Search

La Trobe University Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering Murray Darling Freshwater Research CentreMDFRC item.Microfaunal samples were collected from within the channels of three rivers in north eastern Victoria, Australia (the Murray, Ovens and Broken Rivers) as a component of a study examining the effects of flow on the biota of lowland rivers in Australia. Samples were collected from the water column of the river channel and slackwaters and from the layer of water immediately above the bottom sediment of the slackwaters. There was no connectivity between the river channel and the floodplain wetlands for all three rivers during the sampling period. Substantial numbers of microfauna were resident in the slackwaters of all three rivers, with the greatest densities occurring close to the bottom sediment, with densities often exceeding 1000 animals l−1 whereas in the plankton samples densities were usually less than 500 animals l−1. The presence of large and diverse microfaunal communities and the lack of connectivity between the river channel and associated floodplain wetland indicate that these communities are capable of persisting and recruiting within riverine channel slackwaters.

Selected biological collections of the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, are presented. The collection of fungi deposited in the Department of Algology and Mycology, consisting of ca. 60,000 vouchers, is one of the largest and most valuable in Poland. It contains macromycetes, plant parasitic fungi, lichens (lichenized fungi), lichenicolous fungi and fungus-like slime molds. Most of them come from various regions of Poland, as well as from Europe and America. The collection of invertebrates of the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology counts over 1,000,000 specimens. These are freshwater invertebrates (mainly insects, annelids and mollusks) and marine animals (polychaetes, crustaceans, echinoderms). The collection includes materials from different regions of Poland, the Balkans, the Pontic-Caspian region and North Africa. Marine animal collections come mainly from the Antarctic region and the Bay of Biscay. The collections of the Natural History Museum have not only great scientific, but also historical and exhibitional value. The museum has a paleontological collection, a collection of skeletons, a collection of mammals and birds, and a collection of invertebrates, especially insects coming from various regions of the world. In total, over 100,000 specimens have been collected, including exhibits rarely found in other Polish museums.

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.

Citizen science data (CSD) have the potential to be a powerful scientific approach to assess, monitor and predict biodiversity. Here, we ask whether CSD could be used to predict biodiversity of recently constructed man-made habitats. Biodiversity data on adult dragonfly abundance from all kinds of aquatic habitats collected by citizen scientists (volunteers) were retrieved from the Swedish Species Observation System and were compared with dragonfly abundance in man-made stormwater ponds. The abundance data of dragonflies in the stormwater ponds were collected with a scientific, standardized design. Our results showed that the citizen science datasets differed significantly from datasets collected scientifically in stormwater ponds. Hence, we could not predict biodiversity in stormwater ponds from the data collected by citizen scientists. Using CSD from past versus recent years or from small versus large areas surrounding the stormwater ponds did not change the outcome of our tests. However, we found that biodiversity patterns obtained with CSD were similar to those from stormwater ponds when we restricted our analyses to rare species. We also found a higher beta diversity for the CSD compared to the stormwater dataset. Our results suggest that if CSD are to be used for estimating or predicting biodiversity, we need to develop methods that take into account or correct for the under-reporting of common species in CSD.

The paper deals with the main historical moments of the Caspian sturgeon population dynamics and the formation of their stocks. The participation of researchers of the Department of Ichthyology and Hydrobiology of Saint-Petersburg State University in creating the concept of sturgeon conservation in the Caspian Sea and the specialized institute of sturgeon farming in Astrakhan was highly appreciated. The materials on the contribution of the Department’s researchers to the study of the physiological state of sturgeon producers, improving their quality, survival and safety in the conditions of artificial breeding of these species are presented. The data on the reduction of the sturgeon abundance reared and released into the Caspian Sea by the Caspian littoral states are presented. A description of the current state of the sturgeon of the Caspian basin is given. The data on changes in stocks, the structure of the spawning part of the population and reproduction of the beluga, Russian sturgeon and stellate sturgeon in the Volga-Caspian basin under the conditions of the prohibition of their commercial fishing are analyzed. It was shown that during the years of the ban, the abundance and stocks of sturgeon and biological indicators of breeding migrants to spawn in the Volga continued to decrease and the proportion of females among them, which is associated with the illegal catch of sturgeon, comparable in scale to the commercial fishery before the ban was introduced. Reduced natural (up to its complete cessation in the Beluga) and artificial reproduction of sturgeons are stated. Only observing the moratorium on sturgeon fishing in all the Caspian littoral states, strengthening the protection of fish at feeding grounds and spawning migrations can preserve and restore their unique Caspian populations.

A bibliography of the Fertő/Neusiedler See and Hanság/Waasen research coordinated by the Danube-Research Institute between 1972 and 2017 is presented. The bibliography lists 198 publications on the Fertő/Neusiedler See region and 28 on the Hanság/Waasen and furthermore, detailes of 19 projec reports are presented. Alphabetic lists of authors with references to their contributions to the research of both regions were also compiled.

Jargon is the specialised vocabulary of any science: it allows the creation of new terms to define concepts and it removes ambiguity from scientific communication. Yet, it may also hinder understanding for a broader audience. Given that the Journal of Limnology has jargon in its title, we here investigate the impact of the term ‘limnology’ on the way limnologists work, publish their research, and attract the interest of other scientists. We do so by comparing scientometric features of papers published from 1965 to 2020 that used the term ‘limnology’ against papers on similar topics but that used the term ‘lake ecology’ or ‘hydrobiology’, and to the marine counterpart of papers that used the term ‘oceanography’. We found that papers using the term limnology score worse than those of the other topics in terms of both publication output and scientific impact. Limnologists may need to use other terms in addition to ‘limnology’ to reach a broader scientific audience.

In some cases, wildlife management objectives directed at multiple species can conflict with one another, creating species trade-offs. For managers to effectively identify trade-offs and avoid their undesirable outcomes, they must understand the agents involved and their corresponding interactions. A literature review of interspecific trade-offs within freshwater and marine ecosystems was conducted to illustrate the scope of potential interspecific trade-offs that may occur. We identified common pitfalls that lead to failed recognition of interspecific trade-offs, including, single-species management and limited consideration of the spatial and temporal scale of ecosystems and their management regimes. We devised a classification framework of common interspecific trade-offs within aquatic systems. The classification can help managers determine whether the conflict is species based through direct relationships (i.e., predator-prey, competition, other antagonistic relationships) or indirect relationships involving intermediate species (i.e., conflict-generating species) or whether the conflict is driven by opposing management objectives for species that would otherwise not interact (i.e., nontarget management effects). Once the nature and scope of trade-offs are understood, existing decision-making tools, such as structured decision-making and real-options analysis, can be incorporated to improve the management of aquatic ecosystems. Article Impact Statement: A synthesis of interspecific trade-offs in aquatic ecosystems supports their identification and resolution.Un Marco de Clasificación para Compensaciones Interespecíficas en Ecología Acuática Resumen En algunos casos, los objetivos del manejo de fauna dirigidos a muchas especies pueden entrar en conflicto entre sí creando compensaciones entre las especies. Para que los manejadores identifiquen efectivamente estas compensaciones y eviten sus resultados no deseados, deben entender a los agentes involucrados y sus interacciones correspondientes. Se realizó una revisión literaria de las compensaciones interespecíficas dentro de los ecosistemas marinos y de agua dulce para ilustrar el alcance de las compensaciones interespecíficas que pueden ocurrir. Identificamos dificultades comunes que llevan al reconocimiento fallido de las compensaciones interespecíficas, incluyendo el manejo de una sola especie y sus regímenes de manejo. Diseñamos un marco de clasificación de compensaciones interespecíficas comunes dentro de los ecosistemas acuáticos. La clasificación puede ayudar a los manejadores a determinar si el conflicto está basado en las especies por sus relaciones directas (es decir, depredador-presa, competencia, otras relaciones antagonistas) o por relaciones indirectas que involucran a otras especies (es decir, efectos del manejo de especies que no son el objetivo). Una vez que se entiende la naturaleza y el alcance de las compensaciones, las herramientas de toma de decisión existentes, como la toma estructurada de decisiones y el análisis de opciones reales, pueden incorporarse para mejorar el manejo de los ecosistemas acuáticos.

On January 6, 2020, Lyudmila Vasilyevna Ilyash, an outstanding hydrobiologist, Doctor of Biological Sciences, professor of the Department of General Ecology and Hydrobiology of the Biological Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University. Research interests L.V. Ilyash covered a wide range of issues and topics related to the ecology of marine planktonic and ice algae, patterns of formation of the structure and functioning of phytocenoses in marine ecosystems

In current paper we presented the dynamics of the macrozoobenthos in Eastern Sivash depending on temporal and spatial salinity fluctuations from pleiomesohaline to polyhaline and hyperhaline. We shown that the highest species richness and biomass were observed in polyhaline conditions at the lowest salinity values, and the maximum density was in pleiomesohaline conditions. The lowest species riches and biomass were observed in hyperhaline conditions. Keywords: Eastern Sivash; macrozoobenthos; distribution; abundance; biomass References Almazov, O.M. (1960). Hydrochemical characteristic of eastern Sivash: Biological substantiation of the development of the mullet farming of Eastern Sivash and Molochnyi Estuary. Proceedings of the Institute of Hydrobiology Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 35, 10-18. (In Russian) Anistratenko, V.V., Anistratenko, O.Yu., Khaliman, I.A. (2007). Composition of the molluscs fauna of the Sea of Azov as a function of its salinity regime. Dopovidi NANU, 4, 161-166. (In Russian) Anistratenko, V.V., Khaliman, I.A., Anistratenko, O.Yu. (2011). The Molluscs of the Sea of Azov. Kiev: Naukova dumka. (In Russian) Antonovskiy, O.G., Degtyarenko, O.V. (2009). Comparative description of fresh and saline water mollusks of North Azov region. Recent questions biology, ecology and chemistry: electric. science. profession. kind., 2, 33-45. Available at: http://sites.znu.edu.ua/bio-eco-chem-sci. (In Ukrainian) Antonovskiy, O.G., Gaponova, V.V. (2008). Sivash macrozoobenthos on the present state of ecosystem development. Science and Practice: Procedd. Int. Sc. Conf. (Poltava, March 3-7, 2008). Poltava: Poltava National Agrarian University (In Ukrainian) Antonovskiy, O.G., Krutikova, O.O. (2012). Dynamics of macrozoobenthos of Eastern Sivash in conditions of hydroecological changes. Bulletin of the Zaporizhzhya National University. Series Biological sciences, 3, 96-103. (In Ukrainian) Grintsov, V., Sezgin, M. (2011). Manual for the identification of Amphipoda from the Black Sea. Sevastopol. Khaliman, I.A., Anistratenko, V.V., Degtyarenko, E.V. (2015). Regional peculiarities of malacofauna in waterbodies of different types of the North-West Azov Sea Coast. Dopovidi NANU, 11, 98-105. doi.org/10.15407/dopovidi2015.11. (In Russian) Kiseleva, M.I. (2004). Polychaete worms (Polychaeta) of the Black and Azov seas. Apatity: A publication of the Kolskiy Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. (In Russian) Marushkina, O.O. (2013). Features of distribution and ecology of macrozoobenthos of Eastern Sivash. Proceedings of the Zoological Museum, 44, 10-41. (In Ukrainian) Methods of hydroecological researches of surface waters. (2006). Romanenko, V.D. (Ed.). Kyiv: Logos. (In Ukrainian) North-western part of the Black Sea: biology and ecology: monograph. (2006). Zaitsev, Yu.P., Aleksandrov, B.G., Minichev, G.G. (Eds.). Kyiv: Naukova Dumka. (In Russian) Pauli, V.L. (1936). To the biology of Sivash. Proceedings of Kharkiv A. M. Gorky State University. 6-7, 273-276. (In Ukrainian) Stocker, G., Bergmann, A. (1977). Ein Modell der Dominanzstruktur und seine Anwendung. 1 Modelbildung. Modellrealisierung. Dominanzklassen . Arch. Naturchutz. und Landschaftsforschung, 17 (1), 1-26 (in German). Stolyarov, A.P. (2013). Features of the structural organization of the macrobenthos community in estuarine ecosystems (Kandalaksha Bay, the White Sea). Succeeding in modern biology, 133 (2), 191-208. (In Russian) Tarasov, N.I. (1927). To Syvash hydrobiology. News of State Hydrobiological Institut., 19, 59-68. (In Russian) Vinogradova, Z.A., Vinogradov, K.O. (1960). Zoobentos of the Eastern Sivash. Proceedings of the Institute of Hydrobiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR., 35, 50-71. (In Ukrainian) Vorobiev, V.P. (1940). Hydrobiological essay of Eastern Sivash and the possibility of its fishery use. Proceedings of Azov-Black Sea Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography, 12, 69-164. (In Russian) Vorovka, V.P. (2013). Features of the hydrological connection of Sivash with the Sea of Azov. Hydrology, hydrochemistry and hydroecology, 2 (29), 84-89. (In Ukrainian) Zhadin, V.I. (1960). The Methods of hydrobiological study. Moscow: Vysshaya shkola. (In Russian)

Preliminary results of the Transarktika-2019 winter expedition in the Arctic Ocean on the R/V “Akademik Tryoshnikov” are presented. The expedition program included studies on meteorology, hydrology, hydrochemistry, hydrobiology, geology, geophysics and an extensive complex of ice measurements in the Northern Barents Sea from the drifting ice and from the ship. During the expedition, it was possible to complete a wide range of tasks. The data obtained comprise a unique material for a comprehensive study of the current state of the environmental conditions in the Barents Sea. This paper highlights the most significant preliminary results of multidisciplinary observations in various environments, which will be further comprehensively analyzed and published in separate thematic articles.

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.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging biological monitoring tool that can aid in assessing the effects of forestry and forest manufacturing activities on biota. Monitoring taxa across broad spatial and temporal scales is necessary to ensure forest management and forest manufacturing activities meet their environmental goals of maintaining biodiversity. Our objectives are to describe potential applications of eDNA across the wood products supply chain extending from regenerating forests, harvesting, and wood transport, to manufacturing facilities, and to review the current state of the science in this context. To meet our second objective, we summarize the taxa examined with targeted (PCR, qPCR or ddPCR) or metagenomic eDNA methods (eDNA metabarcoding), evaluate how estimated species richness compares between traditional field sampling and eDNA metabarcoding approaches, and compare the geographical representation of prior eDNA studies in freshwater ecosystems to global wood baskets. Potential applications of eDNA include evaluating the effects of forestry and forest manufacturing activities on aquatic biota, delineating fish-bearing versus non fish-bearing reaches, evaluating effectiveness of constructed road crossings for freshwater organism passage, and determining the presence of at-risk species. Studies using targeted eDNA approaches focused on fish, amphibians, and invertebrates, while metagenomic studies focused on fish, invertebrates, and microorganisms. Rare, threatened, or endangered species received the least attention in targeted eDNA research, but are arguably of greatest interest to sustainable forestry and forest manufacturing that seek to preserve freshwater biodiversity. Ultimately, using eDNA methods will enable forestry and forest manufacturing managers to have data-driven prioritization for conservation actions for all freshwater species.

The article presents the results of studies of the Kyzyl-Suu River and its two tributaries, the Daara River (Daroot-Korgon village) and the Aryk-Suu River (Sary-Tash village). The study was carried out as part of the PEER NAS USAID project: “Integrated Water Resources Management of the Amu Darya and Kabul Rivers”. Physical parameters of water, such as pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, resistance, etc., obtained in the field using the CyberScan Eutech PCD 650 instrument recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Anions were measured in the chemical laboratory of the American University of Central Asia (AUCA). Bioindication of hydrobionts was carried out in the laboratory of ichthyology and hydrobiology of the Biological and Soil Institute of the NAS of the Kyrgyz Republic. The measurement was carried out at two points in the Kyzyl-Suu River (near the villages of Sary-Tash and Daroot-Korgon) and at two points on the Daara River (before and after the village of Daroot-Korgon), respectively, two points on the Aryk-Suu River (before and after village of Sary-Tash). Water samples were also taken. The results of the analysis for anions show that the content of chlorides, sulfates, nitrates, bicarbonates and phosphates, according to SanPin 2.1.4.559-96, GN 2.1.2.689-98, does not exceed the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) at any of the water sampling points. According to the results of bioindication, we can conclude that the water from the rivers is “clean”. Abnormal values of pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, resistance, total dissolved salts, NaCl, and dissolved oxygen were not observed at the measurement points. However, it should be noted that all the measurement results have a tendency to increase after each settlement, albeit slightly, i.e., there is a certain anthropogenic impact on these rivers.

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.

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.

BackgroundWith the increase in unprecedented and unpredictable disease outbreaks due to human-driven environmental changes in recent years, we need new analytical tools to map and predict the spatial distribution of emerging infectious diseases and identify the biogeographic drivers underpinning their emergence. The aim of the study was to identify and compare the local and global biogeographic predictors such as landscape and climate that determine the spatial structure of leptospirosis and Buruli Ulcer (BU).MethodsWe obtained 232 hospital-confirmed leptospirosis (2007–2017) cases and 236 BU cases (1969–2017) in French Guiana. We performed non-spatial and spatial Bayesian regression modeling with landscape and climate predictor variables to characterize the spatial structure and the environmental drivers influencing the distribution of the two diseases.ResultsOur results show that the distribution of both diseases is spatially dependent on environmental predictors such as elevation, topological wetness index, proximity to cropland and increasing minimum temperature at the month of potential infection. However, the spatial structure of the two diseases caused by bacterial pathogens occupying similar aquatic niche was different. Leptospirosis was widely distributed across the territory while BU was restricted to the coastal riverbeds.ConclusionsOur study shows that a biogeographic approach is an effective tool to identify, compare and predict the geographic distribution of emerging diseases at an ecological scale which are spatially dependent to environmental factors such as topography, land cover and climate.

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

When I was a student at Wuhan University, the last captive individual of baiji (Lipotes vexillifer), a species of freshwater dolphin, was living at the Freshwater Dolphin Research Centre of Wuhan Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences [...]

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

International audience; Non-perennial rivers and streams (NPRS) cover > 50% of the global river network. They are particularly predominant in Mediterranean Europe as a result of dry climate conditions, climate change and land use development. Historically, both scientists and policy makers underestimated the importance of NRPS for nature and humans alike, mainly because they have been considered as systems of low ecological and economic value. During the past decades, diminishing water resources have increased the spatial and temporal extent of artificial NPRS as well as their exposure to multiple stressors, which threatening their ecological integrity, biodiversity and ecosystem services. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of the structural and functional characteristics of NPRS in the European Mediterranean, and discuss gaps and problems in their management, concerning their typology, ecological assessment, legislative and policy protection, and incorporation in River Basin Management Plans. Because NPRS comprise highly unstable ecosystems, with strong and often unpredictable temporal and spatial variability - at least as far as it is possible to assess - we outline the future research needs required to better understand, manage and conserve them as highly valuable and sensitive ecosystems. Efficient collaborative activities among multidisciplinary research groups aiming to create innovative knowledge, water managers and policy makers are urgently needed in order to establish an appropriate methodological and legislative background. The incorporation of NPRS in EU-Med River Basin Management Plans in combination with the application of ecological flows is a first step towards enhancing NPRS management and conservation in order to effectively safeguard these highly valuable albeit threatened ecosystems

The Waterloo Farm lagerstatte in South Africa provides a uniquely well-preserved record of a Latest Devonian estuarine ecosystem. Ecological evidence from it is reviewed, contextualised, and compared with that available from the analogous Swartvlei estuarine lake, with a particular emphasis on their piscean inhabitants. Although the taxonomic affinities of the estuarine species are temporally very different, the overall patterns of utilisation prove to be remarkably congruent, with similar trophic structures. Significantly, both systems show evidence of widespread use of estuaries as fish nurseries by both resident and marine migrant taxa. Holocene estuaries are almost exclusively utilised by actinopterygians which are overwhelmingly dominated by oviparous species. Complex strategies are utilised by estuarine resident species to avoid exposure of eggs to environmental stresses that characterize these systems. By contrast, many of the groups utilising Devonian estuaries were likely live bearers, potentially allowing them to avoid the challenges faced by oviparous taxa. This may have contributed to dominance of these systems by non-actinoptergians prior to the End Devonian Mass Extinction. The association of early aquatic tetrapods at Waterloo Farm with a fish nursery environment is consistent with findings from North America, Belgium and Russia, and may be implied by the estuarine settings of a number of other Devonian tetrapods. Tetrapods apparently replace their sister group, the elpistostegids, in estuaries with both groups having been postulated to be adaptated to shallow water habitats where they could access small piscean prey. Correlation of tetrapods (and elpistostegids) with fish nursery areas in the Late Devonian lends strong support to this hypothesis, suggesting that adaptations permitting improved access to the abundant juvenile fish within the littoral zone of estuarine lakes and continental water bodies may have been pivotal in the evolution of tetrapods.

An Atlas of Sphagnum-Dwelling Testate Amoebae in Bulgaria

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.

Popular science book gives an overview on oceans’ plankton as a super-gigantic community of the tiniest plant and animal species. Plankton community are represented as trophic chains with tightly interacted links. The Book covers such issues as externalities’ influence (currents, global warming, sea water acidification etc.) over the structure, functioning and bio-variety of plankton community. The Book demonstrates potential for use of the initial trophic chain links’ products as a foundation for exploitation of the ocean bio-resources and as a resolution for the hunger problems. The book is intended for the broad scope of readers, to the beginners in the plankton and/or hydrobiology studies as well as for the experienced professionals in the different plankton’ groups.

Based on analysis of the original sources the specific roles of Russian Navy in the formation of national hydrobiology are investigated. Providing research and creating the material base for them, the fleet actually created the hydrobiological school, aimed at addressing their needs. And the most important thing is that it helped to provide independent and free from foreign ownership study of the southern region of the world.

The relationship between physicochemical factors and plankton abundance in the newly created Bui reservoir was studied during 2011 and 2012. The objective was to assess the influence of physicochemical factors on plankton abundance and provide data for monitoring the hydrobiology of the newly created Bui reservoir. Two sampling stations were selected on the Black Volta upstream (Bui) and downstream (Bamboi) of the dam, with samples taken pre- and postimpoundment during the study period. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to trace temporal plankton community changes and to examine the relationships between species composition and physicochemical variables. The relative abundance of some phytoplankton species such as Anabaena sp., Planktothrix sp. and Scenedesmus sp. was directly correlated to nitrates. CCA indicated that physicochemical variables explained 41–64% of zooplankton and 8–12% of phytoplankton variation. Hence, there were correlations between environmental variables and the structure of plankton assemblages. This feature should therefore be used for bio-monitoring of environmental variables of the river by the Bui Power Authority to ensure protection of the aquatic biota downstream of the Bui dam. Resume Nous avons etudie en 2011 et 2012 la relation entre certains facteurs physico-chimiques et l'abondance du plancton dans le nouveau reservoir de Bui. Notre objectif etait d'evaluer l'influence de facteurs physico-chimiques sur l'abondance du plancton et de recolter des donnees pour le suivi de l'hydrobiologie dans ce nouveau reservoir. Nous avons selectionne deux stations d'echantillonnage sur le cours de la Volta noire, en amont (Bui) et en aval (Bamboi) du barrage, et preleve des echantillons avant et apres sa mise en eau. Une Analyse canonique des correspondances (ACC) fut utilisee pour suivre les changements de la communaute de plancton dans le temps et pour examiner la relation entre certaines especes de phytoplancton et des variables physico-chimiques. L'abondance relative de certaines especes de phytoplancton, tels Anabaena sp., Planktothrix sp. et Scenedesmus sp., fut directement liee aux nitrates. L'ACC indiquait que des variables physico-chimiques expliquaient de 41 a 64% des variations du zooplancton et de 8 a 12% de celles du phytoplancton. Il y avait donc des correlations entre des variables environnementales et la structure des assemblages de plancton. Cette caracteristique devrait donc etre prise en compte pour le bio-monitoring des variables environnementales de la riviere par les autorites hydro-electriques de Bui pour garantir la protection des biotes aquatiques en aval du barrage de Bui.

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.

Lake Prespa and Lake Ohrid, located in south-eastern Europe, are two lakes of extraordinary ecological value. Although the upstream Lake Prespa has no surface out flow, its waters reach the 160 m lower Lake Ohrid through underground hydraulic connections. Substantial conservation efforts concentrate on oligotrophic downstream Lake Ohrid, which is famous for its large number of endemic and relict species. In this paper, we present a system analytical approach to assess the role of the mesotrophic upstream Lake Prespa in the ongoing eutrophication of Lake Ohrid. Almost the entire out flow from Lake Prespa is found to flow into Lake Ohrid through karst channels. However, 65% of the transported phosphorus is retained within the aquifer. Thanks to this natural filter, Lake Prespa does not pose an immediate threat to Lake Ohrid. However, a potential future four-fold increase of the current phosphorus load from Lake Prespa would lead to a 20% increase (+ 0.9 mg P m(-3)) in the current phosphorus content of Lake Ohrid, which could jeopardize its fragile ecosystem. While being a potential future danger to Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa itself is substantially endangered by water losses to irrigation, which have been shown to amplify its eutrophication.

Riparian and aquatic habitats support biodiversity and key environmental processes in semi-arid and arid landscapes, but stressors such as conventional livestock grazing, wildfire, and drought can degrade their condition. To enhance habitat for fish and wildlife and increase resiliency in these critical areas, land managers in the interior western United States increasingly use alternative grazing strategies, beaver management, or beaver dam surrogates as low-effort, low-expense restoration approaches. In this study we used historical archives of satellite and aerial imagery spanning three decades to characterize riparian vegetation productivity and document beaver dam occurrences, then evaluated vegetation productivity relative to land management associated with livestock grazing and beaver dam densities while accounting for climate and wildfire. After controlling for stream characteristics such as stream size, elevation, and stream slope, we demonstrate a positive response of riparian area vegetation to conservation-oriented grazing approaches and livestock exclosures, extensive beaver dam development, increased precipitation, and lack of wildfire. We show that livestock management which emphasizes riparian recovery objectives can be an important precursor to beaver activity and describe 11–39% increases in floodplain vegetation productivity where conservation-oriented grazing approaches or livestock exclosures and high beaver activity occur together on low-gradient sites. Land management decisions can therefore potentially confer resiliency to riparian areas under changing and variable climate conditions–the increased vegetation productivity resulting from conservation-oriented grazing or exclosures and high amounts of beaver activity at our sites is the equivalent to moving conventionally-grazed, low-gradient sites without beaver up at least 250 m in elevation or increasing water year precipitation by at least 250 mm.

The monograph deals with the results of long-term integrated studies in the South-Eastern Crimea coastal zone. Geological and geomorphologic structure, climate, hydrological and hydro-chemical characteristics have been studied. Hydrobiological features and taxonomic composition of the offshore area (phytoplankton, phytobenthos, zooplankton and benthos) are considered. Data on the faunal assemblages covering parasites of sea hydrobionts, vertebrates (fish, birds, mammals) are depicted. Results of comprehensive studies of bottom communities at Sudak-Karadag shelf are compiled as a set of unique data. The publication is intended for science experts in ecology, hydrobiology, zoology, professors and students of the corresponding specialties, as well as specialists in the field of conservancy.

Arpad Berczik the renowned hydrobilogist celebrated his 88th birthday in this year. His research covered systematics, ecology and larval abundance of the Chironomidae, paying attention to the nutrient cycle of the shallow lakes, which is a characteristic of Hungary . He is a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences since 1982 and author of some 158 research publication listed below

The first outbreak on the African continent of infection with Aphanomyces invadans (the causative agent of epizootic ulcerative syndrome) in fish was confirmed in the Chobe-Zambezi rivers in 2007. The emergence of massive outbreaks of infection with A. invadans in multiple fish species exposed serious aquatic biosecurity challenges in the Southern African region. This study investigated the incursion of infection with A. invadans in fish from the main aquatic ecosystems of Zimbabwe from 2012 to 2015 using data obtained from the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services, Zimbabwe. In some outbreaks, fish samples were collected and tested at the University of Zambia, for confirmation by histopathology and species-specific PCR. The infection was first confirmed at Darwendale water impoundment (Mashonaland West Province) in 2012, followed by Matabeleland South Province at Mtshabezi water impoundment and Nkankezi River (both 2013). An apparent southward spread continued in 2014, with virgin outbreaks at Ntalale water impoundment (Matabeleland South Province) and Mwenezi River in Midlands Province. In 2015, inland incursion was confirmed at Dutchman's Pool in Midlands Province and further north-west at the Sanyati River Basin in Lake Kariba (Mashonaland West Province). In all outbreaks, infection with A. invadans was confirmed in seven fish species, namely the African sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus, Burchell, 1822), blunt-toothed African catfish (Clarias ngamensis Castelnau, 1861), yellow belly bream (Serranochromis robustus Gunther, 1864), straight fin barb (Enteromius paludinosus Peters, 1852), dashtail barb (Enteromius poechii Steindachner, 1911), large-mouth bass (Micropterus salmoides Lac'epe'de, 1802) and the three-spot tilapia (Oreochromis andersonii Castelnau, 1861). Cases were most common in the African sharptooth catfish, with mortalities more pronounced in young fish of all species. The results suggested a gradual emergence of an intractable infection with A. invadans in fish in the main aquatic ecosystems of Zimbabwe, which may have negative impact on biodiversity conservation and aquaculture.

Aquatic macrophytes have a recognized role in ecosystem structuring and an important position in trophic cascades interactions, whose understanding is to improve water quality. In recent years, the number of studies on the role of aquatic macrophytes in trophic webs and interactions has increased, but South America has made little progress in research in the area. In this study, we investigated the main gaps and perspectives for future studies on macrophytes and trophic interactions, analyzing global publications, especially those conducted by South American researchers. We accessed publications using an international database (Thomson Reuters ISI-Web of Knowledge-(formerly Institute for Scientific Information)) from 1980 to 2015. We ranked each article by ecosystem and study approach, biological organization and interacting taxonomic groups (phytoplankton, periphyton, zooplankton, aquatic invertebrates, fish and birds), countries publishing in cooperation and affiliations. The results showed that published studies (n = 242) emphasizing aquatic plants in trophic interactions increased in 35 years. Comparing the contributions of the 32 countries investigated, those from South America as first affiliation, had few publications (n = 26) and in cooperation (n = 7). The largest volume of articles indexed by the researchers dealt with the dynamics and structure of aquatic assemblages, webs and trophic interactions. Ecosystems such reservoirs and wetlands have received little attention. Large numbers of studies have encompassed community-wide aquatic approaches, including in South American studies, the interactions between macrophytes, zooplankton and phytoplankton were the second most studied interactions of all indexed articles. Knowledge about trophic cascade and interactions has been successfully enhanced in several countries with the purpose of restructuring communities and restore water quality of many ecosystems. In summary, we conclude that studies in the area of trophic interactions mediated by macrophytes may be directed in a way to attenuate international asymmetries, encouraging the increase of scientific productivity in South America. Resumo Macrófitas aquáticas tem reconhecida função na estruturação de ecossistemas e importante papel nas interações tróficas em cascata, cujo entendimento é chave para melhorar a qualidade da água. Nos últimos anos, o número de estudos sobre o papel das macrófitas aquáticas nas interações e teia trófica aumentaram mas, a América do Sul progrediu pouco em pesquisas na área. Nesse estudo investigamos as principais lacunas e perspectivas para estudos futuros sobre macrófitas e interações tróficas analisando publicações mundiais, especialmente aquelas conduzidas por pesquisadores sul-americanos. Acessamos publicações usando base de dados internacional (Thomson Reuters ISI Web of Knowledge) entre 1980 a 2015. Computamos para cada artigo a organização biológica e grupos taxonômicos em interação (fitoplâncton, perifíton, zooplâncton, invertebrados aquáticos, peixes e aves), ecossistema estudado e abordagem de pesquisa, a cooperação entre países da América do Sul e demais, além das filiações. Os resultados mostraram que estudos publicados (n = 242) enfatizando plantas aquáticas em interações tróficas cresceram em 35 anos. Comparando as contribuições dos 32 países investigados, aqueles da América do Sul apresentaram baixo número de indexações (n= 26), poucos em cooperação (n= 7). O maior volume de publicações indexadas pelos pesquisadores trataram sobre a dinâmica e estrutura das assembléias aquáticas, teias e interações tróficas. Reservatórios e áreas alagadas têm recebido pouca atenção. Grande número de estudos compreeenderam abordagems de toda comunidade aquática e interações entre macrófitas, fitoplâncton, zooplâncton e peixes. Em síntese, concluimos que estudos enfatizando as interações tróficas mediadas pelas macrófitas poderão ser direcionados de maneira a atenuar assimetrias internacionais, encorajando o aumento da produtividade científica na América do Sul. O conhecimento sobre as interações tróficas em cascata tem sido desenvolvido com sucesso em diversos países cujas finalidades tem sido reestruturar comunidades e restaurar a qualidade da água de muitos ecossistemas.

The waterlogging of commonly non-flooded soils acts as a filtering for plant communities. River impoundments can flood a large area never flooded before, changing the local conditions and affecting seeds and growing plants. Therefore, the recruitment process in the regenerating community on these new formed margins may be inhibited. Lists containing plant species indicated for restoration of periodically flooded habitats have been published but the germination and initial development behavior of these species are poorly known. We hypothesize that species indicated to restore flooded habitats (FH) are faster to germinate and their seedling also develop better than species from non-flooded habitats (NH) under waterlogging conditions. Seeds of species from flooded and non-flooded habitats were submitted to treatments of flooding (F) and non-flooding (N) for 90 days, and germination was daily registered. Seedlings of Psidium guajava and Handroanthus serratifolius were submitted to flooding and morphophysiological parameters were measured. Species from both groups had similar patterns of germination, and for most species flooding led to a faster germination. In general, the number of germinated seeds was smaller under flooding. P. guajava seedlings presented decreasing growth and photosynthesis under flooding and H. serratifolius seedlings presented chlorosis, foliar abscission, negative net photosynthetic rate, and root-rotting. Flooding was harmful for plants of both groups, but was worse for seeds and seedlings from NH species. The outcomes show that the use of plant species in restoration programs of dams and reservoir margins must take into account if it will be used seeds or seedlings, since the success and sustainability of this action will depend on the fast and well development of the plants.

In many experimental sciences, like particle physics or molecular biology, the proper place for establishing facts is the laboratory. In the sciences of population biology, however, the laboratory is often seen as a poor approximation of what occurs in nature. Results obtained in the field are usually more convincing. This raises special problems: it is much more difficult to obtain stable, repeatable results in the field, where environmental conditions vary out of the experimenter's control, than in the laboratory. We examine here how this problem affected an influential experimental research tradition in community ecology, the study of the ecology of the rocky seashores. In the 1960s, a handful of North-American ecologists, most notably Joseph Connell, Robert Paine and Paul Dayton, made the rocky seashores a model study system for experimenting in the field. Their experiments were deceptively simple: they removed species living on the seashore and described the resulting effects on the local ecology. These experiments exerted a deep influence on community ecology. They provided evidence for speculative developments concerning the theory of interspecific competition, the factors responsible for species richness and the ecology of food webs. They also stimulated novel conceptual developments. In particular, Paine developed the predation hypothesis, which states that the presence of predators can favour species richness, before introducing the keystone species concept, according to which some species exert disproportionate effects on ecological systems. More broadly, these experiments gave support to a methodological trend in favour of field experimentation. Only controlled perturbations in the field, it seemed, provided a reliable method to get insights into the structure of ecological communities. However, as experiments were continued in time and repeated in different sites, divergent results appeared. We analyse here how intertidal researchers coped with the variability of environmental conditions and tried to stabilize their results. In the process, they reconsidered not only their early conclusions, but also the exclusive status given to field experiments. Expanding on this case study, we discuss some significant differences between laboratory and field experiments.

Quantifying changes in the cover of river-floodplain systems can provide important insights into the processes that structure these landscapes as well as the potential consequences to the ecosystem services they provide. We examined net changes in 13 different aquatic and floodplain land cover classes using photo interpreted maps of the navigable portions of the Upper Mississippi River (UMR, above the confluence with the Ohio River) and Illinois River from 1989 to 2000 and from 2000 to 2010. We detected net decreases in vegetated aquatic area in nearly all river reaches from 1989 to 2000. The only river reaches that experienced a subsequent recovery of vegetated aquatic area from 2000 to 2010 were located in the northern portion of the UMR (above navigation pool 14) and two reaches in the Illinois River. Changes on the floodplain were dominated by urban development, which increased in nearly every river reach studied from 1989 to 2000. Agricultural lands declined in most river reaches from 2000 to 2010. The loss of agricultural land cover in the northern UMR was accompanied by increases in forest cover, whereas in the lower UMR and Illinois River, declines in agriculture were accompanied by increases in forest and shallow marsh communities. The changes in aquatic vegetation occupied between 5 and 20% of the total aquatic area and are likely associated with previously reported regional improvements in water clarity, while smaller (1-15% of the total floodplain area) changes in anthropogenic land cover types on the floodplain are likely driven by broad-scale socio-economic conditions.

Aim. Industrialization of Caspian oil and gas supplies requires a serious approach to the problem of protecting and preserving the region’s unique environment that, in fact, represents a property of international commons. The article studies into the impact of the Caspian modified waters on the benthos faunistic composition. Methods. Zooplancton and zoobenthos hydrobiology material was collected in the Central Caspian survey loop. Samples were collected in spring and summer in 2002 – 2007 in the western part of the Caspian Sea (Dagestan offshore location of the Caspian Sea from Smirnovsky Midstream Sandbank and Pearl Bank till Derbent latitude) on “Tsada” vessel. They were collected from 25 stations located on ten standard parallel latitude logs with depth scope of 8–100 m from 0, 10, 25, 100 m horizons. These samples were used as a material for characterizing phyto- and zooplankton. Results. The benthic can be considered the most stable communities of the marine environment as they are the most resilient to quantity and modifications. Heterogeneous and variable ecosystem (biotope) is typical of the areas with strong currents as the organic quality, quantity and physic-chemical properties are marked by variability. Location. The Caspian zoobenthos state as well as the features of the Caspian Sea benthos communities characterize the ecology of the Caspian Sea and give a true view of the situation in the drilling sites. This will help predict and avert negative effect of hydrocarbon production on the Caspian Sea ecosystem. Main conclusions. Water modification must be intensive, long-lasting and frequent for it to have an impact on benthos.

Wet sediments of a former water reservoir were discovered during an archaeological rescue excavation. Vegetation and environmental changes taking place in the mediaeval suburbs of Prague, Czech Republic, from the tenth to the middle of the fourteenth century were investigated. The origin and function of the water reservoir was revealed using a multi-proxy approach that combined the results of macrofossil, pollen, diatom, antracological, archaeo-zoological and sedimentological analyses. Gradual changes of the surrounding vegetation were documented. Field indicators increased in time, whereas proportions of broad-leaf trees and shrubs decreased; proportions of ruderal plants increased continually. A gradual decline of semi-natural hygrophilous vegetation was accompanied by an inverse tendency in trampled vegetation. All these trends indicate an intensification of human activity around the pool. A similar intensification of anthropogenic influence is clearly visible in the development of the aquatic environment. According to the diatom composition, the base of the profile is the result of sedimentation in considerably oligotrophic conditions. A successive deterioration of water quality was documented by various organisms (diatoms, green algae, water macrophyta, fishes and intestinal parasites). The high content of dissolved nutrients, probably connected with anoxia, could have caused the disappearance of both diatoms and fishes.

The associates of the School of Production Hydrobiology have been conducting studies on water ecosystems for many years and have obtained significant results in the areas of hydrobiology and hydroecology. The experience accumulated by the school’s scientists contributes greatly to the solution of global problems concerning the rational use of biological resources, control of the environmental state of water reservoirs, and methods of maintaining a natural balance under anthropogenic load.

An ecological engineering project, with large-scale utilization of Eichhornia crassipes (coverage area similar to 4.3 km(2)) for pollution control in an open ultra-eutrophic lake, Lake Caohai, was first implemented in 2011. In this study, the efficiency of N removal using E. crassipes in the lake was evaluated. After E. crassipes was planted in May, the concentrations of TN and NH4+ in Waicaohai, the main part of Lake Caohai, were significantly decreased within a month, and then, remained stable from June to November, 2011, although the lake had received waste water continuously from river inlets. The average concentrations of TN, NH4+-N and NO3--N in water of Xi Yuan Channel (outlet) were reduced to 33, 0.02 and 0.8 mg L-1 from 13.8, 4.7 and 5.8 mg L-1 in river inlets, respectively. The DO levels in 2011 were not decreased, but concentrations of TN and NH4+ were significantly reduced when compared with the historical data from 2007 in the lake. Assimilation by E. crassipes was the main pathway to remove N in Lake Caohai, accounted for 52% of the total N influent (936 t), or 64% of the removed N (761 t). These results indicated that large scale utilization of E. crassipes for removal of N in the eutrophic lake is practicable. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The “Encoro do Con” Hydrobiological Field Station (EHEC) is a research centre of the USC which offers housing and the required facilities (laboratories, computer room, sampling gear, …) for the study of the freshwater habitats. The EHEC was created to provide research and education facilities to researchers of the University of Santiago de Compostela, other universities, government agencies, schools and other educational groups interested in freshwater biology. The core of the research at the EHEC is dedicated to freshwater ecosystems, focusing on biodiversity, ecotoxicology, pollution and water quality using aquatic organisms (biotic indicators), population management, aquaculture, control of non-indigenous freshwater species, and ecology of freshwater animals, mainly macroinvertebrates and fishes. The study of descriptive and functional Hydrobiology, through several research projects on the ecology of lentic and lotic freshwaters, is also the theoretical frame of reference for the programs of management, conservation and recovery of freshwater ecosystems. In this sense, the EHEC is intended to be a bridge for the collaboration between management and research bodies, a place to reach agreements based on a good understanding of processes occurring in freshwater ecosystems.