Zoologisch-botanische Exkursionen an das Weiße Meer – seine Fischgemeinschaft und historische Verbindungen zur Ostsee

Ragnar Kinzelbach hat das langjährige Projekt der zoologisch-botanischen Austauschpraktika der Moskauer und der Rostocker Universität mit der ihm eigenen Vehemenz tatkräftig unterstützt und begleitet. Zweimal nahm er am Feldpraktikum in Russland am Weißen Meer teil. In diesem Beitrag wird dieses Randmeer vorgestellt und mit der Ostsee verglichen, einschließlich der postglazialen Entwicklung. Ein bis heute noch nicht endgültig entschiedenes Thema ist die Diskussion um Glazialrelikte der Ostseefauna, die zum Teil mit dem Weißen Meer in Verbindung stehen. Es wird eine Übersicht der Fischgemeinschaft des bis in die Arktis reichenden Weißen Meeres gegeben und auf Besonderheiten verwiesen. Mit weniger als 50 marinen Fischarten, von denen nur 32 etabliert sind, ist es sehr artenarm. 23 Fischarten konnten als Belege für die Zoologische Sammlung der Rostocker Universität gesammelt werden. Zoological and botanical excursions to the White Sea – its fish community and historical connections to the Baltic Sea Abstract: With his characteristic vehemence, Ragnar Kinzelbach actively supported and accompanied the longstanding zoological-botanical students exchange project between the universities of Moscow and Rostock. Twice he participated in the field courses in Russia at the White Sea. This paper presents this marginal sea in comparison with the Baltic Sea, including the postglacial development. A topic that has not yet been conclusively resolved is the discussion of glacial relicts of the Baltic fauna, some of which are associated with the White Sea. An overview of the fish community of the White Sea, which extends into the Arctic, is given and special features are pointed out. It is a very species-poor sea, with fewer than 50 marine fish species, of which only 32 are established. 23 fish species were collected for the zoological collection of the Rostock University

Diversity and Structure of Pelagic Zooplankton (Crustacea, Rotifera) in NE Poland

This study presents the diversity and structure of pelagic zooplankton in north-eastern Poland. The research was conducted in 47 lakes with different trophic conditions in the middle of summer. Samples were collected close to the deepest part of the lakes to avoid the diverse benthic and littoral zones. We found 119 zooplankton species of which 32 were Cladocera, 16 were Cyclopoida, 4 were Calanoida, and 67 were Rotifera. We determined which species occurred most frequently in the region, as well as the species that were characteristic of different trophic conditions. We also recorded the presence of eight cold-adapted species which some of them are considered as glacial relicts (e.g., Eurytemora lacustris, Heterocope appendiculata, Cyclops lacustris). Our research revealed potential glacial refugia for planktonic species in 14 lakes of NE Poland. Our study suggests that the presence of stenotherm species may be an excellent indicator of the ecological status of deep lakes and could be considered in lake monitoring programs. Furthermore, we did not find Bythotrephes longimanus which has been reported from Poland. Instead, we found that B. brevimanus was the most common representative of the genus in the study area.

Tracing the Origin of Planktonic Protists in an Ancient Lake

Ancient lakes are among the most interesting models for evolution studies because their biodiversity is the result of a complex combination of migration and speciation. Here, we investigate the origin of single celled planktonic eukaryotes from the oldest lake in the world—Lake Baikal (Russia). By using 18S rDNA metabarcoding, we recovered 1414 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) belonging to protists populating surface waters (1–50 m) and representing pico/nano-sized cells. The recovered communities resembled other lacustrine freshwater assemblages found elsewhere, especially the taxonomically unclassified protists. However, our results suggest that a fraction of Baikal protists could belong to glacial relicts and have close relationships with marine/brackish species. Moreover, our results suggest that rapid radiation may have occurred among some protist taxa, partially mirroring what was already shown for multicellular organisms in Lake Baikal. We found 16% of the OTUs belonging to potential species flocks in Stramenopiles, Alveolata, Opisthokonta, Archaeplastida, Rhizaria, and Hacrobia. Putative flocks predominated in Chrysophytes, which are highly diverse in Lake Baikal. Also, the 18S rDNA of a number of species (7% of the total) differed >10% from other known sequences. These taxa as well as those belonging to the flocks may be endemic to Lake Baikal. Overall, our study points to novel diversity of planktonic protists in Lake Baikal, some of which may have emerged in situ after evolutionary diversification.

A survey of flora and the governing factors in the Kotlina Orawska-Nowotarska Depression, Southern Poland

The article covers the results of a survey of the vascular flora of the peat-bogs and forest swamps of the Kotlina depression in southern Poland. Unexpected concentrations of calcicolous plants are shown to exist and the factors governing their presence are discussed. The discovery of previously unexpected glacial relicts is also examined in the context of the area’s importance in phytogeographical studies of Eastern Europe. A number of observed, but unexplained, discrepancies in the distribution of a small number of relic species have been identified and are given as possible worthwhile lines of further research.

TAXONOMY AND ECOLOGY OF PHYTOCOENOTIC DIVERSITY OF THE GROMIŽELJ WETLAND AS A SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE

The research of the Gromiželj wetland flora as a special nature reserve includes the diversities of algae,lichens, mosses, ferns and seedlings. The Gromiželj wetland represents a lowland peat with the totalarea of 831 ha where 67.39 ha have the first degree protection and 763.61 ha the second degreeprotection. A special geomorphological structure of this lowland peat causes the diversity of a largenumber of plant species, particularly species that are the Balkan endemics and glacial relicts. 36 speciesof algae, 3 types of lichen, 8 species of mosses, 6 species of ferns and 240 species of seedlings havebeen identified in the wetland.

Current distribution and status of amphibians and reptiles in Will County, Illinois

The distribution of amphibians and reptiles in Will County, Illinois, was assessed using museum records and results from 58 surveys conducted between 1986 and 2009 on lands owned and managed by the Forest Preserve District of Will County (FPDWC) and Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). One hundred and twenty sources of information were examined including technical reports, theses, dissertations, and personal data belonging to the authors. Forty-eight species (19 amphibians, 29 reptiles) were documented by photos or specimens from Will County. Eleven species were determined widespread and common, 6 were categorized as patchy distributions and are uncommon or locally common, and 23 were found to have restricted distributions and are considered rare, including seven state-listed species. One of those state-listed species (Sistrurus catenatus) is likely extirpated. Eight species had undetermined distributions, four of them of questionable occurrence. One of the questionable species (Anaxyrus fowleri) is no longer included in the current list of Will County herpetofauna because it has been determined to have been an introduction and no known population exists. For three others Terrapene carolina, Pantherophis spiloides, Nerodia rhombifer) we were unable to conclusively interpret their records and they are assigned questionable status until further records confirm existence of viable, self sustaining populations. Of seven state-listed species (four threatened, three endangered), one may be extirpated (Sistrurus catenatus). Lithobates sylvaticus, Hemidactylium scutatum, Ambystoma texanum, and Eurycea cirrigera are glacial relicts that are highly vulnerable to extirpation due to pollution, isolation, and a warming climate. Presently, 43 species (18 amphibians, 25 reptiles) are known to occur in Will County, making it the most species-rich county in the Chicago region.

Bog Pools in Czechia

Research into bog pools is carried out within grant projects implemented by the Department of the Physical Geography and Geoecology of the Charles University, Prague. Raised bogs are scarce but important features of the Czech landscape. The importance of peat bogs may be assessed either from a purely materialistic perspective (balneology, substrate in gardening and agriculture, formerly energy), or from the perspective of their landscape-formation properties (hydrological function, refugium of glacial relicts). Nowadays, the peatlands are important in science and education - they can help us to understand the evolution of our landscape in the Holocene. The above mentioned grant projects' goal was to compare a larger number of bog pools under different conditions of Czechia. The lakes were chosen on the basis of a field survey conducted in 2002-2003. In 2003-2004, these lakes were visited several times with the aim of creating a bathymetrical plan and taking a sample of water for assessment of its physical and chemical parameters.