Environmental impacts on the benthic foraminiferal fauna in nearshore ecosystems

This review presents data on how natural and anthropogenic factors affect species composition, abundance, and test morphology of benthic foraminifera of the world oceans. Major emphasis is placed on high sensitivity of foraminifera to changes in the state of the environment, particularly in nearshore zones under anthropogenic impact. It is shown that benthic foraminifera can provide indicators of environmental conditions in marine ecosystems. The effects of mollusk and salmon aquaculture activities on the composition and distribution of foraminifera are considered. It is stressed that a distinction must be made between foraminiferal test morphology variations in response to natural and anthropogenic impacts.     

Community structure and spatial distribution of benthic fauna in the Bellingshausen Sea (West Antarctica)

The structure and spatial distribution of the macrofauna community of the Bellingshausen Sea in the western sector of Antarctica was studied during the ‘BENTART–06’ oceanographic expedition. This is one of the least explored Antarctic seas. A total of 20 box cores were sampled at 11 stations ranging from 157 to 3,304 m depth, using an USNEL-type box corer (BC) dredge. Representatives of 25 higher taxa of invertebrates were collected. Deeper sampling sites were less rich in taxa (4–7 taxa), whereas the figures were higher at shallower sites (up to 17 taxa). Faunal density on the sea bottom revealed a horizontal spatial gradient from the western sites with extremely low figures (90 indiv./m²) towards the eastern ones with the highest figures (1,360 indiv./m²) close to the Antarctic Peninsula. Several abiotic factors (depth, redox, organic matter, carbonates and particle size of surficial sediments) were measured simultaneously on the sea floor to characterise the substrate preferences of the fauna. Positive correlations were found between the faunal distribution and a combination of depth, redox values, and organic matter content of sediments. This indicates decreasing availability of food in the deeper bottoms of the Bellingshausen Sea with a prevalence of depauperated bottoms dominated almost exclusively by a foraminiferans community.     

Arctic biogeography: The paradox of the marine benthic fauna and flora

The marine benthic fauna and flora that inhabit the shallow arctic sublittoral zone comprise a relatively young marine assemblage characterized by species of either Pacific or Atlantic affinity and notably few endemics. The young character of nearshore arctic communities, as well as their biogeographical composition, is largely a product of the Pleistocene glaciation. However, analysis of more recent collections and comparison between the origins of the benthic fauna and flora present some interesting paradoxes to biogeographers. One enigma is the low frequency of algal species with Pacific affinities in the Arctic, especially in the Chukchi, Beaufort and East Siberian Seas of the Eastern Arctic, which receive direct inputs of northward-flowing Pacific waters. In contrast, animal species with Pacific affinities are found throughout the nearshore regions of the Arctic, reaching their highest frequency in the marginal seas between the New Siberian Islands and the Canadian Archipelago. Organization of published and unpublished data, additional field collections, and the use of cladistics and molecular DNA techniques by systematists are a high priority for future research in reconstructing the evolution of the arctic biotic assemblage.     

Consumption of benthic fauna by carnivorous birds in the Wadden Sea

Consumption by carnivorous birds was estimated for the Sylt-Rømø tidal inlet in the northern part of the Wadden Sea, as well as the subarea Königshafen, a small, tidal bay. The bird community of the Sylt-Rømø Wadden Sea was dominated by Dunlin (35% of all birds counted), Eider (9%), Oystercatcher (8%), Knot (8%), and Shelduck (7%). The community in the Königshafen was dominated by Eider (20%), Knot (17%), Bar-tailed Godwit (17%), Dunlin (13%), and Oystercatcher (8%). Annual consumption was estimated at 3.4 g AFDW · m^?2 · year^?1 for the entire Sylt-Rømø Wadden Sea and 19.2 g AFDW · m^?2 · year^?1 for the Königshafen. Restricting the calculations to the intertidal area resulted in a consumption of 8.7 g AFDW · m^?2 · year^?1 for the Sylt-Rømø Wadden Sea and 17.6 g AFDW · m^?2 · year^?1 for the Königshafen. In the two areas, consumption was dominated by the Eider with 37% and 60% of the total consumption, respectively. In comparison to the western parts of the Wadden Sea the seasonal pattern of consumption as well as species composition differed, most probably as an effect of different climatic conditions, whereas annual consumption on intertidal flats seems to be in the same order of magnitude. On average, 15–25% of the mean annual macrozoobenthic biomass seems to be taken by carnivorous birds in the Wadden Sea, which is in the same order of magnitude as in other northern temperate estuarine areas.     

Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) in the Arctic fauna

The Arctic fauna includes 106 species of diurnal butterflies: Papilionidae (6 species), Pieridae (20), Lycaenidae (18), Nymphalidae (30), Satyridae (27), and Hesperiidae (5). Among them, representatives of the family Nymphalidae predominate as to the features characterizing the biological progress in the Arctic, as well as to the number of the most strongly pronounced arctic forms. The family Satyridae shares the first place with Nymphalidae by the number of species, but differs from the latter in the uneven or local distribution. The family Pieridae demonstrates a wide distribution of polyzonal and boreal species in the tundra zone. The distribution patterns of Lycaenidae are different in the Eurasian and Beringian-American sectors. Species of Papilionidae and Hesperiidae occur only in the southern part of the tundra zone. Each family is characterized by specific distribution in the Arctic subzones and landscapes and by latitudinal trends in its specific ratio in the faunas. There are 30 to 40 arctic species, including arctic proper (euarctic and hemiarctic) and hypoarctic, arctoalpine, arctomontane, and arctoboreal species. The species developing successfully under high-latitude conditions are Boloria chariclea, B. polaris, B. improba, Colias nastes, C. hecla, and Erebia fasciata; the first two species can be considered true euarctic forms. Specific features of the latitudinal and longitudinal distribution of the butterfly species in different parts of the Arctic are discussed.     

Species composition of benthic fish fauna in the Sea of Marmara,Turkey

In order to determine the present benthic fish fauna in the Sea of Marmara, sampling was conducted at a total of 10 stations for 2 weeks in August 2009, using a commercial twin beam trawling vessel with 18 and 36 mm stretched mesh sizes at the cod-end. In addition, some physicochemical parameters that play important roles, such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH, were measured for each station. As a result, 31 fish species from 23 families were found at a total of 10 stations in depths of 30–1000 m. At each station, the Shannon–Weaver diversity index, Simpson dominance index, species richness index, and evenness index were estimated. This study reports on species composition of the demersal fish catches in the Sea of Marmara for a preliminary assessment of the status of these fish communities.     

Planktonic viruses,heterotrophic bacteria,and nanoflagellates in fresh and coastal marine waters of the Kara Sea Basin (the Arctic)

In August–September 2009, the concentration of dissolved organic matter and quantitative distribution of virioplankton, bacterioplankton, and heterotrophic nanoflagellates were studied in the coastal waters of the Kara Sea, the fresh waters of the islands and the coasts of the sea, and the estuaries of the Ob’ and Yenisei rivers. A high positive correlation was observed between the abundances of viruses and bacteria. The frequency of visibly infected bacteria in marine waters ranged from 0.6 to 4.3% (an average of 1.6%); in the fresh waters of islands and coastline and in estuaries, it ranged from 0.3 to 3.9% (an average of 1.5%) and from 0.5 to 1.6% (an average of 1.1%) respectively. In most surveyed water bodies, the role of viruses in bacterioplankton mortality was considerably higher than that of heterotrophic flagellates.     

The caddisfly fauna (Trichoptera) of Russia: on the centenary of exploration

A brief overview of the history of faunistic studies in Russia during the past century is presented. The existence of 643 species of 148 genera (28 families) is reported according to the results of the long-term investigation of the Russian fauna of the Trichoptera. There are 4 regional faunas of Trichoptera in Russia: Boreal European, Caucasian, Siberian, and Far Eastern. The tasks and prospects of the future studies are considered.     

Environmental influences on the structure of sedge meadows in the Canadian High Arctic

Wet sedge-dominated communities (sedge meadows) were sampled in five lowland oases in the Queen Elizabeth Islands of the Canadian High Arctic to assess species-environment relationships. The sites spanned 4° of latitude, and varied in lithology and intensity of grazing by muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus). A suite of 8 vascular species were common in all meadow stands, with an additional 4–6 species found in most stands. The position of these species in dominance-diversity curves was not significantly different between grazed and ungrazed meadows however, the grazed sites appeared to follow a log-normal distribution, while the ungrazed sites were more geometric. Redundancy analysis indicated that grazing intensity is important in determining structure in arctic sedge meadows, largely through increasing the cover of bryophytes and the availability of nitrogen. Greatest species richness was found in the more southerly sites which were moderately grazed and had diversity in microtopography. Abbreviations: AF – Alexandra Fiord, PBP – Polar Bear Pass, PMB – Princess Marie Bay, TL – Truelove Lowland, SP – Sverdrup Pass Nomenclature: Porsild, A.E. & Cody, W.J. 1980. Vascular plants of continental Northwest Territories. National Museums of Canada, Ottawa.     

Documentation of the presence of Gmelinoides fasciatus (Stebbing, 1899) and the native benthic fauna in the Volga River at Tver (Tver Region,Russia)

In the Volga Basin, the small Baikalian amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus was introduced in 1965 into the Gorky reservoir in order to enhance fish production; it appeared in 1986 in the Rybinsk reservoir and we recorded it during monitoring activities in 2006 at Tver. In total, at the monitoring site Tver/Migalovo 69 benthic invertebrate taxa were identified. We compared data from three summer seasons. During summer low flow period Gmelinoides fasciatus did not exceed a share of 12.6% considering individual (ind) densities (mean abundance 165 ± 104 ind m^?2) and 14.2% considering biomass (mean biomass 0.39 ± 0.44 g m^?2). Abundances and biomass of G. fasciatus were shown to be stable over three years and no increase was observed. The monthly dataset (March–November 2008) revealed dynamics in relation to the native benthic communities and it was shown that the maximal densities of Gmelinoides did not exceed 587 ind m^–2. Understanding the effects on benthic communities caused by the invasive amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus is crucial in order to predict further developments in European inland waters and to establish management strategies.     

Environmental influences on an exploited anadromous Arctic charr stock in Labrador

Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus at Nain, Labrador, were influenced by recent variability in measured environmental variables and able to mitigate partially the effects of past conditions in a single year. Weather conditions prevailing during the first winter and sea migration life-stages also exerted significant influence on measured age and weight characteristics and are argued to play a role in determining the population dynamics of exploited stocks.     

夏季黄海一断面底边界层动物多样性初步研究

2002年8月4日在黄海从青岛至济州岛断面的4个站位上,进行了底边界层动物昼夜连续采样, 对底边界层动物的多样性及其昼夜变化进行了分析。共鉴定出底边界层动物32种, 其中桡足类19种,端足类3种,涟虫3种,糠虾2种,毛颚类2种,枝角类2种,磷虾1种, 可划分为中型浮游动物、大型浮游动物和超底栖动物三个生物类群。主要种类有尖额真猛水蚤(Euterpina acutifrons)、挪威小毛猛水蚤(Microsetella norvegica)、戴氏猛水蚤(Danielssenia sp.)、小拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus parvus)和双刺纺缍水蚤(Acartia bifilosa)等。超底栖动物和中型浮游动物是两个主要类群。此外,桡足类幼体（无节幼体和桡足幼体）也是底边界层动物的重要组成部分。多样性分析显示: 底边界层动物在4个调查站位的均匀度（d）皆较高(0.728-0.915), 但种类较少(19-33), 故多样性指数(H′)较低(2.248-2.827)。超底栖动物的多样性指数相对较高, 中型浮游动物次之, 大型浮游动物较低。各类群的多样性指数在白天和夜间无显著性差异(P>0.05)。底边界层动物的丰度在细砂底质环境的1-3站最低, 在其他3个具有粉砂-粘土底质环境的站位皆较高。通过聚类分析, 可将这两种底质环境上的底边界层动物在26.6%相似性水平上分为两个类群。生物-环境匹配分析显示, 底边界层动物的种类及丰度除了与水深、水温有关外, 还与近底层颗粒有机碳(POC)、颗粒有机氮(PON)的沉降通量以及沉积物中值粒径密切相关。     

A preying mantis species (Mantidae) new for the fauna of Russia

Ameles heldreichi taurica (Jakovlev, 1903), a species unknown from Russia, was found in Krasnodar Territory. The author agrees with the opinion of Kaltenbach (1963) on the subspecies rank of this taxon.     

The sub-ice fauna of the Laptev Sea and the adjacent Arctic Ocean in summer 1995

The sub-ice habitat and fauna in the Laptev Sea and the adjacent Arctic Ocean were investigated during the “Polarstern” cruise ARK XI/1 in summer 1995. At the ice-water interface a thin thermo- and halocline developed at many stations due to melting processes. In the lower centi- to decimetres of the ice, an accumulation of organic matter was found (particulate organic carbon: 1.9 mg l⁻¹, chl a: 3.3 μg l⁻¹) that may have provided a food source for the fauna. The water layer directly beneath the ice was inhabited by high numbers of various nauplii (130–23911 ind. m⁻³), and two ecological groups, the pelagic sub-ice fauna that originates from the surface water plankton, and the sympagic sub-ice fauna that migrates into this boundary layer from the ice interior. The pelagic fauna dominated the sub-ice community both in terms of species number and abundance. Both groups mainly comprised small copepods (e.g. Oithona similis, Oncaea borealis, Pseudocalanus spp., Halectinosoma spp., Tisbe spp.), but foraminifers and pteropods, for example, also occurred regularly. Diversity was generally low. Factors influencing the composition and abundance of the sub-ice fauna were most likely water depth, salinity and sea-ice sediments. Accepted: 6 July 1998     

Faunistic groups of carpenter-moths (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) in the fauna of Russia

An arealogical review of carpenter-moths of the fauna of Russia is presented. Southern steppe western Palaearctic species (10); steppe, southern steppe, and Central Asian semidesert species (7); and nemoral eastern Palaearctic species (6) predominate. Endemics of the Russian fauna are 6 species: Acossus victor (Yakovlev, 2004) (southern Tuva); Cossus shmakovi Yakovlev, 2004 (Tuva, Khakassia); Deserticossus volgensis (Christoph, 1893) and D. sareptensis (Rothschild, 1912) (southern Volga River Basin), Phragmataecia pacifica Yakovlev, 2007 (Daghestan), and Meharia scythica D. Komarov et Zolotuhin, 2005 (southern Volga River Basin).     

Environmental variability influences the structure of benthic algal communities in an oligotrophic lake

Theoretical models suggest that environmental variability can promote biodiversity, both in terms of richness and evenness of species. These findings have been supported experimentally in simplified communities with simplified regimes of environmental variability. Here we test the importance of environmental variability in a more natural setting by comparing the composition of benthic algal communities along a natural gradient of environmental variability created by internal waves in an elongated lake basin. Algal communities were grown on tiles at five upwind and five downwind sites in the lower littoral zone of South Arm, in Lake Opeongo, Ontario, Canada. Upwind sites were 1°C colder, on average, than downwind sites and had more variable water temperatures. The ranges of mean water temperatures and of water temperature variability were greater among upwind sites than among downwind sites. We used water temperature variability as a proxy for environmental variability. Total algal biovolume was similar at all sites, but the composition of these communities varied systematically with temperature variability. An observed shift in the relative dominance between Achnanthidium minutissimum, Surirella sp. and Pinnularia spp. is consistent with what we know about these species. Diatom richness increased from 12 to 15 genera with increasing variability at upwind (p=0.10, r²=0.65) and downwind sites (p=0.11, r²=0.63). Community evenness also increased with increasing variability (p=0.03, r²=0.82 at upwind sites; p=0.0002, r²=0.99 at downwind sites). These relationships were observed despite low nutrient and light availability, as well as the presence of grazers. Furthermore, environmental variability affected diatom communities in the presence of several competing factors (temperature, light, nutrients and disturbance). Our results suggest that increased environmental variability can lead to higher biodiversity in a complex natural system.     

Zoogeographical characteristics of the Systellognatha (Plecoptera) fauna of Russia and adjacent countries

The stonefly fauna of the Systellognatha group of Russia and adjacent countries comprises 120 species belonging to 43 genera of 5 families. According to the geographical distribution, 12 groups of genera and 16 species-groups are distinguished. Most of the genera belong to the Holarctic (5), Nearctic-Eastern Palaearctic (7), Amphipacific (9), and Western Palaearctic (8) groups; among the species, the Eastern Palaearctic (29), Palaearchearctic (25), and Western Palaearctic (19) ones are prevalent. There are endemic species, especially in the Caucasus and Middle Asia.     

Taxonomic composition and zoogeographic characteristics of the flea fauna (Siphonaptera) of Russia

255 species and 59 subspecies of fleas from 55 genera of 7 families are known from Russia, which is 30% of the Palaearctic fauna. Additionally, over 187 species of 47 genera from 7 families are known from the neighboring territories of Central and Southern Europe, Transcaucasia, Kazakhstan, Middle Asia, Mongolia, Northeast China, and Japan. 13 species of 12 genera are known only from Russia. Noteworthy is the low percent of endemic species (not more than 4%) and genera (one genus) in the Russian fauna. The principal centers of taxonomic diversity in the Palaearctic, including many endemic species and genera, lie in the Eastern Asian, Central Asian, and Turano-Iranian Subregions, outside Russia and the Euro-Siberian Subregion. The bulk of the Russian fauna is formed by the species and genera of the three largest flea families: Hystrichopsyllidae, Ceratophyllidae, and Leptopsyllidae. The family Ceratophyllidae has the greatest number of genera in the Russian fauna, and Hystrichopsyllidae, the greatest number of species. Western (Western and Western-Central Palaearctic; 84 species from 41 genera of 7 families) and Eastern (Central-Eastern and Eastern Palaearctic; 78 species from 42 genera of 6 families) species are nearly equally represented in the Russian fauna.     

Living conditions, abundance and biomass of under-ice fauna in the Storfjord area (western Barents Sea, Arctic) in late winter (March 2003)

The under-ice habitat and fauna were studied during a typical winter situation at three stations in the western Barents Sea. Dense pack ice (7–10/10) prevailed and ice thickness ranged over <0.1–1.6 m covered by <0.1–0.6 m of snow. Air temperatures ranged between –1.8 and –27.5°C. The ice undersides were level, white and smooth. Temperature and salinity profiles in the under-ice water (0–5 m depth) were not stratified (T=–1.9 to –2.0°C and S=34.2–34.7). Concentrations of inorganic nutrients were high and concentrations of algal pigments were very low (0.02 g chlorophyll a l^–1), indicating the state of biological winter. Contents of particulate organic carbon and nitrogen ranged over 84.2–241.3 and 5.3–16.4 g l^–1, respectively, the C/N ratio over 11.2–15.5 pointing to the dominance of detritus in the under-ice water. Abundances of amphipods at the ice underside were lower than in other seasons: 0–1.8 ind. m^–2 for Apherusa glacialis, 0–0.7 ind. m^–2 for Onisimus spp., and 0–0.8 ind. m^–2 for Gammarus wilkitzkii. A total of 22 metazoan taxa were found in the under-ice water, with copepods as the most diverse and numerous group. Total abundances ranged over 181–2,487 ind. m^–3 (biomass: 70–2,439 g C m^–3), showing lower values than in spring, summer and autumn. The dominant species was the calanoid copepod Pseudocalanus minutus (34–1,485 ind. m^–3), contributing 19–65% to total abundances, followed by copepod nauplii (85–548 ind. m^–3) and the cyclopoid copepod Oithona similis (44–262 ind. m^–3). Sympagic (ice-associated) organisms occurred only rarely in the under-ice water layer.