Russian Journal of Biological Invasions

2009, issue № 2

CONTENTS

On peculiarities of marine species introduction into the Caspian Sea - Karpinskiy M.G. - In the 20^th century 7 species of diatom algae and 2 ones of pyrrhophyte algae, 10 species of macrophytes, 7 species of plankton invertebrates, 2 nektobenthic and 9 benthic ones, 6 fouling species and 2 species of fish were introduced, survived and established independently in the Caspian Sea. Other as minimum 18 species penetrated into the Caspian Sea, but did not get established. Relatively small numbers of introduced species predominate by quantity and biomass in phyto- and zooplankton, benthos, fouling, and only in ichthyofauna autochthon species have leading positions; however, two introduced species of gray mullets have now commercial value. This happens because the Caspian species were formed out of very limited number of species under the conditions of brackish-water, long isolation and without competition with marine species. They have acquired versatile features, but with low degree of specialization, so less competitive. As a result the brackish autochthonous Caspian species give in to the introducers – marine species better adapted to both typical and new conditions. At the same time, not all introduced into the Caspian Sea species are able to survive. None of survived non-indigenous species have serious competition with the native ones; they replace them or introduce into empty ecological niches.

Invasion of Vallisneria spiralis L. into the Desnogorskoe waterbody - Katsman E.A., Kuchkina M.A. - The data on introduction of Vallisneria spiralis L. into Desnogorskoe waterbody, the water reservoir-cooler of Smolenskaya APP and its distribution in formations of submerged vegetation, about associations formed by it with other species of hydrobionts, their phytomasses, and their habit to ecotopes with elevated temperatures are given.

Changes in bottom communities of the eastern Gulf of Finland after introduction of the polychaete Marenzelleria neglecta - Maximov A.A. - Changes in the bottom communities of the eastern Gulf of Finland after introduction of the North American polychaete Marenzelleria neglecta in 1996 were analyzed on the basis of the data of 1997 and 2004 surveys. Rather abundant populations of M. neglecta were formed in the study area. However, as yet, polychaete introduction did not cause the pronounced changes of biomass of other benthos components.

The first finding of the gar Atractosteus sp. (Actinopterygii, Lepisosteiformes, Lepisosteidae) in the Caspian Sea near the coast of Turkmenistan - Salnikov V.B. - This paper informs about the first finding of the gar Atractosteus sp. (Actinopterygii, Lepisosteiformes, Lepisosteidae) in the Caspian Sea near the coast of Turkmenistan. The species of captured specimen has not been identified; probably it belongs to Atractosteus spatula Lacepède, 1803 – Alligator gar.

Biological invasions as element of antropogenic of pressure on community of Hydrubionts of Khanka lake - Svirskiy V.G., Barabanshchikov E.I. - Data on biological invasions of hydrobionts in Khanka Lake are presented. Source of invasions in the reservoir is examined. Characteristic of different species of hydrobionts settling in the lake is given. Types of influences of invasion processes on ecosystem of the reservoir are presented.

Mollusks-invaders in the Ukraine territory: the sources and directions of invasion - Son M.O. - Main directions of expansion of alien molluscs in Ukraine were discovered. Both the expansion of exotic species and nearby aliens were observed. The Danube, Dnepr and line of waterbodies of Azov-Black Region's seaside are the important invasion corridors in the inland water. The urbanization and reduction of zoogeographical barriers are the basic driving processes in expansion of alien land snails. Invasions in marine ecosystems are connected with transfer of distant exotic species by sea navigation and homogenization of fauna in the East Mediterranean Basin (pontization and mediterranezation).

Expansion of the red deer range in Yakutia - Stepanova V.V. - The data related to the expansion of the red deer range to the north-east in Yakutia are given. Since the 20^th century the red deer has been gradually settling over the territory of Yakutia. For the first half-century, red deer occupied southern and southwestern regions of Yakutia. During the other 50 years, red deer moved to the southern part of Central Yakutia (valleys of the Amga, Buotama and Aldan Rivers). The factors responsible for changes in boundaries of the red deer range are analyzed.

Invasive species in the biocenosis of the cooling reservoir of Belovo power plant (the South of West Siberia) - Yanygina L.V., Kirillov V.V., Zarubina E.Y. - The invasion of species unusual for biohydrocenosis of the South of West Siberia was caused by permanent long-term input of discharge water from Belovskaya thermal power plant. Tropical invasive species enter the cooling water-body from aquariums, and their distribution is limited by the areas of maximum and moderate water heating.