Russian Journal of Biological Invasions

2020, issue №4

CONTENTS

Influence of Solidago canadensis L. on species diversity of plant communities at different spatial scale- Akatov V.V.,  Akatova T.V.,  Chefranov S.G.  - It is known that alien dominants can significantly limit the species richness of plant communities on the small plots. But it remains unclear whether they affect the species richness of large sites of vegetation. We examined this issue in terms of 6 sites of plant communities with dominance of Solidago canadensis located in habitats of different types (Belaya River Valley, Western Caucasus, 190–210 m above sea level). Within each of them, biomass samples were taken from 25 sites of 0.25 m² and then sorted by species and weighed. The results of the analysis of the data obtained showed: 1) S. canadensis significantly reduces the number of accompanying species in the small plots of plant communities, however, the process of crowding out these species is predominantly non-selective (random); 2) differently sized sites of communities with a high and low degree of dominance of S. canadensis, containing a similar total biomass of accompanying species, include an approximately equal number of such species; 3) the species similarity of plant communities located in habitats of different types does not depend on the participation of S. canadensis in them. It was concluded that the size of the species pools of cenoses with a high and low participation of S. canadensis is approximately the same. Accordingly, an increase in the participation of this species in communities can directly threaten other species only if the area of these communities is relatively small.

Distribution of alien polychaetes in biotopes of the northern part of the Black Sea - Boltachova N.A.,  Lisitskaya E.V.,  Podzorova D.V. -On the basis of home material collected in 2001–2019 and literary data the distribution of polychaetes in the northern part of the Black Sea was analyzed. Ten species belonging to five families were registered. The family of Spionidae was represented by five species, two species belonged to the family of Serpulidae, and the families Pilargiidae, Scalibregmatidae, Sabellidae were represented by one species each. In the biotopes of the northern part of the Black Sea, polychaetes were distributed as follows: Polydora cornuta Bosc, 1802 and Streblospio gynobranchiata Rise & Levin, 1998 were widely distributed on the soft bottom sediments in the shallow zone of semi-closed bays, estuaries and ports. Sigambra tentaculata (Treadwell, 1941) was also recorded on soft sediments in shallow waters, but it lives mainly near the open coasts. Dipolydora quadrilobata (Jacobi, 1883) is the only inhabitant of the deep-water zone of the Black Sea. The species Marenzelleria neglecta Sikorski & Bick, 2004 and Hyboscolex cf. pacificus (Moore, 1909) were found sporadically on soft sediments. Hydroides dianthus (Verrill, 1873) and Pseudopotamilla cf. reniformis (Bruguière, 1789) were recorded in fouling of hard substrates, as well as Ficopomatus enigmaticus (Fauvel, 1923), whose status as an invader needs clarification. Two species, Polydora websteri Hartman in Loosanoff & Engle, 1943 and H. dianthus that settle on the shells of mollusks, negatively affect them and can be classified as invasive species. In the Black Sea basin, polychaetes were probably introduced at the pelagic stage with ballast waters or in the fouling of ships. The species F. enigmaticus, P. cornuta, and S. tentaculata, which introduced to the Black Sea more than 60 years ago, can be considered fully naturalized.

Stomatal structure in Symphyotrichum Nees species as the index of their invasiveness- Vinogradova  Yu.K.,  Grygorieva  O.V.,  Vergun E.N.  -The purpose of this study is to compare morphometric features of cultivated Symphyotrichum Nees species for assessing the adaptive capacity of these alien taxa. Eleven species of Symphyotrichum from the collection of the Botanical Garden of Padua (Italy): S. novi-belgii, S. novae-angliae, S. ciliolatum, S. laeve, S. lateriflorum, S. puniceum, S. × salignum, S. × versicolor, S. chilense, S. cordifolium, S. tradescantii were the object of the study. The stomatal structures were characterized by 21 quantitative characteristics, and original data on morphometric features were given. According to the index of relative transpiration area, the species were divided into three groups: with a high (12–14%) relative transpiration area (S. novae-angliae, S. novi-belgii and S. × salignum), medium (3–7%) area (S. lateriflorum, S. ciliolatum, S. laeve, S. × versicolor, S. puniceum) and low (0.2–2.0) relative transpiration area (S. chilense, S. cordifolium and S. tradescantii). Similar data were obtained earlier for the genus Solidago: a positive correlation between the relative transpiration area and the alien species invasiveness was revealed. The following hypothesis is put forward: the high index of the relative transpiration area indicates a greater adaptability of alien species and can (along with other features) be used to predict further expansion of their secondary distribution range and increase in the chances of transformation into an invasive species.

Morphological and genetic traits of the first invasive population of the asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea (O. F. Muller, 1774) naturalized in the Volga River basin- Voroshilova  I.S.,  Pryanichnikova  E.G.,  Prokin  A.A.,  Sabitova  R.Z.,  Karabanov  D.P.,  Pavlov  D.D.,  Kurina  E.M. -Variability of the first invasive population of C. fluminea (O. F. Müller, 1774) from the Volga basin was studied using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene fragment (COI mtDNA) and characteristic of morphological peculiarities of the shells was given. A comparison with C. fluminalis (Müller, 1774) from the Kura River basin was made in order to eliminate errors in species identification. All analyzed individuals belong to the most widespread R morphological type. The only nucleotide sequence haplotype we found was identical to the widespread variant prevailing in the populations of the Corbicula with R morphological type in Europe, and also in America. There were mollusks of different shell size groups in the sample. Corbicula larvae were detected in qualitative zooplankton samples and in the gills of adults. Therefore, the studied population reproduces independently and may possibly become a source for further species expansion.

Distribution of alien species of woodlice (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) on the Russian Far East - Gongalsky  K.B.,  Kuznetsova  D.M-Woodlice were not recorded in the fauna of undisturbed terrestrial ecosystems of the Russian Far East. Initially, in this region, three species of this group lived only on the littoral, and were well studied by marine biologists. In the XXth century, separate records of woodlice began to appear in terrestrial ecosystems, and in recent years the number of finding points and species has increased. Since the beginning of the XXIst century, fauna of synanthropic woodlice has already reached 10 species. The only species successively invaded untouched forest ecosystems is Porcellio scaber. Along with other cosmopolitan species, the alien species Hyloniscus riparius also penetrated here, the distribution of which in the European part of Russia became widespread. Penetration of woodlice in the territory where they never existed may cause the extinction of the indigenous saprophagous species and lead to a decrease in the level of biological diversity in the soil and the sustainability of ecosystems in the long term.

Finding of desert shield bug Brachynema germari (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in the Voronezhsky Nature Reserve (Central Russia)  - Emets  V.M.- On the South-Eastern border of the forest area of the Voronezhsky Nature Reserve (51°52'24'' N; 39°38'57'' E) on the White Goosefoot (Chenopodium album), 4 imago of the desert shield bug Brachynema germari (Kolenati, 1846) were encountered on June 12, 2020. This finding, the northernmost one in the European part of Russia, is probably the result of self-dispersal of the species in the Northern direction that could have been facilitated by abnormally hot weather in early June 2020 on the European territory of Russia. The ways of B. germari expansion in the Northern direction can be the right-of-way lanes along railways on which xerophytic groups are growing.

The influence of generations number on the dynamics of lime leafminer Phyllonorycter issikii (Kumata, 1963) (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) in Udmurtiya - Ermolaev  I.V.,  Domrachev  T.B. -The influence of the number of generations on the dynamics of lime leaf-miner Phyllonorycter issikii (Kumata, 1963) was investigated on four sample plots in the city of Izhevsk (Udmurtia) within the period from 2001 to 2019 for the first time. The existence of the second generation of the miner depends on the climatic features of the season. The second generation of Ph. issikii was observed under the condition that the first generation of the species managed to complete its development in the third decade of June. If this happened in July, there was no the second generation. The variability of phenology influences the dynamics of the invasive species. The density of population of Ph. issikii grew in the current year, if in the previous season there was only one generation of miner. The figure fell, if in the previous season there were two generations. The reduction of Ph. issikii density per year with two generations could occur due to a decrease in life span and the actual fecundity of females, as well as the survival rate of the second generation of the miner. This led to a significant reduction in the number of wintering moths.

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"Journey to the West": Three phylogenetic lineages contributed to the invasion of stone moroko, Pseudorasbora parva (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae) - Karabanov  D.P.,  Kodukhova  Yu.V.,  Pashkov  A.N.,  Reshetnikov  A.N.,  Makhrov  A.A.- The stone moroko (or topmouth gudgeon), Pseudorasbora parva, is one of the most successful invasive species in the fresh waters of Europe and some regions of Asia. We analyzed the diversity of the mitochondrial COI gene in the genus Pseudorasbora and, especially, in populations of P. parva from its native range (the Far East) and areas of recent dispersal. Four phylogenetic lineages of stone moroko were identified within its native range, and three of them contributed to the dispersal within more western regions of Eurasia. One of these lineages was initially distributed in the north of China and the Far East of Russia, the second one was in southern China, the third one was in the Korean Peninsula and, probably, in the adjacent regions of China. Geographical distribution of COI lineages suggests three donor regions of stone moroko invasions into more western regions of Eurasia: the basin of the Yangtze River, the northern (Russian) part of the Amur River basin, and the Sungari River basin (right tributary of the Amur in the territory of China).

The parasite fauna of the round goby Neogobius melanostomus (Perciformes, Gobiidae) of the Kuibyshev reservoir (Middle Volga) - Mineeva  O.V.,  Semenov  D.Yu. - The fauna of multicellular parasites of the round goby Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814) in three reaches of the Kuibyshev reservoir was studied. Ten species and undefined forms of parasites were found, including those specific to the fam. Gobiidae metacercariae - Holostephanus cobitidis and Apatemon gracilis. The dominant species in the parasite fauna of the round goby of the studied reservoir is the alien fluke Nicolla skrjabini, whose natural range is limited to the rivers of the Azov and Black seas basin.

The first record of the alien ladybug Harmonia axyridis Pall. 1773 (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) in Azerbaijan- Mogilevich  T.A. - For the first time, data on the invasion of the Asian ladybug Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) in Azerbaijan are presented. At the end of March 2019, two specimens of H. axyridis were collected in the forests formed by the trees of Parrotia persica (DC.) C.A. Mey near the border with Iran on the territory of the Hyrcanian National Park. The natural range of the species includes the southeast of Western Siberia, the south of Eastern Siberia and the Far East, Northeast Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, the Korean Peninsula, Japan and North Vietnam. Now it is expanding worldwide. At the moment, H. axyridis is found in more than 50 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America. The finding of the species in Azerbaijan shows that its invasion in the region continues.

Two alien species of soldier flies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) on the Black Sea coast of Russia - Nartshuk  E.P.,  Khachikov  E.A.,  Poushkova  E.A. - A review of two alien species of Stratiomyidae (Diptera) invaded the Black Sea cost of Russia is given. The species Exaireta spinigera (Wiedemann, 1830) is recorded in Russia for the first time. The history of invasion of Exaireta spinigera and Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758), their biology, prospects for further spread in the territory of Russia including the native ecosystems, methods of use and dangers arisen are discussed.

Distribution of plant alien species in forest communities of Khosta yew-boxwood grove of the Caucasus State Natural Biosphere Reserve after destruction of Buxus colchica Pojark- Pshegusov  R.H.,  Chadaeva  V.A. - In the early stages of succession processes caused by the destruction of Buxus colchica, 58 species of alien plants have been noted on the territory of the Khosta yew-boxwood grove, 14 of which introduces actively into natural forest communities. The number of alien flora species growing on test plots (400 m²) is 1–8 (8–57% of total species richness). The largest number of alien species has been noted in forest communities with tree crowns density of the upper forest layer from 0.4 to 0.7. The lower forest layer of such communities has formed under conditions of relatively good illumination and a relatively low projective cover of dominants. At that, alien species are most competitive in forest communities with a high tree crowns density, where, due to low illumination, there are no well-defined dominants in the lower layer.

Reproductive possibilities of alien species Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. in the forest stands of the city of Bryansk - Kholenko  M.S.,  Semenishchenkov  Yu.A. - In the natural and urban habitats, the alien North American species green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) has a high reproductive potential. The species is characterized by intensive seed reproduction and the active distribution of seeds. However, their germination requires quite specific conditions, which are found mainly in floodplain ecosystems and occasionally in mesophytic and xerophytic urban habitats. Intensive vegetative renewal allows ash trees to linger in their habitats for a long time, including after disturbances, but it is ineffective for the rapid spread of the species and occupation of new territories. F. pennsylvanica actively penetrates into the natural and semi-natural communities, acts as an edifier and dominant, displaces and (or) prevents the regeneration of species of natural flora. However, these features are not manifested in all habitats, but mainly in the conditions of river valleys, including forest cultures, which have a simplified structure. Of concern is the possible introduction of F. pennsylvanica diaspores into the river floodplains by birds and humans (randomly), as this can lead to the mass distribution of this species with a subsequent threat to the biodiversity of river valleys.