Cryptic diversity of Synchaeta spp. (Rotifera, Monogononta) in mountain lakes: relationships with environmental parameters

Cryptic species (i.e. distinct species that are morphologically similar) may have different ecological requirements and their merging into one species can bias the assessment of the main ecological drivers of biodiversity. We investigated the environmental parameters influencing the occurrence of Synchaeta species (S. pectinata, S. grandis, S. lakowitziana, S. tremula/oblonga - monogonont rotifers) in 17 waterbodies of the Trentino-South Tyrol region in the Eastern Alps. To improve taxonomic resolution in phylogenetic analysis, a marine Synchaeta (i.e. S. cf. cecilia) from the United Kingdom was also sampled and sequences from GenBank were downloaded. While Synchaeta species were morphologically identified based on trophi structure, cryptic species were identified based on the generalised mixed Yule coalescent (GMYC) model. We performed multivariate ordination both for morphospecies (i.e. unresolved complexes of cryptic species), a common practice in limnological studies based on morphological taxonomy, and for putative cryptic species, made possible by DNA taxonomy. We expected that resolving complexes of cryptic species could provide more information than using morphospecies. Out of the overall phylogenetic tree with 48 haplotypes from 203 individuals, the GMYC model indicated the presence of 14 GMYC entities, 11 from lakes in the Eastern Alps, 2 from Canada, and one from the U.K. Synchaeta pectinata showed five GMYC entities and S. tremula showed two; all individuals, for which the identification to S. tremula or S. oblonga was not possible, clustered in one monophyletic clade, here called S. tremula/oblonga, that showed additional evidence of three GMYC entities. Environmental-based multivariate ordination on cryptic species explained a significantly higher proportion of variance than that based on morphospecies. Occurrence of putative cryptic species was mainly related to total phosphorus. Moreover, different cryptic species within the same morphospecies showed different, and even opposite, preferences for total phosphorus. In addition, the same GMYC entity of S. tremula/oblonga found in Trentino-South Tyrol was also present in Canada and the same haplotype of S. pectinata found in Trentino-South Tyrol was also found in the U.K. This wide geographical distribution of haplotypes and cryptic species indicated the absence of dispersal barriers in Synchaet

Magyarország Dinophyta fajainak vizsgálata = The investigation of Hungarian Dinophyta species

A biodiverzitás megőrzése korunk egyik legfontosabb kihívása. Ennek alapfeltétele az, hogy az adott régió/ország élőlény-együtteseit, azon belül a szennyezéseket jól indikáló élőlényeket, jelen esetben a Dinophyta (páncélos-ostoros alga) fajokat a állóvizeinkben és vízfolyásainkban ismerjük. A Dinophyta fajokra vonatkozó elvégzett alapkutatás jellegű ökológiai kutatásaink révén számos faj bioindikációs szerepét, ill. a vízminőségi háttérváltozók kapcsolatát tisztáztuk. Alkalmazott kutatás tekintetében a Dinophyta fajok indikációs sajátságait vizsgáltuk kiemelve szennyezések detektálását és az egyes fajok alkalmazhatóságát a EU Vízgazdálkodási Keretirányelv szerinti gyakorlatban megvalósuló monitorozás során. Az elvégzett munkánk eredményeképpen megfelelő információ áll rendelkezésre „Magyarország Dinophyta fajainak monográfiájának” elkészítéséhez.Nemzetközi vonatkozásban olyan összefoglaló ismereteket adtunk közre a konferenciákon a hazai Dinophyta fajokra állóvizekben való előfordulására vonatkozóan, melyek hasznosíthatók más, a mérsékelt övben található országokban is. Ezt jelzik mindazok az elidult/elinduló nemzetközi kapcsolatok (Horvátország, Németország, Olaszország, Spanyolország, Törökország) melyek révén hazánk is részese lehet az Európában kialakuló Dinophytákra vonatkozó kutatásnak. | The conservation of biodiversity is one of the most important challenges of our age. In order to achieve this goal it is essential to know the living communities in the given region/country – including organisms that indicate contamination well, in this particular case Dinoflagellates in standing waters and rivers. We managed to elucidate the roles of different species in bioindication as well as the relationship between water quality variables by conducting basic ecological researches on Dinophyta species. As an applied research we examined the indication characteristics of Dinophyta species – above all the detection of contaminations and the applicability of different species for monitoring according to the EU Water Framework Directive. Due to our research, the information required to work out „The Monograph of Dinophyta Species in Hungary” is now available. In international aspects, in different conferences we published a comprehensive knowledge on the occurence of Dinophyta species in Hungarian standing waters that is useful in other temperate countries as well. This is indicated by the started/starting international contacts (Croatia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey) that help Hungary to take part in the European researches on Dinoflagellates

Increased winter drownings in ice-covered regions with warmer winters

Winter activities on ice are culturally important for many countries, yet they constitute a high safety risk depending upon the stability of the ice. Because consistently cold periods are required to form stable and thick ice, warmer winters could degrade ice conditions and increase the likelihood of falling through the ice. This study provides the first large-scale assessment of winter drowning from 10 Northern Hemisphere countries. We documented over 4000 winter drowning events. Winter drownings increased exponentially in regions with warmer winters when air temperatures neared 0 ̊C. The largest number of drownings occurred when winter air temperatures were between -5 ̊C and 0 ̊C, when ice is less stable, and also in regions where indigenous traditions and livelihood require extended time on ice. Rates of drowning were greatest late in the winter season when ice stability declines. Children and adults up to the age of 39 were at the highest risk of winter drownings. Beyond temperature, differences in cultures, regulations, and human behaviours can be important additional risk factors. Our findings indicate the potential for increased human mortality with warmer winter air temperatures. Incorporating drowning prevention plans would improve adaptation strategies to a changing climate.Funding was provided to SS by the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science Early Researcher Award and York University Research Chair programme. Funding support for BAD was provided by Kempestiftelserna. AL was supported by Estonian Research Council Grant PSG 32. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Funding was provided to SS by the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science Early Researcher Award and York University Research Chair programme. Funding support for BAD was provided by Kempestiftelserna. AL was supported by Estonian Research Council Grant PSG 32. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Dissolved oxygen dynamics under ice: three winters of high-frequency data from Lake Tovel, Italy

Under-ice dissolved oxygen (DO) metabolism and DO depletion are poorly understood, limiting our ability to predict how changing winter conditions will affect lake ecosystems. We analyzed under-ice DO dynamics based on high-frequency (HF) data at two depths (5 and 25 m) for three winters (January-March 2014, 2015, and 2016) in oligotrophic Lake Tovel (1178 m above sea level; maximum depth 39 m). Specifically, we assessed diel metabolic rates based on HF data of DO, temperature, and light for winter 2016 and seasonal DO depletion rates based on HF data of DO for all three winters. For 2016, calculations of metabolic rates were possible only for 34% and 3% of days at 5 and 25 m, respectively; these metabolic rates generally indicated net heterotrophy at both depths. Low success in modeling metabolic rates was attributed to low diel DO variability and anomalous diel DO patterns, probably linked to under-ice physical processes. Seasonal DO patterns for the three winters showed increasing, decreasing, or stable DO trends at 5 m while at 25 m patterns always showed decreasing DO trends but with different rates. Our multiyear study permitted us to hypothesize that the observed intraannual and interannual differences in DO depletion can be attributed to variable snow cover determining the penetration of radiation and thus photosynthesis. This study brings new insights to DO dynamics in ice-covered systems, highlights the challenges linked to under-ice lake metabolism, and advocates for a modeling approach that includes physical processes

Research questions to facilitate the future development of European long-term ecosystem research infrastructures : A horizon scanning exercise

Distributed environmental research infrastructures are important to support assessments of the effects of global change on landscapes, ecosystems and society. These infrastructures need to provide continuity to address long-term change, yet be flexible enough to respond to rapid societal and technological developments that modify research priorities. We used a horizon scanning exercise to identify and prioritize emerging research questions for the future development of ecosystem and socio-ecological research infrastructures in Europe. Twenty research questions covered topics related to (i) ecosystem structures and processes, (ii) the impacts of anthropogenic drivers on ecosystems, (iii) ecosystem services and socio-ecological systems and (iv), methods and research infrastructures. Several key priorities for the development of research infrastructures emerged. Addressing complex environmental issues requires the adoption of a whole-system approach, achieved through integration of biotic, abiotic and socio-economic measurements. Interoperability among different research infrastructures needs to be improved by developing standard measurements, harmonizing methods, and establishing capacities and tools for data integration, processing, storage and analysis. Future research infrastructures should support a range of methodological approaches including observation, experiments and modelling. They should also have flexibility to respond to new requirements, for example by adjusting the spatio-temporal design of measurements. When new methods are introduced, compatibility with important long-term data series must be ensured. Finally, indicators, tools, and transdisciplinary approaches to identify, quantify and value ecosystem services across spatial scales and domains need to be advanced.Peer reviewe

Temperature Effects Explain Continental Scale Distribution of Cyanobacterial Toxins

Insight into how environmental change determines the production and distribution of cyanobacterial toxins is necessary for risk assessment. Management guidelines currently focus on hepatotoxins (microcystins). Increasing attention is given to other classes, such as neurotoxins (e.g., anatoxin-a) and cytotoxins (e.g., cylindrospermopsin) due to their potency. Most studies examine the relationship between individual toxin variants and environmental factors, such as nutrients, temperature and light. In summer 2015, we collected samples across Europe to investigate the effect of nutrient and temperature gradients on the variability of toxin production at a continental scale. Direct and indirect effects of temperature were the main drivers of the spatial distribution in the toxins produced by the cyanobacterial community, the toxin concentrations and toxin quota. Generalized linear models showed that a Toxin Diversity Index (TDI) increased with latitude, while it decreased with water stability. Increases in TDI were explained through a significant increase in toxin variants such as MC-YR, anatoxin and cylindrospermopsin, accompanied by a decreasing presence of MC-LR. While global warming continues, the direct and indirect effects of increased lake temperatures will drive changes in the distribution of cyanobacterial toxins in Europe, potentially promoting selection of a few highly toxic species or strains.Peer reviewe

Widespread deoxygenation of temperate lakes

The concentration of dissolved oxygen in aquatic systems helps to regulate biodiversity, nutrient biogeochemistry, greenhouse gas emissions, and the quality of drinking water. The long-term declines in dissolved oxygen concentrations in coastal and ocean waters have been linked to climate warming and human activity, but little is known about the changes in dissolved oxygen concentrations in lakes. Although the solubility of dissolved oxygen decreases with increasing water temperatures, long-term lake trajectories are difficult to predict. Oxygen losses in warming lakes may be amplified by enhanced decomposition and stronger thermal stratification8,9 or oxygen may increase as a result of enhanced primary production. Here we analyse a combined total of 45,148 dissolved oxygen and temperature profiles and calculate trends for 393 temperate lakes that span 1941 to 2017. We find that a decline in dissolved oxygen is widespread in surface and deep-water habitats. The decline in surface waters is primarily associated with reduced solubility under warmer water temperatures, although dissolved oxygen in surface waters increased in a subset of highly productive warming lakes, probably owing to increasing production of phytoplankton. By contrast, the decline in deep waters is associated with stronger thermal stratification and loss of water clarity, but not with changes in gas solubility. Our results suggest that climate change and declining water clarity have altered the physical and chemical environment of lakes. Declines in dissolved oxygen in freshwater are 2.75 to 9.3 times greater than observed in the world’s oceans and could threaten essential lake ecosystem services

Dinoflagellates of the Trentino Province, Italy

The Trentino Province (Italy) has more than 320 lakes diverse in size, geological substrate, altitude and trophic status, and representing most physico-chemical types of temperate lakes. A recent research project (SALTO) offered the opportunity to study the dinoflagellate flora of 27 of these water bodies representing all lake types. In this paper 34 taxa of dinoflagellates assigned to eight genera (Ceratium, Glenodiniopsis, Glochidinium, Gymnodinium, Gyrodinium, Peridinium, Peridiniopsis and Tovellia) in five families (Ceratiaceae, Glenodiniopsidaceae, Gymnodiniaceae, Peridiniaceae and Tovelliaceae) and four genera of uncertain collocation (Baldinia, Borghiella, Durinskia and Staszicella) are described. Two previously undescribed species and two new combinations are also included. Classification is based in part on Popovsk´y and Pfiester (1990), modified according to the results of recent molecular and ultrastructural analyses. Dinoflagellate taxonomy is currently undergoing extensive revision, and taxonomic decisions in the present article follow the recent orientations in dinoflagellate systematics. The taxonomical issues of the more problematic genera are discussed. Where appropriate, comments on ecological features of the species are also given

Biological monitoring of rivers : applications and perspectives

xvi, 469 p.; 25 cm