Leeches (Clitellata: Hirudinida) of an upland stream: taxonomic composition in relation to habitat conditions

Cichocka, Joanna M.; Jabłońska‐Barna, Izabela; Bielecki, Aleksander; Buczyńska, Edyta; Buczyński, P.; Stryjecki, Robert; Pikuła, Dorota

doi:10.1515/ohs-2015-0023

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…They are top predators and ectoparasites that control prey and host populations in spring ecosystems. At the same time, leeches are prey for many carnivorous species (Koperski, 2006;Kubová et al, 2013;Cichocka et al, 2015;Živić et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Faunistic patterns and diversity components of leech assemblages in karst springs of Montenegro

Marinković¹,

Karadžić²,

Pešić³

et al. 2019

Knowl. Manag. Aquat. Ecosyst.

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The aim of this study was to reveal faunistic and diversity patterns and to assess the effects of environmental factors on the differentiation of leech communities. This study covers investigations of 82 karst springs in Montenegro from 2009–2017. The communities were analyzed in respect to five wellspring types – caves, sublacustrine, limnocrene, rheo-limnocrene and rheocrene. The percentage of substrate types and aquatic vegetation cover was recorded alongside water parameters. In total, 18 leech species were identified, of which two were recently described as new species for science (Dina minuoculata Grosser, Moritz and Pešić, 2007 and Glossiphonia balcanica Grosser and Pešić, 2016). K-means clustering was used to classify leech assemblages into three homogenous groups. The patterns of leech communities and the components of both alpha and beta diversity were examined in identified groups of assemblages. The significance of environmental factors and the impact of selected factors were assessed through forward selection analysis, CCA and RDA. Our results indicate that the type of spring and the environmental variables, as well as the combination of biotic and abiotic factors in a microhabitat dictate the distribution of leeches.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Physical and chemical variables of water, substrate type and food availability are the main factors determining the distribution patterns of free-living leeches (Koperski, 2006(Koperski, , 2010Beracko and Ko sel, 2011;Kubová et al, 2013;Cichocka et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Faunistic patterns and diversity components of leech assemblages in karst springs of Montenegro

Marinković¹,

Karadžić²,

Pešić³

et al. 2019

Knowl. Manag. Aquat. Ecosyst.

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“…It can be concluded that in these cases, the combination of the faster-flowing and higher saprobic state has favored E. vilnensis in competition with other species. Many articles support the conclusion that E. vilnensis prefers smaller water bodies located at medium-high and higher altitudes [55,57,58].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…These rivers are under anthropogenic pressures, and are often exposed to water quality degradation [53,54]. Tolerance to mesosaprobic conditions is known in the case of E. vilnensis [48,55,56]. It can be concluded that in these cases, the combination of the faster-flowing and higher saprobic state has favored E. vilnensis in competition with other species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chorological and Ecological Differentiation of the Commonest Leech Species from the Suborder Erpobdelliformes (Arhynchobdellida, Hirudinea) on the Balkan Peninsula

Marinković

Karadžić

Stamenković

et al. 2020

Water

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This study is the result of extensive investigations of leeches on the Balkan Peninsula. Our aim was to detect actual and potential (modeled) distributions of common Erpobdellidae species, and to identify their ecological differentiation with respect to the altitudinal and waterbody type gradient. Although widespread, these species rarely live together. Intense competition is avoided by preferences for different types of habitats. This was confirmed by Pearson correlation analyses that yielded negative results. Differentiation of these species was clarified by the results of logistic Gaussian regression analyses. While Erpobdella octoculata and Dina lineata have a similar distribution along the altitudinal gradient, they prefer different waterbody types. Erpobdella vilnensis prefers higher altitudes than the other two species. Its preferred habitats are smaller rivers and streams located at altitudes from 400 to 1000 m a.s.l. Although present in all waterbody types, large lowland rivers and standing waterbodies are the preferred habitats of E. octoculata. Fast-flowing springs and streams are mostly inhabited by D. lineata. While the distribution of the species overlaps to a large degree, the ecological preferences of species differ significantly and thus they can be used as confident typological descriptors and indicators of ecological status.

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“…Kazancı et al 2015) and in most biomonitoring protocols they are treated as negative bioindicators. However, the response of their diversity to pollution and the increase in nutrients load is not easy to interprete, because particular leech species distinctly differ in environmental preferences (Koperski 2005(Koperski , 2006(Koperski , 2017Kubova et al 2013;Cichocka et al 2015). Basic abiotic parameters seem to be clearly correlated with the taxonomic structure of lotic leech assemblages (Kubová and Schenkova 2014;Jabłońska-Barna 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linear and nonlinear effects of nutrient enrichments on the diversity of macrobenthos in lowland watercourses

Koperski

2021

Aquat Ecol

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The study concerns the relationships between taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity of benthic invertebrates inhabiting watercourses and abiotic parameters associated with excessive nutrients load (concentration of Kjejdahl nitrogen, nitrates, phosphorus, organic carbon and dissolved oxygen, values of BOD5 and electrolytic conductivity). The research used data on the species composition of leeches, molluscs and larval forms of odonates and chironomid dipterans. Their description using mathematical functions allowed to determine whether the diversity reaches maximal values at extreme or moderate values of nutrients enrichment. In most cases, statistically significant relationships were unimodal—the highest diversity was observed at intermediate values of nutrients content and associated parameters, however the different patterns of relationships, monotonic and inverse quadratic, were also observed. Indirect impacts of nutrients enrichment on diversity were found as the most significant relationships. Significant responses of functional diversity were clearer and stronger than responses of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity. The identification of fauna to the species level allowed for obtaining precise results that could enable selection of appropriate parameters for effective assessment of environmental degradation.

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Leeches (Clitellata: Hirudinida) of an upland stream: taxonomic composition in relation to habitat conditions

Cited by 7 publications

References 26 publications

Faunistic patterns and diversity components of leech assemblages in karst springs of Montenegro

Faunistic patterns and diversity components of leech assemblages in karst springs of Montenegro

Chorological and Ecological Differentiation of the Commonest Leech Species from the Suborder Erpobdelliformes (Arhynchobdellida, Hirudinea) on the Balkan Peninsula

Linear and nonlinear effects of nutrient enrichments on the diversity of macrobenthos in lowland watercourses

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