Temperature as a driver for the expansion of the microalga Gonyostomum semen in Swedish lakes

Gonyostomum semen (Ehrenb) Diesing is a bloom-forming and noxious phytoplankton species, that usually occurs in brown-water lakes and which is often referred to as an invasive species. The aim of our study was to analyze changes over time in the occurrence and distribution of blooms, and to find possible drivers of this change. We also performed spatial analyses to identify environmental factors coupled to Gonyostomum's distribution. The effect of temperature on key processes in the Gonyostomum life cycle was further investigated experimentally to determine potential mechanistic causes. Our results show that G. semen has expanded in Swedish lakes since 1988. At the turn of the Millennium it was present in more than a quarter of the lakes included in the Swedish national lake monitoring program. Gonyostomum-lakes have significantly higher DOC, higher nutrient levels, and lower pH than non-Gonyostomum lakes. Trend analyses show a significant increase in the number of lakes with Gonyostomum, as well as in biomass and occurrence in samples. One explanation is that we more often find water temperatures exceeding 6 °C, which is also the threshold for positive growth in our laboratory experiments. Moreover, according to our partial least square regression model (PLS) analysis in one lake, we find that the increase in biomass is a function of temperature in combination with other factors. Thus, we conclude that an increase in water temperature resulting in longer growth season may be a driver of the expansion of Gonyostomum. However, temperature alone cannot explain why the species has expanded to new lakes within the same climatic region. Possibly an interplay between DOC and temperature can explain the patterns observed.     

Evidence of concurrent local adaptation and high phenotypic plasticity in a polar microeukaryote

Here we investigated whether there is evidence of local adaptation in strains of an ancestrally marine dinoflagellate to the lacustrine environment they now inhabit (optimal genotypes) and/or if they have evolved phenotypic plasticity (a range of phenotypes). Eleven strains of Polarella glacialis were isolated and cultured from three different environments: the polar seas, a hyposaline and a hypersaline Antarctic lake. Local adaptation was tested by comparing growth rates of lacustrine and marine strains at their own and reciprocal site conditions. To determine phenotypic plasticity, we measured the reaction norm for salinity. We found evidence of both, limited local adaptation and higher phenotypic plasticity in lacustrine strains when compared with marine ancestors. At extreme high salinities, local lake strains outperformed other strains, and at extreme low salinities, strains from the hyposaline lake outperformed all other strains. The data suggest that lake populations may have evolved higher phenotypic plasticity in the lake habitats compared with the sea, presumably due to the high temporal variability in salinity in the lacustrine systems. Moreover, the interval of salinity tolerance differed between strains from the hyposaline and hypersaline lakes, indicating local adaptation promoted by different salinity.     

Biomonitoring potential of a Caryophyllaeid tapeworm: Evaluation of Adenoscolex oreini infection level and health status in three fish species of the genus Schizothorax across eutrophication and pollution gradients

Endoparasitic infections vary significantly across altered aquatic ecosystems, making these organisms ideal for the biomonitoring of degraded environments. To assess the biomonitoring potential of the Caryophyllaeid tapeworm Adenoscolex oreini and the possible impact of water quality on fish species, a study was carried out in three lakes with marked eutrophication and pollution gradients. The A. oreini infection level in three host fish species of the genus Schizothorax and corresponding fish health status were determined. The pattern of cestode infection varied significantly in the three fish species across the pollution gradient. The prevalence of infection in two fish species (Schizothorax esocinus and S. curvifrons) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the eutrophic lake than in the reference lake, whereas in S. niger, the maximum was reached in the hypereutrophic lake. The estimated marginal mean intensity and other infection indices varied significantly (P < 0.05) across the inter- and intra-pollution gradients of lakes. Multivariate statistical analysis results revealed maximum cestode infection in the eutrophic lake. An altered seasonal pattern was observed in the highly stressed lake. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) and condition factor values were significantly greater in fish collected from the reference lake than in those collected from the other lakes. A significant negative relationship between GSI and cestode prevalence was observed in the hypereutrophic lake as compared to least eutrophic lake. These findings indicate that infection indices of the Caryophyllaeid tapeworm and health attributes of fish can act as surrogates for the environmental quality of deteriorated lentic water bodies of the north-western Himalayan region, which is currently undergoing environmental degradation.     

Elevational variation in adult body size and growth rate but not in metabolic rate in the tree weta Hemideina crassidens

Populations of the same species inhabiting distinct localities experience different ecological and climatic pressures that might result in differentiation in traits, particularly those related to temperature. We compared metabolic rate (and its thermal sensitivity), growth rate, and body size among nine high- and low-elevation populations of the Wellington tree weta, Hemideina crassidens, distributed from 9 to 1171 m a.s.l across New Zealand. Our results did not indicate elevational compensation in metabolic rates (metabolic cold adaptation). Cold acclimation decreased metabolic rate compared to warm-acclimated individuals from both high- and low-elevation populations. However, we did find countergradient variation in growth rates, with individuals from high-elevation populations growing faster and to a larger final size than individuals from low-elevation populations. Females grew faster to a larger size than males, although as adults their metabolic rates did not differ significantly. The combined physiological and morphological data suggest that high-elevation individuals grow quickly and achieve larger size while maintaining metabolic rates at levels not significantly different from low-elevation individuals. Thus, morphological differentiation among tree weta populations, in concert with genetic variation, might provide the material required for adaptation to changing conditions.     

Development and application of an ecological classification tool for fish in lakes in Ireland

A classification tool suitable for establishing the ecological status of lakes based on fish population parameters has been developed for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (EU Water Framework Directive Ecoregion 17). A lake typology relevant to fish populations in lakes from Ecoregion 17 was produced as part of the ecological classification tool development. Four lake types were determined based on fish metrics and abiotic variables from 43 “reference” lakes. The specific lake fish typology categorised lakes into low (≤67 CaCO₃ mg L⁻¹) or high (>67 CaCO₃ mg L⁻¹) alkalinity, and shallow (≤17 m) or deep (>17 m) maximum depth. The fish in lakes classification tool (FIL2) follows a novel multimetric predictive approach, assigning ecological status to a lake using two independent methods. FIL2 qualitatively defines a lake's ecological status based on fish metrics using discriminant classification rules and, using a generalised linear model, quantitatively derives an Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR, 0 < EQR < 1), along with associated confidence intervals. It is recommended that both methods are used to validate output and cross-check and highlight potential misclassification.     

Rapid evolution in response to introduced predators II: the contribution of adaptive plasticity

Background  

Introductions of non-native species can significantly alter the selective environment for populations of native species, which can respond through phenotypic plasticity or genetic adaptation. We examined phenotypic and genetic responses of Daphnia populations to recent introductions of non-native fish to assess the relative roles of phenotypic plasticity versus genetic change in causing the observed patterns. The Daphnia community in alpine lakes throughout the Sierra Nevada of California (USA) is ideally suited for investigation of rapid adaptive evolution because there are multiple lakes with and without introduced fish predators. We conducted common-garden experiments involving presence or absence of chemical cues produced by fish and measured morphological and life-history traits in Daphnia melanica populations collected from lakes with contrasting fish stocking histories. The experiment allowed us to assess the degree of population differentiation due to fish predation and examine the contribution of adaptive plasticity in the response to predator introduction.     

Geometric morphometrics on Greek house mouse populations (Mus musculus domesticus) with Robertsonian and all-acrocentric chromosomal arrangements

This work aims to give the first comprehensive morphometric analysis of intraspecific variation for the different populations of the western house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus), in the Robertsonian (Rb) system of the N-NW Peloponnisos. Furthermore, we study all-acrocentric karyotype populations (2n = 40) of the species coming from several localities of Greece. We apply 2D shape analysis, i.e. landmark analysis and Elliptic Fourier Analysis, on the dorsal and ventral side of skull and the occlusal view of the first upper molar (M¹), respectively. Although significant genetic divergence between typical and Rb populations and even ongoing speciation processes have been reported for this species, this was not the case for the Greek populations studied. However, our analyses herein reveal morphologically differentiated chromosome groups in N-NW Peloponnisos Rb system and a clear geographical discrimination of the all-acrocentric (2n = 40) populations for all characters studied. We suggest that in all-acrocentric (2n = 40) karyotype mice the geographical distance drives their differentiation while within the Rb system of N-NW Peloponnisos, karyotype is the key factor that acts on their phenotypic variation.     

Does experience with competition matter? Effects of source competitive environment on mean and plastic trait expression in Erodium cicutarium

Interspecific competition is likely to act as an agent for selection on local scales, although evidence in plants is sparse so far. We hypothesize that in annual shade-avoiding grassland species, heterogeneity in the intensity of aboveground competition for light may shape patterns of genetic variation and induce phenotypic plasticity in traits affecting competitive ability. We collected maternal seed families of Erodium cicutarium from replicated high and low competition environments and exposed them to different levels of aboveground competition in a glasshouse. We examined effects of seed source and competition treatment on expression of plant traits related to competitive ability and fitness. Source environments with high levels of competition were significantly more heterogeneous in competition intensity at both intermediate (approx. 10 m) and small (approx. 0.1 m) spatial scales. Seed source and competition treatment both had highly significant effects on trait expression. Greater intensity of competition experienced by maternal plants was coupled with lower vegetative biomass production and slower growth rates, and at the same time lower abortion rates in the offspring. We interpret these findings as an indication of greater reproductive efficiency in the next generation, in response to competition experienced by parents. There was higher total phenotypic variability in the plants from high competition source sites, but equivalent levels of phenotypic plasticity across source-site competition levels; no costs of phenotypic plasticity were detected. We concluded that differences in competition intensity can lead to trait differentiation in the next generation. For E. cicutarium, experience with competition matters: it leads to substantial phenotypic differences and more total variability in the offspring generation.     

An alternative explanation for cyanobacterial scum formation and persistence by oxygenic photosynthesis

The cause of persistent cyanobacteria scum formation in lakes is an unresolved subject. Scum refers to the event in which cyanobacteria are at the water surface of a lake. Factors like low turbulence levels, long day-light, high water temperatures and the buoyant capacity of cyanobacterial cells play a role in the occurrence of scums. However, they do not explain why scums are observed at periods during the day when according to theory they should have disappeared into the deeper water layers. In this study, we present an alternative explanation. The hypothesis we present here is that irreversible buoyancy of cyanobacteria colonies is created by the growth of gas bubbles on or within the mucilage of the colonies. These bubbles grow under oxygen super-saturated conditions. At low wind speed and high chlorophyll levels, the dissolved oxygen (DO) produced during photosynthesis by cyanobacteria, cannot escape sufficiently fast to the atmosphere hence a DO supersaturated condition arises in the water. At this stage, growth of oxygen bubbles may occur inside or attached to the mucilage. We present results of compression experiments to support our hypothesis. In a chamber, the pressure on lake water containing a natural cyanobacteria population is increased. At 3 × 10⁵ and 4 × 10⁵ Pa the cyanobacteria colonies were not able to float anymore and sank. This pressure is lower than the 10⁶ Pa needed to collapse all gas vacuoles inside the cyanobacteria cells (Walsby, 1994). The observed change from floating to sinking colonies due to increased water pressure suggests that gas bubbles were present inside the colonies. In lakes, these gas bubbles may lead to permanent buoyancy, i.e. a persistent scum.     

Factors influencing the return of submerged plants to a clear-water,shallow temperate lake

Lack of submerged vegetation was studied in a small, shallow, alkaline, clear-water lake with high nitrate concentration (mean 9 mg NO₃–N L⁻¹) and profuse filamentous green algae (FGA) (mainly Spirogyra sp.). A laboratory microcosm and two lake enclosure experiments were carried out using Elodea nuttallii (Planchon) St John. E. nuttallii grew about 1.7 times as well in sediment from its place of origin compared with sediment from the lake. Differential water quality had no effect, and neither sediment nor water prevented growth in the lake. Nutrient addition reduced plant growth by more than 55% because of shading from epiphytic filamentous green algae (shoot dry weight versus epiphytic algal dry weight, r = −0.491, P < 0.05). Transplanted Elodea plants grew better in enclosures in the lake than in laboratory conditions with lake water and sediment (P < 0.001, t-test). Rare Elodea individuals in the lake indicate the presence of plant propagules in the lake sediment, but excessive growth of filamentous green algae (summer mean 3.2 g dry weight m⁻²) significantly hamperd plant growth (shoot length reduced from 29 ± S.E.M. 1 to 25 ± 1 cm) and bird herbivory significantly reduced survival (from 82 ± 7 to 40 ± 6%) and shoot growth (from 78 ± 6 to 18 ± 5 cm) and thus eliminates establishment of even modest plant beds. Fish disturbance and sediment stability were not important. Restoration of submerged plants may require reduction of nitrate input, control of filamentous green algae and protection from birds.     

Genetic diversity and population structure in Vallisneria spinulosa (Hydrocharitaceae)

Vallisneria spinulosa is a dominant submerged macrophyte in lakes of the middle–lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Allozyme variation, clonal diversity and population genetic structure were investigated for a total of 396 individuals sampled from 10 extant populations. V. spinulosa maintained high levels of genetic variation both at the species (P = 46.2, A = 1.69, H_e = 0.23) and at the population level (P = 46.2, A = 1.58, H_e = 0.21). Although aquatic macrophytes commonly exhibit low genetic variation within populations, the obligately outcrossing mating system of V. spinulosa and pervasive gene flow likely account for the high levels of diversity maintained within populations. All V. spinulosa populations contained high clonal diversity with a mean proportion of distinguishable genotypes of 0.57 and a mean Simpson's diversity index of 0.95, indicating that populations were founded sexually or that successful seedling recruitment occurred after initial colonization. Partitioning of genetic diversity revealed a surprisingly low population differentiation (G_ST = 0.06) as compared to other hydrophilous angiosperms. No evidence of isolation-by-distance was found (r = 0.056, P = 0.312), suggesting that gene flow was not restricted geographically. The UPGMA cluster analysis revealed that several widely separated populations grouped together, suggesting long-distance gene flow among populations. The high vagility of V. spinulosa and extensive hydrologic connectivity among populations have facilitated long-distance gene flow and resulted in the pattern of population genetic structure in V. spinulosa.     

Multi-scale phenotype-substrate matching: Evidence from shore crabs (Carcinus maenas L.)

Phenotype-environment correlations can be caused by various overlapping ecological processes (e.g. differential mortality, phenotypic plasticity and adaptation) operating over a range of spatial and temporal scales. However, multi-scale studies of the relationship between specific traits and environmental variables are rare, even though such a holistic view may have greater predictive value than the more typical single-scale observations. Here, we investigate the relationship between cryptic colouration and environmental characteristics at a range of spatial scales for the shore crab (Carcinus maenas L.), a common intertidal species. Using existing data sets at macro-scale (10,000s m²) and meso-scale (100s m²) and previously unpublished data at a micro-scale (<1 m²) we demonstrate that phenotype-substrate associations in this species are sampling-scale invariant. The association is strongest at the micro-scale, possibly because the advantages of cryptic colouration for visual predator avoidance are dependent on close concordance between prey phenotype and the surrounding substrate. By contrast, correlations at greater spatial scales may reflect longer term processes such as phenotypic plasticity or the accumulated effects of predator mediated differential mortality.     

An ostracod-based calibration function for electrical conductivity reconstruction in lacustrine environments in Patagonia,Southern South America

In the Patagonian region (∼37–56°S) E of the Andes, the salinity and solute composition of lakes is strongly related to their location along the marked W-E decreasing precipitation gradient that is one of the main climatic features of the area. A calibration function (n = 34) based on 12 ostracod species (Ostracoda, Crustacea) was developed by WA-PLS to quantitatively reconstruct electrical conductivity (EC) values as a salinity proxy. The selected one component model had a r² = 0.74 and RMSEP and maximum bias equal to 16% and 31% of the sampled range, respectively, comparable to other published ostracod-based calibration functions. This model was applied to the ostracod record of the closed lake Laguna Cháltel (49°58′S, 71°07′W), comprising seven species and dominated by two species of the genus Limnocythere. In order to evaluate the calibration function’s robustness, the obtained EC values were compared with qualitative lake level and salinity variations inferred through a multiproxy hydrological reconstruction of the lake. Both reconstructions show good overall agreement, with reconstructed EC values in the oligo-mesohaline range (average: 11 060 ± 680 μS/cm) between 4570 and 3190 cal BP, corresponding to the ephemeral and shallow lake phases, and a marked decrease in EC concurrent with a lake level rise, reaching an average EC of 1140 ± 90 μS/cm during the deep lake phase (1720 cal BP to present). The variability in the reconstructed EC values for the ephemeral lake phase showed some inconsistency with the expected trend, which was attributed to time-averaging effects; for its part, the pace of the decrease in EC during the medium-depth phase (3190–1720 cal BP) differed from the expected, which could be due to autigenic effects (redissolution of salts) at the onset of this phase. This comparison not only lends support to the adequacy of the calibration function, but also suggests that its application in the context of a multiproxy study can greatly contribute to distinguish between autigenic and climatic-related controls of paleosalinity in closed lakes, allowing performing more accurate paleoenvironmental inferences on the basis of paleohydrological reconstructions.     

Development of a macrophyte-based index of biotic integrity for Minnesota lakes

Traditional approaches for managing aquatic resources have often failed to account for effects of anthropogenic disturbances on biota that are not directly reflected by chemical and physical proxies of environmental condition. The index of biotic integrity (IBI) is a potentially effective assessment method to integrate ecological, functional, and structural aspects of aquatic systems. A macrophyte-based IBI was developed for Minnesota lakes to assess the ability of aquatic plant communities to indicate environmental condition. The index was developed using quantitative point intercept vegetation surveys for 97 lakes that represent a range of limnological and watershed characteristics. We followed an approach similar to that used in Wisconsin to develop the aquatic macrophyte community index (AMCI). Regional adaptation of the AMCI required the identification of species representative of macrophyte communities in Minnesota. Metrics and scaling methods were also substantially modified to produce a more empirically robust index. Regression analyses indicated that IBI scores reflected statewide differences in lake trophic state (R² = 0.57, F = 130.3, df = 1, 95, p < 0.005), agricultural (R² = 0.51, F = 83.0, df = 1, 79, p < 0.005), urban (R² = 0.22, F = 23.0, df = 1, 79, p < 0.005), and forested land uses (R² = 0.51, F = 84.7, df = 1, 79, p < 0.005), and county population density (R² = 0.14, F = 16.6, df = 1, 95, p < 0.005). Variance partitioning analyses using multiple regression models indicated a unique response of the IBI to human-induced stress separate from a response to natural lake characteristics. The IBI was minimally affected by differences in sample point density as indicated by Monte Carlo analyses of reduced sampling effort. Our analysis indicates that a macrophyte IBI calibrated for Minnesota lakes could be useful for identifying differences in environmental condition attributed to human-induced stress gradients.     

The influence of abiotic stress and phenotypic plasticity on the distribution of invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides along a riparian zone

Relatively few studies have compared invasibility and species invasiveness among microhabitats within communities, synchronously. We surveyed the abundance and performance of non-native Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. (alligator weed), its co-occurring native congener, Alternanthera sessilis (L.) DC. (sessile joyweed), and other species in a wetland community along a riparian zone in southeast China to test the hypotheses that: i) degree of invasion differs between different types of microhabitats within the community; and ii) microhabitat types that differ in invasibility also differ in soil resource availability or in sediment characteristics likely to affect resource availability; iii) phenotypic plasticity of A. philoxeroides may play a key role in its adaptation to diverse habitats as can be concluded from its extremely low genetic diversity in China. The study riparian zone comprises different types of microhabitats including wet abandoned field, swamp, marsh dunes and gravel dunes. Consistent with these hypotheses, cover of A. philoxeroides was high in abandoned fields (73 ± 2.9%) and swamps (94 ± 1.3%), which had high soil nutrients and water availability. On the contrary, cover of native A. sessilis was relatively high in marsh dunes and grave dunes, which had coarse gravel surfaces, low soil nutrients and low water availability. A. philoxeroides showed greater morphological plasticity in response to habitat variation. In abiotically harsh habitats, stems had limited growth, and were prostrate with weak adventitious roots at nodes, forming thin, scattered patches. In the two richer habitats, the highly branched plants spread over the water or soil surface, supporting dense stronger leaf-bearing stems which grew vertically. The growth pattern of A. sessilis among microhabitats did not exhibit significant variations. These results suggest that morphological plasticity and microhabitat types with high soil resources may facilitate invasions of A. philoxeroides.     

The tempo-spatial variations of phytoplankton diversities and their correlation with trophic state levels in a large eutrophic Chinese lake

Lake Chaohu is one of the most eutrophic lakes in China. Research on this lake's seasonal and spatial variations in phytoplankton diversity is needed to understand the distribution of eutrophication, as well as to find appropriate comprehensive biodiversity indices to assess the eutrophication status of the lake. The present study indicated that the Margalef index of all samples was as low as 0.799 ± 0.543 in summer (August 2011) and as high as 1.467 ± 0.653 in winter (February 2012). The Margalef index of the river samples had a high mean value and substantial variation compared with the lake samples. The Peilou index of the lake samples was higher than that of the river samples in summer and autumn (November 2011) but lower than that of the river samples in winter. In spring (May 2012), the Peilou index of the western samples was lower than that of the eastern samples. The spatial distribution of the Shannon–Wiener index was more similar to that of the Peilou index in autumn and winter, while in spring and summer, the spatial distribution was affected by both species richness and evenness. High eutrophication levels occurred in the western lake in spring and summer, whereas high levels occurred in the eastern lake, especially in the middle of the lake, in autumn and winter. The total trophic state index (TSI) in all samples exhibited a significant negative correlation with the Margalef (r = −0.726) and Peilou (r = −0.530) indices but a significant positive correlation with the Shannon–Wiener (r = 0.654) index. The partial correlation analysis results implied that these phytoplankton biodiversity indices could serve as synthetic ecological indicators to assess the eutrophication condition of Lake Chaohu.     

Phenotypic plasticity in Phragmites australis as a functional response to water depth

We have performed investigations to see if the emergent macrophyte Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. exhibits phenotypic plasticity as a response to water depth and if such responses in biomass allocation pattern and morphology are functional responses, improving the performance of the plant. In greenhouse experiments plants were grown in deep or shallow water to evaluate plastic responses. Allometric methods were used to handle effects caused by size differences between treatments. To evaluate if phenotypic responses to water depth are functional, the relative growth rate (RGR) of plants acclimatised to shallow or deep water, respectively, were compared in deep water, and the growth of plants in fluctuating and constant water level were compared.When grown in deep (70 or 75 cm), compared to shallow (20 or 5 cm) water, plants allocated proportionally less to below-ground weight, made proportionally fewer but taller stems, and had rhizomes that were situated more superficially in the substrate. Plants acclimatised to shallow water had lower RGR than plants acclimatised to deep water, when they were grown in deep water, and plants in constant water depth (40 cm) grew faster than plants in fluctuating water depth (15/65 cm). In an additional field study, the rhizomes were situated superficially in the sediment in deep, compared to shallow water.We have shown that P. australis acclimatises to deep water with phenotypic plasticity through allocating more resources to stem weight, and also by producing fewer but taller stems, which will act to maintain a positive carbon balance and an effective gas exchange between aerial and below-ground parts. Furthermore, the decreased proportional allocation to below-ground parts probably results in decreased nutrient absorption, decreased anchorage in the sediment and decreased carbohydrate reserves. Thus, in deep water, plants have an increased risk of becoming uprooted and experience decreased growth and dispersal rates.     

Estimating spatial variation in the abundance of potential microcystin-producing Microcystis spp. using real-time PCR during summer bloom in Lake Taihu

Lake Taihu, which is the third largest freshwater lakes in China, is a hypertrophic shallow lake in eastern China that has experienced lake-wide cyanobacterial blooms annually during the last few decades. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR assays targeting on phycocyanin intergenic spacer (PC-IGS) and a microcystin synthetase gene mcyD were established, respectively. Water samples collected from eight sampling sites (including Zhushan Bay (N5), Meiliang Bay (N2), Gonghu Bay (N4), West lake areas (W2 and W4), south-middle lake areas (S2, S4 and S5)) in August of 2009 and 2010 were analyzed using real time PCR for the distribution and abundance of toxic and total Microcystis populations. The results showed that Microcystis exists as a mixed population of potential toxic and non-toxic genotypes, and there was significant spatial changes in the abundance of potential toxic Microcystis on the basis of quantification by quantitative real-time PCR analysis: the abundance of toxic Microcystis population in 2009 and 2010 varied from 4.08 × 10⁴ to 8.28 × 10⁶ copies mL^?1, from 4.45 × 10⁵ to 5.22 × 10⁷ copies mL^?1, respectively. Meanwhile the ratio of the mcyD subpopulation to the total Microcystis varied considerably, from 5.7% to 41.1% in 2009 and from 10.3% to 65.8% in 2010 in all sampling sites, and the value is high in Zhushan Bay and Meiliang Bay with the high level of eutrophication. Correlation analysis showed the abundance of toxic and total Microcystis being strongly related (P < 0.01). However, there is different effects of environmental factors on the abundance of toxic and non-toxic Microcystis populations. The abundance of toxic and total Microcystis populations were positively correlated with chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration (P < 0.01) suggesting that Microcystis is dominated genera of cyanobacterial bloom in Lake Taihu. It was also found that the abundance of toxic Microcystis and the proportion of toxic subpopulation to the total Microcystis were positively correlated with total phosphorus and orthophosphate concentrations (P < 0.01), whereas there was no significant correlation with total nitrogen and nitrate concentration (P > 0.05). All data suggest that phosphorus concentration is a critical factor for determining the abundance of toxic Microcystis population.     

Quantile regression analysis as a predictive tool for lake macroinvertebrate biodiversity

The Water Framework Directive introduced in Europe major changes to improve the management of water resources. This study aims to highlight some of the potential implications of its implementation for lake water monitoring in Italy. A Life+ project was launched to plan the first monitoring of lake macroinvertebrates standardized at the national level.Quantile regression analysis was used to explain different metrics of diversity describing macroinvertebrate communities in response to twenty-one variables representing chemical, physical and morphological characteristics of the environment. Nine lakes located in two Italian regions (Piedmont and Sardinia) were analyzed covering a wide trophic spectrum, from oligotrophy to hyper-eutrophy. The lakes were sampled following the national standardized protocol with samples covering the three recognized lake zones: littoral, sublittoral, profundal.The studied lakes had high chemical variability with conductivity ranging between 53 and 561 μS/cm, pH between 6.5 and 9.1, and alkalinity between 14 and 398 mg/l. The bottom sediments were characterized by fine sand (range 51–99%), followed by silt (1–35%) and clay (0–28%). When the Lake Habitat Survey was also applied to these lakes, its synthetic indices (LHMS, Lake Habitat Modification Score and LHQA, Lake Habitat Quality Assessment) produced higher values in natural lakes (mean values ± SD: LHMS = 26 ± 7, LHQA = 57 ± 3) than in the reservoirs (LHMS = 22 ± 4, LHQA = 52 ± 6). In all lakes, macroinvertebrates mainly consisted of chironomids and oligochaetes characterized by relative abundances up to 80% and >90%, respectively.Using quantile regression to evaluate limiting responses, only two variables, namely sampling depth and oxygen percent saturation (oxygen content), resulted the ones that best explained all the analyzed metrics of diversity of the macroinvertebrate communities. Depth and oxygen were then used to suggest synthetic models describing the various metrics of potential community diversity. These models can help the environmental agencies responsible for monitoring at the national level in distinguishing entire lakes or part of them with high biodiversity from those in altered conditions and then address remediation efforts toward the water bodies with the most critical conditions. Such approach could also be used to optimize the sampling procedures for the application of the Benthic Quality Index for lakes currently adopted at national level.     

Assessment of spatial distribution and cysts resources of Artemia in late autumn in Dangxiong Co salt lake

Based on the vertically interval sampling in 25 sampling sites in Dangxiong Co salt lake in 2011, a preliminary investigation on population spatial distribution and cysts resources of Artemia in the lake has been conducted. The study achieves four new progresses. First, the average density of Artemia and Artemia cysts in the lake is 4.157 × 10³ ind. m⁻² and 8.069 × 10⁴ ind. m⁻², respectively. Among Artemia, the adults account for 60.31%; Second, different from other salt lakes in horizontal distribution, the Artemia population mainly distributes in the open water, only a little in the shallow water, and there is no distribution in the longshore area in the north part and the estuary region; Third, in vertical distribution, 44.24% of individuals intensively distribute in the upper water layer within 2.0 m, especially 0–0.2 m, where the average density of Artemia and cysts are maximum (129.488 ind. L⁻¹ and 5.728 ind. L⁻¹, respectively). A decrease of distribution density is accompanied by an increase of water depth basically, the percentage of Artemia and cysts decrease to 0.68% and 4.60%, respectively; Fourth, the cysts resources of 14.96 t in the lake are assessed using contour map. 66.35% of them distributed in 0.0–2.0 m water layer and 49.06% concentrate in the 18.21% areas of the central water; Fifth, quantity of cysts suitable for development in the lake is 2.399 ± 0.320 t, with an upper limit of 0.879 t. The study can provide a reference for the sustainable development and exploitation of Artemia in Dangxiong Co salt lake.