7 research outputs found

    Algunos oiigoquetos acuĂĄticos de Bolivia

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    Breakdown and Invertebrate Colonization of Leaf Litter in Two Contrasting Streams: Significance of Oligochaetes in a large River

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    The breakdown of willow (Salix alba) and beech (Fagus silvatica) leaves and their colonization by invertebrates were studied in a third-order mountain stream (breakdown rate k = 0.0147 and 0.0052· d-1, respectively) and a seventh-order lowland river (k = 0.0094 and 0.0027·d-1). Willow leaves broke down three times faster than beech leaves; this difference was twice that between streams. Total invertebrate densities and biomass and the proportion of shredders were higher in the large river; therefore, differences in breakdown capacities between streams cannot be attributed to differences in invertebrate community structure. Instead, microbial processing and abiotic fragmentation are suggested as factors controlling breakdown rates. Owing to the abundance of naidids, up to 2000 invertebrates per leaf bag were recorded in the large river. These oligochaetes appeared to use litter accumulations as a microhabitat that provided shelter and a rich supply of food in the form of fine particulate organic matter. Tubificid oligochaetes accounted for 55% of total biomass on partly degraded leaves at this site. Their abundance and regular occurrence inside willow leaves suggest that tubificids enhance leaf fragmentation and possibly mediate the incorporation of organic matter in river sediments once the plant tissue is sufficiently macerated

    Oligochaetes from underground waters of Oman with descriptions of two new species of Phreodrilidae (Oligochaeta): Antarctodrilus arabicus n. sp. and Phreodrilus stocki n. sp.

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    The study of twenty-nine oligochaete samples collected in 1996 by J. H. Stock and J. J. Vermeulen (University of Amsterdam), in the Sultanate of Oman, allowed us to draw up an initial inventory of the freshwater oligochaete fauna of the Arabian peninsula, a fauna totally unknown until now. The 147 specimens examined belong to nine species of four families: Phreodrilidae, Naididae, Tubificidae and Enchytraeidae. The Phreodrilidae (2 species) represent more than half of the total specimens; whilst the rest belong mainly to the Naididae. Two new species of Phreodrilidae (Antarctodrilus arabicus n. sp. and Phreodrilus stocki n. sp.) are described. Both belong to the subfamily Phreodrilinae, until now not reported from north of the tropic of Capricorn. Other identified species include Dero (Dero) zeylanica, Allonais paraguayensis and Doliodrilus puertoricensis, which are for the first time recorded in subterranean habitats. These studies confirm the hypothesis of the presence of Phreodrilidae in the Arabian peninsula as relict taxa inhabiting refuges in hyporheic/groundwater habitats. The presence of an oligochaete fauna with marine phyletic affinities in underground waters already highlighted in Europe now equally applies to the Arabian peninsula with the discovery of the tubificid genera Aktedrilus and Doliodrilus in the underground habitats of Oman. As these genera already are well known from the littoral marine or brackish water with a wide range of salinity, we have additional evidence that the migration of interstitial marine meiobenthic tubificid species through water of decreasing salinity may be a way of colonising the subterranean freshwaters. The present record of Doliodrilus puertoricensis (Limnodriloidinae), previously known from Puerto Rico and Belize in the western Atlantic Ocean, represents a large extension of its known distribution area

    The groundwater oligochaetes (Annelida, Clitellata) of Slovenia

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    Historical data on the biodiversity of oligochaetes inhabiting ground waters of Slovenia depicted a fauna of 25 species, 19 of which are stygobiotic. Over about the last 35 years, faunistic surveys carried out in Slovenian ground waters has enabled us to conduct extensive studies on the oligochaete fauna of this environment. Three primary sources of information have been integrated to summarize in this paper: a campaign in Slovenian caves conducted by Fabio Stoch, a large collection of groundwater fauna made available to us by Boris Sket, and samples collected during the European project PASCALIS. The data derived from the examination of this large amount of material has enabled us to broaden our knowledge of the oligochaete diversity of Slovenia, increasing the number of species to one hundred, and has allowed us to summarize the biological diversity in Slovenian waters to be a substantial percentage of the known diversity present elsewhere in Europe. Endemic, rare and new species constitute a remarkable proportion of the stygobiotic oligochaete fauna. Among these, species of the genera Trichodrilus, Rhyacodrilus, Rhyacodriloides, Parvidrilus, Epirodrilus and Abyssidrilus are some of the most noteworthy taxa because of their endemicity, range-size, rarity, habitat selection, and/or taxonomic isolation (including phylogenetic relictuality)

    Faune aquatique souterraine de France : base de données et éléments de biogéographie

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    : Subterranean aquatic fauna of France : data base and biogeography. Many data exist on the aquatic subterranean fauna of France but they are scattered. Thus, large scale patterns of ground water biodiversity are still poorly documented due mainly to the lack of synthesis. Since 2002, we are currently gathering existing information on the distribution of sty gobite species in France. A first inventory is presented in this paper. The present data base contains 381 species and subspecies corresponding to more than 5700 records. This diversity indicates that the sty gobite fauna of France is among one of the richest ground water fauna in Europe. Our current knowledge of groundwater biodiversity varies markedly among zoological groups and regions. We are currently implementing the present data set in order to provide a distribution pattern as complete as possible of stygobite richness in France. The data base will be used for delineating hot-spots of biodiversity (specific richness, endemism), for identifying priority areas for conservation and for formulating and testing hypotheses on the origin and drivers of groundwater biodiversity.De nombreuses données existent sur la faune aquatique souterraine de France mais elles sont encore dispersées. Depuis 2002, un effort a été entrepris pour rassembler sous la forme d'une base de données, les informations disponibles concernant la distribution de cette faune aquatique souterraine de France. Un premier bilan en est présenté dans cet article. La base comprend actuellement 381 espÚces et sous-espÚces correspondant à plus de 5700 enregistrements. Cette diversité place la faune française parmi l'une des plus riches faunes aquatiques souterraines d'Europe. Le bilan réalisé montre que l'état actuel des connaissances est trÚs hétérogÚne en fonction du groupe zoologique considéré et de la région étudiée. La base de données sera utilisée pour identifier les régions à forte de biodiversité (richesse spécifique, endémisme) et les aires françaises de conservation prioritaires. Elle permettra également de formuler et de tester différentes hypothÚses sur l'origine et les facteurs responsables de la biodiversité aquatique souterraine.Ferreira David, Dole Olivier Marie-José, Malard Florian, Deharveng Louis, Gibert Janine, Bou Claude, Brancelj A., Coineau Nicole, Falkner M., Falkner Gerhard, Galassi D., Giani Narcisse, Ginet René, Henry J.-P., Jouin-Toulmond C., Juget Jacques, Lescher-Moutoué Françoise, Magniez G., Marmonier Pierre, Mathieu Julien, Richoux Philippe, Turquin Marie-José. Faune aquatique souterraine de France : base de données et éléments de biogéographie. In: Karstologia : revue de karstologie et de spéléologie physique, n°42, 2e semestre 2003. Les cavités glaciaires sous le regard des spéléologues. pp. 15-22
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