Gmelinoides Fasciatus Research Articles

FEATURES OF THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF INVASIVE SPECIES OF AMPHIPODS IN THE LITTORAL OF LAKE LADOGA

The modern distribution of invasive amphipods of Baikal ( Gmelinoides fasciatus (Stebbing, 1899) , Micruropus possolskii Sowinsky, 1915) and Ponto-Caspian origin ( Pontogammarus robustoides Sars, 1894 , Chelicorophium curvispinum (Sars, 1895)) in Lake Ladoga was shown. The heterogeneity of the distribution of quantitative indicators of amphipods in different parts of the lake was established. The most widespread species in the littoral zone was G. fasciatus . A decrease in the contribution of G. fasciatus in the bottom communities of macrozoobenthos was noted. The dominant role of G. fasciatus was observed only in those parts of the lake where other species of invasive amphipods did not penetrated yet. The habitat of Ponto-Caspian amphipods is limited by the boundaries of the Volkhov Bay. A significant increase in the quantitative development of P. robustoides and active dispersal of M. possolskii to the South along the west coast of the lake indicate the ongoing structural restructuring of littoral biocenoses.

Biomarkers in bivalve mollusks and amphipods for assessment of effects linked to cyanobacteria and elodea: Mesocosm study

The effects of cyanobacteria (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (90%), Microcystis aeruginosa) and dense Elodea canadensis beds on the health endpoints of the amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus and bivalve mollusc Unio pictorum were examined in mesocosms with simulated summer conditions (July–August 2018) in the environment of the Rybinsk Reservoir (Volga River Basin, Russia). Four treatments were conducted, including one control and three treatments with influencing factors, cyanobacteria and dense elodea beds (separately and combined). After 20 days of exposure, we evaluated the frequency of malformed and dead embryos in amphipods, heart rate (HR) and its recovery (HRR) after stress tests in molluscs as well as heat tolerance (critical thermal maximum or CTMax) in both amphipods and molluscs. The significant effect, such as elevated number of malformed embryos, was recorded after exposure with cyanobacteria (separately and combined with elodea) and presence of microcystins (MC) in water (0.17 μg/l, 40% of the most toxic MC-LR contribution). This study provided evidence that an elevated number (>5% of the total number per female) of malformed embryos in amphipods showed noticeable toxicity effects in the presence of cyanobacteria. The decreased oxygen under the influence of dense elodea beds led to a decrease in HR (and an increase in HRR) in molluscs. The notable effects on all studied biomarkers, embryo malformation frequency and heat tolerance in the amphipod G. fasciatus, as well as the heat tolerance and heart rate in the mollusc U. pictorum, were found when both factors (elodea and cyanobacteria) were combined. The applied endpoints could be further developed for environmental monitoring, but the obtained results support the importance of the combined use of several biomarkers and species, especially in the case of multi-factor environmental stress.

Invader amphipods Gmelinoides fasciatus (Stebbing, 1899) inhabiting distant waterbodies demonstrate differences in tolerance and energy metabolism under elevated temperatures

Gmelinoides fasciatus is a successful invasive amphipod (Amphipoda, Crustacea) that dispersed from Lake Baikal to various waterbodies. Here we studied whether Baikal conditions are optimal for G. fasciatus in terms of thermotolerance and investigated lethal temperatures, 70 kDa heat shock protein level, energy metabolism, and antioxidant defense of animals from three geographically distant waterbodies under changing temperatures. We used acute heat exposure to 28 °C to assess the median lethal times and gradual temperature increase from 6 °C to determine the lethal temperatures. Mortality under heat shock was explainable by the baseline content of Hsp70 that correlated with thermal history. But it was not the case under gradual temperature increase where Hsp70 levels became similar and the mortality pattern changed. The most thermotolerant amphipods from the Gulf of Finland demonstrated a higher amount of free glucose during the temperature increase that may be related to the higher salinity of this waterbody and less energy required for ion regulation. Even though concentrations of major physiological ions in Lake Baikal are lower than in Lake Ladoga, G. fasciatus from Ladoga was slightly more sensitive to the gradual temperature increase. This difference could be explained by the influence of high levels of humic and other potentially toxic substances in Lake Ladoga indicated by increased activities of catalase and glutathione S-transferase. Importantly, all G. fasciatus populations accumulated relatively low levels of lactate during the temperature increase, which may reflect the ability of this invasive species to effectively maintain aerobic metabolism under various conditions.

ON NIGHTTIME VERTICAL MIGRATIONS OF AMPHIPODS IN LAKE LADOGA

Daily vertical migrations (DVM) of amphipods is a widespread phenomenon both in rivers and lakes, and in seas. The leader among freshwater bodies in terms of the number of amphipod species and the intensity of DVM is the ancient Lake Baikal. Lake Ladoga is also inhabited by several species of these crustaceans, and some of them are invaders from Lake Baikal. Therefore, the aim of this study was to check whether amphipods in Lake Ladoga perform nighttime vertical migrations. To test this assumption, we used a combination of video equipment (a video system consisting of a metal frame, a GoPro 4 video camera, 3 lighting elements, and an iButton temperature logger), a plankton net, and a bottom grab. Co-application of these methods did detect vertical nighttime migrations in amphipods in Lake Ladoga, but their intensity was extremely low and they were observed only in invasive species from Lake Baikal, Gmelinoides fasciatus and Micruropus possolskii . A comparison of depth-specific intensities of vertical nighttime migrations revealed no significant variation. In addition to amphipods, the nighttime migrants community in Lake Ladoga includes representatives of such groups as fish, chironomids, water bugs, opossum shrimps, and predatory cladocera Leptodora kindtii (Focke, 1844) .

Жизненный цикл бокоплавов Gmelinoides fasciatus (Stebbing, 1899) и Gammarus lacustris (Sars, 1863) в озере Арахлей в экстремально маловодную фазу гидрологического цикла

Жизненный цикл бокоплавов Gmelinoides fasciatus (Stebbing, 1899) и Gammarus lacustris (Sars, 1863) в озере Арахлей в экстремально маловодную фазу гидрологического цикла

Phylogenetic relationships and historical population reconstruction of Asian members of the genus Epischura (Copepoda, Calanoida)

We have reconstructed major demographic and phylogenetic events for two closely related copepod species: Epischura baikalensis Sars, 1900 (Copepoda, Calanoida), a key endemic species of the plankton community from Lake Baikal, and E. chankensis Rylov, 1928, a key zooplankton species from Lake Khanka. The reconstructions were based on the nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) using the BEAST software package and recently identified calibrations for the Baikal amphipods Gmelinoides fasciatus. The time span to a common ancestor for E. baikalensis and E. chankensis is 13.7 million years (95% confidence interval is 8.3–21.4 million years. Both species studied have experienced abrupt changes in the effective population size in the past. These changes are likely associated with climate and geological shifts in their habitat areas. For E.baikalensis, these changes can be associated with alternating glacier and interglacial periods as well as an increase in depth of Lake Baikal; for E. chankensis with formation and increase in the area of Lake Khanka, which was also due to climate and geological shifts in the Khanka basin.

Diet influence on mechanisms of non-specific stress-response in Baikal endemic amphipod species during long-term laboratory exposure

Abstract The purpose of this study was to estimate one of the important aspects of amphipod laboratory culturing — the effect of different types of nutrition on the key biochemical markers widely used in biomonitoring. The study was performed with the Baikal endemic amphipod species Eulimnogammarus verrucosus (Gerstfeldt, 1858), E. cyaneus (Dybowski, 1874), and Gmelinoides fasciatus (Stebbing, 1899). These species are characterized by different ecological properties and evolutionary history. The results of the study demonstrate that a long-term laboratory exposure to different diets has a direct effect on vital and physiological parameters of the species’ adaptation (mortality, weight, protein concentration). Also, feeding imposes its influence on the common stress-markers of oxidative stress (activities of peroxidase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase), and on anaerobic metabolism (activity of lactate dehydrogenase) in Baikal amphipods, and this effect has a species-specific character. The results should be taken into consideration in future ecophysiological experiments performed with amphipods.

Responses of aquatic organisms to cyanobacteria and elodea in microcosms

The aim of the work was to investigate the effect of cyanobacteria and elodea on population characteristics (abundance, biomass, fecundity) and “health” indicators (embryo status, heart rate and thermal resistance) of aquatic invertebrates in microcosms with controlled conditions. In July-August 2018, four treatments with environmental conditions of the coastal zone of the Rybinsk Reservoir during the period of cyanobacterial bloom were modeled. Mass species of plankton (with 80% dominance of large Daphnia longispina) and benthic animals (Unio pictorum, Gmelinoides fasciatus, Asellus aquaticus) and Elodea canadensis were placed in microcosms. In treatments with cyanobacteria, the toxic microcystins-LR were detected (24-53% of the sum of toxins, or 6,6-66,5 µg/l). The cyanobacteria Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Microcystis aeruginosa and Gloeoitrichia spp. affected the structure of plankton reflecting in a decrease in the amount of green algae and an increase in the abundance of small crustaceans. Under the influence of cyanobacteria, variables of benthic animals differed significantly from control treatment, including a reduced level of thermal resistance of mollusks and amphipods, an increased recovery time of the heart rate after loading (salinity test) in mollusks, a decrease in individual fecundity, and an increase in the frequency of malformations and embryo mortality in amphipods. The presence of elodea enhanced these effects. Thus, the mass development of cyanobacteria and elodea affects the physiological status of sensitive species of aquatic animals, reducing their adaptability to natural stresses and worsening the quality of offspring.

Responses of Aquatic Organisms to Cyanobacteria and Elodea in Microcosms.

The aim of the present study is investigation of the impact of mass development of cyanobacteria and Elodea on population characteristics (abundance, biomass, fecundity) and "health" parameters (the state of embryos, heart rate, and thermal resistance) of aquatic invertebrates in experiments with controlled conditions. In July-August 2018, in four variants of microcosms, the conditions were modeled characteristic of the coastal zone of the Rybinsk Reservoir in the period of mass development of cyanobacteria. Mass species were placed in microcosms of planktonic (with domination (80%) Daphnia longispina) and bottom animals (Unio pictorum, Gmelinoides fasciatus, Asellus aquaticus), as well as Elodea canadensis. In the variants with cyanobacteria, the toxic microcystins LR were revealed (24-53% of the sum of toxins, or from 6.6-66.5 μg/L). The presence of cyanobacteria (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Gloeoitrichia spp.) influenced structural parameters of plankton: the quantity to green algae decreased, small-sized crustaceans increased. Influence of cyanobacteria caused reliable changes in parameters of aquatic animal from those of the control: thermal resitance of mollusks and amphipods decreased, time of restoration of heart rate after loads (salinity test) in mollusks increased; in amphipods, individual fecundity decreased, frequency of abnormalities and of mortality of embryos increased. The presence of Elodea intensified these effects. Thus, mass development of cyanobacteria and Elodea influences ecological-physiological parameters of aquatic animals, decreasing their adaptivity to natural stresses and deteriorating the quality of the progeny.

Coupled Application of Antioxidant Defense Response and Embryo Development in Amphipod Crustaceans in the Assessment of Sediment Toxicity.

Survival rate, frequency of malformed embryos, and antioxidant defense system responses in the benthic amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus from the Baltic Sea were measured to examine the effects of toxic sediments, and to assess the usefulness of these endpoints in sediment toxicity biotesting. A highly contaminated sediment sample from the Baltic Sea was diluted with sediment from a clean site to come up with a series of 5 test sediments with dilutions from 1:32 to 1:1024, and the reference sediment. The 1:32 dilution of the test sediment was analyzed for organotins (2862 µg tin [Sn] kg dry wt -1 ), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (6064 µg kg dry wt -1 ), and selected trace metals (e.g., copper 352 mg kg dry wt -1 ). The survival rate of G. fasciatus (10-d toxicity test) was 100% in the reference and 1:1024 treatments, and began to decline from the 1:256 dilution onward. In a 28-d experiment, various types of morphological malformations were observed in 11 to 80% of the amphipod embryos in the 1:64, 1:128, and 1:256 dilutions, with only <5% in the reference treatment. Also, elevated activities in the antioxidant defense system enzymes glutathione S-transferase and catalase were observed in amphipods exposed to the contaminated sediments compared with the reference treatment, with responses at lower contamination levels compared with the appearance of malformations in the embryos. The results obtained illustrate the effectiveness of the combined application of embryonic malformations and antioxidant defense system biomarkers in amphipods in the assessment of sediment toxicity, and potentially also of sublethal effects of chemical contamination in aquatic ecosystems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2020-2031. © 2019 SETAC.

The Influence of Sodium Lignosulfonate on the Lipid Composition in the Invasive Amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus Stebbing of Lake Onego

Effect of exposure to sodium lignosulfonate at two concentrations (50 mg/L and 100 mg/L) on the lipid composition in amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus, Lake Baikal endemic and the Lake Onega invader, was studied. Revealed changes in cholesterol content, some fractions of phospholipids and the fatty acids spectrum serve for the maintaining of the stability of liquid-crystalline state of membranes and their effective functioning.

Чужеродные макробеспозвоночные в донных сообществах Новосибирского водохранилища (эколого-фаунистический обзор)

Строительство и последующее использование водохранилищ стало ведущим фактором проникновения и распространения чужеродных видов в Обь-Иртышском бассейне. Фауна чужеродных видов Новосибирского водохранилища представлена пятью видами, три из которых (Gmelinoides fasciatus Steb., Micruropus possolskii Sowinsky и Neomysis intermedia (Czerniavsky)) были преднамеренно вселены для повышения кормовой базы водоема, еще два (Viviparus viviparus (L.) и Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz) появились в результате непреднамеренных интродукций. Прослежена история проникновения и натурализации каждого вида, проанализированы экологические факторы их обитания, рассмотрены особенности современного пространственного распределения вселенцев. Отмечено, что несмотря на невысокое видовое богатство, вселенцы существенно влияют на структурные характеристики донных сообществ водохранилища.

Modern Data on the Spatial Distribution of the Baikal Amphipods in the Yenisei River and Their Visualization in the Geoinformational Web System

The results of hydrobiological studies of expeditions conducted in 2015–2016 in several zones of the Yenisei River from its head to the mouth are presented. This work deals with the spatial dynamics of the amphipod community, in which the leading positions are occupied by invaders from Baikal. The invaders spread through the Angara River not only with the current but also against the current of the Yenisei. Eight species of amphipods were identified, and there were two representatives of native fauna (Pontoporeia affinis and Gammarus sp.) and six Baikal endemics among them. Throughout the river, Gmelinoides fasciatus dominated quantitatively among the gammarids; Philolimnogammarus viridis took second place. Only in the lower reaches and in the delta of the Yenisei were the leading positions surrendered to Pontoporeia affinis—a representative of the estuary-relic complex of organisms. Baikal endemics populated actively the Upper Yenisei section below the Sayano-Shushensky hydroelectric power station (HPS), especially in the areas of massive macrophyte distribution. The main vector of Baikal endemics spreading in the Yenisei is self-colonization through the Angara River, noticed by researchers in the 19th century. For G. fasciatus, its intentional introduction into the Krasnoyarsk Reservoir in the late 1960s with the aim of increasing the food supply was an additional stimulus for the growth of the population below and above the Krasnoyarsk HPS. Naturalization of Ph. viridis in the Upper Yenisei section was probably aided by an accidental introduction. There is a divergence of ecological niches in G. fasciatus and Ph. viridis in the Yenisei: the dominant prefers silty sand-and-shingle biotopes with a calm rate of speed; the subdominant tends to prefer stony-pebble bottom washed by a rapid current. Over the last 15 years, the density and proportion of crustaceans in the zoobenthos have increased in the Angara–Podkamennaya Tunguska section. The results of hydrobiological studies have been designed in the form a geospatial database in a geoportal, which makes it possible to visualize information as interactive thematic maps and which provides the direct access to data via web mapping services from the modern GIS software.

The Mechanisms for Genetic Diversity of Baikal Endemic Amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus: Relationships between the Population Processes and Paleoclimatic History of the Lake

Amphipods of the species Gmelinoides fasciatus are one of the dominant species in the littoral zone community of Lake Baikal. Earlier, on the basis of the analysis of the mitochondrial COX1 gene, four isolated populations within the species range were identified, between which there were no distinct geographical barriers. In the present study, a phylogenetic reconstruction of the evolutionary history of G. fasciatus with the molecular clock hypothesis is carried out. The population divergence time is dated back to the onset of global climate changes on the Pleistocene–Pliocene boundary at 1.8–2.3 Ma. As a result, the estimated substitution rate in the COX1 gene for G. fasciatus was 1.2–2.4% of substitutions per Myr, which corresponded to the values determined for other groups of invertebrates. It was demonstrated that geographical barriers that formed the populations of G. fasciatus periodically appeared and disappeared in the past, resulting from climate changes associated with the periods of global cooling and warming.

The invaders as natural biondicators using the example invasive amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus (Stebbing, 1899) in the Moscow River Basin: the suggestion of G. lacustris/G. fasciatus bioindication pair

The article presents data on the study of the diversity of crustacean communities in the Moscow-river basin. Two most common are two species of amphipods, invasive species Gmelinodes fasciatus and the native species Gammarus lacustris, were detected and studies during the study. However, the number of one of the most important bioindicator species of crustaceans, Asellus aquaticus found in our samples is insufficient for quantitative conclusions. At the same time, population of G. fasciatus can be characterized as stable at all studied stations and the species can be used as bioindicator of the natural condition of the river flowing within the Moscow City. The species seems to be significantly less sensitive to environment conditions and especially anthropogenic pollution than the native amphipod species G. lacustris and can successfully replace A. aquaticus as bioindicator species in the area where the latter species is absent. Thus, a new bioindicator pair Gammarus lacustris / Gmelinoides fasciatus is suggested for using in estimation water pollution In European part of the Russian Federation and adjacent areas.

Current state and forecast of changing hydrobiont communities in the construction zone of the Nizhny Novgorod low-pressure hydrounit

The authors of the paper think that it is necessary to study the structural and functional changes of hydrobiocenoses in case of river runoff regulation and new reservoir creation to make competent, ecologically correct management decisions. The widespread use of the analogy method for the ecological forecasts of reservoirs state is shown. At the present time, the issue of diagnostics of ecological systems which falls into the zone of impact of the planned construction of the Nizhny Novgorod low-pressure hydrounit (NNPG) in the river hydraulics zone of the Cheboksary water reservoir has been actualized. The authors characterize the current state of the species structure of phyto-, zooplanktonocenosis and zoobenthocoenoses of this zone, including species richness, the ratio of quantitative indicators of the main systematic groups and dominant species. The paper shows hydrobiocenoses formation sources and types of anthropogenic impact on them. The authors forecast changes in the structural and functional characteristics of the communities of hydrobionts of the Sormovsky reservoir, taking into account the expected ecological situation after the construction of the Nizhny Novgorod low-pressure hydrounit, including the main limiting factors. As an analogue of a new reservoir, the Cheboksary reservoir in the first years of its existence was chosen. The possibility of spreading new invasive species (Kellicottia bostoniensis (Rousselet, 1908), Diaphanosoma orghidani (Negrea, 1982) and Gmelinoides fasciatus (Stebbing, 1899)) is considered in the paper. In conclusion the authors suggest permanent monitoring of the new reservoir.

Cytogenetic study on the invasive species Gmelinoides fasciatus in the ecosystem of the Gulf of Finland

The amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus from Lake Baikal is an example of a species being introduced into a number of water bodies in Russia, including the water system of North-west Russia, to expand food reserves of commercial fish. The interest in this crustacean has been attributed to its successful adaptation and expanding habitat area in the region. In order to assess the role of genetic mechanisms in adaptation to new conditions the frequency of chromosomal aberrations (ChA) at anaphase and telophase stages of mitosis in G. fasciatus embryos from six local populations of Lake Baikal and two invasive populations of the Gulf of Finland, originating from natural habitats were studied in two sequential years. The average level of ChA varied slightly between 0.95% in the samples collected in Lake Baikal and 2.9% in those from the Gulf of Finland. A significant increase in the frequency of ChA was found at two sites in Lake Baikal in 2015 and at two locations in the Gulf of Finland in 2016. First information on G. fasciatus chromosome number and constitution acquired by means of molecular cytogenetic techniques is presented and discussed. The results enable us to suggest this amphipod as a sensitive model to study possible mechanisms of biological adaptation and at the same time as a natural bioindicator of the environmental state.

The role of invasive amphipod Gmelonoides fasciatus (Stebbing) in the feeding of perch Perca fluviatilis L. in the littoral zone of Lake Onega

The successful invasion of the Baikalian amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus in the littoral zone of Lake Onega changed significantly the structure of the food resources of fish. High abundance and biomass of these amphipods in macrozoobenthos are the reasons why one of the mass species of littoral fish, perch Perca fluviatilis, turned to active feeding on these crustaceans. In some lake shallow water habitats, the share of this amphipod in the weight of stomach content and occurrence frequency are not less than 50%. Active spread of the amphipod and the dynamics of population indices of this invasive species in Lake Onega indicate the necessity for further studies on the role that G. fasciatus plays in the diet of littoral fish species in the seasonal aspect.

DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF THE INVASIVE AMPHIPOD GMELINOIDES FASCIATUS (STEBBING) IN LAKE ONEGO

Since the middle of the ХХ century, the rapid spread of exotic species and their successful penetration in natural and artificial ecosystems has led to significant environmental changes all over the world [1, 2]. As it was pointed out by many researchers, biological invasion by alien species is one of the main threats to biodiversity [3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Gmelinoides fasciatus (Stebbing 1899) attracts special attention due to the fact that it is the most successful alien species among other invaders in aquatic ecosystems in Eurasia. This invasive amphipod of Baikalian origin was first recorded in Lake Onego in 2001 by Berezina and Panov [8]. The results of the present study indicate that the invader significantly expanded its areal in Lake Onego during the last 15 years. At present amphipod G. fasciatus is dominant on the biomass among macrozoobenthos community in littoral biotopes of some islands and east part of the Lake. In Lake Onego the invader has a one-year life cycle with the generations of the previous and current year. Seasonal dynamics of the amphipod abundance in Lake Onego has two peaks during the vegetation period. According to our data G. fasciatus successfully reproduces in the new environment and shows stable sexual structure with sex ratio of approximately 1:1. Female fecundity of the amphipod in the Lake varied from 3 to 22 eggs per female, the average variation of fertility is 9 eggs per female. Revealed data of G. fasciatus abundance and biomass in Lake Onego are comparable with those for other water bodies where this amphipod species was successfully established earlier.

Экосистема Онежского озера: реакция водных сообществ на антропогенные факторы и климатические изменения

Original and take from the references data on the Lake Onegо anthropogenic load dynamics, plankton and benthos conditions over the period of the previous 55 years have been analyzed in order to assess the ecosystem response to long-term and new impact factors such as climate change, chemical and biological contamination. It has been demonstrated that the lake pollution is of a local character while more than 90% of its water area maintains the initial oligotrophic status. Biogenic matter transported to the lake with the pulp-and-paper mills and domestic waste water caused euthrophication of two North-Western bays. The load caused by point pollution sources decreased over the past decades; this was proved by the reoligotrophication processes that occurred in the euthrophic bays bottom communities. However, diffuse pollution sources appeared. Trout-breeding farms in the North-Western bays are a potential threat of the lake euthrophication. A chronic oil pollution of the lake Petrozavodsk Guba has been revealed, for the time being the lake ecosystem manages to cope with it. Biological contamination associated with immigration of Gmelinoides fasciatus Stebbing Baikal amphipoda has led to the increase of the intertidal zone certain parts’ productivity increase and improving of the perch young nutritive base. Climate change causes reversible deviations in the plankton communities’ structure and season recurrence. In order to maintain economic value of the water body it is recommended to adopt some legislative measures for protection of the Lake Onegо as a strategic source of fresh water and to develop the scientifically-based ecological monitoring criteria with taking into account its heterogeneity.