Diatoms of Dindifelou fall (upper Basin of the Gambia River,Senegal): floristic inventory

The Dindifelou fall, located in south‐eastern Senegal, receives its water from discharging springs located in Dande plate‐land. These waters form, at the foot of the cliff, a pond that drains into the Thiokoye, a tributary of the Gambia River. The water quality of the pond and the stream is very good based on physicochemical analyses. Around the pond region, a microclimate characterized by a higher humidity and a lower temperature compared with the surrounding area is present. Diatoms study is carried out in different habitat types associated with this fall. The samples were taken by scraping the surface of rocks and rinsing fern leaves with sparkling water. Dande plate‐land is made of Upper Proterozoic sandstones whose gravity accumulations litter the bottom of the pond and the stream. This study allowed us to inventory 61 species and varieties of diatoms belonging to 28 genera. The most represented genera are Achnanthidium (ten species), Eunotia and Pinnularia (eight species each). Twelve species and varieties are reported for the first time in Senegambia including five of the genera Achnanthidium. The microflora is dominated by Achnantidium minutissimum and Achnanthidium catenatum, followed by Ulnaria ulna and various species of the genera Eunotia and Brachysira. Aerial habitats are more diversified here than the epilithic samples.     

Predation differentially structures immature mosquito populations in stormwater ponds

1. Understanding the factors underlying the abundance and distribution of species requires the consideration of a complex suite of interacting biotic and abiotic factors operating on multiple spatial and temporal scales. Larval mosquitoes inhabiting small human-constructed ponds represent a unique opportunity to investigate the relative importance of these structuring mechanisms while simultaneously generating applied knowledge on mosquito control. 2. A multi-year field survey of 32 stormwater ponds was conducted in central Illinois (Champaign County). From each pond, data were collected on pond structure type and hydroperiod, the presence/absence of cattails (Typha spp.), and measures of total nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic carbon, and chlorophyll a. The communities of crustacean zooplankton and aquatic insects were characterised, and these taxa were assigned into two main groups: predators and competitors of larval mosquitoes. Structural equation modelling was used to explore the direct and indirect effects of these biotic and abiotic factors on larval density for three species of culicine mosquitoes (Culex pipiens, Culex restuans, and Aedes vexans). 3. Hydroperiod had an indirect negative effect on C. pipiens density. However, this effect was mediated by predator density; more permanent ponds had more predators, which therefore reduced the density of C. pipiens larvae. Aedes vexans density was positively correlated with predator density. No predictor variables were found that explained variation in C. restuans density. 4. This study show that the relative importance of these biotic and abiotic factors varies among species of culicine mosquitoes inhabiting stormwater ponds.     

Activity of beavers as an ecological factor that affects the benthos of small rivers - a case study in the Żylica River (Poland)

The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) has a greater impact on local ecosystems than other herbivores, and the affected area exceeds the range of its presence. Its activity may change or create new habitats by modifying the availability of the biotic and abiotic resources available not only to beavers, but also to other groups of animals. Our aim was to study how beaver activity affects the benthos composition in a small river and in a beaver pond. The way in which beavers function in the case of small rivers has received little attention. The study showed a lower density of benthos above the dam (beaver pond - 1467 ind./m²) compared to the river (3147 ind./m²). Below the dam, the diversity of Trichoptera and Coleoptera was greater, while Diptera were more abundant in the beaver pond. Betidae were a constant component in the benthos assemblages and were most abundant in the beaver pond. Collectors-gatherers and predators were the most numerous in the beaver pond. Decreasing percentages of collectors-gatherers were observed with an increased abundance of collectors-filterers and shredders in the river. All of the ratio values except the P/T FFG (Predators to total of all other groups) were lower in the beaver pond compared to the river. The % EPT (Ephemeroptera Plecoptera and Trichoptera) was also greater in the beaver pond. Small differences in the physicochemical properties of the water and organic matter content in the bottom sediments were found both above and below the beaver dam.     

Disturbance from pond management obscures local and regional drivers of assemblages of primary producers

相似文献   

A POPULATION OF STAURASTRUM FREEMANII FROM THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF NEW GUINEA

An abundant gathering of the desmid Staurastrum freemanii has been collected from a pond located in the highlands of New Guinea. This material shows considerable polymorphism and contains a number of significant dichotypic forms. Examination of this material questions the validity of the varietal rank conferred by earlier investigators to many of the forms of this species. Consequently, a taxonomic revision of these varieties is proposed.     

空间层次及人工基质对着生藻类建群特性的影响

为全面了解着生藻类在建群中群落变化的生态学特性,揭示着生藻类的建群规律,在以丝状藻类为优势藻的生态塘中,采用花岗岩和瓷砖为附着材料,设置水体底部和中部为附着位点,进行频次为10d的采样分析。结果表明,生态塘中共检出8门73属117种着生藻类,其中以硅藻、蓝藻、绿藻为优势类群。同时不同人工基质和不同空间层次条件下着生藻类的建群特征较一致,早期以单细胞硅藻如舟形藻(Navicula sp.)、脆杆藻(Fragilaria sp.)、曲壳藻(Achnanthes sp.)等为优势,后期以丝状藻类如鞘丝藻(Lyngbya sp.)、颤藻(Oscillatoria sp.)、伪鱼腥藻(Pseudanabaena sp.)等为优势;研究结果发现不同人工基质(花岗岩和瓷砖)对着生藻类的种类组成、细胞密度、生物量和藻类多样性无显著影响,花岗岩和瓷砖上附着的着生藻类具有较高的相似性;但不同的空间层次对着生藻类建群特征影响明显,水体底部具有更多的硅藻种类数,中部具有更多的绿藻,随着建群时间的发展,蓝藻比例不断增加;就生物量而言,底部的着生藻类叶绿素a显著高于水体中部,但两者的细胞密度无显著性差异;随着建群过程的发展,水体底部的着生藻类生物量达峰值所需的时间比中部更长。通过相关性分析,生态塘中着生藻类的生长主要受总磷的影响。     

Predation and the distribution and abundance of a pulmonate pond snail

Summary The abundances of a freshwater pulmonate snail, Lymnaea elodes were studied in a temporary pond and a permanent, more productive pond in northeastern Indiana, USA. When snails from both populations were reared in each of the ponds in containers excluding predators, snails grew to be 1.3 to 2 times as large in the more productive pond, and laid 9 times as many eggs. However, field sampling data showed adults to be more abundant in the temporary pond. The only obvious difference between the two ponds was the presence of the molluscivorous central mudminnow (Umbra limi) in the permanent pond. These fish fed upon L. elodes when eggs and juvenile snails were abundant. In an experiment in the temporary pond, addition of mudminnows lowered egg and juvenile snail survival in pens where snail abundances had been increased. We suggest that vertebrate predators like the mudminnow can be significant sources of mortality for thin shelled species like L. elodes, possibly excluding them from habitats like lakes and rivers.Address for offprint requests     

Importance of biotic niches versus drift in a plant‐inhabiting arthropod community depends on rarity and trophic group

Communities are mostly composed of rare species; yet, the factors that determine their patterns of occurrence remain obscure. Theory predicts that, in contrast with common species, the occurrence of rare species will be poorly correlated with environmental variables (niches) and more affected by stochasticity (ecological drift), but how this pattern varies across different trophic groups is still poorly understood. Here, we compared the ability of environmental variables (bottom–up biotic niches) to predict the occurrence of plant‐dwelling arthropods across different abundance classes in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. We compared three trophic groups, including 104 herbivorous hemipteran, 171 parasitoid wasp and 84 spider species, totalling 4511 individuals in 48 quadrats. To quantify bottom–up biotic niches, we studied the influences of species composition of plants on hemipterans, and of plants and hemipterans on spiders and wasps. We compared the observed strength of the correlation between rare species and their niches with expectations that were generated by repeatedly rarefying abundant species. A large proportion of arthropod species were very rare, i.e. with only one or two individuals (49–55%). Although rarefying abundant species greatly decreased the correlation with bottom–up biotic niches, bottom–up biotic niches generally better predicted the occurrence of rarefied abundant species than very rare ones, suggesting a greater influence of drift on very rare arthropods. That is, (very) rare arthropods are distributed more randomly than rarefied abundant species. Nevertheless, trophic groups differed in the details of their response to bottom–up biotic niches. Plant species composition was a better predictor of rarefied abundant than truly rare hemipterans. In contrast, the importance of bottom–up biotic niches among abundance classes varied less visibly in spiders and wasps. Our study thus suggests that the importance of niches in structuring arthropod communities depends on species rarity and trophic group.     

Growth and behaviour of six species of amphibian larvae in a winter pond in Israel

The effect of different ecological niches on growth and behaviour of larvae of four frogs (Bufo viridis, Hyla arborea, Pelobates syriacus, Rana ridibunda), and two salamanders (Salamandra salamandra and Triturus vittatus) found in a winter pond was studied. S. salamandra, T. vittatus, R. ridibunda and B. viridis were found most of the time on the bottom of the pond. However, H. arborea tadpoles were found throughout the pond and were usually sedentary, as compared with P. syriacus which moved up and down constantly. S. salamandra, T. vittatus, R. ridibunda and R viridis tadpoles from the bottom of the pond grew faster than the tadpoles from the surface of the pond. However, tadpoles of H. arborea and P. syriacus growing at the bottom or on the surface developed at similar rates.The invertebrate biomass increases during the summer and was higher at the bottom of the pond than at the surface. However the amount of chlorophyll a was about the same at the surface and at the bottom of the pond. S. salamandra and T. vittatus tadpoles feed on various types of of invertebrates, R. ridibunda and H. arborea and B. viridis tadpoles feed on vascular plants and algae, and P. syriacus tadpoles feed on both invertebrates and plants.     

Riparian leaf litter decomposition on pond bottom after a retention on floating vegetation

Allochthonous (e.g., riparian) plant litter is among the organic matter resources that are important for wetland ecosystems. A compact canopy of free‐floating vegetation on the water surface may allow for riparian litter to remain on it for a period of time before sinking to the bottom. Thus, we hypothesized that canopy of free‐floating vegetation may slow decomposition processes in wetlands. To test the hypothesis that the retention of riparian leaf litter on the free‐floating vegetation in wetlands affects their subsequent decomposition on the bottom of wetlands, a 50‐day in situ decomposition experiment was performed in a wetland pond in subtropical China, in which litter bags of single species with fine (0.5 mm) or coarse (2.0 mm) mesh sizes were placed on free‐floating vegetation (dominated by Eichhornia crassipes, Lemna minor, and Salvinia molesta) for 25 days and then moved to the pond bottom for another 25 days or remained on the pond bottom for 50 days. The leaf litter was collected from three riparian species, that is, Cinnamomum camphora, Diospyros kaki, and Phyllostachys propinqua. The retention of riparian leaf litter on free‐floating vegetation had significant negative effect on the carbon loss, marginal negative effects on the mass loss, and no effect on the nitrogen loss from leaf litter, partially supporting the hypothesis. Similarly, the mass and carbon losses from leaf litter decomposing on the pond bottom for the first 25 days of the experiment were greater than those from the litter decomposing on free‐floating vegetation. Our results highlight that in wetlands, free‐floating vegetation could play a vital role in litter decomposition, which is linked to the regulation of nutrient cycling in ecosystems.     

Comparison of fish assemblages among an artificial reef, a natural reef and a sandy-mud bottom site on the shelf off Iwate, northern Japan

Synopsis Fish assemblages at an artificial reef site, a natural reef site and a sandy-mud bottom site, on the shelf (depth 130 m) off Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan, were surveyed by using a bottom trammel net from May 1987 to March 1993. A total of 12 173 fishes of 48 species were recorded. Physiculus maximowiczi was dominant and comprised 69% of the total numerical abundance. Total fish number was lowest in March at all the 3 sites when P. maximowiczi migrated to deeper and warmer waters. Assemblage equitability and species diversity also varied seasonally in accordance with the abundance fluctuation of P. maximowiczi. P. maximowiczi, Alcichthys alcicornis and Hexagrammos otakii were more abundant at the artificial reef and natural reef sites, while Dexistes rikuzenius and Hemitripterus villosus were more abundant at the sandy-mud bottom site; total fish abundance was largest at the artificial reef site mainly due to the large number of P. maximowiczi. Species richness was similar among sites, but equitability, and consequently species diversity, was lowest at the artificial reef site. The main effect of the artificial reef seemed the attraction of P. maximowiczi from nearby bottoms, especially from natural rocky reefs; its large abundance determined the structure of the artificial reef fish community.     

Diel foraging in relation to available prey in an Adirondack Mountain stream fish community

The diets of the fish community of Trucka Brook, a small stream located in the central Adirondack Mountains in northern New York, were examined in relation to the bottom fauna and invertebrate drift. Measures of overlap were calculated between the diets of each fish species examined, brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus), creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) and pearl dace (Semotilus margarita). Overlap was also examined between the fish diets and bottom and drift samples. Blacknose dace, pearl dace and brook trout had the most similar diets which were closely associated with the benthos. Creek chub had the most distinctive diets which did not compare well with any other fish species during either diurnal or nocturnal periods. The mayfly nymph Litobranchia recurvata was the most abundant bottom invertebrate and was the major prey of benthic feeding fishes. The invertebrate drift did not compare favorably with any of the fishes' diets because of the predominance of large cased limnephilid larvae (primarily Psychoglypha sp.) which were not readily consumed by fish.     

Phytoplankton associations in two pools and their relationships with associated benthic flora

Summary The theory underlying the delineation of phytoplankton association is examined, and the associations of Abbot's pond and Priddy pool are characterised according to the conclusions derived from this examination. The importance of extended investigations is stressed. Abbot's pond has a eu-planktonic flora with abundant Asterionella formosa, Pandorina morum and Chrysococcus diaphanus. The euphytoplankton of Priddy pool consists of a very few species, of which Dinobryon sertularia is most abundant, but owing to the action of wind on the pool, many species are introduced into the open water by disturbance of benthic habitats.     

Division within the North American boreal forest: Ecological niche divergence between the Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) and Gray‐cheeked Thrush (C. minimus)

Sister species that diverged in allopatry in similar environments are expected to exhibit niche conservatism. Using ecological niche modeling and a multivariate analysis of climate and habitat data, I test the hypothesis that the Bicknell's Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) and Gray‐cheeked Thrush (C. mimimus), sister species that breed in the North American boreal forest, show niche conservatism. Three tree species that are important components of breeding territories of both thrush species were combined with climatic variables to create niche models consisting of abiotic and biotic components. Abiotic‐only, abiotic+biotic, and biotic‐only models were evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) criterion. Abiotic+biotic models had higher AUC scores and did not over‐project thrush distributions compared to abiotic‐only or biotic‐only models. From the abiotic+biotic models, I tested for niche conservatism or divergence by accounting for the differences in the availability of niche components by calculating (1) niche overlap from ecological niche models and (2) mean niche differences of environmental values at occurrence points. Niche background similarity tests revealed significant niche divergence in 10 of 12 comparisons, and multivariate tests revealed niche divergence along 2 of 3 niche axes. The Bicknell's Thrush breeds in warmer and wetter regions with a high abundance of balsam fir (Abies balsamea), whereas Gray‐cheeked Thrush often co‐occurs with black spruce (Picea mariana). Niche divergence, rather than conservatism, was the predominant pattern for these species, suggesting that ecological divergence has played a role in the speciation of the Bicknell's Thrush and Gray‐cheeked Thrush. Furthermore, because niche models were improved by the incorporation of biotic variables, this study validates the inclusion of relevant biotic factors in ecological niche modeling to increase model accuracy.     

Phosphorus cycling by mussels (Unionidae : Bivalvia) in Lake St. Clair

The role of mussels in cycling phosphorus in Lake St. Clair during the May–October period was examined by measuring concentrations in the water column and in mussel tissue, and by measuring rates of biodeposition and excretion. Mean rates of biodeposition and excretion for Lampsilis radiata siliquoidea, the most abundant species, were 6.3 µg P (g shell-free dry wt)^-1 h^-1 and 1.3 µg P (g shell-free dry wt)^-1 h^-1, respectively; body tissue phosphorus content was 2.7 percent of dry wt. Seasonal changes in excretion rates appeared to be related to the gametogenic cycle of the organism, but seasonal changes in biodeposition rates were not apparent. Phosphorus assimilation efficiency for this species was about 40 percent. Overall, the mussel population in Lake St. Clair filtered about 210 MT of phosphorus, or about 13.5 percent of the total phosphorus load for the May–October study period. Of this amount, about 134 MT was sedimented to the bottom via biodeposition. Mussel biodeposition may be an important source of nutrients to other biotic components in the lake such as macrophytes and invertebrate deposit-feeders.     

The effect of organic pollution on the abundance and distribution of aquatic oligochaetes in an urban water basin, Taiwan

Aquatic oligochaetes are abundant in polluted areas and are, therefore, commonly used as bioindicators to study organic pollution in rivers and streams. In order to develop a species-level oligochaete biotic index to reflect the River Pollution Index (RPI) in the Taichung Water Basin in Taiwan, we conducted a systematic sampling scheme to collect aquatic oligochaetes from the sediment samples of watercourses in the Taichung Water Basin, Taiwan. We evaluated the relationships between aquatic oligochaetes and the sewage pollution using statistical methods. The distribution of aquatic oligochaetes in relation to environmental variables, such as water quality and sediment characteristics of the regional urban contaminated streams was expressed by Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). We identified 17 species of aquatic oligochaetes (Annelida, Clitellata) including 3 species of Tubificidae, 13 species of Naididae, and 1 species of Enchytraeidae from the watercourses of an urban region in the Taichung Water Basin in Taiwan, during the summer and winter of 2005 and 2006. A positive correlation was found between the total abundance of aquatic oligochaetes and the RPI (r = 0.58, P < 0.05). However, only population density of the most abundant tubificid, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, increased with increasing RPI values and a significantly negative correlation was found between the population density of the naidid, Nais communis, and RPI values. The results of CCA indicated that certain naidids, such as Aulophorus furcatus and Allonais gwaliorensis also tolerated extremely polluted environments in upper stream or stony habitats, implying that tubificids should not be the sole representation of simple biotic indices but should also include pollution-tolerant naidids. We found that the community structure of aquatic oligochaetes was influenced by short-term variations in microhabitat rather than according to seasonal factors in our study region. The results proved that aquatic oligochaetes were sensitive enough to provide a supplement for the regional urban pollution assessment applications for biotic indicators at the species-level.     

Metacyclops minutus (CLAUS, 1863) - Population Dynamics and Life History Characteristics of a Rapidly Developing Copepod

The cyclopoid copepod Metacyclops minutus, a typical species of temporary pools, shows an unusual life cycle in a small pond in South Germany. The species is present from April/May to December during which period it forms at least 8 generations. Winter and early spring, when the pond is frozen to the bottom, are spent in the bottom mud as C4 or C5 instars. M. minutus shows an extraordinarily low degree of sex size dimorphism (female: male body length ratio) and no significant differences in. copepodite development time between the two sexes. This, together with the exceptionally short durations of embryonic- and postembryonic development enables reproduction to start without delay and rapid population growth after harsh conditions. By these means M. minutus is the first species to reproduce after periods of extremely low water level; later, when conditions in the pond become more stable, M. minutus is surpassed in numbers by a coexisting, filterfeeding and parthenogenetically reproducing cladoceran Moina brachiata.     

Vegetative composition and community structure associated with beaver ponds in Canaan valley, West Virginia, USA

Beavers (Castor canadensis) can cause dramatic changes in vegetative composition and diversity. Although alterations by beaver have been studied extensively, little attention has been paid to the effects beaver impoundments have on rare plants. Effective conservation of riparian and wetland rare plant species must consider the responses of vegetation to changes in hydrology that can occur when beaver populations are present. The goal of this research was to establish the occurrence of locally rare plant species, examine community composition, and analyze vegetative community structure of vegetation associated with beaver ponds in Canaan Valley, West Virginia, USA. Species richness and diversity were similar between plots located inside beaver ponds and adjacent to beaver ponds (P > 0.05). Although no significant difference in rare plant species was detected among pond ages, the oldest ponds (>56 years) had twice as many rare species as the youngest ponds (≤6 years). The youngest ponds had higher overall mean species richness (S) than ponds 7–56 years old (P < 0.05), but S returned to similar levels in the oldest ponds. Of the 15 rare species observed, most were classified as obligate (9) or facultative wetland (4) species. The youngest ponds contained the fewest number of rare species. Multiple response permutation procedure (MRPP) analyses of community structure detected no relation between community composition and either pond age or size. However, both MRPP and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling showed proximity to pond was important in herbaceous community structure. Wetlands in beaver ponds also were shown to be distinct from adjacent wetland areas. Conservation of existing beaver populations is necessary so that the entire spectrum of pond ages is available for the maintenance of rare plant species and communities.     

Vertical distribution and abundance of mesoplanktonic medusae and siphonophores from the Weddell Sea,Antarctica

The composition, abundance and vertical distribution of mesoplanktonic cnidarians collected along a transect across the Weddell Sea have been analysed. The transect was characterized by a thermocline, approximately between 200 and 100 m, which deepened significantly towards the shelf edges. In total, 10 species of medusae and 18 species of siphonophores were identified. The most abundant medusae were Pantachogon scotti (up to 11,671 specimens/1,000 m³) and Arctapodema ampla (up to 960 specimens/1000 m³). The most abundant siphonophores were Muggiaea bargmannae (up to 1,172 nectophores/1,000 m³) and Dimophyes arctica (up to 230 nectophores/1,000 m³). Five assemblages of planktonic cnidarians were distinguished: (a) epipelagic species located in and above the thermocline; (b) epi- and upper mesopelagic species located in, above and just below the thermocline; (c) epi- and mesopelagic species located in and below the thermocline; (d) mesopelagic species; (e) lower mesopelagic species. Differences in the depth distribution of the various species gave rise to a clear partitioning of the mesoplanktonic cnidarian population throughout the water column. This vertical partitioning was related to the existence of a thermocline, the structure of the water column and the vertical distribution of prey.     

Do nymphs of Parameletus chelifer and P. minor (Ephemeroptera) reduce mortality from predation by occupying temporary habitats?

Summary The possible effect of predation on the habitat selection of nymphs of the two mayfly species Parameletus chelifer Bengtsson and P. minor (Bengtsson) was investigated for different habitats of a North Swedish boreal river. In spring, these two species migrate to river margins and subsequently, in different proportions, to adjacent seasonal ponds. Feeding rates on mayfly nymphs and mosquito larvae by some dytiscid beetles and larvae, a corixid waterbug and a caddisfly larva were studied in the laboratory. In the seasonal pond, the consumption rate of invertebrate predators on Parameletus nymphs was below that expected from their relative abundance, and mosquito larvae were preferred. At the river margin, where mosquito larvae were absent, Parameletus nymphs were consumed in agreement with their relative abundance. The absolute abundance of macroinvertebrate predators was similar at the river margin and in the pond. Fish predators visited the seasonal pond only during a short time of flood, while at the river margin their presence was continuous. In the seasonal pond, minnow and roach consumed nymphs of both P. chelifer and P. minor in a lower proportion than expected. At the river margin, nymphs of P. chelifer were consumed by minnow and ten-spined stickleback in a higher proportion than expected. Nymphs of P. minor were consumed according to expectance. Imagines of P. minor emerged early, and nymphs were equally abundant in the river and in the seasonal pond. In contrast, almost all nymphs of P. chelifer migrated to the seasonal pond. The later emergence of P. chelifer would probably result in a very high mortality from predation if it remained at the river margin.