Volume 43 (2014): Edizione 1 (March 2014)

The Eurasian otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) is a typical representative of carnivorous mammals from the family of mustelids (Mustelidae) which are closely connected with aquatic ecosystems. Parasitofauna of the otter is poorly identified, e.g. only two specimens have been examined in Poland for the presence of parasites. Currently, three species of parasites were found in one otter: the nematode Oswaldocruzia filiformis (Goeze, 1782), the acanthocephalan Acanthocephalus ranae (Schrank, 1788) and the skin mite from the Demodecidae family. Demodex sp. is a new species to science, while O. filiformis and Demodex sp. are new parasites for the otter throughout the species range. Furthermore, A. ranae was found for the first time in the otter from the area of Poland. The recorded helminths are typical parasites of amphibians and reptiles, and their occurrence in the Eurasian otter may result from postcyclic transmission from primary hosts.

The shallow, gently sloping, sandy-silty seabed of the Venetian coast (Italy) is studded by a number of outcropping rocky systems of different size encouraging the development of peculiar zoobenthic biocenoses with considerably higher biodiversity indexes compared to neighbouring areas. In order to protect and enhance the growth of settling communities, artificial monolithic reefs were deployed close to the most important formations, providing further nesting sites and mechanical hindrance to illegal trawl fishing.

In this framework, a multi-step and multi-scale numerical modelling activity was carried out to predict the perturbations induced by the presence of artificial structures on sediment transport over the outcroppings and their implications on turbidity and water quality. After having characterized wave and current circulation climate at the sub-basin scale over a reference year, a set of small scale simulations was carried out to describe the effects of a single monolith under different geometries and hydrodynamic forcings, encompassing the conditions likely occurring at the study sites. A dedicated tool was then developed to compose the information contained in the small-scale database into realistic deployment configurations, and applied in four protected outcroppings identified as test sites. With reference to these cases, under current meteomarine climate the application highlighted a small and localised increase in suspended sediment concentration, suggesting that the implemented deployment strategy is not likely to produce harmful effects on turbidity close to the outcroppings.

In a broader context, the activity is oriented at the tuning of a flexible instrument for supporting the decision-making process in benthic environments of outstanding environmental relevance, especially in the Integrated Coastal Zone Management or Maritime Spatial Planning applications. The dissemination of sub-basin scale modelling results via the THREDDS Data Server, together with an user-friendly software for composing single-monolith runs and a graphical interface for exploring the available data, significantly improves the quantitative information collection and sharing among scientists, stakeholders and policy-makers.

The round goby was noted for the first time in the Gulf of Gdańsk in 1990. After a few years, the round goby had invaded all suitable areas in the west part of the Gulf of Gdańsk. Generally, the sandy bottom was the factor that do not prevent the fish invasion. The effectiveness of reproduction is one of the most important factors in deciding the success of an introduction into a new area. The round goby needs a hard bottom for egg laying and subsequent embryo development in nests guarded by males. We observed the round goby nests in the Gulf of Gdańsk during three subsequent years. Distances between nests, nest size, number of eggs per nest, and depth of nest locations were investigated by underwater survey, from May till September, throughout the round goby spawning season. Our investigation led us to confirm that any solid elements on the bottom may be utilized as nest substrate when nesting areas are limited. Distances between nests decrease noticeably in comparison with native round goby areas. Taking into account these findings, we conclude that shallow water areas, of almost any type of bottom, might be invaded by the round goby.

Effects of different types of wave events on Cymodocea nodosa seagrass meadows were observed and investigated by quantitative and qualitative evaluation of material washed ashore a few days after the events. The studied seagrass meadows are located on the south coast of the island of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands — Spain) and they are protected from frequent swells arriving from the North Atlantic. However, sporadic phenomena associated with winter storms occasionally hit this coastline, causing the loss of entire plants (fresh leaves with rhizomes and roots attached). An unusual type of southern swells generated in the South Atlantic also reaches the Islands in spring and summer. A clear relation was observed between the wave events (southern swells and storm waves) and the material cast ashore over the following days, with differences in composition (fresh vs. decaying leaves) depending on the type of event. After southern swells, detached portions of C. nodosa consisted mostly of decaying leaves shed after senescence. These old swells cause frictional drag with moderate oscillations over a wider range at greater depths, removing only decaying leaves from the seagrass meadows and favoring the natural clean-up process.

Antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus-like organisms (STLO) isolated from a recreational sea beach located on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea was studied. The results of the present study showed that STLO inhabiting sand and seawater of the beach strongly differed in the resistance level to tested antibiotics. These microorganisms were most resistant to ampicillin, penicillin, oxytetracycline and susceptible to gentamicin, neomycin and streptomycin. Moreover, the level of antibiotic resistance among bacteria isolated from different parts of the beach also differed. Bacteria inhabiting the seawater, shoreline and the middle part of the beach were more antibiotic-resistant than bacteria isolated from the dune. The majority of bacteria inhabiting the seawater and sand were resistant to 3–8 antibiotics out of 12 tested in this study. Generally, there was no difference in antibiotic resistance between Staphylococcus-like organisms isolated from the surface and subsurface sand layers. STLO strains isolated from Ustka Beach were most resistant to β-lactam and tetracycline antibiotics, and most susceptible to aminoglycosides.

Psammon communities are still poorly studied worldwide. The aim of the present study was to establish the structure of psammic rotifer communities including their diversity and quantitative parameters. A total of 41 rotifer taxa were found in hydro-, hygro-, and euarenal zones of eutrophic Lake Võrtsjärv and mesotrophic Lake Saadjärv during the study carried out in Estonia in 2008, including 11 rotifer species new to Estonia. In L. Võrtsjärv, the predominant rotifer taxa were Bdelloidea and Lecane psammophila. L. psammophila dominated in July and August and bdelloids prevailed in the rest of the year. In L. Saadjärv, the most abundant taxa were Lepadella ovalis, Keratella hiemalis, and Cephalodella megalocephala. The psammic rotifer community of L. Saadjärv proved to be more diverse than that of L. Võrtsjärv. Microphagous rotifers were dominant in L. Võrtsjärv. Raptorial feeders dominated in L. Saadjärv in summer and autumn and were more abundant at sites with coarser sand and low plant density.

The paper presents results of a research study into levels of selected surface water components in Siedlce, Poland. Water was sampled in the Muchawka Reservoir and the Muchawka River in March, July and November 2012. Two techniques were applied in the study: isotachophoresis and atomic absorption spectrometry. The analysis results of water sampled in the Muchawka Reservoir indicate that they are borderline compliant with standards for the Class 1 surface waters. On the other hand, the Muchawka River samples were found to be out of any quality class.

The water-filled tree hole fauna of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Slovakia is documented for the first time. Three Culicoides Latreille and two Dasyhelea Kieffer species were reared from these habitats. Epidemiological significance of C. obsoletus (Meigen, 1818) is briefly discussed.

The study aimed at determining the influence of hydromorphological modifications of the littoral zone in lakes on the occurrence and quantitative diversity of macrophytes. The field research was carried out at the peak of the growing season (June – September) between 2006 and 2009. Altogether, 457 transects were studied, located in 5 lakes. Studies on the hydromorphology were performed with the method of Lake Habitat Survey (LHS), and on macrophytes — with the method of transects. The studied sites were divided into 3 groups of different intensity of morphological transformations. The identified groups constituted the starting point for the analysis of influence exerted by transformations on macrophytes. The obtained results indicate that hydromorphological modifications of lakes are an important ecological factor affecting the occurrence and quantitative diversity of macrophytes. The transformations recorded in the studied reservoirs resulted mostly from recreational exploitation. They were responsible for mechanical elimination of dominant species, which led to an increased number of taxa, synanthropization and an average level of hemeroby as well as a decrease in the total vegetation cover. Helophytes were the most negatively affected group by the transformations, which reduce their contribution in the vegetation cover, whereas macroscopic filamentous algae and elodeids were positively affected.

In the studies conducted in 2007–2012 in south-eastern Poland, 56 diatom taxa were found from the Pinnularia genus. Pinnularia brebissonii (Kützing) Rabenhorst, P. obscura Krasske, P. viridiformis Krammer, P. lundii Hustedt, and P. viridis (Nitzsch) Ehrenberg occurred at most of the investigated sites. Eighteen taxa were considered as new to Polish flora. Some taxa are very rare in Poland and Europe and are found in only a few localities. Eight taxa are listed on the Polish Red List of Algae, including six taxa classified as endangered (E): P. nobilis (Ehrenberg) Ehrenberg, P. nodosa (Ehrenberg) W. Smith, P. subrupestris Hantzsch, P. schoenfelderii Krammer, P. subgibba Krammer and P. viridiformis Krammer.

Only 14 species of aquatic oligochaetes occurring in inland waters of Iran have been recorded until now. Our investigations based on samples collected in 2003 and 2005 revealed the presence of six species, including five new to the fauna of Iran: Haplotaxis gordioides, Dero dorsalis, Pristina breviseta, Embolocephalus velutinus and Psammoryctides albicola. The provided checklist of Iranian aquatic oligochaetes is still very short (19 species). It is mostly represented by common, cosmopolitan species. However, taking into account the large area of the country, its mountainous terrain and peculiar hydrological network, more species may be discovered in the future.

This is a first account on amphipods from Marian Cove in Maxwell Bay, near the King Sejong Station, King George Island, the Antarctic. We have conducted a survey in 14 localities in the shallow sublittoral zone. A total of 22 amphipod species belonging to 12 families were identified. Six of these species were new for the whole Maxwell Bay. Our findings increase the amphipod fauna of Maxwell Bay from 55 to 61 species. The dominant species in the shallow sublittoral zone of Marian Cove were: Cheirimedon femoratus and Gondogeneia antarctica, followed by Bovallia gigantea, Orchomenella cf. ultima, Paradexamine fissicauda, Prostebbingia brevicornis, Pariphimedia integricauda, and Jassa wandeli.