Aquatic Organisms Diversity and Bio-Indication of Water Resources—2nd Edition

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 11306

Special Issue Editor

Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
Interests: algae; cyanobacteria; ecology; cummunity structure; bioindicators; water quality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water quality is currently one of the main indicators of the standard of living; therefore, all developed societies are dedicating maximum efforts to providing the population and the economy with sufficient water of adequate quality. Most of the water comes from natural sources—rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, the quality of water in which it is necessary not only to assess but also to predict. Algae, being mostly autotrophs, form the basis of the trophic pyramid and are therefore the first to participate in the production of organic matter in the aquatic ecosystem but other organisms participate also. The characteristics of diversity, abundance, biomass, and species composition are used in bioindication methods when changing the trophic base. They provide an integrated assessment of the results of all processes occurring in a water body. Thus, this current Special Issue will collect works on the dynamics of algae and other aquatic organisms diversity in connection with changes in environmental and climate indicators using bioindication, statistics, and ecological mapping methods for the purposes of ecological assessment of surface and estuarine water quality and its forecasting.

Prof. Dr. Sophia Barinova
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Algae
  • Diversity
  • Bioindication
  • Water quality
  • Water quality classification systems
  • Water quality indices
  • Ecological modeling
  • Database of bioindicators
  • Aquatic ecosystem
  • Climate change
  • Rivers
  • Lakes
  • Wetlands
  • Estuary
  • Aquatic individual taxa
  • Invertebrates
  • Fish
  • Macrophytes

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 8642 KiB  
Article
Environmental Factors Affecting Distribution and Diversity of Phytoplankton in the Irkutsk Reservoir Ecosystem in June 2023
by Alena Firsova, Yuri Galachyants, Anna Bessudova, Lubov Titova, Maria Sakirko, Artyom Marchenkov, Diana Hilkhanova, Maria Nalimova, Vasilisa Buzevich, Ivan Mikhailov and Yelena Likhoshway
Diversity 2023, 15(10), 1070; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101070 - 09 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1248
Abstract
Studying correlations between phytoplankton communities and environmental factors is critical for understanding how aquatic ecosystems function. The high sensitivity of phytoplankton to changes in these factors makes it possible to control the state of the ecosystem of water bodies. Artificial lakes often demonstrate [...] Read more.
Studying correlations between phytoplankton communities and environmental factors is critical for understanding how aquatic ecosystems function. The high sensitivity of phytoplankton to changes in these factors makes it possible to control the state of the ecosystem of water bodies. Artificial lakes often demonstrate increased trophic status, inducing changes in phytoplankton structure. In this paper, we studied phytoplankton in June 2023 (hydrological spring) in two ecosystems, South Baikal and the Irkutsk Reservoir, that are connected by a water course but have different environmental parameters. The gradient of environmental parameters from the lake towards the reservoir revealed peculiarities in the distribution of some microalgae species. Microscopy and statistical analysis showed that water temperature was the most important factor affecting the structure of the communities. The warmer water of the reservoir, in contrast to the lake, demonstrated a twofold increase in species number, abundance, and biomass. Downstream from the reservoir, we observed a succession in the dominating Baikal species complex, its supplementation, and replacement with other species typical of the summer period and Baikal bays. The trophic status of the reservoir during the study may be described as oligotrophic, with local traits of mesotrophicity; its water refers to Class I and Class II and may be qualified as clean. Full article
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28 pages, 8560 KiB  
Article
Diatom Indicators of Fluctuating/Intermittent Discharge from Springs in Two Bavarian Nature Conservation Areas
by Marco Cantonati, Chiara Casoria, Reinhard Gerecke, Olena P. Bilous, Giulia Maisto, Stefano Segadelli, Daniel Spitale, Alana Steinbauer, Sebastian Vogel and Abdullah A. Saber
Diversity 2023, 15(8), 915; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15080915 - 07 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1968
Abstract
As a follow-up to the project “Springs in the Bavarian National Parks as Indicators of Climate Change (SpringNPB)”, a standard methodology for using springs as sentinel environments of climate change was transferred to the UNESCO Rhön Biosphere Reserve and other Bavarian middle-elevation mountain [...] Read more.
As a follow-up to the project “Springs in the Bavarian National Parks as Indicators of Climate Change (SpringNPB)”, a standard methodology for using springs as sentinel environments of climate change was transferred to the UNESCO Rhön Biosphere Reserve and other Bavarian middle-elevation mountain ranges. We studied diatoms from fifteen springs selected in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (9) and Steigerwald Nature Park (6). A total of 127 species belonging to 40 genera were found sampling 3 microhabitat types (lithic materials, hygrophilous or aquatic vegetation, and surface sediments). The cumulative percentage of endangered species according to the Red List was 41.5%. These very shaded, low–medium conductivity, low-discharge forest springs are fed by small surficial aquifers. As a consequence, the discharge fluctuates widely, and some springs even occasionally fall dry. Our results could contribute to the use of diatoms as indicators of discharge variability/desiccation in springs: springs affected by discharge variability have lower diatom species richness and distinct diatom communities; diatom indicators and metrics can be validated using invertebrates; larger databases will be necessary to identify the most suitable diatom indicators. Full article
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28 pages, 10668 KiB  
Article
Diversity of the Summer Phytoplankton of 43 Waterbodies in Bulgaria and Its Potential for Water Quality Assessment
by Maya P. Stoyneva-Gärtner, Jean-Pierre Descy, Blagoy A. Uzunov, Peter Miladinov, Katerina Stefanova, Mariana Radkova and Georg Gärtner
Diversity 2023, 15(4), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15040472 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1655
Abstract
The general awareness of the threats on biodiversity and water quality raised the number of studies that use phytoplankton in assessment procedures. Since most metrics require obtaining mean values, this paper presents data that may help speed up field work and find indicators [...] Read more.
The general awareness of the threats on biodiversity and water quality raised the number of studies that use phytoplankton in assessment procedures. Since most metrics require obtaining mean values, this paper presents data that may help speed up field work and find indicators for a rapid water quality assessment based on single samplings, allowing simultaneous work on many sites. The phytoplankton from 43 Bulgarian waterbodies collected during three summer campaigns (2018, 2019, 2021) at sites selected after drone observations was studied by conventional light microscopy (LM) and an HPLC analysis of marker pigments. Our results allowed us to recommend drones and the HPLC application as reliable methods in rapid water quality assessments. In total, 787 algae from seven phyla (53 alien, new for Bulgaria) were identified. Chlorophyta was the taxonomically richest group, but Cyanoprokaryota dominated the biomass in most sites. New PCR data obtained on anatoxin and microcystin producers confirmed the genetic diversity of Cuspidothrix and Microcystis and provided three new species for the country’s toxic species, first identified by LM. A statistical analysis revealed significant correlations of certain algal phyla and classes with different environmental variables, and their species are considered promising for future search of bioindicators. This is especially valid for the class Eustigmatophyceae, which, as of yet, has been almost neglected in water assessment procedures and indices. Full article
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12 pages, 649 KiB  
Article
Diversity and Ecology of Charophytes from Vojvodina (Serbia) in Relation to Physico-Chemical and Bioclimatic Habitat Properties
by Aleksandra Marković, Jelena Blaženčić, Aljoša Tanasković and Jasmina Šinžar-Sekulić
Diversity 2023, 15(3), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030342 - 28 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1194
Abstract
In Serbia, almost all charophyte species belong to one of the IUCN categories. This study aimed to gather more knowledge about their floristic richness, distribution and ecology. During the survey, 262 localities were investigated in the Vojvodina province, northern Serbia. Seventeen charophyte species [...] Read more.
In Serbia, almost all charophyte species belong to one of the IUCN categories. This study aimed to gather more knowledge about their floristic richness, distribution and ecology. During the survey, 262 localities were investigated in the Vojvodina province, northern Serbia. Seventeen charophyte species were found, out of which 16 were included in the analyses. The environmental matrix included 38 localities, each characterized by habitat type and 35 environmental parameters. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed six parameters as being statistically significant: substrate, altitude, depth, water temperature, temperature annual range and precipitation of the driest month. Together, these explain the 32.34% variability in the species composition and abundance data. Altitude and substrate contributed the most to this. Two main types of habitats were outlined by the analysis. Small and shallow temporary habitats in the river floodplains, at lower altitudes, with muddy and clayish substrate, belong to one type. These areas are inhabited by either very tolerant species, such as Chara vulgaris and C. globularis, or the so-called “spring” species of the genera Tolypella and Nitella. Habitats which are located at higher altitudes, when deeper and more permanent with a sandy substrate, such as sandpits and river habitats, belong to the second one. These areas are inhabited by species like Chara papillosa, C. hispida, and Nitellopsis obtusa. Full article
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9 pages, 1749 KiB  
Communication
New Records of the Alien Chinese Ricefish (Oryzias sinensis) and Its Dispersal History across Eurasia
by Alexander A. Makhrov, Valentina S. Artamonova, Yue-Hua Sun, Yun Fang, Andrey N. Pashkov and Andrey N. Reshetnikov
Diversity 2023, 15(3), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030317 - 21 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1342
Abstract
The diversity of biota in different parts of the planet has demonstrated dramatic changes within the last several decades due to the extinction of native taxa and the appearance of invasive taxa. The correct taxonomic identification of non-native species is important for understanding [...] Read more.
The diversity of biota in different parts of the planet has demonstrated dramatic changes within the last several decades due to the extinction of native taxa and the appearance of invasive taxa. The correct taxonomic identification of non-native species is important for understanding their dispersal abilities, especially when potential invaders may be of closely related species. Information on the species identity of ricefish (Oryzias spp.), which have formed self-sustainable populations in some parts of Eurasia, is contradictory. In this paper, we studied samples from non-native populations of Oryzias from several Eurasian regions. The results of our mtDNA COI partial sequence study confirm that the individuals we studied belong to the species Chinese ricefish, O. sinensis. Analyses of the literature and our own data suggest that all known alien populations of Oryzias in continental Eurasia belong to the same species, O. sinensis. A recent finding of O. sinensis in the Don delta suggests that one of the species’ secondary dispersal pathways could run from the Kuban region through the lower part of the Don basin to the Cis-Azov area. Full article
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12 pages, 1781 KiB  
Article
Flora of Algae and Cyanobacteria of Continental Waters of Israel in the XXI Century: Taxonomy, Autecology and Water Quality Indicators
by Sophia Barinova and Thomas Smith
Diversity 2022, 14(5), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14050328 - 22 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2274
Abstract
The article presents a list of algal species and cyanobacteria found in the continental waters of Israel in 1898–2022. Research progressed in 2000–2022 by increasing the list from 1261 to 1628 species belonging to fourteen phyla. Taxonomic analysis shows that diatoms, cyanobacteria, and [...] Read more.
The article presents a list of algal species and cyanobacteria found in the continental waters of Israel in 1898–2022. Research progressed in 2000–2022 by increasing the list from 1261 to 1628 species belonging to fourteen phyla. Taxonomic analysis shows that diatoms, cyanobacteria, and green algae predominated. The first-time data has been synthesized to identify the indicator properties of Israel’s aquatic flora carried out on algae and cyanobacteria, which can be used to monitor water quality. The species’ ecological preferences are given for ten environmental variables: substrate preference, temperature, oxygen saturation with water mobility, water pH preferences, water salinity, organic pollution according to Watanabe and Sládeček with species-specific index of saprobity S, trophic state, and type of nutrition (autotrophic or heterotrophic). This list of species with indicator values for each species is used to characterize the water properties in Israel. In addition, it can be applied to assess the state of aquatic ecosystems and monitor water quality based on bioindication methods. Full article
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