Study of biological communities subject to imperfect detection: bias and precision of community <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-mixture abundance models in small-sample situations

Community N-mixture abundance models for replicated counts provide a powerful and novel framework for drawing inferences related to species abundance within communities subject to imperfect detection. To assess the performance of these models, and to compare them to related community occupancy models in situations with marginal information, we used simulation to examine the effects of mean abundance \((\bar{\lambda }\): 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5), detection probability \((\bar{p}\): 0.1, 0.2, 0.5), and number of sampling sites (n _site : 10, 20, 40) and visits (n _visit : 2, 3, 4) on the bias and precision of species-level parameters (mean abundance and covariate effect) and a community-level parameter (species richness). Bias and imprecision of estimates decreased when any of the four variables \((\bar{\lambda }\), \(\bar{p}\), n _site , n _visit ) increased. Detection probability \(\bar{p}\) was most important for the estimates of mean abundance, while \(\bar{\lambda }\) was most influential for covariate effect and species richness estimates. For all parameters, increasing n _site was more beneficial than increasing n _visit . Minimal conditions for obtaining adequate performance of community abundance models were n _site  ≥ 20, \(\bar{p}\) ≥ 0.2, and \(\bar{\lambda }\) ≥ 0.5. At lower abundance, the performance of community abundance and community occupancy models as species richness estimators were comparable. We then used additive partitioning analysis to reveal that raw species counts can overestimate β diversity both of species richness and the Shannon index, while community abundance models yielded better estimates. Community N-mixture abundance models thus have great potential for use with community ecology or conservation applications provided that replicated counts are available.     

Low interspecific pollen transfer between invasive aquatic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ludwigia grandiflora</Emphasis> and native co-flowering plants

Showy invasive alien plants are often integrated in the diet of generalist pollinators and because of the lack of co-evolvement with the native plant community, a high amount of interspecific pollen transfer (IPT) can be expected. We investigated pollinator switching and magnitude plus distance of IPT between the alien aquatic Ludwigia grandiflora and the native Lythrum salicaria in both directions in uninvaded and invaded sites with a different relative abundance of L. grandiflora (% cover of the alien plant: no cover; low cover: <5%; high cover: 50–75%). A field experiment was conducted to include both pollinator interspecific movements and tracking of IPT, using fluorescent dye as a pollen analogue. Despite a substantial overlap in pollinators between L. grandiflora and the native L. salicaria, less than 10% of the observed flights were interspecific. Similar results were found in dye transfer patterns. The proportions of stigmas with conspecific dye were always higher than the proportions of stigmas with heterospecific dye for L grandiflora and L. salicaria. There were no differences in conspecific dye loads for L. salicaria between uninvaded and invaded sites. Conspecific pollen loss (native CPL) and heterospecific pollen deposition (alien HPD) were in general low and species-specific. The distance of HPD ranged respectively from 1.7 to 39 m and from 0.3 to 54.8 m in the low cover and high cover sites while CPL ranged respectively from 6.40 to 68.02 m and from 0.60 to 40.18 m in the low cover and high cover sites. We can conclude that, in this system, CPL and HPD will play a minor role in pollinator-mediated interaction. Furthermore, interspecific competition for pollinators will cover a larger distance than just neighboring individuals. Our results suggest the necessity to consider the combined effect of insect visitation, pollen deposition, relative alien abundance, distance and seed set when investigating pollinator-mediated interactions of invasive plants.     

Methanogenic community compositions in surface sediment of freshwater aquaculture ponds and the influencing factors

Aquaculture ponds represent ecologically relevant environments to study the community composition and diversity of methanogenic assemblages, as well as their interactions with cultivated species and chemical indicators. In this study, aquaculture ponds with crab (Eriocheir sinensis), oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense), perch (Micropterus salmonides) and Wuchang fish (Parabramis pekinensis) were sampled, and Illumina high-throughput sequencing was used to investigate the methanogenic communities. The results revealed that the abundant methanogenic orders in surface sediment were Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinales and Methanocellales. The relative abundance of Methanocellales was higher in crab and prawn ponds as compared to other ponds. Methanogenic 16S rRNA gene abundance and beta diversity of the community was affected by the cultivated species. Methanogenic communities in aquaculture ponds with higher contents of total nitrogen and organic matter had decreased species richness, while those with higher contents of ammonia and nitrite had an overall decreased abundance of methanogens and their respective diversities. Overall, in addition to the differences in cultivated species, the consequent differences in farming practices including the types and amounts of feeds used, the contents of total nitrogen, organic matter, ammonia and nitrite could all influence the methanogenic community in surface sediment of aquaculture ponds.     

Environmental and ecological factors influencing the spillover of the non-native kelp, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Undaria pinnatifida</Emphasis>, from marinas into natural rocky reef communities

The non-native kelp, Undaria pinnatifida, is considered one of the world’s worst invasive species. The northeast Atlantic is a hotspot of Undaria invasion, yet there is limited knowledge on its invasion dynamics. In the UK its distribution is strongly associated with artificial structures, primarily marina and harbour pontoons, with relatively few records of Undaria on natural substrates. Here, the southwest UK is used as a case region, to explicitly link Undaria distribution-abundance patterns in artificial marina habitats with those in natural rocky reef habitats. Using a mixture of in situ recording and video survey techniques, Undaria was found at all thirteen marina sites surveyed; but in only 17 of 35 rocky reef sites, all of which were in 2 of the 5 larger systems surveyed (Plymouth Sound and Torbay). The distribution-abundance patterns of Undaria at reef sites were analysed using zero-inflated models. The probability of finding Undaria on rocky reef increased with increasing proximity to marinas with high abundances of Undaria. Total propagule pressure from marinas also increased the probability of occurrence, and was positively related to Undaria abundance and cover at reef sites. Increases in the cover of native kelps, Laminaria spp., and wave exposure at reef sites were linked to a reduced probability of Undaria occurrence, and lower abundance and cover. Identifying high risk areas, natural boundaries and factors affecting the spread and abundance of non-native species in natural habitats is key to future management prioritisation. Where Undaria is confined to artificial substrates management may be deemed a low priority. However, the results of this study suggest that controlling the abundance and propagule pressure in artificial habitats may limit, to some extent, the spillover of Undaria into natural rocky reef habitats, where it has the potential to interact with and influence native communities.     

Effect of vegetation cover on the abundance and diversity of ladybirds (Coccinellidae) assemblages in a peat bog

Predaceous ladybirds are important natural enemies of many insect pests in terrestrial ecosystems such as peatlands, which are habitats for specialized cold-adapted plants. Ladybird assemblages of pristine peat bogs have not yet been assessed. In total, 15 ladybird species were recorded in peat bog in Belarus by using entomological sweep net. The present study shows low diversity, evenness and species richness of ladybird assemblages. However, a small number of species were present in high numbers. These are Coccinella hieroglyphica, Chilocorus bipustulatus, Coccinulla qutuordecimpustulata and Hippodamia tredecimpunctata. Ladybird abundance was positively related to shrub cover and number of vascular plant species, and negatively related to herb cover. In terms of ladybird diversity, only shrub cover had a significant negative effect.     

Nitrogen dynamics and phytoplankton community structure: the role of organic nutrients

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is recognised as an important N source for phytoplankton. However, its relative importance for phytoplankton nutrition and community composition has not been studied comprehensively. This study, conducted in a typical Scottish fjord, representative of near-pristine coastal environments, evaluates the utilisation of DON and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) by different microbial size fractions and the relationship of phytoplankton community composition with DON and other parameters. The study demonstrated that DON was important in supporting phytoplankton throughout the yearly production cycle. The higher-than-expected urea uptake rates and large fraction of the spring bloom production supported by DON suggested that organic N not only contributes to regenerated production and to the nutrition of the small phytoplankton fraction, but can also contribute substantially to new production of the larger phytoplankton in coastal waters. Multivariate statistical techniques revealed two phytoplankton assemblages with peaks in abundance at different times of the year: a spring group dominated by Skeletonema spp., Thalassiosira spp., and Pseudo-nitzschia spp. group delicatissima; and a summer/autumn group dominated by Chaetoceros spp., Scrippsiella spp., and Pseudo-nitzschia spp. group seriata. The multivariate pattern in community composition and abundance of these taxa was significantly correlated with the multivariate pattern of DON, urea, dissolved free amino acids, DIN, temperature, salinity, and daylength, with daylength and urea being particularly important, suggesting both physical and chemical controls on community composition.     

Dynamics of the composition of a microbial consortium during start-up of a single-stage constant flow laboratory nitritation/anammox setup

Dynamics of the composition of the microbial community was studied during start-up of a single-stage completely mixed constant flow laboratory setup for ammonium removal by the nitritation/anammox process from the filtrate of digested sludge of the Kuryanovo wastewater treatment plant (KWTP), Moscow. To decrease the period of the start-up, the setup was initially inoculated with two types of activated sludge (nitrifying sludge from a KWTP aeration tank and sludge from a sequencing batch reactor enriched with anammox bacteria). The start-up and adjustment stage was therefore decreased to 35–40 days, and nitrogen removal efficiency reached 80% after 120 days of the setup operation. Taxonomic analysis of the composition of the microbial community was carried out by pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA fragments obtained using the universal and planctomycetes-specific primers. In the course of adaptation of activated sludge to increasing nitrogen load, microbial community of the setup became less diverse and more specialized. The contribution of anammox bacteria of the family Brocadiaceae, closely related to Candidatus “Brocadia caroliniensis,” increased gradually. Members of the order Nitrosomonadales were involved in ammonium oxidation to nitrite. While nitrite-oxidizing bacteria of the genus Nitrospira were also detected, their share decreased with accumulation of the activated sludge. The contribution of other bacteria varied as well: the shares of the phyla Ignavibacteria, Chloroflexi, and Acidobacteria increased significantly (up to 13, 12, and 10%, respectively of the total number of reads), while relative abundance of the Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Synergistetes, Aminicenantes, Thermotogae, and Cloacimonetes decreased. Thus, application of pyrosequencing made it possible to monitor succession of the bacterial community involved in nitrogen removal by nitritation/anammox process.     

Broiler chicken cecal microbiocenoses depending on mixed fodder

Molecular genetic techniques (NGS sequencing and quantitative PCR) were used to determine the composition of the cecal bacterial community of broiler chickens fed with different mixed fodder. The cecal microbiome exhibited taxonomic diversity, with both typical inhabitants of avian intestine belonging to the families Clostridiaceae, Eubacteriaceae, and Lactobacillaceae and to the phylum Bacteroidetes, and new unidentified taxa, as well as bacteria of the families Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, which were previously considered restricted to the rumen microbiota. Contrary to traditional concepts, enterococci and bifidobacteria were among the minor components of the community, lactate-fermenting species were absent, and typical avian pathogens of the genus Staphylococcus were detected but seldom. Members of the family Suterellaceae and the genus Gallibacterium, which are responsible for avian respiratory infections, were also detected. Significant fluctuations of abundance and composition of microbial groups within the cecal community and of the parameters of broiler productivity were found to occur depending on the feed allowance. Cellulose content in the feed had the most pronounced effect on the composition and structure of bacterial communities. Decreased cellulose content resulted in a decrease of bacterial abundance by an order of magnitude and in increased ratios of members of the phylum Bacteroidetes and the family Clostridiaceae, which possess the enzymes degrading starch polysaccharides. Abundance of the normal inhabitants of avian intestine belonging to the genus Lactobacillus and the order Bacillales decreased, while the share of Escherichia and members of the family Sutterellaceae increased, including some species capable of causing dysbiotic changes in the avian intestine. No significant change in the abundance of cellulolytics of the families Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Eubacteriaceae was observed.     

Spatial patterns of shrub encroachment in neighbouring grassland communities in the Pyrenees: floristic composition heterogeneity drives shrub proliferation rates

We studied the role of floristic composition and associational resistance in shrub dynamics by comparing spatial patterns of shrub cover after prescribed burning in neighbouring grassland communities with different palatability. The study focused on the shrub Cytisus balansae ssp. europaeus (G. López and Jarvis) Muñoz Garmendia. Seven two-dimensional transects (20 × 0.5 m) were established to monitor shrub cover for at least 10 years after prescribed burning. Shrub cover and spatial patterns were assessed in each transect. Floristic similarity between transects and Cytisus associations with different species were estimated. Over an entire transect, shrub cover and shrub scale of pattern and patch size were lowest in the unpalatable Festuca eskia grasslands and highest in F. paniculata grasslands. At short distances, we found negative associations between Cytisus and most of the grasses, except for F. nigrescens and Agrostis capillaris, which showed positive associations with Cytisus. Thus, the effects of associational resistance on shrub encroachment were not as marked as expected, F. eskia grasslands showing the lowest shrub encroachment rates after fire. By contrast, Cytisus was positively associated with the most palatable grasses in the site, namely F. nigrescens and A. capillaris. We conclude that differences in floristic composition drive shrub encroachment rates in these spatially heterogeneous communities.     

Spatial distribution shifts in two temperate fish species associated to a newly-introduced tropical seaweed invasion

The establishment of non-native habitat-forming seaweeds into new areas may trigger important changes in ecosystem functioning, yet their community and ecosystem-level effects remain largely understudied. Here we studied the spatial distribution of two common fish species (Xyrichtys novacula and Bothus podas) which are key components of communities in unconsolidated bottoms of temperate areas regarding the colonization of the newly-introduced tropical seaweed Halimeda incrassata in the Mediterranean Sea. We used a spatially-explicit before-after-control-impact model and a unique data-set formed by 6 years of fine-scale spatial information of fish and seaweed distribution and abundance. We demonstrate a long-term alteration on the spatial distribution of X. novacula characterized by a shift towards non-native H. incrassata beds, while no effect on B. podas. The introduction of the tropical seaweed H. incrassata has led to the re-distribution of X. novacula, potentially by harbouring a greater biodiversity of species at the base of the food-web through adding biogenic structure to an otherwise bare sediment. Our work demonstrates that non-native tropical habitat-forming species have the potential to maintain or even enhance fish abundance in unconsolidated bottoms in temperate areas potentially altering the functioning of native habitats.     

Yeast population of the Kindo Peninsula lichens

Yeast abundance and species diversity in the lichens collected at the Kindo Peninsula (Karelia) were studied. A total of 14 lichen species analyzed belonged to the genera Bryoria, Cladonia, Hypogymnia, Icmadophila, Nephroma, Peltigera, and Ramalina. Abundance of cultured yeasts in lichens was intermediate between soil and phyllosphere. The average yeast number on lichens was ~2.5 × 10³ CFU/g, while it exceeded 8 × 10³ CFU/g on plants and reached only 1 × 10³ CFU/g in soil. Yeast population of different parts of Cladonia lichens was found to vary significantly in abundance, species diversity, and community structure. The highest yeast abundance and diversity were revealed in the growth zone. Fifteen yeast species were isolated from lichens, including 6 basidiomycetous and 9 ascomycetous ones. Unlike soils and plants, yeast population of lichens consisted mainly of ascomycetous species, with predominance of Candida sphagnicola and anamorphous yeasts of the genus Dothiora. These results show that yeasts from different taxonomic and ecological groups are a necessary component of lichens; conditions favoring the preservation and development of specific yeast communities differing from the typical soil and phyllosphere yeast complexes are formed in the lichens of northern taiga forests.     

Feedback effects between plant and flower-visiting insect communities along a primary succession gradient

Primary successions of glacier forelands are unique model systems to investigate community dynamics and assembly processes. However, successional changes of plant and insect communities have been mainly analysed separately. Therefore, changes in plant–insect interactions along successional gradients on glacier forelands remain unknown, despite their relevance to ecosystem functioning. This study assessed how successional changes of the vegetation influenced the composition of the flower-visiting insect assemblages of two plant species, Leucanthemopsis alpina (L.) Heyw. and Saxifraga bryoides L., selected as the only two insect-pollinated species occurring along the whole succession. In addition, we investigated the links between reproductive output of these plants and pollinator abundance through experimental exclusion of pollinators. Plant community structure changed along the succession, affecting the distribution and the abundance of insects via idiosyncratic responses of different insect functional groups. L. alpina interacted with ubiquitously distributed pollinators, while S. bryoides pollinators were positively associated with insect-pollinated plant species density and S. bryoides abundance. With succession proceeding, insect assemblages became more functionally diverse, with the abundance of parasitoids, predators and opportunists positively related to an increase in plant cover and diversity. The reproductive output of both plant species varied among successional stages. Contrary to our expectation, the obligate insect-pollinated L. alpina showed a reproductive output rather independent from pollinator abundance, while the reproductive output of the self-fertile S. bryoides seemed linked to pollinator abundance. Observing ecological interactions and using functional traits, we provided a mechanistic understanding of community assembly processes along a successional gradient. Plant community diversity and cover likely influenced insect community assembly through bottom-up effects. In turn, pollinators regulate plant reproductive output through top-down control. We emphasise that dynamics of alpine plant and insect communities may be structured by biotic interactions and feedback processes, rather than only be influenced by harsh abiotic conditions and stochastic events.     

Deep sequencing analysis of bacterial community structure of Soldhar hot spring,India

We investigated the bacterial community structure of Soldhar hot spring with extreme high temperature 95°C located in Uttarakhand, India using high throughput sequencing. Bacterial phyla Proteobacteria (88.8%), Deinococcus-Thermus (7.5%), Actinobacteria (2.3%), and Firmicutes (1.07%) were predominated in the sequencing survey, whereas Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Aquificae and Acidobacteria were detected in relatively lower abundance in Soldhar hot spring. At the family level, Comamonadaceae (52.5%), Alteromonadaceae (15.9%), and Thermaceae (7.5%) were mostly dominated in the ecosystem followed by Chromatiaceae, Microbacteriaceae, and Cyclobacteriaceae. Besides, members of Rhodobacteraceae, Moraxellaceae, Xanthomonadaceae, Aquificaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Bacillaceae, Methylophilaceae, etc. were detected as a relatively lower abundance. In the present study we discuss the overall microbial community structure and their relevance to the ecology of the Soldhar hot spring environment.     

Vertical profiles of microbial communities in perfluoroalkyl substance-contaminated soils

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFASs) are ubiquitous in the environment, but their influences on microbial community remain poorly known. The present study investigated the depth-related changes of archaeal and bacterial communities in PFAS-contaminated soils. The abundance and structure of microbial community were characterized using quantitative PCR and high-throughput sequencing, respectively. Microbial abundance changed considerably with soil depth. The richness and diversity of both bacterial and archaeal communities increased with soil depth. At each depth, bacterial community was more abundant and had higher richness and diversity than archaeal community. The structure of either bacterial or archaeal community displayed distinct vertical variations. Moreover, a higher content of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) could have a negative impact on bacterial richness and diversity. The rise of soil organic carbon content could increase bacterial abundance but lower the richness and diversity of both bacterial and archaeal communities. In addition, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, and Acidobacteria were the major bacterial groups, while Thaumarchaeota, Euryarchaeota, and unclassified Archaea dominated in soil archaeal communities. PFASs could influence soil microbial community.     

Interactive effects of wood decomposer fungal activities and bryophytes on spruce seedling regeneration on coarse woody debris

Decaying logs are important seedbeds in boreal and subalpine forests. However, biotic and abiotic factors and their interactions related to seedling colonization patterns on logs remain unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of bryophyte communities, wood decay type (white-, brown-, and soft-rot) owing to decomposer fungal activities, and environmental abiotic factors on seedling establishment in an old-growth subalpine coniferous forest in Japan. Among the tree species recorded on the conifer logs, Picea jezoensis var. hondoensis was the most dominant. Log surfaces were covered with distinctive patches of liverwort Scapania bolanderi and moss Pleurozium schreberi (approximately 33% cover for each). Redundancy analysis showed that brown-rot in sapwood significantly affects the bryophyte and seedling community on the logs. Generalized linear models suggested that the total bryophyte cover, Scapania cover, and white-rot in heartwood positively associate with Picea seedling density, whereas Pleurozium cover and basal area of adjacent Picea adults negatively associate with Picea seedling density. Results of structural equation modeling suggested that the brown-rot of sapwood positively associates with Scapania cover that has a positive effect on Picea seedling density. Furthermore, brown-rot of sapwood inhibited the Pleurozium cover, thus contributing to the Scapania dominance on the logs. These results suggest that fungal wood decomposer activities affect colonization of Picea seedlings in an indirect way via structuring bryophyte community on the logs.     

Soft Bottom Communities in Marine Lakes Sisjajarvi and Linjalampi (Barents Sea)

Based on the data of benthic surveys of 2010–2012, three benthic communities: a shallow-water community with the dominance of Scoloplos spp., Nucula tennuis, and Scalibregma inflatum; a deep-water community with the dominance of Chaetosone sp.; and a community of mixed sediments, have been distinguished in soft sediments in marine lakes Sisjajarvi and Linjalampi. These communities are typically marine and similar to other communities in shallow areas of the Barents Sea. They mostly differ in a high abundance of the polychaete Scalibregma inflatum and a small number of echinoderms from the communities in other bays of the Barents Sea. The abundance of the polychaete S. inflatum indicates indirectly possible cases of anoxia in Lake Sisjajarvi.     

The enhancement of invasion ability of an annual grass by its fungal endophyte depends on recipient community structure

Most terrestrial plants establish symbiotic associations with microorganisms that enable them to overcome abiotic or biotic filters in ecosystems. Here we investigated how aerial mutualisms involving invasive species may affect the recipient community’s structure. We hypothesized that the endophyte Epichloë occultans enhances the ability of Lolium multiflorum to establish and colonize, but that success would depend on the structure and invasion resistance of the recipient grassland community. Seeds of L. multiflorum with high (E+) and low (E?) endophyte incidence were sown in plots located in grasslands with or without recent grazing history. Relative cover of L. multiflorum and floristic groups was determined during the growing season. Whereas we did not detect any endophyte effect in sites with grazing history, L. multiflorum cover was 63 % in E+ and 27 % in E? plots in sites without grazing history. As cover of L. multiflorum increased in these sites, the cover of warm- and cool-season grasses decreased in spring, with that of warm-season grasses continuing to decrease in summer. These decreases corresponded to 1.9, 3.7 and 1.6 %, for every % increase of L. multiflorum cover. Path analysis and posterior modelling predicted a greater impact of the endophyte on L. multiflorum cover than of seed addition when resident L. multiflorum cover was ≤20 %. This effect decreased asymptotically as L. multiflorum cover increased beyond 20 %. Our results suggest that the endophyte may boost the invasion ability of L. multiflorum particularly in natural grassland without grazing history with potential longer-term consequences for community structure and dynamics.     

Temporal and spatial impact of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spartina alterniflora</Emphasis> invasion on methanogens community in Chongming Island,China

Methane production by methanogens in wetland is recognized as a significant contributor to global warming. Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora), which is an invasion plant in China’s wetland, was reported to have enormous effects on methane production. But studies on shifts in the methanogen community in response to S. alterniflora invasion at temporal and spatial scales in the initial invasion years are rare. Sediments derived from the invasive species S. alterniflora and the native species Phragmites australis (P. australis) in pairwise sites and an invasion chronosequence patch (4 years) were analyzed to investigate the abundance and community structure of methanogens using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) cloning of the methyl-coenzyme M reductase A (mcrA) gene. For the pairwise sites, the abundance of methanogens in S. alterniflora soils was lower than that of P. australis soils. For the chronosequence patch, the abundance and diversity of methanogens was highest in the soil subjected to two years invasion, in which we detected some rare groups including Methanocellales and Methanococcales. These results indicated a priming effect at the initial invasion stages of S. alterniflora for microorganisms in the soil, which was also supported by the diverse root exudates. The shifts of methanogen communities after S. alterniflora invasion were due to changes in pH, salinity and sulfate. The results indicate that root exudates from S. alterniflora have a priming effect on methanogens in the initial years after invasion, and the predominate methylotrophic groups (Methanosarcinales) may adapt to the availability of diverse substrates and reflects the potential for high methane production after invasion by S. alterniflora.     

Distribution and ecological relations among the alien crab, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Percnon gibbesi</Emphasis> (H. Milne-Edwards 1853) and autochthonous species,in and out of an SW Mediterranean MPA

The distribution of the allochthonous crab Percnon gibbesi and its relationships with other benthic invertebrate species was assessed inside the marine reserve of Cabo de Palos—Islas Hormigas (Mediterranean sea, Spain) and neighbouring non-protected sites. Although a significant spatial variability was detected at finer spatial scale, there was no influence of protection measures or insularity on the abundance of P. gibbesi. The presence of small holes, encrusting algae and low slope favour the colonization success of this crustacean, and the spatial distribution of these habitat features could explain the observed pattern. The abundance of P. gibbesi was similar to that of native crab species; however, a non-significant negative relationship between the abundance of P. gibbesi and native crabs (Pachygrapsus marmoratus and Eriphia verrucosa), urchins (Arbacia lixula and Paracentrotus lividus) and a snail (Phorcus turbinatus) was observed. This work highlights the importance of monitoring alien crab population densities taking structural habitat and other potentially influential factors into account and the likely effect of this alien species on the native ones.     

Linkages of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Firmicutes</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacteroidetes</Emphasis> populations to methanogenic process performance

To identify potential linkages between specific bacterial populations and process performance in anaerobic digestion, the dynamics of bacterial community structure was monitored with high-throughput sequencing in triplicate anaerobic digesters treating animal waste. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were found as the two most abundant populations, however, with contrasting population dynamics in response to organic overloading. Firmicutes dominated the bacterial community during stable process performance at low organic loading rate, representing over 50 % of the bacterial abundance. In contrast, the onset of organic overloading raised the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes from 20 ± 2.6 to 44 ± 3.1 %. In addition to the significant negative correlation between the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, populations of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were found to be linked to process parameters including organic loading rate, volatile fatty acids concentration, and methane production. Therefore, the population abundance ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B ratio) was suggested as a potential indicator for process performance. The interactions between Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes populations could be exploited to develop strategies for the prevention of performance perturbation in anaerobic digestion processes.