Biosystems Diversity (E-Journal - Dnipro National University)
Not a member yet
1129 research outputs found
Sort by
Distribution of adventive species Solidago canadensis, Phalacroloma annuum, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Heracleum sosnowskyi in phytocenoses of Volyn’ Polissya (Ukraine)
Get PDFBiological pollution of natural phytocenoses by adventive plant species poses is a serious threat to endemic species and species with narrower ecological amplitude in ecosystems around the world. This study presents the results of a study of the composition and distribution of adventive plant species in natural, semi-natural and anthropogenic transformed phytocenoses of Volyn’ Polissya, Ukraine. To clarify the effect of drainage melioration on non-native flora species distribution, a botanical study was carried out during the 2003–2019 vegetation seasons on the territory of four drainage systems. The adventive flora of this unique region of Europe was studied in detail for the first time. In total, 279 non-native plant species were found. They belong to 110 genera and 32 families. The results of studying the systematic, bioecological, range-distributional and phytogenetic structure of adventive species found within agricultural lands and adjacent territories are presented. It was found that 161 species are associated with agricultural production. Of these, 90 species were found directly within the agricultural land, another 71 species were found growing in the adjacent territories. It was found that a significant increase in the number of adventive species on the territory of Volyn’ Polissya is associated with drainage melioration carried out in the 1960–1990s, significant changes in the structure and forms of agro-industrial production, and climatic changes in recent decades. The expansion of agricultural land in this area over the past 50–60 years has led to an increase in the number of adventive species by more than 60%. On the territory of drainage systems used for agricultural activities, more than 40% of the total species composition of the adventive flora of Volyn’ Polissya is represented. The majority of these species originate from arid and sub arid regions of the planet. The transformer plants, Solidago canadensis L. and Phalacroloma annuum (L.) Dumort pose a potential threat to phytocenoses of the described region, as well as the whole of Europe. Of particular interest are the species that in the future may pose a serious threat to natural phyto-diversity and have negative practical consequences for the structure of agricultural landscapes. These are Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. and Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden. In general, modern agro ecosystems are characterized by instability and low ability to resist non-native species. The strongly weedy character of cultivated fields and the presence of abandoned uncultivated lands have caused the rapid spread of adventive vegetation. In order to further optimize the structure of agrolandscapes, it is advisable to monitor and regulate not only expansionary invasive species, which is especially important for preventing biological pollution, but also species whose status has not yet been determined
Diversity of Sambucus nigra pollen within Slovakia in selected morphological characters by SEM study
Get PDFThis study analyzed pollen morphology and characteristics of 20 Sambucus nigra L. genotypes from populations of various ecotypes and geographical localities from the territory of Slovakia. We used principal component analysis to explore variability in pollen grain size (polar and equatorial diameter), shape, aperture type, and exine ornamentation by scanning electron microscopy. The combination of these morphological characteristics and ultrastructure allows us to determine the differences or similarities between the same and various species and genotypes, which may be a useful tool for systematics with significant diagnostic value. The findings confirmed small differences among the genotypes in measured traits with polar and equatorial diameters in the range from 22.30 to 26.64 μm and from 12.81 to 14.45 μm, respectively. Shape index (P/E ratio) depending on elongation or roundness of pollen grains varied from 1.66 to 2.02. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) of morphological data helped to compare evaluated morphometric parameters and identified three closely related groups. It was noted that the diversity of surface sculpturing of pollen grains in combination with their shape and size enables us to use a complex of fine morphologic signs for S. nigra pollen identification. Pollen data combined with other morphological evidence (e.g., floral characters) have more recently become an important indicator of which genotypes may be the best representatives of species
Dynamics of plant cover of meadow steppes after the cessation of traditional management in Opillia
Get PDFMeadow steppes of Opillia (western edge of Podillia Upland, Western Ukraine) belong to xerothermic calcareous grasslands which are the most species-rich habitats in Europe. This paper contains results of a nine-year study (2010–2018 years) of plant species composition in ‘Ostrivets’ grassland after the cessation of traditional management (mowing). The patch had been burnt for at least five years running and then abandoned for five more years. The patch was chosen as a model grassland of abandoned meadow steppes. We examined plant species richness and composition on three sample plots of 5 x 5 m2. In 2010, at the beginning of annual burning practice the plots harboured 114 species. One year after cessation of disturbance by fire (2014), species richness decreased to 108 species. In 2018, after five years of abandonment it reached 83 species. Abundance of the dominant species (Brachypodium pinnatum) remained unchanged when the patch was under annual burning regime. After abandonment of the habitat Molinia arundinacea became the dominant species. Species composition experienced changed as well. Only 37.9% of species remained in the sample plots from 2010 till 2018. The proportion of meadow-steppe species halved, they were substituted by species of forests, forest edges and ruderal species. Percent of meadow species did not significantly change, however this group of species began to dominate within the community. The cover of woody vegetation reached 15–20% in 2018. Rubus caesius encroached on the grassland in 2014 and gained 20% of projective cover in 2018. Ten out of thirteen rare species disappeared from the habitat during the study period. ‘Ostrivets’ habitat requires urgent measures to be taken to restore and preserve meadow-steppe species composition. We suggest the following measures: elimination of trees and shrubs, regular moving and overseeding of extinct species
Adaptive strategy of Rapana venosa (Gastropoda, Muricidae) in the invasive population of the Black Sea
Get PDFWe conducted molecular-genetic and morphological studies on the veined rapa whelk Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) in the Crimean waters of the Black Sea in order to determine possible reasons of the invasive success of this mollusk. Molecular-genetic tests were performed using COI gene; the surveyed samples reliably identified to R. venosa species. We compared the data on initial (from the Far-Eastern seas) and some invasive populations. In the natural conditions of the Yellow, East China Seas, and the Sea of Japan, the genetic diversity of rapa whelk is high (Hd = 0.933, π = 0.002). In all the invasive populations of rapa whelk (Black Sea, European and North American), an extremely low level of haplotypic and nucleotide diversity was determined (Hd = 0.0, π = 0.0). Despite low values of genetic diversity, the invasive populations of rapa whelk are characterized by ecological success. We noted stable growth of populations, tolerance to diseases and parasites, effective reproduction, high fertility. This contradicts the main provisions of the population genetics theory of formation of edge of range populations, because usually only a small number of specimens of rapa whelk were introduced. The explanations of the unique condition of the invasive populations of rapa whelk, both from an ecological perspective (high resistance to fluctuations of hydrological factors and chemical pollution, absence of enemies, high fertility) and genetic perspective (high selective value of separate haplotypes settled in the new water areas) have not been confirmed. We determined that a very important factor for the naturalization of the rapa whelk at low genetic diversity is the intra-species morpho-ecological divergence. In the Crimean water area of the Black Sea, R. venosa was found to have two morpho-ecological forms associated with the peculiarities of the development of the proportions of the shell. Study of successful invasive species would allow timely and adequate reaction to new cases of introduction
Syntaxonomy and ecological differentiation of the pioneer vegetation of Ukraine. 1. Classes: Cakiletea maritimae, Ammophiletea, Crithmo-Staticetea, Crypsietea aculeatae, Therosalicornietea
Get PDFPioneer plant communities grow on newly-formed ecotopes of coastal and partially continental areas, on patches that have dried after the surface water flooding. They are affected by sea tides, wind-induced effect, salinity, denudation, accumulation and sharp changes in soil humidity. To these factors are added chemical and biological pollution, as well as anthropogenic pressure. Due to these reasons, such plant communities have a specific floristic composition, structure, functional regime and resilience mechanisms, which are different from coenoses of more stable habitats. On the basis of the analysis of more than 600 phytosociological relevés using TWINSPAN modified algorithm the current state of littoral and halophytic classes of pioneer vegetation in Ukraine has been established and their syntaxonomic structure identified. It has been determined that the level of pioneer phytocoenoses diversity in Ukraine is similar to that of Central Europe. The Cakiletea maritimae class is presented by 1 order, 1 alliance, and 4 associations; Ammophiletea – by 1 order, 1 alliance, and 8 associations; Crithmo-Staticetea – by 1 order, 2 alliances, and 3 associations; Crypsietea aculeatae – by 1 order, 3 alliances, and 4 associations, Therosalicornietea – by 1 order, 2 alliances, and 10 associations. Synoptic tables of vegetation classes are given and nine alliances are briefly characterized. Using DCA-ordination analysis of syntaxa in the association-rank level we identified that the main factors of ecological differentiation are soil humidity and aeration as well as the nitrogen content. For the pioneer plant communities, other significant impact factors are the extremality of environmental conditions, their unevenness and non-equilibrium, in particular, the mechanical action of the sea waves, the dynamic processes of denudation and accumulation, salinity, as well as the variability of damping during the year. This research contributes to the identification of the place of the distinguished syntaxa of Ukrainian pioneer vegetation in the European system
Radial increment in European spruce (Picea abies) as indicator of sanitary condition of spruce forests in the Ukrainian Carpathians
Get PDFIn recent years, there has been an intense desiccation of spruce forests in the Ukrainian Carpathians, where European spruce is the main forest-forming species. Over the recent years, desiccation has spread to the spruce forest stands which grow in the Carpathians at the height of over 1,000 m above the sea level. This process causes large economic losses, significant deterioration of the condition and productivity of the forests in the Carpathians, decrease in the level of provision of ecosystemic services by forests, functions they perform, therefore leading to dangerous exogenic processes (floods, freshets, erosion, mudflows, landslides). To determine the interaction between the radial increment and sanitary condition of the spruce stands and substantiate the measures of the use of drying spruce forests, in the Vysokohirsky forestry reserve district of the Ukrainian Carpathians in anti-erosion forests, in hotbeds of desiccation of spruce in 2018, dendrochronological surveys were undertaken in two monitoring plots in forests in weak and severely weakened condition. We collected cores from the model trees, measured width of the annual rings, and developed individual dendrochronologies according to the absolute values of the radial increments and generalized dendrochronologies according to the absolute values of the radial increments and increment indices of the duration of 97 (1921–2017) and 81 years (1937–2017). We conducted single-factor dispersion analysis, calculated the indices of abnormality of the radial increments and correlation coefficient. The results revealed that the lowest increments occurred in the years 1965–1990 in the weakened stand and in 1997–2017 in the severely weakened stand. The relative indices of the forests ranged 83.8–114.6%. The cycles of increment lasted 7–9 years. Over the last few decades, favourable conditions for the growth of the trees took place in 1991–2010, unfavourable in 2011–2017, very unfavourable in 1981–1990. Synchronicity of annual radial increments in the spruces of two monitoring plots equaled 49 years. Correlation coefficient indicates that the type of the conditions of growth location has a significant effect on its variability in the process of trees’ life cycle. Average radial increment of the weakened stand of trees over the last 10 years decreased by 7.9%, while it declined by 54.9% in the severely weakened stand compared with the average increments of the tree stands for the surveyed periods, suggesting that the forests undergo different stages of succession: the weakened stand undergoes the stage of recovery after disturbance, severely weakened forest – stage of disturbance. The studies revealed the dependence of radial increment of spruce on the sanitary condition of the forests. The results of the studies may be used for the assessment of dynamic processes in forest ecosystems as a result of the impact of various factors and planning of the forestry measures
Iris sibirica (Iridaceae) on the territory of Western Ukraine
Get PDFThe state of Iris sibirica L. in the national botanical reserve "The Valley of the Irises" is characterized. In particular, it was found that I. sibirica should be classified in the group of Euro-West Siberian, and not as a Euro-Siberian or even Eurasian species. Phenological rhythms and peculiarities of fruiting have been studied. It is established that the duration of the vegetation period of I. sibirica lasts 187–246 days. The most important stages of the reproductive cycle of I. sibirica (structure of inflorescences, flowers, fruits and seeds, phenology, seed productivity) have been studied. We first discovered that on the inner surface of the flower tube there is a multilayer secretory tissue – perigonal nectar. The fruiting of I. sibirica, which lasts quite a long time: 2–3 months (60–80 days) from June to August, was studied. In this population two ways opening of the capsule were observed. Apis mellifera (Linnaeus, 1758) (honey bee) and Bombus bombus (Latreille, 1802) (bumblebee) are pollinators of I. sibirica in the reserve. The coefficient of seed productivity of I. sibirica was high and quite stable, but despite the high potential and actual seed productivity in the population there is a weak seed recovery, which is associated with high turfing and invasions of members of the phytophagous genus Ceutorhynchus. Their activity dramatically reduces the maturation and dissemination of full-fledged mature seeds due to damage to flowers, capsules and seeds in them. However, the population of I. sibirica in the "The Valley of the Irises" is mature, normal, with a slight predominance of young individuals, which provides it with positive dynamics
Morphology, biology and parasite fauna of the least cisco (Coregonus sardinella) of the Yenisei River
Get PDFIn the present study, we present an analysis of the morphological and ecological characteristics of the “turukhanskaja” form of the Siberian least cisco of the Yenisei River, including the characters of the size-age, sexual composition of the population, fecundity and growth. The variability of 34 morphological characters was studied. Significant differences were noted between males and females of the least cisco of the Yenisei River for 11 morphometric characters (head length, maximum body depth, caudal peduncle length, antepectoral distance, dorsal fin base length and dorsal fin depth, anal fin base length, pectoral fin length, head width, head (at nape), interorbital width). Significant differences in meristic characters were revealed in comparison of the least cisco from the Yenisei River with populations of Siberian least cisco from other water bodies. It was shown that the Yenisei least cisco is close to the European vendace Coregonus albula Linnaeus, 1758 not only according to cluster hierarchical analysis for some meristic and morphometric features but also in terms of growth and fecundity. In general, the Yenisei least cisco, as well as other populations of least cisco of the Taimyr, is characterized by heterogeneity in the structure of populations. The parasite fauna of Yenisei’s Siberian cisco, captured in the area of Dudinka town, consists of 17 species of parasites from seven systematic groups. It is dominated by Diphyllobothrium ditremum (Creplin, 1825) and Discocotyle sagittata (Leuckart, 1842). The feature of the parasite fauna of least cisco from Yenisei River in comparison with the Ob River (neighbouring water basin) is a low infection with trematodes and a high species diversity of Acanthocephala. The reason for the low infection with trematodes may be differences in the hydrological conditions of the water bodies, which in the Yenisei are unfavourable for the development of intermediate hosts of trematodes. Siberian cisco from the Yenisei River is a carrier of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (Nitzsh, 1824), a species that can cause human disease
Fruit and berry plants of forest belts as a factor of species diversity of ornithofauna during the breeding season and autumn migration period
Get PDFDuring migration, the availability of food that affects the success of bird movements, the nature and timing of their movements, is critical for many bird species. The relationship between migration routes and the ripening of fruit and berry plants along the route is important. Four types of forest belts were studied: wind-blown maple-ash, latticed maple-linden, dense oak-maple-linden, wind-blown oak-maple-poplar. During the study 43 bird species were identified consuming 9 major fruit and berry plant species: Sambucus nigra, Prunus spinosa, Crataegus laevigata, Rosa canina, Prunus padus, Sorbus aucuparia, Rhamnus cathartica, Morus nigra, Prunus cerasus. The highest average number of birds feeding in forest belts (4.14 ind./km) was registered in oak-maple-linden dense forest belts, while the lowest number (1.48 ind./km) was recorded in wind-blown maple-ash ones. Maple-linden latticed forest belts characterize the best index data of α-diversity of birds. In the summer-autumn diet, succulent fruit are the most important: Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) – 11.8% of the total number of birds observed to feed on this food resource, Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) – 11.3%, Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) – 9.3%, Song thrush (Turdus philomelos) – 7.3%, Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) – 7.1%, Blackbird (Turdus merula) – 5.4%. 42 species of birds were observed to feed on black elderberry. More than half (51.2%) of the species composition of birds feeding on fruit and berry plants were migratory birds. Consequently, juicy berries are an important food during bird migrations
Change in the state of an exploited fish population: From individual indicators to integral assessment
Get PDFWe adapted the approach used for the integral assessment of the status of ecosystems in order to assess population status. Classic theoretical concepts of fish population dynamics are the basis of this approach. The convolution of information about changes in several structural and functional characteristics into one integral index was performed using the analytical function of desirability. The index varied 0 to 1 and quantitatively characterizes the state of the population. This approach was tested on the example of the European grayling Thymallus thymallus (Linnaeus, 1758), inhabiting the Vym River (basin of the Northern Dvina River, North of the European part of Russia). The materials were collected during the environmental monitoring carried out by the Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IB FRC Komi SC UB RAS) in 2002, 2005–2019. The population parameters used in the calculations (relative abundance; average and maximum age of fish; the proportion of matured individuals in the 4+ age group; average specific growth rate of fish at the age of 6+; body weight of fish in the age group 6+) were characterized on the basis of the control net catches. Compared with the period 2005–2006, the value of the integral index in 2015–2018 decreased by almost two times. This indicates deterioration in the condition of the grayling group in the study area. There were no serious disturbances in the fish habitat in this area. The main hydrochemical and hydrobiological indicators have not changed significantly. The main reason for the observed changes is likely the significant increase in the impact of recreational anglers. The proposed integral index may be useful both for assessing the state of fish populations and for developing measures for the rational management of fish stocks