Russian Journal of Biological Invasions

2024, issue №1

CONTENTS

INVASIVE ACTIVITY OF QUERCUS MYRSINIFOLIA BLUME ON THE BLACK SEA COAST OF ABKHAZIA - Antonova I.S., Televinova M.S., Leiba V.D. - The features of the invasive activity of the evergreen subtropical Japanese-Chinese oak Q. myrsinifolia under conditions of introduction on the Black Sea coast of Abkhazia are considered. In the recent 20 years, this species has been actively creating viable undergrowth in conditions of well-drained slopes, forming monospecific communities and expanding beyond the boundaries of parklands. The features of favorable conditions for further invasion of this woody plant are discussed.

FOOD SPECTRUM OF THE AUSTRALIAN RED CLAW CRAYFISH CHERAX QUADRICARINATUS (VON MARTENS, 1868) (DECAPODA, PARASTACIDAE) IN THE PONDS OF THE ASTRAKHAN REGION - Vorob’eva L.V., Borisov R.R., Kovacheva N.P., Pyatikopova O.V. - For the first time, the data on the feeding habits of the Australian red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus in water bodies of Russia are presented. The studies were carried out during the cultivation of crayfish in three ponds of the scientific and experimental complex of aquaculture "BIOS" of the Volga-Caspian branch of the Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography "VNIRO" in the Astrakhan region in 2022. The food spectrum of C. quadricarinatus was dominated by plant remains and detritus (mainly rotting parts of cane), they were noted in all stomachs with food, and their share in the virtual food bolus constituted 82.4% on average. The share of the animal component in the virtual food bolus was 12.8% on average, and it was represented mainly by macrobenthos. Planktonic crustaceans did not make up a significant proportion in the virtual food bolus. In total, 20 taxa of invertebrates were found in stomachs. Among the benthic species, larvae of Odonata, chironomids, and larvae and imago of Coleoptera predominated. A preliminary assessment of the possible impact of crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus on ecosystems when it penetrates into natural water bodies of the South of Russia has been carried out.

RAPID EXPANSION OF THE PUMPKINSEED LEPOMIS GIBBOSUS (CENTRARCHIDAE) TO THE DON DELTA IN 2023 - Gus'kov G.E., Stepanova Yu.V., Bukhmin D.A. - The paper presents information about a sudden, massive invasion of Pumpkinseed into the delta of the Don in September – October 2023. Single specimens were recorded at the end of August 2023 in Svinoe Girlo branch of the Don River. After the wind flooding with waters from the Taganrog Bay to the delta, 78 individuals of Pumpkinseed were collected there. The size (standard length) of individuals ranged from 4.5 to 7.5 cm, weighing - from 2.46 to 12.98 g. Both fingerlings and females of the V stage of maturity and newly spawned individuals were caught. An assumption about a possible pathway of penetration of Pumpkinseed into the Don delta is made.

ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS OF DENDROBIOTIC ARTHROPODS WITH INVASIVE LIME LEAFMINER PHYLLONORYCTER ISSIKII (KUMATA, 1963) (LEPIDOPTERA, GRACILLARIIDAE) - Ermolaev I.V.- The ecological relationships of native dendrobiont arthropods with the mines of the invasive species Phyllonorycter issikii (Kumata, 1963) (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae) were studied in Udmurtia during 2016–2023. A complex of predators of Ph. issikii has been identified. Thrips Haplothrips subtilissimus (Haliday, 1852) (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae) and mite Anystis sp. (Trombidiformes, Anystidae) has been reported as predators of the leaf miner for the first time. Valenzuela flavidus (Stephens, 1836) (Caeciliusidae), Oenopia conglobata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coccinellidae), Clubiona sp. (Clubionidae) use mines Ph. issikii as a cover.

THE FIRST RECORD OF GOLDEN JACKAL CANIS AUREUS IN PSKOV REGION – CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES - Korablev N.P., Tsvetkov I.N., Korablev P.N., Korablev M.P.- The article reports the first record of the golden jackal Canis aureus in the Pskov region, the stable populations of which are known in neighboring countries - Estonia and Belarus. Species diagnostics was confirmed by morphological and molecular genetic methods. Both craniometric features and an mtDNA marker indicate the probable origin of the hunted animal from populations that settled in Eastern Europe at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries. Two species of parasitic worms of medical and veterinary significance were identified in the golden jackal. The appearance of a new representative in multi-species communities of Canidae can lead to profound restructuring of existing biotic relationships. Monitoring of the C. aureus invasion process in northwestern Russia is necessary. Measures to control the spread of the invasive species have been suggested.

OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT SECONDARY RANGE OF THE FOUR-EYED FIR BARK BEETLE (POLYGRAPHUS PROXIMUS BLANDFORD)IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION - Krivets S.A., Kerchev I.A., Bisirova E.M., Volkova E.S., Astapenko S.A., Efremenko A.A., Kosilov A.Yu., Kudryavtsev P.P., Kuznetzova Yu.P., Ponomarev V.I., Potapkin A.B., Taraskin E.G., Titova V.V., Shilonosov A.O., Baranchikov Yu.N.- Current data on the existing secondary range of the four-eyed fir bark beetle Polygraphus proximus in Russia, a dangerous invasive pest of fir stands, are presented. The alien species was found on the territory of 18 administrative subjects of the Russian Federation, from Moscow and the Moscow Region in the West to the Irkutsk Region and the Republic of Buryatia in the East. Within 17 years since the species was first found outside its Far-Eastern natural range, it has spread widely in Western and Central Siberia and in recent years in the Cis-Urals region and the Urals, from the middle taiga to forest-steppe on the plains to the upper limit of Siberian fir in the mountains. It forms outbreak foci in industrial forests, in specially protected natural areas, in artificial fir plantations of settlements. Taking into account the peculiarities of host plant growth, the time of detection and sources of invasive population formation, the structure of secondary range is developed, and the characteristics of modern distribution of the four-eyed fir bark beetle and the forecast of further expansion of its secondary range are given.

EXPANSION OF THE POLYCHAETE LAONOME XEPROVALA BICK & BASTROP, IN BICK ET AL., 2018 INTO THE RESERVOIRS OF THE MANYCH RIVER VALLEY - Oganesyan A.A. -As a result of analyzing the samples of macrozoobenthos taken during the expedition of the SSC RAS in 2021 in the reservoirs of the Western Manych River valley, 2 specimens of the polychaete of the genus Laonome were found. It is possible that the polychaete Laonome xeprovala Bick & Bastrop, in Bick et al., 2018 got into the Veselovsky reservoir via the cascade of streams from the Don River. This is a new sighting place for this species within its invasive range in the territory of the Russian Federation. To date, due to the record of this polychaete only at one sampling site, it is difficult to evaluate the state of naturalization of this species in the reservoirs of the Western Manych River valley.

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BROWN BULLHEAD AMEIURUS NEBULOSUS (SILURIFORMES: ICTALURIDAE) – A NEW SPECIES IN THE NEMAN RIVER BASIN - Okhremenko Y.I., Gajduchenko H.S. - The article provides data on the first record of the brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus in the Neman river basin. Statistically significant differences in the morphometric characteristics of the brown bullhead specimens from the Neman river basin compared to the specimens of the Bug river basin (place of initial introduction in Belarus) according to 11 morphometric characteristics were shown. A wider range of variations in the number of rays in the fins of fish from Belarus compared to the native range was noted. Data on the level of genetic polymorphism for the mitochondrial COI gene in populations of brown bullhead from reservoirs of acquired range (including the Neman river basin) compared to natural range were presented.

ECOLOGICAL NICHE AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION MODELS OF THE RUSSIAN STURGEON ACIPENSER GUELDENSTAEDTII BRANDT ET RATZEBURG (1833) IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE CASPIAN SEA BASED ON LONG-TERM MONITORING DATA (1992–2011) IN THE SUMMER PERIOD - Ruban G.I., Konopleva I.V., Osipov F.A., Dergunova N.N., Zhang X., Petrosyan V.G.- The ecological niches (ENM) and spatial distribution (SDM) models of the Russian sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt et Ratzeburg (1833), as well as zoobenthos – the main components of this species feeding (Annelida, Mollusca and Crustacea) in the northern part of the Caspian Sea based on long-term monitoring data (1992–2011) and raster layers of the marine environment are presented. The constructed ENM using PCA within the framework of two concepts COUE and ECOUE allowed us to test the hypothesis of Russian sturgeon ecological niches conservatism over time. It was shown that while under the COUE concept the hypothesis of niche conservatism was fulfilled for one time period of monitoring, under the expanded ECOUE concept this hypothesis is fulfilled for all monitoring periods. The SDM built by MaxEnt showed that trophic relationships between Russian sturgeon and Azov-Black Sea invaders from different taxonomic groups (Annelida, Mollusca and Crustacea) in the Northern part of the Caspian Sea are quite closely reflected in their spatial distribution. High biomass values of molluscs, crustaceans and ringworms (Annelida) as the main component in the feeding of Russian sturgeon in the western part of the Northern Caspian Sea create preferred conditions for feeding of Russian sturgeon in summer. It has been established that in the eastern and shallow parts of the Northern Caspian the main components of the feeding are molluscs and crustaceans.

FINDINGS AND NEW LOCATIONS OF ALIEN VASCULAR PLANT SPECIES IN THE SOUTH OF PRIMORSKY TERRITORY - Fedina L.A., Malysheva S.K. - New data on the distribution of alien species in the south of Primorsky Territory are presented. For the first time Digitalis grandiflora Mill is indicated in the composition of an alien flora – a species that has passed away from culture, currently occupying a significant area in the arboretum of the Gornotaezhnaya station of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Ussuriysky City District, Primorsky Territory). This species is a new alien to the entire territory of the Far East. In an anthropogenically transformed territory, Digitalis grandiflora is an epecophyte according to the degree of naturalization. It was revealed that Pilosella floribunda (Wimm. et Grab.) Fr. is actively being introduced to the exposition areas of the arboretum of the GTS FEB RAS, forming extensive loci with a projective coverage of up to 70%. It has been established that a new alien species for the flora of the Ussuri Reserve is Carduus acanthoides L., found at a considerable distance from previously found places of growth outside the protected area. The information on new habitats of other species of alien plants in the territory of the Primorsky Territory, identified by us in the period from 2019 to 2023, is presented.

THE FINDING AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE INVASIVE THERMOCYCLOPS TAIHOKUENSIS (HARADA, 1931) (CRUSTACEA: CYCLOPOIDAE) IN FLOODPLAIN LAKES OF THE KHOPERSK STATE RESERVE (VORONEZH REGION) IN 2021–2022- Fedyaeva L.A., Fedyaev R.A.- The paper presents data on the occurrence and distribution of the alien species Thermocyclops taihokuensis in small floodplain lakes of the Khoper Reserve. It was shown that the invader lives mainly in lakes with rare and extremely rare flooding during the flood period, and the species was not found in annually flooded reservoirs. The size of sexually mature females constituted 960µm on average. It was revealed that in July 2022, in the pelagic zone of annually flooded lakes, the abundance and biomasses of Copepoda were significantly higher compared to rarely flooded lakes.

INVASIVE SPECIES OF SEGETAL COMMUNITIES OF THE SOUTHERN AND MIDDLE URALS - Khasanova G.R., Yamalov S.M., Kamaletdinova A.A. - The invasive component of the cenoflora of segetal (field weed) communities of the Southern Urals and adjacent territories (Republic of Bashkortostan, Perm Region and Orenburg Region) was analyzed. A total of 33 invasive species were identified, which is 11.3% of the entire cenoflora of segetal communities. Analysis of species distribution in the syntaxonomic space of segetal vegetation showed that invasive species occur in 17 syntaxa corresponding to the rank of the association. The number of invasive species in them ranges from 1 to 16. Most of the recorded invasive species are xenophytes (Rhaponticum repens, Amaranthus albus, Ambrosia psylostachya, Artemisia sieversiana, Ceratocarpus arenarius, Cyclachaena xanthiifolia, Bassia scoparia, Sisymbrium volgense, Xanthium orientale , etc.), and have high values of constancy and activity in the southern part of the gradient – in steppe and southern part of forest steppe zones. A small group of ergasiophytes (Heracleum sosnowskyi, Lupinus polyphyllus, Galega orientalis, etc.) gravitates to the northern part of the gradient to the forest and northern part of the forest steppe zones. The leading ecological factors of invasive species distribution are: shading-lighting, temperature regime and climate continentality. The most invasive communities of the region's segetal vegetation and peculiar "corridors" for the advancement of some invasive species from south to north are the communities of the Orenburg Region, which represent two associations Amaranthoo blitoides – Lactucetum tataricae Khasanova et al. 2019 and Lactucetum tataricae Rudakov in Mirkin et al. 1985.

FINDINGS OF LONGFIN BAIKAL SCULPIN COTTOCOMEPHORUS INERMIS (YAKOVLEV, 1890) AND BAIKAL YELLOWFIN C. GREWINGKII (DYBOWSKI, 1874) IN THE DOWNSTREAM POOL OF THE BOGUCHANSKAYA HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION - Yablokov N.O. - Information about the findings of Baikal endemic species, the longfin Baikal sculpin Cottocomephorus inermis (Yakovlev, 1890) and Baikal yellowfin C. grewingkii (Dybowski, 1874), in the middle reaches of the Angara River (downstream pool of the Boguchanskaya HPS) is presented. Under conditions of active hydro construction on the Angara River, accompanied by a change in the hydrological regime and fish habitat conditions, further dispersal of two species of Baikal sculpins of the genus Cottocomephorus is predicted in the river basin up to the mouth.

DO WETLAND VASCULAR PLANTS INTRODUCED IN MOROCCO ALSO BECOME INVASIVE? - Chadli C., Bouslamti R., Ennabili A. - The propagation of exotic species is a complex process influenced by taxa-specific factors, in addition to climate and anthropozoogenic activities. However, the introduction of plants outside their native range does not always lead to their naturalization and/or the invasion of native ecosystems. Once non-native species have become established, they become extremely difficult to eradicate or control. Moroccan wetlands are crucial to the conservation of biodiversity, but they are susceptible to invasive hygrophilous plants. The invasive potential of introduced hygrophytes in Morocco was assessed through an extensive documentation review on their distribution, biology, ecology, uses, considering both their updated scientific names and their synonymy. Three groups of hygrophytes with varying invasive potential have been identified, based on their bioclimatic distribution, intrinsic propagation ability and use. The high invasiveness group (species with high invasiveness in other countries) includes Populus nigra L., P. alba L., Cotula coronopifolia L., Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) W.T. Aiton, and Arundo donax L. With the exception of Cotula coronopifolia, which is naturalized in Morocco, none of other highly invasive in other countries species has reached naturalized and/or invasive status. The status of these introduced hygrophytes in Morocco, as well as those with moderate (Heliotropium curassavicum L., Cotula anthemoides L., Pistia stratiotes L., Cyperus eragrostis Lam., and Paspalum distichum L.) or low invasive potential [Azolla filiculoides Lam., Modiola caroliniana (L.) G. Don, Salix babylonica L., Asclepias curassavica L., Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., Triglochin striata Ruiz & Pav., and Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms], is compared with that of other regions of the world. Although Pistia stratiotes has invaded wetlands in several regions, its invasion is currently limited in Morocco due to environmental and management factors. As a result, more botanical studies of Moroccan wetlands are needed, as many introduced species are currently poorly known and their status may change, while new introduced hygrophytes may also be encountered. Assessing the invasive potential of introduced hygrophytes will enable in part the implementation of proactive measures to better protect local wetlands against invasive species.

FIRST RECORD OF EXOTIC ALLIGATOR GAR, ATRACTOSTEUS SPATULA (ACTINOPTERYGII: LEPISOSTEIFORMES: LEPISOSTEIDAE), FROM DAL LAKE, KASHMIR, INDIA - Magloo Aadil Hussain, Bhat Farooz Ahmad,Mushtaq Syed Talia, Darve Sabina Iqbal, Ahmad Hilal - A new record of an exotic alligator gar, Atractosteus spatula (Lacepede, 1803), from Dal Lake is presented in this paper. The unauthorized introduction of alligator gar into Indian waters is concerning, especially as it is not on the approved list of aquarium fish species for import. Similar instances of invasive species disrupting indigenous fish populations have been documented across India, emphasizing the need for stringent monitoring of the aquarium trade.

SILVANOPRUS ANGUSTICOLLIS (REITTER, 1876) (COLEOPTERA: SILVANIDAE) – A NEW ALIEN SPECIES IN THE EUROPEAN PART OF RUSSIA - Sazhnev A.S. - First records of Silvanoprus angusticollis (Reitter, 1876) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) were obtained from the European part of Russia. So far, this Asian beetle species was recorded in Russia in Eastern Siberia. First records from European Russia came from Saratov and Yaroslavl Regions. Records of Silvanoprus angusticollis in different regions of European Russia probably show that this species was not distinguished from similar silvanid flat bark beetle species. Distinctive details of the morphology of this species are illustrated.

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