Diversity of Fauna in Crimean Hypersaline Water Bodies

On the Crimean peninsula, there are more than 50 hypersaline water bodies, including the Sivash (the Sea of Azov), the largest hypersaline lagoon in the world. Based on the literature and our own long-term research data (2000–2017), a review of the fauna of the hypersaline waters in the Crimea is presented, including 298 species of animals belonging to 8 phyla, 14 classes and 27 orders. The variety of phyla and classes within a particular range of salinity was shown to decrease significantly with an increase in salinity; 8 classes in 3 phyla can withstand salinities above 100 g/L, and only 4 classes (Branchiopoda, Hexanauplia, Ostracoda and Insecta) within 1 phylum (Arthropoda) occur at salinities above 200 g/L. The number of species found in a single sample also decreased with increasing salinity. However, in the range of 50–120 g/L, the number of species was mainly determined by a different set of factors. The abundance of animals in the hypersaline waters of the Crimea can be very high: e.g., Nematoda – up to 1.4∙107 ind./m2, Harpacticoida – up to 3.5∙106 ind./m2, Ostracoda – up to 5.8∙105 ind./m2, and Moina salina – up to 1.3∙106 ind./m3. A characteristic feature of hypersaline water ecosystems is the fact that increases in salinity cause increasing amounts of benthic animals (Chironomidae, Harpacticoida, Ostracoda) to change their habitats from the bottom to the water column. At salinities above 120–150 g/L, there is almost no animal life at the bottom. Most of the species found in shallow hypersaline waters have a resting stage in their life cycle, which ensures their survival in abruptly changing environments, even those in ephemeral water bodie

Factors determining the average body size of geographically separated Arctodiaptomus salinus (Daday, 1885) populations

Arctodiaptomus salinus inhabits water bodies across Eurasia and North Africa. Based on our own data and that from the literature, we analyzed the influences of several factors on the intra- and inter-population variability of this species. A strong negative linear correlation between temperature and average body size in the Crimean and African populations was found, in which the parameters might be influenced by salinity. Meanwhile, a significant negative correlation between female body size and the altitude of habitats was found by comparing body size in populations from different regions. Individuals from environments with highly varying abiotic parameters, e.g. temporary reservoirs, had a larger body size than individuals from permanent water bodies. The changes in average body mass in populations were at 11.4 times, whereas, those in individual metabolic activities were at 6.2 times. Moreover, two size groups of A. salinus in the Crimean and the Siberian lakes were observed. The ratio of female length to male length fluctuated between 1.02 and 1.30. The average size of A. salinus in populations and its variations were determined by both genetic and environmental factors. However, the parities of these factors were unequal in either spatial or temporal scales

Размерный полиморфизм и флуктуирующая асимметрия в крымских популяциях Artemia (Branchiopoda: Anostraca)

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of animals as a measure of ontogenetic stability is widely used in environmental bioindication. Environmental stress leads to increased levels of FA within populations. Artemia (Anostraca) is among the most primitive and ancient groups of crustaceans, inhabiting hypersaline waters worldwide. Despite of this there are only few studies on FA in Artemia populations, showing opposite results. To assess FA we used length of the first antenna and number of furcal setae on left and right sides. In 2004–2013 the samples were collected from 10 hypersaline lakes in Crimea. Two size groups presented in the studied lakes; diploids constitute a small size group, and polyploids – a larger one. Average length in both groups significantly correlated with salinity. No one directed influence of salinity on FA was found. Manifestation of FA was different in small and large size groups. Changes in salinity can explain not more than 40–55 % of FA variability for studied traits. Parthenogenetic populations of Artemia in Crimean lakes have differences in FA manifestation, which may be explained by differences in water salinity, genetic architecture, and selective pressure against individuals with highest FA. We cannot explain the observed FA differences in studied Artemia populationsФлуктуирующая асимметрия (ФА) животных широко используется в экологической биоиндикации в качестве показателя онтогенетической стабильности. Экологический стресс приводит к повышению уровня ФА в пределах популяций. Представители рода Artemia (Anostraca) являются одними из самых примитивных и древних групп ракообразных, населяющих гиперсоленые водоемы во всем мире. Несмотря на это, существует лишь несколько исследований ФА в популяциях Artemia, которые показали противоположные результаты. Для оценки ФА мы использовали длину первой антенны и количество фуркальных щетинок на левой и правой сторонах. Пробы были собраны в 10 гиперсоленых озерах Крыма в 2004-2013 гг. В исследованных озерах найдены две размерные группы: диплоидные особи представляют собой малоразмерную группу и полиплоидные – большеразмерную. Средняя длина в обеих группах достоверно коррелирует с соленостью. Влияния солености на ФА обнаружено не было. Проявление ФА отличается в малоразмерной и большеразмерной группах. Изменением солености можно объяснить не более 40-55 % изменчивости ФА исследуемых признаков. Партеногенетические популяции Artemia в крымских озерах имеют различия в проявлении ФА, что можно объяснить различиями в солености воды, генетической структуре и селективного давления в отношении экземпляров с самой высокой Ф

Morphometric variability of Arctodiaptomus salinus (Copepoda) in the Mediterranean-Black Sea region

Inter-species variability in morphological traits creates a need to know the range of variability of characteristics in the species for taxonomic and ecological tasks. Copepoda Arctodiaptomus salinus, which inhabits water bodies across Eurasia and North Africa, plays a dominant role in plankton of different water bodies-from fresh to hypersaline. This work assesses the intra- and inter-population morphometric variability of A. salinus in the Mediterranean-Black Sea region and discusses some observed regularities. The variability of linear body parameters and proportions was studied. The impacts of salinity, temperature, and population density on morphological characteristics and their variability can manifest themselves in different ways at the intra- and inter-population levels. A significant effect of salinity, pH and temperature on the body proportions was not found. Their intra-population variability is dependent on temperature and salinity. Sexual dimorphism of A. salinus manifests in different linear parameters, proportions, and their variability. There were no effects of temperature, pH and salinity on the female/male parameter ratio. There were significant differences in the body proportions of males and females in different populations. The influence of temperature, salinity, and population density can be attributed to 80%-90% of intra-population variability of A. salinus. However, these factors can explain less than 40% of inter-population differences. Significant differences in the body proportions of males and females from different populations may suggest that some local populations of A. salinus in the Mediterranean-Black Sea region are in the initial stages of differentiation

Фаунистическое разнообразие в гиперсоленых водоемах Крыма

On the Crimean peninsula, there are more than 50 hypersaline water bodies, including the Sivash (the Sea of Azov), the largest hypersaline lagoon in the world. Based on the literature and our own long-term research data (2000–2017), a review of the fauna of the hypersaline waters in the Crimea is presented, including 298 species of animals belonging to 8 phyla, 14 classes and 27 orders. The variety of phyla and classes within a particular range of salinity was shown to decrease significantly with an increase in salinity; 8 classes in 3 phyla can withstand salinities above 100 g/L, and only 4 classes (Branchiopoda, Hexanauplia, Ostracoda and Insecta) within 1 phylum (Arthropoda) occur at salinities above 200 g/L. The number of species found in a single sample also decreased with increasing salinity. However, in the range of 50–120 g/L, the number of species was mainly determined by a different set of factors. The abundance of animals in the hypersaline waters of the Crimea can be very high: e.g., Nematoda – up to 1.4∙107 ind./m2, Harpacticoida – up to 3.5∙106 ind./m2, Ostracoda – up to 5.8∙105 ind./m2, and Moina salina – up to 1.3∙106 ind./m3. A characteristic feature of hypersaline water ecosystems is the fact that increases in salinity cause increasing amounts of benthic animals (Chironomidae, Harpacticoida, Ostracoda) to change their habitats from the bottom to the water column. At salinities above 120–150 g/L, there is almost no animal life at the bottom. Most of the species found in shallow hypersaline waters have a resting stage in their life cycle, which ensures their survival in abruptly changing environments, even those in ephemeral water bodiesНа Крымском полуострове расположено более 50 гиперсоленых водоемов, включая залив Азовского моря Сиваш, крупнейшую гиперсоленую лагуну мира. С использованием литературных и собственных многолетних данных (2000–2017 гг.) нами дан обзор фауны гиперсоленых водоемов Крыма. Найдены представители 8 типов, 14 классов и 27 отрядов животных. Разнообразие типов и классов, существующих в определенном диапазоне солености, существенно уменьшается при росте солености: выше 100 г/л остаются представители 3 типов и 8 классов, выше 200 г/л – 1 типа (Arthropoda) и 4 классов (Branchiopoda, Hexanauplia, Ostracoda и Insecta). Общее количество видов, найденных в одной пробе, также убывает с ростом солености. В диапазоне 50–120 г/л не соленость, а другие факторы в большей степени определяют количество видов. Численность животных в гиперсоленых водоемах Крыма иногда достигает очень больших величин, например, Nematoda – до 1.4·107 экз/м2, Harpacticoida – до 3.5·106 экз/м2, Ostracoda – до 5.8·105 экз/м2, Moina salina – до 1.3∙106 экз/м3. Особенностью экосистем гиперсоленых водоемов является то, что с увеличением солености все большая часть донных животных (Chironomidae, Harpacticoida, Ostracoda) переходит к жизни в водной толще. При солености выше 120–150 г/л на дне активных стадий животных практически не остается. Большинство видов, обитающих в гиперсоленых мелководных водоемах Крыма, имеют покоящиеся стадии, что обеспечивает их существование в озерах с резко флуктуирующей средой, нередко пересыхающи

Размерный полиморфизм и флуктуирующая асимметрия в крымских популяциях Artemia (Branchiopoda: Anostraca)

Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of animals as a measure of ontogenetic stability is widely used in environmental bioindication. Environmental stress leads to increased levels of FA within populations. Artemia (Anostraca) is among the most primitive and ancient groups of crustaceans, inhabiting hypersaline waters worldwide. Despite of this there are only few studies on FA in Artemia populations, showing opposite results. To assess FA we used length of the first antenna and number of furcal setae on left and right sides. In 2004–2013 the samples were collected from 10 hypersaline lakes in Crimea. Two size groups presented in the studied lakes; diploids constitute a small size group, and polyploids – a larger one. Average length in both groups significantly correlated with salinity. No one directed influence of salinity on FA was found. Manifestation of FA was different in small and large size groups. Changes in salinity can explain not more than 40–55 % of FA variability for studied traits. Parthenogenetic populations of Artemia in Crimean lakes have differences in FA manifestation, which may be explained by differences in water salinity, genetic architecture, and selective pressure against individuals with highest FA. We cannot explain the observed FA differences in studied Artemia populationsФлуктуирующая асимметрия (ФА) животных широко используется в экологической биоиндикации в качестве показателя онтогенетической стабильности. Экологический стресс приводит к повышению уровня ФА в пределах популяций. Представители рода Artemia (Anostraca) являются одними из самых примитивных и древних групп ракообразных, населяющих гиперсоленые водоемы во всем мире. Несмотря на это, существует лишь несколько исследований ФА в популяциях Artemia, которые показали противоположные результаты. Для оценки ФА мы использовали длину первой антенны и количество фуркальных щетинок на левой и правой сторонах. Пробы были собраны в 10 гиперсоленых озерах Крыма в 2004-2013 гг. В исследованных озерах найдены две размерные группы: диплоидные особи представляют собой малоразмерную группу и полиплоидные – большеразмерную. Средняя длина в обеих группах достоверно коррелирует с соленостью. Влияния солености на ФА обнаружено не было. Проявление ФА отличается в малоразмерной и большеразмерной группах. Изменением солености можно объяснить не более 40-55 % изменчивости ФА исследуемых признаков. Партеногенетические популяции Artemia в крымских озерах имеют различия в проявлении ФА, что можно объяснить различиями в солености воды, генетической структуре и селективного давления в отношении экземпляров с самой высокой Ф

The role of salinity as an environmental filtering factor in the determination of the Diptera taxonomic composition in the Crimean waters

Salinity is one of the most important factors in aquatic ecosystems, but its filtering role in the Diptera community species composition is still poorly studied. This issue was studied in the diverse Crimean water bodies. A total of 425 samples were collected from freshwater to hypersaline waters. In 73% of the 425 samples examined, representatives of Diptera were found; their larvae and pupae belonged to seven families. Сhironomid species composition was analyzed in 47 samples. The most common were Chironomidae, which were in 94% of samples with Diptera, Ceratopoganidae were in 8% of samples, Ephydridae were in 5% of samples, Simuliidae were in 4% of samples, Culicidae and Chaoboridae were in 4% of samples, and Syrphidae was in only one sample. A total of 14 Chironomidae genera and 21 species and forms were found; 9 of them are new for Crimea. Reduction of the dominance variants in the community, as well as the number of chironomid species, with increasing salinity may indicate an increase in the filtering role of salinity in the Diptera community species composition that is still poorly studied