Highest Number Of Taxa Research Articles

Revealing the temporal dynamics of fish assemblage pattern, feeding guilds in relation to habitat quality parameters in a coastal wetland of the Indian Sundarban eco-region.

The present study was conducted from April 2016 to March 2017 in a freshwater-dominated coastal wetland of the Indian Sundarban ecoregion to illustrate the fish diversity, and abundance and the predictor variables determining fish assemblage structure in the wetland. A total of 27 fish species belonging to 13 orders, 16 families, and 23 genera with Cyprinidae (18.5%) as the most dominant family were recorded from the wetland. Fish species richness was found to vary noticeably across the season with the highest number of taxa during the monsoon season (25 species). The study revealed that small indigenous fish species (SIFs) were found dominating the overall species richness and abundance which accounted for 70.37% of the total fish diversity. Among SIFs, Mystus gulio dominated (33 - 42%) the total fish abundance followed by Amblypharyngodon mola (12 - 21.7%), Oryzias dancena (11 - 14.9%), Parambassis ranga (6 - 32%), Puntius sophore (5 - 10.8%), and Parambassis lala (3 - 5.9%). Thirteen fish species were found as inhabitants of truly freshwater, eight species of freshwater and brackish water, and six of freshwater, brackish, and marine form. The developed GAM model proved water turbidity to be the best predictor variable determining fish abundance and assemblages in the wetlands. Besides, turbidity, salinity, transparency, and temperature were found to influence the fish assemblages. There was no visible response to water depth, although this has a linear effect on fish abundance. Water temperatures up to about 30.5°C had a positive effect on fish abundance and the highest fish abundance in the wetland to be found in the range of 29 to 30.5°C.

Macrofungal sporocarp community in the lichen Scots pine forests.

The lichen-rich pine forests of Cladonio-Pinetum represent special habitats protected under the Natura 2000 scheme. A rapid decline in their density has been observed in recent years. Macrofungi are an important component of the community and sensitive bioindicators; therefore, observations of the response of their sporocarps can be used to draw conclusions about changes induced in habitats. In our study, we tried to detect differences in species richness, composition, and biomass of the ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in areas rich in lichens indicating the good state of the community, and rich in bryophytes signaling its progressive degradation. The influence of precipitation and temperature on species richness and biomass was checked, and the possibility of using the sporocarps-based method to assess the effectiveness of active protection treatments, which are a form of partial protection carried out to maintain specific natural habitats. For detailed studies, six plots were selected from which sporocarps were collected, dried and weighed. A total of 1,575 sporocarps, representing 49 taxa were collected. A higher number of taxa (39) in lichen-rich plots were found. In bryophyte-rich areas, 27 taxa were recorded. The total yield was 13,151 g dry weight ha-1. In lichen-rich plots, the biomass was almost half lower.

Ecological Structure of Macrobenthic Invertebrates of the Benin River, Southern Nigeria, Before the Seaport Development Project

Macrobenthic invertebrates are major components of aquatic ecosystems. Because of their partial or sessile motion, they can be used to assess water quality status. The Benin River is a beehive of human activity, and with the development of the proposed seaport along its course, its physical, chemical, and biological components may be affected. The need to document macrobenthic invertebrates before the seaport development prompted this study. Four stations were selected between Ajoki and a section opposite Young Town, employing both kick sampling and Ekman grab techniques. Seasonal influence on the distribution and abundance of macrobenthic invertebrates was observed. In total, 3,267 macrobenthic invertebrates were collected during the sampling period. The highest number of taxa (35) were recorded in Station 1, and the highest number of individuals (1,103) was in Station 3. The dominant macrobenthic invertebrate group was Decapoda (76.61%); Diptera (6.15%) and Ephemeroptera (4.62%), others constituted the remaining 12.62%. There was a positive correlation between the family Diaptomidae and the physicochemical parameters, except for heavy metals.

Selection of succulent species to be used on green roofs according to phytogeographic regions: Türkiye example

The objective of this study was to determine the succulent plant species that can be used on green roofs to be recommended for 3 phytogeographic regions in Türkiye. Three phytogeographic regions in Türkiye and the succulent taxa found in the natural flora of these regions were chosen as the study material. In the study, firstly, literature search was conducted. Then, family, endemism, hairiness, climate, altitude and habitat status of succulent species obtained from the literature were determined. In line with the information obtained in the last stage, taxa that can be recommended for green roofs in 3 different phytogeographic regions are listed. As a result of the study, it was determined that Saxifraga spp. and Sempervivum spp. in cool climates, Umbilicus spp. and Rosularia spp hot climates that the genera are the genera with the highest number of taxa. Also, ranked in both cool and warm climates, Sedum spp. and Rosularia spp. first in terms of the species richness of its genera The findings of this study are of importance in terms of helping the selection of the right succulent species that can be used on green roofs for countries located in similar phytogeographic regions around the world.

Assessment of microbial communities from cold mine environments and subsequent enrichment, isolation and characterization of putative antimony- or copper-metabolizing microorganisms

Mining activities, even in arctic regions, create waste materials releasing metals and metalloids, which have an impact on the microorganisms inhabiting their surroundings. Some species can persist in these areas through tolerance to meta(loid)s via, e.g., metabolic transformations. Due to the interaction between microorganisms and meta(loid)s, interest in the investigation of microbial communities and their possible applications (like bioremediation or biomining) has increased. The main goal of the present study was to identify, isolate, and characterize microorganisms, from subarctic mine sites, tolerant to the metalloid antimony (Sb) and the metal copper (Cu). During both summer and winter, samples were collected from Finnish mine sites (site A and B, tailings, and site C, a water-treatment peatland) and environmental parameters were assessed. Microorganisms tolerant to Sb and Cu were successfully enriched under low temperatures (4°C), creating conditions that promoted the growth of aerobic and fermenting metal(loid) tolerating or anaerobic metal(loid) respiring organism. Microbial communities from the environment and Sb/Cu-enriched microorganisms were studied via 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Site C had the highest number of taxa and for all sites, an expected loss of biodiversity occurred when enriching the samples, with genera like Prauserella, Pseudomonas or Clostridium increasing their relative abundances and others like Corynebacterium or Kocuria reducing in relative abundance. From enrichments, 65 putative Sb- and Cu-metabolizing microorganisms were isolated, showing growth at 0.1 mM to 10 mM concentrations and 0°C to 40°C temperatures. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the isolates indicated that most of the putative anaerobically Sb-respiring tolerators were related to the genus Clostridium. This study represents the first isolation, to our knowledge, of putative Sb-metabolizing cold-tolerant microorganisms and contributes to the understanding of metal (loid)-tolerant microbial communities in Arctic mine sites.

Diversity and distribution of chironomids in Central European ponds.

Ponds are common freshwater habitats in the European landscape that substantially contribute to local and regional biodiversity. Chironomids often dominate invertebrate communities in ponds but are usually disregarded in ecological studies due to relatively complicated taxonomy and identification issues. We present a comprehensive overview of the chironomid diversity in 246 ponds spanning a wide range of conditions extending from the Pannonian Plain to the Carpathians. Altogether, we recorded 225 taxa including 192 species from six subfamilies (Podonominae, Tanypodinae, Diamesinae, Prodiamesinae, Orthocladiinae and Chironominae). However, the chironomid taxa inventory is far from complete and about 16% of the total diversity of pond-dwelling chironomids remains undetected. Chironomid alpha diversity showed a significant unimodal pattern along the elevation gradient with the highest number of taxa per pond expected around 790 m a.s.l. Gamma diversity also peaked in mid-elevations (600-800 m), and the common chironomid taxa partitioned the 2100-m long altitudinal gradient relatively evenly. The heterogeneity of chironomid communities among ponds measured as beta diversity was significantly higher in elevations below 800 m. Temperature and the proportion of surrounding forests significantly influenced alpha diversity of chironomid communities, while urban land cover and pond size had no significant effect. Ponds with a mean annual air temperature of approximately 4.8°C and a low proportion of surrounding forests are expected to harbour the most diverse chironomid communities. Our study showed that chironomids represent a very diverse and often exceptionally rich group of pond-dwelling macroinvertebrates. Given the high diversity and broad range of occupied niches, chironomids should not be overlooked in pond ecology studies. On the contrary, they should be considered a potential model group.

Taxonomic investigation of monilophytes from North Waziristan Tribal District KP, Pakistan

Floristic surveys and assessment of relationships between species richness and elevational gradients help in developing more efficient conserving strategies for biodiversity under climate change. North Waziristan Tribal District (NWD) has been identified as the second largest district in FATA. The study area encompasses diverse altitudes, ranging from 600 m to over 3000 m. Due to its distinct geological history, low temperature, and rich biodiversity, the North Waziristan Tribal District gives an excellent opportunity to assess taxonomic distribution of ferns. Field visits were conducted during 2021, thoroughly documenting fern species along with essential field-related characteristics such as habits, habitats, GPS coordinates, etc. Floristic studies of ferns (monilophytes) from NWD showed that it has an exceptionally diverse monilophyte flora. A total of 114 fern specimens were collected during these field visits. After a comprehensive examination, 17 species distributed across 13 genera and 7 families were identified. The predominant family was Pteridaceae, comprising six species, followed by Aspleniaceae and Thelypteridaceae with three species each. Additionally, Dryopteridaceae accounted for two species, while the remaining three had only one species each. Asplenium was the leading genus, documented with three species, followed by Pteris, Cheilanthes, and Adiantum, each with two species. Finally, a dichotomous key was made based on morphological, anatomical, and palynological characters for identification and characterization purposes. In terms of altitude, the highest number of taxa were observed at elevations above 2200 m, while the lowest species count was reported between 600 -1000 m. Species richness of ferns reached to a maximum at moderate elevations, which could have been due to combination of moderately low temperature and high humidity. Ethnobotanical documentation revealed eight species, six genera, and four families within the study area.

Medicinal Plants of Kurna Village (Burdur Province)

Plants have been among the primary natural sources used in traditional medicine, both in the past and present. Due to the many advantages they offer compared to the synthetic drugs, the interest in medicinal plants is rapidly increasing not only worldwide but also in our country. This study has been conducted with the aim of identifying natural medicinal plants in the Kurna Village and its surroundings. As a result of fieldwork conducted during the flowering periods of the plants, 40 medicinal plant taxa belonging to 39 genera from 21 families were identified. Family Asteraceae is notable having the highest number of taxa with 7 taxa, followed by Lamiaceae with 5 taxa, families Brassicaceae, Boraginaceae and Fabaceae each with 3 taxa. The scientific names, parts used and areas of use concerning the medicinal plants determined were presented. We hope that the presented data will provide guidance to local people, raise awareness on the floral diversity, add data to relevant literature.

Forensic potential of pollen grains: A case study from continental Croatia (town of Donja Stubica)

Background and Purpose: Pollen grains can come as “ invisible” traces during forensic palynological expertise. As forensic palynology is not carried out in Croatia at all, the main aims of our work were to establish an initial palynological collection for a limited area in Croatia and determine its forensic potential. Materials and Methods: For our case study, we chose a typical town from continental Croatia, Donja Stubica, in which there had been no previous floristic studies. The field survey was conducted during 2005, 2007, and 2021. Floristic and palynological analysis was carried out with an emphasis on the forensic potential of pollen grains. Results: A total of 141 representative plant taxa with pollen samples were collected. The taxonomic analysis showed that the area for the case study was chosen well. Palynological analysis showed that the highest number of taxa had pollen grains that were spheroidal in shape (60%), medium sized (70%), and colporate (41%). The pollen of the majority of taxa had excellent or very important forensic potential, due to their dispersal by insects (60%), a combination of two dispersal methods (23%), and autogamy (1%). In addition, due to the limited distribution of certain rare plants (e.g., Iris sibirica subsp. sibirica in Croatia), their pollen has an even greater forensic potential than the similar pollen of related, more widespread taxa. Conclusion: The generated palynological collection, due to the great forensic potential, could be used in the future as a comparative, and at least partly as a reference forensic collection, applicable in specific cases of legal pollen expertise in Croatia.

Natural plant diversity of three farms of Ankara University

Natural flora of cultivated or agricultural areas are generally under estimated or accepted as weeds because they compete with agricultural plants and repress their growth. Ankara University has three research and application farms/stations especially for educational purposes. Between the agricultural patches at these farms there are small natural patches possessing important plant diversity but there is not any information about the natural flora of these farms. The aim of this study is to find out the natural plant diversity of these three farms. The field studies conducted between 2016-2018 and 927 specimens were collected totally, and the number of taxa and the farm that were collected from are as follows respectively; 118 taxa from Ayaş Horticulture Reasearch and Application Station, 64 taxa from both Kalecik Viticulture Research and Application Station, and Haymana Research and Application Farm. The families with the highest number of taxa are Asteraceae and Brassicaceae. 4 of these taxa are endemic. Most of the species are cosmopolitan with the ratio of 70% and the distribution of the rest of the taxa in phytogeographical regions are as follows; 15% Irano-Turanian, 8%Euxin and 7% Mediterranean.

Ethnobotanical therapeutic features of some plants of the vicinity of Bahçesaray (Müküs) in the province of Van/Turkey #

The aim of this study is to determine the natural and cultivated plants that the locals living in the villages and bushes of Bahçesaray's center have traditionally benefited from and determine the diversity of use of these plants and reveal their significance in terms of ethnobotany. This work is given with, usage forms, used parts and local names of medicines, food, fuel, stain, economic value of plants and feedstuffs used by the public for handicrafts. Between, 2016-2018, interviews and survey studies were made with Bahçesaray (Müküs) and people living in the vicinity of it. 57% of the 185 informants were female and 43% were male. Female users are all homemakers and male users are engaged in different occupational groups. As a result of the research, 76 plants taxa belonging to 28 families used for different purposes and their local knowledge related to them were given. It was determined that 46 of the collected plants were treated as food, 24 as treatment, 10 as feed, 10 as fire, 3 as handicrafts, 2 as economical and 2 as used as stain. In addition, the uses of 5 plants in different areas (ornament, poison, toy, etc.) were determined. It has been determined that 29 taxa have been used in our research area for purposes that are totally or partially different from their known use. The first five families containing the highest number of taxa from the plants determined to be used in the research field were determined in order Rosaceae 17 (%22,4), Asteraceae 13 (%17,10), Lamiaceae 7 (%9,21), Fabaceae 4 (%5,26) and Apiaceae 3 (%3,95).

Integration of direct radiocarbon dating, genetic studies and taxonomy of small mammals to investigate the chronology of past climatic oscillations: The Last Glacial Maximum sequence of Grotta della Ferrovia (Fabriano, Italy)

The recent developments in palaeoecological reconstruction methods, collagen extraction of small bone samples and ancient DNA analyses led us to test new approaches to enhance the chronological resolution of past climate reconstructions inferred from small mammal assemblages.Grotta della Ferrovia (Fabriano, Ancona, Italy, 40°25′36″N, 13°0′11″E, 215 m a.s.l.) is a small cave that opens on the southern bank of the Esino river, around 45 km west of Ancona. Discovered in 1966, it is famous among scholars because it is the first locality where the fossil birch mouse was recorded in Italy and because of the remarkable archaeological lithic evidence assemblage found in the cave related to the Late Epigravettian. Across the small mammal sequence, distributed into seven layers (from GDF7 to GDF2), two main phases can be recognized: in the first phase, from GDF7 to GDF5, Microtus arvalis is dominant over Microtus agrestis, in a poorly diversified assemblage. The sequence gradually changes in GDF4 and a second phase can be observed in GDF3 and GDF2, where Apodemus gr. sylvaticus-flavicollis dominates, but combined with a higher number of taxa. From GDF7 to GDF3, few individuals of Sicista cf. subtilis and Alexandromys oeconomus are recorded. Environmental and climatic reconstructions calculated with the Habitat Weighting and the Bioclimatic methods show a dominance of open meadows (GDF7 to GDF4) that were gradually replaced by closed or semi-closed forests (GDF3 and GDF2) in a context of gradually increasing temperature, shifting from a cold phase to conditions similar to the current ones in the area.Direct radiocarbon dates on 18 rodent bones and aDNA analyses on three Microtus arvalis teeth helped us to better understand the significance of the oscillation inferred from the small mammal sequences. A robust series of nine radiocarbon measurements from GDF7 to GDF5 shows that this part of the sequence accumulated between ∼24,600–19,600 cal BP (95.4% probability), which includes the final phases of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The ancient DNA from Microtus arvalis confirmed the chronological framework and the presence of italic populations in this area during the LGM, similar to the slightly more ancient Grotta del Sambuco on the western side of the central Peninsula. The small mammal radiocarbon dates from GDF4 and above are less consistent with their stratigraphic position, probably related to post-depositional disturbance of the sediments, but suggest that the last part of the sequence accumulated during the Late Glacial.Our results show that it is now possible to validate and enhance paleoclimatic and paleoenvironment inferences from small mammal sequence studies with direct radiocarbon dates and ancient DNA analyses, using these integrated methods as a high resolution tool for studying the past.

A georeferenced dataset for occurrence records of the phylum Rotifera in Africa

We report a dataset of all known and published occurrence records of animals of the phylum Rotifera, including Bdelloidea, Monogononta, and Seisonacea (with the exclusion of Acanthocephala) for Africa and surrounding islands and archipelagos. The dataset includes 24,704 records of 914 taxa (subspecies: 38; species: 783; genus: 76; family: 17), gathered from 610 published papers. The published literature spans from 1854 to 2022, with the highest number of records in the decades 1990-1999 and 2010-2019. The African countries with the highest number of taxa are Nigeria, Algeria, South Africa, and Democratic Republic of the Congo, whereas no records are yet available for a dozen countries. The number of species known from each country can be explained mostly by sampling efforts, measured as the number of papers published for each country up to now. The dataset is available through the Open Science Framework (OSF) and in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

Assessment of Zooplankton and Physico-chemical Parameters of Upper River Benue, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Between January and June, 2022 some physico-chemical and biological conditions of Upper River Benue were assessed at five selected sites on monthly basis between 6:00 – 10:00a.m. A total of 9.849 ×104 organisms/L was recorded for zooplankton abundance. Rotifera was observed to have a total abundance of 39.9%, followed by Cladocera contributed a total of 33.45%, while the least was Decapoda gave 1.37%. The higher number of taxa (25) was recorded at site V. The abundance of individuals was highest at site IV. Twenty-seven species (27) species of zooplankton were identified during the study period ranging from elven Rotifera, nine Cladocera, five Copepoda, one Ostracoda and one Decapoda. The order of dominance of the zooplankton of Upper River Benue is Rotifera>Cladocera>Copepoda>Ostracoda>Decapoda with Brachionus caudate, Bosmina longirostis and daphnia being the most dominant (6.94%) of the total zooplankton of Upper River Benue. The physico-chemical parameters results revealed that temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, transparency, dissolved oxygen, free CO2, alkalinity were within recommended acceptable limit except ammonia, phosphorus and nitrogen were higher than recommended acceptable limit. However, no significant difference was found between the seasons in terms physico-chemical paraneters and zooplankton distribution (P>0.05). The study showed the reservoir to be eutrophic with moderate water quality, high ecological and pass chemical status, with diverse assemblages of zooplankton. It was recommended that there should be continuous monitoring of the biological and physico-chemical status of the river to ascertain the long-term impact of anthropogenic inputs to take remedial measures so as to ensure the health of aquatic life.

The flora of three islets in the Korčula archipelago (southeastern Adriatic)

The flora of three small islets located in the Korčula Archipelago was investigated on several occasions during 2020. In all, 105 plant taxa were recorded, of which 101 are angiosperms, 3 gymnosperms and with 1 fern. The total flora of the islets is distributed in 48 families. The families with the highest number of taxa are Poaceae (12.38%) and Asteraceae (10.48%), followed by Lamiaceae (7.62%) and Fabaceae (5.71%). The most common life forms are therophytes (31.43%), hemicryptophytes (27.62%) and phanerophytes (19.05%). The largest number of plant taxa is accounted for by the Mediterranean floral element (60.95%), followed by the South European (20.00%) In all, three endemic, four endangered and seven strictly protected taxa were recorded. Endemics are Carduus micropterus (Borbás) Teyber ssp. micropterus, Vincetoxicum hirundinaria Medik. ssp. adriaticum (Beck) Markgr and Limonium dictyophorum (Tausch) Degen. All recorded endemic taxa belong to the group Illyrian-Adriatic endemic plants. Endangered taxa are Desmazeria marina (L.) Druce, Elymus pycnathus (Godr.) Melderis and Narcissus tazetta L. Strictly protected taxa include Chenopodium murale L. and Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile. The invasive species Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist and Euphorbia prostrata Aiton have been recorded in the flora of the islet of Majsan.

Taxonomic Revision of the Subfamily Sterculioideae Beilschm. In Bangladesh

The subfamily Sterculioideae Beilschm. of Malvaceae has been revised for Bangladesh which revealed 16 taxa belonging to five genera, such as Firmiana Marsili, Heritiera Ait., Pterygota Schott & Endl., Scaphium Schott & Endl. and Sterculia L. The genus Sterculia is unveiled with the highest number of taxa, whereas both Pterygota and Scaphium are represented with single taxon. Dichotomous bracketed keys to genera and species are constructed for easy identification. Each taxon is presented with an updated nomenclature, description of the taxa along with illustrations, specimens examined, phenology, notes on distribution and economical importance. In most cases, chromosome number has been provided. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 29(2): 373-401, 2022 (December)

Composition, frequency and seasonal distribution of periphytic microalgae in stretches of the Curiaú River, Amapá, Eastern Amazon

Periphyton communities are composed of microorganisms loosely attached to the substrate, including fungi, bacteria, microinvertebrates, and mostly microalgae. Due to their photosynthesizing component, they are important primary producers that subsidize the aquatic trophic chain. This study aimed to verify the composition, frequency, and seasonal distribution of periphytic microalgae in stretches of the Curiaú River, located in the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of the Curiaú River, in the State of Amapá. For this, quarterly collections were carried out comprising the months of June 2016 to October 2017, during the dry and rainy seasons. The periphyton algal communities were obtained by squeezing parts of two macrophytes species, Eichhornia crassipes Mart. (Solms) and Pistia stratiotes L. The data were statistically treated using absolute values and the Kruskal-Wallis test, the latter considering the distribution of richness between sites and sampling periods (significance level of α=0.05). A total of 64 taxa were inventoried, aggregated into three taxonomic divisions: Chlorophyta (n=48; 75%), Cyanophyta (n=12; 18.75%) and Heterokontophyta (n=4; 6.25%). In class terms, Zygnematophyceae had the highest number of taxa (n=42; 65.63%), followed by Cyanophyceae (n=12; 18.75%), Chlorophyceae (n=5; 7.81%), Bacillariophyceae (n=4; 6.25%) and, finally, Ulvophyceae (n=1; 1.56%). Of the total number of inventoried taxa, 64.06% (n=41) presented sporadic frequency. Species richness was influenced by seasonality, as higher values were associated with the rainy season (p<0.05). This research is a contribution to the phycology of the Amazon region, especially in its pioneering for the state of Amapá.

Distribution of marine benthic diatoms on the coasts of the sea of Marmara and their responses to environmental variables

The Sea of Marmara, located in northwest Turkey, comprises challenging environmental conditions and is an important bridge between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. In this study, we assessed the trophic situation of the coasts of the Sea of Marmara using the benthic diatom composition and their relation to the environmental variables in the spring and autumn of 2019 and 2020. A total of 120 samples were collected and 452 species were observed; Navicula Bory and Nitzschia Hassal were represented with the highest numbers of taxa. Analysis of Similarity (ANOSIM) revealed that diatom communities differed significantly between the spring-autumn periods and years. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed that diatoms grouped under water, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and TIN influence. TRIX observations revealed a highly mesotrophic-eutrophic status along the coasts. Our study contributes to the knowledge of diatom diversity, distribution and community changes in spring and autumn on the coasts Sea of Marmara. Our findings suggest that marine benthic diatoms could be used as eutrophication indicators in the coastal waters for long-term monitoring with the support of environmental parameters.

Zooplankton Diversity of Sevsak Stream (Elazıg-TURKIYE)

The zooplankton and its seasonal distribution of Sevsak Stream has been investigated in 2021. A total of 31 zooplankton species have been recorded in the stream. Among the zooplankton, 19 species belong to Rotifer,9 species to Cladocera and 3 species to Copepoda. In every season, zooplankton species were recorded in various abundance. Highest number of taxa was recorded in spring. In this season also, an increase occurred in the individual numbers of species. Keratella cochlearis, Polyarthra dolichoptera and Cyclops vicinus were the most recorded species in the stream. As in the other aquatic habitat, rotifera group was determined as the most recorded species in terms of taxa and number of individuals.

Progressive microbial adaptation of the bovine rumen and hindgut in response to a step-wise increase in dietary starch and the influence of phytogenic supplementation.

Microbial composition and activity in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of cattle has important implications for animal health and welfare, driving the focus of research toward ways to modify their function and abundance. However, our understanding of microbial adaption to nutritional changes remains limited. The aim of this study was to examine the progressive mechanisms of adaptation in the rumen and hindgut of cattle receiving increasing amounts of starch with or without dietary supplementation of a blended phytogenic feed additive (PFA; containing menthol, thymol and eugenol). We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to assess the microbial composition and predicted metabolic pathways in ruminal solid and liquid digesta, and feces. Furthermore, we employed targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods to evaluate rumen fluid metabolites. Results indicated a rapid microbial adaptation to diet change, starting on the second day of starch feeding for the particle associated rumen liquid (PARL) microbes. Solid rumen digesta- and feces-associated microbes started changing from the following day. The PARL niche was the most responsive to dietary changes, with the highest number of taxa and predicted pathways affected by the increase in starch intake, as well as by the phytogenic supplementation. Despite the differences in the microbial composition and metabolic potential of the different GIT niches, all showed similar changes toward carbohydrate metabolism. Metabolite measurement confirmed the high prevalence of glucose and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the rumen due to the increased substrate availability and metabolic activity of the microbiota. Families Prevotellaceae, Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae were found to be positively correlated with carbohydrate metabolism, with the latter two showing wide-ranging predicted metabolic capabilities. Phytogenic supplementation affected low abundant taxa and demonstrated the potential to prevent unwanted implications of feeding high-concentrate diet, such as reduction of microbial diversity. The inclusion of 50% concentrate in the diet caused a major shift in microbial composition and activity in the GIT of cattle. This study demonstrated the ability of microorganisms in various GIT niches to adjust differentially, yet rapidly, to changing dietary conditions, and revealed the potential beneficial effects of supplementation with a PFA during dietary adaptation.