Andrzej Kownacki

Effects of regulated stream on the hydrochemistry and zoobenthos in differently polluted parts of the upper Vistula River (Southern Poland)

The present paper describes changes in the chemical composition of water and the animal communities below three dam reservoirs lying in ecologically different river sectors and differing in the degree of water pollution. The reservoirs transform the chemical composition of the water in various ways, depending on the quality of the inflowing water and the type of reservoir. Changes in the zoocenoses are caused by various factors. In clean or only slightly polluted rivers changes in physico-chemical properties of the water are responsible for the changes in the zoocenoses. In reservoirs from which only a small amount of water flows out reduction inflow is most important, while in polluted rivers it is pollution which determines the composition of the zoocenosis.

Spring benthic macroinvertebrate communities of selected streams in the High Caucasus (Azerbaijan SSR)

Investigations on invertebrate fauna were carried out at fifteen sites in some chosen streams of the Caucasus (Azerbaijan SSR) in March 1970. Seventy-five taxa of invertebrates were found in the investigated streams. Chironomidae constituted the most numerous group at all sites, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Simuliidae being other important components of the fauna. On the basis of percentage structure of dominance in the examined streams four types of faunistic communities were distinguished. The most common one was the type characteristic of high mountain streams and rivers with Diamesa sp. (gr. latitarsis) predominant. Nevertheless, in springtime this community was characterized by a greater number of taxa and a greater abundance of specimens as compared with the summer period. It may be thus assumed that the spring period in high mountain streams and rivers is more conducive to the development of the invertebrate fauna.

Two cytotypes of Kiefferulus tendipediformis (Goetghebuer, 1921) (Diptera, Chironomidae)

Abstract The material identified as Kiefferulus tendipediformis on the basis of the larval morphology consisted of two cytogenetically distinct species, which we called cytotype 1 (2n=8) (Bulgaria) and cytotype 2 (2n=6) (Poland). The karyotype and external morphology (larva, pupa and imago - males) of Kiefferulus tendipediformis from pond on mine spoils in the Olkusz region with Zn-Pb ore deposits (Southern Poland) are described. The karyotype of cytotype 2 (2n =6) (Poland) consists of two metacentric chromosomes (AB and CD) and one submetacentric GEF. The chromosomes AB, CD of both cytotypes are very similar, the chromosome GEF is formed through tandem fusion of two acrocentric chromosomes of cytotype 1 (chromosomes EF and G). The external morphology of the species from Poland is compared with materials of the same species from Bulgaria and Austria. The larvae of Poland and Bulgaria are differed in a number of ultrastructure characters. Pupae and imagoes of K.tendipediformis from Poland are distinguished from those of Austria. The current taxonomic position of the K.tendipediformis in Europe is discussed.

The effect of long-term contamination by heavy metals on community and genome alterations of Chironomidae (Diptera) in a stream with mine drainage water (southern Poland)

This paper reports on studies of the effect of heavy metals on the Chironomidae that inhabit the Matylda stream, which has been contaminated for about 100 years by discharge water from a zinc and lead ore mine. Stream sediment was strongly polluted by Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn. These metals did not affect the Chironomidae community but strongly changed the genome system of the Chironomidae species that inhabited the sediment. The salivary gland chromosomes of six species belonging to the two genera Chironomus and Prodiamesa are analyzed. In all species the somatic index is calculated on the basis of somatic chromosome alterations. Chironomus riparius has the highest numbers of somatic alterations and the highest somatic index — 9.67. The smallest chromosome G carries the key structures known as “Balbiani rings”, which play an important role in species development. This chromosome is very sensitive in the genome of the most studied species. The high sensitivity of the C. riparius genome is discussed in light of its DNA organization. The results show a high response of the salivary gland chromosomes to heavy metal pollution, and this makes them a valuable indicator in the assessment of water quality and detection of mutagenic agents in the aquatic environment.

The External Morphology of Chironomus (S. STR.) Acerbiphilus Tokunaga, 1939 a Senior Synonym of C. Crassimanus Strenzke (Diptera, Chironomidae) from Poland

Abstract. The pupa and imago of Chironomus acerbiphilus (a senior synonym of C. crassimanus) show wide variation of external morphology characters. This paper describes the external morphology of larva, pupa and adult of C. acerbiphilus from Poland. Variability of morphological characters is evaluated for the Polish population in comparison with other European, Asian and North American populations. Pupal subgeneric characters are discussed.

Cytogenetic variability in species of genus Chironomus (Dip- tera, Chironomidae) from Poland

Abstract Chromosome variability was analyzed in three Chironomus species: Chironomus plumosus L., Chi-ronomus muratensis Ryser, Scholl & Wulker, and Chironomus annularius Meigen, from the natural populations in Poland. A comparative analysis of band sequences with other Palearctic populations was done. Chromosome band sequences of C. plumosus and C. muratensis did not differ from other Palearctic populations. A new ho-mozygous band sequence was discovered in C. annularius. The ten sequences observed in the Polish populations of C. plumosus were represented in all cytogenetically studied European populations of this species. However, these sequences showed substantial interpopulational variation and they didn’t demonstrate any geographical gradient. Some of the inversions in C. plumosus and C. annularius were also involved in the function of the so-called polymorphic system. The sensitivity of important chromosome structures (BRs and NOR) in the polytene chromosomes of C. annularius to organic contaminants in the studied area was presented. The morphology of the additional “B” chromosome found in C.plumosus can vary in different salivary gland cells. The existence of the “B” chromosome in the C. plumosus genome was considered in the light of its selective value in the studied area.

Taxocenes of Ephemeroptera in Unpolluted and Polluted Streams of the Tatra Mountains

In the streams of the Tatra Mountains over 1550 m a. s. l. mayflies are generally lacking. At 900 to 1550 m a. s. l Baetis alpinus and Rhithrogena loyolaea dominate in the current, and Ameletus inopinatus in the pools. In the submontane zone of the streams (below 900 m a. s. l.) many other species appear. In a polluted stream (138U to 1390 m a. s. l.) below the outlet of sewage mayflies are absent. Thirty m below the sewage outlet B. vernus dominates from July to September (tourist season). One hundred to 500 m below the sewage outlet B. rhodani and B. muticus dominate. Single specimens of B. alpinus are also encountered but representatives of Rhithrogena are missing.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (SEM) IN TAXONOMY AND MORPHOLOGY OF CHIRONOMIDAE (DIPTERA)

The paper reports on the value of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in the taxonomy and morphology of Chironomidae. This method has been relatively rarely used in Chironomidae studies. Our studies suggest that the SEM method provides a lot of new information. For example, the plastron plate of the thoracic horn of Macropelopia nebulosa (Meigen) under light microscopy is visible as points, while under SEM we have found that it consists of a reticular structure with holes. By using SEM a more precise picture of the body structure of Chironomidae can be revealed. It allows researchers to explain inconsistencies in the existing descriptions of species. Another advantage of the SEM method is obtaining spatial images of the body and organs of Chironomidae. However, the SEM method also has some limitations. The main problem is dirt or debris (e.g. algae, mud, secretions, mucus, bacteria, etc.), which often settles on the external surface of structures, especially those which are uneven or covered with hair. The dirt should be removed after collection of chironomid material because if left in place it can become chemically fixed to various surfaces. It unnecessarily remains at the surface and final microscopic images may contain artifacts that obscure chironomid structures being investigated. In this way many details of the surface are thus unreadable. The results reported here indicate that SEM examination helps us to identify new morphological features and details that will facilitate the identification of species of Chironomidae and may help to clarify the function of various parts of the body. Fast development of electron microscope technique allows us to learn more about structure of different organisms.

Prodiamesa olivacea Meigen and Prodiamesa bureshi Michailova (Diptera, Chironomidae, Prodiamesinae) as a candidate for assessing the genotoxicity of trace metals in fluvial sediments

The genome response, realized by structure chromosome rearrangements in the polytene chromosomes of two sibling species Prodiamesa bureshi Michailova and Prodiamesa olivacea Mg., was studied. The larvae of the species were collected in May and September, 2016, from Biała Przemsza River, a metal-mine-affected site in southern Poland, where Zn, Cd, and Pb concentrations in the sediment exceeded many times the reference data and those from unpolluted sites. The water had high contents of different major ions and nutrients. A high spectrum of somatic chromosome aberrations was detected in the salivary gland chromosomes of both species, which defined a high somatic index (from 1.2 to 7), indicating the sensitivity of both genomes to anthropogenic stress. The cells with somatic rearrangements of both species were significantly higher (P. bureshi: G = 25.636, P < 0.001 May, G = 32.722, P < 0.001 September; P. olivacea: G = 47.863, P < 0.001 May, G = 38.742, P < 0.001 September) than the control. Both species from polluted and unpolluted sites showed a high frequency of ectopic conjugations, as between arms B, CD (centromere regions), and E (NOR). Some deformities of mentum and mandibles of P. bureshi (20%) and P. olivacea (35%) were detected. We postulate that the appearances of somatic chromosome aberrations are more sensitive indicators of genotoxicity in the studied species than changes in external morphology. The sensitivity of the P. olivacea and P. bureshi genomes shows that these species are good candidates for detecting the presence of genotoxic compounds in aquatic basins and evaluating their genotoxic effects.

Morphology of the adult male and pupal exuviae of Glyptotendipes ( Glyptotendipes ) glaucus (Meigen 1818) (Diptera, Chironomidae) using scanning electron microscope (SEM)

In this paper, a study of the morphology of the pupa and male imago of Glyptotendipes (G.) glaucus (Meigen 1818) was carried out, with the aid of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SEM provided additional valuable information on the morphology of the species. Adult male head, antenna, wing, leg, abdomen, hypopygium, pupal cephalothorax and abdomen were examined. It is emphasized that SEM was not often used in Chironomidae studies. The present results confirm SEM as a suitable approach in carrying out morphological and taxonomical descriptions of Chironomidae species.