When lumbriculids (Annelida: Clitellata: Lumbriculidae) have power: clitellate assemblages in some carpathian spring fens
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| Year of publication | 2017 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Spring ecosystems are often neglected although they belong to the important part of streams. We studied 56 sites in the Western Carpathian Mountains and focused on one part of permanent fauna–on clitellate assemblages („Oligochaeta“ and leeches). Spring fens are wetlands that are formed by one or more spring outflow, spring brook(s), small pools and places that are permanently or occasionally wet. Their stable water conditions (mainly in and near the outflow) provide optimal environment for aquatic macroinvertebrates. Individual spring fens differ in water chemistry (especially in mineral richness) that is forming species composition of fauna and flora. In spring and autumn (2006–2012) we sampled macroinvertebrates at two contrasting mesohabitats in fens (flowing and standing water) using an iron frame (25x25 cm, 5 cm depth). Clitellates were manually sorted out and determined to the species or genus level. We found over 24.000 individuals belonging to 55 taxa of clitellates. There were typically aquatic species (from families Naididae and Lumbriculidae) but also semiaquatic (e.g. Eiseniella tetraedra, Trocheta cylindrica or some enchytraeids) and rarely terrestrial species (from family Lumbricidae and Enchytraeidae). In most of sites (52) there were always found individuals from family Lumbriculidae (Lumbriculus variegatus, Stylodrilus heringianus, Trichodrilus strandi and T. tatrensis). In 25 sites lumbriculids dominated in samples (their percentage in assemblage was equal to or higher than 50%). Cluster analysis divided those 25 sites into 3 groups. Although taxa richness was the same, average number of individuals was different. First group comprised of sites where only L. variegatus and S. heringianus were found, also naidids, enchytraeids and leeches were very frequent. By contrast, in second group’s sites only T. strandi was found and enchytraeids and leeches were rare. The third group can be characterized as a group with no S. heringianus and very little naidids dominated with T. strandi and/or L. variegatus. These differences in clitellate assemblages are caused by changes in water chemistry, details on symposium. |
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