Changes in the zooperiphyton structure in a small river along the spatial gradient

A total of 165 taxa have been recorded in the zooperiphyton of the Sestra River, among which larvae of chironomids (40), nematodes (24), and oligochaetes (21) have the highest species richness. The increase in the taxonomic richness of zoocenoses from the river head to its mouth is weakly expressed. The highest diversity of zoocenoses is characteristic for the contact zones of the river water with its tributaries and receiving waters. The discreteness of spatial characteristic of the taxonomic composition of zooperiphyton reflects the heterogeneity and diversity of habitat conditions of invertebrates. In regards to its effect on zoocenoses, anthropogenic pollution can exceed the impact of many environmental factors (including the current velocities) which affect the formation of rheophilic communities in river ecosystems. The dominant complexes of zooperiphyton include all trophic groups of invertebrates, among which the group of detritophages-collectors has the highest taxonomic diversity. The group of phytodetritophages-filterers + collectors mainly includes chironomid larvae of the genus Chironomus, which are associated with strongly polluted zones. Invertebrate filterers, sponges, and bryozoans prevail mainly in zooperiphyton in the lower reaches of the river, which are not subjected to the pollution.     

Comparison of zoobenthos and zooperiphyton of large and medium rivers

The results of a study of zoobenthos and zooperiphyton of two rivers of the Ob’ River middle reaches are shown. A comparative analysis of the composition and abundance values of two ecological groups of zoobenthos and zooperiphyton hydrobionts has revealed the difference in their taxonomic compositions and dominant complexes. The similarity in total number and biomass of zoobenthos and zooperiphyton in the large river and the higher values of zooperiphyton quantitative development in a medium river have been identified.     

Phytophilous zoocoenoses of Lake Teletskoye

The composition, structure, and spatial distribution of zoobenthos and zooperiphyton at plantfilled regions of the littoral of Lake Teletskoye have been analyzed. The dependence of the taxonomic composition, number, and biomass of zoobenthos on vegetation type has been discovered. A multilevel character of the distribution of invertebrates in macrophyte overgrowths has been shown. An analysis of the trophic structure of the communities of macroinvertebrates revealed the predominance of algodetritophagous animals in zooperiphyton. The role of plant overgrowth as a “life concentrator” in an oligotrophic lake has been revealed.     

Comparison of seasonal dynamics of the essential PUFA contents in benthic invertebrates and grayling Thymallus arcticus in the Yenisei river

Seasonal dynamics of contents of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in dominant groups of benthic invertebrates: gammarids (Gammaridae, Amphipoda), oligochaetes (Oligochaeta), chironomid larvae (Chironomidae, Diptera) and caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera), and dominant benthivorous fish, Siberian grayling Thymallus arcticus, have been studied in ecosystem of the large Siberian river. During the year of the study most benthic invertebrate taxa showed significant variations in the contents of both C-18 and long chain C-20–22 PUFAs. In contrast, the fish, which consumed the zoobenthos, had no significant seasonal variations in long chain PUFAs' contents. Thereby, the fish, as organisms of relatively higher evolution level than invertebrates, was supposed to have more strict metabolic control of long chain PUFAs' contents. Evidence was obtained that the studied fish species, grayling, may be capable to convert dietary EPA into DHA.     

Spatial structure of zooperiphyton in a small river (West Siberia)

Basic quantitative characteristics of zooperiphyton from the Uk River are presented. Factors effecting the composition and structure of invertebrates have been found. The effect that the current velocity, water level, and different types of pollution have on zooperiphyton in the small river is shown. The pollution of the river reduces taxonomic diversity. The maximum effect is caused by the discharge of mineralized waters. In clean portions of the river, Trichoptera dominate in biomass; in polluted parts, their role decreases and the larvae of chironomids and leeches prevail in zooperiphyton.     

Taxonomic and trophic structures of dominants in the zooperiphyton of waterbodies and watercourses of the upper Volga basin

All the main trophic groups of invertebrates are presented in the compositions of dominant assemblages of zooperiphyton in the studied waterbodies and watercourses. The strong pollution of water by suspended solids of anthropogenic origin in the water of the upper Volga reservoirs leads to the suppression of typically sessile filter-feeding invertebrates (sponges, bryozoans, and Dreissena) able to form the highest biomass of zooperiphyton using natural food items. The conditions of the disturbed structure of food resources are favorable for the development of detritivores-gatherers. In small rivers receiving industrial wastewaters, excessive amounts of food in the water column and in the form of sediments on the substrates suppresses invertebrates-biofowlers and facilitates the expansion of the benthic larvae of chironomids of g. Chironomus (combining the filtration and gathering of food particles on the substrates) to the vacant spatial niches. At the same time, the role of nematodes and oligochaetes with prevailing detritophages increases. In the acidified lakes of the Darwinsky National Reserve, the decrease in the total species diversity of zooperiphyton is accompanied by decreases in the role of filter-feeding invertebrates. The chironomid larvae and oligochaetes prevailed in the poor zoocenoses. The roles of predatory caddisfly larvae, black gnats, and nematodes increased. The labile structural characteristics of zooperiphyton with the conservation of the historically formed methods of foraging are the main modern way that biofouling communities adapt to changes in the quality and quantity of food resources upon modern anthropogenic pollution of the aquatic environment.     

Successions of zooperiphyton in a small river

In the small Latka River, which is characterized by a high heterogeneity of abiotic characteristics and a rich fauna composition, a high diversity of developing zooperiphyton structures was recorded consisting of invertebrates with short life cycles: the larvae of chironomids, caddisflies, mayflies, oligochaetes, nematodes, and other animals. One distinctive feature of seasonal and interannual zooperiphyton succession is the annual prevalence in abundance of spreading chironomid larvae of age I, which belong to the most representative dominating group of amphibiotic invertebrates, including species adapted to different saprobic conditions. The taxonomic and quantitative domination of chironomids make it possible to consider the family Chironomidae a key group in the formation of the zoocenosis structure. Under disturbed habitat conditions (pollution, rainfall floods, and the press of omnivorous invertebrates), the restoration of typical structures occurs rather quickly due to the particular features of biology in species short life cycles. However, no relative stabilization in communities was observed. This is the main difference between the sequence of succession processes in the Latka River and that observed in large water bodies (lakes and water reservoirs), where there are no strict limitations on living-space volume or food availability and abiotic conditions are more stable, thus allowing filter-feeding sessile animals (sponges, bryozoans, and zebra mussels) to develop on solid substrates. These species are able to develop multispecies consortia and form relatively stable long-term communities.     

The current state and long-term changes of zoobenthos in the Novosibirsk reservoir

The composition, structure, and spatial distribution of zoobenthos in the Novosibirsk reservoir have been analyzed. A decrease in species richness an increase in invertebrates abundance from upper to low sites of the reservoir, caused by changes in bottom sediment types, have been observed. A comparative analysis of the benthos community structure for a 50-year period (1959–2008) clearly demonstrates that, with an increase in the biomass of invasive species in the reservoir, the biomass of large bivalve mollusks decreases.     

Biodiversity of Zoobenthos in the Coastal Zone of the South Coast of Crimea (Laspi Bay Area)

Based on data of a1996 benthos survey, the structure of soft bottom zoobenthos of Laspi Bay (South Coast of Crimea, the Black Sea) was examined. One hundred thirty-one species of macrozoobenthos, including 44 molluscan species, 43 annelids, 31 crustaceans and 13 species representing other groups, were recorded. Two biocenoses were distinguished: Chamelea gallina and Mytilus galloprovincialis within the depths 5–52 m. The first biocenosis was presented by two biocenosic complexes. Their structure was characterized using Shannon, Simpson, and Pielou indices. The representativeness of the basic taxonomic groups of the benthos was analyzed. The conclusion of the high species abundance of benthos in Laspi Bay was made. There were recorded changes in structure of the biocenoses, which were manifested in the development of sestonophage filterers (first of all, the mollusc Chamelea gallina) with increasing organic pollution of the coastal water areas of Black sea.     

Water moss as a food item of the zoobenthos in the Yenisei River

Bryophytes are abundant in streams and are a habitat for many invertebrates, but their contribution to the diet of fluvial zoobenthos is still debated. To estimate the amount of bryophyte-derived organic matter assimilated by benthic invertebrates, we used a combination of fatty acid and stable isotope analyses during a four-year monthly study of a littoral site in the Yenisei River (Siberia, Russia). Acetylenic acids, which are highly specific biomarkers of the water moss Fontinalis antipyretica, were found in lipids of all dominant benthic animals: gammarids, ephemeropterans, chironomids and trichopterans. The dominant zoobenthic species, Eulimnogammarus viridis, had maximum levels of the biomarkers in its biomass during winter, and minimum levels in summer. The zoobenthos in the studied site regularly consume and assimilate bryophyte-derived organic matter as a minor supplemental food. This consumption increases in winter, when the main food source of the zoobenthos, epilithic biofilms, are probably scarce.     

Diel drift of Chironomidae in a large lowland river (Central Poland)

The diel drift patterns of Chironomidae larvae were investigated in a seventh order section of the Warta River (Central Poland) over two diel cycles during May 1989. Three nets (mesh size 400 m) were installed in a cross section of the Warta River.The estimated drift density was low, but was comparable to that calculated for other large rivers. Spatio-temporal fluctuations in abundance and composition of macroinvertebrate drift, including Chironomidae, were observed with the highest density of drifting macrobenthos recorded near the depositional bank of this river. The ratio benthosdrift indicated differing propensities for of the older instars of a given chironomid taxon to drift. Orthocladiinae larvae were the most abundant subfamily of Chironomidae in drift but not in benthos, reaching up to 73% of the total drifting chironomid larvae. More taxa but fewer individuals (about 20% of the chironomid larvae collected) belonged to the tribe Chironomini, the dominant group in benthos.A major part of chironomid drift collection may represent behavioural drift because the net mesh size used in the Warta River was insufficient to catch the earliest instars (distributional drift). Both at the family and subfamily level chironomid larvae exhibited a distinct nocturnal drift periodicity. Nocturnal periodicity was documented for the dominant species, but due to the low density of many chironomid species, it was impossible to determine their diel drift pattern. Some Chironomidae appeared to be aperiodic.     

The role of Chironomidae in energy flow of a lotic ecosystem

Chironomid secondary production was estimated on a species-specific basis for 14 dominant taxa in a third-order woodland stream. Results from this study were used to provide an expalanation for the common observation that benthos secondary production in streams is insufficient to account for levels of fish production,i.e., the ALLEN paradox. Annual chironomid secondary production was 29.7 g dry mass m^–2 and accounted for 80% of the total aquatic insect secondary production. A contribution by chironomids this high has not been reported previously from similar streams and indicates that chironomids are an energetically important group available for fish consumption. Most studies examining chironomid secondary production group all taxa at the family level and calculate secondary production for the entire family using the size-frequency method. This approach violates assumptions of the size-frequency method and will result in inaccurate and unpredictable estimates of chironomid secondary production. The species-specific approach to estimate chironomid production used in this study, combined with non-chironomid production, yielded a benthos annual production rate that exceeded consumption necessary to support fish production.     

Comparison of fatty acid composition in major lipid classes of the dominant benthic invertebrates of the Yenisei river

The composition and content of fatty acids (FAs) in total lipids, triacylglycerols (TAG) and polar lipids (PL) in dominant groups of benthic invertebrates: gammarids (Gammaridae, Amphipoda), chironomid larvae (Chironomidae, Diptera), caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera) and mayfly larvae (Ephemeroptera) were studied in the Yenisei river. For the first time data on the FA composition of species belonging to Trichoptera (Insecta) are presented. The groups of aquatic insect larvae and gammarids weakly differed in total content of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Hence, the strong invasion of gammarids which occurred in the last decades in the Yenisei river should not result in a decrease in potential yield of essential PUFA in the ecosystem and corresponding decrease in food resource quality for fish in respect to PUFA content. Significant differences in biomarker FAs in TAG were found which correlated to specific food sources. Different levels of long-chain PUFA in PL of the invertebrates are discussed in relation to the genetic ability of particular taxa to form these FAs.     

鲢鳙鱼养殖小型水库底栖动物群落季节动态

底栖动物是鱼类重要的天然饵料,评估水体中底栖动物的现存量可以指导渔业生产中鱼类的放养数量。为了探究淡水生态养殖水库中底栖动物群落的季节动态,于2013年4月、7月、10月和2014年1月对三河水库的底栖动物群落进行了调查分析。研究共采集到7个属的底栖动物,隶属于颤蚓科、摇蚊科和蠓科,未采集到软体动物。相对重要性指数(IRI)计算结果表明,菱跗摇蚊属Clinotanypus(IRI=7136)、颤蚓属Tubifex(IRI=6734)和尾鳃蚓属Branchiura(IRI=1384)是优势类群,分别占总捕获数量的34.26%、50.38%和10.96%。不同季节之间底栖动物的总密度和生物量差异显著(P0.05),均为冬季春季夏季秋季。冬季总密度(4100个/m~2)和总生物量(10.14 g/m~2)最高,春季(1446个/m~2;1.07 g/m~2)次之,夏季(579个/m~2;0.66 g/m~2)较低,秋季(492个/m~2;0.64 g/m~2)最低。非度量多维尺度分析(MDS)和群落相似性分析表明底栖动物群落结构季节差异显著(P=0.001),2013年三河水库的底栖动物群落可明显划分为3个:春季群落、夏秋季群落和冬季群落。皮尔森相关分析表明,底栖动物总密度与溶氧和营养盐呈正相关关系,与其他水理化因子呈显著负相关关系(P0.05)。冗余分析表明,氨氮、盐度、pH和浊度是三河水库底栖动物群落季节差异的显著影响因子(P0.05),总氮对底栖动物群落的季节差异具有边缘显著影响(P=0.08)。     

Amino acid composition of epilithic biofilm and benthic animals in a large Siberian river

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Benthic–pelagic coupling: a comparison of the community structure of benthic and planktonic heterotrophic protists in shallow inlets of the southern Baltic

1. The taxonomic composition, abundance and biomass of heterotrophic protists (ciliates, heterotrophic flagellates (HF), rhizopods and actinopods) in the sediment and water column of shallow inlets of the Southern Baltic was studied under a variety of environmental conditions during 1996–1997. A shallow, highly eutrophic station and a deeper, less eutrophic station were compared.
2. Community biomass ranged from 0.12 to 0.34 μg C cm?3 in the water column and from 1.5 to 105 μg C cm?3 in the sediment. Heterotrophic protists dominated zooplankton biomass at both stations (73% and 84% mean contribution), while they were of minor importance within the zoobenthos. Expressed per unit area, benthic biomass contributed a significant part (44% and 49%) to the total heterotrophic protistan community at both stations.
3. Although the methodology for counting ciliates and HF was focussed on a high taxonomic resolution, the results reveal some general trends in the distribution of heterotrophic protists: protozooplankton biomass was dominated by flagellates (80% mean biomass contribution) at the shallow station and by ciliates (73% mean biomass contribution) at the deep station. In the benthos at both stations, ciliates were the dominant protozoans, followed by the hitherto little‐studied rhizopods (25% and 35% mean biomass contribution) and flagellates.
4. The degree of benthic–pelagic coupling differed between taxonomic groups. Benthic and pelagic communities of ciliates showed little taxonomic overlap. In contrast, many heterotrophic flagellate species were found both in the benthos and in the pelagic. These benthic–pelagic species contributed significantly to the biomass of HF in the water column. The planktonic rhizopod community consisted of a subset of those species found in the benthos.
5. The abundance of benthic and pelagic protists was positively correlated at the shallow station, but taxonomic data indicate that the direct exchange between benthic and pelagic communities was only partly responsible.     

Macrozoobenthos in the middle course of the Vyatka River in the area of a Chemical-Weapons Destruction Facility

The results of 5-year studies on macrozoobenthos in the Vyatka River in the area of the Chemical-Weapons Destruction Facility (CWDF) (settlement of Mirny, Kirov oblast) at the stage of neutralization of organophosphorous agents are presented. The taxonomic composition, dynamics of quantitative parameters, and structure of communities of bottom invertebrates are considered. A bioindicational assessment of water quality is made. The conservation of the total taxonomic richness and increase in the total biomass of zoobenthos are established. Processes of organic pollution and eutrophication in the Vyatka River are determined.     

Peculiarities of the zooperiphyton succession in beaver ponds of a small river

The increase in the species diversity of the zooperiphyton and intensifying succession due to the increase of the abundance of chironomid larvae (stage I) was observed upstream along the small Latka River (a tributary of Rybinsk Reservoir) during the first year after the appearance of the beaver dam, when the depth increased and the flow velocity decreased. In the beaver pond, which was overgrown by yellow water-lily, the zoocenose succession depended greatly on the abundance of the vegetating and fading plants. During the vegetation period, at high abundance of the yellow water-lily, the species richness of the zoocenose decreased, and then it increased again the next year, when new vegetation was low, and the old plants were decomposing en masse. Directly downstream from one of the beaver dams, the mollusks affected negatively the seasonal succession of the zoocenoses under an instable water level and current regime, when they removed nearly all the fouling from the substrates.     

Glutathione S-transferase activity in marine invertebrates from Peter the Great Bay in the Sea of Japan

A total of 23 species of marine invertebrates from Peter the Great Bay belonging to five taxonomic groups were screened for the activity of glutathione S-transferase, which is one of the main enzymes for the detoxification of organic xenobiotics. Significant variation of the enzyme activity (7.1 to 36900 nmol/min/mg of protein) was found among the different groups of organisms. The possible reasons for the differences in enzyme activity are discussed based on the example of bivalve mollusks.     

The effect of in-stream gravel extraction in a pre-alpine gravel-bed river on hyporheic invertebrate community

We investigated the effect of in-stream gravel extraction in a pre-alpine gravel-bed river on hyporheic invertebrate community, together with changes in the hyporheic geomorphology, physico-chemistry and biofilm activity. Hyporheic invertebrates were collected, together with environmental data, on seven sampling occasions from June 2004 to May 2005, at two river reaches—at the site of in-stream gravel extraction and at a site 2.5 km upstream. The hyporheic samples were taken from the river bed and from the gravel bars extending laterally from the stream channel. The invertebrate community was dominated by insect larvae (occasional hyporheos), followed by meiofauna (permanent hyporheos). Stygobionts were present at low species richness and in low densities. Gravel extraction from the stream channel led to changes in the patterns of water exchange between surface and subsurface and changes in the sediment composition at the site. Immediate reductions in density and taxonomic richness of invertebrates were observed, together with changes in their community composition. The hyporheic invertebrate community in the river recovered relatively fast (in 2.5 months) by means of density and taxonomic richness, while by means of community composition invertebrates needed 5–7 months to recover. The impact of fine sediments (<0.1 mm) on biofilm activity measured through ETS activity and hyporheic invertebrate density and taxonomic richness was strongly confirmed in this study.