Some alien species of aquatic invertebrates in the water bodies of the nature reserve fund of the Kyiv metropolis

The invasion of alien species of freshwater invertebrates and the associated changes in the faunistic composi- tion of local ecosystems are a serious threat to the conservation of biodiversity. In this work, we supplement the existing list of alien species with information about three more species of non-native freshwater invertebrates, which have formed stable populations in water bodies of Ukraine. These are two representatives of flatworms: Girardia tigrina (Girard, 1850) and Stenostomum saliens Kepner & Carter, 1931, as well as a representative of copepods, Eucyclops roseus Ishida, 1997.

Insights into the Bioactivities and Chemical Analysis of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle

Many species of the so-called exotic plants coexist with native species in a balanced way, but others thrive very quickly and escape human control, becoming harmful—these are called invasive alien species. In addition to overcoming geographic barriers, these species can defeat biotic and abiotic barriers, maintaining stable populations. Ailanthus altissima is no exception; it is disseminated worldwide and is considered high risk due to its easy propagation and resistance to external environmental factors. Currently, it has no particular use other than ornamental, even though it is used to treat epilepsy, diarrhea, asthma, ophthalmic diseases, and seborrhoea in Chinese medicine. Considering its rich composition in alkaloids, terpenoids, sterols, and flavonoids, doubtlessly, its use in medicine or other fields can be maximised. This review will focus on the knowledge of the chemical composition and the discovery of the biological properties of A. altissima to understand this plant better and maximise its possible use for purposes such as medicine, pharmacy, or the food industry. Methods for the extraction and detection to know the chemical composition will also be discussed in detail.

FIRST RECORD OF THE GENUS SERANGIUM BLACKBURN, 1889 (COLEOPTERA COCCINELLIDAE) IN ITALY

During a recent survey of ladybirds in a citrus orchard in Sicily, a specimen of the genus Serangium (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) was found. This genus is recorded here for the first time from Italy. Species of this genus was used as an agent of biological control against aleyrodids, and stable populations were previously reported from Europe (France and Corsica) and in the Caucasian area. Literature of this genus recorded for Europe two species: Serangium montazerii Fürsch, 1995 and S. parcesetosum Sicard, 1929. The single specimen collected un- able us to a specific attribution.

First record of the alien mantid Hierodula tenuidentata (Insecta: Mantodea) in Romania

Hierodula tenuidentata is reported for the first time in Romania, from several places, with strong evidence on the existence of stable populations in this country. Preliminary data regarding the ecology of the species and its relations with indigenous fauna are presented, as well as differences between this species and its closest congeners from Romania and Europe.

Adaptation in Metapopulation: Book Review

The members of any family are not always living in the same region. Either for work, study or other reasons they are separated by distance. Although they live separately, they are related by blood and still interact with another family member to some extent. This phenomenon not only happens with humans. In the same way, we can see this pattern with any living organism in nature. For instance, we can see individuals of a forest bird species distributed among several separate forest patches, within which more or fewer stable populations are established, but that maintain migratory movements from one patch to another. At present, nature is increasingly fragmenting due to natural causes as well as a human activity. Therefore, since nature is patchy and becoming more so, biologists have become more interested in metapopulations1. Specifically, they have a particular interest in understanding how metapopulations adapt. Adaptation in Metapopulations addresses this topic, providing a varied, profoundly considered discussion of the current condition of the understanding of it.

Population dynamics and genotypic richness of threatened Acropora species and their hybrid in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Acropora cervicornis and A. palmata have experienced substantial losses in coral cover throughout the Caribbean, but their hybrid (A. prolifera) appears to be increasing at some sites. The shifts in relative abundance could result from hybridization with subsequent asexual fragmentation, recent increased hybridization, or a disproportionate loss in the parental species. Here, acroporid taxa from three U.S. Virgin Islands sites were genotyped revealing 35 hybrid genotypes, suggesting multiple hybridization events. Genotypic richness in A. cervicornis (0.62), A. prolifera (0.64), and A. palmata (0.68) was not significantly different across sites. To further explore acroporid dynamics at these sites, we analyzed existing photo transects from 2009 to 2017 to reveal significant losses of A. cervicornis but stable hybrid percent cover. High genotypic richness and stable populations suggest acroporid hybrids may become the primary shallow reef-builders in some locations previously occupied by the parental species.

Single strain control of microbial consortia

The scope of bioengineering is expanding from the creation of single strains to the design of microbial communities, allowing for division-of-labour, specialised sub-populations and interaction with “wild” microbiomes. However, in the absence of stabilising interactions, competition between microbes inevitably leads to the removal of less fit community members over time. Here, we leverage amensalism and competitive exclusion to stabilise a two-strain community by engineering a strain of Escherichia coli which secretes a toxin in response to competition. We show experimentally and mathematically that such a system can produce stable populations with a composition that is tunable by easily controllable parameters. This system creates a tunable, stable two-strain consortia while only requiring the engineering of a single strain.

First record of Andrena chrysopus Perez, 1903 (Hymenoptera: Apiformes: Andrenidae) in Poland

The paper presents data about the first record of Andrena chrysopus Perez, 1903 in Bydgoszcz, Poland (the Wielkopolsko-Kujawska Lowland). It is an oligolectic species, closely linked to plants in the genus Asparagus sp. During 2018–2019 (May–June), 54 speciemens of the species were collected at 9 sites during the flowering period of the host plant. The bees were recorded in dry and well sunlit biotopes on the outskirts of the city and in residential-industrial districts. The observations confirmed the occurrence of stable populations of A. chrysopus. However, increasing urbanisation and succession may threaten the presence of the species in the genus Asparagus sp., and thus A. chrysopus, which strongly relies on these species' food sources.

Estimation of status of small rodents’ natural populations from the transformed ecosystems of the Chornobyl exclusion zone according to the complex of biological indicators

Morphophysiological and hematological parameters of different species and ontogenesis types of mice rodents from the drained areas of the Chornobyl cooling pond were studied for the first time; comparative analysis, including data of control and stable populations of the Chornobyl exclusion zone, was performed. Radioecological characterization of the research sites was carried out; the contents of the main dose-forming radionuclides were determined; animals’ exposure doses were estimated. In all experimental groups, similar changes in the hematopoietic system were observed, however, pathological features were less pronounced in individuals from the drained areas of the cooling pond. It was revealed that in the animal body under the chronic low dose exposure activation of compensatory and recovery processes occurs along with the destructive processes. It has been shown that the lifetime increase in radiation exposure of mature animals causes the imbalance of bone marrow hematopoiesis with the gradual exhaustion of blood system potential.

Contribution to the Study of the European Ground Squirrel’s Population (Spermophilus citellus Linnaeus, 1766) in Rila National Park, Bulgaria

Although there are still some large and stable populations of the European Ground Squirrel, there has been a serious decline in the number and density of most of the species populations throughout its range, including in Bulgaria. The aim of the study is to supplement the scientific data about the population of the European Ground Squirrel and its habitat in Rila National Park, Southwestern Bulgaria. The research was carried out in 2017-2019 in two study areas, each divided into 20 (21) transects (every 100 m long and 5 m wide). The results have shown that the relative population density based on the number of holes tends to decrease in the period of study. The most likely reason for this, and the most significant identified threat to the population of the species in the research area in general, is the observed deterioration of the habitat status.