New Finds of Tokophrya wenzeli (Ciliophora, Suctorea) a Commensal of Water Mites (Acari, Hydracarina) and Redescription of a Species

The article deals with investigations of suctorian species Tokophrya wenzeli Matthes et Stiebler, 1970 which was observed in waterbodies of Ukraine, Poland and Macedonia. New observations permit to precise the morphology of tentacles and show the variability of such sufficient characters of the species as morphology of basal plate, stalk and actinophores. The redescription of the species is also presented.Статья посвящена изучению суктории Tokophrya wenzeli Matthes et Stiebler, 1970, обнаруженной в водоемах Украины, Польши и Македонии. Новые данные позволили уточнить детали строения щупалец цилиаты, также оказалось, что важные для диагностики вида признаки, как строение базального диска, стебелька и актинофоров достаточно изменчивы. Приводится переописание вида

The influence of the landscape structure within buffer zones, catchment land use and instream environmental variables on mollusc communities in a medium-sized lowland river

The world’s freshwater molluscan fauna is facing unprecedented threats from habitat loss and degradation. Declines in native populations are mostly attributed to the human impact, which results in reduced water quality. The objectives of our survey were to analyse the structure of the mollusc communities in a medium-sized lowland river and to determine the most important environmental variables at different spatial scales, including landscape structure, catchment land use and instream environmental factors that influence their structure. Our survey showed that a medium-sized river, that flows through areas included in the European Ecological Natura 2000 Network Programme of protected sites, provides diverse instream habitats and niches that support 47 mollusc species including Unio crassus, a bivalve of Community interest, whose conservation requires the designation of a special conservation area under the Habitats Directive Natura 2000. This survey showed that mollusc communities are impacted by several environmental variables that act together at multiple scales. The landscape structure within buffer zones, catchment land use and instream environmental variables were all important and influenced the structure of mollusc communities. Therefore, they should all be taken into consideration in the future restoration of the river, future management projects and programmes for the conservation of biodiversity in running waters. The results of this study may be directly applicable for the rehabilitation of river ecosystems and are recommended to stakeholders in their future decision concerning landscape planning, monitoring species and their habitats, conservation plans and management in accordance with the requirements of sustainable development

Morphology of the larvae of Arrenurus biscissus (O. F. Müller), 1776; A. pugionifer Piersig, 1897 and A. bisulcicodulus George, 1881 (Acari: Parasitengona: Arrenuridae)

The morphology of the larval stages of Arrenurus biscissus, A. pugionifer and A. bisulcicodulus is described. The three species belong to the subgenus Micruracarus and share several characters. The larvae of the three species differ in the shape of the dorsal plate, shape of the excretory pore plate, ratio between length of coxal plate median margins, and the numbers of pectinating setae on fifth palpal segment (PV). The larva of A. biscissus is very similar to the closely related A. sinuator. Larvae of A. pugionifer and A. bisulcicodulus resemble other Micruracarus species (A. bifidicodulus, A. inexploratus, A. integrator)

MORPHOLOGY OF THE LARVAL STAGES OF THE WATER MITES ARRENURUS BICUSPIDATOR, A. TRICUSPIDATOR, AND A. TETRACYPHUS (ARRENURIDAE)

The morphology of the larval stages of Arrenurus bicuspidator, A. tricuspidator, and A. tetracyphus is described, with particular attention to diagnostic characters: the shape of the dorsal plate, the proportions between the lengths of the median margins of coxal plates II and III, distances between seta C1 and the median margin of CpI and between seta C4 and the median margin of CpIII, the shape of the extrectory pore plates, and the leg setation

Morphology of the larvae of Arrenurus nodosus Koenike, 1896; A. knauthei Koenike, 1895 and A. stecki Koenike, 1894 (Acari: Parasitengona: Arrenuridae)

The morphology of the larval stages of Arrenurus nodosus, A. knauthei and A. stecki is described. Particular attention is paid to the different characters separating the three species. The larvae of the three species differ in the size and shape of the dorsal plate. Distinct differences appear between the proportions in the length of the lateral margins of the epimeres, which are similar in A. knauthei and A. stecki, but different in A. nodosus. There are differences in the shape of the excretory pore plates. In A. stecki the shape of the anal plate is slightly different owing to the truncated proleg. The structure of the pedipalps are very similar. The PIII1 setae are always bipectinate, the PIV1 is pectinate in A. knauthei and smooth in the other species, the PV6 is short and thick in A. nodosus, and long and thin in the other two species. Distinct differences also occur in the feathering of legs. The ITi8 seta is short in A. knauthei and long in the other two, the LITi10 seta is long in A. nodosus and short in the other two, and IIITi10 is thick and pectinate in A. nodosus, and smooth and fairly thin in the other two

Palliduphantes ericaeus (Blackwall, 1853) (Araneae: Linyphiidae) - nowy gatunek pająka dla fauny Polski

The occurrence of Palliduphantes ericaeus (Blackwall) was recorded in the course of investigation of araneofauna carried in environmental studies in the area of a planned gasport in Świnoujście. This spider species has not been so far recorded from Poland. The recorded occurrence of P. ericaeus in Świnoujście is the farthest eastern site of this rare european species in Central Europe.W trakcie badań inwentaryzacyjnych przeprowadzonych na terenie planowanego terminalu gazowego w Świnoujściu stwierdzono stanowisko Palliduphantes ericaeus (Black -wall). Ten gatunek pająka dotychczas nie był wymieniany na terytorium Polski. Odkryte stanowisko P. Ericaeus jest najdalej na wschód wysuniętym obszarem występowania tego gatunku w Europie Środkowej

The water mite fauna (Hydrachnidia) from three springs in Macedonia

The results of a faunistic survey of water mites from five spring areas in Macedonia are presented. Only in three investigated areas were water mites found. 13 species were identi fied, 2 of which ( Lebertia longiseta and Hygrobates setosus ) are reported as new for the Balkan Peninsula, and 1 ( Lebertia porosa ) as a new for Macedonia. The ecological significance of the researches is briefly discusse

Nowe dane o występowaniu Trechus rivularis (Gyllenhal, 1810) (Coleoptera, Carabidae) na Pomorzu Zachodnim

New data on the occurrence of a very rare, critical endangered (category CR) species Trechus rivularis (Gyllenhal, 1810) (Carabidae) on the island Karsiborska Kępa in the delta of Świna. One specimen was collected in the reserve on the flood plain, covered with compact reed growth.Przedstawiono nowe dane o występowaniu bardzo rzadkiego, skrajnie zagrożonego (kategoria CR) gatunku Trechus rivularis (Gyllenhal, 1810) z rodziny biegaczowatych (Carabidae) na wyspie Karsiborska Kępa w delcie Świny. Stwierdzono występowanie jednego okazu w rezerwacie na terenie zalewowym, pokrytym zwartą trzciną