On the distribution of riffle minnow <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alburnoides bipunctatus</Emphasis> (Cyprinidae) in the Volga Basin

On the basis of analysis of our own and published data on the distribution of the riffle minnow Alburnoides bipunctatus rossicus in rivers of the Volga Basin, the eastern boundary of the range of this subspecies included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation is specified. It is shown that A. bipunctatus is widely distributed in the entire basin of the Middle Volga and Kama, except the extreme northeast (mountain tributaries of the Upper Kama upstream the Chusovaya River), and rarely occurs in the Upper Volga Basin. The Tereshka River (Ulyanov oblast) and Chapaevka (Saratov oblast) should be considered the southern boundary of the distribution of the subspecies in the Volga Basin. Since the mid-1990s, a drastic and uniform increase in the number of findings and the abundance of A. bipunctatus is recorded. This species has become a common fish in many rivers and, in some cases, a dominant species in river ichthyocenoses. Possible causes of these changes are discussed, and a conclusion is made concerning the need of the revision of the status of the subspecies A. bipunctatus rossicus.     

The Mediterranean Copepod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calanipeda aquaedulcis</Emphasis> Kritschagin, 1873 (Crustacea,Calanoida) in the Volga River Reservoirs

The Mediterranean copepod Calanipeda aquaedulcis Kritschagin, 1873 was first recorded in the Kuibyshev Reservoir in August 2015. It has been detected at all surveyed stations from the Volga-Kama reach to the dam of the Zhiguli hydroelectric power plant; the most northern finding of the copepod has been recorded in the mouth of the Kama River (55°24′ N). C. aquaedulcis (0.3–7.3 thous. ind./m³) is in the group of dominant species and forms, on average, 13% of the total abundance and biomass of zooplankton. Comparatively large (1.0–1.4 mm) copepods reproduce intensively; females carry up to 18 eggs (on average 10 ± 0.6). The main part of the population (>90%) are represented by nauplii. The species has been found in smaller quantities (0.04–1.1 thous. ind./m³) throughout the Saratov Reservoir, which is located downstream the cascade. The ecology of the species and its potential importance in the zooplankton of the Volga reservoirs is discussed.     

Phylogenetic and taxonomic assessment of the endangered Cumberland bean, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Villosa trabalis</Emphasis> and purple bean, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Villosa perpurpurea</Emphasis> (Bivalvia: Unionidae)

Inadequate understanding of the phylogeography, taxonomy, and historical distribution of two critically imperiled freshwater mussels, Cumberland bean, Villosa trabalis, and purple bean, Villosa perpurpurea, has hindered management and recovery actions related to population restoration within their extant ranges. For more than 100 years, the purple-to-pink nacre of V. perpurpurea and white nacre of V. trabalis have been the only defining phenotypic characteristics used to distinguish each species. Genetic samples were analyzed from 140 individuals collected from 10 streams located in Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, representing all known extant populations of each species. A 784-bp section of the mitochondrial DNA ND1 region was sequenced to assess the phylogeography and taxonomic validity of these taxa. Results of our phylogenetic analyses showed 100 % Bayesian posterior support for two distinct clades, one occurring in the Cumberland River basin and the other in the Tennessee River basin, separated by a mean genetic distance of 4 %. Mean genetic distances between haplotypes within each clade was <1 %. Among individuals from the Cumberland River basin, the nacre of shells was white to bluish-white, but in the Tennessee River basin, nacre graded from white to pink to dark purple; thus, nacre color is a variable and inconsistent character in nominal V. trabalis and V. perpurpurea occurring in the Tennessee River basin. Our data suggest that these morphologically similar species do not co-occur, as was previously believed. Instead, we conclude that the two species most likely share a common ancestor, but became isolated within each basin and experienced allopatric speciation. Updates to nomenclature, taxonomic placement, and recovery plans for the investigated species are needed.     

Loaches of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Barbatula</Emphasis> (Nemacheilinae) of the Zavkhan River basin (Western Mongolia)

Two sympatric species of Siberian loaches are recorded in the Zavkhan River basin (Great Lakes Depression, Western Mongolia) and described as new for science: Barbatula conilobus and B. dsapchynensis spp. n. The former species, most likely, is widely distributed over the entire river basin, and the latter species, apparently, occurs locally, but in sympatry with B. conilobus. Morphological differences of the new species from other representatives of the genus Barbatula and their relationships are analyzed. Ecological distinctions between the species of the genera Barbatula and Triplophysa in the Zavkhan River basin are described. Possible mechanisms of development of the present fauna of loaches in Mongolia and adjacent territories with an appearance of sympatric species pairs in a single water basin are discussed.     

Terrestrial bugs (Heteroptera) in high mountains of the Suntar-Khayata Range (Eastern Yakutia)

Thirty-nine species of bugs, representing meso-and xerophilic inhabitants of open tundra, meadow, and steppe landscapes, were collected within the altitude range of 1260–1850 m above sea level in the upper Kyubyume River basin (63°13′N, 139°36′E, the Indigirka River basin). In the sub-golets sparse forest zone (up to 1550 m), 37 species were recorded, the dominant form being Chlamydatus pullus. The bugs were rare in most of the habitats; their species richness and abundance increased distinctly only on the south-facing slopes, reaching the maximum in the cryophytic steppe. The specific features of these complexes manifested themselves in the prevalence of Capnoda nigroaenea, a xerophilic species of alpine mountain steppes. The rest of the dominants comprised the ecologically flexible Emblethis brachynotus, Chlamydatus pullus, and Galeatus spinifrons. In the goletstundra zone, 8 species were found, half of them being arctic forms (Calacanthia trybomi, Orthotylus artemisiae, Ch. wilkinsoni, and Ch. opacus). Ch. wilkinsoni was the most common species. The species composition of bug groups in the dry lichen-dryad communities within this zone resembled that of similar communities of zonal tundra, whereas the humid habitats remained unpopulated, unlike their plain analogues. Comparison of the heteropteran fauna of mountain tundras in different regions of the Verkhoyansk-Kolyma mountain country attests to significant variations of its species composition. The possible reasons for these differences are discussed.     

Contributions to the knowledge of tetrastichine wasps (Hymenoptera,Eulophidae, Tetrastichinae) of the Middle Volga Region

The Tetrastichinae fauna of the Middle Volga Region comprises 115 species of 16 genera. Quadrastichus rosarum sp. n. is described as an endoparasitoid of Torymus bedequaris L. (Hymenoptera, Torymidae); the latter develops in galls of Dasineura rosarum (Hardy) (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) on Rosa canina L. Aprostocetus populi (Kurdjumov) is redescribed and transferred from Tetrastichus to Aprostocetus. Thirty-three species are recorded for the Middle Volga Region for the first time. The genus Puklina Graham is new to the Russian fauna. New hosts are reported for five species of Tetrastichinae.     

New data on acoustic communication and ecology of grasshoppers of the genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eremippus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dociostaurus</Emphasis> (Orthoptera,Acrididae) and notes on the use of bioacoustic data in supraspecific taxonomy of the subfamily Gomphocerinae

The calling songs of Dociostaurus hauensteini, Eremippus simplex, E. miramae, and E. sobolevi are described for the first time. The species composition and ecology of grasshoppers of the genus Eremippus from the Lower Volga basin were studied. Reproductive isolation between Eremippus species in this region was shown to be determined principally by the differences in the acoustic behavior. The calling songs were compared in five Eremippus species, and divided into three groups according to their amplitude-temporal patterns. The importance of bioacoustic data for supraspecific taxonomy of the subfamily Gomphocerinae is discussed.     

Phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luciobarbus barbulus</Emphasis> (Heckel, 1847) (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Luciobarbus barbulus (Heckel, 1847), a cyprinid fish of the Persian Gulf basin is re-described. Its identity is discussed and its phylogenetic relationship among the tribe Barbini is reconstructed. Luciobarbus barbulus can be distinguished from its close species, L. pectoralis by having thicker lower lip, stronger last unbranched dorsal fin ray and with stronger serration, longer barbels and posterior barbel passes the middle of the eye (vs. not reaching the middle of the eye in L. pectoralis), confirming the identity of both, as distinct species. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis based on the mtCOI sequences, placed the sequenced L. barbulus in a distinct clade corresponding to the tribe Barbini which includes Aulopyge, Barbus and Luciobarbus (three genera from Eurasia and North of Africa), sister to L. pectoralis from Orontes River with genetic distance of 1.7% applying the Kimura 2 Parameter (K2P) model.     

Genetic diversity and reproductive traits in triploid and tetraploid populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gladiolus tenuis</Emphasis> (Iridaceae)

Most perennial herbaceous plants are able to reproduce vegetatively as well as sexually. Sometimes, such plants may lose the capacity for sexual reproduction. We have studied the case of sterility in triploid populations (2n = 3x = 45) of Gladiolus tenuis M.Bieb. in a considerable part of its area of distribution. Initially, we recorded the presence of a large clone of G. tenuis to the east of the Volga River, as a result of isozyme analysis. We also used AFLP fingerprinting to genotype 55 samples from 10 populations of G. tenuis and one population of the closely related G. imbricutus L. This analysis revealed an extremely low genetic diversity in sterile triploid populations of G. tenuis and a rather high genetic diversity in fertile tetraploid populations (2n = 4x = 60) over most of the area of this species. Genetic distances between fertile and sterile populations of G. tenuis were similar to those between different species of gladioli. It appears that a single sterile genotype has spread vegetatively over 800 km, propagating by daughter corms. The study of the reproductive features of G. tenuis suggests that the cause of sterility may be self-incompatibility between individuals of the clone.     

Preadaptation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Formica aquilonia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Formica lugubris</Emphasis> ants (Hymenoptera,Formicidae) to low wintering temperatures in Northeast Asia

The ants Formica aquilonia and F. lugubris which inhabit the entire forest zone of the North Palaearctic and are absent from the basins of the Yana, Indigirka, and Kolyma rivers were found in the coastal area of the Sea of Okhotsk. A possible climatic conditionality of their occurrence in the Northeast is considered based on the data on the biotopic distribution of ants, the temperature causation of their overwintering, and cold hardiness. On the Sea of Okhotsk coast, these ants overwinter at a depth of 40–200 cm in the soil. During winter, the minimum soil temperature at a depth of 40 cm under the anthill was ?5°C. The supercooling temperature of F. aquilonia was not lower than ?20.2 ± 0.5°C, that of F. lugubris, not lower than ?19.6 ± 0.4°C. Half of F. aquilonia individuals did not survive the daily exposure at ?13°C, F. lugubris, at ?16°C. These two cold-resistant species could inhabit some biotopes of the Kolyma River basin, similar to F. exsecta, F. lemani, and F. sanguinea, but they are absent there for some reasons that are not related to the temperature. A similar cold hardiness is characteristic of F. aquilonia in Estonia (Maavara, 1971, 1985), where it represents a side effect of diapause, since excessive cold hardiness has no adaptive significance for insects overwintering in the non-freezing soils of Estonia. Colonization of Siberia by ant species turned out to be possible only due to the existing cold hardiness, i.e. preadaptation to low temperature. On the Sea of Okhotsk coast, cold hardiness of the ants is non-adaptive due to the relatively mild conditions during winter.     

Contents of Trace Elements as Indicators of Ecological Divergence between Sympatric Spined Loaches (Teleostei,Cobitidae) from the Upper Dnieper

The contents of eight trace elements (Ti, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb) in muscles of syntopic sexual and clonal spined loaches (the golden loach Sabanejewia baltica, diploid males and females of Cobitis taenia, and congeneric triploid clonal females) from the upper Dnieper River and in the syntopic spined loaches (males and females of C. melanoleuca and males of C. taenia) from the upper Volga River basin were determined using the X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy technique. The contents of Cu in the clonal triploid Cobitis females and diploid C. taenia females from the Dnieper are different. The intersexual differences in the contents of Pb and Zn between C. taenia males and females, as well as the interspecific differences in the content of Ti between the spined loaches from the Dnieper and Volga basins were revealed. The concentrations of Cu and Pb correlated with the individual fish size. The potential for the use of the revealed differences in the trace element contents as an indicator of the divergence of ecological niches in the syntopic spined loaches is discussed.     

New host species and new distribution areas of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmincola lavaretus</Emphasis> (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae): A parasite of coregonid fishes of Siberia

Data on the infestation of certain fish species by the parasitic copepod Salmincola lavaretus are presented for the first time. The infested fish species included Bauntovsky whitefish (Coregonus baunti), an endemic species from the Maloye and Bolshoye Kapylyushi lakes; Siberian whitefish (C. pidschian) and Siberian cisco (C. sardinella) from Bolshoye Kapylyushi Lake and Baunt Lake, which belong to the Tsypo-Tsypikan lake system (the Lena River basin, Transbaikalia); and Teletsky whitefish (C. lavaretus natio smitti) from Teletskoe Lake (the Ob River basin). Previously, S. lavaretus had been described as a parasite of Baikal omul (C. migratorius) and Baikal whitefish (C. baicalensis) from Baikal. The taxons of S. longimanus complex (S. longimanus, S. l. sibirica, S. svetlanovi, and S. lavaretus)—parasites of nasal fossae of grayling and coregonid fishes—were registered in the lakes of the Lake Baikal basin (Lake Baikal and Khovsgol Lake), the Lena River, the Yenisei and the Ob rivers (the largest rivers of the Arctic zoogeographic province), and the Kobdo River (the Western Mongolian province). It was assumed that S. longimanus complex is more widely distributed in the water bodies of the Arctic zoogeographic province of the Palearctic.     

Phylogenetic relationships of sculpin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cottus volki</Emphasis> Taranetz, 1933 (Scorpaeniformes,Cottidae) according to the results of analysis of control region in mitochondrial DNA

Sequencing of the fragment of control region in mitochondrial DNA in sculpin Cottus volki and the comparison of obtained data with homologous nucleotide sequences in the other species from genus Cottus demonstrated that C. volki occupies the basal position in the “poecilopus” group, which includes also typical sculpin C. poecilopus Heckel, 1837 from water bodies of Europe, sculpin C. szanaga Dybowski, 1869 from the Amur River basin, and sculpin Cottus cf. poecilopus from the Lena River basin. Early separation of C. volki line from common trunk of “poecilopus” group explains the presence in C. volki of several primitive (plesiomorphic for this group) morphological characters: long interior ray of ventral fin, practically complete lateral body line, and well-developed dentition of palatine bones.     

Chromosomal polymorphism in the populations of malaria mosquito <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles messeae</Emphasis> (Diptera,Culicidae) in the Volga region

We studied the species composition and chromosomal variability of malaria mosquitoes in the Volga Basin (Upper, Middle, and Lower Volga regions). We investigated larvae karyotypes of sibling species of the Anopheles maculipennis group. We calculated the frequencies of chromosomal inversions in the local populations of the dominant species An. messeae. We discovered that karyotypic structure of An. messeae populations depends on landscape-climatic zones. Populations of the Upper, Middle and Lower Volga differ in frequency of chromosome inversions XL, 2R, 3R, and 3L.     

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.     

Expansion of the Range of the Black Sea Snail <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lithoglyphus naticoides</Emphasis> (C. Pfieffer, 1828) (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Lithoglyphidae) and Associated Trematode Species in the Upper Volga Basin

The Black Sea snail Lithoglyphus naticoides (C. Pfieffer, 1828) (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Lithoglyphidae) was first recorded in the Uglich Reservoir in the summer of 2013. By 2015, several new local settlements of the snail had been found in the Uglich and Rybinsk reservoirs, indicating its successful naturalization in the Upper Volga basin. Parasitological studies of L. naticoides from these habitats reveal the parthenitae of three trematode species.     

Parasitoids (Hymenoptera,Eulophidae) of sawflies of the genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fenusa,Pontania</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arge</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera,Symphyta) from the middle Volga area

In the middle Volga area, four sawfly species (Fenusa ulmi, F. pusilla, Pontania proxima, and Arge ochropus) are attacked by 10 parasitoid species of the family Eulophidae. Of these eulophid species, seven are recorded as sawfly parasitoids for the first time. Arge ochropus is for the first time recorded as a host of Elahertus gallicus.     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Boreophylloceras</Emphasis> Alekseev et Repin, 1998 (Ammonitida) from the Berriasian <Emphasis Type="Italic">kochi</Emphasis> zone of north-central Siberia

Study of the shells of phylloceratids from the kochi Zone (Berriasian) of north-central Siberia (Boyarka River, basin of the Kheta River) allowed their assignment to the genus Boreophylloceras Alekseev et Repin, 1998. A new species B. densicostatum is described.     

Earthworm Communities in the Bamboo Plantations of West Tripura (India)

Present study revealed the presence of 16 earthworm species belonging to 11 genera and four families viz. Megascolecidae (Amynthus alexandri, Metaphire houlleti, Lampito mauritii, Kanchuria sp1, Perionyx excavatus), Octochaetidae (Eutyphoeus gigas, Eutyphoeus comillahnus, Eutyphoeus orientalis, Octochaetona beatrix, Dichogaster bolaui, Lennogaster chittagongensis, Lennogaster yeicus), Moniligastridae (Drawida papillifer papillifer, Drawida assamensis, Drawida nepalensis) and Glossoscolecidae (Pontoscolex corethrurus) in the soils of five bamboo species [Bambusa balcooa (Sil Barak), Melocanna baccifera (Muli), Bambusa polumorpha (Bari), Bambus cacharensis (Bom) and Bambus bambus (Katabarak)] of West-Tripura. While four earthworm species viz. Metaphire houlleti, Drawida assamensis, Drawida papillifer papillifer and Pontoscolex corethrurus were common to all species of bamboo plantations, the rest showed restricted distribution. Among the earthworm species 4 were exotic (Amynthus alexandri, Metaphire houlleti, Dichogaster bolaui and Pontoscolex corethrurus) and the others were native to the Indian sub-continent. In general, earthworms under the bamboo plantations occurred within temperature range of 21.6 °C–28.0 °C, pH 4.0–7.0, organic matter 0.56–5.99 %, moisture 9.6–31.7 %, water holding capacity 14.6–43.9 % and bulk density 0.7–1.8 g cm^?3. The average density and biomass of the earthworms in the studied places were 108 ind m^?2 and 44 g m^?2 respectively. Earthworm diversity, dominance and evenness indices showed the values 1.00, 0.47 and 0.70 respectively. Earthworm density and biomass showed a negative correlation with temperature whereas those had a strong positive correlation with pH, moisture and organic matter of the soils.     

Molecular Cloning,Expression and Characterization of Pectin Methylesterase (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ct</Emphasis>PME) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium thermocellum</Emphasis>

Many phytopathogenic micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi produce pectin methylesterases (PME) during plant invasion. Plants and insects also produce PME to degrade plant cell wall. In the present study, a thermostable pectin methylesterase (CtPME) from Clostridium thermocellum belonging to family 8 carbohydrate esterase (CE8) was cloned, expressed and purified. The amino acid sequence of CtPME exhibited similarity with pectin methylesterase from Erwinia chrysanthemi with 38% identity. The gene encoding CtPME was cloned into pET28a(+) vector and expressed using Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. The recombinant CtPME expressed as a soluble protein and exhibited a single band of molecular mass approximately 35.2 kDa on SDS-PAGE gels. The molecular mass, 35.5 kDa of the enzyme, was also confirmed by MALDI-TOF MS analysis. Notably, highest protein concentration (11.4 mg/mL) of CtPME was achieved in auto-induction medium, as compared with LB medium (1.5 mg/mL). CtPME showed maximum activity (18.1 U/mg) against citrus pectin with >85% methyl esterification. The optimum pH and temperature for activity of CtPME were 8.5 and 50 °C, respectively. The enzyme was stable in pH range 8.0–9.0 and thermostable between 45 and 70 °C. CtPME activity was increased by 40% by 5 mM Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ ions. Protein melting curve of CtPME gave a peak at 80 °C. The peak was shifted to 85 °C in the presence of 5 mM Ca²⁺ ions, and the addition of 5 mM EDTA shifted back the melting peak to 80 °C. CtPME can be potentially used in food and textile industry applications.