Russian Journal of Biological Invasions

2013, issue № 2

CONTENTS

Morphological variability of black-striped pipefish Syngnathus nigrolineatus in connection with its invasion into reservoirs of the Volga basin - Kiryukhina N.A. - A number of morphological features was studied in the newly forming and aboriginal populations of Syngnathus nigrolineathus. The features studied by us (ratio of the head length to the body length, the length of rostrum to body length, the number of rays in dorsal and pectoral fins, the number of body and caudal cingula) are not suitable for determination of the fish belonging to one of subspecies and establishment of origin of Volga populations, since there is a marked overlapping of the ranges of feature values between the samples.

Distribution and some peculiarities of biology of Pseudorasbora parva (Temm. et Schl., 1846) of littoral of Kremenchug reservoir - Kotovskaya A.A., Khristenko D.S. - The article shows the dynamics of relative number, distribution, indices of length, mass and fatness according to Fulton and Clark of Pseudorasbora parva in Kremenchug reservoir. It is revealed that maximal values of biological indices are attained by the fishes of the lower part of the reservoir that coincides with the tendencies inherent for aboriginal cyprinids (bream, roach). The living conditions of Pseudorasbora parva in the reservoir under study are determined as utterly favorable according to biological indices.

Analysis of co-existence of recent invader Diaphanosoma orghidani Negrea with the aboriginal species D. brachyurum (Lievin) (Crustacea, Cladocera) in the Rybinsk reservoir - Lazareva V.I., Bolotov S.E. - In 2005–2011 the spatial distribution, long-term dynamics of occurrence and abundance as well as features of the seasonal life cycle of two species of Cladocera, an alien species D. orghidani and a native species D. brachyurum, were studied in the Rybinsk reservoir. It has been found that during a seven-year period the successful co-existence of the species is favored by the differences in a seasonal cycle, the pattern of distribution in the reservoir area, the predator press and resistance of the alien species to high concentrations of colonial cyanobacteriae and its preference for the parts of the reservoir with running water where the native species is not numerous. Competitive advantages of the invader under conditions of global warming are discussed.

Distribution of native and introduced semiaquatic mammals in the Sikhote-Alin area - Oleynikov A.Yu. - This article represents the data on current ranges of five species of semiaquatic mammals. The data were gathered in various parts of Sikhote-Alin in 2002-2012. Four of the species, namely the American mink (Neovison vison Schreb.), muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus L.), Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber L.) and Canadian beaver (C. canadensis Kuhl), are introducents. A native species is otter (Lutra lutra L.). The stages of introduction, the peculiarities of expansions of semiaquatic species populations are described. The spatial distribution of animals on the Obor and Durmin rivers selected as model ones by us previously is analyzed [Oleynikov, 2007]. Middle reaches of these rivers have the greatest variety of semiaquatic species, and their density is maximal in the lower reaches predominantly due to the muskrat. The spatial dissociation as a mechanism of alleviation of interspecific relationships has been revealed.

The resettlement, spatial distribution and morphometric characteristics of the pumpkinseed sunfish Lepomis gibbosus (Centrarchidae, Perciformes) in the Zaporozhian Reservoir - Fedonenko E.V., Marenkov O.N. - The information about distribution, biology and ecology of the pumpkinseed sunfish in the basin of the Zaporozhian Reservoir is presented. On the basis of fulfilled morphometric studies and available literature data an analysis of plastic characteristics of outer morphology of the pumpkinseed sunfish of the Zaporozhian Reservoir compared to the fish caught in other waters of Ukraine, Slovenia and Canada has been carried out.

Additions and notes to alien flora of the Mordovian State Nature Reserve - Khapugin A.A., Vargot E.V., Chugunov G.G., Dementeva A.E. - Inventory of flora of the Mordovian State Nature Reserve in 2012 has identified 27 new alien species for this area. Besides, 3 species are excluded from the flora of the Mordovian Reserve; 4 species are known in areas adjacent to the Reserve and may be registered in its territory in the future; 5 species which are being cultured but not run wild in the Reserve are indicated for the flora of Mordovian State Nature Reserve for the first time.