Fauna Richness Research Articles

Beyond biomass production: Enhancing biodiversity while capturing carbon in short rotation coppice poplar plantations

Biodiversity is essential for the functioning of ecosystems and the provision of services. In recent years, the role of plantations in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration has been highlighted. In the Mediterranean area, high-density poplar plantations in short-rotation with resprouting management (SRC) have been established for biomass purposes on mostly irrigated agricultural land, coexisting with rainfed and irrigated agricultural crops. This study aims to assess the contribution of these plantations to this type of agroforest ecosystem in terms of biodiversity. For this purpose, both flora and fauna diversity were evaluated both within and outside of the plantation. Additionally, the accumulated carbon in the biomass, as well as in the accompanying vegetation within the plantation, was assessed. Different indices were used to evaluate both the intrinsic diversity of the forest plantation and the degree of substitution and complementarity between the different communities of the landscape. Our findings reveal distinct biodiversity patterns in the land-use scenarios sampled. Specifically, we observed significantly higher flora-species richness in SRC plantations than in the adjacent agricultural land, whereas fauna richness showed a similar but slightly higher level in the forested area. A moderate level of complementarity between land uses was found for insects and mammals (around 45 %), contrasting with high complementarity for birds (87 %) and flora (90 %). This suggests substantial turnover and replacement among these ecological environments. Our results indicate that a second rotation (4 year) plantation could accumulate a total of 61.6 Mg C ha−1, and even though adventitious flora represents <2 % of the total carbon accumulated, its importance in providing ecosystem services is considerable. Hence, these findings evidence the fact that SRC poplar plantations can enhance biodiversity in Mediterranean agroforest ecosystems and actively contribute to various provisioning ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, reflecting a multi-objective approach that extends beyond biomass production.

Large-Scale Variation in Diversity of Biomass-Dominating Key Bryozoan Species in the Seas of the Eurasian Sector of the Arctic

An analysis of archival and literary materials, as well as recently collected data in coastal areas at 14 locations in the Eurasian seas showed that the diversity of biomass-dominating key bryozoan species is low, totaling 26 species, less than 1/15 of the total bryozoan fauna richness. Their number decreases eastward from 17 species with an average total biomass of &gt;16 g/m2 in the Barents Sea to three species with an average biomass of about 3 g/m2 in the East Siberian Sea. In the Chukchi Sea, their number and average biomass increase to 10 species and ~12 g/m2, respectively. Average biomass strongly correlates with the number of species in each sea. Furthermore, variation in biomass is significantly correlated with the composition of bottom sediments and, in some locations, with depth. The marked decrease in the number of key species along the vector from Barents→Kara→Laptev→East Siberian Sea is due to a decline in the number of boreal and boreal–Arctic bryozoans of Atlantic origin. In contrast, the appearance of boreal and boreal–Arctic Pacific species is responsible for the increase in key species in the Chukchi Sea.

Long-term Macrobentos Responses to Environmental Flows and Water Quality improvement along River Jarama

The Jarama River, due to its proximity to Madrid, has been a highly regulated and polluted for decades; we evaluated the effects of changing multi-pressures over time and along the fluvial continuum. Changes in macrobenthic composition and structure in response to alterations in river habitat have been analyzed from two macroinvertebrate sampling campaigns carried out 42 years apart at 11 locations along the Jarama River. Results show that the macrobenthic communities follow a similar pattern along the river continuum in both periods. Richness and diversity were higher at mountain reaches without pollution and unregulated. The minimum values are reached at San Fernando de Henares, although in the lower part of the river, after receiving all the pollution discharges from the Manzanares River, there are no macrobenthos since the Jarama bottoms are anoxic sludge.Comparing the communities at the same localities we have detected clear temporal changes. In the upper zone, the total number of taxa and diversity decreased, but the fauna richness is maintained. In the section just below large reservoirs we find an increase in macrobenthos richness. In all the medium sections there is a recovery in all the macrobenthos parameters, but this improvement does not reach good ecological status, due to the high concentrations of ammonia. In the lower section, no changes are detected because the accumulated sludge is still present.

VERTEBRATES FAUNA OF PULAU TINGGI, JOHOR, MALAYSIA

Islands are known for confining high disproportionality of threatened species diversity. Documenting the fauna richness in a particular island could serve as baseline information for conservation purposes in the future. Hence, a study on vertebrates using a camera trap in Pulau Tinggi, an island located in the southern part of the state of Johor was conducted from June to October 2019. A total of twenty-two camera traps were deployed for five months in Gunung Semudu and an added expedition in Sebirah in August 2019. A total of 12 species comprised of nine families of mammals, birds and herpetofauna were documented based on 166 trapping night efforts. The most abundant vertebrates were the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) followed by the Maxomys sp. and unknown rodent. In addition, species of concern such as the Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) and grey-headed fish eagle (Haliaeetus ichthyaetus) were discovered during the study. The presence of species of concern in Pulau Tinggi indicates the conservation importance and proper management of the island should be formulated to ensure the continuity of the island`s biological diversity.

Performance assessment of a soil and water bioengineering work on the basis of the flora development and its associated ecosystem processes

The Atlantic Forest of Brazil is one of the world's 25 biodiversity hotspots, but floodplains in this region are continuously converted into agricultural or urban areas, and riverine ecosystems are affected by anthropogenic interventions. Soil and water bioengineering techniques are a component of ecological engineering that can provide nature-based solutions as an alternative or as complementary measures to conventional hydraulic or civil engineering approaches. However, there is a lack of post-evaluation of interventions and there are still great difficulties in identifying valid evaluation criteria and measurement variables, especially in countries like Brazil where soil and water bioengineering measures have only been implemented in the last decade. Another limitation to the widespread application of the techniques is the lack of knowledge about their technical performance, their impact on ecological processes and the evolution of the species used. This study aims to investigate the development of species, evaluate the technical performance of the intervention and assess the ecological benefits and processes of one of the first soil and water bioengineering riparian restoration interventions in Brazil, which was carried out in 2010 on the Pardinho river. Parameters on bank stability, development of species used in different construction techniques and its ecological benefits and ecological processes (plant species and soil fauna richness and diversity, ecological group and recruitment species, invasive species, soil organic matter and soil temperature) were collected over a period of ten years. The study proved that soil and water bioengineering works can both stabilise and control erosion, and at the same time initiate ecological processes on degraded riverbanks. The active introduction of native species has promoted vegetation succession, increased the biodiversity of both plants and soil fauna on the site and improved the site conditions. The establishment of native vegetation led to sediment and organic material deposition, which changed the local ecological conditions (e.g., soil properties, light, flow conditions) and thus facilitated rapid establishment of other plants and re-established interactions between plants and soil fauna groups. This study provides a monitoring approach which examines the technical performance of the measures and species used, as well as their impact on the ecological process over time, which is essential for establishing soil and water bioengineering techniques as the standard in the field of river engineering in Brazil. Furthermore, the results obtained will help in planning and designing future works in the field of soil and water bioengineering in Brazil, adding to the knowledge of the techniques and species to be selected, as well as supporting the evaluation of the success of interventions.

Recent Ostracod Fauna of the Western Ross Sea (Antarctica): A Poorly Known Ingredient of Polar Carbonate Factories

Ostracoda are a minor but recurrent component of Southern Ocean marine carbonate factories, and their low-Mg calcitic skeletal mineralogy helps in ensuring a noteworthy post-mortem resilience. Our study, based upon surface sediment occurrences, contributes to the better definition of their distribution vs. potential controlling factors in Antarctic waters. The ostracod fauna from the Western Ross Sea Shelf appears dominated by Australicythere polylyca, Australicythere devexa, Xestoleberis rigusa, Loxoreticulatum fallax, Cativella bensoni, Austrotrachyleberis antarctica and Patagonacythere longiducta, colonizing a variety of shelf environments along a wide bathymetric range. The abundance and richness values correlate well to nutrient distribution and sediment supply, primarily related to the circulation of different oceanographic regimes affecting the floor of the Ross Sea Shelf. Circumpolar Deep Water could represent the main factor controlling the distribution of ostracods. Similar results (high abundance and richness in ostracod values) were also recorded in the Terra Nova Bay and in a nearby area characterized by warm water rich in nutrients and composed of water of circumpolar origin flowing from the open ocean southwards onto the continental shelf. Particulate Fe (pFe), in suspended particulate matter (SPM), and other particulate trace metals in TNB could support the hypothesis that biogenic iron may significantly contribute to the bioavailable iron pool, sustaining both primary production and ostracod fauna richness in this area.

Sustainable community forest management in West Kalimantan: A case study of the Dayak Katab Kebahan community

West Kalimantan has great potential of forests and indigenous people. Therefore, it is crucial to study on forest management by indigenous people. The study is aimed at analyzing the forest management carried out by the Dayak Katab Kebahan community; and the condition of the forest ecosystem. The research area is in Melawi Regency, West Kalimantan. Observations and in-depth interviews were conducted to explore the customs in managing forests. A vegetation survey using purposive sampling was performed. The fauna study was conducted by the exploration method. Vegetation data analysis was carried out by calculating the importance value and diversity indices. One-way ANOVA analysis was done to determine the presence of forest ecosystem differences between two forests. The findings showed forest managed by the Dayak Katab Kebahan community has a core zone which is a zone that should not be disturbed, and a cultivation zone which can be utilized and can be intercropped with plantation crops; and the forest ecosystem managed by the Dayak Katab Kebahan community has a higher fauna richness, vegetation diversity index and the importance value index of each species. It is suggested that the government be involved in supporting the customary law of local communities in forest conservation.

Green Urban Areas, a Landscape and Biological Characterization Applied to a Micro-basin of the Great Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica

Este artículo presenta una caracterización paisajística y biológica de las áreas verdes urbanas (AVU) de la microcuenca del río Bermúdez, provincia de Heredia, Costa Rica. Esta caracterización se basa en una clasificación según criterios de uso de estos espacios verdes, donde se describen atributos paisajísticos como cantidad, tamaño promedio, área total y condición de cobertura de la tierra; y atributos biológicos como riqueza de especies, géneros y familias, porcentajes de especies exóticas y nativas por categoría de AVU. Se utilizaron datos geoespaciales en el caso del componente paisajístico, provenientes de los municipios, así como fotointerpretación y generación de cartografía propia, y, para el componente biológico, muestreos de campo y consultas a expertos, fuentes secundarias mediante una revisión exhaustiva de literatura científica y de las bases de datos en línea. Los resultados muestran que existe 8.95% (664.68 ha) del área total de la microcuenca dedicada a las AVU de conservación de la biodiversidad, de protección del recurso hídrico y de recreación, mientras que la categoría AVU privadas dedicadas a cultivos y pasturas casi cuadriplica las primeras (31.33%; 2 325.81 ha). Se identificó 1 029 especies de árboles, arbustos, hierbas, trepadora, etc., siendo los jardines y calles los que aportan más especies. La fauna de vertebrados está dominada por las aves, seguida por reptiles, anfibios y por último los mamíferos. En conclusión, las AVU del área de estudio muestran diferencias paisajísticas y biológicas importantes en cuanto a cantidad, tamaño, distribución espacial, riqueza florística y faunística, y que en su conjunto forman una trama verde que aporta servicios ecosistémicos a la ciudad.

The Risk of Mosquito-borne Diseases Related to Mosquito Fauna Richness and Livestock Placements in South and West Sulawesi, Indonesia

BACKGROUND: The local fauna of mosquitoes may have an essential role in the transmission of mosquito-borne pathogens. AIM: The future risk of mosquito-borne diseases needs to be considered by the presence of factors that support mosquitoes and pathogens, such as the habitats, presence of host reservoirs, and placement of livestock in settlements. METHODS: Mosquito catching methods used Animal Barrier Screen (ABS), Kelambu Trap (KT), and Human Landing Catch (HLC) in the wet and dry season. The role of a large animal in getting mosquito bites was analyzed based on the proportion of mosquitoes sampled by HLC to all collected mosquitoes. The potential vector of mosquitoes was projected based on the habitat, species density, and presence of host reservoirs. RESULTS: Pasangkayu district had more mosquito fauna compared to North Toraja and Maros. However, the separated placement of livestock in North Toraja resulted in fewer mosquito bites to humans compare with Maros, where livestock was caged or tied directly beside individual houses. The separated placement of livestock in North Toraja and Pasangkayu acted as a barrier, while scattered placement among houses at Maros acted more as a mosquito attractant. CONCLUSION: The habit of placing livestock separate from human settlements may reduce mosquito bites, reducing the risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases. This finding proves using livestock as an outdoor vector control strategy to protect mosquito bites and disease transmission.

Vertebrate diversity at Margalla Hills National Park, Pakistan

The Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) in Islamabad, Pakistan, is an important site for the conservation of many plants and animals. The present study aimed to determine the status of fauna diversity and richness, and environmental threats to the animals. A field study was conducted and the point count method was used to determine vertebrate diversity. The survey showed that the MHNP is home to 117 species of birds, 27 reptiles (including species such as the saw–scaled viper, Russell’s viper and the Indian cobra) and 30 mammalian species, such as barking deer, wild boar, golden jackal, red fox, Asiatic leopards, monkeys, fruit bats, and pangolins. The results showed a maximum count of 9,076 birds of 117 species belonging to 48 families. According to the Islamabad wildlife management board, one of the unique species, the grey goral (Nemorhaedus goral), has become extinct at the MHNP as no single specimen has been recorded since 2018. It was also been observed, however, that the numbers of the endangered species of common leopard (Panthera pardus) and pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) have increased, possibly due to the wildlife management board’s strategy for conservation. Nevertheless, greater conservation and protection of wild fauna at the MHNP is still needed. During the visits, threats such as habitat degradation, climate change, and over hunting were recorded. Dataset published through GBIF (Doi: 10.15470/hf1s9i)

Soil macro‐ and mesofauna‐mediated litter decomposition in a subtropical karst forest

AbstractThis study aims to quantify the effect of different soil fauna on forest litter decomposition processes under natural conditions in the Maolan karst area of southwest China. Leaf litters of two typical evergreen species (CG, Cyclobalanopsis glauca and KS, Kmeria septentrionalis) were selected to conduct a field decomposition experiment using the mesh bags with three different apertures (5, 2, and 0.03 mm). Mass remaining and nutrient variation in the litterbags were determined for one year at 3‐month intervals. The results showed that litter decomposition rate in different mesh sizes litterbags were in the order of 5 mm &gt;2 mm &gt;0.03 mm. Soil macrofauna had a significant effect on litter decomposition in the two types of litter and the mixture of the two. The most considerable mesofauna effect was found in the KS litter, which is 36.5% ascribed by the lowest C/N ratio (high quality). Soil mesofauna had a more significant effect on N, which was time‐dependent. Moreover, the fauna richness and abundance were affected by the decomposition time but not limited by the litter quality. This study illustrated that soil macrofauna has a significant influence on litter decomposition. The effect of mesofauna on litter mass loss and nitrogen release are determined by litter quality in the subtropical karst forest ecosystems.Abstract in Chinese is available with online material.

Fauna associated with non-native Sargassum muticum (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) vary with thallus morphology and site type (sounds and bays)

ABSTRACT The invasive brown alga Sargassum muticum was first recorded in Norway in 1988 and is presently common in the sublittoral fringe on the sheltered coast in South Norway. Here, results from a study on mesofauna associated with S. muticum in an archipelago on the southwest coast of Norway are presented, with two stations placed in sounds exposed to tidal currents and two in sheltered bays. Sargassum muticum occurred with a patchy distribution and an estimated density of less than 7 individuals m−2 at three of the stations (two in sheltered bays and one in a sound) and 42 individuals m−2 at the fourth station (placed in a sound). A total of 102 distinct faunal taxa were identified, with an average of 31 taxa per sample. Crustacea and Gastropoda constituted around half of the identified taxa. Fauna richness showed no relation to site type but had a curvilinear correlation with habitat size (dry weight of thallus). Total and sessile fauna richness showed a significant negative correlation with branching density. Vagile faunal density showed a curvilinear correlation with weight of epiphytes and was significantly related to site type with higher densities in the bays. The community composition of vagile fauna reflected this and was significantly related to site type, but not to epiphyte weight or branching density. When including sessile taxa in a community analysis the stations became less separated, and the community was significantly influenced by branch density. Thus, both site characteristics and morphology of S. muticum influenced the associated fauna community.

Bryozoans of the Kara Sea: estimation of species diversity and patterns of biogeographic composition

Until now, information on the bryozoan fauna of the Kara Sea was as the most unordered in comparison to other Arctic seas of Russia. The information in literature is mainly based on the data collected more than 80 years ago. Collections carried out over the last 30 years made it possible to expand the understanding not only of the species richness of this group, but also to study its spatial variation within the sea. At the moment, the species list of bryozoans in the Kara Sea includes 230 names. Of these, 42 species were recorded for the first time in this area of the Arctic. The fauna richness varies with depth and geographic location of sampling sites. Comparison of the species composition of bryozoans within 6 sectors defined on the basis of differences in environmental parameters indicates the presence of a single faunistic complex. The biogeographic composition of the fauna is characterized by the predominance of the boreal-arctic species (67%) over the arctic (30%); the share of boreal species is only 3%. Comparison of bryozoans from the Kara Sea with faunas from other areas of the Arctic region indicates a closer similarity of its fauna with the fauna of the Barents Sea than with the fauna of bryozoans from the Laptev Sea.

Amazonian mammal monitoring using aquatic environmental DNA.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has emerged as one of the most efficient methods to assess aquatic species presence. While the method can in theory be used to investigate nonaquatic fauna, its development for inventorying semi-aquatic and terrestrial fauna is still at an early stage. Here we investigated the potential of aquatic eDNA metabarcoding for inventorying mammals in Neotropical environments, be they aquatic, semi-aquatic or terrestrial. We collected aquatic eDNA in 96 sites distributed along three Guianese watersheds and compared our inventories to expected species distributions and field observations derived from line transects located throughout French Guiana. Species occurrences and emblematic mammalian fauna richness patterns were consistent with the expected distribution of fauna and our results revealed that aquatic eDNA metabarcoding brings additional data to line transect samples for diurnal nonaquatic (terrestrial and arboreal) species. Aquatic eDNA also provided data on species not detectable in line transect surveys such as semi-aquatic, aquatic and nocturnal terrestrial and arboreal species. Although the application of eDNA to inventory mammals still needs some developments to optimize sampling efficiency, it can now be used as a complement to traditional surveys.

Long-term surveys reveal abrupt canopy loss with immediate changes in diversity and functional traits

Cumulative human pressures are threatening canopy-forming macroalgae worldwide, putting at risk the key ecosystem functions they provide. Concurrent with declines in Gelidium corneum meadows, the present study investigates year-on-year changes in associated assemblages over a 21-year period (1996–2017) in the southeastern Bay of Biscay. The results show a non-linear loss of G. corneum that causes an abrupt shift towards new assemblages dominated by caespitose and encrusting forms. The rapid decline of morphologically complex algae and perennial forms is accompanied by a decrease in both epiphytic and epibenthic suspensivores and the loss of numerous associated species of fauna and flora. Along with the decline in canopy, a marked decrease in algae and invertebrate abundance is registered. After the canopy loss, a notable rise in algal density and a net increase in flora and fauna richness and evenness are detected. Moreover, a significant increase in the temporal variability of assemblages is identified, denoting greater stress after the shift. The implications of the changes observed and the consequences of the shift to a new state for the functioning of the ecosystem are discussed.

Munnopsidae (Crustacea, Isopoda, Asellota) from the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench with a regional and inter-ocean comparison of their biogeographic and richness patterns

The benthos of the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench (KKT) was sampled during the KuramBio II expedition on board the RV Sonne in 2016. Macrobenthos was, for the first time, collected in the KKT hadal zone using an epibenthic sledge. Isopod crustaceans were one of the dominant taxa, and Munnopsidae was the most abundant and diverse asellotan family, comprising 49% of all Isopoda. During the expedition, a total of 67 species of 24 genera from eight subfamilies of Munnopsidae were collected, including 41 species of 15 genera from 18 hadal stations. In general, the taxonomic diversity of the munnopsid fauna in the KKT hadal zone was lower than that of the Northwest Pacific (NWP) abyssal fauna adjacent to the KKT. Two subfamilies, Lipomerinae and Acanthocopinae, were not found in the hadal zone. Most of all collected munnopsid individuals (92%) belonged to the three subfamilies: Eurycopinae (42%; 15 species), Betamorphinae (33%; four species), and Storthyngurinae (17%; two species). The rest of all munnopsid individuals (8%) belonged to the subfamilies Ilyarachninae, Munnopsinae, Syneurycopinae, and to a group of incertae sedis genera. The eight most numerous species representing the three most widely distributed and speciose genera—Eurycope, Betamorpha and Rectisura—encompassed 78% of all munnopsid individuals. The study of the Munnopsidae collected during the four expeditions (SoJaBio in 2010, KuramBio in 2012, SokhoBio in 2015 and KuramBio II in 2016) extended the known diversity of the munnopsid species in the KKT area from 39 described species of 14 genera to 157 species of 36 genera. Most collected species (87%) were new to science. The fauna richness showed a tendency to decrease from the open abyssal towards the hadal zone of the KKT and towards the semi-isolated abyssal Kuril Basin of the Sea of Okhotsk, and especially towards the more isolated abyss of the Sea of Japan. A comparison of the munnopsids from NWP and those from other oceans showed their similar composition with the same dominant subfamilies. The main difference between the abyssal munnopsids from the NWP and from the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean was the proportion of the Lipomerinae (2% vs. 16% of munnopsid individuals, respectively). A trend of reduction in the munnopsid diversity from abyssal to hadal depths, similar to that in the KKT, was also revealed in the Puerto-Rico Trench.

Conservation Agriculture Enhances Soil Fauna Richness and Abundance in Low Input Systems: Examples From Kenya

Conservation agriculture (CA) is believed to improve soil nutrient status, soil structure, control soil erosion, and also enhance soil biodiversity. Despite the widespread interest in CA, empirical evidence of the benefits of CA on soil biodiversity is limited, especially in low-input systems of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Consequently, the magnitude and effect by CA on soil fauna remains unquantified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CA and associated management practices on soil fauna richness and abundance. We hypothesized that CA (zero tillage + organic inputs as surface residue) and mixed cropping would positively influence soil fauna richness and abundance. We compared CA with conventional till (CT; with or without residues) in sole maize and maize-bean cropping systems. Soil macrofauna and mesofauna were sampled across the treatments in medium-term (6 yrs) trials in Embu, Central Kenya, and Kakamega (6 yrs) and a long-term trial in Nyabeda (15 yrs) using soil monoliths and core samplers, respectively. In agreement with our hypothesis, higher macrofauna taxonomic richness and mesofauna was recorded in CA than in CT without residues. This study demonstrated that: 1) medium to long-term addition of organic residues enhances soil fauna richness and abundance, 2) CA increases soil fauna taxonomic richness and abundance compared with CT, and 3) CA under maize-bean intercropping, rotation and sole maize cropping systems promote soil fauna richness and abundance compared with sole legume (common beans). We conclude that adoption of CA is important in enhancing richness of soil fauna. Given the numerous challenges faced by smallholder farmers of SSA in the adoption of CA, who in most cases rarely practice all the three CA principles simultaneously, we propose a further study that will determine the effects and interactions between each of the CA components on soil fauna richness and abundance.

Streamlined eco‐engineering approach helps define environmental flows for tropical Andean headwaters

Abstract Applying the environmental flows concept to human‐altered lotic ecosystems continues to face many practical challenges and barriers. Here, we modify a previously proposed framework, the Eco‐Engineering Decision Scaling, for application to part of the water supply system of Quito, Ecuador. Specifically, we used feedback from engineers and water managers to develop a common set of metrics for defining flow‐ecology relationships and assess managed‐flow impacts on stream ecology. At 12 sites over 3 years, we collected flow and benthic invertebrate data (taxonomic richness, taxa important for fish, functional feeding groups, and water quality‐sensitive taxa) during wet and dry seasons. We then used these data to identify flow thresholds (relative to unmanaged flows) where flow withdrawal caused visible ecological impacts. For this system, reduction of flow to 20% of the annual median was detrimental to benthic communities, while reductions to 40% of the annual median flow caused a variety of responses in the system. A trade‐off analysis of weighted metrics showed that a 50% benthic fauna richness could be sustained if dry season flows were maintained between 28% and 40% of the unmanaged median annual flow. This study provides a roadmap for bridging between eco‐engineering theoretical frameworks and the adoption of the environmental flows concept as actionable management thresholds.

Planktonic Fauna of Small Reservoirs in the Komi Republic

One hundred and eight species and forms of planktonic organisms have been revealed in three small reservoirs in the Komi Republic (the northeast of European Russia). Species that were not previously known for the water bodies of the Vychegda River Basin (Limnosida frontosa) and the Republic of Komi (Lecane mira, Macrochaetus subquadratus, Filinia longiseta limnetica, and Rhynchotalona falcata) have been found. It has been established that the richness of the planktonic fauna depends on the age of the water body: the maximum number of species is found in the oldest reservoir, namely, the Kazhim Reservoir. The planktonic communities of artificial reservoirs are distinguished by a low level of similarity of faunas both with each other and in comparison with the natural lakes of the region. The fauna distribution in the old reservoirs is uneven. The relatively large fauna richness of planktonic communities in the littoral zones is due to the water-level regime in the reservoirs.

Non-native Minnows Threaten Quillwort Populations in High Mountain Shallow Lakes

Submersed aquatic plants are a key component of shallow, clear water lakes contributing to primary production and water quality. High mountain lakes are naturally fishless although invasive trout and most recently minnows have been introduced causing a major impact on fauna richness. The Pyrenean high mountain range has preserved soft-water oligotrophic boreal isoetids in their southern limit of distribution but the recent fish introduction is a potential factor of stress that needs to be addressed. We here work under the hypothesis that due to contrasting ecological features, trout will not be heavily affecting quillwort populations while minnows will have a stronger effect on zooplankton and zoobenthos that will promote algal growth and reduce light availability for the underwater meadows. Ten Pyrenean shallow lakes representative of three scenarios -fishless, with trout and with minnows-, were sampled for meadow structure, water column and benthic environment characterization in mid-summer 2015 and 2016. Quillwort biomass allocation (above vs. belowground), epiphytic load, and composition of the algal community (abundant cyanobacteria) differed in the presence of minnows. In trout lakes biomass allocation and epiphytic load were average and the algal community composed by chlorophytes and diatoms as in fishless lakes. Biomass ratio was close to thresholds of negative buoyancy in minnow lakes indicating that meadows were at risk of uprooting and consequent de-vegetation. Total and soluble carbohydrates were lower and the sporangia contained significantly less reserves to constrain growth and expansion in the presence of minnows. Lake scenarios were coupled to physicochemical differences with low light, high phosphorus and Chl-a (mesotrophia) in minnow lakes, while trout and fishless lakes remained oligotrophic. This is the first study assessing the impact of non-native fish on soft-water isoetids from mountain lakes and shows that minnows are a major threat to quillworts. The impaired light environment (from epiphytic algal overgrow and water column Chl-a) entails consequent regression (i.e., no recruitment) and de-vegetation (uprooting) of the meadows. Since soft-water oligotrophic mountain lakes are protected under the Habitats Directive, some action needs to be urgently implemented not only to preserve quillworts but to the overall ecological integrity of the lakes.