Zoodiversity

Dorsal and Pelvic Fin Deformities in Egirdira nigra (Teleostei, Leuciscidae), an Endangered and Endemic Species Collected from Eğirdir Lake, Türkiye

L. A. Jawad — 2024-07-30

Abnormal specimens of Egirdira nigra (Kosswig & Geldiay, 1952) were gathered from Eğirdir Lake, Akkeçili Village, Türkiye, during standard ichthyological investigations in the area from May–September 2021. These specimens exhibited irregularities in the dorsal and pelvic fin. The abnormalities noted in these fins encompass the complete absence of the fin and various degrees of distortions in the fin’s components. The X-ray images revealed skeletal deformities are deliberated. Our findings underscored the necessity for enhanced monitoring of the freshwater environment and pinpointing the precise factor responsible for these irregularities.

Comparison of Flight Periods of Solitary and Primitively Eusocial Bees in Urban Environments and Nature Conservation Areas: a Preliminary Report

M. H. Sirohi — 2024-07-02

Solitary and primitively eusocial bees, an important group of pollinators, have declined in the past few decades. In view of the recent focus on safeguarding pollinating insects, it is vital to understand the basic ecology of species for their conservation, for example their phenologies. We observed the flight periods of solitary and primitively eusocial bees in both the urban core of a large British town and nearby nature conservation areas. The bee surveys were conducted with standardised methods, on warm sunny days from the first appearance of bees in March 2012 and continued until October 2012. This study confirmed that a high number of species are active in the spring season. The emergence dates of species in urban areas and nature sites varied; about 26 of the 35 species were recorded at least one week earlier in urban areas; in contrast, only four species were seen earlier in nature conservation sites. When comparing this with the expected flight periods recorded (largely in nature sites) in the literature, many species were recorded at their expected time. However, a few individuals were recorded after their usual flight activity time, suggesting that the populations were possibly affected by the microclimate in urban areas. More urban phenological data are needed to understand the phenological trends in bees in urban habitats.

Wintering Waterbirds in the Wetlands of the Azov-Black Sea Region of Ukraine at the Beginning of the 21st Century — Species Composition, Abundance, Distribution and Tendencies

Yu. O. Andryuschenko — 2024-06-26

Data collection on wintering waterbirds in the wetlands of the Azov-Black Sea region of Ukraine began in the late 1980s, mainly thanks to the International Waterbird Census (IWC), which has become more extensive and regular since about 2005. This article is devoted to generalization of data on species composition, abundance of birds and their spatial distribution in that region based on the results of the winter census 2005–2022. The long-term dynamics of the waterbirds number and the peculiarities of the species distribution are mostly analyzed for abundant bird species. General information about common and rare species is also given.

Species Diversity and Distribution of Artemia (Crustacea, Anostraca) in Iran: Historical Contexts and Updated Review

A. Asem — 2024-06-17

In light of the pivotal role of Artemia Leach, 1819 as food in larviculture and fisheries, it becomes imperative to continually reassess its resources and deepen our understanding of its species diversity. Such efforts are essential for the effective management of its commercial exploitation and the promotion of sustainable aquaculture activities. Here we present a comprehensive review of historical documents dating back to the X century and contemporary scholarly articles. The findings indicate the existence of 59 sites (natural resources and farming sites) across Iran where Artemia has been recorded. This is a significant increase from the 23 reported in the last checklist in 2016. The data indicate that regional A. urmiana Günther, 1899 occurrences warrant classification as “Critically Endangered” on the “Regional Red List” of Iran. Remarkably, apparently the Bazangan Lake has a natural population of Artemia, probably a consequence of climatic change. We highlight the threat posed to Artemia species diversity by the invasive American brine shrimp A. franciscana Kellogg, 1906, noting its presence in 12 locations compared to 7 in 2016. Preliminary studies suggest that the indigenous parthenogenetic Artemia lineages in Iran exhibit superior production potential when compared to both A. franciscana and the native A. urmiana. In light of these findings, the study recommends prioritizing the utilization of native parthenogenetic Artemia in aquaculture, to conserve Artemia biodiversity.

Specific Differences in AMELX and AMELY Genes from Sumatran Tigers, Panthera tigris sumatrae (Felidae), for Molecular Sex Identification

I. Asrori — 2024-06-10

Sex determination by DNA-based molecular techniques in Sumatran tigers needs to be investigated and developed for forensic and population genetic purposes. The amelogenin gene is a marker commonly used for sex determination. In some species, the difference between the AMELX and AMELY sequences has been reported to be in the intron region. However, the difference between the AMELX and AMELY sequences in the Sumatran tiger is unknown. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the sequence differences in introns between AMELX and AMELY Sumatran tigers to determine the specific differences between male and female samples. This study aimed to analyse the sequence of nucleotide bases in the Sumatran tiger amelogenin gene introns based on the nucleotide base sequences in the amelogenin gene introns. The method in this research is descriptive, with a molecular observation of the AMELX and AMELY Sumatran tiger sequences. The amplified samples were sequenced, and it was found that the lengths of the AMELX and AMELY Sumatran tiger sequences were 215 bp and 194 bp, respectively, with a 21 bp deletion in the AMELY sequence.