Russian Journal of Biological Invasions

2015, issue № 2

CONTENTS

Alien mollusk species in the aquatic ecosystems of Western Siberia: a review - Vinarski M.V., Andreev N.I., Andreeva S.I., Kazantsev I.E., Karimov A.V., Lazutkina E.A. - The review deals with the problem of mollusca invasions to the inland waters of the Western Siberian Region. The data on all alien species of snails and bivalves registered up to now in the region’s waterbodies are provided. Possible ways and mechanisms of penetration of the alien species to the Western Siberian water bodies are discussed. The most well-studied case of mollusca invasion, that of the European river snail, Viviparus viviparus (L., 1758), to the water bodies of Ob-Irtysh basin, is considered in detail. An ecological and geographical classification of the invader species is proposed. It includes three categories: 1) “exotic” species; 2) species belonging to the boreal European complex that are restoring previously lost part of their ranges; and 3) heat-loving species of the south European origin. We hypothesize that in the future the afflux of the alien mollusca species to the Western Siberian inland waters will remain low due to some physical-geographical peculiarities of this area.

Beaves (Castor fiber) of Mordovskiy Reserve: population development history, modern state and its further development prospect - Zavyalov N.A., Artaev O.N., Potapov S.K., Petrosyan V.G. - The results of long-term number dynamic analysis of European beaver (Castor fiber) and its settlements in the Pushta River basin and flood-plain lakes of the Moksha in the south-western part of Mordovskiy Reserve within the period of 1940–2013 are presented. It is shown that 73 years after beavers’ reintroduction, the number of their settlements and animals themselves have stabilized in the range of 20 to 29 settlements with 65 to 96 individuals, respectively. Carried out complex analysis of nature conditions, climate, hydrologic net, predator and disease influence, spatial distribution of settlements, sizes of occupied areas, dam number in settlements, foraging peculiarities, food resource stock and also math proceeding of the data with the help of classic models of population dynamics (Maltus, Biverton-Hault and Ricker) and a model of time-series allow to suggest that the dynamics is characterized by a climax stage under fluctuation at a low number level. Hypothetical and theoretical qualitative model on long-term beaver population number dynamics for various rates of food resource restoration is discussed. In the frames of the model we show that population number dynamics on the territories of Berezinskiy, Okskiy reserves and National Park ‘Alleheini’ is inherent for high rates of food resource reconstitution (the first type of dynamics), and that of other populations living on the territory of Laplandskiy, Il’menskiy, Pechoro-Ilychskiy and Mordovskiy reserves – for the low rates of food resources reconstitution (the second type of dynamics). It is stated that further development of population in Mordovskiy Reserve will be mainly dependent on functional (the rates of food restoration in abandoned ecotopes, the scales and rates of black alder forest development in abandoned beavers’ settlements) and occasional (frosty winters, winter floods and summer droughts) factors, influencing the dynamics of beaver population in the reserve.

Parasite fauna of rotan Perccottus glenii Dybowski, 1877 (Osteichthyes: Odontobutidae) in some waterbodies of Kiev Region - Zaichenko N.V. - The parasite fauna of rotan was studied in 3 waterbodies of Kiev Region. Sixteen parasite species and unidentified to a species forms were recorded. The monogenean parasite Gyrodactylus perccotti from the native range is specific to this fish species. In all studied waterbodies the representatives of a ciliate genus of Trichodina predominated, which infection maximum reached 100% and up to 1500 specimens per host in some cases. Most of detected species are widely distributed in the waterbodies of Europe and Asia and have low host specificity.

Expansion of alien fish species through the main waterways in the waterbodies of Vologda Region - Konovalov A.F., Borisov M.Ya., Bolotova N.L. - Information on the spreading of alien fish species along the main waterways in the waterbodies of Vologda Region is summarized. The role of the Volga-Baltic waterway and North-Dvina water system in invasion of fish in the basins of the Caspian, White and Baltic seas are evaluated. Materials on invasion of fish through the main water systems within the boundaries of three basins of the seas and fish penetration across these boundaries have been analyzed.

Expansion of the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck et Schlegel, 1846) (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae) in water bodies of Armenia - Pipoyan S.Kh., Arakelyan A.S. - This paper provides the data on the current distribution of an alien for Armenian ichthyofauna species – the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck et Schlegel, 1846) (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae) within the limits of the country. It is found that the species has expanded in most water bodies of northern and central Armenia and at present is one of the most numerous fish of these water bodies.

Comparison of ecological status and water quality between the lakes inhabited and non-inhabited by Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas) - Razlutskij V.I., Sysova E.A., Buseva Z.F., Feniova I.Y. - Dreissena polymorpha is one of the bivalve species that have a great impact on the environment, composition and structure of aquatic communities, thus being an effective driver of the ecological state of the lakes. Five Belorussian lakes were studied in order to find discrepancies of the water quality between the lakes inhabited and non-inhabited by zebra mussel. Lake Obsterno with natural thermal regime and the heated lake Lukolmskoe were inhabited by zebra mussel. Lakes Gorushka and Nobisto with natural thermal regime and the heated lake Beloe were lack of zebra mussel. To determine water quality class, we used water quality indices based on physicochemical parameters, phytoplankton and Cladocera community characteristics in line with requirements of the EU Water Frame Directive and saprobity index calculated by Pantle – Buck method in modification of Sladechek. It is commonly accepted that transparency is a good predictor for ecological state of the lake. Judged only from transparency data, the highest ecological status belongs to Obsterno and Lukolmskoe lakes. However, estimates of biotic indices differed not so much as transparency values in the studied lakes. The range of discrepancy in transparency values between the lakes inhabited and non-inhabited by zebra mussel were not in accordance with the range of discrepancies found with saprobity index, and this mismatch exceeded 70%, and with other biotic indices it was over 50%. To conclude, regardless higher transparency values and reduction of phytoplankton biomass, zebra mussel introduction does not improve water quality through the changes of plankton communities.

Ichthyofauna of the Aksu River of Balkhash Basin - Sapargalieva N.S. - The Aksu River is one of the main rivers of the Seven Rivers and flows into Balkhash Lake. Modern ichthyofauna of the Aksu River consists of 7 indigenous and 11 alien species. Most alien fish species is marked in a sizeable part of piedmont and wellhead parts of the river. For the recent 20 years the structure and species composition of the river fish populations have changed. River abbottina (Chinese false gudgeon) Abbottina rivularis and Siberian dace Leuciscus baicalensis have been appeared and naturalized in it, and the former has achieved a substantial number. Species structure of fish populations in piedmont part is extremely unstable and dependent on its hydrologic regimen.

Expansions of plant species to the flora of Vladimir Oblast (Russia) in the recent decade. Second report - Seregin A.P. - The second report shows naturalization and expansion of ten vascular plant species in Vladimir Oblast (Russia) during the recent decade. All records of Acer tataricum L., Amelanchier × spicata (Lam.) K. Koch, Bidens frondosa L., Cuscuta campestris Yuncker, Galinsoga quadriradiata Ruiz et Pav., Nuttallanthus canadensis (L.) D.A. Sutton, Poa supina Schrad., Rosa villosa L., Rumex stenophyllus Ledeb., and Zizania palustris L. since the first finding until the end of 2013 have been summarized. Series of grid maps for each species (dated 2007, 2011, and 2013), frequency of occurrences, ecological preferences, earlier reports from neighboring regions, and probable invasion routes are given. The data on further four-year expansion (2010–2013) of ten characterized in the first report species – Epilobium tetragonum L., Hypochoeris radicata L., Ambrosia trifida L., Erigeron × huelsenii Vatke (E. droebachiensis auct.), Aronia mitschurinii A.K. Skvortsov et Maitul., Trifolium fragiferum L., Phragmites altissimus (Benth.) Mabille, Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort., Vicia villosa Roth, and Galega orientalis Lam.