Influential environmental gradients and patterns of fish assemblages in a West African basin

Twenty-two sites were monitored in the Lower Sassandra River Basin (Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa) to examine patterns in fish species assemblage structure along environmental gradients. Hierarchical clustering of the species presence–absence data identified four types of assemblages corresponding to the man-made Lake Buyo, the main channel, and the two major tributaries. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) indicated that canopy closure, leaves-wood, aquatic plants, temperature, width, total dissolved solids and depth were the environmental factors most strongly correlated with variation in the fish assemblages. Five species: Papyrocranus afer, Micralestes elongatus, Parailia pellucida, Tilapia busumana and T. mariae were reported from the basin for the first time. The investigation of the variation in species richness led to the assessment of a major anthropogenic disturbance induced by a palm oil factory. In conjunction with the fact that the Sassandra River hosts an endemic species, Synodontis koensis, it was concluded that this basin is of high conservation priority.     

东太湖鱼类群落结构特征及其与环境因子的关系

基于2019年4月、7月和10月的调查数据,用多元分析方法研究了围网拆除后东太湖鱼类群落结构的变化,及其与主要环境因子的关系。共调查到鱼类4目10科31属39种,其中鲤形目鱼类占69.23%。按不同生态类型东太湖鱼类主要为定居性鱼类、中上层鱼类以及肉食性和杂食性鱼类。优势种为鲫（Carassius auratus）、大鳍鱊（Acheilognathus macropterus）和（Hemiculter leucisculus）等。鱼类的种类数、渔获量、丰富度指数和多样性指数在监测月份间均差异显著（P＜0.05）,均为4月 > 7月 > 10月。鱼类个体呈现小型化,鱼类物种多样性处在一般水平。等级聚类分析（Cluster）结果表明,除10月份的1号点和3号点外,各样方间的相似度在46.75%以上。单因子相似性分析（ANOSIM）和相似性百分比分析（SIMPER）也表明,4月和10月的鱼类群落物种组成差异显著,平均相异性为59.41%。丰度/生物量曲线（ABC）分析表明,东太湖鱼类群落结构处于中度干扰状态。冗余分析（RDA）表明,总磷对主要鱼类变化的解释量为21.0%,是重要的解释因子（蒙特卡罗检验P＝0.036）。而总磷、pH、溶解氧等是目前影响东太湖鱼类群落的主要环境因子。     

Genetic diversity,introgression and relationships among West/Central African cattle breeds

Genetic diversity, introgression and relationships were studied in 521 individuals from 9 African Bos indicus and 3 Bos taurus cattle breeds in Cameroon and Nigeria using genotype information on 28 markers (16 microsatellite, 7 milk protein and 5 blood protein markers). The genotypes of 13 of the 16 microsatellite markers studied on three European (German Angus, German Simmental and German Yellow) and two Indian (Nelore and Ongole) breeds were used to assess the relationships between them and the African breeds. Diversity levels at microsatellite loci were higher in the zebu than in the taurine breeds and were generally similar for protein loci in the breeds in each group. Microsatellite allelic distribution displayed groups of alleles specific to the Indian zebu, African taurine and European taurine. The level of the Indian zebu genetic admixture proportions in the African zebus was higher than the African taurine and European taurine admixture proportions, and ranged from 58.1% to 74.0%. The African taurine breed, Muturu was free of Indian zebu genes while its counter Namchi was highly introgressed (30.2%). Phylogenic reconstruction and principal component analysis indicate close relationships among the zebu breeds in Cameroon and Nigeria and a large genetic divergence between the main cattle groups – African taurine, European taurine and Indian zebu, and a central position for the African zebus. The study presents the first comprehensive information on the hybrid composition of the individual cattle breeds of Cameroon and Nigeria and the genetic relationships existing among them and other breeds outside of Africa. Strong evidence supporting separate domestication events for the Bos species is also provided.     

Fish assemblage of a Pampasic stream (Buenos Aires,Argentina): temporal variations and relationships with environmental variables

In the Argentine Pampa fertile soils were originally covered by grasslands, but at present are intensively cultivated. We assessed the specific composition of the fish assemblage of El Pescado stream and compared it with that recorded in 1991–1993, when land use in the watershed consisted in natural pastures. The persistence of the fish assemblage between the two studies was rather high: 0.76. Abundance, biomass and species richness were higher during drought periods. Connectivity with the huge Río de la Plata hydrographic system seems the most important contribution to the high and stable species richness of El Pescado stream.     

A comparison between two GAM models in quantifying relationships of environmental variables with fish richness and diversity indices

Various regression methods can be used to quantify the relationships between fish populations and their environment. Strong correlations often existing between environmental variables, however, can cause multicollinearity, resulting in overfitting in modeling. This study compares the performance of a regular generalized additive model (GAM) with raw environmental variables as explanatory variables (regular GAM) and a GAM based on principal component analysis (PCA-based GAM) in modeling the relationship between fish richness and diversity indices and environmental variables. The PCA-based GAM tended to perform better than the regular GAM in cross-validation tests, showing a higher prediction precision. The variables identified being significant in modeling differed between the two models, and differences between the two models were also found in the scope and range of predicted richness and diversity indices for demersal fish community. This implies that choices between these two statistical modeling approaches can lead to different ecological interpretations of the relationships between fish communities and their habitats. This study suggests that the PCA-based GAM is a better approach than the original GAM in quantifying the relationship between fish richness and diversity indices and environmental variables if the environmental variables are highly correlated.     

三峡库区水体中固氮微生物多样性及其影响因素

【目的】研究分析不同时空条件下三峡库区水体固氮微生物多样性,并探讨其与地球化学参数的相关性。【方法】采集三峡库区不同时间(三月份和六月份)和空间(干流与支流)的水体样品,对其进行地球化学参数分析,并通过构建克隆文库分析样品中固氮功能基因(nifH)的多样性进而探讨其与水体地化参数的相关关系。【结果】统计分析显示三峡库区水体固氮微生物α-多样性和群落组成具有时空差异。支流水体样品的固氮微生物α-多样性高于干流水体样品;六月水体样品的固氮微生物α-多样性高于三月水体样品。三峡库区三月水体样品中的固氮微生物群落以Proteobacteria (50.3%)和Firmicutes (40.0%)为主;六月水体样品的固氮微生物群落以Proteobacteria(48.4%)、Firmicutes(25.4%)和Cyanobacteria(19.0%)为主。Mantel检验结果显示:固氮微生物群落结构的差异与温度、pH和DIC等地球化学参数具有显著(P0.05)相关性,其中温度和pH的相关性系数最大。【结论】三峡库区固氮微生物的种群结构和多样性具有时空差异,影响三峡水库水体中固氮微生物群落结构与多样性的主要环境因素为温度和pH,同时浊度、DIC、氨氮也对库区水体固氮微生物群落结构和多样性有一定的影响。     

Admixture and diversity in West African cattle populations

We present a population genetic analysis of microsatellite variation in 16 West African cattle populations. West Africa represents a unique juxtaposition of different climatic and ecological zones in a relatively small geographical area. While more humid coastal regions are inhabited by the tsetse fly, a vector which spreads trypanosomiasis among cattle, the disease is not transmitted in the drier areas outside this zone. This is the most thorough study of genetic diversity in cattle within this area, which contains genetically important trypanotolerant Bos taurus breeds. Genetic relationships among the many breeds are examined and levels of diversity are assessed. Admixture levels were determined using a variety of methods. Ancestry informative or population-associated alleles (PAAs) were selected using populations from India, the Near East and Europe. Multivariate analysis, the admix program and model-based Bayesian admixture analysis approaches were also employed. These analyses reveal the direct impact of ecological factors and the profound effect of admixture on the cattle of this region. They also highlight the importance of efforts to prevent further dilution of African taurine breeds by B. indicus cattle.     

渭河流域大型底栖动物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

于2011年10月对渭河流域45个采样点的大型底栖动物进行调查采样.共采集到大型底栖动物116属(种),其中水生昆虫91(属)种,占78.4％;软体动物12种,占10.3％;环节动物9种,占7.8％;甲壳动物4种,占3.4％.利用大型底栖动物的物种组成以及物种相对丰度数据,应用双向指示种分析和无偏对应分析将45个样点分为3组.第1组样点的指示物种为锯形蜉属1种(Serratella sp.)、纹石蛾属1种(Hydropsyche sp.)和朝大蚊属1种(Antochasp.);第2组样点指示物种为虻属1种(Tabanus sp.)、Alotanypus venustus、Pelecorhynchidae 1 种、Liodessus sp.和霍甫水丝蚓(Limnodrilus hoffineistteri);第3组指示物种为黑翅蜉(Ephemera nigroptera)和半球多脉扁螺(Polypylis hemisphaerula).典范对应分析表明,卵石+砾石型底质、流速、电导率、水深和总氮显著影响了渭河流域底栖动物群落的空间分布.     

海州湾及邻近海域冬季鱼类群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

根据2011年冬季在海州湾及邻近海域进行的渔业资源底拖网和环境调查数据,应用物种多样性指数和多元分析等方法,对该海域鱼类种类组成、多样性和群落结构及其与环境因子的关系进行了研究.结果表明: 该海域冬季捕获鱼类共60种,隶属于10目34科51属,以暖温性和暖水性底层鱼类为主.站位间物种丰富度指数介于1.14～2.84,多样性指数介于1.08～2.64,均匀度指数介于0.41～0.83之间.经聚类分析和非度量多维标度(MDS)分析,该海域鱼类群落在空间上可分为站位组Ⅰ(35° N以北水域站位)、站位组Ⅱ(靠近湾顶的近岸水域站位)和站位组Ⅲ(35° N以南水域站位).鱼类群落种类组成在站位组间及两两间的比较均差异极显著(R=0.45～0.91).典范对应分析表明,底层水温、水深和表层盐度是影响海州湾及邻近海域冬季鱼类群落结构的主要环境因子.     

Spatiotemporal variation in benthic polychaetes (Annelida) and relationships with environmental variables in a tropical estuary

Annelida constitute a dominant functional component in soft-bottom macrobenthic communities and reveal a wide range of adaptability to different marine and coastal habitats. Analyses in different polychaete assemblages and their responses to habitat conditions reflect the biological effects of marine pollution and habitat disturbance. The present study is designed to study colonization and community structure of polychaetes in two ecologically distinct locations of the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve on the northeast coast of India. Polychaete assemblages are characteristically different at the two sites in the extreme northern (Ghusighata) and southern (Gangasagar) portions of the Biosphere Reserve. Levels of heavy metals in polychaete body tissues also reveal interspecific and regional variations. The predominant polychaete fauna exhibited a distinct and unique assemblage of two types: (i) Mastobranchus indicus – Dendronereides heteropoda in the sewage-fed substratum at Ghusighata and (ii) Lumbrinereis notocirrata – Ganganereis sootai – Glycera tesselata at Gangasagar at the mouth of the Hugli estuary where chronic anthropogenic stress and contamination with agricultural and industrial effluents occur. The faunistic composition of polychaetes and their potential for the accumulation of heavy metals from the ambient medium are distinctly different. The study demonstrates that textural composition of the sediments, together with hydrodynamic and geotechnical properties, seem to have the greatest control to quantify the differences of the polychaete community in the two study stations. An in-depth comparative study of polychaete community structure at multiple spatial scales is strongly recommended for future environmental impact assessment in this fragile environment.     

Uncovering cryptic species diversity of a termite community in a West African savanna

To uncover the termite species diversity of a natural African savanna ecosystem, we combined morphological analyses and sequencing of three gene fragments (cytochrome oxidase I, cytochrome oxidase II and 28SrDNA, total length about 2450 bp) to infer putative species from phylogenetic trees. We identified 18 putative species clusters with high support values and which we retrieved consistently. Samples from two genera (Ancistrotermes and Microcerotermes) were excluded from the mitochondrial phylogenetic analyses as they might represent nuclear mitochondrial sequences (NUMTs). In total, our data suggest a species richness of at least 20 species, all but one belonging to the Termitidae (higher termites), and among them the fungus-growing Macrotermitinae were most prevalent with at least nine putative species. Within the fungus-growers the most species-rich genus was Microtermes and its four putative species were all cryptic species. Their abundance in the samples suggests that they play an important ecological role which is completely unstudied also due to the lack of reliable identification means. Our study shows that morphological traits are unreliable means of species identification for several termite taxa. Yet reliable and consistent identification is necessary for studying the functional role of termites in ecosystem and global processes.     

Fish assemblages in relation to environmental gradients along a small west African coastal basin,the San Pedro River,Ivory Coast

Patterns of fish population composition were examined in the San Pedro River, Ivory Coast, in 2001 to assess whether distinct types of assemblage exist along longitudinal gradients within this small coastal basin. A total of 45 species was found: 28 in the lower and the upper courses of the river and 29 in Faé man-made lake. The environmental variables most closely associated with assemblage-level patterns were those which can be significantly modified by dam construction: transparency, conductivity, current and sampling site position on the basin. Groups were separated by means of canonical correspondence analysis and cluster analysis. Downstream assemblages were distinguished by the presence of marine and brackish water fish species and a relatively low abundance of cichlid fishes. Assemblages from Lake Faé were characterised by a predominance of cichlids.     

Benthic macrofauna in Tasmanian estuaries: scales of distribution and relationships with environmental variables

Information on the distribution of species richness, faunal density, biomass and estimated productivity of benthic invertebrates in Tasmanian estuaries was quantified at a variety of spatial and temporal scales to assess general hypothesis relating community metrics to such environmental variables as salinity, seagrass biomass and sediment particle size. An associated aim was to assess appropriate scales of investigation for soft-sediment biota distributed in estuaries, including whether patterns identified at individual sites, estuaries, tidal levels or times are likely to have more general relevance. Faunal biomass and productivity varied principally at between-estuary (10 to 1000 km) and replicate-sample (1 m) scales, indicating that these two community metrics were largely responding to estuary-wide effects, such as nutrient loading, and to microhabitat features, rather than to locality characteristics at intermediate scales such as salinity, anoxia or sediment particle size. By contrast, faunal density showed greater response to tidal height (1 to 100 m) and to factors distributed at the locality scale within estuary (10 km) than to factors between estuary. Both faunal density and species richness in estuaries declined over three- and fivefold ranges down the shore from high water mark to the shallow sublittoral, while estimated productivity and biomass showed highest overall levels at low water mark. The greatest component of variance in species richness was associated with tidal height, with variance then distributed approximately evenly between other spatial scales examined. At the low-tide and shallow subtidal levels, species richness, faunal biomass and estimated productivity were all highly correlated with salinity and biomass of macrophytes, whereas faunal density was highly correlated with biomass of macrophytes only. Relationships between environmental and biological variables examined were poorly defined at high tidal levels. Seasonal plus interannual variance was much lower than spatial variance—a clear indication that sampling effort in studies would generally be better directed across a range of localities than for a single locality to be repeatedly investigated over time.     

Feral pig rooting in a mountain forest and woodland: Distribution,abundance and relationships with environmental variables

The distribution, abundance and relationships with environmental variables of feral pig rooting were investigated in a mountain forest and woodland in south-east Australia. Feral pig rooting occurred in 27 of 29, 1/km² grids and the observed feral pig density was I/km². A significant correlation occurred between the frequencies of plots with pig rooting and plots with pig dung. The frequency of feral rooting was significantly correlated with altitude, and with the frequency of rocks, drainage lines, and vegetation type. The occurrence of pig rooting was accurately predicted in 13 km² by a power series function. A model of the dynamics of feral pig rooting during an eruptive fluctuation was formulated.     

Analysis of genetic diversity and relationships in East African banana germplasm

The genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of 29 East African highland banana (Musa spp.) cultivars and two outgroup taxa, M. acuminata Calcutta 4 and Agbagba were surveyed by RAPD analysis. A genetic similarity matrix was established based on the presence or absence of polymorphic amplified fragments. Phylogenetic relationships were determined by UPGMA cluster analysis. RAPDs showed that the highland bananas are closely related with a narrow genetic base. Nevertheless, there were sufficient RAPD polymorphisms that were collectively useful in distinguishing the cultivars. The dendrogram was divisible into a major cluster composed of all the AAA highland banana cultivars and Agbagba (AAB) and a minor cluster consisting of Kisubi (AB), Kamaramasenge (AB) and Calcutta 4 (AA). Several subgroups are recognized within the major cluster. RAPD data did not separate beer and cooking banana cultivars. Our study showed that RAPD markers can readily dissect genetic differences between the closely related highland bananas and provide a basis for the selection of parents for improvement of this germplasm. Received: 28 June 2000 / Accepted: 1 August 2000     

Fish diversity in tidepools: assembling effects of environmental heterogeneity

Tidepools are considered ecosystems of high interchangeable fish biota. However, natural and anthropogenic actions that alter negatively marine ecosystems functioning (e.g., algal exploitation) are causing homogenization of fish biodiversity. Here, we describe the functional and taxonomic assembling of fishes in beach rocks of northeastern Brazil. Traits of fish species were retrieved from Fishbase and beta diversity was assessed by the dispersion of abundance, presence-absence and functional diversity in the multivariate space. We explained spatial-temporal variation in: alpha diversity, taxonomic and functional community composition; as well as temporal variation in functional, beta and gamma diversities. We found an annual stability in fish diversity and composition, and that fish biota was assembled mainly per tidepools’ depths. Substrate heterogeneity was correlated to depth, highlighting the role of local features as filters to organize the fish fauna vertically in tidepools, especially a cultivation of algae that influences the local assembling. We also highlight the uniqueness status of beach rocks in the Brazilian tropical region.     

Fish otolith chemistry influenced by exposure to multiple environmental variables

There is an increasing desire for researchers to use the elemental concentrations in fish otoliths to reconstruct environmental histories of fish. These reconstructions may be plausible due to the unique incorporation of elements into discrete layers of otolith material that correspond to daily growth, and because environmental variables of temperature, salinity, and water chemistry can influence otolith chemistry. However, it is essential to establish exactly how temperature, salinity, and the ambient concentration of elements influence otolith chemistry in order to interpret environmental histories of fish. Using a controlled laboratory experiment we tested the relative and interactive effects of temperature, salinity, and ambient concentration of strontium (Sr) and barium (Ba) on the resulting concentration of Sr and Ba in otoliths of black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri (Munro 1949). Salinity and concentration, and temperature and concentration interacted to affect the elemental concentration of Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca in otoliths. Regression analysis revealed that temperature and ambient concentration contributed most to the trend in otolith chemistry for both elements. Importantly, this is the first experiment to combine three environmental variables and assess their effect on otolith chemistry. Based on these results, it should be possible to use changes in the elemental concentration in otoliths to better reconstruct previous environments of temperature, salinity, and ambient water chemistry, which is especially useful when determining occupancy in habitats such as estuaries that display variable environmental characteristics.     

巢湖流域春季大型底栖动物群落生态特征及与环境因子关系

采用野外采样调查的方法,结合聚类(Cluster)、多维排序尺度(MDS)、典范对应分析(CCA),以及Shannon多样性指数、Pielou种类均匀度指数、Margalef种类丰度指数等手段,研究了巢湖流域春季大型底栖动物的种群结构特征、多样性及其与环境因子的相关性.调查共采集到大型底栖动物23种,其中环节动物门6种,占26.1%,节肢动物门8种,占34.8%,软体动物门9种,占39.1%;流域内大型底栖动物的优势种为环节动物门的霍甫水丝蚓(Limno-drilus hoffmeisteri)和苏氏尾鳃蚓(Branchiura sowerbyi),以及软体动物门的铜锈环棱螺(Bel-lamya aeruginosa),且其在流域内的分布具有显著的空间差异性.出入湖河流上游区域(群落Ⅰ)生物多样性相对较好;出入湖河流下游区域(群落Ⅱ)生物多样性最差;巢湖湖体及出入湖河流河口(群落Ⅲ)生物多样性处于两者之间.巢湖流域大型底栖动物空间分布受各种环境因素影响,其中Chl a与NO-3为主要影响因素.     

Fish species diversity in southern African estuarine systems: an evolutionary perspective

Synopsis The ichthyofauna of southern African estuaries consists primarily of juvenile marine species that use these habitats as nursery areas. The abundance and biomass of fishes in estuarine systems are typically high but species diversity is generally low, with only a few taxa dominating the community. This relatively low species diversity is attributed to the fact that estuaries in the region are unpredictable environments which lack any degree of permanence and are dominated by mobile marine eurytopes. Although stenotopes, represented mainly by small resident species from the families Gobiidae, Clinidae and Syngnathidae, are present in southern African estuaries, little speciation appears to have occurred. A possible reason for this lack of speciation, apart from the seasonal and annual variability of the abiotic environment, is that the lifetime of individual systems is usually limited to a few thousand years. In addition, fishes utilising southern African estuaries need to remain flexible (eurytopic) in their responses to an external environment which is unlikely to become more stable in the future. Thus the lack of permanence and fluctuating nature of southern African estuaries on both a spatial and temporal scale, together with the dominance of eurytopes in these systems, does not favour the evolution of new species. A preliminary examination of the available literature indicates that a detailed review of estuarine ichthyofaunal communities on a global basis will probably mirror the trends outlined above, and reveal a domination of these dynamic ecosystems by eurytopic taxa with low speciation potential.