scholarly journals Anthropogenic load іs a leading factor in the morphological variability of Chondrula tridens (Gastropoda, Enidae) in the northwestern Azov Sea region

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-110
Author(s):  
O. I. Koshelev ◽  
M. V. Gensytskyi ◽  
V. O. Koshelev ◽  
N. V. Yorkina ◽  
O. M. Kunakh
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Impact ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Morphological Variability ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Load Level ◽  
Moisture Level ◽  
Anthropogenic Load ◽  
Shell Shape ◽  
Moisture Regime ◽  
Shell Size

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.

Biomorphological structure of the flora of the ancient settlements of the Lower Dnipro

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-297
Author(s):  
P Dayneko
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Impact ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Steppe Zone ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Agricultural Fields ◽  
Type Transformation ◽  
Adventitious Species ◽  
Total List ◽  
High Share

The biomorphological analysis of the flora of eighteen ancient settlements of the Lower Dnipro as a potential "islands" of steppe biodiversity has been introducing. Based on the most commonly used linear systems of life forms by K. Ranquier and by V.M Golubev there have been presented the results of the analysis of biomorphs. In addition to the main biomorph, the following characteristics were taken into account: multiplicity of fruiting, main types of vegetation, type of underground shoots, type of aboveground shoots, type of root system. Domination in the general spectrum of life forms of the studied flora of herbaceous plants was determined (455 species or 86.8 % of the total number), among which perennials made up the majority (259 species or 49.4 %). The second and third groups are occupied by annuals (148 species or 28.2 % of the total) and biannuals (48 species or 9.2 % of the total), respectively. According to the multiplicity of fruiting, the participation of polycarpics (328 species; 62.6 %) is significant. However, it should be noted, that the high share of herbaceous monocarpics (196 species; 37.4 %) can be explained by the invasion of adventitious species from neighboring agricultural fields and existing settlements. By type of vegetation, summer-green species represent almost half of the total list of flora (231 species), while that of the group of summer and winter green plants was represented by 168 species or 32 %. By type of aboveground shoots, the predominance is given to semi-rosette species (276 species; 52.7 %), and by type of underground shoots - to caudex (201 species; 38.4 %) and plants without rhizomes (196; 37.4 %). Our study confirmed that biomorphological structure of the flora of ancient settlements are quite typical for the flora of the steppe zone and the flora of the Holarctic in general, as evidenced by the predominance in the respective spectra of perennial grasses, hemicryptophytes, polycarpics, plants with caudex type of underground shoots and rod type. Transformation of the zonal spectrum as a result of anthropogenic impact is manifested in a significant percentage of trees, annuals, monocarpics and species of rhizome structure.

The genus Cystoseira s.l. (Ochrophyta, Fucales, Sargassaceae) in the Black Sea: morphological variability and molecular taxonomy of Gongolaria barbata and endemic Ericaria crinita f. bosphorica comb. nov.

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 480 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
SOFIA S. SADOGURSKA ◽  
JOÃO NEIVA ◽  
ANNALISA FALACE ◽  
ESTER A. SERRÃO ◽  
ÁLVARO ISRAEL
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Molecular Taxonomy ◽  
Morphological Variability ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
Additional Tool

Brown algae of the genus Cystoseira sensu lato form the most diverse and productive marine ecosystems throughout the Mediterranean Sea and have equal roles also in the Black Sea where they have been decreasing in the recent years. The taxonomy of Cystoseira s.l. taxa from the Black Sea is still not well understood, and questions arise when related taxa have to be delimited. In addition to morphological descriptions, this study provides for the first time molecular data of the Black Sea Cystoseira s.l. distinct morphologies as an additional tool to clarify their identities and phylogenetic affinities. The analysis of two mitochondrial markers (cytochrome oxidase subunit 1—COI, and 23S-tRNAVal intergenic spacer—mt-spacer) showed that Cystoseira s.l. specimens from the Black Sea belong to two recently resurrected genera, namely Gongolaria and Ericaria. Molecular data confirm the morphological identification of G. barbata, which is characterized by high morphological plasticity in the Black Sea. The morphological data presented in this study support the transition of G. barbata to the genus Gongolaria, which was previously proposed based solely on genetic data. For the Black Sea endemic taxon C. bosphorica, sequence divergence suggests conspecificity with Mediterranean Sea species E. crinita and E. barbatula. However, considering original morphological characteristics of the taxon, its geographical isolation, and endemism, the new combination Ericaria crinita f. bosphorica comb. nov. is proposed.

scholarly journals Diversity of Phytophthora Communities across Different Types of Mediterranean Vegetation in a Nature Reserve Area

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 853
Author(s):  
Mario Riolo ◽  
Francesco Aloi ◽  
Federico La Spada ◽  
Saverio Sciandrello ◽  
Salvatore Moricca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Physicochemical Characteristics ◽  
Phytophthora Species ◽  
Nerium Oleander ◽  
Specific Objective ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Terrestrial Habitats ◽  
Sarcopoterium Spinosum

Research Highlights: Protected natural areas are a reservoir of Phytophthora species and represent the most suitable sites to study their ecology, being less disturbed by human activities than other environments. Background and Objectives: The specific objective of this study was to correlate the diversity and distribution of Phytophthora species with the vegetation in aquatic, riparian and terrestrial habitats within a protected area in Eastern Sicily, Southern Italy. Materials and Methods: Environmental samples (water and soil) were sourced from two streams running through the reserve and six different types of vegetation, including Platano-Salicetum pedicellatae, the Sarcopoterium spinosum community, Myrto communis-Pistacietum lentisci, Pistacio-Quercetum ilicis,Oleo-Quercetum virgilianae and a gallery forest dominated by Nerium oleander (Natura 2000 classification of habitats). Phytophthora species were recovered from samples using leaf baiting and were classified on the basis of morphological characteristics and sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Results: As many as 11 Phytophthora species, within five different ITS clades, were identified, including P. asparagi, P. bilorbang, P. cryptogea, P. gonapodyides, P. lacustris, P. multivora, P. nicotianae, P. oleae, P. parvispora, P. plurivora and P. syringae. No Phytophthora species were found in the Sarcopoterium spinosum comm. Phytophthora asparagi, P. lacustris and P. plurivora were the prevalent species in the other five plant communities, but only P. plurivora was present in all of them. Overall aquatic species from clade 6 (100 out of 228 isolates) were the most common; they were recovered from all five types of vegetation, streams and riparian habitats. Phytophthora populations found in the Platano-Salicetum pedicellatae and Oleo-Quercetum virgilianae show the highest diversity, while no correlation was found with the physicochemical characteristics of the soil. Conclusions: The vegetation type and the aquatic or terrestrial habitat were identified as major environmental factors correlated with the diversity of Phytophthora communities in this reserve.

scholarly journals Properties of the urban watercourse composition under anthropogenic load

2020 ◽  
Vol 164 ◽  
pp. 01015
Author(s):  
Viktor Denisov ◽  
Ekaterina Bondarenko ◽  
Alexander Scherbakov
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Anthropogenic Impact ◽  
Natural Waters ◽  
The State ◽  
Anthropogenic Load ◽  
Urban Rivers ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Industrial Enterprises ◽  
Chemical Indicators ◽  
Urban Watercourse

The anthropogenic impact on urban rivers is very significant. Industrial enterprises, municipal, and agricultural organizations discharge wastewater directly into the rivers. In the samples of the studied water, certain properties were found. The water in the river is cloudy, brown in color, and in some places has a sharp smell. Extraneous impurities and foam were detected in water. Moreover, various chemicals were found, which are not characteristic to natural waters. The analyzed water is highly polluted as shown by the following chemical indicators, which reported results higher than the Maximum Allowable Concentration: Fe concentration is 24 times higher than standard, Cu is 5 times higher, Mn is 6 times higher, Al is 366 times higher, Hg is 3 times higher, Zn is 4 times higher, NO2 is 2.5 times higher, hydrocarbon pollution is 2.8 times higher, NH4 is 1.9 times higher. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately develop effective methods for monitoring the state of the watercourse, both economic and energetic. To save the sustainable development of the natural system.

scholarly journals Fluctuating Asymmetry in Morphological Characteristics of Betula Pendula Roth Leaf under Conditions of Urban Ecosystems: Evaluation of the Multi-Factor Negative Impact

Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Shadrina ◽  
Nina Turmukhametova ◽  
Victoria Soldatova ◽  
Yakov Vol'pert ◽  
Irina Korotchenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluctuating Asymmetry ◽  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Developmental Stability ◽  
Anthropogenic Load ◽  
Traffic Load ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Betula Pendula Roth ◽  
The Impact

The fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in Betula pendula Roth was estimated as an integrated measure of five morphometric characteristics of a lamina. Samples were collected in seven cities that differ both in climatic conditions, moderately to sharply continental. In total, 33 ecotopes were distinguished with various level of anthropogenic load. The statistical data processing involved correlation, one-way and factorial ANOVA, regression analyses, and principal component analysis (PCA). The impact of 25 climatic and anthropogenic factors on the FA value was considered. In most urban ecotopes, the integrated fluctuating asymmetry (IFA) value was higher than in natural biotopes of the same region. No significant inter-annual differences in IFA values were found. FA dependence on traffic load is noted to be statistically significant. The covariation analysis of IFA, climatic, and anthropogenic variables in various urban ecotopes revealed the impact of three groups of factors that together explain 93% of the variance in environmental parameters. The complex analysis clearly arranged the studied ecotopes by pollution gradient and climatic patterns. The primary effect of the total anthropogenic load on the developmental stability of B. pendula results in an IFA increase. IFA can play a key role in bioindication assessment of environmental quality. The climatic factors have no significant effect on the developmental stability of B. pendula in urban conditions.

scholarly journals Morphological diversity of the stone crayfish − traditional and geometric morphometric approach

2019 ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leona Lovrenčić ◽  
Vjera Pavić ◽  
Stefan Majnarić ◽  
Lucija Abramović ◽  
Mišel Jelić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variability ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Dorsal Side ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Geometric Morphometric ◽  
Discriminant Analyses ◽  
Stone Crayfish ◽  
Multivariate Discriminant ◽  
First Time

Austropotamobius torrentium is one of four native European crayfish species inhabiting Croatian freshwaters. Existence of eight divergent monophyletic mtDNA phylogroups was described within A. torrentium; six of them are distributed in Croatia, with the highest genetic diversity established in its northern-central Dinaric region. Recent small-scale study of the stone crayfish morphological variability indicated significant differences among different phylogroups. In the present study larger sample size, covering populations from five phylogroups, was analysed with the aim of determining whether there are morphological characteristics that reliably separate stone crayfish from different phylogroups. Aiming this, 245 stone crayfish were analysed through traditional (TM) and, for the first time, geometric morphometric (GM) analyses. Multivariate discriminant analyses included 24 TM characteristics per crayfish, while GM comprised analyses of 22 landmarks on the dorsal side of cephalon. Both methods revealed congruent results, and significant differences among phylogroups in analysed features were obtained, with the cephalon shape contributing the most to crayfish discrimination. Research confirmed that both approaches, combined with statistical methods, are useful in distinguishing and separating crayfish phylogroups. Findings of present study are compatible with the previous molecular findings; stone crayfish present several distinct evolutionary lineages whose species status are currently undefined and require urgent clarification.

Notodiscus (Charopidae) on South Georgia: some implications of shell size, shell shape, and site isolation in a singular sub-Antarctic land snail

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 442-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.J.A. Pugh ◽  
R.I. Lewis Smith
Keyword(s):  
East Coast ◽  
Land Snail ◽  
Shell Shape ◽  
Shell Size ◽  
Site Isolation ◽  
South Georgia ◽  
North East ◽  
Larus Dominicanus ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Georgia Population

AbstractMultivariate analysis shows that shells of Notodiscus sp. (Charopidae: Pulmonata) reported from South Georgia are smaller and proportionately taller than, but otherwise similar to, populations of Notodiscus hookeri (Reeve) from Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen. The origin of this solitary, and spatially limited, South Georgia population is enigmatic. It is confined to a remarkably small coastal lowland site which was glaciated at Last Glacial Maximum, precluding a Tertiary relict origin, and on the leeward north-east coast, ruling out post-glacial ocean rafting. The site is close to the King Edward Point settlement, yet the absence of any logistics connections with the Iles Crozet or Iles Kerguelen mitigates against anthropogenic introduction. The close proximity of the population to nests of blue-eyed shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps), Dominican gull (Larus dominicanus) and light-mantled sooty albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata) could imply the snail was originally introduced to South Georgia via these ocean transiting seabirds.

scholarly journals The energetic costs of living in the surf and impacts on zonation of shells occupied by hermit crabs

2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (16) ◽  
pp. jeb222703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermina Alcaraz ◽  
Brenda Toledo ◽  
Luis M. Burciaga
Keyword(s):  
Water Flow ◽  
Wave Action ◽  
Hermit Crabs ◽  
Energetic Cost ◽  
Shell Shape ◽  
Energetic Costs ◽  
Shell Size ◽  
Conical Shells ◽  
Drag Forces ◽  
Submerged Body

ABSTRACTCrashing waves create a hydrodynamic gradient in which the most challenging effects occur at the wave breaking zone and decrease towards the upper protected tide pools. Hydrodynamic forces depend on the shape of the submerged body; streamlined shapes decrease drag forces compared with bluff or globose bodies. Unlike other animals, hermit crabs can choose their shell shape to cope with the effects of water flow. Hermit crabs occupy larger and heavier shells (conical shape) in wave-exposed sites than those used in protected areas (globose shape). First, we investigated whether a behavioral choice could explain the shells used in sites with different wave action. Then, we experimentally tested whether the shells most frequently used in sites with different wave action reduce the energetic cost of coping with water flow. Metabolic rate was measured using a respirometric system fitted with propellers in opposite walls to generate bidirectional water flow. The choice of shell size when a large array of sizes are available was consistent with the shell size used in different intertidal sites; hermit crabs chose heavier conical shells in water flow conditions than in still water, and the use of heavy conical shells reduced the energetic cost of coping with water motion. In contrast to conical shells, small globose shells imposed lower energy costs of withstanding water flow than large globose shells. The size and type of shells used in different zones of the rocky shore were consistent with an adaptive response to reduce the energetic costs of withstanding wave action.

scholarly journals Morphological variability of acorns and its taxonomic significance in Quercus. from Turkey

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Bakis ◽  
MT Babaç
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component Analysis ◽  
Morphological Variability ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Component Analysis ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Taxonomic Significance ◽  
Morphological Variations ◽  
Quercus Species ◽  
Different Populations

Morphological variations of acorn among and within the groups of Quercus species were studied. A total of 617 acorns belonging to 14 species representing all 3 sections of Quercus L. (Fagaceae) in Turkey were examined in this study. Specimens were collected from 47 different populations over both Anatolian and Thrace part of Turkey. Principal component analysis was used to analyze the morphological characteristics of acorns. Results obtained from this study demonstrate the use of morphological characters in differentiating the taxa of Quercus and Cerris sections studied. Another important finding is the introgression among the acorns of species within Quercus section DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v43i3.21601 Bangladesh J. Bot. 43(3): 293-299, 2014 (December)

scholarly journals Intra-Specific Variability in Whorl Growth-Rate among Land Gastropods with Conispirally-Coiled Shells

2021 ◽  
pp. 59-69
Author(s):  
Jean Béguinot
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Repeated Measurements ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Shell Shape ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Shell Size ◽  
Strong Negative Correlation ◽  
Species Specific

For most conispirally-coiled Gastropods with determinate growth, the geometry of spirally-winding whorls is usually constrained by a strong negative correlation between whorl growth rate and the number of whorls reached at adulthood, as originally reported by the late S.J. Gould. Yet, beyond the tight control of shell-shape at the species level – resulting from this constraint – what about the amplitude of the intra-specific variability of whorl growth-rate, partly contributing to the variability of the overall shell-size at the species level? I address the issue by designing and implementing a new, indirect method for routinely evaluating whorl growth-rate, thereby aiming at considerably saving measurement time, and making it possible to easily achieve repeated measurements across samples large enough to reach statistical significance. This approach was applied to a series of eight common land snail species. The amplitude of intra-specific variability in whorl growth, evaluated this way, proves: (i) being markedly different among the eight investigated species (by a factor that can exceed 2x); (ii) being, yet, high enough, in all cases, to require compensating variations in the adult number of whorls, so as to limit the resulting consequences on the amplitude of the intra-specific variability of adult shell-size. Despite those marked differences in the amplitudes of intra-specific variability of whorl growth-rate among species, no significant relationship was observed between intraspecific variability of whorl growth rate and species-specific shell-shape types (discoidal/globular/elongate) and only weak positive relationship was observed with species-specific typical shell sizes. However, a rather strong positive correlation was found, as expected, between the degree of intra-specific variability of the whorl growth-rate and the degree of intra-specific variability of the number of whorls reached at adulthood (with the yet unexplained exception of one among the eight investigated species).

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