Biosystems Diversity (E-Journal - Dnipro National University)
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Crustacean fauna of Kharkiv region (Ukraine)
Get PDFThe list of crustacean species of Kharkiv region, Ukraine, comprises 153 valid species, distributed in 13 orders and 28 families. This number corresponds to 0.2% of Crustacea worldwide. The order Anomopoda is the most represented, with 53 species. Numbers of species per order recorded were: Calanoida (8), Cyclopoida (23), Spinicaudata (1), Laevicaudata (1), Ctenopoda (20), Anomopoda (5), Haplopoda (1), Anostraca (5), Notostraca (2), Amphipoda (7), Isopoda (1), Decapoda (3), and Podocopida (46). The check-list includes free-living aquatic crustaceans, while parasitic and terrestrial ones are not listed herein. In the fauna of Kharkiv region, two non-indigenous species were revealed: Neocaridina davidi and Procambarus virginalis. Additionally, four species are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine: Hemidiaptomus rylowi, Cyzicus tetracerus, Tanymastix stagnalis and Drepanosurus birostratus. Fourteen species are rare for Kharkiv region: Eudiaptomus transylvanicus, Gigantodiaptomus hungaricus, Hemidiaptomus rylowi, Tanymastix stagnalis, Chirocephalus shadini, Chirocephalus josephinae, Cyzicus tetracerus, Lynceus brachyurus, Drepanosurus birostratus, Streptocephalus torvicornis, Lepidurus apus, Triops cancriformis, Synurella ambulans, and Yogmelina pusilla
Rare component of biota in the Data Centre "Biodiversity of Ukraine" and its possible use to identify hotspot areas and evaluation of biodiversity
Get PDFThe problem of assessing the diversity of biotic complexes is extremely important and relevant and has been covered in numerous publications, mostly for certain taxonomic groups. The use of information retrieval systems with large databases opens up new opportunities and approaches to automated biodiversity assessment. All the data used in this article are taken from the web resource of the Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine” and include data from museum collections, literature and human observation. To evaluate species diversity included in the Red Data Book of Ukraine, we developed a scoring scale for each protected category based on a ranking system according to its protected category. For the assessment, we used Disappearing species, Vulnerable species, and Rare species only. To highlight hotspot areas we used the aggregation maps with 20 × 20 km squares. Species diversity of the species included in the Red Data Book of Ukraine of the western region of Ukraine in the CDBU is represented by 498 species (fungi 41, plants 191, animals 266). By oblasts of the western region of Ukraine: Volyn oblast 139 species (fungi 3, plants 51, animals 85), Rivne oblast 85 (fungi 5, plants 32, animals 48), Lviv oblast 260 (fungi 17, plants 90, animals 153), Ternopil oblast 182 (fungi 9, plants 48, animals 125), Ivano-Frankivsk oblast 219 (fungi 28, plants 59, animals 132), Chernivtsi oblast 105 (fungi 6, plants 49, animals 50), Zakarpattia oblast 190 (fungi 26, plants 70, animals 94). Most of the defined hotspots coincide with the territories of the nature reserve fund of Ukraine, and some hotspots are located in large cities (scientific centers) with vicinities. We have also identified hotspots outside of existing nature reserves, including the territories of large water reservoirs, river valleys, and historical biodiversity hotspots. Thus, Data сentre “Biodiversity of Ukraine” tools can be used to assess rare biodiversity and its restoration in the post-war period, as well as to identify hotspots and locations for creating new protected territories, identifying ecological corridors and developing ecological networks and monitor changes in biodiversity caused by climate change
Unveiling floristic diversity in the High Atlas: Insights from a protected reserve in a global Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot
Get PDFPlant species represent a hierarchical expression of vegetation, influenced by various environmental factors. With the growing awareness of the importance of ecological restoration and conservation, there is an increasing need to study and understand flora, its species composition, and its distribution to facilitate preservation and conservation efforts. This study aimed to investigate the floristic composition, plant diversity, and provide a comprehensive phyto-ecological analysis of the Amassine Reserve within the Toubkal National Park in Morocco. To achieve this, quantitative ecological techniques were employed to sample vegetation. In total, 154 phyto-ecological surveys were conducted, recording 116 vascular plant species, which belong to 101 genera and 40 different families. Asteraceae represented 16.2% of the species, followed by Lamiaceae and Leguminosae, each represent 7.7% of the total flora. The phytoecological analysis combined with principal correspondence analysis of the floristic composition revealed four distinct plant formations: Franken iaceae , newly characterized shrub stands of saline areas, Tetraclinaie , Juniperaie, and holm o ak plant stand. Each of these plant formations is described by its geographical distribution, its floristic composition and its ecological conditions. This study pr o vides crucial baseline data of the flora of this area. The findings offer a valuable resource for stakeholders involved in decision-making and the development of effective conservation strategies for this protected area
Chlorine in plant life
Get PDFChlorine is an essential nutrient, a deficiency of which reduces plant productivity. Chlorine-containing substances have been known and used for a long time. The most common chlorine compound, sodium chloride (table salt), has been in use since ancient times. It was used as early as 3000 BC and brine as early as 6000 BC. Cl substances are mentioned in ancient texts from different cultures. The discovery of chlorine was in 1774 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele. He obtained it by reacting pyrolusite (manganese dioxide, MnO 2 ) with hydrochloric acid (HCl, then known as muriatic acid). Scheele thought that the gas produced contained oxygen. It was Sir Humphry Davy's proposal and confirmation in 1810 that chlorine was an element, and he also named the element. Chlorine has been considered a biologically importa nt element almost since its discovery. Research into the effects of chloride fertilisers was carried out in the second half of the last century. In 1949, Warburg argued that chloride was an important trace element for plant growth and showed that it was necessary for the water distribution system at the site of photosystem II oxidation. In the 1954 Broyer et al. finally demonstrated the biological importance of chlorine for plants. Chloride is the most abundant inorganic anion in plant cells, an element available in most agrophytocenoses. The average Cl - content in plants ranges from 2.0 – 20.0 mg / g DM, but for Cl-sensitive and Cl-tolerant glycophyte species, the critical (often toxic) Cl-content in tissues can be around 4 – 7 and 15 – 35 mg / g DM, respectively. Chlorine deficiency in plants has characteristic symptoms: wilting, numerous spots, and reduced productivity. Chloride performs a wide range of functions in plants, primarily forming turgor and osmoregulation, respectively, affecting transport processes on membranes (plasmalemma, tonoplast, etc.), water & nitrogen use efficiency (WUE & NUE), and affects the functioning of photosystem II, and is therefore an important part of agricultural plant productivity. Chloride stimulates the structural and functional role of the plasma membrane, sugar transport, as well as nitrogen fixation and assimilation in the plant. Nitrogen assimilation , and photorespiration become more efficient when fed with chloride. Recent studies have discussed the role of chlorine in nitrogen assimilation and photorespiration. It has been shown that Cl plays an important role in the oxygen-evolving complex by adjusting the affinity of different amino acid residues for manganese (Mn). Chlorine acts as a counterion, balancing the positive charges of potassium (K⁺) and other cations in plant cells, which is essential for maintaining electrical neutrality and proper ionic balance in cells. Chlorine plays a significant role in soil salinity. Sources of chlorine in soil include mineral weathering, chlorine from marine species and anthropogenic pollution. Fertilisers such as potassium chloride help to increase the chloride content of the soil. Planting salt-tolerant crops can help maintain agricultural productivity on saline soils. The sensitivity of crops to chlorine varies according to the type of crop. Some crops can tolerate higher levels of chloride without adverse effects, while others are more sensitive and may show symptoms of toxicity or growth retardation when exposed to higher chloride concentrations. Understanding the response of specific crops to chloride is important for the development of nutrient systems and irrigation practices. Chloride increases plant resistance to diseases that require relatively large amounts of Cl - . These doses are much higher than those required for its use as a trace element, but much lower than those required to induce salinity control effects. Most of the research on chlorine nutrition has been devoted to studying the effect of the element on the incidence of physiological leaf spot (PLS) in cereals. PLS form on the leaves of cereal crops when there is a lack of chlorine in the nutritional systems. The necrosis that develops in Cl-deficient plants is thought to be associated with the accumulation of H 2 O 2 during the release of Cl from the Mn cluster of the oxygen-evolving complex. Physiological spotting in the form of completely/partially transparent dots/spots on the leaf was observed, which may indicate inhibition of chlorophyll synthesis rather than degradation. Given that chlorine at micromolar concentrations affects transport processes on membranes and that the element is easily leached through the soil profile, its deficiency occurs in the second half of the growing season, during the period of generative development, which may be the initial mechanism for the formation of PLS in the form of transparent/translucent leaf spots. The development of these spots in the generative period of development, during grain filling, can be significantly accelerated by high levels of actinic light and, accordingly, significantly limit the productivity of cereal crops and their quality. A possible component of chlorine deficiency and leaf damage in wheat and other cereals by PLS may be the application of phosphate fertilizers with high fluoride content, such as phosphate rock, etc. Therefore, in high productivity technologies, it is advisable to use phosphate fertilizers with a low fluoride content, such as potassium monophosphate. Therefore, the use of chlorine fertilisers, mainly potassium chloride in the basic application, ammonium chloride, calcium chloride, etc. in the foliar application, is important to provide plants with chlorine during the growing season to increase WUE & NUE, increase plant resi s tance to pathogens, control PLS, and increase productivity of cereals and other agricultural crops. Chlorine's role in increasing WUE & NUE is particularly important for the country's profitable crop production in the face of resource shortages
Application of natural fungi in bioconversion of lignocellulosic waste to second-generation ethanol
Get PDFThe second generation (2G) or cellulosic ethanol can help with diversification of the use of fossil energy sources. However, as bioconversion of plant waste into 2G bioethanol requires expensive additional steps of pre-treatment/hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials, and this technology has not yet reached the technological readiness level which would allow it to be scaled-up, this process needs more interdisciplinary and comprehensive studies. This work was aimed at experimental study of a full cycle of successive processes of pre-treatment/saccharification using cellulolytic enzymes of filamentous fungi and fermentation of obtained syrups by xylose-fermenting yeast, using selected natural microorganisms for the fungal-based bioconversion of lignocellulosic agricultural waste to 2G ethanol. Using the Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken methods of mathematical statistics, the optimal conditions for pre-treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of wheat straw by a hemi- and cellulolytic multi-enzyme complex of the selected fungal strain Talaromyces funiculosus UCM F-16795 were established: microwave-assisted alkali pre-treatment with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions (concentration range 4.6–4.8%), and saccharification conditions of medium pH 4, temperature 40 °С, hydrolysis duration 18 hours, and dilution of culture liquid with a buffer solution 1:1. The total energy of microwave irradiation 1.2 kJ and the ratio of substrate/enzyme solution 100 mg/1 mL were used. Under optimized conditions, wheat straw hydrolysates contained 5.0–7.5 g/L of reducing sugars, which, according to HPLC assessment, contained 0.7–1.0 g/L of glucose, 2.2–2.9 g/L of xylose and 0.7–0.8 g/L cellobiose. We used the selected strain of xylose-fermenting yeast in fermentation of mixtures of the most important monosaccharides in hydrolysates, xylose and glucose, in the concentration range relevant for syrups obtained by us during the optimized saccharification of lignocellulosic substrates with T. funiculosus enzymes. Based on sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, strain UCM Y-2810 was confirmed as Scheffersomyces stipitis; its nucleotide sequences of ITS region and 28S gene rDNA were deposited in GenBank under the accession numbers OP931914 and OP931915, respectively. The ethanologenic process for S. stipitis UCM Y-2810 was studied according to Box-Behnken design, assessing ethanol concentration by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Yeast fermentation under static microaerophilic conditions showed a 1.5 times higher rate of bioethanol production and 1.7 times greater efficiency of ethanologenesis per yeast biomass than for submerged cultivation. Optimization of the process of ethanologenesis resulted in the maximum rate of fermentation mixture of sugars, being 11.30 ± 0.36 g/L of ethanol, with optimal values of factors: 30 g/L of xylose, 5.5 g/L of glucose and cultivation for 5.5 days. It was revealed that the tested glucose concentrations did not significantly affect the process of xylose-fermentation by yeast, and non-competitive inhibition of xylose transport by glucose into yeast cells did not occur. This study demonstrated the potential of a full cycle bioconversion of lignocellulosic waste to 2G ethanol based on use of natural fungal strains and optimization of conditions for all steps
An overview of the red-fleshed apple: History and its importance for horticulturists, gardeners, nurserymen, and consumers
Get PDFThe present review summarizes the information on the botany, breeding, genetic features, cultivation, and nutraceutical values of red-fleshed apples. Malus sieversii var. niedzwetzkyana or Niedzwetzky’s apple became widely known after the publication of Georg Dieck in the last XIX century. It is characterized by anthocyanin coloration of all organs. Another source of red flesh is the ancient variety ‘Surprise’, which differs from the Niedzwetzky’s apple by a mutation in another gene. These two mutated genes, MYB10 and MYB110a, are located on chromosomes 9 and 17, respectively. Their expression correlated with the anthocyanin accumulation. In type 1 red-fleshed apples, which belong to the Niedzwetzky’s apple progeny, the transcription factor MYB10 confers extensive anthocyanin accumulation in fruit flesh and skin, flowers, leaves, and stems. In type 2 red-fleshed apples, the ‘Surprise’ progeny, only the flesh is red, determined by the transcription factor MYB110а. A new combination Malus domestica f. niedzwetzkyana comb. nov. has been proposed for orchard apples, originated from Niedzwetzky’s apple. The apple cultivars which are progeny of Niedzwetzky’s apple and ‘Surprise’ apple can be placed to Malus Niedzwetzkyana Group and Malus Surprise Group, respectively. All red-fleshed cultivars of orchard apple can be grouped together into Malus domestica Red Flesh Group. Many dozens of new ornamental apple trees have been developed for of European and North American conditions, including the most famous red-flowered centennial apple varieties such ‘Aldenhamensis’, ‘Lemoinei’, ‘Makamik’, and ‘Oekonomierat Echtermeyer’. Rootstocks ‘MB’, ‘PB9’, ‘54-118’, ‘62-396’ and others have become popular in nurseries for the propagation of dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees thanks to their red leaves, which are useful when removing scion shoots from budded plants. In the F3-F4 and next generation, the new high-quality red-fleshed cultivars have been developed by crossing both Niedzwetzky’s apple and ‘Surprise’ apple with the best orchard apple varieties. Marker-assisted breeding shows great promise for accelerating the development of new red-fleshed cultivars with outstanding traits. The use of the Redlove®, Red Moon®, Kissabel®, and Lucy™ apples brands will ensure the red-fleshed apples’ best path to the consumer as well as the fruit quality and production volume of these novelties. Increasing the consumption of red-fleshed apples is essential for a healthy diet
Complex characteristics of landscape components affected by the disaster at the Ka-hovka Hydropower Plant
Get PDFThe paper provides an in-detail analysis of the flooding in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts as a result of the explosion at the Kahovka Hydropower Plant (HPP). We considered the possibility of using a combined analysis of the data of on-ground and remote monitoring of the course and consequences of the flooding. Based on the materials of the Ukrainian Hydometeorological Center of the State Service of Ukraine, we determined control points of chronology of the events and the dynamics of the main hydrometric indicators. The flooding began on 05/06/2023, the water returning back to the regular levels on average on 26/06/2023. The highest levels of water were observed in the period between June 7 and June 9, 2023. The synchronicity of the satellite surveillance of the territory during this time is representative. Based on the parameters of spatio-temporal resolution and degree of cloud cover, we chose the satellite images from Landsat 9 as the basic materials for our study. Using a modified normalized water index, we identified changes in the water area in the indicated time period. Using a digital model of the territory’s relief, we elaborated the zone of spread of the water surface in areas with dense vegetative cover. We found flooded zones where the water was much higher than the maximal levels recorded at the hydrological-monitoring checkpoints. The elucidation of estimations of the flooding zone revealed the components of natural landscapes that have been affected by the techogenic catastrophe. The flooding pummeled the azonal landscape complexes and complexes of above-floodplain terraces and coastal plains. The results of our study are an important step towards assessing the degradation of the downstream-Dnipro ecosystem. They will lay the groundwork for designing plans to liquidate the aftermath of the emergency and adaptation measures in the conditions of increasing risk of devastating technogenic events
Global climate change promotes the expansion of rural and synanthropic bird species: The case of Zhytomyr region (Ukraine)
Get PDFThe article reveals which ecological groups of birds in Zhytomyr region are most vulnerable to global climate change and which birds will benefit from warming in the next 70 years. The following data networks were used as predictors of bird ecological niche: climatic biogeographic variables, soil properties and indicators of landscape cover types. The results of the ENFA analysis were used to derive ecological niche margins for bird species, which were subjected to three principal component analyses to estimate marginality along bioclimatic, edaphic, and landscape variables. The bird species habitat preference index was estimated using the Maxent procedure. The assessment was made on the basis of both current predictors and projected climate variables. It was found that the climatic conditions of the Zhytomyr region are close to the European average. The average annual temperature in Zhytomyr region is 2.1 °C higher than the European average. Furthermore, the average value of monthly temperature ranges, isothermality, annual temperature range and seasonality in Zhytomyr region do not differ significantly from the European average. The maximum temperature of the warmest month in Zhytomyr region is 1.4 °C higher than the European average, while the minimum temperature of the coldest month is 1.7 °C higher. The temperature of the wettest quarter is 4.6 °C above the European average, while the temperature of the driest quarter is 2.3 °C below. The temperatures of the warmest and coldest quarters in Zhytomyr region are slightly higher than the European average (1.8 and 1.6 °C, respectively). The annual precipitation in Zhytomyr region exceeds the European norm by 20 mm. Zhytomyr region exhibits a distinctive pattern of precipitation, with a significantly higher amount of precipitation for the wettest and warmest quarters than the European average. The climate change forecast for the next 70 years indicates that the average annual temperature in Europe can be expected to increase by 4.1°C. For Zhytomyr region, the average annual temperature is likely to increase by 4.4 °C. Furthermore, other temperature indicators are also expected to increase. The contrast of thermal conditions throughout the year will decrease in the future. Precipitation in Europe will increase by 60.3 mm per year on average. In Zhytomyr region, precipitation will increase by 87.2 mm per year compared to the current state. Based on the estimates of the marginality of the birds' ecological niche, principal component analyses of climatic, edaphic and landscape projections were conducted. The principal component analysis of the climatic projection of the ecological niche identified three principal components with eigenvalues exceeding one. Principal component 1 was characterised by a high correlation with temperature bioclimatic variables, which allowed us to interpret this principal component as the position of the species optimum in the thermal gradient. Principal component 2 exhibited a high correlation with bioclimatic variables indicative of precipitation, thereby enabling this principal component to be meaningfully interpreted as the position of the species optimum in the precipitation gradient. Principal component 3 exhibited high correlation coefficients with bioclimatic variables indicative of rainfall variability, thereby enabling this principal component to be interpreted as the position of the species optimum in the rainfall variability gradient. The principal component analysis of the variation of the marginality parameters of the projection of bird ecological niches onto the matrix of diversity of landscape cover types allowed us to extract three principal components with eigenvalues greater than one. Principal component 1 was meaningfully interpreted as the position of the species in the habitat gradient from open spaces (grassland, sparse shrubs, cropland, bare) to forest. This component can also be denoted as the ratio of campophilic/dendrophilic bird species. Principal component 2 denotes the ratio of open space bird species (water, wetland) to birds that prefer built, cropland and trees. This allows us to interpret this principal component as the ratio of wetland (moisture-loving campophilic)/rural bird species. Principal component 3 is positively correlated with the trend of preference for built and water (urbanised areas are usually associated with water bodies) and negatively correlated with trees, shrubs, bare and wetland. This principal component can be interpreted as the position of the species optimum in the urban/rural bird species gradient. It is anticipated that an increase in campophilic bird species compared to dendrophilic species will be the predominant trend in the next 70 years as a response to global climate change. Moisture-loving campophilic species will be outcompeted by rurally-dependent species, and rurally-dependent species will be outcompeted by urban species
Aboveground biomass estimation in conifer and deciduous forests with the use of a combined approach
Get PDFThe complex action of environmental factors often triggers the biomass formation in forest plantations, which is crucial for carbon balance and environmental monitoring, especially in the context of climate change. In this article, we present data on the aboveground biomass accumulation for black locust and common pine (Pinus sylvestris and Robinia pseudoacacia) as the two most common forest-forming species in the steppe zone. For this purpose, we propose a reliable approach to monitoring of aboveground forest biomass with combining Sentinel-2 multispectral imaging techniques (with L-band) and biometric processing data from coniferous and deciduous stands obtained from field surveys. We represent the results of field surveys with established indicators of aboveground biomass of forest plantations in the field experiment, which averaged 159.9 ± 9.0 t/ha in the studied region. The biometric indexes obtained from the field experiments were used to develop models for predicting biomass using the remote method. Based on the processing of satellite image data, forest vegetation indices were analysed, among which the NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) was the best predictor to assess biomass. The multiple regression method was found to be the best for predicting and mapping the aboveground biomass in P. sylvestris and R. pseudoacacia within the studied area (RMSE – 23.46 t/ha). Based on the results obtained, we created a map of the aboveground biomass distribution in black locust and common pine stands within the studied region. We established reliable correlations between biometric parameters (mean diameter at breast height, mean height) and aboveground biomass of stands with indicators of spectral bands in satellite images. This enables us to use the constructed models to estimate the overall productivity of coniferous and deciduous forest stands for large areas
Zooplankton in the zones of transformation of river runoff in the north-western Black Sea region and the Mediterranean Sea in 2017–2020
Get PDFEstuary zones play a key role in the regulation of the impact of continental processes on marine ecosystems. The zone “river–sea” is a unique area with specific conditions, geochemical and biological processes. They belong to the so called “ecological hot spots” and that is why their research is especially needed to understand possible changes in the ecosystems. In the present study we described the spatial distribution of zooplankton in the zones of transformation of river runoff in the Ukrainian part of the north-western Black Sea region and the Turkish coast of the Mediterranean Sea in 2017–2020. In the Black Sea, samples were collected from the coast of the Odesa Marine Region, Danube Region and coastal waters between Dnipro-Bug estuary and Yuzhne town. On the Turkish Mediterranean Sea coasts, samples were collected between Antalya city and Patara village (Mugla province). A total of 64 samples of the zooplankton were studied. We did not establish a direct dependence between zooplankton biomass and annual volume of river runoff (correlation between these metrics is from –0.25 to –0.80). 20 taxa of zooplankton in the Odesa Marine Region, 21 taxa in the Danube Region, 11 taxa in the Dnieper Region, 23 taxa in the Turkish coastal zone of the Mediterranean Sea were registered. Species of forage zooplankton were dominant over non-forage ones in all seasons and all investigated aquatoria. The percentage of Noctiluca scintillans (Macartney) Kofoid & Swezy, 1921 and jellyfish did not exceed 5% of the total biomass of zooplankton. In summer in the Black Sea, the majority of zooplankton by number and biomass was formed by organisms of meroplankton, species of Cyclopoida and Harpacticoida, in autumn species of the genus Acartia, Oithona davisae Ferrari F. D. & Orsi, 1984, larvae of Cirripedia and Penilia avirostris Dana, 1849. The number and biomass of adults and Copepodid Stages of Acartia species increased from spring to autumn in all years. In populations of Acartia species Copepodid stages predominated over adults by number and biomass in all seasons. In the Mediterranian Sea, the majority of zooplankton by number and biomass was formed by larvae of benthic invertebrates and Copepoda. The abundance and biomass of zooplankton at a distance of 300 m from the river mouth were greater than directly at the mouth. The hydro-front was expressed near all investigated rivers, the maximum values of zooplankton number and biomass were observed here and they decreased in direction both towards the mouth of the river and towards the open sea