Russian Journal of Biological Invasions

2022, issue №2

CONTENTS

ALIEN AND NATIVE DOMINANTS HAVE A SIMILAR EFFECT ON THE SPECIES RICHNESS OF SYNANTHROPIC PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE WESTERN CAUCASUS - Akatov  V.V.,  Akatova  T.V.,  Eskina  T.G.,  Sazonets  N.M.   - It remains unclear whether alien dominants, on average, have a stronger effect on the species richness of plant communities than native ones. We examined this issue on the example of 20 areas of synanthropic plant communities dominated by species of different biogeographic origin (the study area is the Western Caucasus, the Belaya River valley, 190–680 m above the sea level). Within each of them, samples of aboveground biomass were taken from 25–30 plots of 0.25 m² with different coverings of dominants, which were then sorted by species and weighed. Analysis of the data has shown: 1) the average species richness of samples with a similar degree of dominance of alien and native species differs mainly insignificantly; 2) the close relationship between the degree of dominance of alien species and species richness is, on average, about the same as between the degree of dominance of native species and species richness; 3) the relationship between these characteristics in most cases can be satisfactorily explained on the basis of "energy-diversity" hypothesis; 4) the share of synanthropic plant species in communities with high participation of both alien and aboriginal dominants is not higher than in communities with low participation of these dominants. On the whole, our results indicate a similar and predominantly nonselective nature of the impact of alien and native dominants on accompanying species of communities.

PARASITOIDS (HYMENOPTERA) AS MORTALITY FACTOR FOR CAMERARIA OHRIDELLA DESCHKA & DIMIC, 1986 (LEPIDOPTERA, GRACILLARIIDAE) - Ermolaev  I.V.  -The review is devoted to the complexes of parasitoids of Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dimic, 1986 (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) in the secondary range of the leaf miner. Over 30 years of research, 99 species from 6 families of Hymenoptera have been identified. The parasitoids are represented by polyphages. The attractiveness of C. ohridella for parasitoids grows in the following stage order: caterpillar – pronymph – pupa. Egg parasitoids of the miner are not known. Indices of parasitoid infestation in C. ohridella populations are everywhere low. The reasons for the ineffectiveness of the miner parasitoids complexes are shown.

DISSEMINATION OF MISGURNUS NIKOLSKYI (COBITIDAE) IN THE SOUTH OF WESTERN SIBERIA - Interesova  E.A.,  Romanov  V.I.,  Davletshina  G.I., Fedorova  V.S.,  Trifonov  V.A.    -Data about new findings of the Nikolsky loach Misgurnus nikolskyi in the south of Western Siberia are presented. The maximum distance from the place of the first detection is about 200 km downstream of the Ob River. It has been suggested that the main method of dispersal of the Misgurnus nikolskyi in this region is deliberate introduction. It has been shown that the mtDNA haplotypes of the cyt b locus of the Misgurnus nikolskyi from the Ob River basin are identical to those described from the Lower Amur River basin.

BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG HALYOMORPHA HALYS (STAL, 1855) (HETEROPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE) PENETRATED INTO ARMENIA - Kalashian  M.Yu.,  Ghrejyan  T.L.,  Karagyan  G.H.  - Data on the first registrations of invasive insect species – marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stal, 1855) in Central (Yerevan city) and Northern Armenia (Lori region) are presented. It is presumed that the species penetrated to the north of the country as a result of independent expansion from Georgia, and to its central part due to unintentional delivery with cargo or fruit and vegetable products. The role of citizen scientists in revealing of the species is shown.

THE CURRENT STATE OF THE CASPIAN TERN (HYDROPROGNE CASPIA) IN THE LENINGRAD REGION AND NEW PLACES OF THIS SPECIES REPRODUCTION IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE GULF OF FINLAND - Kouzov  S.A.,  Zaynagutdinova  E.M.,  Kravchuk  A.V., Abakumov  E.V. -Under the development of warm phase of climate during the recent decades, large-scale changes in the ranges and numbers of a large number of species of both southern and northern origin have occurred in the Baltic region. Thus, various species demonstrate unsynchronized changes. The population growth of the Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) and its active expansion into the north-western direction were fixed in the 1st half of the XXth century; on the contrary, in the last decades, there is a general trend to number decreasing. This article elaborates on the history of settling of the mentioned species into the Eastern part of the Gulf of Finland, its spatial distribution and peculiarities of biotopic preferences of nesting birds. It is shown that, in contrast to other southern migrants in the region, the Caspian Tern remains a rare species over the past 30–40 years with a tendency to strong fluctuations in number. This is probably caused by the lack of a bird stock in the nearest breeding locations. It has been shown that the stenobiontic species Caspian Tern nests usually in open sandy biotopes. Inhabiting the Gulf of Finland, it mastered reproduction in a completely different landscape on selga massive-crystallic granite rocks.

NEW DATA ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF GASTROPOD THEODOXUS PALLASI LINDHOLM, 1924 (MOLLUSCA, GASTROPODA) IN THE KUIBYSHEV RESERVOIR, RUSSIA  - Melnikova  A.V.,  Gvozdareva  M.A. - The gastropod Theodoxus pallasi Lindholm, 1924, which is a representative of the Ponto-Caspian fauna complex, has been recorded for the first time in the Volga reach of the Kuibyshev reservoir. Previously, it was indicated only for the Near-dam reach of the reservoir. The data indicate the continuing processof settling by the invader mollusk up the Volga River.

ATTAGENUS BRUNNEUS FALDERMANN, 1835 (COLEOPTERA: DERMESTIDAE), A NEW INVASIVE SPECIES OF CARPET BEETLES IN THE FAUNA OF BELARUS - Ostrovsky  A.M.  -For the first time for Belarus, the actual material collected in the territory of the city of Gomel is given for the alien species of carpet beetles Attagenus brunneus Faldermann, 1835 (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) – a dangerous pest of stored food products and materials of plant and animal origin. Information on current distribution, as well as features of biology and ecology of this species is presented.

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INVASIVE SPECIES OF DIATOMS IN THE AUTUMN PHYTOPLANKTON OF THE CASPIAN SEA: THE ROLE IN THE FORMATION OF TOTAL BIOMASS AND DISTRIBUTION IN THE SALINITY GRADIENT - Pautova  L.A.,  Kravchishina  M.D.,  Silkin  V.A.,  Klyuvitkin  A.A.,  Artemiev  V.A.,  Vazyulya  S.V.,  Burenkov  V.I.  - The phytoplankton structure in ecologically diverse areas of the sea and the role of marine invasive species in the formation of the community were studied on the meridional and latitudinal trans-Caspian sections in the autumn period of 2008, 2009, and 2012. It was established that the transformation of the phytoplankton community continues in the Caspian Sea, associated with the entry of the Black Sea diatoms Chaetoceros peruvianus, Cerataulina pelagica, and Pseudo-nitzschia seriata into their composition. During the autumn bloom of phytoplankton in November 2008, the number of invasive species reached 1.3–2.3 × 10⁵ cells/L, C. peruvianus and P. seriata to the total weight biomass of the community reached 49–50%. The highest abundance of invasive species was recorded in the shelf areas of the Middle Caspian Sea in its eastern (C. peruvianus, 2.3 × 10⁵ cells/L), western (P. seriata, 1.4 × 10⁵ cells/L), and northern (C. pelagica, 1.3 × 10⁵ cells/L) parts. The north boundary of the distribution of these species in the Caspian Sea was the 5.0 isohaline, which coincided with the highly productive frontal zone (4.0–6.0) of the marginal filter of the Volga River. For the first time, it was shown that the C. peruvianus diatom was a part of the phytoplankton of the upper productive 25–30-meter water layer both in the Middle and in the Southern Caspian during the periods preceding the autumn bloom of phytoplankton (September–October). During that time the most considerable abundance of this species (1.6 × 10⁴ cells/L) was recorded in the shallow areas on the Apsheron Sill and the eastern part of the Middle Caspian in the zone of coastal wind upwelling.

MODELING THE DYNAMICS OF THE ECOLOGICAL NICHE OF STARRED STURGEON (ACIPENSER STELLATUS PALLAS, 1771) IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE CASPIAN SEA BASED ON SUMMER LONG-TERM MONITORING DATA (1992-2006) - Ruban  G.I.,  Safaraliyev  I.A.,  Osipov  F.A.,  Dergunova  N.N.,  Petrosyan  V.G.  - Models of ecological niches of stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus Pallas, 1771) in the northern part of the Caspian Sea based on long-term monitoring data (1992–2006) are presented. The analysis of the results of the study of the long-term patterns of the spatial distribution of alien species of polychaete Hediste diversicolor, mollusc Abra ovata and crustaceans are reported. Estimates of the effect of abiotic and biotic factors on the formation of ecological niches of the stellate sturgeon in the eastern and western regions of the northern part of the Caspian Sea are presented. Graphical schemes of the spatial distribution of stellate sturgeon in different years of monitoring in the plane of two main components (PCA) are given. It is shown that the salinity of water and the density of crustaceans are the leading factors for constructing models of ecological niches.

INVASION VECTORS AND DISTRIBUTION OF SOME INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES IN ARMENIA -Fayvush  G.M.,  Aleksanyan  A.S.,  Hovhannisyan  H.I.  - The article summarizes information on the penetration and spread of 14 most dangerous or potentially dangerous invasive alien species throughout the territory of Armenia, which threat biodiversity, natural ecosystems and, to some extent, public health. It is shown that eight of the fourteen species were intentionally introduced into Armenia as ornamental plants or for use in landscaping settlements and shelterbelts along the roads and railways. Five of these species are woody plants. Four species appeared on the territory of the republic as a result of their self-dispersal and two species penetrated by accidental introduction. It is noted that the degree of threat to biodiversity and natural ecosystems is shown as “high” for seven species, as “very high” for four species, and three species are listed as “potentially invasive”. However, one species (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is listed as a “very high” threat to public health. The article indicates the absolute need for an examination of the threat of invasion when planning the introduction of plants for the purpose of growing them in open ground, first of all, when creating plantations and using them in landscaping settlements and when creating or restoring damaged forest ecosystems and protective forest belts.

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CTENOPHORA MNEMIOPSIS LEIDYI A. AGASSIZ, 1865 POPULATION AND ITS PRESSURE ON ZOOPLANKTON IN OPEN AREAS OF THE BLACK SEA IN JULY – AUGUST 2017 - Finenko  G.A.,  Dacik  N.A.,  Zagorodnyay  Yu.A.,  Anninsky  B.E.  - The research both of the quantity and size structure of the invader Mnemiopsis leidyi (A. Agassiz 1865), as well as the mesozooplankton abundance, species diversity, the food spectrum, trophic relations, and predatory impact by M. leidyi on prey populations in the western and eastern sectors of the open Black Sea was carried out in July – August 2017. M. leidyi biomass varied from 92 to 250 g m^-2 during the period of maximum seasonal development. The food spectrum of M. leidyi was dominated by copepods Acartia spp. and Calanus euxinus (Hulsemann 1984). A clear spatial difference in the quantity of M. leidyi and zooplankton, the intensity of food consumption and predatory impact was observed. In the western offshore part of the sea, the high food ingestion rate by M. leidyi (the mean specific daily ration was 45.50±8.31% С) and intensive predatory impact on zooplankton (up to ~50% of Acartia sp. biomass) resulted in the strong decrease in mesozooplankton biomass. In contrast, in the eastern sector M. leidyi predation had no effect on zooplankton community maintaining daily grazing of ~6% Acartia spp. biomass.

FOCUS OF THE MASS ACCUMULATION OF THE INVASIVE OAK LACE BUG, CORYTHUCHA ARCUATA (SAY, 1832) (HEMIPTERA: HETEROPTERA: TINGIDAE), ON THE AI-PETRI PLATEAU (CRIMEA) -Shorenko  K.I.,  Golub  V.B.,  Nikolaeva  A.M.  - The results of observations of the mass accumulation of adults of the harmful invasive oak lace bug, Corythucha arcuata (Say, 1832) in 2018 and 2021 at the highest point of the Ai-Petri plateau (Crimea; 1234 m a.s.l.) are presented. The approximate number of aggregations of this species reached several thousand specimens, the density of groups reached 50 specimens/dm² of ropeway structures. There are no food plants of this invader on the plateau. It is most likely that adults of C. arcuata are brought to the plateau by vertical air currents from the areas located below, where the pest successfully reproduces and develops. The Ai-Petri Plateau is a reserve of the adult pest, which provides its expansion to other territories of the southern Crimea by air currents. Chemical control of the C. arcuata population at the apex of Mount Ai-Petri is recommended.

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ABOUT THE FIND OF PARASITES KUDOA NOVA AND KUDOA NILUFERI (MYXOSPOREA: KUDOIDAE) IN THE MUSCLES OF INVASIVE GOBIES TRIDENTIGER TRIGONOCEPHALUS AND GOBIUS CRUENTATUS (ACTINOPTERYGII: GOBIIDAE) IN THE BLACK SEA -Yurakhno  V.M.,  Slynko  E.E.,  Slynko  Yu.V.  - The data on parasitizing of two species of myxosporeans of the genus Kudoa in the muscles of two species of invading gobies in the Black Sea off the coast of Sevastopol are presented. One isolate was found in the chameleon goby Tridentiger trigonocephalus, and the other one was found in the red-mouthed goby Gobius cruentatus. It is assumed that the source of infection for the invading fish were native gobies, in which the above species of parasites were previously known. A decrease in the size of spores and polar capsules was noted, as well as a slight disturbance in the shape of spores for K. niluferi, which might be associated with parasitizing in an unusual host and in another region. Molecular genetic identification of myxosporeans from two species of gobies confirms that the studied isolates belong to the genus Kudoa. Two 18S rDNA sequences of these isolates turned out to be very similar, but not identical to each other (differences of 4.87%), and also similar to two known species of goby myxosporeans from the Black Sea – K. nova and K. niluferi. The results obtained are the first evidence of the parasitizing of Myxosporea representatives in both species of gobies in the places of invasion, and also make up the lack of information on genomic variability of parasites of chameleon and red-mouthed gobies in the native range.

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TESTING THE ENEMY RELEASE HYPOTHESIS IN THE INVASIVE FISH AMATITLANIA NIGROFASCIATA (PERCIFORMES: CICHLIDAE) IN MEXICO - Alfredo Jimenez-Sanchez , Petra Sanchez-Nava , Felipe de Jesus Rodriguez-Romero , and Belem Flores-Nava -The enemy release hypothesis (ERH) posits that invasive species are released from their natural enemies in their introduced range, which promotes their successful invasion. In this study, we tested the ERH in a population of the convict cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata, an invasive species in Mexico. The ERH predicts that the convict cichlid: a) is not infected by specialist helminth parasites in the introduced range; b) has lower infection parameter values, as measured through richness, prevalence, abundance and diversity of helminths, than a native species–the redside cichlid Cichlasoma istlanum; and c) is not affected in its condition factor by the abundance of helminths it carries. The convict cichlid was infected by two (33%) specialist helminths relative to the six specialist helminths that infect the cichlid in its native range. The convict cichlid had lower helminth richness and diversity than the redside cichlid. However, the prevalence and abundance of the parasite species varied between the host fish. While the prevalence and abundance of the nematode Rhabdochona kidderi was higher in the redside cichlid, the prevalence and abundance of the trematode Uvulifer sp. was higher in the convict cichlid. The condition factor in both host fish was not correlated with helminth abundance. Our results do not agree with the prediction that the convict cichlid is completely released from specialist parasites, nor with the prediction that this invasive species has lower infection parameter values than the native redside cichlid.  However, our results agree with the prediction that the abundance of parasite helminths do not affect the cichlid’s condition factor.  More studies are necessary to determine the advantages that the convict cichlid could have in the introduced range when it is infected with a low richness and diversity of helminths.

LOW LEVEL OF RESISTANCE TO ANTICOAGULANT RODENTICIDES IN THE VKORC1 GENE IN HOUSE MICE (MUS MUSCULUS) AND NORWAY RATS (RATTUS NORVEGICUS) IN RUSSIA - Maltsev  A.N.,  Stakheev  V.V.,  Ryabov  S.V.,  Gololobova  T.V.,  Gashev  S.N.,  Bazhenov  Yu.A.,  Kotenkova  E.V. - Genetic resistance to anticoagulants caused by mutations in the Vkorc1 gene of the most invasive rodent species – Norway rats and house mice - has not been studied in Russia. We analyzed the variability of the Vkorc1 gene in house mice and Norway rats in various settlements of Russia, and identified mutations responsible for resistance to rodenticides. Two exons of the Vkorc1 gene were analyzed in 71 Norway rats from four cities (Moscow, Tyumen, Chita, Rostov-on-Don) and 108 house mice from cities and small settlements (Moscow region, Tormosin, Nizhny Tsasuchei). Three Norway rats (15.8% of the studied individuals) in Moscow have a heterozygous state of the Tyr139Ser mutation, which is responsible for resistance. House mice were not found to have mutations in the Vkorc1 gene responsible for resistance to anticoagulants of the first and second generation in the Leu128Ser and Tyr139Cys positions located in the third exon. However, in cities, we identified two heterozygous mutations in the first exon have not be described previously in scientific literature: Lys58Arg and Ser31Trp. In Russia, the genetic resistance to rodenticides in settlements in the populations of house mice and Norway rats is significantly lower than in Western Europe.