Search

Pesticides enter the environment through runoff and leaching and this raises public concern about effects on non-target organisms. Imidacloprid (IMI) a synthetic pesticide, has an unstable half-life, metabolized in minutes to weeks in the water. To evaluate the effects of IMI on the zebrafish liver, we conducted proteomic, molecular and biochemical analysis in a multi-level approach, to highlight the complementary features regarding the results of each method. Adult zebrafish were exposed to 60 mg/L IMI for 48 hours and were evaluated using nLC-MS/MS for proteins, q-PCR analysis for expression of cat, gpx, pxr, ache, along with CAT and AChE enzyme activities and GSH and MDA assays. Based on proteomics, the regulation of antioxidant and immune responses, as well as gene transcription were significant processes affected. Apoptosis and ER stress pathways were upregulated and there was a down-regulation of cat and gpx genes. There was also elevated CAT activity and GSH and decreased MDA. Additionally, elevated AChE activity and up regulation of ache expression was observed. The multi-approach results included regulators of antioxidant, xenobiotic response and neuro-protective related proteins (genes and enzymes), which overall reflected harmful effects of IMI. Consequently, this study highlights the effects of IMI on zebrafish liver and reveals new potential biomarkers. In this respect, evaluated outcomes reveal the complementary features emphasizing the importance of studying chemicals using several methods. Our study provides deeper insights for future work in ecotoxicological studies regarding IMI and contribute to existing toxicity literature.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Sessiline ciliates live as eco commensals (low numbers) and parasites (high numbers) on different hosts, like mollusks copepods, mysids and fish. Riboscyphidia ecto-protozoan is moderately pathogenic but high numbers of it on the gills can physically prevent gas exchange. The present study aimed to describe the epizoic ciliates Riboscyphidia found on the Red Sea cultured Asian sea bass and obtain more information on the Epidemiology of the parasite with special references to control and histopathological examination of naturally infected sea bass. MATERIALS AND METHODS The occurrence of epizoic ciliates on the adult Asian Sea bass. About 100 Asian sea bass were collected by the fishing net at a private marine fish farm at Ismailia governorate and transferred to the hydrobiology laboratory at National Research Centre. A parasitological and histopathological study of epizoic sessile ciliate species was done. ANOVA test was used for Statistical analysis. RESULTS Riboscyphidia sp. was found and isolated after parasitological examination of investigated adult's Asian sea bass. The prevalence of Riboscyphidiosis was 64%. Sessile ciliates were found on gills, skin and fins. The clinical signs of Riboscyphidiosis were respiratory distress, flashing and off food. Histopathological alterations in naturally infested Asian sea bass were investigated. CONCLUSION The treatment of choice of Riboscyphidiosis was prolonged immersion by Copper citrate with a dose of 0.56 mg mL-1 for 7 days.

More than 1000 thermal and mineral water springs with temperatures from 20°C to102°C occur in Turkey. Kangal Balikli Hot Spring is known as psoriasis treatment center is one of the most important among these springs. The main scope of this research was to determine geological, hydrogeological and biological properties and water chemistry of the psoriasis treatment center and the stream running alongside the thermal pools. The spring water is an isothermal-hypotonic and oligometalic mineral water, having average of electrical conductivity: 530 μS cm-1, temperature: 35°C, CO2 8.70 mg l-1, pH 7.30 and O2 4 mg l-1. Calcium, magnesium and bicarbonates are dominant. Neither the chemical figures nor the temperature (35±1°C) of the water shows seasonal change. There are two fish species, Garra rufa and Cyprinion macrostomus, that adapted living at 35°C water temperature. The mean fork length and body weight of the fish living in the psoriasis treatment center is significantly lower than those living at the stream. Some of the fish in the pools showed symptoms of illness such as exophthalmus, scale loose, skin ulceration, pale gills, and bloated appearance. Gut analysis revealed that both species have been feeding on algae, insect parts, fish scales, and debris. In most cases the guts of fish caught in the pools were either empty or had very little content in it. Zooplanktons had little species and were not recorded frequently.

Many environmental flow (e-flow) studies and applications have predominantly used state—(i.e., at a single time point) and rate—(i.e., temporal change) based demographic characteristics of species representing lower trophic levels (e.g., fish communities) to build flow-ecology relationships, rather than using a process that incorporates population dynamics. Recent studies have revealed the importance of incorporating data on species traits when building flow-ecology relationships. The effects of flow on keystone megafauna species (i.e., body mass ≥ 30 kg) reverberate through entire food webs; however, the relationships between flow and these species are not well understood, limiting the scope of the relationships used in flow management. Here, we fill this gap by incorporating the habitat selection traits at different flows of a freshwater apex predator, Ganges River dolphin (GRD, Platanista gangetica gangetica), which plays a significant role in maintaining the structure, functions and integrity of the aquatic ecosystem. Using temporally and spatially measured GRD habitat selection traits, we quantified flow-ecology responses in the Karnali River of Nepal during the low-flow season when habitat was heavily reduced and water demand was highest. We define ecological responses as suitable habitat templates with enough usable surface area to support GRD fitness by improving reproduction and survival. We measured the available and occupied habitats to develop flow-ecology responses. Variation in flow resulted in substantial differences in the ecological response across time and space, suggesting that aquatic species adjusted in a variety of habitats to support their life histories and maintain viable populations. The limited availability of suitable habitats combined with uninformed water regulations by humans likely places GRDs under severe physiological stress during low-water seasons (i.e., January–April), suggesting that reduced flows contribute to the process of endangering and extirpating highly sensitive endemic aquatic biodiversity. Our study reveals that ad hoc or experience-based flow management is no longer tenable to maintain the integrity and functionality of aquatic ecosystems. We stress that quantifying the flow-ecology relationships of foundational species, particularly megafauna, in response to flow variation is crucial for monitoring the effects of water alterations and determining the minimum flows needed for maintaining healthy and functional freshwater ecosystems in the Anthropocene.

The article presents the results of research on the ecological conditions of carp farming in feeding ponds, which were carried out on the basis of the fishery “Yaniv”, which is part of PrJSC “Lviv Regional Fish Production Plant”. The research was carried out during the vegetation period of 2019 in accordance with the methods adopted in hydrobiology and fish farming. The hydrochemical state of the studied reservoirs and their biotic component, in particular zooplankton and zoobenthos, were analyzed. The results of studies of water quality of feeding ponds of the fishery “Yaniv” show that the hydrochemical parameters during the study period in the vast majority were within the maximum permissible concentrations set for fish farms; sometimes were registrated some indicators which slightly exceeded the normative limits, in particular permanganate oxidation, nitrites, phosphates, chlorides. The study of the natural forage base by zooplankton and zoobenthos revealed that the values of development of the studied aquatic organisms corresponded to the limits of development, which are characteristic of the ponds of the studied type of the Forest-Steppe zone. The values of zooplankton biomass in the experimental ponds were in the range of 5.3–12.5 g/m3. The dynamics of zooplankton development in feeding ponds shows its maximum development in early summer and some decrease in the second half of the vegetation season. In general, the basis of its biomass was consisted of Cladocera (Daphnia magna Straus, Bosmina longirostris, Daphnia cucullata Sars, Ceriodaphnia quadrangula OF Müller, Moina rectirostris Leydig), representatives of Copepoda (Thermocyclops crassus Fischer), Calanoida (Diaptomus castor Jurine, Eudiaptomus coeruleus Fischer) and Rotatoria (Brachionus diversicornis Daday, B.calyciflorus Pallas, Filinia longiseta Ehrb., Keratella cochlearis Gosse). Cladocera and Copepoda made the largest contribution to biomass, while Rotatoria had almost twice less share of total biomass. Indicators of zoobenthos biomass in ponds were in the range of 4.9–6.8 g/m2. The maximum development of benthic organisms was observed in late spring. The basis of biomass of zoobenthos was mainly consisted of insect larvae and oligochaeta.

The enigmatic and poorly studied sturgeon genus Pseudoscaphirhynchus (Scaphirhynchinae: Acipenseridae) comprises three species: the Amu Darya shovelnose sturgeon (Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni (Bogdanow)), dwarf Amu Darya shovelnose sturgeon P. hermanni (Kessler), and Syr Darya shovelnose sturgeon (P. fedtschenkoi (Bogdanow). Two species – P. hermanni and P. kaufmanni – are critically endangered due to the Aral Sea area ecological disaster, caused by massive water use for irrigation to support cotton agriculture, subsequent pesticide pollution and habitat degradation. For another species – P. fedtschenkoi – no sightings have been reported since 1960-s and it is believed to be extinct, both in nature and in captivity. In this study, complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of these three species of Pseudoscaphirhynchus were characterized using Illumina and Sanger sequencing platforms. Phylogenetic analyses showed the significant divergence between Amu Darya and Syr Darya freshwater sturgeons and supported the monophyletic origin of the Pseudoscaphirhynchus species. We confirmed that two sympatric Amu Darya species P. kaufmanni and P. hermanni form a single genetic cluster, which may require further morphological and genetic study to assess possible hybridization, intraspecific variation and taxonomic status and to develop conservation measures to protect these unique fishes.

Ūdens ekosistēmās zooplanktons ir vidusposms, kas darbojas kā enerģijas pārneses starpnieks starp producentiem (mikroskopiskajām aļģēm jeb fitoplanktonu) un gala konsumentiem (zivīm), tādejādi nodrošinot pelaģiāles barības tīkla funkcionēšanu. Šajā promocijas darbā analizēta zooplanktona daudzveidība saistībā ar vides faktoriem. Kopumā plašā empīriskā informācija sniedz vispārīgu izpratni par mezozooplanktona un tā daudzveidības dinamiku iesāļūdens ekosistēmā, atļaujot pilnvērtīgi izvērtēt tās potenciālo pielietojumu vides stāvokļa novērtēšanā, identificējot gan iespējas, gan izaicinājumus turpmākajam darbam šajā virzienā. Promocijas darba galvenie rezultāti publicēti četrās SCOPUS indeksētās publikācijās. Darbā iekļauti arī nepublicēti dati. Galvenie rezultāti norāda, ka mezozooplanktona funkcionālo daudzveidību kontrolē abiotiskie faktori, ja dzīvotne ir homogēna vertikālajā dimensijā (kā tas novērots Rīgas līča piekrastē). Savukārt, ja dzīvotne ir heterogēna, sadalīta vairākās mikrodzīvotnēs jeb nišās (kā tas novērots Rīgas līča atklātajos ūdeņos), noteicošie ir biotiskie faktori, piemēram, plēsonība un konkurence. Mezozooplanktona funkcionēšanu aprakstošais indikators, kas testēts šajā darbā, uzrāda pārliecinošus rezultātus tieši Rīgas līča atklātajos ūdeņos, kur, kā jau minēts, zooplanktona daudzveidība lielā mērā ir biotisko mijiedarbību kontrolēta. Līdz ar to secinu, ka mezozooplanktona daudzveidības dinamika sniedz informāciju par atklāto ūdeņu pelaģisko barības tīklu kopumā, un to var izmantot, lai novērtētu vides stāvokli tajos. Savukārt piekrastes ūdeņu funkcionēšana krasi atšķiras no atklātajiem ūdeņiem. Vides stāvokļa novērtēšana piekrastē, pamatojoties uz mezozooplanktona cenozes daudzveidības parametriem, ir apgrūtināta spēcīgas un mainīgās abiotisko faktoru ietekmes dēļ. Atslēgas vārdi: funkcionālā daudzveidība; Baltijas jūra; zooplanktons; pelaģiāle; vides stāvoklis, Zooplankton are an essential component in the pelagic food web, linking primary production to higher trophic levels, thereby playing a key role in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Here, in the doctoral thesis, I analyse zooplankton diversity in relation to environmental factors. The extensive empirical information provides a general understanding of the dynamics of mesozooplankton and its diversity in the brackish water ecosystem, allowing to evaluate the potential in assessing the environmental status, identifying both opportunities and challenges for further work in this field. The main results of the doctoral thesis are published in four SCOPUS publications. Unpublished data are also included in the dissertation. The main results indicate that the functional diversity of mesozooplankton is primarily controlled by abiotic factors if the habitat is homogeneous along the vertical dimension (as observed in the coastal regions of the Gulf of Riga). On the other hand, if a habitat is heterogeneous – divided into several microhabitats or niches – (as observed in the open waters of the Gulf of Riga), biotic factors, such as predation and competition, are decisive. The indicator describing the functioning of mesozooplankton shows convincing results in the open waters of the Gulf of Riga, where, as already mentioned, the diversity of zooplankton is largely controlled by biotic interactions. Therefore, I conclude that the dynamics of mesozooplankton diversity provide information on the pelagic food web in open water regions thus they can be used to assess the environmental status there. The functioning of coastal waters, on the other hand, is very different from that of open waters. The environmental status assessment based on the diversity parameters of mesozooplankton for the coastal environments is difficult due to the strong and variable influence of abiotic factors. Key words: Functional diversity; Baltic Sea; zooplankton; palagia; environmental status

A variety of mammals suppress reproduction when they experience poor physical condition or environmental harshness. In many marine mammal species, reproductive impairment has been correlated to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the most frequently measured chemical pollutants, while the relative importance of other factors remains understudied. We investigate whether reproductively active females abandon investment in their foetus when conditions are poor, exemplified using an extensively studied cetacean species; the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Data on disease, fat and muscle mass and diet obtained from necropsies in The Netherlands were used as proxies of health and nutritional status and related to pregnancy and foetal growth. This was combined with published life history parameters for 16 other areas to correlate to parameters reflecting environmental condition: mean energy density of prey constituting diets (MEDD), cumulative human impact and PCB contamination. Maternal nutritional status had significant effects on foetal size and females in poor health had lower probabilities of being pregnant and generally did not sustain pregnancy throughout gestation. Pregnancy rates across the Northern Hemisphere were best explained by MEDD. We demonstrate the importance of having undisturbed access to prey with high energy densities in determining reproductive success and ultimately population size for small cetaceans.

The length-weight relationships (LWRs) of Clupeonella cultriventris and Clupeonella muhlisi were analysed. Fish samples were collected gill nets (10 mm mesh sized) from the Buyukcekmece Reservoir and Kucukcekmece Lagoon April and June 2016. Samples from Durusu Reservoir and Uluabat Lake were obtained from Istanbul University Science Faculty Hydrobiology Museum. The values of parameter b in the LWR equations varied from 3.177 (Kucukcekmece Lake population) to 3.496 (Buyukcekmece Reservoir population) for C. cultriventris and 3.258 (Uluabat Lake) for C. muhlisi.

Information on the first findings of Gaillona rosea (Roth) Athanasiadis 2016:814 (Aglaothamnion roseum (Roth) Maggs & L’Hardy-Halos 1933:522) in the Russian part of the South-Eastern Baltic is given. Samples of algae in the Russian part of the South-Eastern Baltic along the coast of the Kaliningrad region at depths of 1–15 m were collected by diving method on the north coast of the Sambian Peninsula near Cape Taran and Cape Gvardeysky at the stations confined to hard ground. First samples of G. rosea collected from drifting mats of perennial algae Furcellaria lumbricalis and Polysiphonia fucoides were first registered along the west and north coast of the Sambian Peninsula (Cape Taran) at depths of 1.5–7 m in autumn 2015. The finding of the species in 2015 on the west coast of the Sambian Peninsula is the first registration for the coast of the Gdansk Bay. In July 2016, the species was found in samples at Cape Taran at a depth of 0.5 m. The length of the thalli does not exceed 3 cm. The species was registered with F. lumbricalis and P. fucoides, both in attached communities and in drifting mats. G. rosea is quite common in the Baltic Sea, with the exception of the Gdansk Bay and the northernmost part of the Baltic Sea, where the salinity is low. There is no data available on the abundance of the species in the adjacent Lithuanian waters. The species is rarely registered in the Russian part of the South-Eastern Baltic, and therefore G. rosea is rare in the entire South-Eastern Baltic Sea.

The rate of linear and weight growth of triploid spat of oyster Crassostrea gigas in Donuzlav Liman (Black Sea, Crimea) was investigated. A quantitative relationship between the mass (W, g) of the whole oyster and the height of the shell (H, mm) is given (it is described by the equation W = 7 · 10-5 · Н3.1, R² = 0.78), as well as a quantitative relationship between the mass (W, g) of the whole oyster and the length of the shell (L, mm) (W = 3 · 10-4 · L3.12, R² = 0.65). The maximum rates of linear growth of triploid oysters T20 were registered in April (1.15 mm per day), of weight growth – in June (0.50 g per day) and August (0.61 g per day). It was shown that 27 % of triploid oysters T20 can reach commercial size after 6 months. It is recommended to use Pacific oysters of T20 size as a planting material on the shellfish farms in the Black Sea region.

Aims This study was conducted to assess the presence and extent of differences in the gut microbiota of common bottlenose dolphins depending on rearing facilities. Methods and Results Faecal samples were collected from 16 common bottlenose dolphins at three aquaria in Japan. After extracting DNA from the faeces, the V3–V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA was amplified and sequenced using Illumina MiSeq platform. The constituent phyla of the gut microbiota were similar among aquaria; however, the most dominant phylum differed depending on the facility, and the compositions of microbiota were remarkably varied at the family level among aquaria. The alpha diversity indices tended to differ among aquaria. Some bacterial families observed in terrestrial mammalian carnivores or carnivorous fish were detected, as well as several bacterial species suspected of being pathogenic in dolphins. Conclusion Our findings indicate that captive environmental conditions including prey and housing types may contribute to differences in the gut microbiota of the dolphins. Significance and Impact of the Study This is the first study revealing the differences in gut microbiota of captive dolphins among facilities. Our findings will provide valuable information for improving the health management of dolphins.

Carotenoids have received particular attention both for their importance in algal systematics and hydrobiology and for their health benefits for humans, along with other applications in various industries. Here, we provide new data on the carotenoid content of five Vischeria/Eustigmatos strains isolated from aeroterrestrial habitats in Bulgaria and kept in the Algal Collection of Sofia University (ACUS). The obtained pigment pattern with nine carotenoids and generalization of literature data allowed us to update the knowledge on the chemotaxonomic characteristics of Eustigmatophyceae with a total of 47 pigments reported for the group, out of which 37 are carotenoids. The important photosynthetic pigment lutein, considered also a high-value product with extensive applications in feed, food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries, was proved as a novel carotenoid for the group. The results also confirmed the presence of luteoxanthin, which is rarely reported in algae. All strains had a high content of the commercially valuable health-promoting xanthophyll astaxanthin. There were also different amounts of beta-carotene, violaxanthin, vaucheriaxanthin, canthaxanthin, zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin. Based on the differences in the pigment composition of the members of the ecological groups of aquatic and aeroterrestrial species, we propose the existence of two main pigment types in the class Eustigmatophyceae, with the aquatic type further divided into freshwater and marine pigment subtypes.

Несмотря на запрет применения хлорорганических соединений (ХОС), они до настоящего времени аккумулируются в различных абиотических и биотических компонентах экосистемы Чёрного моря, в том числе в рыбах, вызывая негативные изменения в их метаболизме. Как район активного хозяйственного использования, севастопольская морская акватория подвергается значительному антропогенному воздействию. Уровень содержания ХОС в тканях морского ерша (скорпены) Scorpaena porcus Linnaeus, 1758, ведущего оседлый образ жизни и массово распространённого в прибрежных сообществах, может служить показателем степени загрязнения акватории данным поллютантом, а вид ― удобным индикатором. Газохроматографическим методом с использованием микродетектора электронного захвата определены качественный состав и концентрация хлорорганических пестицидов (п,п’-ДДТ и его метаболитов) и шести индикаторных конгенеров полихлорированных бифенилов в 58 пробах белых мышц, гонад и печени морского ерша, отловленного в 2016–2017 гг. в различных по степени загрязнённости бухтах региона Севастополя (Александровская, Казачья, Стрелецкая, Балаклавская, Ласпи), а также в открытой прибрежной акватории. Для определения отклика организма на уровень загрязнения в печени ерша исследовали комплекс биохимических маркеров: активность аланинаминотрансферазы, аспартатаминотрансферазы и каталазы, содержание альбумина, уровень окислительной модификации белков и концентрацию малонового диальдегида. Содержание ХОС в рыбах зависело от загрязнённости места их обитания. Наибольший уровень ХОС зафиксирован в органах ершей из бухт закрытого типа с затруднённым водообменом (Александровская, Стрелецкая и Балаклавская), наименьший ― в открытой бухте Ласпи. Накопление ХОС в органах ершей зависело от содержания липидов в исследованных тканях. Максимальные концентрации ХОС обнаружены в печени скорпен из всех изученных акваторий, минимальные ― в гонадах рыб из бухт и в белых мышцах особей из открытых районов. Полученные соотношения между содержанием ХОС в печени ерша и показателями комплекса биохимических маркеров свидетельствуют об ослаблении антиоксидантной защиты и о развитии окислительного стресса у рыб в результате накопления ксенобиотиков.

The role of mussels in formation of water chemical composition is determined by the peculiarities of sorption and trophodynamic processes. Copper is a vital element, but of ten metals the toxic effect of which was tested for the survival of mussel and oyster embryos, copper is following mercury. Studying the regularities of copper content change during mussel ontogeny allows to determine both sanitary and hygienic risks of mussel product use during the mollusks cultivation in mariculture and the biogeochemical role in the formation of the chemical composition of the marine water near mussel farms. The purpose of this work is to determine the copper content in the organs and tissues of the mussels during seasonal course of mollusks ontogenesis, to analyze the degree of copper assimilation along the food path of mineral nutrition using the mathematical model and empirical data and to assess the influence of marine farms on the copper exchange processes in the coastal ecosystem. The mollusks were collected from the mussel farm located in the external roadstead of Sevastopol. Studying the copper content in the environment – mussel – biodeposition system, a method of atomic absorption spectroscopy with electrothermal atomization was used. A general model illustrating the process of copper exchange between the mussels and the water environment is presented. Equations for determining the degree of assimilation of metal from food (q) and the limiting coefficient of food accumulation of metal (Кп) are proposed based on the results of measurements of its concentrations in the mussels’ diet, soft tissue and their biodeposition without using radioactive trace elements. The values of the copper removal by the mussel farm were calculated. The role of cultivated mollusks in the heavy metals precipitation was shown.

RATIONALE: Dried blood spots (DBSs) are gaining popularity for biomarker analyses in ecological research due to their advantages for use in field-based research and in remote settings, however, many DBS biomarkers remain unvalidated. We validated the application of compound-specific stable nitrogen isotope analyses of amino acids (CSIA-AAs) to field-prepared DBSs for determining trophic positions of wild-caught Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). METHODS: Whole blood and muscle from Arctic char were collected and DBSs were created in the field. We measured the stable nitrogen isotope ratios (expressed as δ(15)N values) of the amino acids glutamic acid (Glu) and phenylalanine (Phe) isolated from Arctic char samples using CSIA-AAs. We then compared amino acid δ(15)N values from DBSs and the other sample types (whole blood and muscle) from the same specimens. We calculated and compared trophic position estimates generated from whole blood, DBSs, and muscle. RESULTS: The δ(15)N values of Glu and Phe, as well as trophic position estimates from DBSs were highly correlated with δ(15)N values and estimates from both whole blood and muscle. DBS amino acid δ(15)N values and trophic position estimates agreed well with those from whole blood. Although, mean differences between amino acid δ(15)N values from DBSs and muscle were noted, the offsets were small and resulted in a 0.2 mean difference between trophic position estimates for DBSs and muscle. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that the application of CSIA-AAs to field-prepared DBSs of Arctic char generates similar trophic position estimates compared to whole blood and muscle. We suggest that DBSs could be developed as a minimally invasive sampling technique to study feeding ecology of wild fish and perhaps other organisms of interest.

Here we quantify the effects of artisanal fisheries on the ecology of a small cetacean, the Ganges River dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica, GRD), in a large river system of Nepal. We examine the size-classes of fisheries’ catches, behavioural changes in GRD in response to fishing activities, and diel overlap between GRD and fishing activity. We observed high human exploitation rates (> 60% of the total catch per effort) of GRD-preferred prey sizes, indicating risks of high resource competition and dietary overlap, especially during the low water season when resource availability is reduced. Competitive interactions in the feeding niches during the low water season, plus temporal overlap between the peak exploitation and critical life-history events (e.g., reproduction), likely have ecological consequences. Furthermore, we detected 48% (95% CI 43–52%) increase in the chance of behavioural changes among dolphins exposed to anthropopressure (fishing activity), risking social behaviour impairment in exposed dolphins. The higher diel overlap and increased diel coefficient as the surveys progressed towards the monsoon season suggest temporal shifts in GRD socio-behavioural states and seasonal effects on resource partitioning, respectively. This work identifies drivers of small cetaceans-fisheries interactions and their consequences, and can be used to help reduce biologically significant fishing impacts on small cetaceans. Mitigation strategies, together with river sanctuary and distanced-based approaches, should be urgently included in a framework of ecosystem-based management.

Onchocerciasis, caused by infection with Onchocerca volvulus, has been targeted for elimination by 2030. Currently, onchocerciasis elimination programs rely primarily on mass distribution of ivermectin. However, ivermectin alone may not be sufficient to achieve elimination in some circumstances, and additional tools may be needed. Vector control has been used as a tool to control onchocerciasis, but vector control using insecticides is expensive and ecologically detrimental. Community-directed removal of the trailing vegetation black fly larval attachment sites (slash and clear) has been shown to dramatically reduce vector biting densities. Here, we report studies to optimize the slash and clear process. Conducting slash and clear interventions at Simulium damnosum sensu stricto breeding sites located within 2 km of afflicted communities resulted in a 95% reduction in vector biting. Extending slash and clear further than 2 km resulted in no further decrease. A single intervention conducted at the first half of the rainy season resulted in a 97% reduction in biting rate, whereas an intervention conducted at the end of the rainy season resulted in a 94% reduction. Vector numbers in any of the intervention villages did not fully recover by the start of the following rainy season. These results suggest that slash and clear may offer an inexpensive and effective way to augment ivermectin distribution in the effort to eliminate onchocerciasis in Africa.

Microcystis aeruginosa is the dominant alga forming cyanobacteria blooms, the growth of which is limited by available nutrients. Thus, it is necessary to study cyanobacteria blooms and explore the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa under different nutrient conditions. In this paper, we take Microcystis aeruginosa, including toxic Freshwater Algae Culture of Hydrobiology Collection (FACHB)-905 and non-toxic FACHB-469 strains, into account. The strains were cultured using a simulation device under different nutrient conditions. Ultraviolet spectra, three-dimensional fluorescence spectra, and kinetic parameter indicators of the two species are studied. Compared to FACHB-469, the results show that the specific growth rate of FACHB-905 is much higher, in particular, FACHB-905 is the dominant species under low nutrient conditions. Furthermore, the UV spectral characteristics indicate that the molecular weight of dissolved organic matter in the culture tank of toxic FACHB-905 is greater than that of FACHB-469. Additionally, the humification index of toxic FACHB-905 is slightly higher as well, which suggests that it is more stable in the presence of dissolved organic matter during blooms. Therefore, the toxic Microcystis strain is more likely to become the dominant species in water blooms under lower eutrophic conditions and water blooms formed by the toxic Microcystis strain may be more difficult to recover from.

Traditional morphological diagnoses of taxonomic status remain widely used while an increasing number of studies show that one morphospecies might hide cryptic diversity, i.e. lineages with unexpectedly high molecular divergence. This hidden diversity can reach even tens of lineages, i.e. hyper cryptic diversity. Even well-studied model-organisms may exhibit overlooked cryptic diversity. Such is the case of the freshwater crustacean amphipod model taxon Gammarus fossarum. It is extensively used in both applied and basic types of research, including biodiversity assessments, ecotoxicology and evolutionary ecology. Based on COI barcodes of 4926 individuals from 498 sampling sites in 19 European countries, the present paper shows (1) hyper cryptic diversity, ranging from 84 to 152 Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units, (2) ancient diversification starting already 26 Mya in the Oligocene, and (3) high level of lineage syntopy. Even if hyper cryptic diversity was already documented in G. fossarum, the present study increases its extent fourfold, providing a first continental-scale insight into its geographical distribution and establishes several diversification hotspots, notably south-eastern and central Europe. The challenges of recording hyper cryptic diversity in the future are also discussed.

Bu çalışmada, Scorpaena cinsine ait Türkiye denizlerinde yayılım gösteren S. elongata, S. maderensis, S. notata, S. porcus ve S. scrofa türlerinin ilk olarak moleküler yöntemler kullanılarak, ikinci olarak morfometrik ölçümlerle meristik karakterleri kullanılarak, son olarak da otolit biyometrisi kullanarak tür ve popülasyon ayrımları yapılmıştır. Analizler Karadeniz'de Şile ve Ordu'dan, Ege Denizi'nde Balıkesir ve İzmir'den, Akdeniz'de Antalya ve Hatay'dan, Marmara Denizi'nde Marmara Ereğlisi ve Çanakkale'den olmak üzere sekiz farklı istasyondan yakalanan toplam 1865 balık bireyi üzerinden gerçekleştirilmiştir.Moleküler analizler Scorpaena cinsine ait beş türün COI gen bölgesinin 652 bç'lik kısmı üzerinden yapılmıştır. Çalışmada, S. elongata, S. maderensis ve S. scrofa türleri için 3'er, S. notata türü için 4 ve S. porcus için ise 5 tane olmak üzere toplam 18 haplotip tespit edilmiştir. Genetik çeşitliliği belirlemeye yönelik analizler sonucunda en düşük nükleotit çeşitliliğinin S. scrofa (Pi=0.00186) türünde iken en yüksek nükleotit çeşitliliğinin ise S. notata (Pi=0.00716) türünde olduğu belirlenmiştir. Haplotip çeşitliliği ise yine en düşük S. scrofa (Hd=0.5520) türünde iken en yüksek haplotip çeşitliliği ise S. porcus (Hd=0.7424) türünde tespit edilmiştir. Scorpaena cinsine ait türler arası haplotip çeşitliliği (Hd) 0.9365 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Bu cinse ait türler arasında haplotip varyans (VHd) değeri 0.00017 olarak belirlenirken nükleotit çeşitliliği (Pi) ise 0.10830 olarak belirlenmiştir. Scorpaena cinsine ait türler için en yüksek ve en düşük ham DNA çeşitliliği değerleri sırasıyla dXY=0.1749 (S. porcus ile S. notata türleri arasında) ve dXY=0.0489 (S. elongata ile S. scrofa türleri arasında) olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Net DNA çeşitliliği S. notata ile S. porcus (dA=0.1699) türleri arasında en yüksek iken, S. elongata ile S. scrofa (dA=0.0448) türleri arasında ise en düşük olduğu bulunmuştur. Barkodlama aralığı için yapılan analizlerde tür içi K2P genetik uzaklık ortalama ve ortanca değerleri sırasıyla S. elongata türü için 0.006581 ve 0.007011, S. maderensis türü için 0.004493 ve 0.006187, S. notata türü için 0.007280 ve 0.007768, S. porcus türü için 0.002952 ve 0.003086 ve S. scrofa türü için 0.001886 ve 0.003080 olarak belirlenmiştir. Barkodlama aralığı analizinin sonucunda Scorpaena cinsine ait tür içi ve türler arası K2P genetik mesafeleri arasında bir çakışma olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Bu çalışmada COI geninin Scorpaena cinsine ait türleri tanımlamada %100 oranında barkodlama başarısı sağladığı ortaya çıkarılmıştır.Morfometrik analizler 30 metrik ve meristik karakterler birlikte değerlendirilen 40 tane karakter indisi üzerinden yapılmıştır. Bu analizler sonucunda 12 morfometrik ölçümün S. elongata'nın tür içi ayrımında oldukça önemli oldukları ve %94.6 oranında başarı sağladığı, 10 morfometrik ölçümün S. maderensis'in tür içi ayrımında oldukça önemli oldukları ve %90.5 oranında başarı sağladığı, 13 morfometrik ölçümün S. notata'nın tür içi ayrımında oldukça önemli oldukları ve %96.7 oranında başarı sağladığı, 13 morfometrik ölçümün S. porcus'un tür içi ayrımında oldukça önemli oldukları ve %96.5 oranında başarı sağladığı, 10 morfometrik ölçümün S. scrofa'nın tür içi ayrımında oldukça önemli oldukları ve %92.2 oranında başarı sağladığı belirlenmiştir. Scorpaena cinsine ait beş türün morfometrik analiz sonuçlarına göre 13 morfometrik ölçümün bu cinse ait türlerin türler arası ayrımında oldukça etkili oldukları ve çalışma kapsamında değerlendirilen Scorpaena cinsine ait türlerin ayırımında %97.4 oranında başarı sağladığı sonucuna varılmıştır.Otolit biyometrisi analizleri 26 otolit değişkeniyle birlikte değerlendirilen 18 otolit morfolojik karakter üzerinden yapılmıştır. Bu analizler sonucunda 10 otolit değişkeninin S. elongata'nın tür içi ayrımında oldukça önemli oldukları ve %93.4 oranında başarı sağladığı, 6 otolit değişkeninin S. maderensis'in tür içi ayrımında oldukça önemli oldukları ve %98.5 oranında başarı sağladığı, 10 otolit değişkeninin S. notata'nın tür içi ayrımında oldukça önemli oldukları ve %98.6 oranında başarı sağladığı, 8 otolit değişkeninin S. porcus'un tür içi ayrımında oldukça önemli oldukları ve %93.9 oranında başarı sağladığı, 8 otolit değişkeninin S. scrofa'nın tür içi ayrımında oldukça önemli oldukları ve %98.8 oranında başarı sağladığı belirlenmiştir. Scorpaena cinsine ait beş türün otolit biyometrisi analiz sonuçlarına göre 26 otolit değişkeninden 10 tanesinin bu cinse ait türlerin türler arası ayrımında oldukça etkili oldukları ve çalışma kapsamında değerlendirilen Scorpaena cinsine ait türlerin ayırımında %97.7 oranında başarı sağladığı sonucuna varılmıştır. Bu cinsine ait bu beş türün 18 otolit morfolojik karakterinden de 9 tanesinin bu türler arasında farklılık gösterdiği ve bunların tür ayrımında kullanılabileceği belirlenmiştir.Gerek yurt dışı çalışmaları gerekse yurt içi çalışmaları değerlendirildiğinde, bu çalışma Scorpaena türleri üzerine moleküler, morfometrik ve otolit biyometrisi yöntemlerinin üçünün birden aynı anda multidisipliner olarak uygulandığı, tür ve popülasyon ayrımlılarının yapıldığı dört farklı denizde birden yürütülen ilk çalışma olduğu görülmektedir. Bu çalışma sonucunda, moleküler, morfometrik ve otolit biyometrisi verilerinin birbirlerini destekleyici nitelikte oldukları belirlenmiştir. Bu yüzden tür içi ve türler arası gerçekleştirilecek olan ileriki çalışmalarda geleneksel (morfometrik), güncel (moleküler) ve yenilikçi (otolit biyometrisi) yaklaşımların bir arada kullanılması önerilmektedir. In this study, S. elongata, S. maderensis, S. notata, S. porcus and S. scrofa species which belonging to the Scorpaena genus and spread in the Turkish seas were discriminated in species and populations levels using the firstly molecular methods, secondly morphometric measurements and meristic characters and finally otolith biometry. The analyzes were carried out on a total of 1865 fish individuals caught from eight different stations, from Şile and Ordu in the Black Sea, from Balıkesir and İzmir in the Aegean Sea, from Antalya and Hatay in the Mediterranean Sea, from Marmara Ereğlisi and Çanakkale in the Sea of Marmara.Molecular analyzes were performed on 652bp of COI gene region of five species of the Scorpaena genus. In the study, a total of 18 haplotypes were determined, 3 for S. elongata, S. maderensis and S. scrofa, 4 for S. notata and 5 for S. porcus. As a result of analysis to determine genetic diversity, it was determined that the lowest nucleotide diversity was S. scrofa (Pi=0.00186), while the highest nucleotide diversity was S. nota (Pi=0.00716). The haplotype diversity was the lowest in the S. scrofa (Hd=0.5520), while the highest haplotype diversity was determined in the S. porcus (Hd=0.7424). The interspecies haplotype diversity (Hd) of the Scorpaena genus was calculated as 0.9365. Among the species of this genus, haplotype variance (VHd) value was determined as 0.00017, while nucleotide diversity (Pi) was determined as 0.10830. The highest and lowest raw DNA divergence values for Scorpaena species were determined as dXY=0.1749 (between S. porcus and S. notata) and dXY=0.0489 (between S. elongata and S. scrofa), respectively. Net DNA diversity was highest between S. notata and S. porcus (dA=0.1699) species, while it was lowest between S. elongata and S. scrofa (dA=0.0448) species. In the analysis for barcoding gap, mean and median values of intra-species K2P genetic distance are determined as 0.006581 and 0.007011 for S. elongata, 0.004493 and 0.006187 for S. maderensis, 0.007280 and 0.007768 for S. notata, 0.002952 and 0.003086 for S. porcus and 0.001886 and 0.003080 for S. scrofa respectively. As a result of the barcoding gap analysis, it was determined that there was no overlap between intra- and inter-specific K2P genetic distances of the Scorpaena genus. In this study, it was revealed that the COI gene provides 100% barcoding success for identification of Scorpaena species.Morphometric analyzes were performed on 40 character indexes which were evaluated together with 30 metric and meristic characters. As a result of these analyzes, it was found that 12 morphometric measurements were quite important in intra-species discrimination of S. elongata with 94.6% success rate, 10 morphometric measurements were important in intra-species discrimination of S. maderensis with 90.5% success rate, 13 morphometric measurements are quite important in intra-species discrimination of S. notata with 96.7% success rate, 13 morphometric measurements are quite important in the intra-species discrimination of S. porcus with was 96.5% success rate, 10 morphometric measurements were important in intra-species discrimination of S. scrofa with 92.2% success rate were determined. According to the results of the morphometric analysis of the five species belonging to the genus Scorpaena, it was concluded that 13 morphometric measurements were quite effective in the species discrimination belonging to this genus with 97.4% success rate in the discrimination of the Scorpaena species evaluated within the current study scope.Otolith biometry analyzes were performed on 18 otolith morphological characters evaluated with 26 otolith variables. As a result of these analyzes, it was found that 10 otolith variables were quite important in intra-species discrimination of S. elongata with 93.4% success rate, 6 otolith variables were important in intra-species discrimination of S. maderensis with 98.5% success rate, 10 otolith variables were important in S. notata intra-species discrimination with 98.6% success rate, 8 otolith variables were quite important in intra-species discrimination of S. porcus with 93.9% success rate, and 8 otolith variables were quite important in the intra-species discrimination of S. scrofa with 98.8% success rate were determined. According to the results of the otolith biometry analysis of five species belonging to Scorpaena genus, it was concluded that 10 of the 26 otolith variables were quite effective in distinguishing the species belonging to this genus with 97.7% success rate in the discrimination of Scorpaena species evaluated in the study. It was determined that 9 of the 18 otolith morphological characteristics of these five species of this genus differed between these species and could be used in species discrimination.When both national and international studies are evaluated, it is seen that this study is the first study to discriminate species and populations of Scorpaena where molecular, morphometric and otolith biometry methods are applied simultaneously as a multidisciplinary are carried out in four different seas. As a result of this study, it was determined that molecular, morphometric and otolith biometry data support each other. Therefore, it is recommended to use traditional (morphometric), current (molecular) and innovative (otolith biometrics) approaches together in the future studies that will be carried out intra- and inter-species. 263

The Baraba and Kulunda steppes are located in southwestern Siberia in an area with an arid continental climate. This paper presents results of the first study of the hypersaline Lake Krasnovishnevoye (Baraba steppe, TDS (total dissolved solids)=297 g/L, pH 7.88). The major chemical, mineralogical and biological features of the lake were studied and compared to those of Lake Malinovoe, a typical saline neutral lake of Kulunda steppe (TDS=396 g/L, pH 7.63). The phytoplankton composition and the culturable diversity of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria from Lake Krasnovishnevoye correspond to the ones in the Kulunda lakes. Nevertheless, the peculiarities of water composition and regime of Lake Krasnovishnevoye reduce the biodiversity to prokaryotes and unicellular algae.

Data on hydrology, hydrochemistry, and hydrobiology, including the fish population, of Lake Urozero (southern Karelia) are given. The results of the work on the introduction of two fish species carried out in Lake Urozero for improving the quality of the ichthyofauna have been analyzed. In the1950s–1990s, the whitefish Coregonus lavaretus and the European vendace C. albula were repeatedly introduced into the lake. Of the two species, only vendace has become naturalized in the lake. Its biological features in the new habitat conditions have been studied. A comparative analysis of linear–weight parameters with characteristics of the vendace from the donor reservoirs has been carried out. The results make it possible to classify the vendace of Lake Urozero as a large-sized form. Whitefish has not naturalized, which may be due to the small volume of its introduced stocking material and weak viability of the introducing material. Currently, eight species of fish live in the lake. Perch Perca fluviatilis and vendace prevail in abundance. Biological parameters of perch are presented. Currently, vendace constitutes a significant portion in the diet of large-sized perch.

Morphophysiological studies of hydrobionts, and, in particular, mussels cultivated in marine farms, become important for modern hydrobiology. The study of the phenotypic structure of the mussel settlements in the Black Sea is an important aspect of monitoring the state of the mollusk population in changing environmental conditions. Information about patterns of sex realization under certain conditions can be the basis for active management of settlement formation in the cultivation of mollusks. Data about the regularities of sexual maturation of mussels, the stages of maturity of gonads and gametes spawning are also of importance. The aim of the work was to assess the phenotype and sex structure of the mussel populations as well as the stages of gonads maturity of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis cultivated on the mussel-oyster farm located in the outer harbor of Sevastopol. Mussels with the size of the shell from 4.9 to 5.4 mm were collected monthly from March 2015 to August 2016 on the studied mussel-oyster farm. Phenotype, sex and stages of gonad maturity were determined in mollusks by standard methods. When determining the frequency of occurrence of mussel phenotype on the mussel-oyster farm, a higher percentage of mollusks with black color shells (Bl) in comparison with whose with brown color shells (Br) was observed, and on average for the studied period the shell phenotype ratio (Bl : Br) was 1.8 : 1 respectively. Data on the sexual structure of M. galloprovincialis on the studied mussel-oyster farm are presented. Average ♂ : ♀ ratio was 2.8 : 1, with the proportion of hermaphrodites reaching 1–6 %. The sex ratio was different every month. In March 2015 it was 1.7 : 1 (♂ : ♀) and by August 2015, while mollusks growing on the mussel’s collector, the share of males reached its maximum (8 : 1). After thinning the mussels on the collector, the sex ratio had stabilized by October 2015 and remained at the level of 2 : 1 until March 2016. The next subsidence of the young and increase of mussels mass on the collector had again led to a significant shift of the mussel sexual structure (7.5 : 1) by May 2016. One of the reasons of the increase in the number of males in the studied mussel-oyster farm is thought to be the high density of mussels in the druse resulting in local hypoxia and poor food accessibility. The analysis of the state of gonads maturity of cultivated mussels showed two peaks of spawning – spring (March, April) and a long autumn one (started in October and continued until early December). Mass reproduction of mussels was observed in the spring when the surface water layer warmed up to 9–12 °C and in the autumn with the decrease of water temperature to 18 °C. The asynchronous maturation of the gonads of M. galloprovincialis of both sexes was observed. Males had greater variability of maturity stages than females. The shift in the ratio of the sexes towards the increase of males share as well as the increase of the number of mussels with black color shell and also the asynchronous maturation of the gonads of M. galloprovincialis on the studied farm can be considered as the ecological and physiological response of mollusks to the environment changes.

The first aim of the study was to determine the impact the commercial product S.presso (INVE Aquaculture, Belgium) had on enriching the proximate composition of brine shrimp (Artemia sp.). The second aim of the study was to develop a better enrichment protocol for preparing enriched brine shrimp larvae. Two different enrichment protocols were investigated; the supplement was administered in either one (0.5 g L-1) or two equal (0.25 g L-1) doses. Using S.presso to enrich brine shrimp nauplii with polyunsaturated fatty acids resulted in higher levels of total lipids and higher quantities of docosahexaenoic acid DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid EPA deposition. Additionally, the enrichment supplement did not lead to overall lowered protein content values caused by increased hydrolytic activity that likely facilitates digestion in larval fish as they shift to exogenous feeding. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: M. Prusinska [+], R. Kolman, A. Duda, G. Wiszniewski Department of Ichthyology, Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecology Inland Fisheries Institute ul. Oczapowskiego 10, 10-719, Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland e-mail: m.prusinska@infish.com.pl O. Khudyi, L. Khuda, M. Marchenko, O. Kushniryk Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Kotsubinsky Str. 2, Chernivtsi, 58012, Ukraine

This paper is focused on horizontal, vertical, and temperature-dependent distributions, size composition of bottom and mid-water trawl catches, and biomass estimations of smooth lumpsucker Aptocyclus ventricosus (Pallas) (Cyclopteridae) within the Russian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the northwestern Sea of Japan. This species is distributed very widely throughout the study area inhabiting both near-bottom layers and water column. It is less abundant in small bays and in the northern Tatar Strait (north to 50°N). Despite wide bathymetric (0 to 940 m) and temperature (-1.1 to +12.2°Ń) ranges this species occurred mainly within the lower mesopelagic zone of 400-800 m depths and cold temperatures of -0.5-1°C. In the near-bottom layer catches of smooth lumpsucker were represented by fish with TL 5-45 cm (mean 28.1 cm, dominant lengths 29-37 cm) while in water column its TL varied 4 to 41 cm with mean 17.9 cm, most abundant were fish with TL 8-15 and 24-31 cm; the difference is associated with specific life history aspects of the species considered. Recent increase of smooth lumpsucker biomass in the study area was observed with estimated value of 3000 t in the northern Primorye. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: S.F. Solomatov Sector for Integrated Resource Research in the Sea of Japan, Pacific Research Fisheries Center, Russia A.M. Orlov [+] Sector of Arctic, Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, Russia e-mail: orlov@vniro.ru A.M. Orlov Laboratory of Ecology of Lower Vertebrates, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia A.M. Orlov Chair of Ichthyology, Dagestan State University, Russia A.M. Orlov Chair of Ichthyology and Hydrobiology, Tomsk State University, Russia A.M. Orlov Laboratory of Marine Biology, Caspian Institute of Biological Resources, Dagestan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia

The snakeblenny, Lumpenus lampretaeformis, is a post glacial relict from the last ice age in the Baltic Sea. Reliable data on its diet, parasite fauna, distribution, population size, and population trends in the Baltic Sea are lacking. In the Polish zone it has been observed only in ICES subdivisions 25 (Slupsk Furrow) and 26 (Puck Bay, Krynica Morska, Wladyslawowo and Vistula mouth fishing grounds) at depths of 30-70 m; however, in recent decades only one finding of snakeblenny in Polish waters has been reported. This paper reports the record of one female specimen from the Gulf of Gdansk. The individual’s morphological characters, stomach contents, parasitic fauna, age and gonadosomatic index were examined. The parasitological examination, which was undertaken for the first time on a specimen from the Baltic Sea since the 1930s, revealed that L. lampretaeformis was the host of one parasite species, namely a juvenile acanthocephalan Echinorhynchus gadi. Additionally, Pontoporeia fermorata and Halicryptus spinulosus were recorded in the stomach of snakeblenny for the first time in the Baltic Sea. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: B. Wiecaszek [+], E. Sobecka, K. Gorecka Department of Hydrobiology, Ichthyology and Biotechnology of Breeding, Faculty of Food Sciences and Fisheries West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin 71-550 Szczecin, 4, K. Krolewicza st., Poland e-mail: beata.wiecaszek@zut.edu.pl M. Szulc Department of Sea Fisheries, Maritime University Waly Chrobrego 1/2, 70-500 Szczecin, Poland

The paper considers phytoplankton specifics in water bodies located in forest-park areas of different cities of Ukraine. The studies of phytoplankton in Lake Babine (Kiev) and the pond of the ZNAEU botanical garden during the growing seasons 2016- 2017 years were carried out with the help of methods generally accepted in hydrobiology with identification of the dominant species complex and calculation of the information diversity according to the Shannon index. It has been found that phytoplankton of these water bodies is characterized by high taxonomic, species, quantitative and information diversity. We identified 262 species of algae belonging to 8 divisions in the water-bodies, among which Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta and Euglenophyta predominated. The maximum values of phytoplankton abundance and biomass were recorded in the spring and summer seasons. The dominant complex was represented by dinophyte, diatom, green and streptophytic algae. A significant portion of the latter in the phytoplankton of the botanical garden pond is an indication of swamping of the water-body, therefore it is recommended that appropriate measures be taken to improve its condition. β-mesosaprobes predominated in the water-bodies according to the findings of bioindication analysis. According to the index of saprobity the water-bodies under study belong to the class of "moderately polluted". In order to improve the ecological condition of large cities in Ukraine it is necessary to take measures to protect water bodies located in forest-park areas. Keywords: forest-park areas, taxonomic, species and information diversity, abundance, biomass, dominant algae complex

Исследования криптобентической фауны имеют высокую актуальность при изучении биоразно образия регионов. С целью уточнения ихтиофаунистических списков различных районов черноморской прибрежной зоны Крыма проведены исследования видового состава семейства морских уточек Gobiesocidae и обнаружен новый для прибрежной зоны Крыма вид — малоголовая присоска, или аплетодон. Вследствие малой изученности и дискуссионного таксономического статуса этого вида сведения о его морфологии, биологии, поведении и других особенностях представляют немалую научную ценность. Доказано обитание малоголовой присоски у черноморских берегов Крыма, описаны популяционно-биологические (размерно-массовые, морфометрические) характеристики и особенности распространения. В результате морфологических исследований крымских экземпляров показано отсутствие существенных различий между ними и представителями вида из атлантическо средиземноморских популяций. Выявлены особенности местообитаний, которые предпочитает этот вид, и особенности локализации, представляющие преимущества при внутрисемейственной конкуренции. Приведены ключевые признаки, облегчающие видовое определение.

There is growing demand for biotechniques in oceanobiological and hydrobiological studies. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) combines anatomical, immunological and biochemical techniques to identify specific antigen-antibody interactions. Detecting the target antigen with labeled antibodies is a multi-step process that requires optimization at every level to maximize the signal detection. Here we use zebrafish samples and optimize each IHC step, particularly antigen retrieval, transgenic reporter double staining and background counterstaining. The resulting images with high signal intensity lead us to recommend the resulting protocols for experiments with fish.

// Jianling Bi 1 , Bo Hu 1 , Jing Wang 1 , Xing Liu 1 , Jinsong Zheng 1 , Ding Wang 1 and Wuhan Xiao 1, 2 1 The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China 2 State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China Correspondence to: Wuhan Xiao, email: w-xiao@ihb.ac.cn Ding Wang, email: wangd@ihb.ac.cn Keywords: beluga whale, cetaceans, hypoxia, HIF-2α, VHL Received: October 09, 2016 Accepted: January 09, 2017 Published: February 02, 2017 ABSTRACT Aquatic mammals, such as cetaceans experience various depths, with accordingly diverse oxygenation, thus, cetaceans have developed adaptations for hypoxia, but mechanisms underlying this tolerance to low oxygen are unclear. Here we analyzed VHL and HIF-2α, in the hypoxia signaling pathway. Variations in VHL are greater than HIF-2α between cetaceans and terrestrial mammals, and beluga whale VHL (BW-VHL) promotes HIF-2α degradation under hypoxia. BW-VHL catalyzes BW-HIF-2α to form K48-linked poly-ubiquitin chains mainly at the lysine 429 of BW-HIF-2α (K429) and induces BW-HIF-2α for proteasomal degradation. W100 within BW-VHL is a key site for BW-VHL functionally and BW-VHL enhances transcriptional activity of BW-HIF-2α under hypoxia. Our data therefore reveal that BW-VHL has a unique function that may contribute to hypoxic adaptation.

The article is devoted to the application of the concept of sustainable development management to the task of combating the eutrophication of shallow water bodies (by the example of the Azov Sea). To describe the state dynamics of the water body, partial differential equations solved numerically by the finite difference method have been used. The dynamic problem of minimizing costs for the maintenance of the ecosystem of the water body in the defined condition, which is interpreted as the requirement for sustainable development, has been solved. The research and forecast complex, including the mathematical models of the hydrobiology of the shallow water body, environmental databases, and program library used to design scenarios of the ecological situation in the Azov Sea, has been worked out. Changes in the concentration of malicious blue-green algae due to water pollution by biogenic substances causing the rapid growth of these algae have been forecast. The influence of the spatial distribution of the temperature and the salinity on the biological treatment of the Azov Sea though the introduction of green algae, which displaced the toxic blue-green algae, has been studied. Using the designed research and forecast complex based on the materials of expeditions it is possible to investigate the key mechanisms of formation of vertical and horizontal zones in the distribution of biogenic substances, oxygen, and planktonic populations, to set the values of the parameters for management of the amount of hydrogen sulfide and hypoxemic zones, to evaluate the possibility of the biological treatment of the Azov Sea waters with the help of the introduction of the green alga Chlorella vulgaris BIN, followed by displacement of the toxic blue-algae that are most common in shallow water bodies such as Aphanizomenon flosaquae, and to rank the ecological efficiency of the factors for the management of the stability of the composition of the phytoplankton species, including the blooming of microalgae. Examples of the numerical calculations have been provided. The obtained results have been analyzed.

The post-stocking dispersal of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus Mitchill) in the Wisloka River (southern Poland) was investigated using biotelemetry. Thirty-five hatchery-reared juvenile A. oxyrinchus were tagged with radio or acoustic transmitters and tracked using mobile surveys and fixed receivers. Daily movement patterns were similar in 2009 and 2010. The sturgeon migrated with a mean speed of 1.42 km h-1 in 2009 and of 2.06 km h-1 in 2010. Migration rate was not regarded as being dependent on juvenile sturgeon size. The confirmed survival of individuals from the two field seasons differed slightly over the course of this study. Short-term survival of A. oxyrinchus was 86.7 and 90% in 2009 and 2010, respectively. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Department of Hydrobiology, Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn Oczapowskiego 10, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland e-mail: a.kapusta@infish.com.pl J. Morzuch Department of Migratory Fishes, Rutki Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn, Poland A. Duda, E. Bogacka-Kapusta, R. Kolman Department of Ichthyology, Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn, Poland

An Atlas of Sphagnum-Dwelling Testate Amoebae in Bulgaria

Aquatic ecosystems worldwide continue to experience unprecedented warming and ecological change. Warming increases metabolic rates of animals, plants, and microbes, accelerating their use of energy and materials, their population growth, and interaction rates. At a much larger biological scale, warming accelerates ecosystem-level processes, elevating fluxes of carbon and oxygen between biota and the atmosphere. Although these general effects of temperature at finer and broader biological scales are widely observed, they can lead to contradictory predictions for how warming affects the structure and function of ecological communities at the intermediate scale of biological organization. We experimentally tested the hypothesis that the presence of predators and their associated species interactions modify the temperature dependence of net ecosystem oxygen production and respiration. We tracked a series of independent freshwater ecosystems (370 L) over 9 weeks, and we found that at higher temperatures, cascading effects of predators on zooplankton prey and algae were stronger than at lower temperatures. When grazing was weak or absent, standing phytoplankton biomass declined by 85%–95% (

The detection of oxidative stress caused by emerging pollutants in aquatic systems is essential to carry out toxicological analysis since they can bring us information about the mechanisms of toxic action of the pollutants, which might be useful to address this contamination. To achieve this goal, two self-bioluminescent strains that respond to oxidative stress based on the filamentous cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. PCC7120, which has a high ecological relevance in aquatic continental systems, have been constructed. Nostoc sp. PCC7120 pBG2172 harbours the promoter region of the 2-cys-prx gene (P2-cys-prx), encoding a cytoplasmic peroxiredoxin, fused to luxCDABE genes of the bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens. Nostoc sp. PCC7120 pBG2173 harbours the promoter region of the KatA gene (PkatA), a cytoplasmic catalase, also fused to luxCDABE genes. Both strains have been characterized by exposing them to H2O2: Nostoc sp. PCC7120 pBG2172 responded while Nostoc sp. PCC7120 pBG2173 did not respond to this pollutant. In order to know their specificity, they were exposed to methyl viologen (MV), an herbicide that produces superoxide anion (O2-) and a bioluminescence response was observed in both strains. Besides, the utility of these strains for the detection of H2O2 and MV in natural water samples, both pristine and wastewater samples has been tested by spiking experiments. Finally, the possible application of these strains for the detection of the emerging pollutant triclosan has also been tested showing to be suitable bioreporters to study oxidative stress in aquatic environments.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-06T16:17:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-04-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Universidade Estadual Paulista Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) In recent years, the rapid advances of culture-independent methods and new molecular tools have revolutionized our understanding of microbial biodiversity and ecological functions. DNA extraction from microbial communities is a critical step in this process and several methods have been proposed and used, but the influence of the extraction method on the outcome and ultimately on ecological inferences from the results is not yet precisely determined. Here, we compared two of the most commonly used extraction methods in aquatic microbial ecology, and investigated whether the two methods yielded comparable results for community ecology analyses. We extracted DNA from 15 different shallow lakes with phenol:chloroform, a classical and widely used extraction method, and with the PowerSoil DNA isolation Kit, often suggested as the standard DNA extraction method, with some adaptations for aquatic environments. We found that although only 5% of all OTUs showed significant differences in pairwise comparisons (using the 15 lakes as replicates), these OTUs accounted for >35% (on average) of the relative abundance. Diversity and richness did not differ significantly between the two extraction methods, but the beta-dispersion of the communities indicated that the organic extraction yielded more homogeneous communities, while the kit extraction generated variability. Consequently, we conclude that despite the small number of OTUs with significant differences, their impact on the community composition obtained was not negligible, and therefore the results from these two extraction methods were not comparable. Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) Department of Hydrobiology Laboratory of Microbial Processes and Biodiversity Post Graduate Program in Ecology and Natural Resources (PPGERN) UFSCar UFSCar Department of Botany Laboratory of Phycology Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Departamento de Tecnologia Laboratório de Bioquímica de Microrganismos e Plantas – LBMP UNESP Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Departamento de Tecnologia Laboratório Multiusuário Centralizado para Sequenciamento de DNA em Larga Escala e Análise de Expressão Gênica – LMSeq Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Departamento de Tecnologia Laboratório de Bioquímica de Microrganismos e Plantas – LBMP UNESP Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Departamento de Tecnologia Laboratório Multiusuário Centralizado para Sequenciamento de DNA em Larga Escala e Análise de Expressão Gênica – LMSeq Universidade Estadual Paulista: 2009/53984-2 FAPESP: 2011/50054-4 FAPESP: 2013/18083-0 FAPESP: 2014/14139-3 Universidade Estadual Paulista: 2016/07679-7 CNPq: 309514/2017-7

Coral reefs are threatened by a multitude of environmental and biotic influences. Among these, excavating sponges raise particular concern since they bore into coral skeleton forming extensive cavities which lead to weakening and loss of reef structures. Sponge bioerosion is achieved by a combination of chemical dissolution and mechanical chip removal and ocean acidification has been shown to accelerate bioerosion rates. However, despite the ecological relevance of sponge bioerosion, the exact chemical conditions in which dissolution takes place and how chips are removed remain elusive. Using fluorescence microscopy, we show that intracellular pH is lower at etching sites compared to ambient seawater and the sponge’s tissue. This is realised through the extension of filopodia filled with low intracellular pH vesicles suggesting that protons are actively transported into this microenvironment to promote CaCO3 dissolution. Furthermore, fusiform myocyte-like cells forming reticulated pathways were localised at the interface between calcite and sponge. Such cells may be used by sponges to contract a conductive pathway to remove chips possibly instigated by excess Ca2+ at the boring site. The mechanism underlying CaCO3 dissolution by sponges provides new insight into how environmental conditions can enhance dissolution and improves predictions of future rates of coral dissolution due to sponge activity.

The aims of this project were to study: diet composition, food selectivity and the phenology of different prey items in grayling’s (Thymallus thymallus) diet. It was hypothesized, that alterations in mayfly emergence, caused by reservoir-induced thermal changes, have consequences for trophic ecology of drift-feeding fish. Sampling of fish and macroinvertebrates were conducted in two closely located rivers, one human-modified and the other an undisturbed river. Grayling preyed mainly on aquatic insects, but only mayflies were preferred. Seasonal changes of the fish diet were observed, and air temperature is considered a predictor of prey occurrence with different time lags, depending on the biology of the organisms. Significant differences in the abundances and probability of mayfly occurrence between two studied rivers were shown. The observed phenological shift suggests that distorted environmental cues were experienced by the Ephemeroptera in the modified river. The “lost generation” of insects which failed to complete development became a new food for fish. The results presented indicate that reservoir-induced thermal alterations in the rivers, similarly to climate change, can lead to a chain of consequences in the ecosystems. Taking into consideration the projected climate scenarios, further monitoring and forecasting of these effects are considered an important step for future mitigating actions and adaptive management of water resources.

Bu çalışmada, Marmara Denizi Gemlik Körfezi‟nden Ocak-Mart 2017 tarihleri arasında yakalanan 213 adet Gümüş balığı (Atherina hepsetus Linnaeus, 1758) bireyinde boy ve ağırlık dağılımları, boy-ağırlık ilişkisi, kondisyon faktörü ve otolit özelliklerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yakalanan örneklerden 24 adet metrik ve meristik ölçüm yapılmış olup aralarındaki ilişkiler hesaplanmıştır. Çalışmada elde edilen örneklerin total boy ve ağırlıkları sırasıyla 99-145 mm ve 6.4-18 g arasında dağılım göstermektedir. Tüm örnekler için boy-ağırlık ilişkisi W=0.012L 2.74 ortalamakondisyon faktörü değeri ise 0.65 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Sağ ve sol otolitler paired-t testi ile arşılaştırılmıştır. Otolit ağırlığı, genişliği, çevresi ve alanı için değerlendirme yapıldığında sağ ve sol otolit çiftleri aralarındaki farkın istatistiksel manada önemli olduğu belirlenmiştir (P0.05). Bu fark nedeniyle, şekil faktörü, yuvarlaklık, OB/OG oranı, dairesellik, dikdörtgenlik ve eliptiklik parametreleri sol ve sağ otolit çiftleri için ayrı ayrı hesaplanmıştır. Türün sağ ve sol otolit çiftlerinin distal ve proksimal kısımlarından elektron mikroskobu görüntüleri de sunulmuştur. Araştırma, Atherina hepsetus‟un Türkiye denizleri için otolit biyometrisi ve morfolojik özelliklerinin sunulduğu ilk çalışmadır.Anahtar Kelimeler: Atherina hepsetus, Otolit Biyometrisi, Otolit Morfolojisi In this study, we aimed to determine the length and weight distributions, lengthweight relationship, condition factor and otolith characteristics of 213 Mediterranean sand smelt (Atherina hepsetus Linnaeus, 1758) individuals which caught from the Gemlik Gulf, Marmara Sea, between January-March 2017. In the current study, 24 metric and meristic measurements were performed and the relationships between them were calculated. Total length and weights of the samples obtained in the study were between 99-145 mm and 6.4-18 g, respectively. The length-weight relationshipwas calculated as W=0.012L 2.74 and the average condition factor value was 0.65 for all samples. Right and left otoliths were compared with paired-t test. When the weight, width, perimeter and area of the otolith were evaluated, the difference between the right and left otolith pairs was found to be statistically significant (P 0.05). Due to this difference, form factor, roundness, OB/OG ratio, circularity, rectangularity and ellipticity parameters were calculated for left and right otoliths separately. Electron microscopy images from the distal and proximal surfaces of the right and left otoliths of the species were also presented. This is the first study to present the otolith biometry and morphological features of Atherina hepsetus for Turkish seas.Keywords: Atherina hepsetus, Otolith Biometry, Otolith Morphology. 75

Otolit jeokimyası kullanılarak balıkların geçmiş hayat evrelerinde hangi doğal habitatta yumurtadan çıktıklarının belirlenmesi mümkündür. Juvenil bireylerin doğal habitatlarını belirlemek için otolit merkezindeki stronsiyum izotop oranları (87Sr/86Sr) anahtar kısmı oluşturmaktadır. Ancak yapılan araştırmalarda, ülkemizde balık otolitlerinde stronsiyum izotop oranları (87Sr/86Sr) ile ilgili gerçekleştirilen herhangi bir çalışmaya rastlanılmamıştır. Alburnus tarichi Van Gölü ile buraya dökülen akarsularda yaşayan anadrom, endemik bir türdür. Araştırmamızda uygulanan yöntem, inci kefalinin göç özelliklerinin ortaya çıkarılmasını sağlamanın yanı sıra benzer yaşam şekli olan türler için de anahtar özelliğini gösterecektir. Bu amaçla, Van Gölü'nden 120 inci kefali örneklenmiştir. Her bir bireyden çıkarılan otolitlerin morfometrik özellikleri belirlenmiştir. Van Gölü ve göle dökülen akarsulardan su örnekleri alınmış, fizikokimyasal özellikleri tespit edilmiştir. Otolitlerin ve su örneklerinin mikrokimyasal özellikleri California Üniversitesi'nde yüksek hassasiyetli LA-MC-ICPMS (Lazer Ablasyon-Multi Collector-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroskopy) cihazı yardımıyla belirlenmiştir. Van Gölü'nden elde edilen ergin bireylerin otolitlerinde larval döneme denk gelen kısım belirlenerek bu kısımdaki 87Sr/86Sr izotop oranı ölçülmüştür. Larvaların bulunduğu farklı habitatlardan alınan su örnekleri ergin bireylerin merkez kısmındaki 87Sr/86Sr izotop oranı değerleri ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Bu karşılaştırmalarda otolit ve su örneklerinin iz element analizlerinden de faydalanılmıştır. İstatistiksel analizlerde, Excel 2010, SPSS 20, R-Studio programları kullanılmıştır. Analizler sonucunda 40 bireyin Engil, 27 bireyin Deliçay, 18 bireyin Gevaş, 12 bireyin Karasu, 11 bireyin Karmuç, 8 bireyin Bendimahi, 3 bireyin Zilan çaylarından Van Gölü stoğuna katıldığı belirlenmiştir. 1 bireyin hangi habitattan Van Gölü stoğuna katıldığı belirlenememiştir. Türün üreme alanlarının korunması noktasında bu bilgilerin yönlendirici olacağı düşünülmektedir. By utilizing the otolith geochemistry, it is possible to define in which natural habitat the fish came into being in the past life phases. Strontium isotope rates (87Sr/86Sr) holds the key point for spotting the natural habitats of the juvenile individuals. However, as a result of our research, no studies on strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) fish otoliths were encountered in our country. Alburnus tarichi is an anadromous and endemic species living in the Lake Van and the rivers flowing into it. This method which applied in this study, also it will show the key characteristic for species with similar life style in addition to revealing the migratory characteristics of tarek. A total of 120 tarek individuals were sampled from Lake Van for this purpose. Morphometric characteristics of otoliths extracted from each individual were determined. Water samples were taken from Lake Van and the streams pouring into the lake and their physicochemical properties were determined. Microchemical properties of otoliths and water samples were determined at the University of California with the help of high-precision LA-MC-ICPMS (Laser Ablation-Multi Collector-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroskopy). In the otoliths of the adult individuals sampled from Lake Van by defining the section that coincides the larval phase, 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio are subtracted from this part. Water samples taken from the different habitats where larvae found are compared with the adult individuals' 87Sr/86Sr ratios. In these comparisons, trace element analysis of otolith and water samples were also used. In statistical analysis, Excel 2010, SPSS 20, RStudio package-software programs were used. As a result of the analyzes, it was determined that 40 individuals from Engil, 27 from Deliçay, 18 from Gevaş, 12 from Karasu, 11 from Karmuç, 8 from Bendimahi and 3 from Zilan streams participated in the stock of Lake Van. It was not determined which habitat an individual participated in the stock of Lake Van. It is thought that this information will be a guide for the protection of the breeding areas of tarek. 381

Tez çalışmasının amacı Ladik Gölü'nün su ve sedimenti ile gölge yaşayan tatlısu levreği (Perca fluviatilis L., 1758)'nin bazı dokularında, biyokimyasal, hematolojik ve histopatolojik yönden ağır metal düzeyinin belirlenmesidir. Çalışmada, Ladik Gölü'nün farklı bölgelerinden her mevsim yakalanan balık örnekleri incelenmiştir. Örneklerin ağır metal analizi için ICP-OES cihazı kullanılarak Al, As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V ve Zn ağır metallerinin analizi yapılmıştır. TP, ALB, Chol, Trigl, BUN, Gluc, ALT, AST, LDH, ALP, Ca, Cl, Na, K, Fe, P ve Cort parametreleri biyokimyasal otoanalizör cihazı kullanılarak ölçülmüştür. Hematolojik parametrelerden total lökosit, granülosit, agranülosit, eritrosit, hemoglobin, hematokrit ve trombosit ölçümü Ms4 kan sayım cihazı ile yapılmıştır. Leica TP1020 model doku takip cihazı ile karaciğer ve solungaç dokusundaki anormallikler belirlenmiştir. Ladik Gölü pH değeri 7.5-8.1 arasında ölçülmüştür. Alınan su örnekleri su kalite kriterleri yönetmeliğine göre mevsimsel olarak incelendiğinde ağır metallerden Al, Ba ve Cr seviyelerinin yaz ve kış mevsiminde Sınıf III, ilkbahar ve sonbahar mevsiminde ise Sınıf II; Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb ve Zn ise Sınıf IV kategorisine girdiği görülmüştür. Sedimentte metal yoğunluğu yaz ve ilkbahar mevsimlerinde artış, kış ve sonbahar mevsimlerinde ise azalma eğilimi göstermiştir. Biyokimyasal parametrelerden TP, ALB; yaz>ilkbahar>sonbahar=kış, Gluc, Chol, Trigl, BUN, Cort; yaz>ilkbahar>sonbahar=kış, AST, ALT, ALP, LDH; ilkbahar>yaz>sonbahar=kış, Na, K, Cl; ilkbahar>yaz>sonbahar>kış iken Ca, P, Fe; yaz>sonbahar>kış>ilkbahar şeklinde belirlenmiş olup bulgular anlamlıdır (pspring>autumn=winter, Gluc, Chol, Trigl, BUN, Cort; summer>spring>autumn=winter, AST, ALT, ALP, LDH; spring>summer>autumn=winter, Na, K, Cl; spring, summer>autumn> winter, Ca, P, Fe; summer>autumn>winter>spring and the findings were significant (p

Burdur İli geçici sucul ekosistemleri zooplanktonu araştırması Mayıs 2013 ile Haziran 2015 tarihleri arasında araştırılmıştır. Zooplankton örneklemleri, Burdur İli geçici sulak alanlarından seçilen 9 istasyondan 100 μm'lik gözenek açıklığındaki plankton kepçesi ile alınmıştır. Geçici sulak alanlardan toplanan plankton örnekleri %4'lük formalin çözeltisi içerisinde korunmuştur. Örneklem yapılan geçici suların sularının bazı fiziko-kimyasal özellikleri (sıcaklık, ışık geçirgenliği, pH, çözünmüş oksijen, çözünmüş oksijen doygunluğu ve elektriki iletkenlik) arazi ortamında belirlenmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda, Rotifera'dan 36, Cladocera'dan 19 ve Copepodadan 10 olmak üzere toplamda 65 takson belirlenmiş, ayrıca tür ve grupların bolluk değerleri de belirlenmiştir.Ekolojik dengenin sürekliliğinde ve biyoçeşitliliğin korunmasında oldukça önemli olan geçici sulak alanlar zooplakton kompozisyonunun pek çok canlı için uygun beslenme, üreme ve barınma ortamı sağlamakla birlikte antropoljik etkinlikler nedeniyle önemli derecede tehdit altında olduğu görülmüştür. The research on Temporary Aquatic Ecosystems Zooplankton in Burdur province was conducted on a monthly periods between May 2013 and June 2015. Samples were taken from 9 stations selected from the temporary wetlands of Burdur province using a plankton scoop with an opening of 100 μm. The collected samples were determined in 4% formalin solution. The temperature, light transmittance, pH, dissolved oxygen and oxygen saturation electrical conductivity determinations, which are among the physico-chemical properties of the lake waters in our stations, were carried out on-site. As a result of this study, a total of 65 taxa, 36 from Rotifera, 19 from Cladocera and 10 from Copepoda, were determined, and abundance values of species and groups were also determined.Temporary wetlands, which are very important for the continuity of ecological balance and protection of biodiversity, provide a suitable feeding, reproduction and shelter environment for many living beings of zooplakton composition. However, these areas were found to be significantly threatened by anthropological activities. 88

Bu çalışmanın amacı; Samsun ilindeki Altınkaya Baraj Gölü (ABG) ve Bafra Balık Gölleri (BBG)'nden elde edilen sudak Sander lucioperca (L., 1758) türünün sagittal otolit biyometrisinin saptanması ve iki lokalite arasındaki farklılıkların belirlenmesidir. Örnekler; BBG'nden Eylül 2017-Ocak 2018 ve ABG'nden Mart 2017-Nisan 2018 tarihleri arasında temin edilmiştir. ABG'nden toplam 34 birey, BBG'nden ise toplamda 72 birey yakalanmıştır. Yakalanan tüm örneklerin total, çatal ve standart boyları ölçülmüş (±0.1 cm) ve ağırlıkları tartılmıştır (±0.01 g). ABG ve BBG'den temin edilen sudak örneklerinin total boyları sırasıyla 31.3-71.5 cm ve 12.9-58.0 cm arasında değişmektedir. ABG ve BBG'nde tüm bireylerin ağırlık ölçümlerinin minimum ve maksimum değerleri ise sırasıyla 267.85-3384.64 gr ve 19.6-1957.86 gr olarak bulunmuştur. İki lokalite için de otolit özelliklerinin belirlenmesi amacıyla sagittal otolitleri çıkarılmış ve otolit boyu (OB), otolit eni (OE), otolit çevresi (OÇ), otolit ağırlıkları (OW) ve otolit alanları (OA) ölçülmüştür. ABG'de sudak populasyonunda otolit ölçümlerinin TB ile ilişkilendirilmesinde en kuvvetli ilişki total boy ile otolit boyu (OB) arasında bulunmuştur (r2=0.984). BBG populasyonunda ise total boyu ile otolit alanı (OA) arasında belirlenmiştir (r2=0.989). Ayrıca otolit ölçümlerinden yararlanılarak otolit şekil indeksleri (Şekil faktörü, Yuvarlaklık, Dairesellik, Dikdörtgensellik, Ovallik ve Boy-Yükseklik oranı) hesaplanmıştır. Otolit şekil indekslerinin tanımlayıcı istatistikleri lokalitelere göre ayrı ayrı belirlenmiştir. ABG populasyonu için ortalama şekil indeks değerleri sırasıyla; 0.542, 0.390, 23.527, 0.692, 0.387 ve 2.272, BBG populasyonu için ortalama şekil indeks değerleri sırasıyla; 0.526, 0.374, 23.977, 0.692, 0.408 ve 2.387 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Yapılan şekil indeks karşılaştırmaları sonucunda iki lokalite arasında yuvarlaklık, dairesellik ve şekil faktörü ölçümlerinin önemli derecede farklı olduğu tespit edilmiştir (P

Amino asitler, peptidlerin ve proteinlerin temel bileşenleridir. Yirmi önemli amino asit, peptitler ve proteinler içerdiği için yaşam için çok önemlidir ve dünyadaki tüm canlılar için yapı taşları olarak bilinir. Protein sentezi için kullanılırlar. Amino asitler bir insan vücudunun sağlığını korumak için zorunludur. Amino asitlerin yetersiz olması durumunda, protein sentezi duracaktır. Bunun sonucunda insan yorgunluk, sinirlilik, hormonal dengesizlikler ve hatta bazen depresyon yaşayabilir. Amino asitleri, insanların bunları diyet yoluyla elde edip etmemeleri de dahil olmak üzere çeşitli özelliklere göre esansiyel ve esansiyel olmayan aminoasitler olarak sınıflandırır. Vücudun sentezleyemediği amino asitlerin besinler yolu ile karşılanması gerekmektedir. Sağlıklı bir yaşam için esansiyel aminoasitlerin diyetle(beslenme) alınması gereklidir. Balıketi, beslenme değeri ve özellikle protein kalitesi bakımından örnek bir gıdadır. Et, süt, yumurta yanında balık, en önemli yüksek değerli protein kaynağıdır. Balıketi yüzde 18-20 oranında protein içermektedir. Gıdalarla alınan protein organizmada hem yapı taşı olarak hem de ısı ve enerji üretimi için kullanılırlar. Balık proteinleri, vücut dokularının korunması ve gelişmesi için bütün esansiyel aminoasitleri (lösin, izolösin, lizin, valin, methiyonin, fenilalanin, treonin, triptofan, histidin, arginin) bünyelerinde bulundururlar. Bu çalışmada Fırat lokalitesinde yaşayan Arabibarbus grypus ve cyprinus carpio türleri tatlı su balıklarının serbest aminoasit profilinin karşılaştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Bu çalışmada tek lokaliteden ağlarla cyprinus carpio ve Arabibarbus grypus toplandı, her balığın 100 mg kas dokusu alnınarak LC-MS/MS (shimadzu) yöntemiyle incelendi. Çalışmada esansiyel, esansiyel olmayan toplam 33 farklı aminoasit profili incelendi. Çalışma sonucunda Fırat lokalitesinden toplanan cyprinus carpio türünün aminoasit profili en çok, gly ve histidin Arabibarbus grypus türünün aminoasit profili ise yine histidin ve gly aminoasitlerinin yüksek miktarda olduğu tespit edildi. Fırat lokalitesinde esansiyel amino asitler esansiyel olmayanlara göre kıyaslandığında, her iki balık türünde de amino asit miktarı esansiyel amino asitlerde daha çok bulunmaktadır. Esansiyel olmayan aminoasitlerde de Fırat lokalitesinde her iki balık türünde de düşük miktarda içerdiği gözlenmiştir. Amino acids are essential components of peptides and proteins. Because it contains twenty important amino acids, peptides and proteins, it is crucial for life and is known as building blocks for all living things in the world. They are used for protein synthesis. Amino acids are essential for maintaining the health of a human body. If amino acids are insufficient, protein synthesis will stop. As a result, people may experience fatigue, irritability, hormonal imbalances and sometimes even depression. It classifies amino acids as essential and non-essential amino acids according to various characteristics, including whether people obtain them through diet. The amino acids that the body cannot synthesize must be met through nutrients. For a healthy life, essential amino acids must be taken by diet (nutrition). Fish is an exemplary food in terms of nutritional value and especially protein quality. Meat, milk, eggs as well as fish, the most important source of high-value protein. Fish contains 18-20 percent protein. Protein taken from food is used both as a building block in the organism and for the production of heat and energy. Fish proteins contain all essential amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, lysine, valine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, histidine, arginine) for the protection and development of body tissues. In this study, it was aimed to compare the free amino acid profile of freshwater fish of Arabibarbus grypus and cyprinus carpio species living in Euphrates. In this study, cyprinus carpio and Arabibarbus grypus were collected from single local nets and 100 mg muscle tissue of each fish were collected and examined by LC-MS / MS (shimadzu) method. In this study, a total of 33 different essential and non-essential amino acid profiles were examined. As a result of the study, the amino acid profile of the cyprinus carpio species collected from the Euphrates locality was found to be the highest and the amino acid profile of the gly and histidine Arabibarbus grypus species was again found to be high in histidine and gly amino acids. The amount of essential amino acids are more. Non-essential amino acids in the Euphrates in both fish species were observed to contain low amount 46

Unfiltered and filtered water samples can be used to collect environmental DNA (eDNA). We developed the novel “Preserve, Precipitate, Lyse, Precipitate, Purify” (PPLPP) workflow to efficiently extract eDNA from Longmire’s preserved unfiltered and filtered water samples (44–100% recovery). The PPLPP workflow includes initial glycogen-aided isopropanol precipitation, guanidium hypochlorite and Triton X-100–based lysis, terminal glycogen-aided polyethylene glycol precipitation, and inhibitor purification. Three novel eDNA assays that exclusively target species invasive to Australia were also developed: Tilapia_v2_16S concurrently targets Oreochromis mossambicus (Mozambique tilapia) and Tilapia mariae (spotted tilapia) while R.marina_16S and C.caroliniana_matK discretely target Rhinella marina (cane toad) and Cabomba caroliniana (fanwort), respectively. All 3 assays were validated in silico before in vitro and in situ validations using PPLPP workflow extracted samples. PPLPP workflow was concurrently validated in vitro and in situ using all 3 assays. In vitro validations demonstrated that 1) glycogen inclusion increased extracellular DNA recovery by ∼48-fold compared with glycogen exclusion, 2) swinging-bucket centrifugation for 90 min at 3270 g is equivalent to fixed-angle centrifugation for 5–20 min at 6750 g, and 3) Zymo OneStep Inhibitor Removal Kit, Qiagen DNeasy PowerClean Pro Cleanup Kit, and silica-Zymo double purification provide effective inhibitor removal. In situ validation demonstrated 95.8 ± 2.8% (mean ± SEM) detectability across all 3 target species in Longmire’s preserved unfiltered and filtered water samples extracted using the PPLPP workflow (without phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol purification) after 39 d of incubation at room temperature and 50°C. PPLPP workflow is recommended for future temperate and tropical eDNA studies that use Longmire’s to preserve unfiltered or filtered water samples.

Some diatoms are rich food for herbivorous copepods, while others are toxic for their recruitment. No negative effect of diatom Cylindrotheca closterium was ever observed for copepods, and some estuarine copepods preferred it as a food. Data on grazing diatoms by abundant now in the Black Sea coastal waters invasive copepod Oithona davisae are still contradictory. Interaction of O. davisae and C. closterium, both having high colonizing potential and both typical for coastal waters, was studied in experimental culture. Two weeks after inoculation of C. closterium the cultured O. davisae was drastically fouled by globulous conglomerates of diatom cells. Diatom cells in “colonies” on copepod exoskeleton were interconnected by means of adhesive substances at one of their flexible ends at the point-wise areas at various parts of copepods exoskeleton, and the opposite flexible ends performed various circular roll-over fan-shaped movements around the axis passing through the point of their attachment. “Colonies” behaved as integrated aggressive organisms against any approaching flagellate and prevented normal locomotion of copepods. Herein we present the first report on epizoic behavior of C. closterium: quick disastrous colonization of alive copepods O. davisae by diatom “colonies” led to total extinction of cyclopoid experimental population while alive diatoms formed dense network on copepods degenerative tissues.

High-altitude freshwater ecosystems and their biocoenosis are ideal sentinel systems to detect global change. In particular, pond communities are likely to be highly responsive to climate warming. For this reason, the Swiss National Park has included ponds as part of a long-term monitoring programme of the high-alpine Macun cirque. This cirque covers 3.6 km2, has a mean altitude of 2,660 m a.s.l., and includes a hydrographic system composed of a stream network and more than 35 temporary and permanent ponds. The first two steps in the programme were to (i) make an inventory of the macroinvertebrates of the waterbodies in the Macun cirque, and (ii) relate the assemblages to local or regional environmental variables. Sampling was conducted in 25 ponds between 2002 and 2004. The number of taxa characterising the region (Macun cirque) was low, represented by 47 lentic taxa. None of them was endemic to the Alps, although several species were cold stenothermal. Average pond richness was low (11.3 taxa). Assemblages were dominated by Chironomidae (Diptera), and Coleoptera and Oligochaeta were also relatively well represented. Other groups, which are frequent in lowland ponds, had particularly poor species richness (Trichoptera, Heteroptera) or were absent (Gastropoda, Odonata, Ephemeroptera). Macroinvertebrate assemblages (composition, richness) were only weakly influenced by local environmental variables. The main structuring processes were those operating at regional level and, namely, the connectivity between ponds, i.e. the presence of a physical connection (tributary) and/or small geographical distance between ponds. The results suggest that during the long-term monitoring of the Macun ponds (started in 2005), two kinds of change will affect macroinvertebrate assemblages. The first change is related to the natural dynamics, with high local-scale turnover, involving the metapopulations characterising the Macun cirque. The second change is related to global warming, leading to higher local and regional richness through an increase in the number of colonisation events resulting from the upward shift of geographical ranges of species. At the same time the cold stenothermal species from Macun will be subject to extinction.