SummaryWe analysed the effect of the invasive perennial plant Heracleum sosnowskyi on soil nematode communities and diversity, and plant species composition, by comparing invaded and non-invaded (control) areas in natural conditions. Invasion of H. sosnowskyi caused significant shifts in plant species composition, which subsequently modified nematode assemblages. Stress-sensitive omnivores, fungivores and root-biomass-dependent obligate plant parasites best reflected changes in soil nematode communities under the influence of H. sosnowskyi invasion. The negative effect of H. sosnowskyi was most evident on Aphelenchus, Tylencholaimus, Geocenamus, Helicotylenchus, Pratylenchus, Tylenchorhynchus and Aporcelaimellus. Our results indicate that significant changes in the herbaceous layer after H. sosnowskyi invasion in ecosystems where H. sosnowskyi eventually became dominant impacted soil nematode communities but did not affect nematode diversity. This was in contrast to the habitats where a solitary plant of H. sosnowskyi grew and no significant changes in nematode communities were observed.
Bromeliads accumulate water in the leaf axils (forming phytotelmata), which may then form a habitat for many animal species of both invertebrates and vertebrates. In temperate regions, bromeliads are commonly displayed in palm houses and distributed by florist wholesalers. Taking into account the fact that global plant trade can be a source of spreading alien species, the phytotelmata that had formed within the bromeliads were examined here in order to study the protists and invertebrates associated with this habitat. In the examined Bromeliaceae micro-reservoirs representatives of testate amoebae (Euglyphida and Arcellinida), Gastrotricha, Nematoda, Rotifera, Polychaeta, Cladocera, Copepoda and mites (Oribatida, Mesostigmata and Heterostigmatina) were found. Additionally, unidentified Nemertea, Turbellaria, Insecta larvae and single representative of Mollusca were also found. Thirty taxa are recorded for the first time from bromeliads micro-reservoirs. Among the identified taxa, the gastrotrich
Paralongidorus rex was found for the first time in Poland and Ukraine. This paper describes females and juveniles from four populations of this species on the basis of morphology and morphometrics and provides molecular characterization using 18S, ITS1 and D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA gene sequences. Morphometrically, females from these populations differed slighty in V ratio (means in four populations: 41.9; 42.7; 46.1; 46.8) and odontostylet length (166.6; 170.6; 191.5; 193.2). Phylogenetic analysis showed that P. rex had a sister relationship with P. iranicus. PCR-D2-D3 of 28S-RFLP diagnostic profiles with five enzymes are given. Additionally, information on new host plants and map of distribution for P. rex are provided. The new record of this nematode species, previously identified as Paralongidorus sp.
Longidorus poessneckensis Altherr, 1974 and L. piceicola Lišková, Robbins & Brown, 1997 (Nematoda: Longidoridae) represent new records from Poland. These two species are described and illustrated together with a male and bivulval female of L. poessneckensis. In its general morphology and morphometrics, the male of L. poessneckensis is similar to the females, but has a spicule 100 μm long and one adanal pair, two double and a row of six single ventromedian supplements. Comments on the differential diagnosis of L. poessneckensis and two morphologically related species, L. uroshis Krnjaić, Lamberti, Krnjaić, Agostinelli & Radicci, 2000 and L. macrosoma Hooper, 1961 are given.
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