Elżbieta Dumnicka

Communities of oligochaetes in mountain streams of Poland

This study compares the structure of oligochaete communities in mountain streams of Poland. These streams can be divided into three groups. First, those dominated by the Enchytraeidae (Mesenchytraeus armatus), second where the Naididae, Nais bretscheri, Nais alpina, Nais communis or Nais variabilis prevail and third, where the Lumbriculidae, represented by Stylodrilus heringianus, and in one case by Stylodrilus parvus, are dominant. The nature of the stream bottom is the main factor determining the structure of the community, but geographic location is also important.

Factors affecting the distribution of Oligochaeta in small high mountain ponds (Tatra Mts, Poland)

The Oligochaeta communities of six small high mountain ponds were examined. A total of only 17 taxa were found. In temporary ponds and in ponds that freeze to the bottom in winter the community consisted almost exclusively of Enchytraeidae, of which Cernosvitoviella tatrensis was the most numerous species. In other ponds the community composition was more diverse, and the dominant species were Spirosoperma ferox and Nais variabilis. In one of the studied ponds (the Siwy Wyzni) where the water level was stable, there were differences in species composition among various sampling locations. These differences persisted in successive years and the probable reason for that was the presence of springs which led to varying chemical and thermal conditions. The content of organic matter in the mud sediment of the studied ponds was high, varying from 10-30% in most ponds and was high as 50% in one dystrophic pond. Correlations between total Oligochaeta density, or density of the dominant species, and sediment organic matter content were not statistically significant. Among the oligochaete species living in the mountain ponds four ecological types were distinguished.

Upstream-downstream movement of macrofauna (with special reference to oligochaetes) in the River Raba below a reservoir

Oligochaetes are the dominant group of macrofauna in a river reach (1–450 m) below the Dobczyce dam on the River Raba. The Oligochaeta made up from 60.2% to 78.7% of the community. The next most abundant group were the Chironomidae comprising 20.5%–38.8% of the fauna. Upstream-downstream movements of the macrofauna were studied at one station, with an oligochaete density of 50000 ind. m−2, and a chironomid density about 20 000 ind. m−2. In the drift the proportions of these two groups were reversed — Chironomidae represented 59% of the drift fauna, and the oligochaetes − about 40%. On the river bottom and in the drift a similar number of species (12–13) of Naididae were identified.

Effects of regulated stream on the hydrochemistry and zoobenthos in differently polluted parts of the upper Vistula River (Southern Poland)

The present paper describes changes in the chemical composition of water and the animal communities below three dam reservoirs lying in ecologically different river sectors and differing in the degree of water pollution. The reservoirs transform the chemical composition of the water in various ways, depending on the quality of the inflowing water and the type of reservoir. Changes in the zoocenoses are caused by various factors. In clean or only slightly polluted rivers changes in physico-chemical properties of the water are responsible for the changes in the zoocenoses. In reservoirs from which only a small amount of water flows out reduction inflow is most important, while in polluted rivers it is pollution which determines the composition of the zoocenosis.

From spring sources to springbrook: Changes in environmental characteristics and benthic fauna

Spatial patterns in macroinvertebrate communities and some abiotic factors were examined in three rheocrene springs and their springbrooks (Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, southern Poland). The mean discharge of particular springs ranged from 5 to 11 L s−1, and its annual fluctuations were small. Water temperature was very stable at all sampling sites. In the eucrenon the number of benthic taxa was the smallest (9–14 determined to the family level), but the densities were the highest (approx. 14000 ind. m−2). The biggest changes in macroinvertebrate composition were observed in the modified hypocrenon, which is an artificial pond. The lowest number of taxa were found in a natural, short springbrook with a nondiversified bottom substrate. The density of crenophilic taxa (Drusus trifidus, Dugesia gonocephala, Elmidae) diminished along the springbrooks, while the opposite trend was observed for ubiquitous taxa (some Oligochaeta, Asellus aquaticus and Chironomidae). Even in a very short natural springbrook (30 m), Drusus trifidus, the only species of Trichoptera found in the springs discussed here, goes through the entire development cycle. The strongest influence of a big river was observed at the outflow of one of the natural springbrooks, where the highest number of riverine oligochaete species were found. The benthic fauna of the springs studied here differed from that found in other springs in this area — the absence of the typical crenophilic species Bithynella austriaca (Gastropoda) and the presence of Gianus aquedulcis (Oligochaeta) may indicate the autonomy of the spring fauna in the Mstów area, possibly resulting from the postglacial geomorphological formation of this region or differences in habitat conditions.

Alien Naididae species (Annelida: Clitellata) and their role in aquatic habitats in Poland.

Abstract Up to now 17 alien species of family Naididae have been found in Poland. The majority of them have a Ponto-Caspian origin (Potamothrix hammoniensis, P. moldaviensis, P. heuscheri, P. vejdovskyi, P. bavaricus, P. bedoti, Psammoryctides barbatus, P. albicola, P. moravicus, Tubifex newaensis, Isochaetides michaelseni, Paranais simplex and P. frici). Moreover, North American (Quistadrilus multisetosus, Limnodrilus cervix) and thermophilic species from Asia (Branchiura sowerbyi) and South Europe or North Africa (Tubifex blanchardi) have been recorded. Almost all alien species are known from a small number of localities, except for Potamothrix hammoniensis, P. moldaviensis, Psammoryctides barbatus and P. albicola, but only the first of these seems to be an invasive species influencing the composition of benthic communities in the profundal of lakes.

Changes in the benthic fauna composition in the Upper Vistula over the last 50 years : the consequences of the water pollution reduction and alien species invasion

Abstract The organic pollution of the Upper Vistula waters has been significantly reduced since the mid-20th century. Also salinity has gradually decreased, following an increase observed until the 1990s. Furthermore, the number of alien species has systematically increased. The above-mentioned changes have affected the richness and composition of the benthic fauna. They are particularly remarkable in the river stretch between the town of Oświęcim and the city of Kraków. The improvement of water quality has resulted in the increased number of taxa, mainly those characteristic of moderately polluted water, and the disappearance of taxa typical of strongly polluted or deoxygenated water. Despite the increased salinity level persisting for many years, only three benthic species of brackish waters (Gammarus tigrinus, Paranais frici and P. litoralis) were found in the Upper Vistula. Taxa considered to be euryhaline or halophilous were more numerous. In the 1960s, only one alien species (Physa acuta) was found, but the increased number of non-indigenous species in the last decades is visible, particularly among gammarid crustaceans (Amphipoda, Gammaroidea). The presence of alien species has not caused any visible changes in the species abundance of oligochaetes and mollusks.

Temporary co-existence of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates in shallow periodically flooded and frozen cave

Abstract The effect of specific microclimatic conditions and temporary flooding on terrestrial and aquatic invertebrate community composition as well as on parietal fauna was investigated in a cave located on the Krakow-Wieluń Upland. Studies of the fauna started after partial water retreat from the cave. Microclimate conditions and water chemistry parameters were also investigated. Due to the cave geometry and its size, temperatures recorded during summer were relatively high, whereas almost all its parts were frozen in winter. Temporary cave flooding promoted reproducing populations of Asellus aquaticus, Pseudocandona sarsi and copepods (Diacyclops bicuspidatus, Megacyclops viridis). Completely depigmented (including eyes), slightly, as well as fully pigmented individuals of A. aquaticus were found. Some dipterans started to reproduce in the flooded cave but drying stopped their development. Some taxa typical for terrestrial habitats (Collembola and Acari) and for parietal fauna (spider Meta menardi, moth Triphosa dubitata, dipterans from families Helomyzidae and Mycethophilidae) were not observed. Moreover, cave freezing significantly diminished the number of Culicidae, Oniscus sp., gastropods and Nesticus cellulanus wintering in the cave. The recolonization process was possible due to the cave location at the shallow subsurface and multiple entrances. The diversity of terrestrial invertebrates in the cave is very low as the effect of periodical flooding and freezing.