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The paper reports the first find of trematode, namely, Stephanostomum cesticillus (Molin, 1858) Looss, 1899 metacercariae, from the recent Black Sea invader, the salema Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758). A single individual of S. salpa caught in the Black Sea near the southwestern coast of the Crimea Peninsula (Sevastopol) was studied. Encysted S. cesticillus larvae were found in the muscles of the gill cavity and in the heart wall of the fish. The morphological description of S. cesticillus metacercariae is provided on the basis of light and scanning electron microscopy data. The ways of formation of the trematode fauna of S. salpa in the Black Sea are discussed. This study contributes to the current knowledge on the trematode parasite systems in the Black Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the diversity of trematodes parasitizing the invasive mollusk Viviparus viviparus, the occurrence frequency of trematode larvae (cercariae and metacercariae) in the Tura River has been surveyed near the city of Tyumen in Western Siberia. In total, 53 snails with a shell height of 17–32 mm have been examined. Three trematode species are found: Cercaria nigrospora cercariae (3.77%), Neoacanthoparyphium echinatoides cercariae (5.56%), N. echinatoides metacercariae (58.5%, 47–279), and nonencysted Leucochloridiomorpha constantiae metacercariae (62.3%, 2–69). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) magna, a species widely used for ecotoxicological tests, was recorded for the first time in waterbodies of the Mexican protected area and RAMSAR site Ciénegas del Lerma. The identity of the species was confirmed using morphological traits and cytochrome oxidase I as a molecular marker. Haplotypes were 100% identical to cultures used in laboratory bioassays in México and Canada. Individuals analyzed are related to strains from Europe, and their sequences differed from natural populations reported from the United States of America and Canada. This Mexican wetland supports a rich community of migratory waterfowl; therefore, D. magna could quickly spread to other waterbodies and cause potential adverse effects on local Daphnia species. The utilization of non-native species in ecotoxicological tests must be undertaken with great care, to ensure escape to natural waters is prevented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2006–2018, 13 species of leaf mining gracillariid moths (Gracillariidae) caused noticeable damage to plants (mainly trees and shrubs) in Siberia, i. e. about six of all moth species known in this part of Russia. Relative damage levels of 50–75 % and > 75 % were recorded for 9 moths, of which 5 species are native pests of poplars (Populus L.): Phyllonorycter apparella (Herrich-Schäffer), Ph. comparella (Duponchel), Ph. populifoliella (Treitschke), Phyllocnistis labyrinthella (Bjerkander), and Ph. unipunctella (Stephens). Three moth species, namely Acrocercops brongniardella Fabricius, Gracillaria syringella (Fabricius) and Phyllonorycter issikii (Kumata) are alien to Siberia. Their numerous mines were found on leaves of woody plants (oaks (Quercus L.), lilacs (Syringa L.), ash (Fraxinus L.) and lime (Tilia L.) trees) in Western Siberia (Omsk, Tyumen and Novosibirsk Oblast). Alien origin of Phyllonorycter medicaginella (Gerasimov) and Ph. lantanella (Schrank) in Siberia requires confirmation. Both native and alien moth species showed a tendency to cause significant damage to the plants in artificial (manmade) stands, i. e. in urban green plantings, parks, arboreta, botanical gardens, tree nurseries. Overall 81 % of cases of significant damage by gracillariids was documented in artificial plantings vs. 19 % in forests. The European part of Russia remains the main donor of alien gracillariid species for Siberia. Alien species distribute to Siberia directly or through bridge-effect invasions from the west of Russia.

Purpose. To investigate fish fauna of multipurpose water bodies in the Forest-Steppe Zone of Ukraine in the basin of two rivers: South Bug (South Bug, Gnylyi Tikich), Dnipro (Dnipro, Ros, Desna rivers). To select equal water bodies based on their areas and degree of location relative to their main basin and compare these water bodies based on their similarity and typicality. Methodology. The collection of materials was carried out during 2010-2017 in multipurpose water bodies located in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine in the basins of large rivers such as the Dnipro and the Southern Bug. Samples were taken along the Dnieper immediately below the basin of the Ros River, which flows into the Kremenchuk Reservoir on the Dnieper. As far as the Southern Bug, the samplings were not conducted below the Hlybochok HPP. Control catches were carried out with gill nets with mesh sizes of 40-80 mm, as well as with a 25-m-long fry beach seine with a mesh of 10 mm. Collection and processing of ichthyological materials was carried out according to generally accepted methods. When determining the impact of recreational and sports fishing, direct counting was used, which was carried out by means of route visits to the places of accumulation of recreational fishermen and their surveys. The Serenson’s similarity index was used to analyze the degree of similarity of ichthyofauna groups of water bodies: S = 2 С/А+В, where А — number of species in the first community, В — number of species in the second community, С — number of species common to both communities The typicality of ichthyofauna cimmunities by species richness was determined by the formula proposed by Shannon-Weaver: Rs=ni/N, where ni — number of species for the studied area, N — total number of species for the region. MS Excel was used for processing the obtained results. Findings. The fish fauna of the studied water bodies of the forest-steppe zone during the study period was not large enough in terms of species. A zonal distribution of fish fauna was observed in different rivers’ reaches, with a gradual decrease of native species towards invaders and acclimatizers, due to their constant stocking of multipurpose water bodies. This was especially observed on the Gnylyi Tikich River. Practical value. The similarity and typicality indices of river ecosystems were the most similar in this case of the Ros and Desna rivers, it is completely natural and highly probable. Therefore, it is necessary to continue researching rivers, and to carry out measures to reacclimatize native species typical for this region, especially commercially valuable species.

An intense spread of apophallesis in fish of the Gorky Reservoir has been observed after the successful naturalization of the prosobranch mollusk Lithoglyphus naticoides (C. Pfeiffer, 1828) and a number of associated trematodes in this water body (in 2005–2015). A freshwater form of the Black and Caspian Sea sprat Clupeonella cultriventris (Nordmann, 1840), was one of the second intermediate hosts of the trematode Apophallus muehlingi (Jägerskiöld, 1899) causing this disease. The aim of the work is to study the consequences of dispersal of C. cultriventris for the formation of large permanent foci of apophallesis in the Upper Volga. Data on the spread of this type of "black-spot" disease in the populations of C. cultriventris from the Gorky Reservoir and an unregulated area of the Lower Volga (downstream of the cascade of Volga reservoirs, pelagic trawl coordinates from 47°08ʹ N, 47°17ʹ E to 46°51ʹ N, 47°41′ E) were used for comparison. The high rates of occurrence of A. muehlingi metacercariae (the infection prevalence P, %) are found along the entire area of the Gorky Reservoir: from the northernmost site near the city of Rybinsk (58°01′ N, 39°06ʹ E) to the dam area (56°41ʹ N, 43°21ʹ E). It is found that the distribution pattern of A. muehlingi metacercariae varies in the sections of the reservoir differing in hydrological characteristics. The prevalence of A. muehlingi metacercariae in groups of the smallest Black and Caspian Sea sprat fingerlings (with a body length of up to 45 mm) in the middle (transitional type) section of the reservoir is close to the maximum possible (30.00–94.49%). The prevalence of metacercariae in this group of fish in the upper (river-type) section of the reservoir does not exceed 24.39%. The minimum values of this indicator are found in the lower (lake-type) section of the reservoir (6.76–14.84%). Judging by the values of the abundance and the coefficient of variation in the infection intensity, the aggregation of metacercariae is more pronounced in the groups of faster growing underyearlings and yearlings of the Black and Caspian Sea sprat than in the groups of the smallest fingerlings. There were no statistically significant differences between the infection prevalence values (13.33–18.11%) in the different size groups of the Black and Caspian Sea sprat fingerlings from the Lower Volga in 2020. Thus, the presence of C. cultriventris in the water body ecosystem can significantly increase the likelihood of apophallesis spread in some cases, although various fish species of the Cyprinidae family are the main second intermediate hosts of A. muehlingi. A continuous zone of apophallesis can form without clearly defined boundaries between the individual foci of disease in conditions of the Upper Volga owing to the high migration activity of large individuals of the Black and Caspain Sea sprat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodiversity of aboveground plants and belowground microbes is key for plant communities resisting exotic plant invasion. Whether the soil legacy effects after the invasion are related to the diversity of the invaded community is less studied. Soils from invaded communities were collected and potted to investigate the effects of the invasive community’s legacy on the biomass allocation of plants that later grew in these soils. The plots where native plants were present had relatively high nutrient levels (except for available nitrogen) compared to the monodominance communities invaded by Chromolaena odorata. This also indirectly suggests that the severe invasion of C. odorata depleted the nutrients in the soil to a greater extent. When soils were from communities with only C. odorata or one native plant, their biotic legacies showed a significantly positive effect on biomass accumulation of subsequent invasive plants, but this positive effect became negative when more than two native plants were present in the invaded community. This result indicated that the effect of biological resistance increases with the number increase of native species in the invaded communities. The soil legacy effect of the invaded communities on subsequent plants depended on the diversity of native plants. This study can provide insights into the mechanisms of soil biological resistance to exotic plant invasion and provide a theoretical basis for the removal of soil legacy effects after the exotic plant invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel variety of dinophyte algae Unruhdiniumpenardii var. robustum (Qi Zhang, G.X. Liu & Z.Y. Hu) Gottschling in Gottschling & al., 2017 (=Peridiniopsispenardii var. robusta Qi Zhang, G.X. Liu & Z.Y. Hu) has been detected for the first time in Russia. It was found in two reservoirs of the Lower Volga, Saratov and Volgograd, in late August–early September 2020. Its abundance varied from 500 to 4500 cells/L; biomass was from 0.008 to 0.071 mg/L. The length of cells varied from 29 to 40 µm, and the width varied from 24 to 31 µm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to create awareness about the species of mosquito fishes (Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859) both vectors and ways of introduction to new aquatic habitats. Because the species creates risks, especially for the circumstance of the native and endemic fish fauna, studies about introduction stories of the species are quite important to prevent the risk. In the current report, mosquitofishes which are known as a highly invasive species were found in the crop content of a hen mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos L., 1758) in an estuarine area, the Gediz River Basin (İzmir, Turkey). This report is the first record of a duck consuming mosquitofish. Although nevertheless, it is known that mallard duck feeding behaviour does not predominantly contain fish (they mainly feed on plant seeds), according to this observation, mosquitofish might be added to the prey list of mallards as a new type of food. Therewith, this feeding behavior also indicates that ducks might be a potential vector for the transport of invasive mosquitofishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-wristed hermit crab Pagurus longicarpus is native to the East Coast of North America from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Here we present the first record of this species in the German Wadden Sea. Sixty-one individuals of P. longicarpus were found during a regular beam trawl survey at nine stations in the Meldorf Bight in late August 2020. The identity of the new species was confirmed by DNA barcoding of mitochondrial subunit I of cytochrome c oxydase (COI). The northward spread up to Hallig Hooge was documented in 2021, with a total of 122 P. longicarpus found at 12 stations. Pagurus longicarpus was found in 2.5 m to 18.0 m depth at salinities of 24.89 to 30.43 PSU and temperatures ranging from 16.46 °C to 22.22 °C. We compared these parameters with the environmental conditions in its native range by using data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and the GIS database MARSPEC. The results revealed that environmental conditions in the North Frisian Wadden Sea closely fits those in the native range of P. longicarpus. Different size classes and sexes were identified, including ovigerous females, indicating a reproducing population in the North Frisian Wadden Sea. The species was most likely introduced via ballast water transport and seems to be already well established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Austrocylindropuntia subulata is an invasive new opuntioid cactus to the flora of Saudi Arabia collected from Al-Sarah highlands (south-western region). This is the second cylindrical cactus from the Cactus family recorded in the Kingdom after the discovery of Cylindropuntia rosea in the same region. It differs from C. rosea by lacking of jointed stem and absence of the spines sheath and having long conspicuous leaves. The plant was not widespread in the region. It is only confined to a limited protected area at an elevation of 1630-2160 m above sea level. Taxonomic key, general descriptions, diagnostic features and colored photographs are provided. As A. subulata is one of the restricted invasive plants worldwide, actions must be taken by the government to restrict the spreading risks of this taxon into the environment. No records have found regarding the uses of this species by the native people. Eradication steps should be taken to minimize its further distribution in the productive regions of the Kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan, 1913) and Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, 1919 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are recorded for the fauna of Russia (Krasnodar Region: Sochi, Adler) for the first time. Geographical distribution and morphological characteristics of these two species are given. The possible acclimatization and subsequent formation of a stable and fast growing population of Thrips hawaiiensis on the Black Sea coast is analyzed on the basis of its biological characteristics. Thrips hawaiiensis was found on different plants during the entire period of our observations (March – November 2019), reaching the highest number in summer and autumn. In total, 151 specimens of this species were collected from the following plants: Acacia dealbata Link, Ageratum houstonianum Mill., Azalea L., Bougainvillea glabra Choisy, Camellia japonica L., Chrysantemum × morifolium Ramat., Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl, Eriobotria japonica (Thunb.) Lindl., Jasminum L., Loropetalum chinense (R.Br.) Oliv., Nerium oleander L., Magnolia grandiflora L., Magnolia stellata (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim., Ilex aquifolium L., Passiflora caerulea L., Prunus laurocerasus L., Rosa L., Tagetes erecta L., Viola tricolor L., Weigela florida (Bunge) A. DC. Further monitoring in the Black Sea coast of Krasnodar Region is necessary to confirm the naturalization of Scirtothrips dorsalis considering its potential economic threat.

The purpose of the research is to study fauna and dispersion of Homoptera attacked Salicaceae at the south-eastern part of Central Asia. Materials and methods. Authors’ longstanding works (during 2008–2018) on research morpho-ecological characteristics of sugescent invaders conducted in different regions of south-eastern part of Central Asia (Andijan, Fergana, Namangan) served as the material for the research.Results and discussion. It has been established that sucking insects (frog-flies, greenflies, coccids) referring to 70 species and 12 families of Homoptera class are attacked Salicaceae at south-eastern part of Central Asia. Potential Salicaceae invaders are greenflies Tuberolachnus salignus, Pemphigus bursarius, P. immunis, P. populinigrae, P. protospirae, P. vesicarius and Chaitophorus pruinosae and coccids Qudraspidiotus slavonicus, Drosicha media, Gossyparia salicicola, Lepidosaphes ulmi, Chionaspis salicis, Diaspidiotus ostreaformis and D. slavonicus. As distinct from leaf gall aphids (pemphigus) pachypleurous nucamentaceons plant galls Pemphigusimmunis and large pouch-like plant galls P. vesicarius forming on poplars branches and shoots remains unchanged also in winter months. Herewith greatly infected shoots become warped, get sleazy appearance and trees lose decorativeness.

Invasive plant species have been reported to have advantages over native species in growthand physiological traits; however, such characteristics have not been discussed under saline, water-scarce conditions. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of salinity and drought stress and abscisic acid (ABA) application on the morphological and physiological traits of invasive and native weed species. We established three experiments as (i) salinity stress, control with no salt application, 100 and 150 mM NaCl; (ii) drought stress, control-no drought, 75 and 100 gL-1 PEG-6000; and (iii) ABA application, control-no application, 25 and 50 ulL-1 . Two weed species, the invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides and native Alternanthera sessilis, were used in all experiments. The study was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with factorial arrangements and twelve replications. Results revealed that both invasive A. philoxeroides and native A. sessilis species survived under high salt and drought stress conditions. A. philoxeroides species generally showed higher morphological and physiological growth under high salt and drought levels, showing higher tolerance to stress conditions than A. sessilis. Moreover, the morphological and physiological traits of A. philoxeroides were elevated more under ABA application. Our results showed higher values of morphophysiological traits might partly explain the success of A. philoxeroides under saline and drought conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) is an Arctic cold-water species native to the northwestern Atlantic Ocean and the northern Pacific Ocean. During the recent decades, a population has established in the Barents Sea. Several aspects of the snow crabs' biology in this area have not been described, including time of hatching, intermoult duration of the different larval stages and larval distribution. Insight into the early-life stages might increase the understanding of the population's dynamics and further spreading in the Barents Sea as well as inform basis for making monitoring and management decisions. The present study investigated the presence and developmental stage of snow crab larva in plankton samples obtained in the central Barents Sea during a research survey in June and July 2019. Presence of snow crab larvae was confirmed through taxonomic and genetic identification. All larvae were identified as zoea I, which gives an indication of the timing of the hatching period. Morphological measurements coincide well with those reported in studies from the species native distribution range. No larvae of native Hyas spp. were found and overlap in temporal and spatial distribution is discussed. The study provides important information for development of further research into the biology of the snow crab in the Barents Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of long-term complex hydrobiological studies of the cooling pond of the South Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant (SU NPP) are presented. The abundance of zoo- and phytoplankton increased until 1984–1985, and then in the summer of 1986, against a background of extremely high temperatures in the reservoir, there was a significant (32-fold) drop in the mean biomass of phytoplankton, coinciding with the minimum abundance of zooplankton. In subsequent years, the abundance of these groups recovered, but has not reached previous levels. At present, the zooplankton contains a considerable amount of thermophilic species. Research in recent years indicates that the zooperiphyton is dominated by the invasive gastropods Melanoides tuberculata (Müller, 1774) and Terebia granifera (Lamarck, 1822). In the epiliton, the number of LDT (lowest determined taxa) and groups of invertebrate was more than double that in the epiphyton (17 and 7, respectively). At the first stages of the development of the pond ecosystem, the periphyton communities were dominated by zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha Pall. These communities were eliminated as temperature increased, and after the commissioning of the NPP, the second and third power units were not completely restored in the environment of a constantly high thermal load. Over years, with the formation of bottom biotopes, the abundance of zoobenthos increased, and with an increase in the technogenic load, it decreased. At the present stage, the zoobenthos is impoverished (9 taxa) and is dominated by mainly juvenile tubificids.

This study assessed the potential of natural regeneration (NR) of forests in Western Siberia, dominated by Siberian fir (Abies sibirica Ledeb.) and damaged due to the invasion of the four-eyed fir bark beetle (Polygraphus proximus Blandf.). The leading methods for investigating this problem are the sample plot method and the transect method, which allow revealing the features of NR, their morphological structure and spatial distribution. Analysis of the occurrence and structure of NR revealed a correlation between the degree of stand damage and sapling state. The spatial structure was highly heterogeneous, testifying the group location of NR and the variable density. For 63% of the sample plots, a decrease in saplings was recorded as a result of the impact of the four-eysouthern ed fir bark beetle. Most of the dead saplings were large (95%), and dead saplings accounted for 10–50%. A positive correlation was found between the decrease in saplings and the state of the fir forest. The number of saplings varied from 1,233 to 19,200 plants ha−1, with fir being the dominant species. Fir forests of Western Siberia, damaged by the four-eyed fir bark beetle, have the potential for regeneration.

The structure and distribution of zooplankton of the Tsimlyansk Reservoir were studied in August–September 2018. It was found that the zooplankton abundance was halved in the upstream part of the reservoir (2.4 ± 0.8 g/m3) as compared to the zone near the dam of the Tsimlyansk hydroelectric power plant (1.2 ± 0.6 g/m3). Copepoda constituted 70% of the biomass. The Ponto-Caspian Heterocope caspia and the invasive species Calanipeda aquaedulcis, Thermocyclops taihokuensis, and Acanthocyclops americanus were abundant copepods. The dynamics of zooplankton abundance in the reservoir is analyzed for more than 65 years since its creation (1952–2018) based on the published data. A more than twofold (up to 2.1 ± 0.5 g/m3) increase in the community biomass was revealed in 2015–2018 as compared with the 40-year period up to 2013 (0.8 ± 0.1 g/m3). The trends in the dynamics of the zooplankton abundance in the Tsimlyansk Reservoir, including the importance of the Ponto-Caspian crustaceans and invaders from other regions, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jean Barbierren Piarres I (1926) eta Piarres II (1929) idazlanak aztertzen dira, XX. mendearen lehen erdiko euskal eleberrigintzan kokatuz. XIX. mendearen amaieratik, mende erdi luzean argitaratutako eleberri guztiak bat datoz erabilitako langaiak eratzeko moduan, baita adierazitako mundu-ikuskeran ere, baina Barbierrek badakar ezezagun zen osagairik: dela, aldi horretan gerrako ibilerez jardun zuen lehen eta azken eleberrigilea izatea, dela elkarren hizkuntza ulertzen ez zuten pertsonaiak borrokaren alderdi berdinean jartzea, dela herrikide eta kanpotarren artean muga berriak jartzea edo gizakia Jainkoak gobernatzen duela nabarmendu izana. Jean Barbier’s Piarres I (1926) and Piarres II (1929) are analysed, placing them in the first half of the 20th century narrative. From the end of the 19th century, all the novels published in more than half a century coincide with the way of forming used materials and in the indicated way of viewing the world, but Barbier brings things that were unknown, for example, that he was the first and the last novelist who wrote about war those days, that he put in the same side of the fight characters that did not speak the same language, establishing to the nation and abroad new borders or underlining that the humans are ruled by God.

Aquatic part of Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant teсhnoeсosуstem was studied during the periods of operation of one (1998–2001) and two power units (2005–2016). Changes in species composition, as well as abundance and biomass dynamics of phytoplankton, zooplankton, zoobenthos, zooperiphyton, and higher aquatic plants in the cooling pond and channels were found to be related to both technogenic and biogenic factors. The invasion of alien species constantly occurred in the teсhnoeсosуstem. Thirteen invader species were noted during the period of research. Invasion of Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and submerged plant Najas marina prevented regular operation of the system; sponge Eunapius carteri reached mass development. Some invaders appeared for a short period; others naturalized, but did not reach the mass development. The phenomenon of contourization associated with the invasion and the mass development of the powerful filter feeder – Zebra mussel was observed in the ecosystem during the period of research. Signs of contourization (for example, a significant increase of water transparency) were observed already in years 2–3 after the invasion of the clam; significant changes in the pelagic subsystem were observed only in years 5–6. At the time of the invasion of the second dreissenid species (D. bugensis), population of D. polymorpha was in the stage of stabilization at low level of abundance. The assumption of the possible outbreak of D. bugensis abundance during the first years after its invasion was not confirmed. Thus, the successional processes in the teсhnoeсosуstem are determined not only by technogenic and natural abiotic, but also biotic factors

A small garrison of the British Royal Navy was swallowed up by the superior forces of a much larger nation in just a few hours. This may be the title of a report from the beginning of April 1982. The impact of Operation Rosario on the international arena and the evolution of the conflict was much more complex and had major repercussions on maintaining world peace. Why Argentina chose to invade the Falkland Islands and what caused the "spark" of the conflict to erupt at alarming levels, are questions whose answers you can find in this article. The Battle of Stanley was one of the most unequal armed actions between two states during the 20th century and drew a small group of South Atlantic islands to the attention of the whole world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disturbances by fire are among the most important processes that shape forest dynamics and diversity. However, the long-term variability of fire disturbance regimes in many European forests and specifically in the mountains of the Balkan Peninsula is not well understood. Here, we present the first Holocene record of fire regimes based on macrocharcoal morphologies in combination with pollen-based reconstruction of forest dynamics and fire-related strategies of prevailing mountain forests in the Rila Mountains, Bulgaria. While biomass burning followed the main trends in climate, the frequency and intensity of fire were strongly linked to fire-related coping strategies of dominant tree taxa (resisters, avoiders or invaders). Frequent fires of low intensity between 12,000 and 9000 cal year BP were concurrent with the dominance of invaders (Betula, herbs, ferns). Intermittent occurrence of low- and high-intensity surface and crown fires with longer return intervals between 9000 and 4000 cal year BP was associated with codominance of resister (Pinus sylvestris, Pinus peuce, Pinus mugo) and avoider (Abies alba and Picea abies) forest types, whereas a lengthening of the fire return interval over the past 4000 years was linked to increased abundance of P. abies. As a rising number of fire episodes may drive land cover towards more fire-adapted plant communities and towards less intense fire events, we expect increased dominance of invaders (resprouters that rapidly reach maturity stage) as well as resisters (properties protecting from fire damage) under future warmer and drier climate. This study also shows the potential of combining charcoal morphologies with pollen records to track variability in fire intensity and plant functional attributes over long timescales that are also relevant to forest management stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional and phylogenetic diversity (FD and PD respectively) of the resident community are expected to exert a key role in community resistance to colonization by surrounding species, and their establishment success. However, few studies have explored this topic experimentally or evaluated the interactive effects of these diversity measures.We implemented a diversity experiment to disentangle the role of FD and PD by sowing mixtures of 6 species, drawn from a pool of 19 species naturally coexisting in central European mesic meadows. The mixtures were designed to cover four independent combinations of high and low FD and PD. Species covers were estimated in spring and late summer over two growing seasons. We then assessed the establishment success of colonizers as a function of their mean traits and phylogenetic distance to the resident (i.e. sown) communities, as well as the resistance of the resident communities to natural colonizers as a function of their functional and phylogenetic structure.Results generally indicated a temporal shift regarding which trait values made a colonizer successful, from an acquisitive strategy in early stages to a more conservative trait syndrome in later stages.FD decreased community resistance to natural colonization. However, PD tempered this effect: with high PD, FD was not significant, suggesting complementary information between these two components of biodiversity. On average, colonizing species were more functionally distant from the resident species in sown communities with high functional diversity, i.e. those that were more colonized.Synthesis. Our results confirm an interplay between FD and PD during community assembly processes, namely resistance to colonizers, suggesting that these two descriptors of biodiversity only partially overlap in their contribution to the overall ecological structure of a community. The hypothesis that higher FD increases resistance through a more complete use of resources was challenged. Results rather suggested that greater FD could provide an unsaturated functional trait space allowing functionally unique species to occupy it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the potential of natural regeneration (NR) of forests in Western Siberia, dominated by Siberian fir (Abies sibirica Ledeb.) and damaged due to the invasion of the four-eyed fir bark beetle (Polygraphus proximus Blandf.). The leading methods for investigating this problem are the sample plot method and the transect method, which allow revealing the features of NR, their morphological structure and spatial distribution. Analysis of the occurrence and structure of NR revealed a correlation between the degree of stand damage and sapling state. The spatial structure was highly heterogeneous, testifying the group location of NR and the variable density. For 63% of the sample plots, a decrease in saplings was recorded as a result of the impact of the four-eysouthern ed fir bark beetle. Most of the dead saplings were large (95%), and dead saplings accounted for 10–50%. A positive correlation was found between the decrease in saplings and the state of the fir forest. The number of saplings varied from 1,233 to 19,200 plants ha−1, with fir being the dominant species. Fir forests of Western Siberia, damaged by the four-eyed fir bark beetle, have the potential for regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humulus scandens is an herbaceous annual twining of fast growth. It was introduced as ornamental and it has been naturalized in effluent drains in center-north Argentina, with a negative impact on the natural riparian vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Ege Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Ege Universitesi, Ziraat Fakultesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract. 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.

Human activity has dramatically accelerated both species extinctions and introductions, and the balance of these two processes is generally expected to reduce biodiversity and increase taxonomic homogenization. However, few tests of this hypothesis have been made. We tested whether new macroinvertebrate invaders in North American freshwaters can replace the recent loss of biodiversity, particularly focusing on molluscs. We found that both crustaceans and molluscs are overrepresented among endangered and recently extinct species, as well as among invaders. For molluscs, the number of recently extinct species (79 species) was more than twice that for exotic species (38 species). In addition, molluscan invaders are from different taxonomic families than recently extinct or endangered species. While most extinct and endangered molluscs are from streams and rivers, invaders preferentially colonize lakes and reservoirs. The impact of humans on species introductions and extinctions increases with spatial scale (from local to continental scales), resulting in the increased phylogenetic dissimilarity between introduced species and native communities. Construction of dams and alteration of the flow regimes of lotic systems will continue to lead to the extinction of native species, and promote the spread of invaders, resulting in a loss of biodiversity and taxonomic homogenization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humulus scandens is an herbaceous annual twining of fast growth. It was introduced as ornamental and it has been naturalized in effluent drains in center-north Argentina, with a negative impact on the natural riparian vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drifting can be an effective way for aquatic organisms to disperse and colonise new areas. Increasing connectivity between European large rivers facilitates invasion by drifting aquatic macroinvertebrates. The present study shows that high abundances of invasive species drift in the headstream of the river Rhine. Dikerogammarus villosus and Chelicorophium curvispinum represented up to 90% of the total of drifting macroinvertebrates. Drift activity shows seasonal and diel patterns. Most species started drifting in spring and were most abundant in the water column during the summer period. Drift activity was very low during the winter period. Diel patterns were apparent; most species, including D. villosus, drifted during the night. Drifting macroinvertebrates colonised stony substrate directly from the water column. D. villosus generally colonised the substrate at night, while higher numbers of C. curvispinum colonised the substrate during the day. It is very likely that drifting functions as a dispersal mechanism for crustacean invaders. Once waterways are connected, these species are no longer necessarily dependent on dispersal vectors other than drift for extending their distribution range [Current Zoology 57 (6): 818–827, 2011].

During the floristic work carried out in 2004 in the Baix Camp region of Tarragona (NE Spain) we found four new species of alien naturalised Cactaceae. Of these, three are reported for the second time from Europe and the other is new to Catalonia region. Southern Catalonia, with eleven species of Cactaceae, harbours the highest diversity of the family in Europe. Our results demonstrate that this diversity is even higher than previously believed. The introduction of these exotic taxa is, once again, due to the development of gardening based exclusively on foreign elements, to the unscrupulous and uncontrolled dumping of their remains in the natural environment, and to the existence of a favourable climate.

The consequences caused by the influence of Mediterranean invaders on the aboriginal fauna of the Caspian Sea are shown. Materials on the changes taking place in the abundance and species composition of the pelagic and bottom ecosystems and of the ichthyofauna of the Middle and Southern Caspian Sea are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of polychaete of the Sabellidae family, Pseudopotamilla reniformis (Bruguière, 1789), was found for the Black Sea near the coast of eastern Crimea. It was registered on rocks at the depth of 2-3 m in the area of Sevastopol (Kazach'ya Bay) in 2003 and at Cape Tarkhankut in 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the finding of Apophallus müehlingi (Jägerskiöld, 1899) Lühe, 1909 in gulls of Lake Ladoga and its morphological characteristics are provided for the first time. In common gull ( Larus canus), this parasite occurred more often. In little gull ( L. minutus), trematodes were single specimens. Mature A. müehlingi are registered only in these gull species during the spring period, immediately after their return from the wintering areas. Detection of the parasite indicates a potential environmental threat. To date, A. müehlingi is found only in the definitive host. However, the penetration of gastropods Lithoglyphus naticoides Pfeiffer, 1828, the parasite's first intermediate host, into Lake Ladoga will form favorable conditions for the life cycle of the parasite. This may lead to the epizooty of fish by A. müehlingi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors report on the finding of eight new alien cacti naturalised in the Baix Camp (Tarragona). Three of these are new records for Europe, two are new records for Spain and one is a first record for Tarragona province. Two further species are not new floristic records however some revision of their status in Catalonia is required. Discussed is the extensive use of alien plant species in garden design in the area and the mildness of the local climatic conditions which has resulted in the greatest accumulation of naturalised cacti in Europe.

The fluctuations in densities or biomass of a number of invading and native polychaete and mollusc species in the Southwest Netherlands were compared over a period of 20 years. For recent invaders a lag phase of 7-10 years occurred after their first appearance, followed by an exponential increase in abundance or biomass for 2 - 3 years. High numbers and biomass then continued for about 5 years, followed by a strong decline. The total sequence from introduction to decline lasted about 15 years. The densities or biomass of invaders appearing decades or even centuries ago in the Delta area have fluctuated in a similar manner to those of native species, indicating that the densities or biomass of invading species after a 15-year period of strong changes become governed largely by the same environmental factors as native species. The conclusion may be that after some decades, invading species can become part of a balanced co-existence with the native species, and that this may yield a net gain in the overall diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofuels derived from non-crop sources, such as microalgae, offer their own advantages and limitations. Despite high growth rates and lipid accumulation, microalgae cultivation still requires more energy than it produces. Furthermore, invading organisms can lower efficiency of algae production. Simple environmental changes might be able to increase algae productivity while minimizing undesired organisms like competitive algae or predatory algae grazers. Microalgae are susceptible to pH changes. In many production systems, pH is kept below 8 by CO addition. Here, we uncouple the effects of pH and CO input, by using chemical pH buffers and investigate how pH influences Nannochloropsis salina growth and lipid accumulation as well as invading organisms. We used a wide range of pH levels (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10). N. salina showed highest growth rates at pH 8 and 9 (0.19 ± 0.008 and 0.19 ± 0.011, respectively; mean ± SD). Maximum cell densities in these treatments were reached around 21 days into the experiment (95.6 × 10 ± 9 × 10 cells mL for pH 8 and 92.8 × 10 ± 24 × 10 cells mL for pH 9). Lipid accumulation of unbuffered controls were 21.8 ± 5.8 % fatty acid methyl esters content by mass, and we were unable to trigger additional significant lipid accumulation by manipulating pH levels at the beginning of stationary phase. Ciliates (grazing predators) occurred in significant higher densities at pH 6 (56.9 ± 39.6 × 10 organisms mL) than higher pH treatments (0.1-6.8 × 10 organisms mL). Furthermore, the addition of buffers themselves seemed to negatively impact diatoms (algal competitors). They were more abundant in an unbuffered control (12.7 ± 5.1 × 10 organisms mL) than any of the pH treatments (3.6-4.7 × 10 organisms mL). In general, pH values of 8 to 9 might be most conducive to increasing algae production and minimizing invading organisms. CO addition seems more valuable to algae as an inorganic carbon source and not as an essential mechanism to reduce pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]