Biosystems Diversity (E-Journal - Dnipro National University)
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Bacillariophyta of the Yavorivsky National Park, Broadleaf Forest Zone of Ukraine, including Сaloneis albus-columba, sp. nov.
Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) are one of the major biological components in all kinds of aquatic ecosystems both in freshwater and marine ones. The nature reserve fund of Ukraine includes 52 national parks, in the vast majority of which Bacillariophyta have not been studied. This investigation presents first data on the diatoms in Yavorivsky National Park located in Lviv region. The material consists of the epiphytic samples of microalgae that were collected from different substrates in aquatic ecosystems of the Yavorivsky National Park in 2014. In the hydrotopes of the park 180 diatom species from 56 genera were found, among them Achnanthidium catenatum (Bily & Marvan) Lange-Bertalot, Cymbopleura apiculata Krammer, Fallacia sublucidula (Hustedt) D. G. Mann in Round, Crawford & Mann, Gomphonema lagenula Kützing, G. supersedens Reichardt, G. pseudopusillum Reichardt, Paraplaconeis minor (Grunow) Lange-Bertalot, Placoneis constans (Hustedt) E. J. Cox, Psammothidium bioretii (Germain) Bukhtiyarova & Round, P. vernadskyi Bukhtiyarova et Stanislavskaya, Sellaphora gracillima Zidarova, Kopalová & Van de Vijver, S. insolita (Manguin) Hamilton et Antoniades, Stauroneis fluminopsis Van de Vijver et Lange-Bertalot were recorded for the first time in Ukraine. Besides that, Amphora hemicycla Stoermer & J. J. Yang and Sellaphora bacilloides (Hustedt) Levkov, Krstic & Nakov also were new findings in the country from the Broadleaf Forest Zone of Ukraine. Many species rare in the world flora and in Ukraine were found. A new diatom species Сaloneis albus-columba Bukhtiyarova, sp. nov., was described from the pond in stationary recreation area Kozulka. This new species possesses strongly three-undulate valves with three rhombic segments, which in morphology is most similar to Caloneis lamella Zakrzewski, however it differs from it by having rhombic distal valve segments instead of oval ones as well as noticeably smaller width of the central valve segment. The morphology of other similar species is discussed. For proper description of the new species new definitions for the raphe system morphology were grounded on functional morphology of the diatom frustule. New combinations Iconella alaskaensis (Foged) Bukhtiyarova, comb. et stat. nov., Iconella baltica (Schumann) Bukhtiyarova, comb. nov., Iconella brebissonii (Krammer & Lange-Bertalot) Bukhtiyarova, comb. nov., Iconella brightwellii (W. Smith) Bukhtiyarova, comb. nov., Iconella constricta (Grunow) Bukhtiyarova, comb. et stat. nov., Iconella didyma (Kützing) Bukhtiyarova, comb. nov. and Iconella elegans (Ehrenberg) Bukhtiyarova, comb. nov. were formally proposed. The lectotype for Eunotia glacialis F. Meister was designated here. Illustrations with light and scanning electron microscopy are presented. A primary inventory of Bacillariophyta and their subsequent study on protected territories in Ukraine is still an important task in the context of preservation of biodiversity of the country
A systematic review of flukes (Trematoda) of domestic goose (Anser anser dom.)
Trematodes are one of the most numerous and widespread groups of parasitic invertebrates among helminths, characterized by a complex life cycle. As the final host, digenetic flukes parasitize vertebrates, including domestic waterfowl. Infection of hosts with parasitic digenetic worms causes huge economic damage to poultry. But trematode fauna of domestic geese are presented mainly only for individual regions. Despite the fact that there is already a systematic review of tapeworms and acanthocephala of domestic birds – geese and ducks, there are, unfortunately, no review articles on the taxonomy of digenetic flukes for geese (Anser anser dom.). Taking into account the relevance of the topic, based on our own and extensive literature data, we set the task to determine the general species composition of digenetic flukes (Trematoda), parasitizing in domestic geese which have been recorded in the world until 2020. Each Trematoda species is provided with the following data: scientific name, authority and year, first, second intermediate, auxiliary and final hosts, site in the host body, collecting localities and geographic distribution, and literature sources. Currently it is established that there are 149 species of helminths parasitising domestic geese. The taxonomic composition of the class Trematoda registered in domestic geese consists of 2 classes, 14 families, 30 genera and 65 species. Of all the species of trematodes parasitizing in domestic geese, 44 species have been recorded in Europe, 26 species in Asia, 6 species in North America, 1 species in South America, 1 species in Africa and 2 species in Oceania. Three species are registered in domestic geese (Echinoparyphium recurvatum, Echinostoma revolutum, Prosthogonimus ovatus) are cosmopolitan parasites. The biggest species diversity is characterized by the families Echinostomatidae (17 species) and Notocotylidae (12 species). There are 11 species of digenetic flukes recorded in domestic geese Cyclocoelum mutabile, Echinostoma grande, E. paraulum, E. revolutum, E. robustum, Hypoderaeum conoideum, Paryphostomum novum, P. pentalobum, Catatropis verrucosa, Notocotylus attenuatus, N. parviovatus) on the territory of Azerbaijan. Four of them (Echinostoma revolutum, Hypoderaeum conoideum, Paryphostomum novum, Notocotylus attenuatus) were also noted in the course of our helminthological studies. The trematode Cyclocoelum mutabile was recorded in domestic ducks only in Azerbaijan. Most species of trematodes were found in the north-eastern part (total 9 species) and southern part (total 5 species) of Azerbaijan. This is due to the widespread distribution of molluscs – intermediate hosts of digenetic flukes, in these regions. Eighteen species of digenetic flukes parasitize both birds and mammals (Rodentia, Carnivora, Lagomorpha, Artiodactyla). And eleven species of trematodes are of medical importance, registered in humans
Diversity and dynamics of hydrophilic flora of Lowland Polissya (on the example of the Sluch River basin)
Study and analysis of hydrophilic flora diversity are important parts of environmental research due to various functions of vascular macrophytes in freshwater ecosystems, which deteriorate under the influence of anthropogenic activity and climate change. The aim of this study is to analyze the hydrophilic flora diversity (taxa, biology, ecology, and conservation status of species) and current population trends in the Sluch River basin, the largest tributary of the Horyn River (the Pripyat River basin), within the Polissya Lowland in the northern-west region of Ukraine. The list of hydrophilic flora is based on materials of the authors’ field researches in 2014–2020 within the upper and middle parts of the river basin, herbarium materials, and archive data. The study shows that the natural flora consists at least of 105 species of vascular plants belonging to 66 genera, 36 families, and 22 orders. Structural analysis shows the predominance of a few families in the systematic structure of the flora (Cyperaceae, Potamogetonaceae, Poaceae, Ranunculaceae, Plantaginaceae, and Typhaceae) and genera (Potamogeton, Carex); the dominant categories are hemicryptophytes and geophytes, entomophiles and anemophiles, heliophytes and hygrohelophytes. C- and S-strategists are dominant. This is the generally typical taxonomic and ecological structure of the hydrophilic flora of water bodies in the Pripyat River basin. The list of rare species includes 20 species from 15 genera and 12 families, for instance, species listed as vulnerable in The Red Book of Ukraine (Juncus bulbosus, Utricularia intermedia, Nymphoides peltata). Even rare and vulnerable species can form numerous populations in some localities, for example, Nymphoides peltata and Calla palustris. Five alien species were identified (Acorus calamus, Elodea canadensis, Zizania latifolia, Bidens frondosa, and Echinocystis lobata), some of which tend to expand and displace aboriginal species. In the future, it will be important to further study the structure and changes in the hydrophilic flora of the region under conditions of anthropogenic impact, to monitor the dynamics of populations of alien species, and to develop conservation measures for rare species and communities
Physiological responses of orchids to prolonged clinorotation
Creation of plant-based bioregenerative life support systems is crucial for future long-duration space exploring missions. Microgravity is one of the major stresses affecting plant growth and development under space flight conditions. Search for higher plant genotypes resilient to microgravity as well as revealing of biological features which could be used as markers of such resilience is rather urgently needed. The objective of this study was to analyze physiological and biochemical responses of three orchid species representing different life forms (terrestrial and epiphytic), growth types (monopodial and sympodial) and pathways of CO2 fixation to long-term (24 months) clinorotation which modeled the combined effect of two stress factors: hermetic conditions and microgravity. Three years old meristematic orchids Cypripedium flavum, Angraecum eburneum, Epidendrum radicans, representing different life forms, types of branching shoot system and pathways of CO2 fixation, were used as test-plants. The microgravity was simulated using three-dimensional (3-D) clinostat equipped with two rotation axes placed at right angles (rotation frequency was 3 rpm) in controlled conditions of air temperature, illumination, air humidity and substrate moisture. The control plants were grown in the similar plastic vessels but not hermetically sealed and without clinorotating in the same environmental conditions. The vital state of the test plants was assessed using characteristics of mineral nutrition, content of photosynthetic pigments, free amino acids, soluble proteins, DNA and RNA, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. The results of this study confirmed that orchids grown under simulated microgravity and kept in hermetically-sealed vessels were subjected to oxidative stress, which could be responsible for the observed inhibition of basic physiological processes such as mineral nutrition, metabolism of aminoacids, protein biosynthesis and photosynthesis. Monopodial orchids C. flavum and A. eburneum demonstrated better adaptation to prolonged clinorotation as compared to sympodial E. radicans. In particular, the latter demonstrated some stimulation of mineral nutrition processes (i.e. K, N, Fe, Mn, Zn accumulation), content of photosynthetic pigments, proline and superoxide dismutase activity. Long-lasting clinorotation induced adaptive changes of antioxidant systems in the studied orchids (e.i. increase in carotenoids and proline content and stimulation of superoxide dismutase activity), which helped to maintain the main physiological functions at stable level in the above-mentioned stressful conditions. The following biochemical characteristics in the studied orchids could be considered as markers of resilience to simulated microgravity and hermetic conditions: 1) an increase in the accumulation of non-enzymatic (proline, carotenoids) and enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase); 2) ability to maintain stable balance of mineral nutrients; 3) increase in the content of photosynthetic pigments; 4) increase in the content of proteinogenic amino acids and soluble proteins; 5) increase in the DNA content or RNA/DNA ratio. Our studies have also demonstrated a correlation between orchid ecomorphological characteristics such as type of branching with their adaptive responses to prolonged clinorotation. We observed no correlation between the studied life form of orchids, ecotype or the pathway of CO2 fixation and their resilience to prolonged clinorotation. This research can be a starting point for studying the relationships between ecomorphological features of various orchids and their resilience to microgravity conditions in the search for biological markers of microgravity tolerance in species of higher plants
Antibacterial effect of essential oils of two plants Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Artemisia herba alba on some bacterial strains
Essential oils are secondary plant metabolites and have many therapeutic properties. The aim of our study is to determine the antibacterial effect of the essential oils of two plants cultivated in a semi-arid region located in the Northeast of Algeria (Tebessa), Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Myrtaceae) and Artemisia herba alba (Asteraceae). The yield of essential oils of the two plants were 1.45 ± 0.026 and 1.21 ± 0.061 g/100 g of the dry matter of the aerial part respectively. The test of the antibacterial effect is based on the diffusion method on solid medium (sensitivity), this method allows us to determine the susceptibility or resistance of an organism vis-à-vis the sample studied. Our study reveals that E. camaldulensis essential oil had very strong activity on all bacterial strains tested, except on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis for which there was no inhibitory effect. However, A. herba alba essential oil had very strong activity on all bacterial strains tested except on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The MIC of Artemisia essential oil ranged between 0.08 and 1.57 µL/mL, with the lowest activity for S. aureus and P. mirabilis (1.57 µL/mL) and the highest activity was observed against E. feacalis, E. coli, and K. pneumonia (0.09 µL/mL). The MIC of the second plant EO ranged between 0.08 and 0.36 µL/mL, with the lowest activity for P. mirabilis (0.36 µL/mL) and the highest one was observed against S. saprophyticus and E. coli (0.08 µL/mL). Statistical analysis shows that the two plants have the same efficacy against S. saprophyticus while E. faecalis, K. pneumoniae and P. mirabilis species are affected more by the essential oil of A. herba alba. While, E. camaldulensis has a higher efficiency than that of A. herba alba on the species: S. aureus and E. coli. Therefore, the essential oils of E. camaldulensis and A. herba alba suggests avenues for further non clinical and clinical studies
Anthropogenic load іs a leading factor in the morphological variability of Chondrula tridens (Gastropoda, Enidae) in the northwestern Azov Sea region
Morphometric data are widely used in biology to assess intraspecific and inter-population variability and for bioindication and environmental condition assessment. The following hypotheses have been experimentally tested in the paper: 1) the vegetation type affects the change in the shell shape of Chondrula tridens martynovi Gural-Sverlova & Gural, 2010; 2) the change in the shell shape of this species is influenced by the biotope moisture regime; 3) the shell shape changes depending on the anthropogenic load level. The material in the form of empty, fully formed Ch. tridens shells was collected in 2019 in the north-western Azov region within the basin of the Molochna River. The collection points were located in settlements and outside them and differed in vegetation, moisture regime and level of anthropogenic load. The vegetation has been expertly attributed to two alternative types: herbaceous vegetation and tree plantations. By moisture level, the locations have been assessed as xerophytic and mesoxerophytic. The anthropogenic load levels have been assessed as low, medium and high. The study revealed that the morphological characteristics of Ch. tridens demonstrate a significant component of variability, which is due to the shell size. The shell size depends on the anthropogenic impact level. Under conditions of high anthropogenic impact, the shell size increases. Mollusks from locations with low and medium anthropogenic impact levels did not differ in shell size. After extraction of the size component, morphological properties develop three main trends of variability. The mouth apparatus development of mollusks does not depend on the vegetation type, but depends on the biotope moisture level and the anthropogenic transformation level. The mollusk shell elongation was observed to have the opposite dynamics of the height parameters in relation to the width and depended on the level of anthropogenic load. Rearrangement in the mouth apparatus depended on the biotope moisture level and the anthropogenic load level. There were distinguished four clusters, the quantitative morphological features of which allowed us to identify them as morphotypes. Each location was characterized by a combination of different morphotypes, according to which the sampling points may be classified. Morphotype 1 corresponds to biotopes with low level of anthropogenic load, morphotype 4 corresponded to biotopes with high anthropogenic load. Morphotypes 2 and 3 corresponded to moderate level of anthropogenic load. Vegetation type is not an important factor in determining the morphotypic diversity of populations. Under xerophytic conditions, morphotypes 2 and 3 are more common, and under mesoxerophytic conditions, morphotypes 1 and 4 are more common. The range of molluscs in different habitats needs to be expanded in the future to clarify climatic and other patterns
The influence of relief morphometric characteristics upon the occurrence of the species Cordulegaster bidentata in the particular conditions of the Western Carpathians
The study concerns a monitoring survey of Cordulegaster bidentata Selys, 1843 (Odonata, Cordulegastridae), which is considered near threatened in the European Red List of Dragonflies, in order to show its habitat preferences and clarify the influence of slope and orientation of slopes on the occurrence of the species. Investigations of water habitats were carried out during the period from 2019 to 2020 in the Kysuce Region in northwest Slovakia. The protocol consists of looking for larvae and characterizing larval micro-habitat of C. bidentata so as to show their habitat preferences and clarify the influence of slope and orientation of slopes on the occurrence of the species. We sampled 32 watercourses (epicrenal, hypocrenal, rheocren, heleocren, epirhithral, metarhithral) at altitudes 420–950 m above sea level. A total of 79 larvae and 10 imagines (7♂ 3♀) of C. bidentata were found at 12 streams. In the present study, C. bidentata clearly preferred first-order stream sections, the slopes were steep and the proportion of small sediment grain sizes was high. The results show that the number of C. bidentata larvae grew with the increasing percentage of forests around streams. We also confirmed the trend for the number of C. bidentata larvae to increase with increasing values of slope and altitude of watercourses. Most of the individuals were recorded at the south and southwest oriented streams; we did not record larvae on the north and northwest oriented slopes. We assume that more suitable conditions for development of population exist in the streams on the south and southwest oriented slopes. The preference for watercourses oriented south and southwest ensures optimal conditions for the development of the population of this dragonfly species. The finding of larvae at the stages of instars shows the permanent occurrence of the species in the Kysuce Region
Soluble cuticular wax composition and antimicrobial activity of the fruits of Chaenomeles species and an interspecific hybrid
Plants of the genus Chaenomeles Lindl. (Rosaceae) naturally grow in Southeast Asia and represent the richest resource of biologically active compounds with beneficial properties for humans. Plants of C. japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. and C. speciosa (Sweet) Nakai species, and interspecific hybrid C. × superba (Frahm) Rehder (C. japonica × C. speciosa, Superba group) have been successfully introduced in the steppe zone of Ukraine and bear fruits. In this study, we evaluated chemical composition of fruit cuticular waxes and antimicrobial activity of fruit extracts. The soluble waxes were characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and 26–36 compounds, representing 91.7–96.6% of the total soluble cuticular waxes, were identified. Waxes of Chaenomeles fruits belonged to six classes, namely fatty acids, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ethers and alkanes. Aldehydes 7-hexadecenal and heptacosanal, and alkanes hexatriacontane and tetrapentacontane were the main constituents in the soluble cuticular waxes of C. speciosa and C. × superba fruits, accounting for more than half of the total contents. However, alkane tetrapentacontane, alcohol 8,10-hexadecadien-1-ol and heptacosanal prevailed in C. japonica fruit waxes. Isopropanolic fruit extracts exhibited dose-dependent antimicrobial activity against four Gram-negative bacteria, five Gram-positive bacteria and one fungal strain in the disc diffusion assay. In general, extracts from the Chaenomeles fruits demonstrated higher activity against Gram+ bacteria than Gram- strains. The strongest inhibiting activity was shown against Staphylococcus epidermidis (by the fruit extracts of C. × superba and C. speciosa), Micrococcus lysodeikticus and Candida albicans (both by C. × superba fruit extract). Results of the study confirmed accumulation of the bioactive compounds in the fruit waxes of different Chaenomeles species and antimicrobial ability of Chaenomeles fruits as well. These findings revealed the bioactive compounds in fruit cuticular waxes and suggested health-promoting properties of introduced Chaenomeles species
Synopsis of the order Juncales (Liliopsida) in Ukraine
Juncales is an order of vascular plants with cosmopolitan distribution. Two families of Juncales are present in flora of Ukraine: Juncaceae and Cyperaceae. Through 1985–2021, we conducted comprehensive revision of Juncales in Ukraine. The aim of this research was to compile a checklist of Juncales species in the flora of Ukraine. Our research is based on herbarium materials, literature data and field trips. We collected data in many herbariums of Ukraine and other countries. Our understanding of the taxa was further supplemented by field observations in mountainous (Carpathians and Crimea) and plain territories of Ukraine. Also, we collected information about Juncales species from numerous literature sources. For each taxon, we provided nomenclatural citation and basic synonyms. According to our data, the order Juncales in the flora of Ukraine contains 188 species, belonging to 19 genera. Lists of Juncales species can be found in many thorough publications. For a long time, Checklist of Mosyakin & Fedoronchuk (1999) was the main list in the nomenclature of vascular plants in Ukraine. To date, many nomenclature and taxonomic changes have been accumulated. For example, we accept genera Schoenoplectiella and Oreojuncus here. Researchers have found many new species for the territory of Ukraine. This information can be found in numerous publications, but is fragmented. Therefore, we have compiled an updated summary of the Juncales species. In Ukrainian territory, Juncales species are considered both widespread and rare. We refer to the rarest species Carex alba, C. bicolor, C. bohemica, C. brunnescens, C. buxbaumii, C. depauperata, C. fuliginosa, C. globularis, C. heleonastes, C. lachenalii, C. loliacea, C. obtusata, C. pediformis, C. rupestris, C. strigosa, Cyperus longus, Eleocharis multicaulis, E. oxylepis, Fimbristylis bisumbellata, Juncus acutiflorus, J. soranthus, J. subnodulosus, Isolepis setacea, Luzula spicata, Schoenoplectus pungens, Trichophorum alpinum, T. cespitosum. Also, the following species are rare: Bolboschoenus yagara, Carex chordorrhiza, C. davalliana, C. dioica, C. hostiana, C. pauciflora, C. secalina, C. vaginata, Cladium mariscus, Eleocharis carniolica, Juncus capitatus, J. castaneus, J. littoralis, J. sphaerocarpus, J. thomasii, J. triglumis, Luzula alpinopilosa, L. sudetica, Schoenoplectiella mucronata, Schoenus ferrugineus
Parasites of domestic and wild pigeons in the south of Ukraine
Pigeons are closely related to human life and are both a source of food and object for hobbies and sports. Parasitic diseases of birds are the main reason for their growth retardation, reduced productivity and viability. The article presents the results of studying the prevalence of trichomonosis, cestodes and nematodes among the population of wild and domestic pigeons in the south of Ukraine. According to the results of the conducted researches it is established that in the south of Ukraine endoparasitoses of domestic and wild pigeons are quite widespread, and all species of this bird are carriers of Trichomonas gallinae. At the same time, the highest rate of Trichomonas infection was recorded in Columba palambus and C. livia domestica, and the overall infestation of males is higher by 4.4% compared to females. It was determined that domestic pigeons C. livia domestica were infested with trichomonosis (27.5%) and nematodes (Ascaridia columbae, 57.1%), C. palambus – trichomonosis (32.1%) and cestodes (Raillietina spp., 82.4%), Streptopelia turtur – cestodes (Raillietina spp., 12.5%) and S. decaocto – cestodes (Raillietina spp., 71.4%) and nematodes (Heterakis gallinarum, A. columbae – 33.3% and 44.4% respectively). The overall rate of infestation of pigeons with cestodes was 28.4% and the incidence in males was higher by 3.9% compared to females. It was found that the most common species among pigeon cestodes is Raillietina spp. In addition, 22.9% of pigeons are carriers of nematodes (H. gallinarum, A. columbae and Capillaria spp.). Continuous monitoring of pigeon parasites is necessary because they, in most cases, come into contact with other species of poultry and are a source of general invasion. In terms of further research, it would be promising to study the prevalence of helminthic infestation among wild migratory birds