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Kasparek, Max; Demirsoy, Ali; Akbulut, Aydın; Akbulut, Nuray; Çalışkan, Mustafa; Durmuş, Yusuf

doi:10.1023/a:1017555322002

Cited by 24 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Most data come from natural waters of high environmental quality, which are usually in focus of such studies, particularly those of inventory or monitoring character (e.g., Kasparek et al 2000). However, equally interesting yet scarce data come from the waters heavily modified by humans or even artificial, often characterised by a strong pressure from fish predators and eutrophication (Buczyński et al 2008;Bielecki et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence of the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) in birds’ nests

et al. 2014

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Occurrence and breeding of Hirudo medicinalis were recorded in birds' nests in the fishing ponds and water bodies used extensively by anglers in south-eastern Poland, in 4 of 11 studied bird species (Circus aeruginosus, Fulica atra, Cygnus olor, Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Factors important for the distribution and density of this leech were: nest height, pH of the water and oxygen concentration in the water inside the nests, the body-length of the nesting birds. Our data show that (1) H. medicinalis chooses nests as habitats that are safe in water bodies rich in predators (particularly fish) and provide stable feeding conditions; (2) fishing ponds and other water bodies used extensively by anglers in a landscape modified by human pressure can be an important secondary habitat for the medicinal leech. As the nesting activity of some aquatic birds apparently favors the occurrence of H. medicinalis, active protection of aquatic birds and creating sites appropriate for their breeding may be an indirect way for the conservation of the leech in such areas.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence of the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) in birds’ nests

et al. 2014

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“…In this context Turkey is one of the major exporting countries for the medicinal leech. [22][23][24] Turkey allowed to export 2,000 kg of Hirudospecies collected from wetlands between since the year 2014 but was able to only export 364.7 kg of medical leech in 2016. This amount accounts for only 18,24% of the export quota permitted.…”

Section: Effects Of Leech Utilization On Hirudospeciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of environmental factors on leeches

Sağlam

2018

aaeoa

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Leeches are indispensable organisms of the aquatic ecosystem. The worldwide are identified over than 650 species of leeches. These organisms live in freshwater, estuarine, marine, and semi-terrestrial ecosystems. Leeches occur in slow flowing parts of streams and rivers, in artificial and natural lakes, in marine, in habitats such as marsh and lagoon. Leeches are found in the zone of the benthic and occasionally pelagic communities of artificial and natural lakes, ponds, marine, habitats such as marshes and lagoons and slow flowing parts of streams and rivers. Some species of leech are parasitic, and most are fed predators. Some species of leeches, which have undertaken important tasks in the ecosystem, are also endangered.Leeches, which are a member of the Clitellata class, are at the forefront of aquatic organisms affected by environmental negativity. In particular, human-induced environmental pressures are the most important factors that put the generation of leeches at risk. Leeches are most affected by agricultural activity, excessive collection, dangerous chemical compounds in water, increasing urbanization and global climate change.

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“…Consequently, populations of H. medicinalis in Central Europe were depleted, and non-sustainable collecting led to their extinction in many areas. Pollution and habitat drainage further added to their decline, forcing Europe to import medicinal leeches from the Ottoman Empire (Anatolia), North Africa and Russia [31] to meet demand. By the late 1900's, the advent of "modern" medicine drastically reduced clinical demand for leeches, allowing some threatened populations to rebound.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Turkey is rich in wetlands and known to support at least two species of medicinal leech, H. medicinalis and H. verbana. Prior to ~2000, it was believed that medicinal leeches from Turkey's wetlands were only H. medicinalis [21,31]. Molecular characterization of Turkish leeches was not performed until the turn of the century, however, and leeches from the Kızılırmak and Yesilirmak Deltas on the Black Sea coast, comprising the majority of leech specimens destined for export, have proven to be to H. verbana [4,51,55].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new species of Hirudo (Annelida: Hirudinidae): historical biogeography of Eurasian medicinal leeches

Sağlam¹,

Saunders²,

Lang³

et al. 2016

BMC Zool

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Background: Species of Hirudo are used extensively for medicinal purposes, but are currently listed as endangered due to population declines from economic utilization and environmental pollution. In total, five species of Hirudo are currently described throughout Eurasia, with Turkey being one of the major exporters of medicinal leech, primarily H. verbana. Results: To define the distribution of Hirudo spp. within Turkey, we collected 18 individuals from six populations throughout the country. Morphological characters were scored after dorsal and ventral dissections, and Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) analyses resolved phylogenetic relationships using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and nuclear 18S rRNA gene fragments. Our results identify a new species of medicinal leech, Hirudo sulukii n. sp, in Kara Lake of Adiyaman, Sülüklü Lake of Gaziantep and Segirkan wetland of Batman in Turkey. Phylogenetic divergence (e.g., 10-14 % at COI), its relatively small size, unique dorsal and ventral pigmentation patterns, and internal anatomy (e.g., small and pointed atrium, medium-sized epididymis, relatively long tubular and arc formed vagina) distinguish H. sulukii n. sp. from previously described Hirudo sp. Conclusions: By ML and BI analyses, H. sulukii n. sp. forms a basal evolutionary branch of Eurasian medicinal leeches. Phylogeographic interpretations of the genus identify a European Hirudo "explosion" during the upper Miocene followed by geological events (e.g., Zanclean flood, mountain building) that likely contributed to range restrictions and regional speciation of extant members of the clade.

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Cited by 24 publications

References 3 publications

Occurrence of the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) in birds’ nests

Occurrence of the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) in birds’ nests

The effects of environmental factors on leeches

A new species of Hirudo (Annelida: Hirudinidae): historical biogeography of Eurasian medicinal leeches

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