01_Uzun-1.indd UDC 595.33(262.5) OSTRACODES (CRUSTACEA, OSTRACODA) IN THE ROCKY NEARSHORE WATER AREA OF ZMIINIY ISLAND (BLACK SEA) O. Uzun Institute of marine biology NAS of Ukraine, vul. Pushkinska, 37, Odesa, 65011 Ukraine E-mail: biolena17@gmail.com O. Uzun (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8309-5767) Ostracodes (Crustacea, Ostracoda) in the Rocky Nearshore Water Area of Zmiiniy Island (Black Sea). Uzun, O. — Data about meiobenthic ostracodes species on the diff erent substrates of Zmiiniy Island nearshore water area are presented. Th e density and biomass means of the ostracodes were higher on the algal substrates (on Laurencia paniculata made up 41931 ± 12689 ind.·m-2 and 400.56 ± 125.65 mg·m-2 respectively). In the current study for the fi rst time 13 ostracodes species were found, most of which are common in all types of substrate. Th e dominant species were Loxoconcha pontica Klie, 1937, Paradoxos- toma intermedium Müller, 1894, Xestoleberis cornelii Caraion, 1963 and Xestoleberis decipiens (Müller, 1894). All of them are common species in the north-western Black Sea. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) analysis of ostracodes species abundance shown that the samples of sandy-shells bottom diff ered signifi cantly from algal and mussel substrates. According to the cluster analysis sand-shells bot- tom samples on almost 80 % diff ered from hard substrates. K e y w o r d s : meiobenthos, meiofauna, seed shrimps, hard substrates, soft substrates, habitat, rocky shores. Introduction Nearshore biotopes with specifi c organisms’ communities play a key role in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, in the hydrobionts’ reproduction and are highly sensitive to external infl uences (Zaitsev et al., 2006). On the rocky shores an essential substrate is formed for the attachment micro- and macrobenthos or- ganisms with their associated species. Zoodiversity, 56(3): 171–180, 2022 DOI 10.15407/zoo2022.03.171 Fauna and Systematics 172 O. Uzun Meiofauna in marine benthic ecosystems includes metazoans organisms that are intermediate between macro- and microfauna (body size range: 30–1000 μm) (Giere, 2009). Meiobenthos is a main food source for demersal fi sh species (Vorobyova et al., 2004; Carpentier et al., 2014; Schückel et al., 2013). Crustaceans from class Ostracoda (also called seed shrimps) are an important ecological group of meiobenthic organisms. Eco- logical studies dealing with the abundance, biomass and diversity of ostracodes species can be used for monitor- ing environmental pollutants along coastal water areas (Ruiz et al., 2005; Shornikov et al., 2015). Seed shrimps are sensitive to herbicides, pesticides, oil spills or heavy metals pollution (Parameswari et al., 2020). Th eir valves are archives of geochemical information related to paleoclimatic and palaeohydrological changes, ecotoxicity monitoring, biostratigraphy indicator (Meyer et al., 2017; Smith, Palmer, 2012). In the north-western Black Sea, the ecological, taxonomy and structure features of meiobenthos taxa are well studied (Vorobyova et al., 2008, 2017; Vorobyova, Kulakova, 2009). Meiobenthic organisms were regis- tered at the all types of habitats either natural or artifi cial origin, including plastic marine litter (Vorobyova, 1999; Snigirova et al., 2020; Uzun, Portianko, 2021). A large amount of studies in this part of the sea focusing on the ostracodes species diversity was conducted during 1960–1970 (Caraion, 1960; Marinov, 1962; Schornikov, 1967, 1969). However, there are few papers concerning present state on the ostracod fauna in the north-western Black sea (Marinov, 1990; Opreanu, 2005, 2007). Th e recent data on meiobenthos community in Zmiiniy Island coastal waters are relatively poor (Kulakova, Vorobyova, 2019; Portianko, 2017; Vorobyova et al., 2019). In the preliminary studies, concerning quantitative characteristics of the meiobenthic organism at the diff erent type of substrates in Zmiiniy Island water area, the high ostracode density was shown (Vorobyova et al., 2019). Th e data about ostracod species in this water area to the best of author’s knowledge are absent. Th us, the aim of this study is to determine the diversity of ostracodes and their role in biomass and abundance of the total meiobenthos on diff erent types of substrates in the coastal area of Zmiiniy Island. Material and methods S t u d y a r e a Th e fi eld work was carried out in near-shore water zone of Zmiiniy Island (45°15'18" N, 30°12'15" E) (fi g. 1). Zmiiniy Island is located in the north-western Black Sea shelf (Ukrainian part). Hydrological and hy- drochemical regime of the island coastal waters is eff ected by large rivers (Danube, Dniester, South Bug and Dnipro) that create unique conditions for organisms (Zaitsev et al., 2006). Zmiiniy Island coast represented by rocky shores and partially sandy-shells bottom sediments that form appropriate habitats for benthos (Brayko, 1985; Zaitsev et al., 1999). Th e part of Zmiiniy Island and coastal waters around it were included to the Natural heritage site as zoological reserve of national signifi cance by the Decree No 1341/98 signed by the President of Ukraine in 9.12.1998. Fig. 1. Location of Zmiiniy Island study area in north-western Black Sea, Ukraine. 173Ostracodes (Crustacea, Ostracoda) in the Rocky Nearshore Water Area of Zmiiniy Island… S a m p l i n g Meiobenthos was taken in summer seasons during 2013–2015 at depths from 1 to 5 m. Samples were collected from three types of substrate: sandy bottom sediments, mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819)) and alga growing attached to large rocks. Algae include six species: Ceramium elegans (Ducluzeau, 1806), Cladophora vagabunda (Hoek, 1963), Ulva intestinalis (Linnaeus, 1753), Polysiphonia denudata (Gre- ville et Harvey, 1833), Corallina offi cinalis (Linnaeus, 1758), Laurencia paniculata (Kützing, 1849). Samples was collected by the 0.1 m2 benthos frame by scuba diver into the separate plastic bags and trans- ported to the laboratory of the Institute of marine biology. Th en they were washed used fi ne-meshed net with upper size 1 mm and lower — 70 μm for collecting meiobenthos. Th e received samples were preserved in 4 % buff ered formaldehyde solution and stained with Rose Bengal. Th e meiobenthos taxa were counted in Bogorov chamber under stereomicroscope MBS-10 (×32 magnifi cation) and recalculated to density of individuals per 1 m2 (ind.∙m-2). Th e biomass was defi ned by the use of the shape and body sizes nomograms as mg per 1 m2 (Chislenko, 1968; Vorobyova, Torgonskaya, 1998). From the received sample all individuals of ostracodes were collected. Th eir further study was carried out under the light microscope Konus (×200, ×400 magnifi cation) in glycerol-alcohol solution with the identifi ca- tion key (Dykan, 2006; Schornikov, 1969). All scientifi c names are given according to the World Ostracoda Database (Brandão, Karanovic, 2022). D a t a a n d s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y z e s For estimate the similarity between the samples was used the Bray–Curtis index. Grouping of samples with similar species composition was done by hierarchical agglomerative clustering (CLUSTER analysis) based on the unweighted pair-group average cluster model with the similarity profi le test (SIMPROF) for determine signifi cant diff erences between the clusters. A non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) was carried out to analyze the diff erences between substrates based on ostracodes density in samples. Th e ANOSIM test with global R statistic was used for analysis of diff erences signifi cance. Th e null hypothesis (i. e. ‘no diff erence between groups’) was rejected at a signifi cance level of p < 0.05. Multivariate analyses were carried out using the PRIMER version 6 soft ware package (Clarke et al., 2014). Results D e n s i t y a n d b i o m a s s o f t h e o s t r a c o d e s In current study the 10 higher taxa of meiobenthos on the diff erent types of substrate were registered: Turbellaria, Nematoda, Harpacticoida (Copepoda), Ostracoda, Halacaridae, mussels fouling 1.79 %4.40 % 98.21%95.60 % sand-shells bottom algal substrates Ostracodes 26.71 % 73.29 % Other taxa Fig. 2. Th e percentages of ostracodes in average density of meiobenthos at the diff erent type of substrate from Zmiiniy Island. 174 O. Uzun Oligochaeta, Polychaeta, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Balanus. Th e density of ostracodes in the total meiofauna community ranged between 1000 and 167000 individuals per 1 m-2, while biomass made up from 6.5 to 1085.5 mg·m-2. Th e percentage of the ostracode in the total meiobenthos density ranged between diff erent types of the substrates, the lowest percentages of which were on the sand-shell sediments and on mussels substrate (1.79 and 4.40 % respectively) (fi g. 2). Th e average mean of ostracodes density was relatively high on algal substrate. On Laurencia paniculata the average mean of ostracode density was 41931 ± 12689 ind.·m-2 which made up 42.21 % of the total meiobenthos (fi g. 3). In Zmiiniy Island nearshore zone ostracodes play significant role in the total meiobenthos biomass formation (fig. 4). The higher mean of ostracod biomass was registered on Laurencia paniculata and made up 400.56 ± 125.65 mg·m-2. On the sand- shells bottom biomass of ostracodes only made up 2.3 ± 0.5 mg·m-2 and was lowest. Cl ad op ho ra va ga bu nd a Co ral lin a o ffic ina lis La ur en cia pa nic ula ta Po lyp sip ho nia de nu da ta Ce ram ium ele ga ns Ul va in tes tin ali s Bi om as s, m g • m –2 0 20.32 % 35.87 % 42.21 % 12.24 % 18.48 % 23.57 % 23.57 %100000 50000 150000 200000 250000 300000 OstracodesOther taxa 79.68 % 64.13 % 57.79 % 87.76 % 81.52 % 76.43 % Fig. 3. Percent ratio of the ostracodes with other meiobenthos taxa densities (ind.·m-2) associated with diff erent algal species in Zmiiniy Island. Cl ad op ho ra va ga bu nd a Co ral lin a o ffic ina lis La ur en cia pa nic ula ta Po lyp sip ho nia de nu da ta Ce ram ium ele ga ns Ul va in tes tin ali s mu sse ls f ou lin g san d- sh ell s b ott om 0Bi om as s, m g • m –2 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 Fig. 4. Th e average means of the ostracodes biomass on diff erent substrates in Zmiiniy Island. 175Ostracodes (Crustacea, Ostracoda) in the Rocky Nearshore Water Area of Zmiiniy Island… T a b l e 1 . Th e list of ostracodes species on the diff erent substrate types in Zmiiniy Island nearshore water zone (Black Sea) Ostracod species Algal substrate m us se ls fo ul in g sa nd -s he lls b ot to m C er am iu m e le ga ns C la do ph or a va ga bu nd a U lv a in te st in al is C or al lin a offi c in al is La ur en ci a pa ni cu la ta Po ly sip ho ni a de nu da ta Family Loxoconchidae Loxocauda sp. – – – + + – – – Loxoconcha aestuarii Marinov, 1963 + – + + – – – + Loxoconcha bulgarica Caraion, 1961 + + – + – + + + Loxoconcha elliptica Brady, 1868 + + + + – – + – Loxoconcha lepida Stepanaitys, 1962 + + + + – – – – Loxoconcha pontica Klie, 1937 + + + + + + – + Family Paradoxostomatidae Paradoxostoma intermedium Müller, 1894 + + + – + + + + Paradoxostoma mediterraneum Müller, 1894 – + – – – – – – Family Bythocytheridae Sclerochilus dubowskyi Marinov, 1962 – – – – + – + – Family Xestoleberididae Xestoleberis acutipenis Caraion, 1963 + + + + + + + + Xestoleberis aurantia (Baird, 1838) + + – + – + + – Xestoleberis cornelii Caraion, 1963 + + + + + + + + Xestoleberis decipiens (Müller, 1894) + + + + + + + + Total 10 10 8 10 7 7 8 7 Substarte (8) Similarity Fig. 5. Th e non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) analysis of ostracodes species abundance in the sample from diff erent substrates in Zmiiniy Island. Ulva intestinalis Ceramium elegans Cladophora vagabunda Polysiphonia denudata Laurencia paniculata Corallina offi cinalis mussels fouling sand-shells bottom 176 O. Uzun The biggest ostracodes contribution in the total meiobenthos biomass in nearshore Zmiiniy Island waters reached 18.01 %. T h e t a x o n o m y s t r u c t u r e o f o s t r a c o d e s a s s e m b l a g e s A total of 13 ostracod species belonging to 4 families were identified: Loxoconchidae, Paradoxostomatidae, Bythocytheridae, Xestoleberididae (table 1). All of them are belonging to subclass Podocopa. On the algal substrates were registered from 7 to 10 species. On sand-shell bottom were registered 7 species. Ostracodes species Xestoleberis acutipenis, X. cornelii and X. decipiens were widespread on the all substrate types. T h e r e s u l t s o f s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s Non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) analysis of ostracodes species abun- dance shown strong diff erences between the samples of diff erent substrate types (fi g. 5). Comparison abundance of ostracode species in the samples on sandy-shells bottom sedi- ments diff ered signifi cantly from other substrates. Th e species diversity of the ostracodes from Ulva intestinalis and some Cladophora vagabunda diff ered from another samples of alga and mussel’s substrates. Th e stress count 0.16, that indicates of satisfactory level of nMDS. CLUSTER analysis and SIMPROF test recognized two groups with similar ostracodes taxonomic composition: sand-shells bottom samples on almost 80 % diff ered from hard substrates, covered by algae and mussels (fi g. 6). According to the ANOSIM test results the null hypothesis (i. e. ‘no difference be- tween groups’) was rejected. There was a significant difference in ostracod abundance between hard and soft sediments substrates tested by ANOSIM (global R = 0.798, p = 0.02). Discussion In the nearshore water area of Zmiiniy Island 10 meiobenthic taxa were registered at the diff erent types of substrate. Th e percentage of ostracodes range between 1.79 % and 26.71 % depending on the substrate type. Th e average means of the density and biomass Fig. 6. Th e results of CLUSTER analysis with the SIMPROF test based on the biomass on diff erent substrates in Zmiiniy Island. 177Ostracodes (Crustacea, Ostracoda) in the Rocky Nearshore Water Area of Zmiiniy Island… of ostracodes were large on the algal substrates and were biggest on Laurencia paniculata (means 41931 ± 12689 ind.·m-2 and 400.56 ± 125.65 mg·m-2 respectively). Th e high abun- dance of ostracodes on the algal substrates was typical and confi rmed by other researchers (Rutledge, Fleeger, 1993; Walters, Bell, 1984). It should be noted that these means are bigger than in other nearshore regions of the north-western Black sea region. For example, the density of ostracodes from the al- gal substrate in the Odessa marine region is almost three times lower (Vorobyova et al., 2017). Th e abundance of ostracodes in Zmiiniy Island nearshore water area is higher than that on fouling artifi cial hydrotechnical constructions and on the plastic litter (Vo- robyova et al., 2016; Uzun, Portianko, 2021). Such diff erences might be explained by the high sensitives of ostracodes on the impact of anthropogenic factor. Th e benthic fauna of Zmiiniy Island water area is healthier than in other regions of the NWBS (Kovalova et al., 2017). Th e identifi cation of ostracode species in the coastal area of Zmiiniy Island was made for the fi rst time. It was observed that the biodiversity of ostracodes was represented by typical species registered both on the natural and artifi cial origin hard substrates in other north-western regions of the Black sea. Th e most widespread species were Loxo- concha pontica, Paradoxostoma intermedium, Xestoleberis cornelii and X. decipiens, that are common at the shallow zone along the entire coastline of the Black Sea (Shornikov, 1969). Th ey may inhabit both in open waters and in sea beds and other aquatic vegetation (Shornikov, 1967). According to the non-metric MDS analysis ostracod assemblages show marked changes in species composition and density with type of algal substrate. Th e ostracodes assemblages on the Ulva and some Cladophora diff ered from another samples of the algal substrates. Th ere are complex relationships between ostracodes and algae. Algal fronds ap- pear to provide protection from wave action and increased habitable living space for many organisms of meiofauna, including ostracodes (Hull, 1997). Th e high algal complexity with numerous fronds can accompanied by an increasing diversity of food availability for both ostracodes and meiofauna. Ostracode assemblages associated with algae and macrobenthic communities on rocks diff er from surrounding bottom assemblages. Hard surfaces forms substrates for attach- ing sessile, that may increase living space for associated with them meiobenthic organisms (Hicks, 1980, 1986). Th e species composition of marine invertebrates on hard surface with fouling is regulated by a combination of factors that include substrate type, orientation and immersion season (Siddik et al., 2018). Algae and macrobenthic communities serves as habitat for meiobenthos organisms increasing species diversity and abundance (Bell, 1980; Hicks, 1986). In meiobenthos assemblages associated with hard surfaces fouling the domi- nant groups are mainly crustaceans (harpacticoids, isopods, amphipods etc.) and mollusks (Beckley, 1982; Coull et al., 1983). Th us, the high means of the percentage, density and biomass have showed favorable ecological conditions for the ostracodes in the nearshore water area, which might indicate low levels of anthropogenic impacts in the waters. Despite, the island waters are under the strong infl uence of the riverine fl ows which considered as the main resource of nutrients and pollutants in the western Black Sea coastal area (Gasparotti, 2014, 2015) and might eff ects on the benthos structure. Th e growth of pressure from fi shery, hydrotechnical con- struction and shore-protection activities in the area of the island probably caused negative changes on fauna, i.g. on meiobenthos. 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