Péter Borza

Range expansion of Ponto-Caspian mysids (Mysida, Mysidae) in the River Tisza: first record of Paramysis lacustris (Czerniavsky, 1882) for Hungary

In the River Tisza, the longest tributary of the Danube, Limnomysis benedeni Czerniavsky, 1882 had been the only mysid recorded until recently. In 2011, we found a few juvenile specimens of Hemimysis anomala G. O. Sars, 1907 in two daytime samples taken from the Hungarian river section. During the overnight survey in 2012 aimed at revealing the actual distribution of this nocturnally active species, its most upstream occurrence was detected at Szolnok (river km 334). Paramysis lacustris (Czerniavsky, 1882) was also found at every sampling site of the river downstream of Tiszabercel (rkm 568), representing the first record of the species for the fauna of Hungary, and its most upstream self-sustaining population in the basin of the River Danube (1759 rkm from the Danube mouth). P. lacustris is the fourth Ponto-Caspian mysid that has begun to expand its range spontaneously in the Danube catchment after L. benedeni, H. anomala, and Katamysis warpachowskyi G. O. Sars, 1893. Due to its zooplanktivory it can be anticipated to have a considerable effect on the composition and abundance of the zooplankton assemblages and it may also become an important food source for certain fish species, especially in the impounded reaches and in stagnant or slow-flowing backwaters. P. lacustris — similarly to H. anomala — shows a diel vertical migration, moving to shallow waters only by night, which calls for increased attention in order to reveal its possible future range expansions. Although the River Tisza itself is not connected directly to other river basins via canals, it may potentially contribute to the further spread of the species (e.g., via fish stocking).

Is subterranean lifestyle reversible? Independent and recent large-scale dispersal into surface waters by two species of the groundwater amphipod genus Niphargus

Groundwater is an extreme environment due to its absence of light, resource scarcity and highly fragmentary nature. Successful groundwater colonizers underwent major evolutionary changes and exhibit eye and pigment loss (troglomorphies). Consequently, their chances of dispersal and survival in the well-connected surface waters are greatly decreased, resulting in significant endemism. The West Palaearctic subterranean amphipod genus Niphargus comprises hundreds of narrowly endemic and troglomorphic species. Nevertheless, a few are known to occur in surface waters, two of which, N. hrabei and N. valachicus, have extremely large ranges that even exceed those of many surface-water amphipods. We tested if this pattern results from a secondary colonization of the relatively well-connected epigean environment, and whether this ecological shift promoted the large-scale dispersal of these species. Results showed that despite their ecological and zoogeographic similarities, N. hrabei and N. valachicus are not closely related and independently colonized surface waters. Their phylogeographic patterns indicate Middle to Late Pleistocene dispersal episodes throughout the Danube lowlands, and relatively modest yet significant genetic differentiation among populations. Clustering based on morphology revealed that the two species are phenotypically closer to each other than they are to most other epigean congeners. We presume that the ecological shift to surface environments was facilitated by their ability to thrive in hypoxic waters where rheophilic competitors from the family Gammaridae cannot survive. In conclusion, our results indicate that adaptation to groundwater is not a one-way evolutionary path and that troglomorphic species can occasionally recolonize and widely disperse in surface waters.

Success factors and future prospects of Ponto–Caspian peracarid (Crustacea: Malacostraca) invasions: Is ‘the worst over’?

Ponto–Caspian peracarids (amphipods, isopods, mysids and cumaceans) represent one of the most successful groups of aquatic invaders comprising several high-impact species, such as Chelicorophium curvispinum, Dikerogammarus villosus, or Hemimysis anomala. In the present study we made the first attempt to compare biological traits and the environmental preferences of invasive and non-invasive members of the group based on both literature and field data (Joint Danube Survey 3, 2013) with the goal of identifying factors linked to invasion success and drawing conclusions on future invasion risks. Both datasets indicated substrate preference as an important factor in spontaneous range expansion; all invasive species are lithophilous, whereas the majority of non-invasives are psammo-pelophilous. The remaining seven presently non-invasive lithophilous species deserve special attention when considering potential future invaders; however, due to their rarity and possible negative interactions with earlier colonists we consider the probability of their expansion in the foreseeable future as low. Their potential expansion could most likely be of minor consequence anyway, since no considerable functional novelty can be attributed to them in addition to species already present. In this limited context (regarding habitats dominated by hard substrates and not considering the potential further spread of already invasive species) it might be justified to conclude that ‘the worst is over’. Nevertheless, impending navigation development projects both in the Danube–Main–Rhine and Dnieper–Pripyat–Bug–Vistula systems might favour the future spread of non-lithophilous species, which might imply a new invasion wave of Ponto–Caspian peracarids.

Niche differentiation among invasive Ponto-Caspian Chelicorophium species (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Corophiidae) by food particle size

After Chelicorophium curvispinum, two other Ponto-Caspian tube-dwelling, filter-feeding amphipod species (Chelicorophium robustum and Chelicorophium sowinskyi) have colonized several catchments in Central and Western Europe in recent decades. To reveal the mechanism of niche differentiation among them, we measured the mesh sizes of their filtering apparatus and analyzed multi-habitat sampling data from the River Danube using RDA-based variance partitioning between environmental and spatial explanatory variables. Morphometric data showed a clear differentiation among the species by filter mesh size (C. curvispinum > C. robustum > C. sowinskyi). Field data also indicated the relevance of suspended matter; however, the mere quantity of suspended solids included in the analysis could not explain the abundance patterns effectively. Current velocity, substrate types, and total nitrogen content also had a non-negligible effect; however, their role in the niche differentiation of the species is not evident. In summary, differences in their filter mesh sizes indicate a niche differentiation by food particle size among the invasive Chelicorophium species, allowing their stable coexistence given sufficient size variability in their food source. Consequently, the two recent invaders increase the effectiveness of resource utilization, resulting in a more intensive benthic–pelagic coupling in the colonized ecosystems.