Volume 47 (2018): Issue 4 (December 2018)

We have examined enterococci concentrations in water and sand (dry and wet) at three semi-arid subtropical recreational beaches to assess public health risks. To determine the concentration of enterococci, water and sand samples were collected before, during and after the Easter Week (when the largest influx of users occurs), and in the wintertime. The lowest concentrations (< 100 MPN 100 ml^-1) were recorded before the Easter Week, the highest concentrations (> 1500 MPN 100 ml^-1) during and after the Easter Week, and concentrations < 500 MPN 100 ml^-1 in the wintertime. Enterococci concentrations in sand were generally < 200 MPN 100 ml^-1. Variability in enterococci concentrations can be explained by the influx of users during the Easter Week, rainfall runoff and the increase in water temperature after the Easter Week, as well as by winds and the presence of dogs and birds in the wintertime. The highest health risks occur during and after the Easter Week.

The objective of this study was to investigate decapod species occurring in the Turkish Straits System. For this purpose, benthic samples were collected from six different biotopes (photophilic algae, Cystoseira barbata, meadows, Posidonia oceanica, mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, meadows, Zostera marina, serpulid reef, and rocks) at depths ranging from 10 to 1000 m. A total of 60 species of decapod crustaceans were identified, including new records for the Turkish Straits System: Processa elegantula, P. modica, Richardina fredericii, Callianassa subterranea, Gourretia denticulata, Inachus parvirostris and Macropodia linaresi. In addition, some information about the spatial and bathymetric distribution as well as biotope preferences of the decapod community is provided.

The purpose of the study was to determine quantitative and qualitative changes in the waters of Lake Jamno in northern Poland due to the presence of new hydrotechnical structures in its drainage basin, with a special focus on the effects of a new storm barrier. The study consisted primarily of a review of measurement data, historical records and fieldwork prior to the construction (2002–2008) and following the construction of the storm barrier (2015). Fieldwork included hydrographic surveys and water sampling for laboratory analysis. The main and most easily discernible effect of the construction is the change in water quality in Lake Jamno. This is particularly true in the case of key indicators related to seawater, including conductivity, whose values changed from brackish to fresh water.

Spatial variability in the population density of meiofauna and the assemblage of free-living marine nematodes was studied at 20 mangrove sites located along the Saudi Arabian coast of the Red Sea. The total abundance of meiofauna varied between the locations and ranged from 119 to 1380 ind. 10 cm⁻². A total of seven main taxa were recorded. Nematodes dominated (64.3%) in all sediment samples. They were followed by harpacticoid copepods (13.2%) and polychaetes (12.9%) with significant differences in their density between the locations surveyed (p < 0.001). The Pearson correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations between the sand fraction and nematodes, harpacticoid copepods and turbellarians. Twenty-five genera of free-living nematodes belonging to 15 families were recorded in the study area. Microlaimidae were the most abundant family, while Xyalidae, Desomodridae and Chromidoridae were the most diverse families. Microlaimus, Halalaimus and Terschellingia were the most frequent genera. ANOSIM values obtained for the distribution of different nematode genera in various habitats showed no significant differences. Feeding types of different nematode genera were also documented and the epistrate feeders along with the deposit feeders were found to be the common feeding types in the present study.

Parasitism of monkey goby, Neogobius fliviatilis, was assessed at three brackish water localities with different salinity levels (Gulf of Odessa, Khadzibey Estuary, Lake Kytay) and one freshwater site along the Lower Danube River (Vidin). A total of 25 parasite taxa were identified, with minimum parasite richness recorded in the Khadzhibey Estuary (three species) and the maximum along the Lower Danube (11 species). Parasite richness in the mesohaline Gulf of Odessa and oligohaline Lake Kytay was lower, but still relatively high compared to the Khadzibey Estuary. Our study indicates that freshwater populations of monkey goby host richer and more abundant parasite communities than those inhabiting brackish waters with (more or less) stable salinity. Unstable abiotic conditions that probably affected the parasite’s intermediate hosts contributed to the reduction in parasite species in the estuarine zone of the Danube.

The paper presents sedimentary records acquired as part of the research on the coastal cliff located between 221.3 and 221.4 km of the Slovincian (Słowinskie) Coast near Debina. Palynological and subfossil Cladocera analysis of sediments combined with geochemical data proves the existence of varying environmental conditions that occurred depending on the climate fluctuation. The Debina reservoir was formed in the Late Glacial period. Mud and gyttja were deposited in an initially cold proglacial lake. Species of Cladocera identified in this period indicate a deeper oligotrophic reservoir. The end of the Late Glacial cooling inhibited the development of fauna in the reservoir. Climate change at the beginning of the Holocene improved the habitat conditions in the Debina paleolake, which is reflected in the growth of zooplankton biodiversity and enrichment of the aquatic pollen content. We distinguished three phases that illustrate the evolution of the studied aquatic-mire ecosystem. In the following periods, the trophic level in the reservoir increased and significant water-level fluctuations led to periodic transformations of reservoirs into peat bogs. Gradually, the water-level lowering and the intensification of eolian processes led to terrestrialization of the paleolake.

Parasitic arthropods of marine mammals are relatively poorly understood, with the least amount of data on the occurrence of parasitic arthropods in these hosts. Thus far, only seal lice Echinophthirius horridus (von Olfers, 1816) have been found in the Baltic seals, while there was no information about the presence of parasitic mites in these mammals. The nasopharyngeal mite Halarachne halichoeri (Allman, 1847) has recently been found in the gray seal Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius, 1791), representing a new species (and new genus) for the Polish fauna. Sixty three specimens were found in the nasal cavity and the trachea, including 18 females and 45 males. This is also the first documented record of Halarachnidae in seals of the Baltic Sea. A checklist of parasitic Halarachnidae known from marine mammals is also provided.

This paper is an attempt to answer the question whether common reed specimens growing in a particular habitat are genetically related. We have tried to identify groups of plants homogeneous in terms of habitat requirements and genetic similarity. Our objective was also to answer the question whether habitat conditions can affect the morphological characteristics of plants. Plants and bottom sediments were collected from 40 sites in central Poland, which differ in soil moisture and the degree of urbanization. Our research and analysis confirm the hypothesis to a certain extent. During the study, we identified three groups of plants homogeneous in terms of habitat and genetic factors (CVA model), which constitute 20% of all examined plants. In our opinion, further research is required on a larger population of P. australis in a larger area. The research revealed that plants growing in moist and wet areas were characterized by higher content of chlorophyll in leaves, longer stems as well as thicker and wider laminae. The common reed plants preferred anthropogenic substrates, which did not contain many nutrients, but were abundant in calcium. Our study confirmed the high tolerance of P. australis to soil salinity.

The basic analysis of long-term wind characteristics and wind energy resources in the Barents Sea was carried out from 1996 to 2015 based on the ERA-Interim reanalysis dataset from ECMWF. In recent years, it has been possible to exploit the wind power resources in the Barents Sea at the hub height due to the sea ice cover retreat in the northeast direction. Based on the NSDIC monthly sea ice concentration data, the entire Barents Sea has been partitioned into the ice-free zone and the ice zone. Spatial and temporal distributions of the mean monthly and annual wind speed and wind power density are presented in both zones. Seven points were selected at different locations in the ice-free zone so as to obtain and study the wind roses, the interannual wind power variation and the annual average net electric energy output. For extreme wind speed parameters, the Pearson type III distribution provides better fitness of annual speed extrema and the Gumbel distribution performs well with higher speeds at longer return periods.

The distribution of bacterial and ciliate abundance, ciliate community composition and other parameters were studied during summer along a transect from the mouth of the Słupia River to offshore waters (southern Baltic Sea). Bacteria were examined under an epifluorescence microscope and ciliates were observed under an inverted microscope. Two water masses were identified along the transect. Less saline waters in the river mouth and in the surface layer in the port of Ustka were characterized by high bacterial abundance (5.51–6.16 × 10⁶ ml⁻¹) and low ciliate abundance (0.34–0.90 cells ml⁻¹). More saline waters in the near-bottom zone in the port of Ustka and in the surface layer outside the port contained smaller numbers of bacteria (0.99–2.14 × 10⁶ ml⁻¹) and larger numbers of ciliates (2.65–5.40 cells ml⁻¹). The differences were statistically significant. The separation of the two water masses indicated that the Słupia River exerted a minor impact on the marine waters. The ciliate community composition changed along the transect studied. The main statistically significant difference observed was the low contribution of oligotrichs and choreotrichs to ciliate biomass (3–4%) in less saline waters and their dominance (45–80% of ciliate biomass) in more saline waters.