Invertebrate Survey Research Articles

Aquatic invertebrate diversity in Apostle Islands and Isle Royale waters: Comparison among habitats and sampling gears and to open Lake Superior

Aquatic invertebrate composition in Great Lakes nearshore regions is known to differ from offshore, but studies representing the closest-to-land end of this gradient are primarily from estuaries and rivermouths having substantial watershed connectivity and anthropogenic influence. Here, we present data from aquatic invertebrate surveys conducted in two Lake Superior parks that are distanced from such watersheds and pressures, namely Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (APIS) and Isle Royale National Park (ISRO). Our intensive, multi-gear surveys from 99 APIS stations in 2017 and 165 ISRO stations in 2012 reveal a broad diversity of zooplankton and benthic/littoral macroinvertebrate taxa. Park samples yielded 29 zooplankton and >300 benthic/littoral taxa, with richness exceeding that of comparable nearshore datasets, especially for aquatic insects, leeches, and mites. Station depth was a major factor structuring invertebrates, and benthic/littoral densities were highest and composition most diverse at shallow stations having aquatic vegetation. Species composition and taxa accumulation patterns differed considerably among sampling gears, highlighting the value of multi-gear surveys. Several park mollusk and insect species matched ‘special concern’ listings, and two non-native cladocerans were very abundant. These two surveys added 11 new species to the aquatic macroinvertebrates known from Lake Superior, highlighting the importance of these parks in harboring biodiversity and the importance of individualized assessments of places not well represented in more routine lakewide biological monitoring. Our data are available as baselines for future biological surveys and trend assessments.

Fluvial habitat associations of riverine dragonflies (Odonata, Gomphidae) in the Huron Mountains (Michigan, USA)

AbstractThe presence of sediment‐burrowing clubtail dragonflies (Gomphidae) may be directly related to riverine geomorphic properties. Their synchronous emergence behavior, marked by persistent exuviae, allows for the examination of emerging adult‐stage habitats. Here we explore how emerging adult and benthic larvae are related to hydrogeomorphic factors through regression modeling. Nine sites in two subwatersheds of the Huron Mountain region (Michigan, USA) were surveyed during two periods: May/June 2021 and August 2021. Temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and discharge were measured concurrent with invertebrate surveys, and field samples of total suspended solids, nutrients, and substrate particle size distribution were also taken. In spring, 317 exuviae were collected, including 153 Gomphidae. In August, 45 larvae were collected including 22 Gomphidae. Spearman's rank correlations preceded robust regression analysis to aid variable selection. Although nonsignificant, Gomphidae exuviae were negatively correlated with conductivity, average water depth, and percent sand while non‐Gomphidae exuviae were positively correlated with the same variables. The model selection found the top models for Gomphidae and non‐Gomphidae exuviae abundance to relate to depth and conductivity, while the top model for Gomphidae larvae was with discharge. All single variable models (discharge, width, and percent sand) had similar AICc criterion values when examining their relationship with non‐Gomphidae larval abundance. Our study demonstrates that larvae of several riverine dragonfly taxa in the Huron Mountains co‐occur despite hydrogeomorphic variation, yet, at emergence, specific taxa may be responding to different stream properties. Understanding the habitat requirements of riverine dragonflies and how these potentially shift throughout development can support conservation efforts.

НАХОДКИ ЛАМИНАРИЕВЫХ И ДРУГИХ ВОДОРОСЛЕЙ В УЛОВАХ ДОННЫМ ТРАЛОМ И ЯРУСОМ У ЗАПАДНОГО ПОБЕРЕЖЬЯ КАМЧАТКИ В 2018–2023 гг.

Data are provided on findings of marine macroalgae during bottom trawls and longline fishing on the Western Kamchatka shelf in 2018-2023. During the study period, algae were noted at 65 stations in the depth range from 20 to 350 m. Most of the algae findings were found in the Kamchatka-Kuril fishing subzone, within the South Kamchatka Nature Reserve. Among the macrophytes, representatives of the order Laminariales predominated: Agarum pertusum, A. clathratum, Alaria esculenta, Arthrothamnus bifidus, Eualaria fistulosa, Hedophyllum bongardianum, H. dentigerum, Laminaria yezoensis, Laminaria inclinatoriza and Thalassiophyllum clathrus. For southwestern Kamchatka, only 9 out of 13 species of kelp algae indicated in the literature were discovered. Brown algae Fucus distichus, Desmarestia intermedia, red algae – Ptilota asplenioides, Turnerella mertensiana and lamellar green algae – Ulva fenestrata were found sporadically. A comparative analysis of aerial photography data of coastal areas from Cape Sivuchy to Cape Lopatka in 2002 and modern satellite images did not reveal significant changes in the distribution of littoral and sublittoral algae beds. In the coastal line of capes Sivuchy, Kambalny and Maria that we studied, the kelp belt with an average width of 100-130 m reached in the summer of 2018–2023 the total coverage area is 1.92 km2. The use of accompanying data when conducting bottom surveys of commercial invertebrates and fish, longline cod fisheries, together with the analysis of satellite images, allows for an expert assessment of changes in the species composition and distribution of kelp algae, and is also a promising tool for monitoring the state of macrophyte communities in the Far Eastern seas of Russia.

The quality of the fossil record across higher taxa: compositional fidelity of phyla and classes in benthic marine associations.

Although the fossil record preserves a wealth of historical data about past ecosystems, the current paradigm, which postulates that fossils provide faithful archives of ecological information, stems from research primarily focused on a single group of organisms known for their high fossilization potential: molluscs. Here, we quantify the fidelity of higher taxa (six phyla and 11 classes) by comparing live communities and sympatric dead remains (death assemblages) using comprehensive surveys of benthic marine invertebrates from coastal habitats in North Carolina (U.S.A). We found that although community composition differed between the two assemblages across phyla and classes, these differences were predictable with an overabundance of robust and more preservable groups. In addition, dead molluscs appear to be an excellent proxy for all taxa when tracking spatio-temporal patterns and shifts in community structure using a variety of ecological metrics, including measures of α, γ, and β diversity/evenness. This suggests that despite filters imposed by differential preservation of taxa and time-averaging, the fossil record is likely to be reliable with respect to relative comparisons of composition and diversity in shallow benthic marine paleocommunities. This is consistent with previous work indicating that shallow marine death assemblages can yield robust ecological estimates adequate for assessing the variability of ecosystems that existed under natural, pre-anthropogenic conditions.

Tight spatial coupling of a marine predator with soniferous fishes: Using joint modelling to aid in ecosystem approaches to management

AbstractAimUnderstanding the distribution of marine organisms is essential for effective management of highly mobile marine predators that face a variety of anthropogenic threats. Recent work has largely focused on modelling the distribution and abundance of marine mammals in relation to a suite of environmental variables. However, biotic interactions can largely drive distributions of these predators. We aim to identify how biotic and abiotic variables influence the distribution and abundance of a particular marine predator, the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), using multiple modelling approaches and conducting an extensive literature review.LocationWestern North Atlantic continental shelf.MethodsWe combined widespread marine mammal and fish and invertebrate surveys in an ensemble modelling approach to assess the relative importance and capacity of the environment and other marine species to predict the distribution of both coastal and offshore bottlenose dolphin ecotypes. We corroborate the modelled results with a systematic literature review on the prey of dolphins throughout the region to help explain patterns driven by prey availability, as well as reveal new ones that may not necessarily be a predator–prey relationship.ResultsWe find that coastal bottlenose dolphin distributions are associated with one family of fishes, the Sciaenidae, or drum family, and predictions slightly improve when using only fish versus only environmental variables. The literature review suggests that this tight coupling is likely a predator–prey relationship. Comparatively, offshore dolphin distributions are more strongly related to environmental variables, and predictions are better for environmental‐only models. As revealed by the literature review, this may be due to a mismatch between the animals caught in the fish and invertebrate surveys and the predominant prey of offshore dolphins, notably squid.Main ConclusionsIncorporating prey species into distribution models, especially for coastal bottlenose dolphins, can help inform ecological relationships and predict marine predator distributions.

Distribution and Prolonged Diapause of the Rowan Seed Predators Argyresthia conjugella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) and Megastigmus brevicaudis (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) and their Parasitoids in Norway

The seed predator Argyresthia conjugella Zeller has rowan as its preferred host plant. In years of poor fruiting in rowan, it oviposits on apples. To improve the knowledge of this apple pest, rowanberries were collected from localities all over Norway from 1971 to 1985, and seed predators and their parasitoids were allowed to emerge for up to five years. Two species of seed predators, A. conjugella and Megastimus brevicaudis Ratzeburg, and seven species of parasitic Hymenoptera were common. The distribution of these species is shown on EIS (European Invertebrate Survey) maps of Norway. The biology of the parasitoids is summarized based on the published literature and their behavior during emergence. The tendency for delayed emergence, which is an indication of prolonged diapause, was more pronounced in M. brevicaudis than in A. conjugella, the former appearing in all five years. Five of the parasitoids also delayed their emergence, and three of them to a high degree, up to five years. Prolonged diapause must be taken into account in studies of rowanberry insect guilds.

Assessing arthropod diversity metrics derived from stream environmental DNA: spatiotemporal variation and paired comparisons with manual sampling.

Benthic invertebrate (BI) surveys have been widely used to characterize freshwater environmental quality but can be challenging to implement at desired spatial scales and frequency. Environmental DNA (eDNA) allows an alternative BI survey approach, one that can potentially be implemented more rapidly and cheaply than traditional methods. We evaluated eDNA analogs of BI metrics in the Potomac River watershed of the eastern United States. We first compared arthropod diversity detected with primers targeting mitochondrial 16S (mt16S) and cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1 or COI) loci to that detected by manual surveys conducted in parallel. We then evaluated spatial and temporal variation in arthropod diversity metrics with repeated sampling in three focal parks. We also investigated technical factors such as filter type used to capture eDNA and PCR inhibition treatment. Our results indicate that genus-level assessment of eDNA compositions is achievable at both loci with modest technical noise, although database gaps remain substantial at mt16S for regional taxa. While the specific taxa identified by eDNA did not strongly overlap with paired manual surveys, some metrics derived from eDNA compositions were rank-correlated with previously derived biological indices of environmental quality. Repeated sampling revealed statistical differences between high- and low-quality sites based on taxonomic diversity, functional diversity, and tolerance scores weighted by taxon proportions in transformed counts. We conclude that eDNA compositions are efficient and informative of stream condition. Further development and validation of scoring schemes analogous to commonly used biological indices should allow increased application of the approach to management needs.

First records of Ulvella spongophila (Ulvophyceae: Ulvellaceae) for the Palaearctic region: the discovery of four populations in the SW Iberian Peninsula

During extensive Spanish river macrophyte and invertebrate surveys, the freshwater chlorophyte Ulvella spongophila was detected growing inside the freshwater sponge Ephydatia fluviatilis attached to stones. This finding is relevant from the phy¬cological, biogeographical and ecological points of view, and is the second world record of the species after one single known locality (Lake Manindjau, Sumatra, Malaysia), from which the species was collected and described around 130 years ago. The species was collected under summer base-flow conditions in four Mediterranean temporary/seasonal streams in 2018 and 2019. New information about the species’ morphological characteristics and ecological preferences in the Iberian Peninsula is presented. A comparative description of the observed specimens with previously published data, some biogeographical aspects of findings, certain biological facets of the sponge-algal association, and its conservation status, are discussed.

Developing a database of Australian grasshopper occurrences from historic field survey notebooks spanning 54 years (Orthoptera: Acrididae, Morabidae, Pyrgomorphidae, Tetrigidae)

AbstractThe baseline distribution data for all species of a given group in a region can provide fundamental insights into biogeographic questions about historic patterns of species richness, population trends and extinction. Grasshoppers are one major group of insects for which a continent‐wide perspective on their geographic distribution can be obtained. This is because they were extensively surveyed in Australia for 54 years (1936–1989) as part of Commonwealth expeditions to obtain specimens for the Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC). Field notebooks recorded from those surveys, under the direction of ANIC curator and director K. H. L. Key, form the principal source of historic distribution records for grasshoppers in Australia. We digitised all the 223 notebooks (2486 pages) and transcribed all the field trips conducted in Western Australia (WA) and Tasmania (47 notebooks, 590 pages). We then carefully geocoded all sampling sites of the transcribed notebooks, following the odometer readings and descriptions of routes from a suitable reference point using historic topographic maps and Google Earth. In total, we extracted 8975 geographic coordinates for 477 species having a confirmed or putative taxonomic name at genus or species level (only 170 of these species have been formally described). We found that species richness varied spatially, with highest richness in arid interior and north of WA. Historic grasshopper surveys were non‐randomly distributed across both WA and Tasmania with the highest survey intensity around coastal regions. Variation was observed among surveyors in terms of the number of species detected per site, between‐site distance and the season of survey being conducted. Overall, however, the dataset is among the most comprehensive continent‐wide surveys of Australian invertebrates and will greatly facilitate future work on their ecology, biogeography, conservation and responses to environmental change.

Low- versus High-water level effect on subtropical benthic freshwater meiofauna

Little is known about meiofaunal responses to Low- versus High-Water-Level (L- vs HWL) particularly in the subtropics. Meiofaunal reaction was evaluated in three locations (deeply-different) in two man-made freshwater channels in (Rowaina and Shalma) Northern Nile Egyptian delta: 50, 100, & 150, and 900, 950, & 1000 metres distances from the sluice, respectively. LWL and HWL were in January and July 2019 respectively. Eight vs ten and nine vs eleven major taxa were noted in Rowaina H- vs LWL and Shalma L- vs HWL, respectively. Taxa had different susceptibilities to L- vs HWL. Nematode, hydracarina, and oligochaetes dominated in L- and HWL, (Shalma), and in HWL (Rowaina). Whereas Nematoda, Copepod, and Oligochaeta prevailed in LWL (Rowaina). Oligochaeta biomass was generally high in LWL and HWL. Hydracarina in LWL, and Nematode & Copepod in HWL had low biomasses in Rowaina and Shalma respectively. Abundances and biomasses were significantly different within and among channels. Environmental variables were significantly different only between water levels. It could be concluded that L- vs HWL has both direct and indirect (variabilities in environmental factors) impacts on meiofauna. Channel width & morphology, may impose extra influences. This study may enhance invertebrate surveys with hydrologically different freshwater bodies.

Identifying the impact of toxicity on stream macroinvertebrate communities in a multi-stressor context based on national ecological and ecotoxicological monitoring databases

In situ bioassays are used to measure the harmful effects induced by mixtures of toxic chemicals in watercourses. In France, national-scale biomonitoring data are available including invertebrate surveys and in-field chemical toxicity measures with caged gammarids to assess environmental toxicity of mixtures of chemicals. The main objective of our study is to present a proof-of-concept approach identifying possible links between in-field chemical toxicity, stressors and the ecological status. We used two active biomonitoring databases comprising lethal toxicity (222 in situ measures of gammarid mortality) and sublethal toxicity (101 in situ measures of feeding inhibition). We measured the ecological status of each active biomonitoring site using the I2M2 metric (macroinvertebrate-based multimetric index), accounted for known stressors of nutrients and organic matter, hydromorphology and chemical toxicity. We observed a negative relationship between stressors (hydromorphology, nutrients and organic matter, and chemical toxicity) and the good ecological status. This relationship was aggravated in watercourses where toxicity indicators were degraded. We validated this hypothesis for instance with nutrients and organic matter like nitrates or hydromorphological conditions like percentage of vegetation on banks. Future international assesments concerning the role of in-field toxic pollution on the ecological status in a multi-stressor context are now possible via the current methodology.

Neoxorides montanus Oehlke, 1966 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Poemeniinae) new to Britain from Tatton Park, Cheshire (V. C. 58)

The parasitoid wasp Neoxorides montanus Oehlke, 1966 (Ichneumonidae: Poemeniinae) is recorded new to Britain from a single female found resting on a fallen Larch ( Larix decidua Mill.) during a nocturnal invertebrate survey at Tatton Park, Cheshire. This increases the number of recorded UK Neoxorides species to two. Information on the recognition of the recorded UK species is included, along with a brief discussion on their distribution and published hosts.

Rapid range expansion of an invasive flatworm, Kontikia andersoni, on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island

Spanning the Southern Ocean high latitudes, Sub-Antarctic islands are protected areas with high conservation values. Despite the remoteness of these islands, non-native species threaten native species and ecosystem function. The most ubiquitous and speciose group of non-native species in the region are invertebrates. Due to their cryptic habits and ambiguous establishment history, the impacts of non-native invertebrates on native species and ecosystems in the region remains largely unknown. Understanding how non-native invertebrate species are transported, disperse, establish and colonise new habitats is key to understanding their existing and future impacts. This research is fundamental to improving biosecurity practise and informing future management of Southern Ocean islands. We undertook invertebrate surveys on Macquarie Island to determine the current status of four non-native macro-invertebrates—Kontikia andersoni and Arthurdendyus vegrandis (Platyhelminthes: Geoplanidae), Styloniscus otakensis (Isopoda: Styloniscidae) and Puhuruhuru patersoni (Amphipoda: Talitridae). Arthurdendyus vergrandis was not intercepted in our surveys, while we found S. otakensis and P. patersoni had not expanded their range. In contrast, K. andersoni has more than doubled its previously mapped area and expanded at a rate of ~ 500 m-yr since 2004. We discuss the possible underlying mechanisms for the dramatic range expansion of K. andersoni and consider the implications for the future management of Macquarie Island.

Edaphic invertebrate diversity around the reservoir of a small hydroelectric power station in southern Brazil

To meet the growing demand for electricity, considerable effort has been invested in the construction of hydroelectric stations in Brazil. The environmental impacts caused by these projects have been significant, especially on fauna. To evaluate the biodiversity of edaphic invertebrates, a study was performed in an area surrounding a small hydroelectric station of Flor do Sertão, in the Santa Catarina state, Brazil, covering three distances (5, 15 and 30 meters) from the flooded region of the reservoir. From December 2010 to June 2011, surveys of edaphic invertebrates were performed by pitfall traps. The invertebrates collected at each distance were compared and their diversity was calculated through Hill numbers. The dynamics were analyzed through the Shannon index exponential and the inverse Simpson index, and correlated climatic variables to invertebrate diversity. A total of 14,074 specimens were collected from 24 taxonomic groups (Order). The analyses according to size and sample coverage showed few differences in invertebrate diversity between the distances. Values of richness and diversity of common groups are similar for all distances. There is a trend decrease in diversity dynamics for common individuals, with a strong decline in June. The diversity of edaphic invertebrates exhibited high correlation with temperature and no correlation with pluviosity.

The impacts of conifer afforestation and climate on water quality and freshwater ecology in a sensitive peaty catchment: A 25 year study in the upper River Halladale in North Scotland

Our study was driven by objections to afforesting the sensitive peaty headwaters of the River Halladale in Northern Scotland on the grounds that this would damage water quality and the local salmon fishery. Approval was given in 1995 for the planting to proceed on condition that monitoring was carried out to assess the effects of forest establishment and growth on water quality and ecology. The long-term data also allowed us to study the effects of climate on water quality.Stream turbidity, colour and DOC levels were unaffected by ploughing and drainage that preceded tree planting in 1996, indicating that good forestry practice measures were effective in limiting soil disturbance and transport of mobilised sediment to the watercourses. Nitrate and ammonium concentrations remained low following afforestation but Total P increased in response to a series of fertiliser applications over the proceeding 20 years. These increases were temporary and have had no impact on river ecological status; calculated phosphorus fluxes were low.Concerns over the potential for afforestation to increase surface water acidification were not borne out, even in the most acid-sensitive tributary. None of the acidity parameters increased over the course of the study and conditions in all watercourses remained suitable for supporting salmonid fish. Decreasing SO4 concentrations indicate an improvement in water quality due to reduced sulphur deposition, with no evidence of any afforestation or forest scavenging effect.Significant changes in streamwater acidity were seen after two hurricanes in winter 2011/12. Two sites showed a marked reduction in stream pH and aluminium, and a marked rise in Acid Neutralising Capacity (ANC), that lasted for a period of at least four years. These changes accorded with notable rises in base cation concentrations and turbidity, suggesting a temporary increase in mineral weathering, most likely caused by a localised land slip or bank collapse. Sea-salt inputs and soil ion-exchange reactions are also thought to have affected the response in streamwater chemistry.The water quality results correspond well with data from the fish and benthic invertebrate surveys, which showed that forestry operations and forest growth to age 24 years have had no adverse impact on population diversity or abundance with no evidence of deterioration in freshwater ecology over the time series. These findings will help inform future woodland expansion for multiple benefits, including within sensitive water catchments.

Assessing Assemblage Composition of Reproductively Mature Resource Fishes at a Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA)

Nearshore fisheries in Hawai‘i have been steadily decreasing for over a century. Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been utilized as a method to both conserve biodiversity and enhance fisheries. The composition of resource fishes within and directly outside of the recently established Hā‘ena Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA) on the island of Kaua‘i were assessed to determine temporal and spatial patterns in assemblage structure. In situ visual surveys of fishes, invertebrates, and benthos were conducted using a stratified random sampling design to evaluate the efficacy of the MPA between 2016 and 2020. L50 values—defined as the size at which half of the individuals in a population have reached reproductive maturity—were used as proxies for identifying reproductively mature resource fishes both inside and outside the CBSFA. Surveys between 2016 and 2020 did not indicate strong temporal or spatial changes in overall resource fish assemblage structure; however, some species-specific changes were evident. Although overall resource species diversity and richness were significantly higher by 2020 inside the MPA boundaries, there is currently no strong evidence for a reserve effect.

Diet overlap among non-native trout species and native cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) in two U.S. ecoregions.

The invasion of freshwater ecosystems by non‐native species can constitute a significant threat to native species and ecosystem health. Non‐native trouts have long been stocked in areas where native trouts occur and have negatively impacted native trouts through predation, competition, and hybridization. This study encompassed two seasons of sampling efforts across two ecoregions of the western United States: The Great Basin in summer 2016 and the Yellowstone River Basin in summer 2017. We found significant dietary overlaps among native and non‐native trouts within the Great Basin and Yellowstone River Basin ecoregions. Three orders of invertebrates (Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, and Diptera) composed the majority of stomach contents and were responsible for driving the observed patterns. Great Basin trout had higher body conditions (k), and non‐native Great Basin trout had higher gut fullness values than Yellowstone River Basin trout, indicating a possible limitation of food in the Yellowstone River Basin. Native fishes were the least abundant and had the lowest body condition in each ecoregion. These findings may indicate a negative impact on native trouts by non‐native trouts. We recommend additional monitoring of native and non‐native trout diets, regular invertebrate surveys to identify the availability of diet items, and reconsidering stocking efforts that can result in overlap of non‐native fishes with native cutthroat trout.

The awakening of invertebrates: The daily dynamics of fishes and mobile invertebrates at Rapa Nui's multiple use marine protected area

Abstract On shallow reefs, day‐night activity patterns between fishes and invertebrates are presumed to reflect trade‐offs between feeding and predation; however, quantitative data on daily community dynamics are scarce. Moreover, night surveys may contribute important information for biodiversity inventories or baselines that normally are not considered. This study used standardized day–night visual surveys of fishes and mobile invertebrates on the same transect lines in Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and investigated how diel patterns vary between taxonomic and trophic groups. Distinct differences between taxonomic groups were observed, with fishes being more abundant during the day (>twice), whilst invertebrate abundance and richness showed an opposite trend with higher numbers at night (>three times). Analysis of trophic groups showed that herbivorous and planktivorous fishes were more abundant during the day. Carnivorous fishes did not show any trends. Top predators (Apex) were observed only at very low abundances. However, a replacement amongst carnivorous fish species between day and night was found, where labridae fishes were practically absent during nights. Most of the mobile invertebrates remained concealed during the day, probably due to the influence of predation risk (labrid fishes). The results emphasize the need for consideration of nocturnally active invertebrates in biodiversity inventories or baselines of reefs, which focus heavily only on diurnal surveys. Day–night reef surveys should be included in marine protected area planning and monitoring as this provides a better understanding of shallow benthic communities and helps inform proper management decisions.

First recorded co-occurrence of <i>Valvata lewisi</i> Currier, 1868 and <i>Valvata lewisi ontariensis</i> Baker, 1931 (Gastropoda: Valvatidae) from Alberta, Canada, with notes on morphometric and genetic variability

Sympatric populations of Loosely Coiled Valve Snail (Valvata lewisi ontariensis Baker, 1931) and Fringed Valvata (Valvata lewisi Currier, 1868) are documented from Alberta, Canada, for the first time. Both forms have been identified concurrently in aquatic invertebrate survey samples collected from three wetlands in northeastern Alberta by the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute. Molecular analysis (DNA barcodes) indicates that there is no genetic distinction between V. lewisi (sensu stricto) and V. lewisi var. ontariensis. Morphometric measurements show that the degree of open coiling, the character that defines V. lewisi var. ontariensis, is highly variable in Alberta specimens. Our findings confirm that V. lewisi var. ontariensis is a phenotypic morph of V. lewisi.

Development of environmental effects monitoring protocol in Brazil: a fish guide study of three river estuaries.

In Brazil, there are no unified and effective environmental monitoring models for bodies of water. Thus, several methodologies are used that result in information that is often difficult to compare, especially for stakeholders involved in regional water management. Studies in some countries such as Australia, Chile, the USA, and Sweden use the monitoring model implemented in Canada that was developed in the early 1990s. This model was designed to evaluate whether the current environmental regulations are sufficiently protective for pulp and paper effluents and for metal mining effluents. In this study, the Canadian Environmental Effects Monitoring methodologies were applied to three different Brazilian river basins, with the goal of constructing a framework for monitoring environmental effects. Pilot studies were carried out in the estuarine regions of the Benevente, Jucu, and Santa Maria da Vitória river basins, which are important rivers in the state of Espírito Santo. Evaluations included fish health, bioaccumulation studies, benthic invertebrate survey, and physical-chemical analyses of water and sediment. The quality of the environments was evaluated by means of seasonal samplings and comparisons between discharge, upstream, and downstream areas. This study made it possible to identify appropriate fish species to be used in environmental effects monitoring and the environmental quality of the rivers themselves as well as knowledge and policy gaps to implement such monitoring programs in Brazil. The study raises questions about the adequacy of Brazilian environmental legislation concerning tidal rivers.