Aquatic Ecology

Benchamin, Dani; Sreejai, R.; Arya, M. S.

doi: 10.1007/s10452-024-10121-6pmid: N/A

Malacostracans are significant in several environmental processes, making them a major biotic component in aquatic ecosystems. An investigation on the spatio-temporal variations in the diversity and abundance of malacostraca was carried out in the Kallada River for a period of two years from 2019 to 2021. The malacostracan community was represented by 35 species in 17 families and 4 orders during the investigation period. Decapods (24 species), amphipods (7 species), isopods, and tanaids (2 species each) were identified from the Kallada River. Seasonally, PoM (Post-monsoon) witnessed the presence of 33 species closely followed by PrM (Pre-monsoon) and MoN (Monsoon) with 32 species each. The amphipod species Melita zeylanica belonging to the family Melitidae dominated in terms of abundance throughout the study period. Diversity, richness, and dominance indices were increased from the upstream to downstream sites. Contrarily, the highest values of evenness were recorded the upstream and lowest recorded downstream. Diversity analysis values were maximum at downstream sites during the PrM season while the abundance was maximum during the PoM season. Multivariate tools such as CCA (canonical correspondence analysis) and hierarchical clustering were applied to investigate the co-existence of various malacostracan taxa and the relation between the species and water quality parameters. Similar feeding habits and water quality requirements allowed the co-occurrence of malacostracan species. CCA indicates the freshwater and estuarine influences on malacostracan diversity and abundance. The study also assessed the detrimental effects of sewage and municipal effluents on malacostraca at the midstream stations. However, the low diversity at the upstream stations was attributed to the natural environmental conditions.

Qin, Ying-Ying; Zhu, Ge-Ge; Liang, Ming-Zhong; Zheng, Hai-Lei; Li, Jun-Wei

doi: 10.1007/s10452-024-10122-5pmid: N/A

Sediments, waters and vegetation work together and cooperate mutually to maintain normal function of mangrove wetland ecosystem. To gained a comprehensive understanding of the response strategies existed by the leaf traits of Aegiceras corniculatum and to identity the key factors that drive leaf traits variation in the response to shrimp aquaculture wastewater, we sampled leaves of A. corniculatum, sediments and interstitial water from non-discharge area (CK), direct discharge area (DDA) and landfill restoration area (LRA) in Qinzhou Bay in southeast coast of China. We established a correlation between leaf vein traits and stomatal traits and abiotic conditions such as pH, nutrient content in sediment. In comparison to CK and LRA, leaf vein traits (primary vein diameter, secondary vein diameter, tertiary vein diameter, enclosed circular area, vein spacing, and tertiary vein density) exhibited a decrease in DDA. This observation suggests that the persistent discharge of shrimp aquaculture wastewater exerts a detrimental impact on the leaves’ mechanical support, nutrient, and water transport capacity. Furthermore, a marked negative correction emerges between stomatal density and length. In contrast, within LRA, an increase in stomatal density and a corresponding reduction in stomatal length indicate a heightened transpiration function of the leaves, thereby enhancing the efficiency of water and inorganic salt transport. Subsequently, the leaf vein traits in LRA are observed to be higher than in CK, suggesting that the leaf traits of A. corniculatum has undergone pre-adaptation to DDA and possesses high phenotypic plasticity. Through the analysis of leaf vein and stomatal traits in diverse shrimp aquaculture wastewater discharge habitats, this study demonstrates that such pre-adaptation and elevated phenotypic plasticity facilitates the adaptation of A. corniculatum to the challenging shrimp aquaculture wastewater environment.

Amal, K. S.; Benny, Niya; Ajayakumar, P.; Thomas, Lathika Cicily; Padmakumar, K. B.

doi: 10.1007/s10452-024-10123-4pmid: N/A

The study provides significant insights into the community structure, species diversity and the environmental factors affecting the diversity of MPB in the tropical estuarine habitat of the Cochin estuary. A significant outcome of the present study was the taxonomic identification of 59 species of MPB belonging to 22 genera, which comprised 49 species of diatoms, one species of dinoflagellate, six species of cyanobacteria, two species of euglenophytes and one species of chlorophyte. Major MPB identified in the study were Navicula erifuga, Gyrosigma wansbeckii, Navicula flanatica, Nitzschia sigma, Nitzschia fluminensis, Amphora cymbifera, Nitzschia clausii, Nitzschia lorenziana, Navicula arenaria and Gyrosigma balticum. Principal component analysis indicated that the porewater salinity, sediment temperature, sediment pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), C:N ratio, porewater silicate and sediment chlorophyll a were positively correlated with the diversity of MPB. The intensity of rainfall, OC%, C:S ratio, and TN% were negatively correlated with the diversity of MPB. The study provides a detailed taxonomic inventory of MPB diversity and environmental influences, offering additional insights into tropical estuarine ecology.

Bagagnan, Sadia; Guerin-Rechdaoui, Sabrina; Marconi, Anthony; Rocher, Vincent; Giusti-Miller, Stéphanie; Moilleron, Régis; Jusselme, My Dung

doi: 10.1007/s10452-024-10124-3pmid: N/A

Diverse microbial communities play a crucial role in maintaining the proper functioning of river ecosystems and are considered important indicators of river water quality. Although the Seine River being heavily impacted by human activities, little is known about the microbial communities in its surface waters. In order to monitor water quality and promote sustainable use, we studied its microbial diversity using high-throughput sequencing technology, and explored their relationships with physico-chemical properties. The dominant phyla identified were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, Bacteriodota, and Cyanobacteria. The presence of the Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria indicates that the Seine River water nutrient profile is mainly determined by the recalcitrant organic compounds present in WWTP effluents. Bacterial diversity showed significant temporal variability with a highly significant difference in bacterial composition between 2020 and 2021, probably due to variations in water flow favoring Cyanobacteria growth. Summer displayed higher microbial activity and abundance than autumn, attributed to temperature and orthophosphate content. Spatial variation in bacterial composition was observed between sites upstream and downstream of Paris, as well as before and after of the Seine Valenton-WWTP, subject to an accumulation phenomenon and impacted by wastewater treatment. Further assessment of emerging contaminants and other pollutants is required to better understand these variations. These results provide a basic understanding of the microbial community in the Seine River, serving as a reference for assessing the impact of implementing new wastewater disinfection techniques in the near future.Graphical abstract[graphic not available: see fulltext]

Rato, João; Brandão, Pedro; Anastácio, Pedro M.; Banha, Filipe

doi: 10.1007/s10452-024-10125-2pmid: N/A

Commercial success of a pet species predicts its invasiveness, making the most traded species more likely to become introduced. Turtles are among the most traded species, making it critical to monitor their introduction, and in Portugal several invasive turtle species have been detected in nature. This study reports the first official record of Mauremys sinensis and lists its unofficial records in Portugal. This is a critically endangered species in its native range but invasive out of its native range. Two M. sinensis individuals (one adult male and a juvenile) were found in a lake near Évora, alongside native Mauremys leprosa. Additionally, iNaturalist database analysis revealed 14 citizen science records of this species in 10 municipalities in Portugal since 2021 These records were located from North to South of continental Portugal but also in the Madeira Island. The presence of invasive turtles can impact native species through competition, predation, disease transmission, and hybridization. Pet trade is the primary source of these species, and legislation has been ineffective in preventing their introduction. This study also highlights the need for comprehensive strategies, including whitelists and blacklist, to address the invasive pet trade, protect native ecosystems, and prevent further introductions of species like M. sinensis.

Giménez, Juliana; Ojeda, Mariel; Boy, Claudia Clementina

doi: 10.1007/s10452-024-10126-1pmid: N/A

Energy acquisition and allocation between the somatic compartments are essential for the ecological success of an organism. The seasonal pattern of energy allocation among the different organs was evaluated in the snail Zidona dufresnei. The somatic indexes, energy density and energy content of the gonads, digestive gland, foot, and secondary sexual glands of Z. dusfresnei. The lowest foot index (FI), energy density and energy content were found in winter. The high digestive gland index (DI) and energy content (ECDIG) observed in spring likely coincide with the peak of productivity. The male’s gonads did not show seasonal energetic variation, although the gonadosomatic index (GI) of males was lower in summer than in other months. The mass and energy content of the albumen and capsule glands exhibited a decreasing pattern from spring to winter. The foot is suggested as the main energy reservoir in Z. dufresnei, the digestive gland as an energy reservoir that contributes to the gonadal maturation, whereas the energy of the capsule and the albumen glands contributes to the spawning. This study highlights seasonal variations in the energy content of the foot (edible compartment) and the significance of secondary sexual glands in understanding the bioenergetics of Z. dusfresnei and offspring fitness. These findings should be taken into consideration in fisheries management decisions for this ecologically and commercially important species.

Rathod, Sachin G.; Singh, Anshika; Mantri, Vaibhav A.

doi: 10.1007/s10452-024-10127-0pmid: N/A

This investigation presents pioneering discoveries concerning the endemic seaweed Ulva ovata across multiple sites in the Gulf of Khambhat, India, going beyond its type locality, Gopnath. The primary objective of this research was to examine the substrate type and various environmental factors affecting seaweed diversity at five sites where endemic U. ovata was found. Identifying 11 seaweed species under Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta phyla, the study highlights rocky sites exhibiting higher Simpson (D) and Shannon (H′) diversity indices, species richness, and percentage cover during cold months. k-dominance analysis indicates more species at Pingaleshwar, Unchakotda, and Gopnath. Bray Curtis similarity shows similarity in seaweed composition between Unchakotda-Pingaleshwar, and Kuda-Khadsaliya, whereas Gopnath forms a different cluster mode. Key species U. rigida and U. ovata, identified by SIMPER analysis, act as bio-indicators for future studies. Five sites demonstrate distinct seawater temperature, dissolved oxygen, light intensity, salinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), wind velocity, UV index, nitrate (NO3−), and nitrite (NO2−) significantly impacting seaweed diversity. This study enhances understanding of seaweed distribution and environmental influences in the Gulf of Khambhat, offering insights into ecological dynamics and implications for marine conservation and management strategies.

Patra, Bhairab Kumar; Marick, Jit; Biswas, Roshmi; Banerjee, Soumyajit; Ash, Anirban

doi: 10.1007/s10452-024-10128-zpmid: N/A

Fresh water fishes carry heavy infection of helminth parasites. Infection of these parasites may result poor growth, postpone sexual maturity and mortality of fishes, and cause human and animal diseases. This study recorded seasonal variations in gastrointestinal parasites found in fishes collected from the Mundeswari River, Hooghly, West Bengal, India. Total 1368 fishes were examined in four different seasons, namely Winter (December, January, February), Summer (March, April, May), Monsoon (June, July, August), Post monsoon (September, October, November) during December 2017–November 2021. Season wise abundance of four types of endo-helminthes namely Acanthocephala, Nematode, Trematode and Cestode, were recorded. The results indicated that climatic conditions are directly or indirectly influenced the intensity of parasitic infection and among the seasons the intestines or body cavity of fishes were recorded high parasitic infection during the winter season as compared to summer, monsoon and post monsoon.

da Silva, Jislaine Cristina; Soares, Claudemir Martins; Bialetzki, Andréa

doi: 10.1007/s10452-024-10129-ypmid: N/A

Invasive fish species can play an important role in aquatic ecosystems and have a significant impact on ecosystem dynamics, which influences primary production, planktonic communities, and aquatic macrophytes. The presence and density of invasive fish can disrupt nutrient ratios and ecological processes, leading to potential ecological consequences for invaded habitats. This experimental investigation focused on the invasive armored catfish species P. ambrosettii (Loricariidae) and postulated that high densities of armored catfish in invaded environments may affect nutrient cycling due to high N: P excretion rates. Furthermore, we sought to identify how these changes in nutrient concentration impact phytoplankton, protozooplankton, and the biomass of two invasive macrophytes. We carried out a 30-day experimental study at the Nupélia Applied Ecology Laboratory at the State University of Maringá with 20 fiber cement mesocosms with a volume of 135 L. These mesocosms had continuous water circulation and were used to simulate the natural conditions of lakes invaded by P. ambrosettii. We simulated five treatments that represented density at different levels of invasion: control (no fish), low-density (one fish), medium–low (two fish), medium–high (three fish) and high-density (four fish). The treatments affected abiotic variables such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and electrical conductivity, and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations increased with increasing fish density, as expected. In turn, nutrient concentrations had effects on chlorophyll-a and macrophyte biomass. The chlorophyll-a and Eichhornia crassipes biomass were positively related to the increase in phosphorus, while Hydrilla verticillata showed a positive relationship with both nutrients nitrogen and phosphorous. The zooplankton community showed different density behaviors in relation to treatments. Its composition was influenced by the different treatments, and it underwent significant variations along the nutrient gradient. As predicted, the different densities of P. ambrosettii led to changes in the structure of the ecosystem. In treatments with higher fish densities, the environment was characterized by low oxygenation, high conductivity, and high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus. These conditions favored the dominance of phytoplankton and aquatic macrophytes, while the density and species composition of zooplankton was low. The effects observed in this experimental study contribute to insights into the field of invasion biology and its relationships with nutrient dynamics. The effects that may arise from the invasion and high population density of the armored catfish Pterygoplichthys in invaded locations reinforce the importance of understanding these processes in the functioning of the ecosystem and how this directly or indirectly impacts the dynamics of coexisting communities in natural environments.

Wróbel, Michał; Krysztofiak-Kaniewska, Anna

doi: 10.1007/s10452-024-10130-5pmid: N/A

The European beaver, the largest rodent in Europe, has enormous skills in transforming and adapting its habitat. It chooses a place for its habitat that provides it with food and a high degree of security. He builds dams to regulate water levels. It is assumed that beaver dams can survive for several dozen years, depending on the continuity of use. When a damaged dam is reused, beavers are able to quickly restore the structure to a suitable condition. By monitoring one of the dams for several years, we managed to record this interesting process. In this case, it was determined that the time needed to rebuild the dam and restore the water level was approximately 8 h. This, of course, depends on local conditions, but the data obtained allows for a better understanding of this process.