Different Levels Of Anthropogenic Pressure Research Articles

Contrasting benthic bacterial and fungal communities in two temperate coastal areas affected by different levels of anthropogenic pressure

Benthic microbial communities play a crucial role in maintaining the stability and function of estuarine ecosystems. However, their organization and response to multiple stresses in severely disturbed coastal areas remains to be elucidated. In this study, we revealed the presence of contrasting benthic bacterial and fungal communities in the Liaohe (LH) and Yalujiang (YLJ) estuaries, which are located at similar latitudes and are characterized by similar climates but are subjected to different levels of anthropogenic pressure. The results showed that Firmicutes and Chloroflexi were more abundant in LH, which reflected the influence of anthropogenic pressure in this area. Functional analyses indicated that the functional genes involved in the generation of precursor metabolites and energy pathways were more enriched in the LH community, while genes regulating degradation/utilization/assimilation processes were more enriched in the YLJ community. Distance-dependent similarity analysis showed that the bacterial community in LH was more affected by environmental changes, while that in YLJ was more influenced by geographic dispersion. In contrast, no significant distance-dependent similarity was found for the fungal communities in the two areas. In addition, the network analysis showed that the bacterial-fungal network in YLJ was more complex and stable than that in the LH. Our results highlight the important roles of environmental heterogeneity in controlling microbial community composition, biogeographic patterns, and co-occurrence networks. These findings fill knowledge gaps in the understanding of the different response patterns of benthic communities under varying anthropogenic pressures.

Large-Scale Re-Implantation Efforts for Posidonia oceanica Restoration in the Ligurian Sea: Progress and Challenges

The Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean) has been a focal point for numerous interventions aimed at restoring Posidonia oceanica meadows. The success of pioneer restoration actions in France during the 1970s stimulated similar initiatives across the Mediterranean Sea. Early attempts in the Ligurian Sea were implemented in 1993 and 1996 on limited seabed areas (i.e., tens of square meters) at the two coastal sites of Sori and Rapallo (Liguria, NW Italy). No further initiatives have been reported for the Ligurian Sea until 2022. In that year, a large-scale restoration project, which uses biodegradable mats coupled with metal mesh, began in Liguria. Different levels of anthropogenic pressure and wave exposure characterize the three investigated locations: (1) Portofino, on the eastern Liguria and on the border with the Portofino Marine Protected Area; (2) Bergeggi in the central Liguria and within the Isola di Bergeggi Marine Protected Area; and (3) Sanremo in the western Liguria, without any formal protection. Despite recent setbacks caused by severe storms in late 2023, which particularly damaged the Portofino site, ongoing monitoring revealed promising survival rates. Most notably, the site in Bergeggi displayed a 90% survival rate in September 2023. Although challenges to restore P. oceanica beds persist, such as mitigating damages caused by unpredictable events, this extensive re-implantation initiative offers the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of new basin-scale restoration strategies. This approach marks an important step in the conservation of Posidonia oceanica habitat.

Salmonella in Coastal Birds in Chile: Detection of a Multidrug‐Resistant S. Infantis Bearing the blaCTX-M−65 Gene in a pESI‐Like Megaplasmid in Humboldt Penguins

Salmonella enterica is one of the most important foodborne pathogens worldwide, and the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) clones can aggravate its public health importance. Wildlife species may act as reservoirs of these clones, but their role is not well understood. In this study, faecal samples from shorebirds, with a focus on the endangered Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti), collected from five sites in central Chile with different levels of anthropogenic pressure were analysed to characterize antimicrobial resistant S. enterica serovars. Overall, Salmonella was isolated from 22 of the 595 samples (3.7%), with positivity ranging between 1.6% and 9.5%, depending on the sampling site. Four of the Salmonella isolates were retrieved from Humboldt penguin samples (1.4% positive samples in this species). Serovars Infantis (nine isolates), Typhimurium (six), Goldcoast (four), and Enteritidis, Agona, and Give (one isolate each) were identified. Resistance levels were the highest for sulphamethoxazole (13/21 isolates with a non‐wild‐type phenotype), ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim (11/21 each). Whole‐genome sequencing performed on eight S. Infantis strains revealed that seven carried the plasmid replicon IncFIB (pN55391), indicating the presence of the pESI‐like megaplasmid, harbouring resistance determinants to multiple antimicrobial classes as well as heavy metal, biocides, and virulence‐related genes. Furthermore, five S. Infantis isolates that showed an ESBL phenotype carried the blaCTX-M−65 gene, three of which were detected in Humboldt penguin faeces. The finding of an international emerging S. Infantis clone in protected wildlife is of concern to environmental, animal, and public health specialists, supporting initiatives for an active surveillance of resistance and virulence traits in wildlife exposed to anthropogenic areas.

Гістологічна структура зябер карася сріблястого річки Самара Дніпропетровської області

Purpose. To study the histological structure of the gill apparatus of the Prussian carp (Сarassius gibelio) from the point of view of the presence of pathologies with differentiation according to areas with different levels of anthropogenic pressure of the Samara River in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Methodology. The generalized sutdy results were obtained during 2019–2021. The study was conducted within three sampling sites with different types of human impact. The object of the study were age-6 Prussian carps of both sexes. Histological studies were performed in accordance with generally accepted methods. Gills were obtained by anatomical dissection from freshly caught fish. Photographs of histological specimens were taken using a digital camera “SciencelabT5005.17M” and an microscope “Ulab XY-B2TLED”. Measurements of the samples were performed using the “ScienceLabView7”. Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out in MS Excel 2010. Findings. The conducted histological studies showed that pathological changes in the structure of the gill apparatus were observed in age-6 Prussian carps in all sampling sites of the Samara River. In particular, such pathologies as curvature of lamellae terminals, accumulation of mucus and hyperplasia of the epithelium of gill filaments, fusion of lamellae were found. Single cases of necrosis and twisting of lamellae threads were recorded. Most often, histopathological changes in the gill apparatus were observed in fish caught near the city Novomoskovsk. Organometric studies showed that there was no significant difference between the length and width of gill arches of Prussian carp from different sampling sites. The length and width of the lamellae of the gill apparatus was the largest in individuals sampled near the city Novomoskovsk, which may indicate a greater need for oxygen for the fish body in the specified area. The length of the respiratory lamellae was the lowest in Prissian carp sampled near the village of Novoselivka. The lowest width of the lamellae were found in fish from the village of Khashcheve. The obtained data give reason to conclude that the conditions of existence for Prussian carp are most favorable near the village of Novoselivka. Originality. For the first time the histological structure and pathology of the gills aparatus of Prussian carp in the conditions of the Samara River in the Dnipropetrovsk region was studied. Practical value. The obtained data on the histological changes of the gill apparatus of fish can be used to identify adaptive reactions, will allow assessing the impact of anthropogenic factors on hydrobionts, and will also provide the opportunity to monitor the morpho-physiological state of a specific population under the impact of pollutants of various origins. Key words: Prussian carp, gill apparatus, morphological and histological indicators.

The fecal bacterial microbiome of the Kuhl’s pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus kuhlii) reflects landscape anthropogenic pressure

BackgroundAnthropogenic disturbance has the potential to negatively affect wildlife health by altering food availability and diet composition, increasing the exposure to agrochemicals, and intensifying the contact with humans, domestic animals, and their pathogens. However, the impact of these factors on the fecal microbiome composition of wildlife hosts and its link to host health modulation remains barely explored. Here we investigated the composition of the fecal bacterial microbiome of the insectivorous bat Kuhl’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii) dwelling in four environmental contexts with different levels of anthropogenic pressure. We analyzed their microbiome composition, structure and diversity through full-length 16S rRNA metabarcoding using the nanopore long-read sequencer MinION™. We hypothesized that the bacterial community structure of fecal samples would vary across the different scenarios, showing a decreased diversity and richness in samples from disturbed ecosystems.ResultsThe fecal microbiomes of 31 bats from 4 scenarios were sequenced. A total of 4,829,302 reads were obtained with a taxonomic assignment percentage of 99.9% at genus level. Most abundant genera across all scenarios were Enterococcus, Escherichia/Shigella, Bacillus and Enterobacter. Alpha diversity varied significantly between the four scenarios (p < 0.05), showing the lowest Shannon index in bats from urban and intensive agriculture landscapes, while the highest alpha diversity value was found in near pristine landscapes. Beta diversity obtained by Bray–Curtis distance showed weak statistical differentiation of bacterial taxonomic profiles among scenarios. Furthermore, core community analysis showed that 1,293 genera were shared among localities. Differential abundance analyses showed that the highest differentially abundant taxa were found in near pristine landscapes, with the exception of the family Alcaligenaceae, which was also overrepresented in urban and intensive agriculture landscapes.ConclusionsThis study suggests that near pristine and undisturbed landscapes could promote a more resilient gut microbiome in wild populations of P. kuhlii. These results highlight the potential of the fecal microbiome as a non-invasive bioindicator to assess insectivorous bats’ health and as a key element of landscape conservation strategies.

Comparing production and life-history traits of a key amphipod species within and between estuaries under different levels of anthropogenic pressure

Inter-population variability may arise as a response to adverse natural and anthropogenic stressors. The dynamics of a key amphipod species (Echinogammarus marinus) was followed during ≈ 1-year at its southerly range (NW Portugal), in three estuaries with different levels of anthropogenic pressure (High - Ave estuary; Moderate - Mondego estuary; Low - Minho estuary). We hypothesised that E. marinus populations would present lower production and fitness, and higher intersexuality incidence with increasing anthropogenic pressure. According to a GAM model explaining ≈70% of the observed variability, E. marinus biomass depends on temperature, organic matter, Fucus area and time of the year. Significant differences were found between the gammarid biomass in Minho and Mondego estuaries and within sites from the same estuary. As expected, Ave estuary exhibited the lowest average annual production, abundance and fecundity rates. However, the highest average production was found in Mondego and not in Minho estuary, although the turnover ratio (P/B) of both estuaries was very similar.Besides the system's global ecological status, E. marinus also seems to respond to microhabitat conditions, which may explain the spatial heterogeneity observed in the amphipod production within the same estuary. Intersexuality prevalence was negligible in the three populations, which does not support the idea of a link between anthropogenic pressure and intersexuality in E. marinus. We argue that the dependence of E. marinus on Fucus sp. should be further investigated to fully understand the role of both fucoids and the gammarid in coastal foodwebs.

After the nursery: Regional and broad‐scale movements of sharks tagged in the Caribbean

AbstractBroad‐scale movements (10s–100s km) of highly migratory species, such as sharks, present unique management challenges as fish migrate across international boundaries, thereby exposing them to different levels of anthropogenic pressure. Lemon sharks and blacktip sharks are well‐studied throughout their range in the western North Atlantic, but broad‐scale movements in the Caribbean region are largely unknown. Utilizing 10 years (2004–2014) of acoustic and conventional tagging data, this study presents the post‐nursery movements of young of the year (YOY) and juvenile blacktip (n = 198) and lemon (n = 130) sharks tagged in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI). A total of five (2.5%) blacktip sharks were recaptured by recreational and commercial fishers in the greater Caribbean and as far north as the southeastern coast of the United States, moving between 2 and 2,200 km and crossing a minimum of six international boundaries. Of the acoustically tagged blacktip (n = 88) and lemon (n = 45) sharks, 28 (32%) and 16 (24%), respectively, were detected outside the boundaries of the nursery area in which they were tagged, dispersing throughout the USVI territory; blacktip sharks were acoustically detected beyond territorial waters as far as Florida, United States (1,881 km). Both species transited through local marine protected areas but did not establish residency resulting in little protection. This is the first study to examine connectivity between blacktip shark populations of the USVI and the east coast of the United States.

Assessment of metal/metalloid occurrence in rivers with their accumulation in macrophyte case study with Myriophyllum alterniflorum.

Water quality monitoring with integrative tools is a main issue of concern for environment assessment. Submerged aquatic macrophyte can be a good candidate for the evaluation of contaminant content in rivers. Indeed, owing to their habitat, aquatic macrophytes interact directly with surface water; they can absorb contaminants and thus allow to detect their presence in water. In situ studies were conducted over 28days in five aquatic environments, affected by different levels of anthropogenic pressure (domestic wastewater plant, industrial activities), during two field campaigns. We have investigated whether the accumulation of some metals and a metalloid (As) in Myriophyllum alterniflorum could be used to detect their occurrence in river waters. Our results demonstrated that long time bioaccumulation was correlated with the contaminant levels in water. However, the water composition and the duration of exposure affected the studied pollutants' absorption. On an operational point of view, the optimal duration of exposure of Myriophyllum alterniflorum to assess the water quality is conditioned by the contaminant contents in waters that can induce different defense mechanisms as the reduction of pollutant absorption and their efflux. In addition, the nutrient concentration influenced the accumulation of pollutants since the higher the nutrient level, the higher the essential metal accumulation was observed.

Artificial Selection and Size at First Sexual Maturity of Perna perna Mussels (Linnaeus, 1758) in Southeastern Brazil

Brown mussels Perna perna (Linnaeus, 1758) are of great economic and social importance in the aquaculture and fishing sectors in many Brazilian states. The present study aimed to compare the sizes at first sexual maturity of brown mussels (L50) from natural banks exposed to different levels of anthropogenic pressure. Mussel spat were extracted along the coast of the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil, and were secured on longlines at ilha dos franceses. The human collection pressure at each location was assessed through identification of shellfish gatherers at these sites. Over a 3-mo period, 70 individual mussels from each location were removed each month for macroscopic and microscopic analysis of gonadal development. The sex ratios of the populations at Vila Velha, Anchieta and Piuma showed alternating values between the sexes. Histological analysis confirmed all of the macroscopic observations regarding sex determination and the classification of sexual stages. The average sizes at first sexual maturity of male brown mussels from different spat collection sites ranged from 22.6 to 25.2 mm. The collection pressure exerted on natural banks of Perna mussels differed significantly between the sites studied. On the natural banks where the differences in human collection pressure were recorded (at Vila Velha and Piuma), the size at first sexual maturity significantly differed for both males and females. Therefore, the results suggest that the differences in size at first maturity were due to anthropogenic pressure.

Impact of different levels of anthropogenic pressure on the plant species composition in woodland sites

Urban forests constitute very important green elements in the metropolitan areas. Comparing the plant species composition of urban forests and other woodland habitats across varying degrees of anthropogenic influence may provide important information for management of such areas. Therefore, each 90 study plots were studied in urban forests, manor parks and nature reserves with the aim to analyse the impact of the different levels of anthropogenic pressure on the overall plant species composition of these forest types. We compared total species numbers, types of vegetation, share of Tilio-Carpinetum class species and ancient forest species, life forms and ecological characteristics of the plants.The highest total numbers of species were detected in the urban forests. However, as expected, regarding different types of vegetation - the lowest number of forest species and highest numbers of synanthropical species were observed in the urban forests. Tilio-Carpinetum class species were the lowest in the urban forests and the highest in the nature reserves. Ancient forest species were also the lowest in the urban forests and had a comparable share in manor parks and nature reserves. Geophytes were the lowest in urban forests, but contrary to our expectations hemicryptophytes were the highest. Species characteristic for half-shadow and moderate light on fertile soils dominated in the urban forests.We conclude that it is important to keep urban forest patches with valuable plant species in the city structure, thus some proper guidelines for their management are necessary. Nature conservation and management cannot be restricted only to protected areas like nature reserves but must integrate urban forests involving the enhancement of species migration between isolated habitat fragments. Management strategies should furthermore take into account urban land use types and the recreational values of the forests.

Spatial distribution of Donax trunculus (Linnaeus, 1758) populations along the intertidal area of the Gulf of Cádiz (SW, Spain)

Spatial distribution of Donax trunculus (Linnaeus, 1758) populations along the intertidal area of the Gulf of Cádiz (SW, Spain)

Microplastics: the invisible threat

Event Abstract Back to Event Microplastics: the invisible threat Alicia Herrera1*, Ico Martínez1, Jorge Rapp1, Eugenio Raymond1 and May Gómez1 1 Instituto Universitario de Acuicultura Sostenible y Ecosistemas Marinos (IU-ECOAQUA), Spain Plastic pollution is affecting marine ecosystems on a global scale. Microplastic particles are of particular concern as, due to their size, they can enter marine food webs. The damage that microplastics can cause, not only physical, due to ingestion, but also the effects of the associated chemical pollutants in marine life, is still unknown. Within the MICROTROPHIC project we evaluated the levels of microplastics and associated chemical pollutants on beaches, sea surface and fish in the Canary Islands. In the north and northeast oriented beaches, maximum abundances of up to 244 gr/m2 were found in the tidal line. On the sea surface, the maximum values were found at Las Canteras Beach, a semi-enclosed bay, with concentrations of more than one million particles/Km2. On the other hand, in 78% of the fish studied, microplastics were found in the gastrointestinal content, mainly fibres. Finally, chemical contaminants associated with microplastics were analyzed on 4 beaches with different levels of anthropogenic pressure. High levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were found, among them DDT, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), and emerging contaminants such as those derived from UV filters. The sum of DDT and its metabolites was significantly higher in Gran Canaria, the most inhabited and industrialized island, with maximum values of 13.488 ng/g. On the other hand, UV filter levels were higher in Las Canteras and Famara, the beaches with higher touristic pressure, with maximum values of 3.740 ng/g. The values, both the concentration of microplastics and POPs, are similar to those found in the most polluted sites on the planet. The next step in our research is to determine, in controlled laboratory experiments, the possible effects of these contaminant levels on the physiology of fish, jellyfish and crustaceans. Figure 1 Figure 2 Keywords: Microplastic (MP), POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants), Plastic pollution, marine pollution, Marine life, Plastic wastes Conference: XX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies (SIEBM XX) , Braga, Portugal, 9 Sep - 12 Sep, 2019. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Global Change, Invasive Species and Conservation Citation: Herrera A, Martínez I, Rapp J, Raymond E and Gómez M (2019). Microplastics: the invisible threat. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies (SIEBM XX) . doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2019.08.00159 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 19 May 2019; Published Online: 27 Sep 2019. * Correspondence: PhD. Alicia Herrera, Instituto Universitario de Acuicultura Sostenible y Ecosistemas Marinos (IU-ECOAQUA), Las Palmas, Spain, alicia.herrera@ulpgc.es Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Alicia Herrera Ico Martínez Jorge Rapp Eugenio Raymond May Gómez Google Alicia Herrera Ico Martínez Jorge Rapp Eugenio Raymond May Gómez Google Scholar Alicia Herrera Ico Martínez Jorge Rapp Eugenio Raymond May Gómez PubMed Alicia Herrera Ico Martínez Jorge Rapp Eugenio Raymond May Gómez Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Long-term population status of two harvested intertidal grazers (Patella aspera and Patella candei), before (1996–2006) and after (2007–2017) the implementation of management measures

Intertidal limpets are subject to harvesting pressure in regions, e.g. oceanic islands, where marine organisms are a more accessible source of protein. These molluscs are very sensitive to human exploitation which often results on a decrease of their densities and an over-representation of immature individuals, because of the loss of large-sized reproductive specimens. Two species of exploited limpets (Patella aspera and Patella candei) were assessed throughout 21 years, before (1996–2006) and after (2007–2017) the implementation of conservation measures for their sustainable management in Madeira (North-eastern Atlantic Ocean). Different levels of anthropogenic pressure were also taken in account in this comparative study: (i) proximity to coastal settlements (“Near” vs. “Far”) and (ii) accessibility to the coast (North vs. South), that may be considered surrogates of harvesting pressure on the intertidal of Madeira. The present results showed that the stocks of P. aspera and P. candei are slightly recovered after regulatory measures entered into force, with an increase of mean shell length and dominance of reproductive individuals (>40 mm). P. aspera populations showed a clearer effect mainly due to the higher exploitation rate relative to P. candei. Conservation measures prompted a positive effect on both exploited limpet species, but further assessment studies are necessary to address the evolution of stocks over time.

Exploring non-invasive sampling of parasites by metabarcoding gastrointestinal nematodes in Madagascar frog species

The diversity of Anuran parasites is poorly surveyed, despite arguably being one of the most important threats to anuran populations worldwide. Additionally, parasites also interact with a number of other stressors, such as invasive species, pollution, sedimentation and changing light conditions, caused by anthropogenic disturbance in natural habitats. We aimed to explore the use of metabarcoding, a new, non-invasive tool to survey the parasite assemblages in frogs in different environments facing different levels of anthropogenic pressure. We collected fecal samples from frogs across three different transects in Ranomafana National Park, located in southeastern Madagascar, and then used the 18S metabarcoding technique to identify nematode species from the collected fecal samples. We were able to find four different putative species, which were all identified to the genus level. In comparison to the literature on previous surveys done with traditional methods, the metabarcoding approach seems to provide similar diversity estimates and taxonomical accuracy. Our results suggest that non-invasive sampling and metabarcoding can provide a suitable tool for intestinal parasite surveys in anuran host populations.

Assessing the Influence of Roads on Fire Ignition: Does Land Cover Matter?

In human-affected fire environments, assessing the influence of human activities on the spatial distribution of wildfire ignitions is of paramount importance for fire management planning. Previous studies have shown that roads have significant effects on fire ignition. However, since different land cover classes are subject to different levels of ignition risk, roads in different land cover classes may differently affect fire ignition. The aim of this paper is thus to assess the influence of roads on fire ignition in selected land cover classes subjected to different levels of anthropogenic pressure in Sardinia (Italy). Our results show that fires are preferentially ignited close to roads in all land cover classes. However, the influence of roads is much stronger in less impacted land uses, where the availability of human-induced ignitions highly depends on the accessibility networks. Our approach represents a first step towards the systematic integration of interacting fire ignition drivers such as roads and land cover into fire risk analysis.

Anthropogenic Impacts on Coral Reef Harpacticoid Copepods

The number of studies demonstrating the susceptibility of benthic reef communities to anthropogenic impacts is growing. However, for some of the components of reef fauna, such as meiobenthic harpacticoid copepods, information is still lacking. Here, different diversity and taxonomic distinctness indexes and multivariate analyses were used to test whether the assemblage of harpacticoid copepods colonizing Artificial Substrate Units (ASUs) is an appropriate tool for the identification of reefs subjected to different levels of anthropogenic pressure. Furthermore, we also evaluate if diffused, persistent, anthropogenic impacts generate the homogenization and simplification of Harpacticoida assemblages. Six reefs were organized into two groups along the coast, depending on their proximity to very large urban centers. ASUs were used for meiofauna colonization and, for each reef, 320 Harpacticoida individuals were separated for identification at the species level. Abiotic parameters were analyzed, and significant differences were found between the two groups of reefs, with an increase in dissolved inorganic nutrients found in areas near large urban centers. Both the multivariate analyses and the indexes of diversity showed a clear separation between the reefs closer to the urban zones and those further away, as a response to the anthropogenic pressure. As hypothesized, in the impacted reef areas, there was a strong simplification and homogenization of the harpacticoid copepod assemblages. However, the results of the indexes, based on taxonomic distinctness, suggest that there was no phylogenetic signal of anthropogenic impact on coral reef harpacticoid copepods.

Metal accumulation in populations of Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth from diverse anthropogenically degraded sites (SE Europe, Serbia)

Heavy metal accumulation is recognized as a very important global pollution problem in the last decades. Plant species have been recognized as natural bioindicators of environmental pollution, especially the amount of heavy metals in soils. Moreover, only a limited number of plant species can survive in highly contaminated soils. It is also known that metal accumulation can vary greatly among different populations of the same species. This study examines the chemical composition and accumulation potential of the expansive clonal grass Calamagrostis epigejos at five localities exposed to different levels of anthropogenic pressure. Considerable differences were observed between uptake, translocation, and accumulation of total and available heavy metals, such differences corresponding to soil physico-chemical characteristics and the level of site pollution. The results indicate that Calamagrostis epigejos uptakes a significant portion of the available fraction of heavy metals in the soil and stores it in the roots, thereby exhibiting a certain potential for metal phytostabilization.

Віталітетна структура та онтогенетичні індекси ценопопуляцій Allium Ursinum L. (Alliceae) у лісових фітоценозах на Прикарпатті

Досліджено віталітетну структуру ценопопуляцій Allium ursinum L. у місцях різного антропогенного пресингу та здійснено обрахунки онтогенетичних індексів. Більша половина із досліджених ценопопуляцій належить до процвітаючого типу віталітету. Антропогенний фактор впливає на життєвий потенціал особин. Індекс загальної віковості для досліджених ценопопуляцій становить менше одиниці, і означає, що всі ценопопуляції є молодими. У них переважають процеси відновлення над процесами старіння. Ключові слова: Allium ursinum L., ценопопуляція, віталітетна структура, індекс якості, онтогенетичні індекси, антропогенний пресинг

An integrated method to evaluate and monitor the conservation state of coralligenous habitats: The INDEX-COR approach

A new method based on photographic sampling coupled with in situ observations was applied to 53 stations along the French Mediterranean coast, to assess the integrity of coralligenous reefs affected by different levels of anthropogenic pressure. The conservation state of the assemblages characterizing these habitats was then assessed by an index – the INDEX-COR – that integrates three metrics: (i) the sensitivity of the taxa to organic matter and sediment deposition, (ii) the observable taxonomic richness, and (iii) the structural complexity of the assemblages. The sensitivity of INDEX-COR was tested and showed good correlation with the Level of Pressure calculated for each station according to expert judgment and field observations.

Comparative Assessment of Coastal Marine Waters Quality in the Odessa Bay And in The Zmiinyi Island Area in 2016

Purpose. To reveal peculiarities of marine environment quality on the results of simultaneous observations in marine waters of two Black Sea areas with different levels of anthropogenic pressure. Мethods. Hydrological and hydrochemical and hydrobiological studies. Results. Based on the results of comprehensive studies performed from April to December 2016 in two regions with different anthropogenic pressure calculations of the index of marine waters trophic status TRIX were made. The analysis of the TRIX changes dynamics has shown that its seasonal variations are observed in both areas, as well as seasonal variations of practically all physicochemical characteristics of aquatic environment. Conclusions. It has been shown that the trophic status of water in Odessa Bay is higher than in the Zmiinyi Island area, i.e. the quality of aquatic environment in Odessa Bay is lower than in the Zmiinyi Island coastal waters. At that, degradation of water quality was registered as compared to the period of 2004-2013.