Biodiversity of testate amoebae (Arcellinida and Euglyphida) in different habitats of a lake in the Upper Paraná River floodplain

This study aimed to investigate the testate amoebae (Arcellinida and Eugliphida) species diversity in plankton, macrophytes and aquatic sediment samples from a shallow lake of the Upper Paraná River floodplain. Samples were carried out from April 2007 to March 2008. We recorded 89 taxa, belonging to 10 families. Eighty-two taxa were found in the aquatic sediment, 71 in the macrophytes and 53 in the plankton. Highest values of alpha diversity were observed in the aquatic sediment. Although the plankton had the highest number of accidental species, accessory and constant species were also observed in this habitat. Most of the species classified as constant for the plankton belonged to the genus Arcella. Most of the constant species in the macrophytes and aquatic sediment belonged to the genus Difflugia. This study supports the idea that the presence of these protists in the plankton should not be attributed only to stochastic processes because (i) the species diversity recorded in this habitat was remarkably high in relation to the total biodiversity of the lake, and (ii) we also recorded frequent and constant species in the plankton.     

Evaluation of syntaxonomic schemes of aquatic plant communities by cluster analysis

Numerical classification methods can simulate strategies of intuitive classifications. This paper considers two different intuitive syntaxonomic schemes suggested for stagnant eutrophic fresh-water communities with a view to identifying which among the commonest numerical methods of classification fits the two intuitive schemes best. Comparison of classifications using an information function and discriminant analysis revealed that the different numerical methods simulate different intuitive schemes, but the results of the numerical classifications are always judged superior. Two new syntaxonomic schemes optimizing the sharpness between the syntaxa are proposed.     

Shifts in aquatic macrophyte abundance and community composition in cottage developed lakes of the Canadian Shield

In this study, we examined how the biomass and species composition of aquatic plant communities relates to cottage development of Canadian Shield lakes. Within the North Kawartha Region of Ontario, we sampled the macrophyte communities at two water depths (0.5 m and 1.5 m) in lakes (n = 12) having a range of cottage densities (0-23 cottages km⁻¹ of shoreline). Across all lakes, 39 species were found, with individual lake richness ranging from six to ten. Macrophyte biomass decreased with increasing cottage density, irrespective of depth (ANCOVA dev’t*depth p = 0.925). In contrast, only the shallower depth showed a relationship between cottage development and richness and diversity; highly developed lakes had three or fewer species and diversities less than 1.5. There was also a shift in structural plant type from floating leaf and emergent on undeveloped lakes to submersed and submersed low-lying on developed lakes. Ordination analysis demonstrated that cottage development (and to a lesser extent, lake area) was strongly correlated (p = 0.05) with community species composition in southern Ontario lakes. Our results thus demonstrate that the management of cottage development should minimize the loss of biomass and species richness of aquatic plants given the likely negative effects of these alterations on other taxa in littoral zones and foodwebs in lake ecosystems.     

Ciliate communities of a large shallow lake: Association with macrophyte beds

We investigated the influence of macrophyte composition on ciliate community structure in a large, shallow, eutrophic Lake Võrtsjärv. We hypothesized that macrophyte composition must have strong influence on the dispersal of ecologically different ciliate groups in a shallow lake and that more diverse macrophyte stands cause also a greater diversity in the ciliate community. In Võrtsjärv macrophyte distribution is spatially strongly polarized both in east–west and north–south directions in relation to abiotic factors. Phragmites australis and Myriophyllum spicatum were the most widespread species occurring in most parts of the lake. Correlation of environmental, macrophyte and planktonic ciliate variables confirmed the suggested spatial gradients. More diverse macrophyte stands supported a high species richness and abundance of epiplanktonic community but showed negative influence on the number and abundance of euplanktonic ciliate taxa. Opposite trends were found relative to the abundance of P. australis. Benthic ciliates showed a similar distribution pattern to euplanktonic taxa being most abundant in sites were the Shannon–Weaver index for macrophytes was low. Strong polarizing effect of the lake's vegetation on planktonic ciliate diversity was reflected in correlations of the number of ciliate taxa as well as the numbers of eu- and epiplanktonic taxa with geographic co-ordinates.     

Taxonomic distinctness along nutrient gradients: More diverse,less diverse or not different from random?

Taxonomic distinctness indices are a family of anthropogenic stress indicators that have been used widely in marine ecosystems; however, their utility in freshwater ecosystems is still unclear. We used two taxonomic distinctness indices and species richness to assess relationships between nutrient gradients and three freshwater taxonomic groups, including diatoms, macrophytes and invertebrates. We found that the indices based on the three organismal groups showed generally rather clear relationships with the nutrient levels, indicating that these indices may bring useful additional information for the purposes of bioassessment. However, the two indices describing taxonomic distinctness showed opposite patterns in relation to nutrient levels. The indices for the three groups of organisms were generally poorly correlated with each other, showing that different organismal groups react differently to anthropogenic stress. Accordingly, taxonomic distinctness indices likely tell us about various aspects of nutrient enrichment of freshwater ecosystems. Our findings also emphasized that the value of these indices may be largely dependent on the organismal group used.     

Effects of seed ingestion and herbivory by waterfowl on seedling establishment: a field experiment with wigeongrass Ruppia maritima in Doñana,south-west Spain

The ingestion of seeds by vertebrates usually affects the viability and/or germination rate of seeds. Increases in germination rate following passage through the vertebrate gut have often been assumed to be favourable for seedling survival and plant fitness, but this assumption has never been tested experimentally. Given that numbers of herbivorous waterfowl are higher in winter in Mediterranean wetlands, herbivory pressure there will be higher for early growing plants. In a factorial experiment we investigated the effects of seed ingestion by ducks (shoveler, Anas clypeata) on the survival of wigeongrass Ruppia maritima seedlings in the field in Doñana (south-west Spain), under differing exposures to herbivory by waterfowl and fish. We planted ingested and non-ingested seeds in December, using exclosures to protect half of them from herbivores. When they were protected inside exclosures, there was no difference between ingested and non-ingested seeds in the number of plants that survived until June-July. However, fewer plants survived from ingested seeds when exposed to natural levels of herbivory because they were exposed for longer than plants germinating from non-ingested seeds. In conclusion, increases in germination rate after ingestion are not necessarily beneficial for the plant, and the final outcome depends on complex interactions with other factors such as herbivore abundance.     

The carboxylase activity of Rubisco and the photosynthetic performance in aquatic plants

Summary Activated carboxylase activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), as well as photosynthetic rates were measured for 42 species of freshwater and marine macrophytes. While the carboxylase activity varied greatly among the species investigated (0.2–12.5 mol CO₂ mg^–1 chlorophyll min^–1), the submersed freshwater plants showed significantly lower activities than emergent, floating leaved or secondary submersed forms. The variability in photosynthetic rates correlated with the carboxylase activity only for the marine macroalgae, and their photosynthesis to carboxylase activity ratios were close to 1. These plants also had a consistently high inorganic carbon transport capability, and it is suggested that ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activity is an important internal factor regulating the photosynthetic capacity within this plant group where, apparently, the internal CO₂ concentration is high and photorespiration is suppressed. Among the freshwater forms, it appears that their much lower inorganic carbon transport ability, rather than their carboxylase activity, limits the photosynthetic process.     

干旱对湖北省长湖水生植物多样性的影响

将断面法和地理信息系统（GIS）与全球定位系统（GPS）技术相结合,通过比较湖北省长湖2000年（干旱年）与1999年（非干旱年）的水生植物多样性,探讨了干旱对淡水湖泊水生植物多样性的影响,主要结论如下：（1）干旱对长湖淡水湖泊水生植物物种多样性无影响,但可增加优势种数目（从12个至14个）。（2）干旱使长湖水生植物群丛数目从14个增加至18个,且能显著提高各群丛的Simpson与Shannon-Wiener物种多样性指数。（3）干旱显著提高了长湖水生植被覆盖率与各群丛的盖度,并使全湖水生植被平均单位面积生物量与各群从单位面积生物量显著升高。（4）在干旱年（2000年）,长湖挺水植被消失,但浮水植被面积与沉水植被面积显著扩大：分别从1999年的3.71％与41.32%上升至2000年的12.63%与53.84%（占湖泊总面积的百分比）。（5）干旱条件下淡水湖泊水生植物的生长发育明显加快：2000年7月菹草石芽萌发率、菹草幼株长度和野菱黄叶率显著高于1999年同期值。     

鄂东花马潮水生高等植物研究——Ⅱ.水生植被

花马湖位于湖北省鄂州市境内,面积约27.5km~2。湖中分布有水生高等植物82种2变种。花马湖水生植被可分为15个群丛,其中菱群丛、竹叶眼子菜群丛、金鱼藻+狐尾藻+菹草+苦草群丛较为重要。湖中水生植波呈不规则的环带状分布,并可划分为湿生、挺水、浮叶和沉水4个植被带,各带均有相应的群丛分布。     

小兴凯湖的水生植被及其生态作用

本文论述了小兴凯湖水生植物的种类组成、植被类型、生物量及其在湖泊淤积和渔业中的作用。该湖属老年期湖泊,水生维管束植物共有25科56种,优势种为竹叶眼子菜、荇菜、芦、菰等。植被类型可划分为沉水植被、浮叶植被和挺水植被等三个亚型,包括12个主要植物群丛。全湖水生植物总生物量(湿重)为196380吨;以植物现存量计算,草食性鱼类的年生产力应为78.75吨。由于水生植物大量繁殖,为减缓湖泊的垫平作用,可适量放养草食性鱼类,控制住水生植物的过量繁殖;同时引种一些经济水生植物,压住水中杂草的生长。     

Species richness and phenology of vegetation along irrigation canals and drains in the Nile Delta,Egypt

This study evaluates the species richness, phenology and effect of environmental factors on the composition of canal and drain vegetation in the Nile Delta, Egypt. Altogether, 365 stands were sampled along the terraces, slopes, littoral zones and water zones of 28 canals and 10 drains. Smooth species compositional changes were found in the first three zones. The slope plant community has the highest total number of species and species richness and a medium value of species turnover. The water zone has the lowest values of these variables.The number of species with seedlings and vegetative plants had two peaks: one in winter and the second in summer, which was related to the contrasted behaviour of the winter and summer weeds. The number of species with vegetative and fruiting plants was relatively higher, while the number with dormant plants was relatively lower in the canal vegetation when compared to that of the drains. The number of species with vegetative, flowering and fruiting plants increased with the decrease of canal-drain width.     

1998年特大洪水后鄱阳湖自然保护区主要湖泊水生植被的恢复

鄱阳湖自然保护区的湖泊是相对独立于鄱阳湖主体湖的一个区域,是国际重要湿地。1998年的特大洪水导致湖泊中水生植物的地上部分大量毁灭。通过1999年和2001年的植被调查,并与历史资料比较,探讨了特大洪水干扰后的植被恢复动态。结果表明,1999年湖泊水生植物的种类和生物量均低于干扰前的水平;2001年物种种类已经恢复,苦草(Vallisneria spp．)和黑藻(Hydrialla verticillata)的生物量已超过干扰前的水平,但其它物种的生物量仍较低,尚处于恢复的初始阶段。据此推断,物种问恢复速度的差异主要与物种的无性繁殖方式有关。鄱阳湖自然保护区湖泊的植被恢复不同于温带和其它亚热带的湖泊,不经历轮藻(Chara spp．)作为先锋优势种的阶段,苦草和黑藻可以作为先锋种首先在湖泊中恢复。这可能与鄱阳湖作为通江湖泊其水位频繁波动、轮藻不易定居有关。研究显示,洪水导致的水生植物生物量下降和物种数目减少只是短期现象,湖泊水生植物能在几年内恢复到干扰前的水平。     

Competitive abilities of invasive Lagarosiphon major and native Ceratophyllum demersum in monocultures and mixed cultures in relation to experimental sediment dredging

Competitive abilities of Lagarosiphon major (Ridley) Moss (invasive in Belgium) and native Ceratophyllum demersum L. were assessed experimentally in relation to sediment dredging. We mimicked these conditions by taking undisturbed sediment (‘before dredging’ treatment) and by using restored sediment where the uppermost nutrient rich top layer was removed (‘after dredging’ treatment). Both the species were allowed to grow for seven weeks in monocultures and mixed cultures at different planting densities. Overall, invasive L. major performed better than native C. demersum independent of the characteristics of the growth environment. L. major achieved a higher relative growth rate (RGR) in both treatments based on total length (0.17-0.21 week⁻¹) and weight (0.10-0.19 week⁻¹) compared to C. demersum (length: 0.04-0.07 week⁻¹; weight: 0.03-0.17 week⁻¹). The better performance of L. major was due to a high plasticity under stressful conditions of low free CO₂ and high pH. Intraspecific competition and niche partitioning were observed between the two species indicating that species coexistence is favoured instead of competitive exclusion. L. major performed better in the ‘after dredging’ treatment. Consequently, we deduce that sediment dredging will not lead to a decline of the invasive L. major.     

淤泥湖退化水生植被恢复及其在湖泊资源天然生态库中作用的研究

对淤泥湖水生植被的天然恢复过程、群落组成、结构、功能与动态等进行了定位研究（１９９２～１９９５）．该湖水生植物共有２０科２９属４１种．４种生活型的植物种类在该湖均有分布,以沉水草本（１５种）和挺水草本（１３种）为多．８个分布区类型中世界广布成分１６种和东亚成分１０种．群落结构包括层次结构和层片结构．该彻共有８个群落类型;群落现存量３２０８．８ｇ·ｍ－２,全湖植被资源贮量为１６３６５．２ｔ．     

沉积硅藻揭示的历史时期水生植被信息以梁子湖为例

水生植被是浅水湖泊生态系统最重要的生态特征之一, 了解其群落历史演化特征, 对生态退化湖泊的修复有着重要指导意义。研究选择长江中下游地区代表性草型湖泊梁子湖, 基于梁子湖沉积岩芯210Pb/137Cs测年、沉积硅藻序列和梁子湖长期水生植被监测记录, 探讨利用沉积硅藻记录来重建该湖历史时期水生植被演替特征的可行性。研究结果表明: 梁子湖沉积硅藻记录对历史时期水生植被的演替有较好的反映; 基于此, 对梁子湖过去近200年的水生植被覆盖度进行了重建; 与湖泊流域历史环境信息的对比分析表明洪水是影响该湖水生植被发育的一个重要因素。研究结果证实了在浅水湖泊中, 沉积硅藻可揭示历史水生植被的信息, 并为该湖的水生植被保护提供科学依据, 同时对该区富营养湖泊的生态修复有重要的指导价值。     

程海水生植被现状及其演变趋势

近20年来,程海水生植物种类和群落类型进一步趋于简单化,水生植被覆盖度由24％～75％变为0．2％～85％,分布最大水深虽由4．5m延伸至5．5m,分布面积却由527．8hm2缩减为73．05hm2,资源蕴藏量由4766吨降低至314．53吨。分析认为：程海南部大面积适生生境破坏、水质污染、水体富营养化、不合理放养草鱼是加剧其水生植被衰退的主要原因。提出了恢复南部湿地、削减入湖污染物、禁止投放草鱼、控制水质污染和水体富营养化等保护对策。     

The significance of littoral and shoreline habitat integrity to the conservation of lacustrine damselflies (Odonata)

Human development of pond and lake shorelines may significantly impact native lacustrine biota including a variety of aquatic macroinvertebrate groups. In an effort to better understand the habitat associations and sensitivities of lacustrine damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera), we sampled adults in littoral macrophyte habitat during two flight periods at 35 randomly selected pond and lake sites in southern Maine during 2000 and 2001. Data were also collected to help characterize water body, shoreline disturbance, and aquatic vegetation at each study site. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling was used for ordination of damselfly assemblages, and coordinates from the most stable solution were related to site variables using forward stepwise multiple regression. Our results suggest that the diversity and composition of damselfly assemblages is related to the abundance and richness of littoral zone macrophytes, extent of riparian disturbance, benthic substrate granularity, and lake productivity; all variables subject to anthropogenic degradation on excessively developed waterbodies. Additionally, we developed a Habitat Tolerance Index useful for distinguishing between relative habitat specialists and generalists from among a diverse assemblage of 19 lacustrine species. Finally, species-specific damselfly associations with multiple genera of floating and emergent macrophytes were assessed using both nonparametric correlation and multiplicative regression yielding significant relationships for 17 species, including two damselflies of global conservation concern (Enallagma laterale and E. pictum). We conclude that the protection of littoral and shoreline habitat integrity, with special emphasis on emergent and floating macrophytes, is critical to the conservation of lacustrine biodiversity.