Variation of Clitellata (Annelida) assemblages related to water saturation in groundwater-dependent wetlands

Abstract

Aquatic invertebrates of groundwater-dependent wetlands can be sensitive to a drop in the groundwater table, which is considered one of the possible impacts of climate change. We investigated whether aquatic clitellate species are able to dwell in waterlogged substrates without surface water, in 27 spring fens studied across the Western Carpathians. A total of 78 clitellate species were recorded in pairs of samples from aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. Semiaquatic habitats had 27 species in common with aquatic habitats, but algal and fungal feeders were less frequent and abundant, and predatory leeches and Haplotaxis gordioides completely lacking. Results indicate that, during extreme droughts, when aquatic habitats cease to exist, some aquatic clitellates can persist in the waterlogged substrate, while some aquatic specialists may face the risk of local extinction.