Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Multifunctionality in Response to Environmental Changes

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Conservation Biology and Biodiversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 47449

Special Issue Editors

Department of Ecology and Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
Interests: aquatic ecosystems; community structure; species diversity; community function; global change
South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
Interests: marine microbial ecology; marine picocyanobacteria; global change; algae-bacteria interactions; cyanobacterial pigment and taxonomic diversity
State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
Interests: lake; microbial community; nitrogen cycle; macrophyte; rhizosphere

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality are the foundation of social stability and sustainable development. Since the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment in 2005, the relationship between biodiversity, ecosystem multifunctionality and environmental change has become a hot topic in current ecological research. However, compared with terrestrial ecosystems, our knowledge about biodiversity, ecosystem multifunctionality and their links in response to environmental changes in aquatic environments is much scarcer. This SI will focus on the impacts of environmental changes (e.g., habitat gradients, anthropogenic activities and climate change) on aquatic biodiversity (e.g., fishes, macrophytes, phytoplankton, zooplankton, microorganisms and inter-organism associations), ecosystem multifunctionality (e.g., ecosystem productivity, organic matter mineralization, pollutant degradation, nutrient cycling and greenhouse gas emissions) and the links existing between aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality. This SI will particularly welcome contributions focusing on biodiversity conservation, community succession, phylogeography, species evolution, ecosystem functioning and biogeochemical cycles in both freshwater and marine ecosystems.

Dr. Lijuan Ren
Dr. Xiaomin Xia
Dr. Jin Zeng
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • aquatic community ecology
  • diversity maintenance mechanism
  • ecosystem multifunctionality
  • climate change
  • anthropogenic impacts

Published Papers (26 papers)

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17 pages, 3136 KiB  
Article
Ecology of Saline Watersheds: An Investigation of the Functional Communities and Drivers of Benthic Fauna in Typical Water Bodies of the Irtysh River Basin
by Fangze Zi, Baoqiang Wang, Liting Yang, Qiang Huo, Zhichao Wang, Daoquan Ren, Bin Huo, Yong Song and Shengao Chen
Biology 2024, 13(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13010027 - 02 Jan 2024
Viewed by 956
Abstract
In this study, we investigated how changes in salinity affect biodiversity and function in 11 typical water bodies in the Altai region. The salinity of the freshwater bodies ranged from 0 to 5, the brackish water salinities ranged from 5 to 20, and [...] Read more.
In this study, we investigated how changes in salinity affect biodiversity and function in 11 typical water bodies in the Altai region. The salinity of the freshwater bodies ranged from 0 to 5, the brackish water salinities ranged from 5 to 20, and the hypersaline environments had salinities > 20. We identified 11 orders, 34 families, and 55 genera in 3061 benthic samples and classified them into 10 traits and 32 categories. Subsequently, we conducted Mantel tests and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and calculated biodiversity and functional diversity indices for each sampling site. The results indicated that biodiversity and the proportion of functional traits were greater in freshwater environments than in saline environments and decreased gradually with increasing salinity. Noticeable shifts in species distribution were observed in high-salinity environments and were accompanied by specific functional traits such as swimming ability, smaller body sizes, and air-breathing adaptations. The diversity indices revealed that the species were more evenly distributed in high-diversity environments under the influence of salinity. In contrast, in high-salinity environments, only a few species dominated. The results suggested that increasing salinity accelerated the evolution of benthic communities, leading to reduced species diversity and functional homogenization. We recommend enhancing the monitoring of saline water resources and implementing sustainable water resource management to mitigate the impact of salinity stress on aquatic communities in response to climate-induced soil and water salinization. Full article
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15 pages, 1708 KiB  
Article
Exploring Less Invasive Visual Surveys to Assess the Spatial Distribution of Endangered Mediterranean Trout Population in a Small Intermittent Stream
by Francesco Palmas, Paolo Casula, Francesco Curreli, Cinzia Podda, Serenella Cabiddu and Andrea Sabatini
Biology 2023, 12(7), 1000; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12071000 - 13 Jul 2023
Viewed by 804
Abstract
Monitoring the conservation status of endangered freshwater fish using less invasive methods poses challenges for ecologists and conservationists. Visual surveys have been proposed as an alternative to electrofishing, which is a standard methodology that can cause injuries, physiological stress and post-release mortality in [...] Read more.
Monitoring the conservation status of endangered freshwater fish using less invasive methods poses challenges for ecologists and conservationists. Visual surveys have been proposed as an alternative to electrofishing, which is a standard methodology that can cause injuries, physiological stress and post-release mortality in organisms. To test the efficacy of visual methods, a study was conducted in an intermittent stream of Sardinia (Italy). Two visual methods were employed: a visual survey from streambanks (VSS) and an underwater visual survey (UVS) using cameras. The aims of this study were (1) to compare the effectiveness of these methods in detecting patch occupancy patterns and (2) to investigate the effect of environmental variables on the detection probability of Mediterranean native trout. Environmental variables characterizing pool habitats were recorded, and generalized linear models (GLMs) were employed to assess the correlation between these variables and trout presence/absence. GLM analysis revealed that UVS had higher detection probability with larger pool volume, whereas submerged macrophytes negatively affected detection probability. Detection from streambanks (VVS) was negatively affected by a high turbulence rate. In conclusion, our study suggests the utility of visual methods to describe patterns of patch occupancy of Mediterranean trout. However, methods can be differently affected by environmental variables. Therefore, monitoring programs using these methods should consider these factors to ensure a reliable description of within-stream trout distribution in intermittent streams. Full article
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21 pages, 2294 KiB  
Article
Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management
by Marie Anne Eurie Forio, Peter L. M. Goethals, Koen Lock, Thi Hanh Tien Nguyen, Minar Naomi Damanik-Ambarita, Luis Dominguez-Granda and Olivier Thas
Biology 2023, 12(4), 593; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12040593 - 13 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1286
Abstract
Although the trait concept is increasingly used in research, quantitative relations that can support in determining ecological tipping points and serve as a basis for environmental standards are lacking. This study determines changes in trait abundance along a gradient of flow velocity, turbidity [...] Read more.
Although the trait concept is increasingly used in research, quantitative relations that can support in determining ecological tipping points and serve as a basis for environmental standards are lacking. This study determines changes in trait abundance along a gradient of flow velocity, turbidity and elevation, and develops trait–response curves, which facilitate the identification of ecological tipping points. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and abiotic conditions were determined at 88 different locations in the streams of the Guayas basin. After trait information collection, a set of trait diversity metrics were calculated. Negative binomial regression and linear regression were applied to relate the abundance of each trait and trait diversity metrics, respectively, to flow velocity, turbidity and elevation. Tipping points for each environmental variable in relation to traits were identified using the segmented regression method. The abundance of most traits increased with increasing velocity, while they decreased with increasing turbidity. The negative binomial regression models revealed that from a flow velocity higher than 0.5 m/s, a substantial increase in abundance occurs for several traits, and this is even more substantially noticed at values higher than 1 m/s. Furthermore, significant tipping points were also identified for elevation, wherein an abrupt decline in trait richness was observed below 22 m a.s.l., implying the need to focus water management in these altitudinal regions. Turbidity is potentially caused by erosion; thus, measures that can reduce or limit erosion within the basin should be implemented. Our findings suggest that measures mitigating the issues related to turbidity and flow velocity may lead to better aquatic ecosystem functioning. This quantitative information related to flow velocity might serve as a good basis to determine ecological flow requirements and illustrates the major impacts that hydropower dams can have in fast-running river systems. These quantitative relations between invertebrate traits and environmental conditions, as well as related tipping points, provide a basis to determine critical targets for aquatic ecosystem management, achieve improved ecosystem functioning and warrant trait diversity. Full article
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15 pages, 4025 KiB  
Article
Defining Patterns and Rates of Natural vs. Drought Driven Aquatic Community Variability Indicates the Ongoing Need for Long Term Ecological Research
by Ivana Pozojević, Valentina Dorić, Marko Miliša, Ivančica Ternjej and Marija Ivković
Biology 2023, 12(4), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12040590 - 12 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 948
Abstract
Most ecologists have used climate change, as an omnipresent pressure, to support their findings in researching the vulnerability of specific taxa, communities, or ecosystems. However, there is a widespread lack of long-term biological, biocoenological, or community data of periods longer than several years [...] Read more.
Most ecologists have used climate change, as an omnipresent pressure, to support their findings in researching the vulnerability of specific taxa, communities, or ecosystems. However, there is a widespread lack of long-term biological, biocoenological, or community data of periods longer than several years to ascertain patterns as to how climate change affects communities. Since the 1950s, southern Europe has faced an ongoing trend of drying and loss of precipitation. A 13-year research program in the Dinaric karst ecoregion of Croatia aimed to comprehensively track emergence patterns of freshwater insects (true flies: Diptera) in a pristine aquatic environment. Three sites, spring, upper, and lower tufa barriers (calcium carbonate barriers on a barrage lake system that act as natural damns), were sampled monthly over 154 months. This coincided with a severe drought event in 2011/2012. This was the most significant drought (very low precipitation rates for an extended period of time) in the Croatian Dinaric ecoregion since the start of detailed records in the early 20th century. Significant shifts in dipteran taxa occurrence were determined using indicator species analysis. Patterns of seasonal and yearly dynamics were presented as Euclidian distance metrics of similarity in true fly community composition compared at increasing time intervals, to ascertain the degree of temporal variability of similarity within the community of a specific site and to define patterns of similarity change over time. Analyses detected significant shifts in community structure linked to changes in discharge regimes, especially to the drought period. Full article
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17 pages, 7000 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Intraguild Predation on Phytoplankton Assemblage Composition and Diversity: A Mesocosm Experiment
by Jun Da, Yilong Xi, Yunshan Cheng, Hu He, Yanru Liu, Huabing Li and Qinglong L. Wu
Biology 2023, 12(4), 578; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12040578 - 10 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1420
Abstract
Intraguild predation (IGP) can have a significant impact on phytoplankton biomass, but its effects on their diversity and assemblage composition are not well understood. In this study, we constructed an IGP model based on the common three-trophic food chain of “fish (or shrimp)–large [...] Read more.
Intraguild predation (IGP) can have a significant impact on phytoplankton biomass, but its effects on their diversity and assemblage composition are not well understood. In this study, we constructed an IGP model based on the common three-trophic food chain of “fish (or shrimp)–large branchiopods (Daphnia)–phytoplankton”, and investigated the effects of IGP on phytoplankton assemblage composition and diversity in outdoor mesocosms using environmental DNA high-throughput sequencing. Our results indicated that the alpha diversities (number of amplicon sequence variants and Faith’s phylogenetic diversity) of phytoplankton and the relative abundance of Chlorophyceae increased with the addition of Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, while similar trends were found in alpha diversities but with a decrease in the relative abundance of Chlorophyceae in the Exopalaemon modestus treatment. When both predators were added to the community, the strength of collective cascading effects on phytoplankton alpha diversities and assemblage composition were weaker than the sum of the individual predator effects. Network analysis further showed that this IGP effect also decreased the strength of collective cascading effects in reducing the complexity and stability of the phytoplankton assemblages. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the impacts of IGP on lake biodiversity, and provide further knowledge relevant to lake management and conservation. Full article
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22 pages, 1903 KiB  
Article
Conservation Genetics of the Critically Endangered Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis) in Malaysia: Genetic Diversity and Novel Subspecies Distribution Ranges
by Mohd Hairul Mohd Salleh, Yuzine Esa and Suriyanti-Su Nyun Pau
Biology 2023, 12(4), 520; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12040520 - 29 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1769
Abstract
A population genetics study was carried out on the Southern River terrapin (Batagur affinis) from four places in Peninsular Malaysia: Pasir Gajah, Kemaman (KE), Terengganu; Bukit Pinang (BP), Kedah; Bota Kanan (BK), Perak; and Bukit Paloh, Kuala Berang (KB), Terengganu. The [...] Read more.
A population genetics study was carried out on the Southern River terrapin (Batagur affinis) from four places in Peninsular Malaysia: Pasir Gajah, Kemaman (KE), Terengganu; Bukit Pinang (BP), Kedah; Bota Kanan (BK), Perak; and Bukit Paloh, Kuala Berang (KB), Terengganu. The goal of this study is to identify genetic differences in two subspecies of B. affinis in Malaysia. No previous reports were available on the genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships and matrilineal hereditary structure of these terrapin populations in Malaysia. The sequencing identified 46 single nucleotide polymorphisms that defined six mitochondrial haplotypes in the Southern River terrapins. Tajima’s D test and Fu’s Fs neutrality tests were performed to evaluate the signatures of recent historical demographic events. Based on the tests, the B. affinis edwardmolli was newly subspecies identified in the west coast–northern region of Kedah state. In addition, the B. affinis edwardmolli in Bukit Paloh, Kuala Berang (KB), Terengganu (Population 4), was shown to have a single maternal lineage compared to other populations. Low genetic diversity, but significant genetic differences, were detected among the studied Southern River terrapin populations. Full article
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25 pages, 4596 KiB  
Article
Helminth Communities of Common Fish Species in the Coastal Zone off Crimea: Species Composition, Diversity, and Structure
by Mariana P. Plaksina, Evgenija V. Dmitrieva and Alexander G. Dvoretsky
Biology 2023, 12(3), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12030478 - 21 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1836
Abstract
In this paper, we analyzed the diversity and structure of helminth communities of 12 common fish species from the coastal zone of Crimea. A total of 53 helminth species were found. The total number of parasite species per host fish ranged from 3 [...] Read more.
In this paper, we analyzed the diversity and structure of helminth communities of 12 common fish species from the coastal zone of Crimea. A total of 53 helminth species were found. The total number of parasite species per host fish ranged from 3 to 18. Species richness at the infracommunity and component community levels were from 1.4–4.2 to 1.7–7, respectively. The Brillouin index for the infracommunites was 0.1–1, while the Shannon index for the component communities was 0.3–1.2. Component communities demonstrated a bi- or tri-modal distribution of the parasite prevalence and positive correlations between the prevalence and log-transformed abundance indices, thus following the “core–satellite” conception. Overall, the prevalence and abundance index of the dominant parasite in the component communities ranged from 18 to 80% and from 0.6 to 61.5 ind. per fish, respectively. The structure of the helminth component communities demonstrated good accordance with the nestedness mode where the rarest species occurred in the most diverse infracommunities, while the poorest infracommunities were composed of a few dominating species. More than two-thirds of the studied helminth species had an aggregated distribution indicating well-structured and developed communities. Our data provide a basis for further research and may be used for fish resource monitoring and management. Full article
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21 pages, 3254 KiB  
Article
Occurrence Prediction of Riffle Beetles (Coleoptera: Elmidae) in a Tropical Andean Basin of Ecuador Using Species Distribution Models
by Gonzalo Sotomayor, Jorge Romero, Daniela Ballari, Raúl F. Vázquez, Iván Ramírez-Morales, Henrietta Hampel, Xavier Galarza, Bolívar Montesinos, Marie Anne Eurie Forio and Peter L. M. Goethals
Biology 2023, 12(3), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12030473 - 20 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2308
Abstract
Genera and species of Elmidae (riffle beetles) are sensitive to water pollution; however, in tropical freshwater ecosystems, their requirements regarding environmental factors need to be investigated. Species distribution models (SDMs) were established for five elmid genera in the Paute river basin (southern Ecuador) [...] Read more.
Genera and species of Elmidae (riffle beetles) are sensitive to water pollution; however, in tropical freshwater ecosystems, their requirements regarding environmental factors need to be investigated. Species distribution models (SDMs) were established for five elmid genera in the Paute river basin (southern Ecuador) using the Random Forest (RF) algorithm considering environmental variables, i.e., meteorology, land use, hydrology, and topography. Each RF-based model was trained and optimised using cross-validation. Environmental variables that explained most of the Elmidae spatial variability were land use (i.e., riparian vegetation alteration and presence/absence of canopy), precipitation, and topography, mainly elevation and slope. The highest probability of occurrence for elmids genera was predicted in streams located within well-preserved zones. Moreover, specific ecological niches were spatially predicted for each genus. Macrelmis was predicted in the lower and forested areas, with high precipitation levels, towards the Amazon basin. Austrelmis was predicted to be in the upper parts of the basin, i.e., páramo ecosystems, with an excellent level of conservation of their riparian ecosystems. Austrolimnius and Heterelmis were also predicted in the upper parts of the basin but in more widespread elevation ranges, in the Heterelmis case, and even in some areas with a medium level of anthropisation. Neoelmis was predicted to be in the mid-region of the study basin in high altitudinal streams with a high degree of meandering. The main findings of this research are likely to contribute significantly to local conservation and restoration efforts being implemented in the study basin and could be extrapolated to similar eco-hydrological systems. Full article
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24 pages, 4884 KiB  
Article
Marine Plankton during the Polar Night: Environmental Predictors of Spatial Variability
by Vladimir G. Dvoretsky, Marina P. Venger, Anastasya V. Vashchenko, Veronika V. Vodopianova, Ivan A. Pastukhov and Tatyana M. Maksimovskaya
Biology 2023, 12(3), 368; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12030368 - 25 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1644
Abstract
We studied the spatial patterns of the planktonic ecosystems at two Arctic sites strongly affected by Atlantic Inflow (FS, the Fram Strait; and BS, the Barents Sea). A high degree of similarity in the bacterial abundance (mean: 3.1 × 105 cells mL [...] Read more.
We studied the spatial patterns of the planktonic ecosystems at two Arctic sites strongly affected by Atlantic Inflow (FS, the Fram Strait; and BS, the Barents Sea). A high degree of similarity in the bacterial abundance (mean: 3.1 × 105 cells mL−1 in FS vs. 3.5 × 105 cells mL−1 in BS) was found, while other plankton characteristics were different. Bacterial biomass reached a maximum in BS (3.2–7.9 mg C m−3), while viral abundances tended to be higher in FS (2.0–5.7 × 106 particles mL−1). Larger bacterial cells were found in BS, suggesting the presence of different bacterial populations at both locations. The virus-to-bacteria ratio was significantly higher in FS than in BS (13.5 vs. 4.7). Chlorophyll a concentration was extremely low (<0.25 mg m−3). The highest zooplankton abundance was in the surface layer (919 individuals m−3 in FS vs. 602 ind. m−3 in BS). Zooplankton biomass strongly varied (1–39 mg C m−3), with the maximum in BS. High proportions of boreal taxa in the total zooplankton abundance indicate the Atlantification of pelagic ecosystems in the Arctic. Plankton indicators are correlated with temperature, salinity, and sampling depth. Strong intercorrelations were found between major plankton groups, suggesting tight links in the studied plankton ecosystems. Full article
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20 pages, 7929 KiB  
Article
The Ecological Status and Change in High-Latitude Coral Assemblages at the Xuwen Coral Reef, Northern South China Sea: Insight into the Status and Causes in 2020
by Zhenxiong Yang, Wei Tao, Yue Liu, Wei Yu, Xiaojuan Peng, Chuqian Lu, Guangjia Jiang, Bin Chen, Wei Deng and Yihua Lv
Biology 2023, 12(2), 330; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12020330 - 17 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1917
Abstract
Taking the coral communities of the Xuwen coral reef in 2020 as the research object, we analyzed the species composition, diversity, and interspecific Spearman correlation of the scleractinian coral communities, investigated the features and spatial distribution of the scleractinian coral community, and discussed [...] Read more.
Taking the coral communities of the Xuwen coral reef in 2020 as the research object, we analyzed the species composition, diversity, and interspecific Spearman correlation of the scleractinian coral communities, investigated the features and spatial distribution of the scleractinian coral community, and discussed the correlation between the community composition and environmental factors to identify the affecting factors and their sources. These results showed that (1) compared with the survey in 2004, the coverage of corals in 2020 had significantly decreased, while the dominant genera were still Goniopora and Porites. The coral morphology was massive, and the diversity of the coral community (Shannon–Wiener index, H’) was 2.87. The distribution of coral was uneven. The competition among some dominant species of coral was intense. (2) The mass coral bleaching event in the NSCS in August 2020 did not cause severe coral death in the short term on the Xuwen coral reef. (3) The growth of the coral community in 2020 might be greatly affected by high suspended solids and nutrient levels, which were related to the current, mariculture, and coastal erosion. (4) Anthropogenic activities such as coastal aquaculture and fishing were the major factors leading to the reduction in coral coverage on Xuwen coral reef in the past 10 years. Full article
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18 pages, 3653 KiB  
Article
First Evidence of Microplastic Occurrence in the Marine and Freshwater Environments in a Remote Polar Region of the Kola Peninsula and a Correlation with Human Presence
by Anita Kaliszewicz, Ninel Panteleeva, Kamil Karaban, Tomasz Runka, Michał Winczek, Ewa Beck, Agnieszka Poniatowska, Izabella Olejniczak, Paweł Boniecki, Elena V. Golovanova and Jerzy Romanowski
Biology 2023, 12(2), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12020259 - 06 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2047
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have even been detected in remote environments, including high-latitude regions, where human activities are restricted or strongly limited. We investigated the surface water of the bays of the Barents Sea and the freshwater lakes that are located close to and several [...] Read more.
Microplastics (MPs) have even been detected in remote environments, including high-latitude regions, where human activities are restricted or strongly limited. We investigated the surface water of the bays of the Barents Sea and the freshwater lakes that are located close to and several kilometers from a year-round resident field station in the remote tundra region of the Kola Peninsula. The microplastics’ presence in aquatic environments in this region has not been indicated yet. Microplastics were detected in all samples collected from the Barents Sea (<4800 items·m−3) and the lakes (<3900 items·m−3). Fibers made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET)—the most common thermoplastic polymer of the polyester family—and semi-synthetic cellulosic rayon were the most dominant. This indicated that the source of fiber contamination may come from protective clothes, ropes, ship equipment, and fishing nets. Small microplastics can spread through current and atmospheric transport. The Norwegian Current is likely responsible for the lack of correlations found between MP contamination and the distance from the field station between the studied bays of the Barents Sea. On the contrary, a significant correlation with human presence was observed in the concentration of microfibers in the water of the tundra lakes. The number of MP fibers decreased with an increase in the distance from the field station. This is the first study, to the best of our knowledge, that reports such a correlation in a remote region. We also discuss implications for animals. Our results show that even the most isolated ecosystems are not free from microplastic pollution. Full article
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19 pages, 2578 KiB  
Article
Shallow-Water Bryozoan Communities in a Glacier Fjord of West Svalbard, Norway: Species Composition and Effects of Environmental Factors
by Olga Yu. Evseeva and Alexander G. Dvoretsky
Biology 2023, 12(2), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12020185 - 26 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1488
Abstract
Despite significant research efforts focused on benthic assemblages in West Spitsbergen, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the shallow water bryozoan communities in Grønfjorden, a glacier fjord belonging to the Isfjorden system, Norway. Here, we studied species composition, richness, distribution, and biomass [...] Read more.
Despite significant research efforts focused on benthic assemblages in West Spitsbergen, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the shallow water bryozoan communities in Grønfjorden, a glacier fjord belonging to the Isfjorden system, Norway. Here, we studied species composition, richness, distribution, and biomass of bryozoans in the intertidal and upper subtidal zones of Grønfjorden in summer. We found 62 bryozoan species, among which Celleporella hyalina (Linnaeus, 1767), Harmeria scutulata (Busk, 1855), and Tegella arctica (d’Orbigny, 1853) were most prevalent while the highest contributions to the total biomass were registered for Eucratea loricata (d’Orbigny, 1853), Tricellaria gracilis (Van Beneden, 1848), Turbicellepora incrassata (Lamarck, 1816), and Tricellaria ternata (Ellis and Solander, 1786). Alpha-diversity varied from 1 to 50 averaging 15.1 ± 2.6 species. Bryozoan biomass ranged from 0.008 to 10.758 g m−2 with a mean value of 2.67 g m−2 being lower than in the central and northern parts of the Barents Sea. For the first time, we registered the presence of the circumpolar bryozoan Amathia arctica in Svalbard waters probably as a result of stronger advection of Atlantic water into the fjord. Cluster analysis revealed two groups, mainly composed of stations in colder and warmer waters. A relatively high proportion of outlying stations reflected habitat heterogeneity in Grønfjorden. Redundancy analysis indicated that bryozoan diversity and biomass were strongly negatively associated with temperature. A positive relationship was found between bryozoan biomass and the proportional contribution of macrophytes to a pool of substrates. Our study provides a reference point for further monitoring of changing marine ecosystems at high latitudes. Full article
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24 pages, 7784 KiB  
Article
Effects of Climate Change on Chlorophyll a in the Barents Sea: A Long-Term Assessment
by Vladimir G. Dvoretsky, Veronika V. Vodopianova and Aleksandra S. Bulavina
Biology 2023, 12(1), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12010119 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2309
Abstract
The Arctic climate strongly affects phytoplankton production and biomass through several mechanisms, including warming, sea ice retreat, and global atmospheric processes. In order to detect the climatic changes in phytoplankton biomass, long-term variability of chlorophyll a (Chl-a) was estimated in situ with the [...] Read more.
The Arctic climate strongly affects phytoplankton production and biomass through several mechanisms, including warming, sea ice retreat, and global atmospheric processes. In order to detect the climatic changes in phytoplankton biomass, long-term variability of chlorophyll a (Chl-a) was estimated in situ with the changes in the surface sea temperature (SST) and salinity (SSS) in the Barents Sea and adjacent waters during the period of 1984–2021. Spatial differences were detected in SST, SSS, and Chl-a. Chl-a increased parallel to SST in the summer-autumn and spring periods, respectively. Chl-a peaks were found near the ice edge and frontal zones in the spring season, while the highest measures were observed in the coastal regions during the summer seasons. SST and Chl-a demonstrated increasing trends with greater values during 2010–2020. Generalized additive models (GAMs) revealed that SST and Chl-a were positively related with year. Climatic and oceanographic variables explained significant proportions of the Chl-a fluctuations, with six predictors (SST, annual North Atlantic Oscillation index, temperature/salinity anomalies at the Kola Section, and sea ice extent in April and September) being the most important. GAMs showed close associations between increasing Chl-a and a decline in sea ice extent and rising water temperature. Our data may be useful for monitoring the Arctic regions during the era of global changes and provide a basis for future research on factors driving phytoplankton assemblages and primary productivity in the Barents Sea. Full article
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13 pages, 2512 KiB  
Article
Population Genomic Evidence for the Diversification of Bellamya aeruginosa in Different River Systems in China
by Qianqian Zeng, Yaxian Sun, Hui Zhong, Conghui Yang, Qinbo Qin and Qianhong Gu
Biology 2023, 12(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12010029 - 23 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1288
Abstract
Clarifying the genetic structure can facilitate the understanding of a species evolution history. It is crucial for the management of germplasm resources and providing useful guidance for effective selective breeding. Bellamya is an economically and ecologically important freshwater snail for fish, birds and [...] Read more.
Clarifying the genetic structure can facilitate the understanding of a species evolution history. It is crucial for the management of germplasm resources and providing useful guidance for effective selective breeding. Bellamya is an economically and ecologically important freshwater snail for fish, birds and even humans. Population genetic structures of the Bellamya species, however, were unknown in previous studies. Population genomics approaches with tens to hundreds of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) make it possible to detect previously unidentified structures. The population genomic study of seven populations of B. aeruginosa across three river systems (Yellow River, Yangtze River and Pearl River) in China was conducted by SLAF-seq. SLAF-seq obtained a total of 4737 polymorphisms SLAF-tags and 25,999 high-consistency genome-wide SNPs. The population genetic structure showed a clear division among populations from the Yellow River basin (YH and WL) and the Pearl River basin (QSH and LB), as well as population YC from the Yangtze River basin using the SNPs data. However, there existed no distinct population structure using the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The anthropogenic translocation from the Yangtze River basin to the Pearl River basin and the passive dispersion from the Yangtze River basin to the Yellow River basin by flooding have weakened the phylogeographic pattern of B. aeruginosa. The divergence of B. aeruginosa in the three river systems suggests that the anthropogenic dispersal for aquaculture and breeding requires serious consideration of the population structure for the preservation of genetic diversity and effective utilization of germplasm resources. Full article
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12 pages, 2781 KiB  
Article
Changes in the Suitable Habitats of Three Endemic Fishes to Climate Change in Tibet
by Tong Mu, Dekui He, Ren Zhu, Xiaoyun Sui and Yifeng Chen
Biology 2022, 11(12), 1808; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11121808 - 13 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1470
Abstract
As one of the most sensitive regions to global climate change, Tibet is subject to remarkable changes in biota over the past decades, including endemic fish species. However, no study has attempted to predict the changes in the distribution of Tibetan fishes, leaving [...] Read more.
As one of the most sensitive regions to global climate change, Tibet is subject to remarkable changes in biota over the past decades, including endemic fish species. However, no study has attempted to predict the changes in the distribution of Tibetan fishes, leaving a great blank for aquatic conservation in Tibet. Based on the Maximum Entropy model (MaxEnt), this study predicted the changes in the suitable habitats of three endemic fish species, including two species mainly inhabiting the rivers (Glyptosternon maculatum, Oxygymnocypris stewartii) and one species mainly inhabiting lakes (Gymnocypris selincuoensis) in Tibet under two representative concentration pathways (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5) under two future scenarios (2050 and 2090), and explored the impact of the barrier effects of hydropower projects on the suitable habitats of fish. The results showed that under the four scenarios, the net change in the suitable habitats of the G. maculatum was negative (−2.0–−18.8%), while the suitable habitats of the O. stewartii and G. selincuoensis would be expanded, with the net change of 60.0–238.3% and 46.4–56.9%, respectively. Under different scenarios, the suitable habitats of the three species had a tendency to migrate to a higher elevation, and the largest expansion in the range of migration was projected to occur under the 2090-RCP8.5 scenario. In addition, due to the impact of the hydropower projects, the ability of G. maculatum to obtain new suitable habitats from climate change would be reduced by 2.0–8.1%, which was less than the loss induced by climate change (5.5–25.1%), while the suitable habitats of O. stewartii would be reduced by 3.0–9.7%, which was more than the impact of climate change (about 1%). The results of this study have guiding significance for the conservation and management of fish resources diversity in the Yarlung Tsangpo River basin and Siling Co basin of Tibet, and also provide a reference for the coordination and scientific planning of hydropower projects in Tibet. Full article
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14 pages, 1994 KiB  
Article
Effects of Caulerpa taxifolia on Physiological Processes and Gene Expression of Acropora hyacinthus during Thermal Stress
by Jian-Rong Fu, Jie Zhou, Yan-Ping Zhang and Li Liu
Biology 2022, 11(12), 1792; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11121792 - 09 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1752
Abstract
An increasing ecological phase shift from coral-dominated reefs to macroalgae-dominated reefs as a result of anthropogenic impacts, such as eutrophication, sedimentation, and overfishing, has been observed in many reef systems around the world. Ocean warming is a universal threat to both corals and [...] Read more.
An increasing ecological phase shift from coral-dominated reefs to macroalgae-dominated reefs as a result of anthropogenic impacts, such as eutrophication, sedimentation, and overfishing, has been observed in many reef systems around the world. Ocean warming is a universal threat to both corals and macroalgae, which may alter the outcome of competition between them. Therefore, in order to explore the effects of indirect and direct exposure to macroalgae on the physiological, biochemical, and genetic expression of corals at elevated temperature, the coral Acropora hyacinthus and highly invasive green algae Caulerpa taxifolia were chosen. Physiologically, the results exhibited that, between the control and direct contact treatments, the density and chlorophyll a content of zooxanthella decreased by 53.1% and 71.2%, respectively, when the coral indirectly contacted with the algae at an ambient temperature (27 °C). Moreover, the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in coral tissue were enhanced by interacting with algae. After an increase of 3 °C, the density and chlorophyll a content of the zooxanthella reduced by 84.4% and 93.8%, respectively, whereas the enzyme activities of SOD and CAT increased 2.3- and 3.1-fold. However, only the zooxanthellae density and pigment content decreased when Caulerpa taxifolia was co-cultured with Acropora hyacinthus at 30 °C. Molecularly, different from the control group, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) such as Rab family, ATG family, and Casp7 genes were significantly enriched in the endocytosis, autophagy, and apoptosis pathways, regardless of whether Acropora hyacinthus was directly or indirectly exposed to Caulerpa taxifolia at 27 °C. Under thermal stress without algae interaction, the DEGs were significantly enriched in the microbial immune signal transduction pathways, such as the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway, while multiple cellular immunity (IFI47, TRAF family) and oxidative stress (CAT, SODC, HSP70) genes were upregulated. Inversely, compared with corals without interaction with algae at 30 °C, the DEGs of the corals that interacted with Caulerpa taxifolia at 30 °C were remarkably enriched in apoptosis and the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, including the transcription factors such as the Casp family and TRAF family. In conclusion, the density and chlorophyll a content of zooxanthella maintained a fading tendency induced by the macroalgae at ambient temperatures. The oxidative stress and immune response levels of the coral was elevated at 30 °C, but the macroalgae alleviated the negative effects triggered by thermal stress. Full article
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18 pages, 3178 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Salinity Stress on Enzyme Activities, Histology, and Transcriptome of Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
by Yuhan Jiang, Chen Yuan, Ming Qi, Qigen Liu and Zhongjun Hu
Biology 2022, 11(11), 1580; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11111580 - 27 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2192
Abstract
A 56-day study was performed to examine the effect of freshwater (FW) and brackish water (BW 6‰ salinity) on the antioxidant ability, Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) activities, histology, and transcriptome of the gill and kidney tissue in juvenile silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). The [...] Read more.
A 56-day study was performed to examine the effect of freshwater (FW) and brackish water (BW 6‰ salinity) on the antioxidant ability, Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) activities, histology, and transcriptome of the gill and kidney tissue in juvenile silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). The results show that when juvenile silver carp were exposed to 6‰ salinity, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were shown to be substantially increased (p < 0.05), while glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activities in gill were not significantly affected (p < 0.05). In kidney tissue, SOD, CAT, and GSH-PX, enzyme activities peaked at 24, 8, and 4 h, respectively, but were not significantly different compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, significant effects of salinity were observed for the NKA level in both the gills and kidney tissues (p < 0.05). The gill filaments of juvenile silver carp under the BW group all underwent adverse changes within 72 h, such as cracks and ruptures in the main part of the gill filaments, bending of the gill lamellae and enlargement of the gaps, and an increase in the number of mucus and chloride-secreting cells. Transcriptome sequencing showed 171 and 261 genes in the gill and kidney tissues of juvenile silver carp compared to the BW group, respectively. Based on their gene ontology annotations, transcripts were sorted into four functional gene groups, each of which may play a role in salt tolerance. Systems involved in these processes include metabolism, signal transduction, immunoinflammatory response, and ion transport. The above findings indicate that the regulation processes in juvenile silver carp under brackish water conditions are complex and multifaceted. These processes and mechanisms shed light on the regulatory mechanism of silver carp osmolarity and provide a theoretical foundation for future research into silver carp growth in brackish water aquaculture area. Full article
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22 pages, 737 KiB  
Article
Molecular Response of Ulva prolifera to Short-Term High Light Stress Revealed by a Multi-Omics Approach
by Kai Gu, Yuling Liu, Ting Jiang, Chuner Cai, Hui Zhao, Xuanhong Liu and Peimin He
Biology 2022, 11(11), 1563; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11111563 - 25 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1780
Abstract
The main algal species of Ulva prolifera green tide in the coastal areas of China are four species, but after reaching the coast of Qingdao, U. prolifera becomes the dominant species, where the light intensity is one of the most important influencing factors. [...] Read more.
The main algal species of Ulva prolifera green tide in the coastal areas of China are four species, but after reaching the coast of Qingdao, U. prolifera becomes the dominant species, where the light intensity is one of the most important influencing factors. In order to explore the effects of short-term high light stress on the internal molecular level of cells and its coping mechanism, the transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and lipid data of U. prolifera were collected. The algae were cultivated in high light environment conditions (400 μmol·m−2·s−1) for 12 h and measured, and the data with greater relative difference (p < 0.05) were selected, then analyzed with the KEGG pathway. The results showed that the high light stress inhibited the assimilation of U. prolifera, destroyed the cell structure, and arrested its growth and development. Cells entered the emergency defense state, the TCA cycle was weakened, and the energy consumption processes such as DNA activation, RNA transcription, protein synthesis and degradation, and lipid alienation were inhibited. A gradual increase in the proportion of the C4 pathway was recorded. This study showed that U. prolifera can reduce the reactive oxygen species produced by high light stress, inhibit respiration, and reduce the generation of NADPH. At the same time, the C3 pathway began to change to the C4 pathway which consumed more energy. Moreover, this research provides the basis for the study of algae coping with high light stress. Full article
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13 pages, 2408 KiB  
Article
Humic Lake Exhibits Higher Microbial Functional Gene Diversity and Weaker Gene Interaction Efficiency than a Common Alkaline Lake
by Dan He, Yuanyuan Liu, Qinglong L. Wu, Yuyang Peng and Lijuan Ren
Biology 2022, 11(10), 1448; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11101448 - 01 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1560
Abstract
Humic lakes (HLs) are special water bodies (high organic matter content, low pH, and low transparency) that are important sources of major greenhouse gases. The knowledge about microbial functional potentials and the interactions among different genes in HL water has been scarcely understood. [...] Read more.
Humic lakes (HLs) are special water bodies (high organic matter content, low pH, and low transparency) that are important sources of major greenhouse gases. The knowledge about microbial functional potentials and the interactions among different genes in HL water has been scarcely understood. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the GeoChip 5.0 to investigate microbial community compositions and functional gene structures in an HL and a reference weakly alkaline lake (RAL). The HL microbial communities showed distinct compositions and functional gene structures than those in the RAL. The functional gene diversity was significantly higher in the HL than in the RAL. Specifically, higher gene relative intensities in carbon and nitrogen fixations, the degradation of various types of carbon, methane oxidation and methanogenesis, ammonification, denitrification, and assimilatory N reduction were observed in the HL samples. By contrast, the metabolic potentials of microorganisms involved in dissimilatory N reduction, phosphorus degradation, and sulfur oxidation were weaker in the HL than in the RAL. Despite higher functional gene diversity, the interaction efficiency among genes (reflected by network geodesic distance and clustering coefficient) might be reduced in the HL. Different functional microbes may develop less interdependent relationships in acquiring nutrients given the high resource availability in the HL. Overall, the enhanced microbial metabolic potentials and less efficient functional interactions might have great consequences on nutrient cycling and greenhouse gas emissions in the HL ecosystem. Full article
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19 pages, 3639 KiB  
Article
Diversity and Assemblage of Harmful Algae in Homestead Fish Ponds in a Tropical Coastal Area
by Liza Akter, Md. Akram Ullah, Mohammad Belal Hossain, Anu Rani Karmaker, Md. Solaiman Hossain, Mohammed Fahad Albeshr and Takaomi Arai
Biology 2022, 11(9), 1335; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11091335 - 09 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2261
Abstract
Algae are the naturally produced food for fish in any aquatic ecosystem and an indicator of a productive pond. However, excess abundance of harmful algae can have detrimental effects on fish health. In this study, the algal communities of 30 coastal homestead fish [...] Read more.
Algae are the naturally produced food for fish in any aquatic ecosystem and an indicator of a productive pond. However, excess abundance of harmful algae can have detrimental effects on fish health. In this study, the algal communities of 30 coastal homestead fish ponds were investigated to identify the diversity, assemblage and controlling environmental variables of harmful algae from a tropical coastal area. The findings showed that 81 of the 89 genera of identified algae were harmful, with the majority of them being in the classes of Cyanophyceae (50.81%), Chlorophyceae (23.75%), Bacillariophyceae (9.5%), and Euglenophyceae (8.47%). Microcystis spp. alone contributed 28.24% to the total abundance of harmful algae. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in algal abundance were found among the ponds with the highest abundance (470 ± 141.74 × 103 cells L−1) at pond (S25) near agricultural fields and the lowest abundance (109.33 ± 46.91 × 103 cells L−1) at pond (S14) which was lacking sufficient sunlight and nutrients. Diversity indices, e.g., dominance (D), evenness (J′), richness (d) and Shannon diversity index (H′) ranged from 0.17 to 0.44, 0.23 to 0.6, 0.35 to 2.23 and 0.7 to 1.79, respectively, indicating a moderate range of diversity and community stability. Community composition analysis showed the assemblage was dominated by Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae, whereas, multivariate cluster analyses (CA) identified 11 major clusters. To identify the factors controlling their distribution or community assemblages, eight environmental variables (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), salinity, transparency, nitrates, phosphates and sulphate) were measured. ANOVA analysis showed that the variables significantly differed (p < 0.05) among the ponds, and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) demonstrated that DO, nitrates, phosphates, sulphates, salinity and transparency have the most impact on the abundance of algal genera. In addition, analyses with Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed that the abundance of total algae, diversity and community were mainly governed by phosphates and sulphates. These results can be used to identify and control these toxic algal groups in the local aquaculture sector. Full article
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15 pages, 3018 KiB  
Article
Effects of Temperature on Transparent Exopolymer Particle Production and Organic Carbon Allocation of Four Marine Phytoplankton Species
by Kangli Guo, Jie Chen, Jian Yuan, Xiaodong Wang, Shuaishuai Xu, Shengwei Hou and Yan Wang
Biology 2022, 11(7), 1056; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11071056 - 14 Jul 2022
Viewed by 1621
Abstract
Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are sticky polymeric substances that are commonly found in the periphery of microbial cells or colonies. They can naturally flocculate smaller suspended particles into larger aggregates and thus play a crucial role in the biological pump and the global [...] Read more.
Transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) are sticky polymeric substances that are commonly found in the periphery of microbial cells or colonies. They can naturally flocculate smaller suspended particles into larger aggregates and thus play a crucial role in the biological pump and the global carbon cycle. Phytoplankton are the major contributors to marine TEP production, whereas the way TEP production interacts with abiotic factors at the species level is generally unknown but critical for estimating carbon fluxes. In this study, the effects of temperature on TEP production and carbon allocation were studied in two representative diatom species (Nitzschia closterium and Chaetoceros affinis) and two model dinoflagellate species (Prorocentrum micans and Scrippisella trichoidea). The results showed that temperature had a significant impact on TEP production in all species. First, increased temperature promoted the TEP production of all four species. Second, elevated temperature affected the carbon pool allocation, with enhanced dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exudation in the form of TEP in all species. The TEP-C/DOC percentages of N. closterium and P. micans were 93.42 ± 5.88% and 82.03 ± 21.36% at the highest temperature (24 °C), respectively, which was approximately two to five times higher than those percentages at 16 °C. In contrast, TEP’s contribution to the POC pool is lower than that to the DOC pool, ranging from 6.74 ± 0.79% to 28.31 ± 1.79% for all species. Moreover, phytoplankton TEP production may be related to cellular size and physiology. The TEP content produced by the smallest N. closterium (218.96 ± 15.04 fg Xeq./μm3) was ~5 times higher compared to P. micans, S. trichoidea, or C. affinis. In conclusion, TEP production is temperature sensitive and species specific, which should be taken into consideration the regarding TEP-mediated oceanic carbon cycle, particularly in the context of global warming. Full article
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13 pages, 1730 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Genetic Diversity of the Salangid, Neosalanx taihuensis, Based on the Mitochondrial COI Gene in Different Chinese River Basins
by Di-An Fang, Miao He, Ya-Fei Ren, Hui Luo, Yan-Feng Zhou, Shu-Lun Jiang and Yang You
Biology 2022, 11(7), 968; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11070968 - 27 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1480
Abstract
The salangid Neosalanx taihuensis (Salangidae) is a commercially important economical fish endemic to China and restricted to large freshwater systems with a wide-ranging distribution. This fish species has continuous distribution ranges and a long-introduced aquaculture history in Chinese basins. However, the research on [...] Read more.
The salangid Neosalanx taihuensis (Salangidae) is a commercially important economical fish endemic to China and restricted to large freshwater systems with a wide-ranging distribution. This fish species has continuous distribution ranges and a long-introduced aquaculture history in Chinese basins. However, the research on its population genetic differentiation within and between basins is very limited. In this regard, 197 individuals were sampled from 11 populations in the Nenjiang River Basin (A1–A4), Songhua River Basin (B1), Yellow River Basin (C1–C2), Yangtze River Basin (D1), Lanchang River Basin (E1–E2) and Huaihe River Basin (F1). Based on the COI sequence, the N.taihuensis population’s genetic difference within and between river basins was investigated. The haplotypes and their frequency distributions were strongly skewed, with most haplotypes (n = 13) represented only in single samples each and thus restricted to a single population. The most common haplotype (H4, 67/197) was found in all individuals. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a random pattern in the distribution of genetic diversity, which is inconsistent with contemporary hydrological structure. The mismatch between the distribution and neutrality tests supported the evidence of a population expansion, which occurred during the late Pleistocene (0.041–0.051 million years ago). Significant levels of genetic subdivision were detected among populations within basins rather than between the six basins. Population history dynamics showed that N. taihuensis experienced an expansion during the glacial period in the late Pleistocene. Therefore, different populations should be considered as different management units to achieve effective conservation and management purposes. These results have great significance for the evaluation and exploitation of the germplasm resources of N. taihuensis. Full article
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14 pages, 6787 KiB  
Article
Modeling and Prediction of the Species’ Range of Neurobasis chinensis (Linnaeus, 1758) under Climate Change
by Jian Liao, Haojie Wang, Shaojun Xiao, Zhaoying Guan, Haomiao Zhang, Henri J. Dumont and Bo-Ping Han
Biology 2022, 11(6), 868; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11060868 - 06 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1822
Abstract
Neurobasis chinensis is widely distributed in eastern tropical Asia. Its only congener in China, the N. anderssoni, has not been observed for decades. To protect N. chinensis, it is necessary to understand the ecological properties of its habitats and specie’s range [...] Read more.
Neurobasis chinensis is widely distributed in eastern tropical Asia. Its only congener in China, the N. anderssoni, has not been observed for decades. To protect N. chinensis, it is necessary to understand the ecological properties of its habitats and specie’s range shift under climate change. In the present study, we modeled its potential distribution under one historical, current, and four future scenarios. We evaluated the importance of the factors that shape its distribution and habitats and predicted the historical and current core spatial distributions and their shifting in the future. Two historical core distribution areas were identified: the inland region of the Bay of Bengal and south-central Vietnam. The current potential distribution includes south China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Luzon of Philippines, Malaysia, southwest and northeast India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia (Java, Sumatera), Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and foothills of the Himalayas, in total, ca. 3.59 × 106 km2. Only one core distribution remained, concentrated in south-central Vietnam. In a warming future, the core distribution, high suitable habitats, and even the whole range of N. chinensis will expand and shift northwards. Currently, N. chinensis mainly resides in forest ecosystems below 1200 m above sea level (preferred 500 m to 1200 m a.s.l.). Annual precipitation, mean temperature of driest quarter, and seasonality of precipitation are important factors shaping the species distribution. Our study provides systematic information on habitats and geographical distribution, which is useful for the conservation of N. chinensis. Full article
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19 pages, 2307 KiB  
Article
The Self-Organization of Marine Microbial Networks under Evolutionary and Ecological Processes: Observations and Modeling
by Zhenghua Liu, Jianjun Wang, Delong Meng, Liangzhi Li, Xueduan Liu, Yabing Gu, Qingyun Yan, Chengying Jiang and Huaqun Yin
Biology 2022, 11(4), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11040592 - 13 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1801
Abstract
Evolutionary and ecological processes are primary drivers of ecological network constrictions. However, the ways that these processes underpin self-organization and modularity in networks are poorly understood. Here, we performed network analyses to explore the evolutionary and ecological effects on global marine microbial co-occurrence [...] Read more.
Evolutionary and ecological processes are primary drivers of ecological network constrictions. However, the ways that these processes underpin self-organization and modularity in networks are poorly understood. Here, we performed network analyses to explore the evolutionary and ecological effects on global marine microbial co-occurrence networks across multiple network levels, including those of nodes, motifs, modules and whole networks. We found that both direct and indirect species interactions were evolutionarily and ecologically constrained across at least four network levels. Compared to ecological processes, evolutionary processes generally showed stronger long-lasting effects on indirect interactions and dominated the network assembly of particle-associated communities in spatially homogeneous environments. Regarding the large network path distance, the contributions of either processes to species interactions generally decrease and almost disappear when network path distance is larger than six. Accordingly, we developed a novel mathematical model based on scale-free networks by considering the joint effects of evolutionary and ecological processes. We simulated the self-organization of microbial co-occurrence networks and found that long-lasting effects increased network stability via decreasing link gain or loss. Overall, these results revealed that evolutionary and ecological processes played key roles in the self-organization and modularization of microbial co-occurrence networks. Full article
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Review

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27 pages, 1342 KiB  
Review
Genetic Markers for Metabarcoding of Freshwater Microalgae: Review
by Elena Kezlya, Natalia Tseplik and Maxim Kulikovskiy
Biology 2023, 12(7), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12071038 - 22 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2334
Abstract
The metabarcoding methods for studying the diversity of freshwater microalgae and routine biomonitoring are actively used in modern research. A lot of experience has been accumulated already, and many methodological questions have been solved (such as the influence of the methods and time [...] Read more.
The metabarcoding methods for studying the diversity of freshwater microalgae and routine biomonitoring are actively used in modern research. A lot of experience has been accumulated already, and many methodological questions have been solved (such as the influence of the methods and time of sample conservation, DNA extraction and bioinformatical processing). The reproducibility of the method has been tested and confirmed. However, one of the main problems—choosing a genetic marker for the study—still lacks a clear answer. We analyzed 70 publications and found out that studies on eukaryotic freshwater microalgae use 12 markers (different nuclear regions 18S and ITS and plastids rbcL, 23S and 16S). Each marker has its peculiarities; they amplify differently and have various levels of efficiency (variability) in different groups of algae. The V4 and V9 18S and rbcL regions are used most often. We concentrated especially on the studies that compare the results of using different markers and microscopy. We summarize the data on the primers for each region and on how the choice of a marker affects the taxonomic composition of a community. Full article
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18 pages, 1125 KiB  
Review
Aerosol Nutrients and Their Biological Influence on the Northwest Pacific Ocean (NWPO) and Its Marginal Seas
by Cui Guo, Yao Zhou, Hongyan Zhou, Chang Su and Liangliang Kong
Biology 2022, 11(6), 842; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11060842 - 30 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3011
Abstract
Atmospheric deposition is recognized as a significant source of nutrients in the surface ocean. The East Asia region is among the largest sources of aerosol emissions in the world, due to its large industrial, agricultural, and energy production. Thus, East Asian aerosols contain [...] Read more.
Atmospheric deposition is recognized as a significant source of nutrients in the surface ocean. The East Asia region is among the largest sources of aerosol emissions in the world, due to its large industrial, agricultural, and energy production. Thus, East Asian aerosols contain a large proportion of anthropogenic particles that are characterized by small size, complex composition, and high nutrient dissolution, resulting in important influences on marine microbes and biogeochemical cycles in the downwind areas of the northwest Pacific Ocean (NWPO). By using remote sensing, modeling, and incubation experimental methods, enhanced primary production due to the East Asian aerosol input has been observed in the NWPO, with subsequent promotion and inhibition impacts on different phytoplankton taxa. Changes of bacterial activity and diversity also occur in response to aerosol input. The impact of East Asian aerosol loadings is closely related to the amount and composition of the aerosol deposition as well as the hydrological condition of the receiving seawater. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on the atmospheric nutrients and the effects of the East Asian aerosols on microbes in the NWPO region. Future research perspectives are also proposed. Full article
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