Marine and Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation

A special issue of Hydrobiology (ISSN 2673-9917).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 23370

Special Issue Editors

Department of Biology-Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Biology and Geography, West University of Timisoara, Pestalozzi 16A, 300115 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: freshwater ecology; spatial ecology; crayfish; invasive species; species distribution modelling; biogeography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Bioinformatics, The National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, 296 Independenței Bd. District 6, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: food webs; cave and groundwater ecology; hyporheic zone; invasive species

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid degradation of global biodiversity is a worrying phenomenon. Moreover, degradation of the quality of habitats, especially aquatic ones, leads to the accentuation of this phenomenon. The efforts of scientists must be tirelessly focused on identifying the most appropriate protection measures to be further implemented by stakeholders.

Multiple methods for assessment of this phenomenon are available today, from molecular investigations of the population conditions to approaches that include space ecology (i.e., remote sensing).

With this Special Issue of Hydrobiology, we aim to provide a forum where you can contribute with research and discussions focused on this extremely significant and attractive topic, and we encourage you to send your manuscripts to be considered for evaluation and publication in this young but promising journal covering the fields of aquatic ecology and hydrobiology.

Dr. Lucian Pârvulescu
Dr. Octavian Pacioglu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Hydrobiology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • freshwater ecology
  • habitat fragmentation
  • endangered species
  • invasive species

Published Papers (8 papers)

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11 pages, 2619 KiB  
Article
Combining Monitoring Approaches as a Tool to Assess the Occurrence of the Mediterranean Monk Seal in Samos Island, Greece
by Guido Pietroluongo, Belén Quintana Martín-Montalvo, Karthik Ashok, Anastasia Miliou, Jack Fosberry, Simone Antichi, Sara Moscatelli, Thodoris Tsimpidis, Roberto Carlucci and Marta Azzolin
Hydrobiology 2022, 1(4), 440-450; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology1040026 - 03 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1556
Abstract
With a current global estimation of 600–700 individuals, Monachus monachus is considered among the most threatened seal species globally and is ranked as “Endangered” by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Mediterranean distribution of the species is fragmented, and the largest [...] Read more.
With a current global estimation of 600–700 individuals, Monachus monachus is considered among the most threatened seal species globally and is ranked as “Endangered” by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Mediterranean distribution of the species is fragmented, and the largest known sub-population inhabits its easternmost areas. The present study analyses the occurrence of M. monachus on Samos Island, in the north-eastern Aegean Sea, Greece. From May 2017 to November 2019, data were collected through a combination of monitoring approaches, including visual monitoring from a land position, opportunistic sightings collected by citizen science, and data of stranded individuals. Results indicate the constant occurrence of monk seals in the waters and coastal areas of Samos Island, confirming the importance of this area for conservation purposes. Furthermore, the results show that an integrated methodological approach can contribute to enhancing and increasing data collection, representing an effective method for conservation studies. This approach could be applied in other locations, allowing the scientific community to identify regions of interest, where to expand targeted monitoring and apply conservation measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine and Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation)
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26 pages, 8856 KiB  
Article
Analyses of Stalked Jellyfish in Kitsunezaki, Japan: Calvadosia nagatensis, and Two Lineages of Haliclystus inabai with Early Life Stages Observed in an Aquarium in Canada
by Amanda S. Adriansyah, Agatha Astri, Yayoi Hirano, Allen G. Collins, Marie-Lyne Deshaies, Delta Putra, Shu Sekiguchi, Shuhei Ikeda, Kazuya Okuizumi, Mitsuko Chikuchishin, Masakazu Aoki and Cheryl L. Ames
Hydrobiology 2022, 1(3), 252-277; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology1030019 - 21 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3951
Abstract
In this work, staurozoans of two distinct morphotypes are reported in Kitsunezaki (Ishinomaki City, Miyagi, Japan) in the years following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Staurozoa specimens were collected from Eisenia and Gelidium macroalgal beds at the Kitsunezaki survey site (October [...] Read more.
In this work, staurozoans of two distinct morphotypes are reported in Kitsunezaki (Ishinomaki City, Miyagi, Japan) in the years following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Staurozoa specimens were collected from Eisenia and Gelidium macroalgal beds at the Kitsunezaki survey site (October 2019–July 2021). Morphological observations indicated that the Kitsunezaki staurozoans represented two species, Haliclystus inabai and Calvadosia nagatensis, but molecular analyses of the genetic markers 16S rRNA and COI suggested that the former actually encompasses two distinct lineages, H. inabai and a cryptic as yet unnamed species. Phylogenetic analysis reveals the two H. inabai lineages are separated by significant divergences for both gene markers. H. inabai lineage 1 includes specimens sampled with molecular sequences from Hokkaido (Japan) and Kitsunezaki (Japan), whereas H. inabai lineage 2 includes sequences from Victoria (Australia), Kitsunezaki, as well as populations that appeared in a lab in Germany and aquariums in Tsuruoka and Kagoshima (Japan) and Québec (Canada). Conversely, C. nagatensis from Kitsunezaki appears to be a species distributed only in the temperate NW Pacific. Observations on early life stages of H. inabai lineage 2 within aquarium tanks permitted confirmation of the presence of “microhydrula” settled larva, frustules, and elongated settled larvae. C. nagatensis was collected from the Kitsunezaki survey site in warm months only, and always exhibited gonads, while H. inabai stauromedusae were collected in most months throughout the year, with gonads usually present irrespective of season. An extensive literature review covering more than 100 years and observations in this study revealed seaweed and seagrass as the primary substrates for these two Staurozoa species. Our findings show C. nagatensis is associated with just two types of algal substrates and seagrass, while H. inabai has a much broader substrate preference, consistent with its wider geographic distribution. These findings have contributed to our understanding of Staurozoa epibiotic associations in exposed bays during the recovery period following a major natural disaster. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine and Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation)
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13 pages, 2019 KiB  
Article
Checklist and New Occurrences of Odonata (Insecta) from Volta Grande do Xingu, Pará, Brazil
by Anderson André Carvalho-Soares, Kesley Gadelha Ferreira, Kenned Silva Sousa, Ana Caroline Leal Nascimento, Cristian Camilo Mendoza-Penagos, Thiago Bernardi Vieira, Ana Karina Moreyra Salcedo, José Max Barbosa Oliveira-Junior, Lenize Batista Calvão and Karina Dias-Silva
Hydrobiology 2022, 1(2), 183-195; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology1020014 - 13 Apr 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2523
Abstract
The order Odonata (Insecta) is composed of aquatic insects popularly known as dragonflies and damselflies. Members of this order are closely linked to the conservation status of their habitats; however, the Wallacean shortfall in some regions still remains high. The Volta Grande do [...] Read more.
The order Odonata (Insecta) is composed of aquatic insects popularly known as dragonflies and damselflies. Members of this order are closely linked to the conservation status of their habitats; however, the Wallacean shortfall in some regions still remains high. The Volta Grande do Xingu region is known to have high endemism of some groups, such as Actinopterygii (fish), which can be applied to other groups that do not yet have their fauna known at the site, such as the order Odonata. The Wallacean shortfall and constant anthropic changes (for example, the construction of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric) have been obstacles in the preservation of these and other groups. In that regard, the main aim of this paper is to provide a checklist of Odonata (Insecta) adult species from the streams of Volta Grande do Xingu, Pará, Brazil. The collections were carried out in 19 streams in the Volta Grande do Xingu region in September 2019, corresponding to the drought period. A total of 526 specimens were collected, where two suborders, six families, 26 genera and 43 species were identified. Three species of Odonata were registered for the first time in the state of Pará: Erythrodiplax famula (Erichson in Schomburgk, 1848); Acanthagrion chacoense Calvert, 1909 and Epipleoneura lamina Williamson, 1915. These data allow us to help increase the knowledge of Odonata fauna in the streams of Volta Grande do Xingu, a region that is under intense anthropic pressure. This helps to reduce the Wallacean shortfall, with another area sampled for the state of Pará. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine and Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation)
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11 pages, 1715 KiB  
Article
Effects of Environmental Changes on Gerromorpha (Heteroptera: Hemiptera) Communities from Amazonian Streams
by Karen Monteiro Moy, Leandro Schlemmer Brasil, José Max Barbosa Oliveira-Junior, Leandro Juen, Thiago Bernardi Vieira and Karina Dias-Silva
Hydrobiology 2022, 1(1), 111-121; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology1010008 - 15 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2559
Abstract
The presence of environmental conditions that are suitable for the development of agricultural and cattle-raising activities has favored the expansion of land use in the Brazilian Amazon. This expansion changes the environmental conditions of aquatic ecosystems by altering the structure of the streambeds [...] Read more.
The presence of environmental conditions that are suitable for the development of agricultural and cattle-raising activities has favored the expansion of land use in the Brazilian Amazon. This expansion changes the environmental conditions of aquatic ecosystems by altering the structure of the streambeds and the physicochemical conditions of the water. Therefore, this manuscript aimed to assess the effect of changes in environmental conditions along a gradient of different land uses on the richness and species composition of Gerromorpha (Heteroptera: Hemiptera) communities in streams from the Brazilian Amazon. We sampled Gerromorpha communities and environmental variables (physical structure of the habitat and physicochemical characteristics of the water) in 45 streams in the municipality of Paragominas in the state of Pará, Brazil. We then performed variation partitioning analyses to assess the relative contribution of habitat structure and water physicochemical variables on the richness and species composition. The Habitat Integrity Index (HII), which measures the habitat physical structure, was the best predictor of species richness. The HII and physicochemical variables were jointly the best predictors of species composition. Our results show that Gerromorpha communities respond to gradients of environmental anthropization in the Amazon region, which reinforces the importance of habitat integrity and water quality for the maintenance of Gerromorpha communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine and Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation)
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13 pages, 1159 KiB  
Article
Environmental Determinates of Distribution for Dragonfly Nymphs (Odonata: Anisoptera) in Urban and Non-Urban East Texas Streams, USA
by David E. Bowles and Leroy J. Kleinsasser
Hydrobiology 2022, 1(1), 76-88; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology1010006 - 01 Jan 2022
Viewed by 2987
Abstract
We collected environmental and habitat data for nymphs of 12 dragonfly species (Odonata: Anisoptera) from 91 stream sites throughout eastern Texas, including urban and non-urban locations. Understanding the relationship of dragonflies to habitat structure and other environmental variables is crucial for the purpose [...] Read more.
We collected environmental and habitat data for nymphs of 12 dragonfly species (Odonata: Anisoptera) from 91 stream sites throughout eastern Texas, including urban and non-urban locations. Understanding the relationship of dragonflies to habitat structure and other environmental variables is crucial for the purpose of conserving these insects and better using them as predictive tools for water quality assessments, and refining tolerance values. The objectives of this study were to determine the key environmental variables influencing the diversity and distribution of dragonflies in eastern Texas streams, and further determine if differences in those factors could be observed between urban and nonurban sites. We collected samples separately from benthic habitats and woody snag habitats. Significantly fewer sites were observed to have dragonfly species on snag habitat (mean = 1.25) compared to benthic samples (mean = 14.67) (t-test, p = 0.001). The number of dragonfly species collected among non-urban streams (mean = 9.83) was not significantly different than urban streams (mean = 6.08; t-test, p = 0.07). Detrended correspondence analysis of benthic and snag habitat data collected from non-urban and urban locations showed that most of the species are oriented most closely to benthic habitats in non-urban streams. Snag habitat was shown to be poorly ordinated for all of the species. A canonical correspondence analysis of 29 water quality and habitat variables as environmental determinants of dragonfly diversity and distribution showed that distributional relationships among species are complex and often described by multiple environmental factors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine and Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation)
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29 pages, 16209 KiB  
Article
Crustaceans (Malacostraca and Thecostraca) from the International Minho River, Iberian Peninsula
by Nuno Gomes, Dimítri A. Costa, Harold Cantallo and Carlos Antunes
Hydrobiology 2022, 1(1), 47-75; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology1010005 - 22 Dec 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3552
Abstract
Crustaceans (Arthropoda) are a diverse and abundant group with chitinous exoskeleton, living on coastal/estuarine environments, at community invertebrate fauna. A survey on the species of some crustacean groups found on the Minho River estuary (international section) in the Iberian Peninsula, is presented with [...] Read more.
Crustaceans (Arthropoda) are a diverse and abundant group with chitinous exoskeleton, living on coastal/estuarine environments, at community invertebrate fauna. A survey on the species of some crustacean groups found on the Minho River estuary (international section) in the Iberian Peninsula, is presented with specimens collected through glass eel fishing bycatch, grab sampler, trammel net, beam trawl and fyke net sampling methods. A total of 98 specimens were examined belonging to 7 orders, 21 genera and 23 species (17 new records from Minho River, including one for Portugal). Brief diagnosis, ecological notes, species distributions and figures are provided intending to present taxonomic support on future projects in this region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine and Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation)
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29 pages, 9099 KiB  
Article
Insights into the Migration Routes and Historical Dispersion of Species Surviving the Messinian Crisis: The Case of Patella ulyssiponensis and Epizoic Rhodolith Lithophyllum hibernicum
by Nuno Gomes, Carlos Antunes and Dimítri de Araújo Costa
Hydrobiology 2022, 1(1), 10-38; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology1010003 - 25 Nov 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3338
Abstract
The genus Patella (Patellogastropoda, Mollusca) is represented by a group of species exclusive to the Northeast Atlantic Ocean (including Macaronesian archipelagos) and Mediterranean Sea. The species Patella ulyssiponensis and Patella aspera are common in European waters, with the first inhabiting continental coast, and [...] Read more.
The genus Patella (Patellogastropoda, Mollusca) is represented by a group of species exclusive to the Northeast Atlantic Ocean (including Macaronesian archipelagos) and Mediterranean Sea. The species Patella ulyssiponensis and Patella aspera are common in European waters, with the first inhabiting continental coast, and the second endemic to Macaronesian archipelagos. However, the acceptance of these two lineages as separate species is still highly debated. The red coralline species algae Lithophyllum hibernicum, distributed from Northeast Atlantic to the Mediterranean, is usually found as epilithic crusts or unattached forms (named rhodolith beds), although it also forms epizoic crusts on other organisms, e.g., shell surfaces. In order to study the historic dispersal and migration routes of the Patella ulyssiponensis-aspera complex, taxonomic, genetic and biogeographic approaches were employed based on haplotype network analyses and estimations for the most common recent ancestor (TMRCA), using Cytochrome Oxydase I. A synonymy for these two species is proposed, with the presence of a shared haplotype between the continental (P. ulyssiponensis) and insular (P. aspera) lineages, and with basis of morphological and nomenclatural data. We propose an evolutionary scenario for its dispersal based on a high haplotype diversity for the Mediterranean regions, indicating its possible survival during the Messinian Salinity Crisis (6–5.3 Mya), followed by a colonization of the Proto-Macaronesian archipelagos. The epizoic association of L. hibernicum on P. ulyssiponensis shell adult surface is recorded in this study, likewise the promotion of settlement conditions provided by these coralline algae to P. ulyssiponensis larvae, may explain the reach of P. ulyssiponensis distribution through rhodolith transportation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine and Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation)
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7 pages, 1799 KiB  
Brief Report
Optimising Kelp Cultivation to Scale up Habitat Restoration Efforts: Effect of Light Intensity on “Green Gravel” Production
by Silvia Chemello, Isabel Sousa Pinto and Tania R. Pereira
Hydrobiology 2023, 2(2), 347-353; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrobiology2020022 - 16 May 2023
Viewed by 1184
Abstract
Kelp forests are disappearing worldwide due to climate change and human stressors, highlighting the need for active interventions. A new restoration approach, “green gravel”, has been shown to be a potentially effective tool to restore endangered kelp forests. However, green gravel is still [...] Read more.
Kelp forests are disappearing worldwide due to climate change and human stressors, highlighting the need for active interventions. A new restoration approach, “green gravel”, has been shown to be a potentially effective tool to restore endangered kelp forests. However, green gravel is still a novel technique that needs better experimentation and optimisation at all process stages. Contamination by other algal species is one of the critical factors in early-stage green gravel production because their overgrowth can lead to the loss of the seeded material. In this study, we assessed the effect of light intensity on kelp growth and on the coverage of contaminating algae on green gravel. Our results show that under high lights, kelps displayed faster growth (recruits on average more than three times the size and covering a six-times-larger area in high light intensity than in low light), but there was also a higher percentage of contaminating algae. In contrast, the green gravel cultivated under low lights showed almost no signs of algal contamination, but the area occupied by kelps and the length of the lamina were dramatically lower. Due to the cultivation conditions, opportunistic species can grow fast. This advantage is expected to disappear once the green gravel is deployed. To obtain cleaner cultures and to avoid the risk of losing the cultivated material, we would advise starting rearing under lower light intensity to reduce the risk of contamination but ensure kelp growth and then increasing the light intensity to boost it. Clear and appropriate protocols are absolutely necessary to minimise production costs and times and for the scaling-up of future attempts at marine forest restoration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine and Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation)
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