The first record and occurrence of Stagnicola turricula (Held, 1836) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Lymnaeidae) in Upper Silesia (Southern Poland) in relation to different environmental factors

Abstract

The degradation of freshwater environments, e.g.: eutrophication, drainage, water pollution, has led to the decline of lymnaeid species distribution. Some of them are recorded in the Red Book and Red List of species as rare, vulnerable or legally protected. The survey was carried out in Upper Silesia (Southern Poland), which is one of the biggest coal basins in the world. This region is devoid of natural water bodies; only reservoirs of an anthropogenic origin are common. Anthropogenic reservoirs, which are not very degraded, constitute important lentic habitats in Upper Silesia and they provide refuges for wildlife including rare and vulnerable molluscan species. This survey uncovered the first occurrence of Stagnicola turricula in the anthropogenic reservoirs in this area. S. turricula has been subdominant in molluscan communities. Sixteen molluscan species, including 11 gastropod and 5 bivalve species, were recorded at the sampling sites. Based on a redundancy analysis (RDA), the organic matter content in the bottom sediments and pH were the parameters most associated (statistically significant) with the distribution of molluscan species including S. turricula.