ALBERT

Description: Preface: Restoration, biogeochemistry and ecological services of wetlands Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s10750-011-0783-4 Authors Dominik Zak, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Central Chemical Laboratory, Müggelseedamm 301, 12587 Berlin, Germany Robert McInnes, Bioscan (UK) Ltd., The Old Parlour, Little Baldon Farm, Oxford, OX44 9PU UK Jörg Gelbrecht, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Central Chemical Laboratory, Müggelseedamm 301, 12587 Berlin, Germany Journal Hydrobiologia Online ISSN 1573-5117 Print ISSN 0018-8158

Description:    We compared land cover, riparian vegetation, and instream habitat characteristics with stream macroinvertebrate assemblages in 25 catchments in the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe. This study area was particularly selected because of its diverse history of forest and agricultural ecosystems linked to geopolitical dynamic, which provide a suite of unique landscape scale, land cover settings in one ecoregion. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed that variation in composition and structure of macroinvertebrate assemblages was primarily related to four land cover types, and not to riparian or instream habitat. These were the portions in the catchment areas of (1) broadleaved forest, (2) fine-grained agricultural landscape mosaic with scattered trees (e.g., pre-industrial cultural landscape), (3) mixed forest, and (4) natural grassland without trees. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) suggested that land cover types and stream channel substrates co-varied. The PCA also showed that chemical variables, including organic carbon, had higher values in the agricultural landscape compared to natural forests. The major source of variation among taxa in streams was higher abundance of Diptera in agricultural landscapes and of Plecoptera, Coleoptera, Trichoptera, and Amphipoda in forests. Gastropoda and Oligochaeta were more abundant in open, fine-grained agricultural landscape mosaics with scattered trees. Ephemeroptera taxa were quite indifferent to these gradients in catchment land cover, but showed a tendency of being more abundant in the pre-industrial cultural landscape. Our findings suggest that land cover can be used as a proxy of the composition and structure of macroinvertebrate assemblages. This means that land use management at the catchment scale is needed for efficient conservation and recovery of stream invertebrate communities. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-16 DOI 10.1007/s10750-011-0769-2 Authors J. Törnblom, School for Forest Management, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 739 21 Skinnskatteberg, Sweden P. Angelstam, School for Forest Management, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 739 21 Skinnskatteberg, Sweden E. Degerman, National Board of Fisheries, 702 15 Örebro, Sweden L. Henrikson, Freshwater Program, WWF, Ulriksdals Slott, 170 81 Solna, Sweden T. Edman, School for Forest Management, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 739 21 Skinnskatteberg, Sweden J. Temnerud, Department of Natural Sciences, Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden Journal Hydrobiologia Online ISSN 1573-5117 Print ISSN 0018-8158

Description:    Different groups of marine benthic organisms show contrasting latitudinal patterns of biodiversity. The widely accepted paradigm of increasing biodiversity towards the tropics does not seem to be valid for macroalgal floras of the Southern Hemisphere. We compiled a database summarizing the distributional ranges of macroalgae along the coast of Argentina to test whether biodiversity decreases towards lower latitudes, as in the Pacific coast of South America, and whether breaking points in the geographical distribution can be recognized in one or more areas of the Southwest Atlantic south of 36°S. We found a clear trend of decreasing biodiversity with decreasing latitude. The interpretation of some biodiversity declines is confounded by changes in the intensity of the sampling effort. A 51% reduction in algal species richness between 42 and 41°S coincides with the boundary between the Argentine and Magellanic Zoogeographic Provinces. This sharp breaking point is related to a thermal anomaly caused by long residence times of water masses within San Matías Gulf, suggesting an upper thermal tolerance limit for most Antarctic/sub-Antarctic seaweeds. A further reduction occurs at 38–37°S. This breaking point can be explained by the disappearance of suitable hard substrata, since rocky outcrops give place to wide extensions of sandy beaches. The impoverished algal assemblage inhabiting the northern coast of Argentina is mainly related to the reduction or disappearance of the Antarctic/sub-Antarctic floristic component. This area is characterised by a predominance of widely distributed species, Chlorophytes and opportunistic filamentous or foliose algae. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10750-011-0780-7 Authors María G. Liuzzi, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR Buenos Aires, Argentina Juan López Gappa, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR Buenos Aires, Argentina María L. Piriz, Morgan 2455, U9120AFM Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina Journal Hydrobiologia Online ISSN 1573-5117 Print ISSN 0018-8158

Description:    Transposable elements play a vital role in genome evolution and may have been important for the formation of the early metazoan genome, but only little is known about transposons at this interface between unicellular opisthokonts and Metazoa. Here, we describe the first miniature transposable elements (MITEs, Queen1 and Queen2 ) in sponges. Queen1 and Queen2 are probably derived from Tc1/mariner-like MITE families and are represented in more than 3,800 and 1,700 copies, respectively, in the Amphimedon queenslandica genome. Queen elements are located in intergenic regions as well as in introns, providing the potential to induce new splicing sites and termination signals in the genes. Further possible impacts of MITEs on the evolution of the metazoan genome are discussed. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s10750-011-0775-4 Authors Dirk Erpenbeck, Department of Earth- and Environmental Sciences & GeoBio-CenterLMU, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Richard-Wagner-Str. 10, 80333 München, Germany Jürgen Schmitz, Institute of Experimental Pathology, ZMBE, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, 48149 Münster, Germany Gennady Churakov, Institute of Experimental Pathology, ZMBE, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, 48149 Münster, Germany Dorothée Huchon, Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, 69978 Israel Gert Wörheide, Department of Earth- and Environmental Sciences & GeoBio-CenterLMU, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Richard-Wagner-Str. 10, 80333 München, Germany Bernard M. Degnan, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072 Australia Journal Hydrobiologia Online ISSN 1573-5117 Print ISSN 0018-8158

Description:    High-resolution biostratigraphy has been established on the basis of fossil ostracodes from cores of the Cretaceous Continental Scientific Drilling borehole-Songke 1 (south) (SK1(s)) in the Songliao Basin, northeast China. More than 80 species belonging to 13 genera have been identified and 15 ostracode assemblage zones have been recognized. On the basis of ostracode paleoecological analysis, paleoenvironments, for example lake levels and salinity, have been reconstructed. Two inferred deep-water phases occurred during the deposition of the lower Qingshankou and lower Nenjiang formations, whereas shallower water phases probably occurred during deposition of the upper Quantou and uppermost Qingshankou to Yaojia formations. The salinity of paleo-Songliao lake is interpreted as predominantly freshwater to oligohaline. Oligohaline to mesohaline water environments may have occurred during the first and middle third members of the Qingshankou formation and the lower first and lower second members of the Nenjiang formation. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10750-011-0765-6 Authors Dangpeng Xi, School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083 People’s Republic of China Shun Li, School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083 People’s Republic of China Xiaoqiao Wan, School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083 People’s Republic of China Xia Jing, School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083 People’s Republic of China Qinghua Huang, Daqing Oilfield, Daqing, Heilongjiang, People’s Republic of China Jean-Paul Colin, Impassse des Biroulayres, 33610 Cestas, France Zhuo Wang, School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083 People’s Republic of China Weiming Si, School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100083 People’s Republic of China Journal Hydrobiologia Online ISSN 1573-5117 Print ISSN 0018-8158

Description:    Jenynsia multidentata is one of the most abundant freshwater fishes in the subtropical region of South America and when abundant it appears to have a major impact on lake ecosystems function. We studied the life-history traits and population structure of J. multidentata in a shallow lake in Uruguay, and collected literature data along a subtropical to tropical freshwater gradient in South America. Our general focus was on reproductive strategy, particularly on sexual differences in growth, size and abundance. In Lake Blanca, we found strong reverse size dimorphism (RSD) and a feminized sex ratio. Both are attributed to sexual differences in growth patterns and longevity. RSD and a feminized sex ratio seem to characterise J. multidentata regardless of latitude, and together with other life traits such as small size, rapid growth, low age of maturity, the capacity of the females to keep sperm alive to fertilize several successive litters, high natural mortality and fertility, resistance to extreme environmental conditions and omnivory, they are indicative of high productivity to biomass ratio. The very high population growth rate helps to explain why fish removal, aiming to promote an increase in the zooplankton grazing pressure on phytoplankton, may not be a useful tool in eutrophic-turbid subtropical South American lakes. We also found that the duration of the breeding season deviated markedly with latitude, increasing towards the tropics, which may have major consequences for population growth rates and differential impact of this species on lake ecosystems in the different climate zones. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s10750-011-0784-3 Authors G. Goyenola, Ecología y Rehabilitación de Sistemas Acuáticos, Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Centro Universitario Regional Este/Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Maldonado, Uruguay C. Iglesias, Ecología y Rehabilitación de Sistemas Acuáticos, Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Centro Universitario Regional Este/Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Maldonado, Uruguay N. Mazzeo, Ecología y Rehabilitación de Sistemas Acuáticos, Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Centro Universitario Regional Este/Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Maldonado, Uruguay E. Jeppesen, National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark Journal Hydrobiologia Online ISSN 1573-5117 Print ISSN 0018-8158

Description:    Diatom-based indices are increasingly becoming important tools for the assessment of ecological conditions in lotic systems. The applicability of regional and foreign diatom-based water quality assessment indices to streams around São Carlos-SP, Brazil, is discussed. The relationship between measured water quality variables and diatom index scores was assessed. The indices, when compared to chemical analyses, proved useful in providing an indication of the quality of the investigated waters. Though all borrowed indices were applicable to the study area because many widely distributed diatom species have similar environmental tolerances to those recorded for these species elsewhere, ecological requirements of some diatom species from Brazil need to be clarified and incorporated in a diatom-based water quality assessment protocol unique to the region. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s10750-011-0772-7 Authors Taurai Bere, Instituto Internacional de Ecologia, Rua Bento Carlos, 750, Centro, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil José Galizia Tundisi, Instituto Internacional de Ecologia, Rua Bento Carlos, 750, Centro, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil Journal Hydrobiologia Online ISSN 1573-5117 Print ISSN 0018-8158

Description:    Sponges are an important component of the benthic community, especially on coral reefs, but demographic data such as growth, recruitment or mortality are notably limited. This study examined the growth of the elephant ear sponge Ianthella basta , the largest and in some areas one of the dominating sponge species on Guam and other pacific reefs. We measured growth rates of the natural population on Guam over the course of one year and identified intra-individual growth patterns. Initial sponge sizes ranged from 200 to 35,000 cm 2 . Specific growth rates ranged from 0.08 to 6.08 with a mean specific growth rate of 1.43 ± 1.29 (SD) year −1 . Furthermore, specific growth decreased with sponge size. The age estimate for the largest sponge (1.7 m height × 9.5 m circumference) was ~8 years. Intra-individual growth was mostly apical. This study demonstrated high growth rates, which has notable implications for environmental assessments, management and potential biomedical applications. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s10750-011-0774-5 Authors Sven Rohde, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Schleusenstr. 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany Peter J. Schupp, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Schleusenstr. 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany Journal Hydrobiologia Online ISSN 1573-5117 Print ISSN 0018-8158

Description:    Copper poses a risk to the integrity of the Thames Estuary and Marshes special protection area (SPA) as bioaccumulation within the food chain takes place. This article describes some of the investigations carried out for the Habitats Directive Review of Consents including a review of the methods used to analyse copper samples; analysis of the long-term data sets gathered by the Environment Agency; and modelling work. Mean dissolved copper levels for 2002–2006 are below the 5 μg/l Environmental Quality Standard. Catchment modelling was used to establish total copper budgets both for sources discharging directly to the Tideway and for sources throughout the Thames catchment including sewage treatment works (STWs), industries, non-urban, and urban runoff. The total copper load to the Tideway was estimated to be 36 tonnes/year with 52% of this attributed to STWs. Modelling was used to explore the mixing, transport and fate of copper throughout the estuary taking account of partitioning and the interaction with sediments. The modelling showed how the fourth Water Industry Asset Management Programme (AMP4) improvements to the main London STWs would affect copper concentrations throughout the estuary. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s10750-011-0756-7 Authors Donna Murray, WRc plc, Frankland Road, Blagrove, Swindon, SN5 8YF UK Paul Dempsey, WRc plc, Frankland Road, Blagrove, Swindon, SN5 8YF UK Peter Lloyd, Environment Agency, Rivers House, Crossness STW, Belvedere Road, Abbey Wood, London, SE2 9AQ UK Journal Hydrobiologia Online ISSN 1573-5117 Print ISSN 0018-8158

Description:    Restoration of drained peatlands has been promoted to reduce gaseous and aquatic carbon losses; however, there are conflicting reports as to its effectiveness. Here we report “hotspots” of organic matter decomposition as a result of rewetting a drained peatland in Wales, at the field-scale, in the medium/long-term with implications for water quality and greenhouse gas emissions. Low soil moisture levels, that characterise these hotspots before rewetting, regenerate electron acceptors and provide carbon and nutrients which stimulate phenol oxidase-mediated release of phenolic compounds from the peat matrix upon waterlogging. Electron acceptors are then consumed sequentially, eventually favouring CH 4 production and rising pH, despite accumulating SO 4 levels. The latter two processes promote positive feedback to increased phenol oxidase activities and the release of even more dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and CH 4 from the peat matrix. Hotspot formation therefore represents an inextricably linked physico-chemical and biological positive feedback mechanism. Such hotspots account for a large proportion of the mean increase in carbon loss due to rewetting of this naturally drained peatland (e.g. at maximum mean DOC concentrations: with hotspot 997%; without hotspot 102%) and are not “outliers” but important drivers of biogeochemical fluxes that should be included in budgets for carbon and other elements (e.g. sulphur). As such, understanding hotspot formation should allow improved management strategies for restoration, carbon stocks, drinking water quality and even future geo-engineering options in the face of changes in climate and atmospheric chemistry. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-16 DOI 10.1007/s10750-011-0733-1 Authors Nathalie Fenner, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW UK Robert Williams, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW UK Hannah Toberman, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW UK Steve Hughes, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Bangor, LL57 2UW UK Brian Reynolds, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Bangor, LL57 2UW UK Chris Freeman, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW UK Journal Hydrobiologia Online ISSN 1573-5117 Print ISSN 0018-8158