Abstract In studies on coral–algal interactions, particular attention has been devoted to corals. Focusing on the macroalgal genus Lobophora (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae), common on coral reefs and extensively studied in coral–algal interactions, this review aims to summarize what is known and highlight the conditions necessary for Lobophora blooms, the contrasting effects on corals, and the taxonomic

Abstract Patterns of abundance and shell morphology of intertidal gastropods are typically thought to depend on environmental conditions, but ecosystem engineers such as canopy-forming seaweeds can also influence these traits. The intertidal seaweed Hormosira banksii (H. banksii) is an abundant species and important ecosystem engineer on rocky shores and estuaries in south-east Australia, where it

Abstract The storied Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri; YCT) population of Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA, has shown a profound and mostly continuous decline since the 1970s despite pristine habitat and vanishing angler harvests. An age-structured Leslie model that had a broad climate index as its only driver (regulating age-0 YCT survival) was Bayesian-fitted

Abstract This study investigates the morphological changes in cyanobacterial and microbial distribution characteristics of surface sediments, throughout different cyanobacterial blooms periods in Zhushan Bay, Taihu Lake. Comparative microscopic analysis of cyanobacterial morphology (n = 36) was performed during the formation period (W1), stationary period (W2), decline period (W3) and decomposition

Abstract Phytoplankton growth and degradation are associated with bacterial communities in phycosphere. We compared the bacterial communities in two algal blooms (Microcystis aeruginosa and Euglena sanguinea). In particular, large particle-associated, small particle-associated, and free-living bacteria were collected in succession using membranes with three different pore sizes (10 µm, 1 µm, and 0

Abstract While transfer of freshwater cyanobacteria to estuaries has been observed worldwide, the associated transfer of cyanotoxins is less often reported, in particular the sediment contribution. During fall 2018, we monitored the co-occurrence of cyanobacteria and microcystin (MC) in both the water column and in surface sediments at five stations along a river continuum, from a freshwater reservoir

Abstract The study and monitoring of communities within microbiomes is important as some organisms can synthesize toxic substances, such as cyanotoxins synthesized by cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria is a large portion of the periphyton biomass and is responsible for toxic blooms in aquatic environments. This makes urban environments an interesting environment for observing cyanobacteria diversity, due

Abstract Macroinvertebrate signature traits’ and ecological preferences’ distribution patterns and their responses to urban and agricultural pollution were explored in rivers-draining urban–agricultural catchments within the Niger Delta ecoregion of Nigeria. Physico-chemical variables (water temperature, electrical conductivity, depth, flow velocity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrates

Abstract Many biological sources of sound in tropical coastal shallow-water marine environments remain unidentified. Characterizing the soundscape of such environments requires that all sources of biological sound be examined for their distinct patterns and specific frequency ranges. The present study identified soniferous fish in the ecosystem and measured underwater ambient sound in terms of its

Abstract Most temporary pond zooplankton species produce drought-resistant eggs that accumulate in the sediment and form an egg bank. When a pond dries and the egg bank is exposed, wind erodes eggs and wind action has been suggested as an important determinant of population demographics. While field observations suggest that egg bank erosion may be highest shortly after pond drying and physical disturbance

Abstract Population structure studies play an increasingly integral role in conservation and management of marine mammal species. Genetic markers are commonly used; however, ecological markers (i.e. chemical compounds) are a fairly recent and useful tool to investigate ecological management units. The objective of this study is to investigate the population structure of the Atlantic spotted dolphin

Abstract Foraging is key for most animals, because their energy and matter income depend on food ingestion. However, animals may respond adaptively to perceived competitor and/or predator proximity by modifying their foraging rates. Increased foraging activity is expected to improve the chances of succeeding in competition. However, the benefits of increased foraging activity could be offset by the

Abstract Amphibian chytridiomycosis panzootic is ongoing and continuing to have extensive worldwide impact on amphibians. Severity of chytridiomycosis-associated amphibians declines is partly associated with species’ altitudinal ranges. Michoacán state in México harbors 54 amphibian species on a wide range of climates, including high-altitude areas (above 3000 masl), suitable for Bd growth, such as

Abstract During their ontogenetic development, many species of fishes undergo drastic changes which may be defined as true metamorphosis when they are induced by thyroid hormones. Sicyopterus lagocephalus is an amphidromous goby that has to change biome twice during its life cycle. The first biome shift occurs few hours after hatching in the river. The aim of the present study is to determine what

Abstract Biological invasions are a growing threat to global biodiversity due to negative impacts on native biota and ecosystem functioning. Research has expanded from investigating native and alien species interactions to examining relationships among alien species. Invasive crayfish may have similar life histories, niche preferences, and adaptation strategies, but their mutual interactions are little

Abstract Serious cyanobacterial blooms lead to the release of harmful microcystin-LR and ammonia to eutrophic waters, thereby posing serious challenges to zooplankton. The physiological and ecological responses of Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas to microcystin-LR and ammonia stresses were evaluated. Neonates (< 2 h old) were exposed to microcystin-LR (0, 10, 50, 100, and 200 µg L−1) and ammonia (0,

Abstract Fish diversity is generally high in drainage networks in perennial systems. On the other hand, little is known about the importance of drainage networks in semiarid regions. The scant attention given to rivers in semiarid regions so far may in part be explained by the high intermittency and low ramification of these drainage networks and their incorrect classification as systems of low diversity

Abstract Spatial and temporal complexities of reproductive behaviour and sex ratios of two harpacticoid species Canuella perplexa Scott T. & Scott A., 1893 and Bryocamptus sp. were evaluated monthly from September 2007 to August 2008. Collections were made from four ponds at different salinities in the solar saltern of Sfax, Tunisia, considering other environmental features as well. The salinities

Abstract The Classical Karst (sensu stricto) represents a complex hydro-geomorphological unit as well as one of the best-known karstic systems in the world. For this reason, it was selected as a model area both for applied research and for the conservation of its highly diverse subterranean fauna. With this paper, we aim to provide an overview of groundwater fauna in the phreatic zone of the Classical

Abstract Variation in biomass allocation patterns has been considered a strategy in clonal plants to adapt to various environments. It has been predicted that clonal plants allocate more biomass to spacers (i.e., stolon and rhizomes) at moderate resource levels. We tested the prediction in an aquatic clonal plant Salvinia natans by subjecting it to nine nutrient levels under either a low or a high

Abstract Predators shape the phenotype of prey by means of local adaptation, within-generation plasticity, and transgenerational plasticity. Theory predicts that the influence of these three mechanisms on phenotype is determined by the number of generations exposed to the predator and the autocorrelation between parent and offspring predator environments. To test theoretical predictions about the relative

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose substantial health risks to seafood consumers, drinking water supplies, and recreationalists with apparent increases associated with anthropogenic eutrophication of freshwaters and coastal areas. Attempts to intervene in these blooms can be met with reticence by citizens, non-governmental organizations, and officials, often due to local perceptions and beliefs. Hence

Acute exposure to iron can be lethal to fish, but long-term sublethal impacts of iron require further study. Here we investigated whether the spatial and temporal distribution (1967-2004) of two closely related species of stickleback matched the spatial distribution of iron concentrations in the groundwater. We used the 'Northern Peel region', a historically iron-rich peat landscape in The Netherlands

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the growth efficiency of freshwater bacteria is differentially affected by ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280-400 nm) as mediated through changes in their production and respiration rates. Five bacterial strains affiliated to Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were isolated from different freshwater habitats and