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16 pages, 3523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecological Mapping in Assessing the Impact of Environmental Factors on the Aquatic Ecosystem of the Arys River Basin, South Kazakhstan

by Elena G. Krupa, Sophia S. Barinova and Sophia M. Romanova

Diversity 2019, 11(12), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/d11120239 - 12 Dec 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3874

Abstract

Assessment of the water quality of the Arys River basin based on the spatial distribution of richness of phytoperiphyton communities and abiotic variables was given for the first time. Altogether, 82 species were revealed in phytoperiphyton, including Bacillariophyta of 51, Cyanobacteria of 20, [...] Read more.

Assessment of the water quality of the Arys River basin based on the spatial distribution of richness of phytoperiphyton communities and abiotic variables was given for the first time. Altogether, 82 species were revealed in phytoperiphyton, including Bacillariophyta of 51, Cyanobacteria of 20, Chlorophyta of 7, and Charophyta of 4. Cluster analysis revealed the uniqueness of the composition of periphyton communities related to the abiotic conditions. The environmental preferences of the algae indicated fresh organic pollution in the lower reaches of the Arys River and weak or moderate levels of organic pollution in the rest of the basin. The ecological mapping of chemical data generally confirmed this conclusion. According to the maps, the highest water quality was revealed in the upper stream of the basin. The middle part of the river basin had the lowest water quality in terms of transparency, nitrite-nitrogen, and nitrate-nitrogen. The downstream of the Arys was characterized by a secondary deterioration in water quality according to the Aquatic Ecosystem State Index (WESI) index. We revealed the complicated interaction between natural and anthropogenic factors that caused changes in water quality in the Arys River basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Algal Diversity and Bio-Indication of Water Resources)

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19 pages, 8442 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bioindication of the Influence of Oil Production on Sphagnum Bogs in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug–Yugra, Russia

by Olga Skorobogatova, Elvira Yumagulova, Tatiana Storchak and Sophia Barinova

Diversity 2019, 11(11), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/d11110207 - 1 Nov 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2999

Abstract

Algal diversity in the bogs of the Ershov oil field of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug–Yugra (KMAO-Yugra) with the gradient of oil pollution between 255 and 16,893 mg kg⁻¹ has been studied with the help of bioindication methods and ecological mapping. Altogether 91 [...] Read more.

Algal diversity in the bogs of the Ershov oil field of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug–Yugra (KMAO-Yugra) with the gradient of oil pollution between 255 and 16,893 mg kg⁻¹ has been studied with the help of bioindication methods and ecological mapping. Altogether 91 species, varieties, and forms of algae and cyanobacteria from seven divisions have been revealed for the first time from seven studied sites on the bogs. Charophyta algae prevail followed by diatoms, cyanobacteria, and euglenoids. The species richness and abundance of algae were maximal at the control site, with charophytic algae prevailing. The species richness of diatoms decreased in the contaminated area, but cyanobacteria were tolerated in a pH which varied between 4.0 and 5.4. Euglenoid algae survived under the influence of oil and organic pollution. Bioindication revealed a salinity influence in the oil-contaminated sites. A comparative floristic analysis shows a similarity in communities at sites surrounding the contaminated area, the ecosystems of which have a long-term rehabilitation period. The percent of unique species was maximal in the control site. Bioindication results were implemented for the first time in assessing the oil-polluted bogs and can be recommended as a method to obtain scientific results visualization for decision-makers and for future pollution monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Algal Diversity and Bio-Indication of Water Resources)

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20 pages, 8808 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Algae Diversity and Ecology during a Summer Assessment of Water Quality in the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, USA

by Sophia Barinova and Thomas Smith

Diversity 2019, 11(11), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/d11110206 - 1 Nov 2019

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3322

Abstract

There were 88 species of algae and cyanobacteria observed from seven sites in the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park (Hodgenville, Kentucky, USA). This was the first algal investigation study in the park. There were 21 samples collected, during the summer, on 16 [...] Read more.

There were 88 species of algae and cyanobacteria observed from seven sites in the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park (Hodgenville, Kentucky, USA). This was the first algal investigation study in the park. There were 21 samples collected, during the summer, on 16 July 2008. Algal flora, dominated by diatoms was represented by 54 species identified (61.4% of the total), 20 species of cyanobacteria, 11 green and two charophyte algal species, and one red algal species (22.7%, 12.5%, 2.2%, and 1.1%, respectively). Benthic diatoms dominated the aquatic system with 14 species of Navicula and 12 species of Nitzschia identified, which was 15.7% and 13.5% of the total, respectively. Species tended to be site specific and 78.6% of the species were only found in two or less sites. The bioindicator methods for water quality assessment were based on species autoecology. This method was used for the first time in the USA during this study. This demonstrated that benthic and planktonic-benthic algae preferred temperate temperatures, middle-oxygenated mesotrophic waters, low-to-middle enriched by chlorides. The waters were well oxygenated, sometimes saturated by sulfides, low-alkaline, low-to-middle organic enriched, and of class 1–3 water quality with high self-purification capacity. This is very important for habitat protection and cannot be easily accomplished strictly through chemical analysis. The diversity of diatom algae not only plays a major role in the formation of algal communities and their uniqueness, but diatom algae can be a good indicator of environmental assessments and change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Algal Diversity and Bio-Indication of Water Resources)

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17 pages, 4625 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Aquatic Organisms Diversity, Community Structure, and Environmental Conditions

by Alexander Protasov, Sophia Barinova, Tatiana Novoselova and Anzhelika Sylaieva

Diversity 2019, 11(10), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/d11100190 - 8 Oct 2019

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5634

Abstract

Two main aspects of the study of diversity can be distinguished: the first is related to the inventory of living organisms, the second is related to the organization of life at the level of biotic communities. Quantitative assessment of diversity is two-components as [...] Read more.

Two main aspects of the study of diversity can be distinguished: the first is related to the inventory of living organisms, the second is related to the organization of life at the level of biotic communities. Quantitative assessment of diversity is two-components as the richness of elements and their evenness. A model of the ecosystem continuum is proposed. The greatest indicators of diversity should be expected in the middle part of the environmental gradients with temporal stability. Study of producers and consumers in water bodies of Ukraine showed a regular change in their community structure in the gradient of saprobity indices. The decreasing of community diversity estimated by the Shannon index and by species richness was found at both high and low values of the saprobity indices. The fundamental coincidence of the empirical point fields of the Shannon index for the communities of invertebrates and phytoplankton with the field points of the empirical model indicates the universality of the bimodal distribution of diversity indicators in the trophic gradient. It is shown that the estimates by zoobenthos overestimate organic pollution compared with the calculations of the same indicators by phytoplankton. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Algal Diversity and Bio-Indication of Water Resources)

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13 pages, 12885 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biotic and Abiotic Factors Affecting the Population Dynamics of Ceratium hirundinella, Peridinium cinctum, and Peridiniopsis elpatiewskyi

by Behrouz Zarei Darki and Alexandr F. Krakhmalnyi

Diversity 2019, 11(8), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/d11080137 - 15 Aug 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 8034

Abstract

The present research was conducted to assess the impact of abiotic and biotic factors on the growth of freshwater dinoflagellates such as Ceratium hirundinella, Peridinium cinctum, and Peridiniopsis elpatiewskyi, which reduce the quality of drinking water in the Zayandeh Rud [...] Read more.

The present research was conducted to assess the impact of abiotic and biotic factors on the growth of freshwater dinoflagellates such as Ceratium hirundinella, Peridinium cinctum, and Peridiniopsis elpatiewskyi, which reduce the quality of drinking water in the Zayandeh Rud Reservoir. To this end, 152 algal and zoological samples were collected from the reservoir located in the Central part of Iran in January, April, July, and October 2011. Abiotic factors such as pH, temperature, conductivity, transparency, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient concentration of the water were measured in all study stations. The results showed that the population dynamics of dinoflagellates in the Zayandeh Rud Reservoir was different depending on season, station, and depth. The findings proved that C. hirundinella was one of the dominant autumn planktons in the highest biovolume in the Zayandeh Rud Reservoir. While P. elpatiewskyi was present in the reservoir throughout a year with biovolume peak in summer. Accompanying bloom of P. elpatiewskyi and C. hirundinella, P. cinctum also grew in well-heated summer and autumn waters. It was further found that Ceratium density was positively correlated with sulfate ion concentrations, while the growth of P. cinctum and P. elpatiewskyi were associated, first and foremost, with NO₂⁻ and Mn. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Algal Diversity and Bio-Indication of Water Resources)

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16 pages, 2590 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Changes in the Structure of Zooplankton Communities to Infer Water Quality of the Caspian Sea

by Elena Krupa

Diversity 2019, 11(8), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/d11080122 - 26 Jul 2019

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5237

Abstract

The work aimed to study the structural variables of zooplankton to assess the water quality of the Caspian Sea. Studies of zooplankton were conducted in the spring and summer of 2008 and 2010. Abundance, biomass, an average individual mass of a specimen, Shannon [...] Read more.

The work aimed to study the structural variables of zooplankton to assess the water quality of the Caspian Sea. Studies of zooplankton were conducted in the spring and summer of 2008 and 2010. Abundance, biomass, an average individual mass of a specimen, Shannon Bi, Shannon Ab, Δ-Shannon indices, and Clarke’s W-statistic were calculated for zooplankton. Quantitative variables of zooplankton were the highest in the Northeastern and Northern Caspian, decreasing towards the Middle Caspian. In the Northeastern and Northern Caspian from spring to summer, the number of zooplankton, and the values of Shannon Bi and Shannon Ab indices decreased; the values of Δ-Shannon and Clarke’s W-statistic increased. In the Middle Caspian, the biomass of the community increased; the values of Δ-Shannon and Clarke’s W-statistic decreased. From spring to summer, the value of an average individual mass of a specimen decreased over the entire surveyed area. The jellyfish Blackfordia virginica and Moerisia pallasi significantly influenced the size structure of the holoplankton. Seasonal dynamics of structural variables of zooplankton as well as changes in water transparency showed that water quality improved from spring to summer in the shallow northern and northeastern areas of the sea, and decreased in the deep-water Middle Caspian. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Algal Diversity and Bio-Indication of Water Resources)

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12 pages, 5750 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Species Diversity of Epilithon Diatoms and the Quality of the Waters of the Donuzlav Gulf Ecosystem (Crimea, the Black Sea)

by Larisa I. Ryabushko, Denis N. Lishaev and Nelya P. Kovrigina

Diversity 2019, 11(7), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/d11070114 - 18 Jul 2019

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3339

Abstract

In this work, the species diversity of epilithon diatoms of Donuzlav Gulf (Crimean coastal waters of the Black Sea) is presented for the first time. A total of 60 taxa of Bacillariophyta belonging to 3 classes, 18 families and 34 genera were found. [...] Read more.

In this work, the species diversity of epilithon diatoms of Donuzlav Gulf (Crimean coastal waters of the Black Sea) is presented for the first time. A total of 60 taxa of Bacillariophyta belonging to 3 classes, 18 families and 34 genera were found. The largest number of species (45) of diatoms was observed in summer, and the smallest number of species (12) in winter. A total of 25 saprobity indicator species of diatoms was found on the epilithon, 12 taxa of which belong to a group of betamesosaprobionts—indicators of moderate organic pollution of water. Marine species comprise 55% and brackish-marine ones make up 37% of them, but no freshwater species were identified. The diatom community was dominated by cosmopolites (32%) and arctic–boreal–tropical species (27%). The maximal abundance (186.2 × 10³ cells cm⁻²) and biomass (0.083 mg cm⁻²) of diatoms was noted in June 2018 at salinity 16.58‰ and T = 24.4 °C with the dominant cosmopolites species of Licmophora abbreviata and Cocconeis scutellum. The minimum values, 14.8 × 10³ cells cm⁻² and 0.005 mg cm⁻², were observed in January 2019 at salinity 16.86‰ and T = 9.0 °C with the dominant Berkeleya rutilans and Nitzschia hybrida f. hyalina. The high values of BOD₅, oxidizability, silicon, N_org and P_org were noted, indicating a certain degree of water pollution by domestic sewage. It has been shown that the pollution in the southwestern part of the Donuzlav Gulf is greatest since this part of the coast was populated most densely in comparison with the northern coast of the Gulf where there are no coastal settlements except for two mariculture farms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Algal Diversity and Bio-Indication of Water Resources)

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Review

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18 pages, 2983 KiB

Open AccessReview

Neural Network Recognition of Marine Benthos and Corals

by Alina Raphael, Zvy Dubinsky, David Iluz and Nathan S. Netanyahu

Diversity 2020, 12(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12010029 - 13 Jan 2020

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 8035

Abstract

We present thorough this review the developments in the field, point out their current limitations, and outline its timelines and unique potential. In order to do so we introduce the methods used in each of the advances in the application of deep learning [...] Read more.

We present thorough this review the developments in the field, point out their current limitations, and outline its timelines and unique potential. In order to do so we introduce the methods used in each of the advances in the application of deep learning (DL) to coral research that took place between the years: 2016–2018. DL has unique capability of streamlining the description, analysis, and monitoring of coral reefs, saving time, and obtaining higher reliability and accuracy compared with error-prone human performance. Coral reefs are the most diverse and complex of marine ecosystems, undergoing a severe decline worldwide resulting from the adverse synergistic influences of global climate change, ocean acidification, and seawater warming, exacerbated by anthropogenic eutrophication and pollution. DL is an extension of some of the concepts originating from machine learning that join several multilayered neural networks. Machine learning refers to algorithms that automatically detect patterns in data. In the case of corals these data are underwater photographic images. Based on “learned” patterns, such programs can recognize new images. The novelty of DL is in the use of state-of-art computerized image analyses technologies, and its fully automated methodology of dealing with large data sets of images. Automated Image recognition refers to technologies that identify and detect objects or attributes in a digital video or image automatically. Image recognition classifies data into selected categories out of many. We show that Neural Network methods are already reliable in distinguishing corals from other benthos and non-coral organisms. Automated recognition of live coral cover is a powerful indicator of reef response to slow and transient changes in the environment. Improving automated recognition of coral species, DL methods already recognize decline of coral diversity due to natural and anthropogenic stressors. Diversity indicators can document the effectiveness of reef bioremediation initiatives. We explored the current applications of deep learning for corals and benthic image classification by discussing the most recent studies conducted by researchers. We review the developments in the field, point out their current limitations, and outline their timelines and unique potential. We also discussed a few future research directions in the fields of deep learning. Future needs are the age detection of single species, in order to track trends in their population recruitment, decline, and recovery. Fine resolution, at the polyp level, is still to be developed, in order to allow separation of species with similar macroscopic features. That refinement of DL will allow such comparisons and their analyses. We conclude that the usefulness of future, more refined automatic identification will allow reef comparison, and tracking long term changes in species diversity. The hitherto unused addition of intraspecific coral color parameters, will add the inclusion of physiological coral responses to environmental conditions and change thereof. The core aim of this review was to underscore the strength and reliability of the DL approach for documenting coral reef features based on an evaluation of the currently available published uses of this method. We expect that this review will encourage researchers from computer vision and marine societies to collaborate on similar long-term joint ventures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Algal Diversity and Bio-Indication of Water Resources)

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