Low-order streams and riparian wetlands are important contributors to the drainage network in the landscape. However, there has been little research into the nature of these ecosystems in Brazil. Our estimates show that riparian wetlands of low-order streams and other small associated wetlands cover at least 25% of the forested part of the Amazon basin and about 10% of the...
Various studies on population genetics in the Indo-Pacific that include the Coral Triangle region have revealed phylogeographic patterns in marine species populations. However, little is known about the population structure and connectivity pattern among the coral reefs in four seas surrounding Malaysia: the Strait of Malacca (Andaman Sea), the South China Sea, the Sulu Sea, and...
The taxonomic status of the zooplanktivorous cichlids Copadichromis mloto and C. virginalis has been confused since their original descriptions by lles in 1960. Whilst two forms of C. virginalis, ‘Kaduna’ and ‘Kajose’, were distinguished in the type material, C. mloto has not been positively identified since its original description. Here we re-examined the types as well as 54...
The regression of fisheries in the Gulf of Cadiz is evident since current fish catches are 33% of that 30 years before. Consequently, some initiatives for the replenishment of exhausted wild stocks are welcome. The objective of the present work is to describe and analyse the results coming from the first flatfish stock enhancements in Andalusia. A total of 3189 fish from three...
Whilst the effects of inbreeding on growth and survival have been well studied, knowledge on the impact of inbreeding on the social behaviour is scarce. Animal groups are often composed of relatives, which can facilitate cooperation (due to kin selection) and improve group performance accordingly. Therefore, increased genetic relatedness in inbred kin groups could increase group...
The patchy distribution of the ditch shrimp Palaemon varians (Palaemonidae) in small-scale habitats with low salinity may hint at isolation and fragmentation processes. In order to evaluate the extent to which gene flow barriers exist and salinity has an influence on this dispersal pattern, the genetic diversity and differentiation of Baltic and North Sea populations were...
Mating patterns in animal populations can respond to environmental conditions and consequently vary across time. To examine this variation in nature, studies must include temporal replicates from the same population. Here, we report temporal variation in genetic parentage in the socially monogamous cichlid Variabilichromis moorii from Lake Tanganyika, using samples of broods and...
Headwater streams harbor diverse macroinvertebrate communities and are hotspots for leaf litter breakdown. The process of leaf litter breakdown mediated by macroinvertebrates forms an important link between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Yet, how the vegetation type in the local riparian zone influences leaf-associated macroinvertebrate assemblages and leaf litter breakdown...
For evaluating hydraulic stress reduction strategies of caddisfly larvae, our study has three goals. First, creating a database on Reynolds numbers (Re) and drag coefficients valid for Limnephilidae larvae with cylindrical mineral cases. Second, evaluating the effects of submerged weight and biometry in cases with comparable length/width ratios. And third, collecting field data...
We summarized existing knowledge on Dreissena polymorpha (the zebra mussel) and D. r. bugensis (the quagga mussel), including data on their taxonomy, systematics, evolution, life cycle, reproduction, feeding, growth and longevity, population dynamics, interspecific competition, habitat requirements, and distribution within and among waterbodies. We analyzed the history of spread...
Freshwater ponds have long been an overlooked biodiversity store and changing types of land use and the land management practices has led to a steady decline in pond numbers. Establishing the regional extent of pond loss is the first step in identifying key areas for conservation action. This study calculated pond loss in the Severn Vale catchment UK since 1900. Identification of...
The research aimed to recollect specimens from Curaçao of the genus Halosbaena belonging to the rare crustacean order Thermosbaenacea, a genus with a relictual Tethyan distribution. It resulted in recording the apparent extinction of the entire, species-rich, subterranean fauna on the island that had occurred within a period of 43 years up to 2015. The composition of the...
Thermal stratification of reservoirs can lead to anaerobic conditions that facilitate the microbial conversion of mercury (Hg) to neurotoxic and bioaccumulative methylmercury (MeHg). But MeHg production is just the first step in a complex set of processes that affect MeHg in fish. Of particular relevance is uptake into suspended particulate matter (SPM) and zooplankton at the...
Although its role in the functioning of aquatic systems is widely recognized, the contribution of freshwater metazooplankton (metazoan plankton) to ecosystem services (ES) is seldom considered. Here we aim at providing a first overview of how this group contributes to ecosystem services according to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment framework. We show that although...
Biological invasion is a strong threat to native biodiversity, with limnic systems being especially vulnerable due to historical separation and resulting prey naivety. The prey naivety hypothesis states that native species may not be able to recognize novel predators due to a lack of common evolutionary background and, therefore, become easy targets. In a laboratory experiment...
Management measures targeting riverine macrophyte species often address dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. With recent reductions of nutrient pollution, effects of other variables have become more apparent. This study aims to shed light on the hierarchy of variables determining riverine macrophyte distribution, covering both surface water nutrients and a range of other...
Recruitment of mussels is a complex process with the successful arrival of individuals hinging on the availability of suitable habitats. We examined the effects of adult mussels as settlement habitat and the degree to which the suitability of habitat they offer is species-specific by comparing the recruitment success of intertidal mussels. We hypothesised that mussel recruitment...
Diatoms, a unique group of algae colonising a wide range of aquatic habitats and contributing to human well-being in many ways. We list and summarise these services using the classification of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), i.e. supporting, regulating, provisioning and cultural services. The most relevant supporting services are photosynthesis and primary production...
Monitoring the condition (water quality, biodiversity, hydromorphology) of small water bodies presents a challenge for the relevant authorities in terms of time and resources (labour and financial) due to the extensive length of the stream network or the sheer number of small standing water bodies. Citizen science can help address information gaps, but the effort required should...
Ponds are aquatic habitats defined by their small size. Although small they are found on every continent, they are disproportionately rich in aquatic biodiversity, benefit terrestrial wildlife and have important ecosystem function benefits. One of these benefits might be carbon sequestration, a possibility suggested by (1) their abundance, (2) the intensity of their...
The ecosystem services approach to conservation is becoming central to environmental policy decision making. While many negative biological invasion-driven impacts on ecosystem structure and functioning have been identified, much less was done to evaluate their ecosystem services. In this paper, we focus on the often-overlooked ecosystem services provided by three notable exotic...
The holobiont concept places emphasis on the strict relationship between a host and its associated microbiome, with several studies supporting a strong effect of the quality of the microbiome on the host fitness. The generalities of the holobiont have been questioned for several invertebrates, including zooplankton. Here we assess the role of host ecology, habitat, and...
Phenotypic plasticity allows organisms to rapidly adjust to environmental changes. Cichlid fish inhabit a wide range of light environments and show a large diversity in visual system properties, which makes them a good model system to address the role of phenotypic plasticity in visual adaptation. Cichlid retinal cone pigments consist of opsin proteins bound to Vitamin A1 or A2...
Variation in jaw protrusion is critical to cichlid fish trophic diversification. For instance, jaw protrusion distance can influence suction, attack speed, as well as bite force, and jaw protrusion angle is associated with exploiting prey from different substrates. Interestingly, premaxillary ascending process length has been shown to influence the maximum distance some cichlid...