in northwestern Russia, substantially lower than those for large lowland rivers, and higher than those for small rivers. The fish production in seas, including the Japan/East Sea (0.20 gC/m²) and, particularly, Peter the Great Bay (0.28 gC/m²), is mostly lower than that in Primorye estuaries.     

Epiphytic bacterial communities of the alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fucus vesiculosus</Emphasis> in oil-contaminated water areas of the Barents Sea

Taxonomic compositions of epiphytic bacterial communities in water areas differing in levels of oil pollution were revealed. In total, 82 bacterial genera belonging to 16 classes and 11 phyla were detected. All detected representatives of epiphytic bacterial communities belonged to the phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Acidobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Fusobacteria and candidate division TM7. The ratio of the phyla in the communities varied depending on the levels of oil pollution. New data on taxonomic composition of uncultivated epiphytic bacterial communities of Fucus vesiculosus were obtained.     

Effect of salinity on vegetative growth and sexual reproduction of algae from the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ardissonea</Emphasis> de Notaris (Bacillariophyta)

Effect of salinity on vegetative growth and sexual reproduction was investigated in laboratory cultures of a benthic diatom Ardissonea crystallina (C. Agardh) Grunow from the Black Sea and vegetative growth of Ardissonea sp. from the coast of Martinique, the Atlantic Ocean. Typical water salinity in the places where the populations inhabit differs two times. It was shown that the clones of both populations have a broad tolerance and great ability to adapt to changes in salinity. Cells of different size (i.e., in different stages of the life cycle) responded differently to desalination. Salinities optimal for vegetative growth of these species were not the same. Ardissonea from the coast of Martinique was more sensitive to low levels of salinity as compared with A. crystallina from the Black Sea. It was surprising that salinity optimal for vegetative growth and sexual reproduction of the Black Sea species did not coincide with the real salinity level of the Black Sea. Position of physiological optimums indicates an oceanic (or Mediterranean) origin of the Black Sea population of A. crystallina.     

Taxonomic composition and interannual variations in numerical density of meroplankton in the Sea of Azov

This paper presents data on the taxonomic composition and dynamics of numerical density of meroplankton in the Sea of Azov. Studies performed in June 2003–2005 revealed benthic invertebrate larvae of 26 taxa: Polychaeta, 7; Cirripedia, 1; Decapoda, 5; Gastropoda, 5; and Bivalvia, 8. Meroplankton was dominated by larvae of species that are able to endure considerable concentrations of pollution by labile sulfides in bottom sediments and eutrophication: Mytilaster lineatus, Cerastoderma sp., Abra ovata (Philippi), Hydrobia acuta (Gastropoda), and Amphibalanus improvisus (Cirripedia). The spatial and temporal variations in the structure of dominant species and numerical abundance of meroplankton in the Sea of Azov are likely to be associated with water temperature fluctuations, pelagic predators, and eutrophication. Under anthropogenic stress and predation pressure, most larvae of benthic invertebrates are apparently unable to complete metamorphosis and contribute to recruitment to parental populations. Thus, the numerical density of meroplankton in the Sea of Azov can significantly vary, even over one month.     

Density dynamics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Notholca squamula salina</Emphasis> Focke (Rotifera) in Lake Wujka,a freshwater Antarctic lake

The Antarctic Lake Wujka (62°09′28.3″S, 58°27′56.3″W), a shallow water body (Z _m  = 1.38 m), situated at c.15 m from the seashore was sampled at two points (Sp 1 and Sp 2) at 3-day intervals from December 2003 to June 2004. The two sampling points differing in location and depth: Sp 1 (Z _m  = 0.50 m) was the shallowest site, located near the lake outlet, while Sp 2 (Z _m  = 1.38 m) was the deepest spot of the lake. The population density of Notholca squamula salina peaked in June (at 114 ind. l^?1) at Sp 1, while at Sp 2 peaked in January (80 ind. l^?1) and May (150 ind. l^?1). Spearman non-parametric correlations with temperature, salinity, total dissolved solids, conductivity and pH revealed effects that characterize N. squamula salina as a species capable of surviving in a range of aquatic environments, but with a preference for high salinity, food and low temperature. It occurred in highest numbers when the diatom Achnanthes lanceolata var. rostrata (Øestrup) Hust., normally a benthic species, was stirred up into the water during storms that also raised the lake’s salinity to above 20 psu.     

Efficiency of three halophyte species in removing nutrients from saline water: a pilot study

Saline wetlands may be well suited for purifying contaminated water from saline agriculture and aquaculture or from freshwater-based agriculture in areas subject to increased salinity. However, case studies on the nutrient removal efficiency of halophyte species are scarce, especially for temperate regions. Here we tested the nutrient removal efficiency and ability to store nutrients in aboveground and belowground biomass of three halophyte species, Aster tripolium, Bolboschoenus maritimus subsp. compactus, and Spartina anglica, in a greenhouse microcosm experiment at two salinity levels. Nutrient removal from water differed among the species: Spartina had the highest nitrogen removal, Bolboschoenus and Spartina had the highest phosphorus removal. The species also differed in the allocation of the nutrient uptake. Bolboschoenus had the highest absolute uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus in shoots, whereas Spartina had the highest uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus in roots. The applicability of these three species in constructed saline wetlands depends on the local salinity and water regime.