Species Of Aquatic Oligochaetes Research Articles

New species of aquatic oligochaetes (Annelida: Clitellata) from tufa barriersin Croatia.

Two new aquatic oligochaete species are described from tufa barriers in Croatia. The reproductive system in the phallodriline Aberrantidrius mihaljevici Vučković et al. n. sp. conforms to the general pattern in the genus but it is distinguished by a combination of characters, including the shape and length of penial chaetae (3 times the mean length of somatic chaetae), atrium shape and spermathecal pore position (anterior in the postatrial segment). The lumbriculid Stylodrilus tofaceus Rodriguez et al. n. sp. is mainly distinguished from congeners by the spindle-shaped spermathecal ducts with high lining epithelium, and position of the spermathecal pores. These two new taxa reveal that aquatic oligochaete communities in tufa barriers of karstic regions may be of particular interest with respect to diversity of endemic taxa, and also for study of colonization routes of this interesting habitat, with possible relations with groundwaters. The finding of one specimen attributable to the genus Eclipidrilus may open ainteresting research on the biogeography of this Nearctic genus.

First record of the alien aquatic oligochaete species Monopylephorus limosus (Hatai, 1898) (Annelida) in Central Europe

Abstract The paper reports on the first record of the Asian aquatic oligochaete species Monopylephorus limosus (Hatai, 1898) in Central Europe. The species was found in the lower course of the Bolina River (S Poland), which is contaminated with saline mine waters. One immature individual was collected in the late summer of 2017. M. limosus co-occurred with Paranais litoralis, Nais elinguis and juvenile Enchytraeidae. To date, M. limosus is one of the 29 non-native annelids that are known to occur in Poland.

Oligochaeta (Annelida: Clitellata) in the Juruena River, MT, Brazil: species indicators of substrate types

Abstract: Oligochaeta assemblages are important components in freshwater environments, where their abundance and composition may indicate aspects related to water quality and sediment. The lack of information about these communities in Brazilian aquatic environments, as well as the application of native species as bioindicators of lotic environmental, stimulated the conception of this paper. Thus, the aim was to study the community of aquatic Oligochaeta in selected stretches of the Juruena River (MT), thereby generating grounds for future environmental monitoring action in lotic ecosystems. For this purpose, samples were analyzed at bimonthly intervals during the period from January to November 2009, in stretches of the Juruena River (Amazon River Basin) located in the State of Mato Grosso (MT). Two methods were used to collect the organisms: a) "D" network in small clusters of fixed macrophytes in the sediment on the river banks; and b) Ekman-Birge dredge in fine sediment. Preliminary results were 584 organisms distributed in 22 taxa. Of these, 22 valid species were identified. This number corresponds to approximately 25% of the aquatic oligochaete species registered in Brazil. Of these species, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Dero nivea and Pristina rosea can be associated with organic enrichment conditions and/or some level of environmental degradation.

Accelerated deactivation of Myxobolus cerebralis myxospores by susceptible and non-susceptible Tubifex tubifex.

In the 1990s, the Tubifex tubifex aquatic oligochaete species complex was parsed into 6 separate lineages differing in susceptibility to Myxobolus cerebralis, the myxozoan parasite that can cause whirling disease (WD). Lineage III T. tubifex oligochaetes are highly susceptible to M. cerebralis infection. Lineage I, IV, V and VI oligochaetes are highly resistant or refractory to infection and may function as biological filters by deactivating M. cerebralis myxospores. We designed a 2-phased laboratory experiment using triactinomyxon (TAM) production as the response variable to test that hypothesis. A separate study conducted concurrently demonstrated that M. cerebralis myxospores held in sand and water at temperatures ≤15°C degrade rapidly, becoming almost completely non-viable after 180 d. Those results provided the baseline to assess deactivation of M. cerebralis myxospores by replicates of mixed lineage (I, III, V and VI) and refractory lineage (V and VI) oligochaetes. TAM production was zero among 7 of 8 Lineage V and Lineage VI T. tubifex oligochaete groups exposed to 12500 M. cerebralis myxospores for 15, 45, 90 and 135 d. Among 4 mixed lineage exposure groups, TAM production averaged 14641 compared with 2202495 among 12 groups of Lineage III oligochaetes. Among the 6 unexposed Lineage III experimental groups seeded into original Phase 1 substrates for the 45, 90 and 135 d treatments during the Phase 2 portion of the study, TAM production was reduced by 98.9, 99.9 and 99.9%, respectively, compared with the average for the 15 d exposure groups. These results are congruent with the hypothesis that Lineage V and Lineage VI T. tubifex oligochaetes can deactivate and destroy M. cerebralis myxospores.

Note faunistique sur les oligochètes aquatiques de la région genevoise et de Suisse

Aquatic oligochaetes are used in Switzerland to assess sediment quality of watercourses and lakes. The aim of this note is to mention the presence of new species of aquatic oligochaetes for Switzerland and to update the inventory of this group in the Geneva area (Switzerland). Species diversity was studied in fine/sandy sediments of watercourses (canton of Geneva) and lakes (canton of Bern) as well as in very little studied environments in Switzerland, coarse surficial sediments and the hyporheic zone of watercourses (cantons of Geneva and Valais). Seven new species for Switzerland and twelve new species for the Geneva area were found. The number of taxa in the Geneva area is currently 81. The current development and use of molecular biology (barcoding, high-throughput sequencing technologies) as a tool for aquatic oligochaetes identification will allow researchers to improve significantly future species inventories.

Records of Naididae and Lumbriculidae (Clitellata) from Tibet, China, with description of a new species of Nais.

The Tibetan Plateau is considered to have a unique fauna of fish and invertebrates. However, little taxonomic work has been conducted on the aquatic Oligochaeta of Tibet, China. Based on the surveys of rivers and lakes in this region between 2010 and 2011, we recorded 25 species of oligochaetes belonging to 2 families and 15 genera. This paper provides an overview of the species composition of different waterbodies, the description of one new species, Nais longidentata sp. n., and re-descriptions of four previously described species. Hitherto, 30 species of aquatic oligochaetes have been recorded from Tibet. The oligochaete fauna is similar to that of the Holarctic, but has several endemic elements.

Freshwater oligochaetes (Annelida) from Western Ghats andthe west coast of Karnataka (India)

A survey on freshwater oligochaetes was conducted between October 2011 and June 2013 in selected wetlands of the Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Shimoga districts of Karnataka, India. In this study, 260 wetlands were sampled and examined for the presence of microdriles. Sixteen species of aquatic oligochaetes were recorded. Of these, 10 species belonged to the family Naididae (monophyletic) and 6 species to the family Pristinidae. The species' distribution patterns in different water bodies and habitat specificity (if any) in the study area are presented.

Checklist of Aquatic Oligochaetes Species in Tigris–Euphrates River basin

A total of 60 species of aquatic oligochaetes were identified in different sites within Tigris-Euphrates basin / Iraq, including River Tigris, River Euphrates, Southern marshes ( Al-Haweiza , Al-Hammar and Al-Chebaiesh ) , Shutt Al-Germa, and Shatt Al-Arab. In River Euphrates 39 species were identified, 40 species from River Tigris and 32 species from Shatt-Al-Arab and southern marshes.The identified species were classified as four species of Family Aeolosomatidae, 54 species of Naididae ( 31 Naidinae , 8 Pristininae and 15 Tubificid worms), one species of each of Lumbriculidae ( Lumbriculus variegates ) and Lumbricidae ( Eiseiella tetraedra). Among Aeolosomatidae , Aelosoma aquaternarium, A. Liedyi, A. variegatum and A. hemprichi, in which, A. variegatum was the most frequent species, found in Euphrates river. Naidinae community were represented by five species of genus Chaetogaster, two species of each of Paranais, Slavina, & Stylaria, four species of Allonais , and seven species of each of Dero and Nais, in addition to Stephensoniana trivandrana, Specaria josinae and Ophidonais serpentina. Nais variabilis was the most abundant and frequent species in River Tigris while Stylaria lacustris & Ophidonais serpentina are abundant in River Euphrates . Species of Pristininae were representative by four species of genus Pristina and three species of genus pristinella, among them Priatina longiseta is the most abundant species.Tubificid worms, Branchuira sowerbyi and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri were the most frequent and abundant species in the surface sediments of Iraqi waters. Beside L. hoffmeisteri , other five species of Limnodrilus, two species of Potomothrix, and a single species of Tubifex tubifex , Embolocephalus velutinus, Aulodrilus piguetia, Psammoryctides moravicus and Rhyacodrilus coccineus were recorded.

Checklist of Aquatic Oligochaetes Species in Tigris–Euphrates River basin

A total of 60 species of aquatic oligochaetes were identified in different sites within Tigris-Euphrates basin / Iraq, including River Tigris, River Euphrates, Southern marshes ( Al-Haweiza , Al-Hammar and Al-Chebaiesh ) , Shutt Al-Germa, and Shatt Al-Arab. In River Euphrates 39 species were identified, 40 species from River Tigris and 32 species from Shatt-Al-Arab and southern marshes.The identified species were classified as four species of Family Aeolosomatidae, 54 species of Naididae ( 31 Naidinae , 8 Pristininae and 15 Tubificid worms), one species of each of Lumbriculidae ( Lumbriculus variegates ) and Lumbricidae ( Eiseiella tetraedra). Among Aeolosomatidae , Aelosoma aquaternarium, A. Liedyi, A. variegatum and A. hemprichi, in which, A. variegatum was the most frequent species, found in Euphrates river. Naidinae community were represented by five species of genus Chaetogaster, two species of each of Paranais, Slavina, & Stylaria, four species of Allonais , and seven species of each of Dero and Nais, in addition to Stephensoniana trivandrana, Specaria josinae and Ophidonais serpentina. Nais variabilis was the most abundant and frequent species in River Tigris while Stylaria lacustris & Ophidonais serpentina are abundant in River Euphrates . Species of Pristininae were representative by four species of genus Pristina and three species of genus pristinella, among them Priatina longiseta is the most abundant species.Tubificid worms, Branchuira sowerbyi and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri were the most frequent and abundant species in the surface sediments of Iraqi waters. Beside L. hoffmeisteri , other five species of Limnodrilus, two species of Potomothrix, and a single species of Tubifex tubifex , Embolocephalus velutinus, Aulodrilus piguetia, Psammoryctides moravicus and Rhyacodrilus coccineus were recorded.

Five species of aquatic oligochaetes new to Iran with an updated checklist

Abstract Only 14 species of aquatic oligochaetes occurring in inland waters of Iran have been recorded until now. Our investigations based on samples collected in 2003 and 2005 revealed the presence of six species, including five new to the fauna of Iran: Haplotaxis gordioides, Dero dorsalis, Pristina breviseta, Embolocephalus velutinus and Psammoryctides albicola. The provided checklist of Iranian aquatic oligochaetes is still very short (19 species). It is mostly represented by common, cosmopolitan species. However, taking into account the large area of the country, its mountainous terrain and peculiar hydrological network, more species may be discovered in the future.

Oligochaetes (Annelida, Clitellata) in the Anzali International Wetland, north-western Iran

INTRODUCTION Transitional waters, for example lagoons, represent important but fragile ecosystems in the coastal landscape, providing key ecosystem services such as water quality improvement, fisheries resources, habitat and food for migratory and resident animals, and recreational areas for human populations. The Anzali International Wetland was registered in the Ramsar Convention in 1975 as Ramsar Site #40, Wetlands International Site Reference No. 2IR005 (JICA 2005). The Anzali Wetland complex comprises large, shallow, eutrophic freshwater lagoons, shallow impoundments, marshes, and seasonally flooded grasslands at the south-western coast of the Caspian Sea (Fig. 1). It consists of different aquatic and dry land ecosystems and is a good example of a natural habitat supporting an extremely diverse wetland flora and fauna (Ayati 2003). Oligochaete annelids have a worldwide distribution, being frequently the most abundant benthic organisms in freshwater ecosystems; many species are cosmopolitan (Brinkhurst and Jamieson 1971). They are used in biodiversity studies, pollution surveys, and environmental assessment and have also economic importance (Mason 1996; Wetzel et al. 2000; Rodriguez and Reynoldson 2011). Although many researchers have studied the Anzali Wetland from the pollution-related, faunistic, and ecological points of view (e.g. Ayati 2003; JICA 2005; Charkhabi and Sakizadeh 2006; Akbarzadeh et al. 2008; Jafari 2009; Tahershamsi et al. 2009; Mirzajani et al. 2010; Pourang et al. 2010; Jamshidi-Zanjani and Saeedi 2013), there are no data on the species diversity of the Oligochaeta of the region, except the single record of Tubifex tubifex by Pourang (1996). The aquatic Oligochaeta species of Iran are mentioned only in a few papers: Stephenson (1920), Egglishaw (1980), Aliyev and Ahmadi (2010), Ahmadi et al. (2011, 2012), Ardalan et al. (2011), Jablonska and Pesic (2014). Until now 19 species of aquatic oligochaetes occurring in inland waters of Iran have been recorded. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity and distribution of this group and to contribute to the Oligochaeta fauna of both the Anzali Wetland and Iran. MATERIAL AND METHODS Study area The Anzali International Wetland (37[degrees]28' N, 49[degrees]25' W), one of the largest freshwater coastal wetlands of Iran, is located in the Guilan Province at the south-western coast of the Caspian Sea and covers an area of 193 [km.sup.2] (Pourang et al. 2010) (Fig. 1). The main wetland covers about 11 000 ha; it comprises an open freshwater lagoon with a length of 26 km and a width of 2.0-3.5 km, surrounded by reed beds extending its eastern border for another 7 km. Eleven rivers and groundwater seeps feed the wetland. The wetland complex is separated from the Caspian Sea by a dune system; the passage to the sea has a width of 426 m. The wetland supports extensive reed beds and an abundant submerged and floating macrovegetation. Its permanently aquatic portion is surrounded by seasonally flooded marshes and water impoundments, which are also fringed by reed beds and damp grassland. The southern part of the wetland is mainly adjacent to rice fields and patches of woodland, while the northern part borders on sand dunes with grassland and a scrubby vegetation. The wetland consists of four main parts: the western, the central (Sorkhankol Wildlife Refuge), the south-western (Siahkeshim Protected Area), and the eastern; the last part has different physico-chemical, morphologic, phytoecological, and geographical characteristics, including a higher anthropogenic pressure (Ayati 2003). [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] Total precipitation in the Anzali Wetland is about 1500 to 2000 mm [y.sup.-1]. Maximum water depth is about 3 m but it is fluctuating (Jafari 2009). The water depth has decreased, owing to solid sedimentation, in some parts to less than 0.5 m (Ayati 2003). In the last ten years, salinity has slightly increased with the rise of the level of the Caspian Sea, which has caused more intensive mixing of water, as well as with the inflow of salt from increased upstream irrigation. …

DNA barcoding and species delimitation: the Stylodrilus heringianus case (Annelida : Clitellata : Lumbriculidae)

Individuals of the aquatic oligochaete species Stylodrilus heringianus Claparède, 1862 were collected across a part of this species’ distribution range in Sweden, Estonia, Great Britain and Spain to test whether they represent a single metapopulation or several separately evolving lineages. Using sequences of the barcoding gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and two nuclear genes (internal transcribed spacer region and histone 3), three different approaches were conducted: pairwise distance-method, Bayesian inference and network analysis. Both the COI phylogeny and network analyses were concordant in recovering six haplotype clusters, which showed a maximum genetic distance of 7.7% (K2P) among each other. Nevertheless, nuclear genes failed to confirm any lineage separation, and we conclude that the sampled specimens all belong to the same species. A phylogeographic history with allopatric divergence and secondary contact is suggested to explain this intraspecific pattern of mitochondrial divergence and nuclear non-divergence. The study shows that a mitochondrial single-locus approach can be problematic for the accurate delimitation of species, and we emphasise the need for nuclear genes as supplementary markers, when taxonomic resolution is assessed with COI barcodes.

New Record of a Naidid Oligochaete Species, Ripistes parasita (Annelida: Clitellata: Naididae) from Korea

An aquatic oligochaete species, Ripistes parasita (Schmidt, 1847) collected from Ganghwado Island in Korea, is described and illustrated. Specimens inhabiting on aquatic vegetation at the edge of the streams were collected with a plankton hand net. Morphological features of present specimens such as the number of long hair chaetae per bundle and their length in ⅥI-Ⅷ, and shape and size of ventral chaetae are concordant with those of previous reports on this species. The genus Ripistes contains one species, R. parasite which is distributed over, Europe, North America and eastern part of Asia including China and Japan. This is the first record of R. parasita in Korea.

Oligochaetes (Annelida, Clitellata) in a neotropical stream: a mesohabitat approach

This paper analyses the relationship among mesohabitat and aquatic oligochaete species in the Galharada Stream (Campos do Jordão State Park, state of São Paulo, Brazil). Between August 2005 and May 2006 a total of 192 samples were obtained in areas of four different mesohabitats: riffle leaf litter (RL), pool leaf litter (PL), pool sediment (PS) and interstitial sediment from rocky beds in riffle areas (IS). In the mesohabitats sampled, 2007 specimens were identified, belonging to two families (Naididae and Enchytraeidae). Among the oligochaetes identified Naididae was represented by six genera (Allonais, Chaetogaster, Nais, Pristina, Aulodrilus and Limnodrilus). Principal components analysis (PCA) revealed the first two axes explained 85.1% of the total variance of the data. Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Claparede, 1862 and Aulodrilus limnobius Bretscher, 1899 were associated with the pool areas (PL and PS). Most species of genera Pristina and Nais demonstrated apparent affinity with the riffle mesohabitats. The Indicator Species Analysis (IndVal) revealed that Nais communis Piguet, 1906, Pristina leidyi Smith, 1896 and Pristina (Pristinella) jenkinae (Stephenson, 1931) are indicative of RL mesohabitat, while family Enchytraeidae was considered indicative of PL mesohabitat.

New species of aquatic oligochaetes (Annelida: Clitellata) from groundwaters in karstic areas of northern Spain, with taxonomic remarks on Lophochaeta ignota Štolc, 1886

New species of aquatic oligochaetes (Annelida: Clitellata) from groundwaters in karstic areas of northern Spain, with taxonomic remarks on Lophochaeta ignota Štolc, 1886

Aquatic oligochaetes (Annelida: Clitellata) of the Czech Republic: check-list, new records, and ecological remarks

This study contributes to the knowledge of central European clitellates by creating a check-list of Oligochaeta (sensu oligochaetous Clitellata; Erséus 2005) of the Czech Republic, exclusive of taxa in the family Enchytraeidae. In total, 95 aquatic oligochaete species representing 43 genera are reported for the Czech Republic. Rare species are highlighted and associated with the categories for threatened species as outlined by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The first records of Trichodrilus strandi Hrabě, 1936, Pristina jenkinae (Stephenson, 1931), Pristina osborni (Walton, 1906), Rhyacodrilus subterraneus Hrabě, 1963, Aulodrilus limnobius Bretscher, 1899, and Aulodrilus pigueti Kowalewski, 1914 in the Czech Republic are presented. Their ecology, morphology, and distribution are discussed.

New species of aquatic oligochaetes (Annelida: Clitellata) from groundwaters in karstic areas of northern Spain, with taxonomic remarks on Lophochaeta ignota Štolc, 1886

We describe two new species: Gianius navarroi n. sp. (Phallodrilinae) and Isochaetides gianii n. sp. (Tubificinae), which were discovered during investigations on the groundwater oligochaete fauna in northern Spain. The present study contributes to the knowledge of the stygobiont oligochaete species in the Iberian Peninsula, which includes 21 species so far. Mature specimens of Lophochaeta ignota Štolc, 1886 were also collected at some sites, and are used to supplement the limited description of the reproductive organs known for the species to date. Taxonomy of the genus Lophochaeta Štolc, 1886 is discussed.

Global diversity of oligochaetous clitellates (“Oligochaeta”; Clitellata) in freshwater

Oligochaeta sensu stricto, namely clitellates exclusive of branchiobdellids and leeches, occur in marine, estuarine, freshwater and terrestrial environs. About one-third of the almost 5,000 valid species described to date is aquatic. With the exception of some earthworm-like genera (the “megadriles”), aquatic oligochaetes are usually small, ranging from 1 mm to a few centimetres in length (the “microdriles”). Although predominantly terrestrial, 4 of the 14 described megadrile families include species that occur in aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The microdriles are fully aquatic, with the exception of the primarily terrestrial family Enchytraeidae, and comprise 13 families. About 1,700 valid species of aquatic oligochaetes are known to date; of these, about 1,100 are freshwater. The most speciose group is the Tubificidae with over 1,000 described species including 582 being considered as freshwater inhabitants. No fewer than 60 species of megadriles are also considered aquatic. Recent years have seen a continuous increase in the number of described species, so that any estimate of the proportion of known freshwater oligochaete species to unknown species would be very imprecise. Molecular studies have recently confirmed the long suspected paraphyly of the Oligochaeta if the group does not include branchiobdellids and leeches, so that Clitellata has become synonymous with “Oligochaeta”. The family Capilloventridae has been recently shown to represent a basal clade of Clitellata, supporting an aquatic (freshwater?) origin of the clitellates. In contrast, the adaptation to freshwater of the aquamegadriles is most likely secondary. The Palaearctic region supports the most abundant and diverse freshwater oligochaete fauna, with more than 600 valid species described to date; 80% of these are considered endemic. However, it is likely that the apparent concentration of genera and species in the Northern Hemisphere is biassed given the relatively late and still limited interest in the oligochaete fauna of the Southern Hemisphere. Ancient lakes, as well as ground waters, are important centres of endemicity but, except for Lake Baikal, they represent important knowledge gaps. Aquatic oligochaetes perform ecological functions and roles with potentially important repercussions for human health issues. These ecological values of oligochaetes include their importance in aquatic food chains; their impact on sediment structure and water-sediment exchanges; their long history of use in pollution monitoring and assessment; their potential to reduce sludge volumes in sewage treatment systems; and their role as intermediate host for several myxozoan parasites of fishes, including commercially exploited species.

The effect of organic pollution on the abundance and distribution of aquatic oligochaetes in an urban water basin, Taiwan

Aquatic oligochaetes are abundant in polluted areas and are, therefore, commonly used as bioindicators to study organic pollution in rivers and streams. In order to develop a species-level oligochaete biotic index to reflect the River Pollution Index (RPI) in the Taichung Water Basin in Taiwan, we conducted a systematic sampling scheme to collect aquatic oligochaetes from the sediment samples of watercourses in the Taichung Water Basin, Taiwan. We evaluated the relationships between aquatic oligochaetes and the sewage pollution using statistical methods. The distribution of aquatic oligochaetes in relation to environmental variables, such as water quality and sediment characteristics of the regional urban contaminated streams was expressed by Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). We identified 17 species of aquatic oligochaetes (Annelida, Clitellata) including 3 species of Tubificidae, 13 species of Naididae, and 1 species of Enchytraeidae from the watercourses of an urban region in the Taichung Water Basin in Taiwan, during the summer and winter of 2005 and 2006. A positive correlation was found between the total abundance of aquatic oligochaetes and the RPI (r = 0.58, P < 0.05). However, only population density of the most abundant tubificid, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, increased with increasing RPI values and a significantly negative correlation was found between the population density of the naidid, Nais communis, and RPI values. The results of CCA indicated that certain naidids, such as Aulophorus furcatus and Allonais gwaliorensis also tolerated extremely polluted environments in upper stream or stony habitats, implying that tubificids should not be the sole representation of simple biotic indices but should also include pollution-tolerant naidids. We found that the community structure of aquatic oligochaetes was influenced by short-term variations in microhabitat rather than according to seasonal factors in our study region. The results proved that aquatic oligochaetes were sensitive enough to provide a supplement for the regional urban pollution assessment applications for biotic indicators at the species-level.

Differential Response of Aquatic Oligochaete Species to Increased Nutrient Availability – a Comparative Study between Estonian and Dutch Raised Bogs

Differential Response of Aquatic Oligochaete Species to Increased Nutrient Availability – a Comparative Study between Estonian and Dutch Raised Bogs