Emilia Rota

Animal xenodiversity in Italian inland waters: distribution, modes of arrival, and pathways

The paper provides a list of the non-indigenous animal species occurring today in Italian inland waters. Xenodiversity was found to amount to 112 species (64 invertebrates and 48 vertebrates), which contribute for about 2% to the inland-water fauna in Italy. Northern and central regions are most affected, and Asia, North America, and the rest of Europe are the main donor continents. The large majority of non-indigenous species entered Italy as a direct or indirect effect of human intervention. A difference between invertebrates and vertebrates was found for their mode of arrival (unintentional for invertebrates and intentional for vertebrates). Accidental transport, in association with both fish (for aquaculture or stock enhancement) and crops, has been the main vector of invertebrate introductions, whereas vertebrates were mostly released for stocking purposes. Overall stock enhancement (47.92%) and culture (37.5%) prevailed over the other pathways. Seventeen and 7 species of our list are included among the 100 worst invasive species of Europe (DAISIE) and of the world (IUCN), respectively. For some (but not all) non-indigenous species recorded in Italy the multilevel impact exerted on the recipient communities and ecosystems is known, even if rarely quantified, but knowledge on their chronic impact is still missing. Additional research is needed to provide criteria for prioritizing intervention against well established invaders and identify which new potential invader should be targeted as “unwanted”.

New Species in the Old World: Europe as a Frontier in Biodiversity Exploration, a Test Bed for 21st Century Taxonomy

The number of described species on the planet is about 1.9 million, with ca. 17,000 new species described annually, mostly from the tropics. However, taxonomy is usually described as a science in crisis, lacking manpower and funding, a politically acknowledged problem known as the Taxonomic Impediment. Using data from the Fauna Europaea database and the Zoological Record, we show that contrary to general belief, developed and heavily-studied parts of the world are important reservoirs of unknown species. In Europe, new species of multicellular terrestrial and freshwater animals are being discovered and named at an unprecedented rate: since the 1950s, more than 770 new species are on average described each year from Europe, which add to the 125,000 terrestrial and freshwater multicellular species already known in this region. There is no sign of having reached a plateau that would allow for the assessment of the magnitude of European biodiversity. More remarkably, over 60% of these new species are described by non-professional taxonomists. Amateurs are recognized as an essential part of the workforce in ecology and astronomy, but the magnitude of non-professional taxonomist contributions to alpha-taxonomy has not been fully realized until now. Our results stress the importance of developing a system that better supports and guides this formidable workforce, as we seek to overcome the Taxonomic Impediment and speed up the process of describing the planetary biodiversity before it is too late.

Molecular phylogeny of Enchytraeidae (Annelida, Clitellata).

A multigene data set (12S, 16S, and COI mitochondrial DNA; 18S and 28S nuclear DNA) was analyzed by Bayesian inference to estimate the phylogeny of a sample of the clitellate family Enchytraeidae (86 species representing 14 nominal genera). Monophyly, as well as a basal dichotomy, of the family Enchytraeidae obtained maximum support, with one clade containing Hemienchytraeus and Achaeta, the other the remaining 12 genera analysed. The latter group is basally resolved in several well-supported clades. Lumbricillus and Grania are closely related. Bryodrilus, Oconnorella, Henlea and two species of Marionina (M. cf. riparia, and M. communis) form a well-supported clade. Cognettia is sister to Stercutus, and Cernosvitoviella sister to Mesenchytraeus, and the four together appear to be a monophyletic group. A large part of the taxonomically problematic Marionina appears to be a group not closely related to the type species (M. georgiana), and this group also includes Enchytronia. Further, this Marionina/Enchytronia group appears to be sister to a clade comprising the more or less littoral marine genera Stephensoniella and Enchytraeus. Hemifridericia, Buchholzia and Fridericia, the three genera characterized by two types of coelomocytes, also form a well-supported clade. The study corroborates most of the multi-species genera analysed (Cognettia, Cernosvitoviella, Mesenchytraeus, Oconnorella, Henlea, Enchytraeus, Grania, Buchholzia and Fridericia); only Lumbricillus and Marionina are non-monophyletic as currently defined.

Italian Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta). I

Abstract During the period 1989–1994, soil samples were collected at 51 localities in six different regions of Italy. Twelve genera and 61 species could be distinguished. One genus (Oconnorella gen. n.) and 12 species (Mesenchytraeus straminicolus sp. n., Cernosvitoviella omodeoi sp. n., Achaeta etrusca sp. n., Fridericia globuligera sp. n., Fridericia monochaeta sp. n., Fridericia nix sp. n., Fridericia strenua sp. n., Fridericia tuberosa sp. n., Marionina brendae sp. n., Marionina eleonorae sp. n., Marionina rubens sp. n., Oconnorella chalupskyi sp. n.) are new to science. Two old taxa (Fridericia bretscheri Southern, 1907 and Fridericia viridula Issel, 1905) are revalidated and their descriptions augmented, and another two (Fridericia ilvana Issel, 1905 and Fridericia gamotheca Issel, 1905) are redescribed from new material. Nineteen known species are new records for Italy, while 30 previous Italian records are confirmed. Four new records for Algeria (Fridericia bretscheri, F. miraflores, F. tuberosa s...

Earthworms of Turkey

Abstract About 2000 earthworm specimens, collected during 1987–1988 in 50 localities of North‐Western Turkey, are described and classified. They belong to 51 species, 14 of which have not previously been described. For some new species it has been necessary to institute the new genus Healyella which is closely related to the genus Spermophorodrilus Bouche; both these genera are included in the new lumbricid subfamily Spermophorodrilinae, characterized by a peculiar pattern of copulating. Six other new species, some of which show curious morphological traits, are included in the genus Dendrobaena, and one in the genus Allolobophora. On the whole, the faunistic sample offers an interesting picture of the fauna of Turkey, which appears to be strongly linked to that of Caucasus; less evident but equally certain are relationships with the Carpatho‐Balkan fauna.

Methods for collecting Enchytraeidae during expeditions

Abstract There have been few faunistic studies of Enchytraeidae outside Europe and North America. This is partly due to inadequate taxonomic literature and difficulties associated with the examination of fixed material but also because methods for the collection of these worms, especially soil species, are not well known. Methods are described which are suitable for sampling and extracting enchytraeids in the field. They may be used for all kinds of soils and also for aquatic vegetation and tidal debris. Details are given of sampling methods and selection of sites, a portable extraction apparatus powered by a petrol-driven generator, a method for keeping enchytraeids alive for laboratory examination at a later date and procedures for fixation and preservation. Extraction in the field during collecting expeditions gives immediate information about the types of substrate in which enchytraeids are present and overcomes the problem of transporting large quantities of soil. Some countries prohibit the import of soil and in such cases it is essential to extract the enchytraeids before importing them for laboratory study. The advantages of keeping a portion of each extracted sample alive are that identification and description of live specimens is easier and quicker than working with fixed material and that individuals which were immature, and therefore unidentifiable, at the time of sampling may mature in the cultures. The equipment and procedures described were used successfully during a recent 3-week expedition to North Africa.

Morphology and adaptations of Parergodrilus Reisinger and Hrabeiella Pizl & Chalupský, two enigmatic soil‐dwelling annelids

Abstract Parergodrilus heiden Reisinger, 1925 and Hrabeiella periglan‐dulata Pizl & Chalupský, 1984 s. 1. are the only two non‐clitellate annelids which permanently inhabit the litter and humic layers of land soils in temperate climates. Their minute body size and difficulty of extraction from the substrate account for their late discovery and subsequent scanty records. Both taxa are European. Although they widely overlap in geographic and ecological distribution, they appear only remotely related. Neither Parergodrilus nor Hrabeiella displays more than a superficial resemblance to the families formerly included in the ‘archiannelids’. Since 1960 Parergodrilus has been classified with the marine interstitial Stygo‐capitella subterranea Knollner, 1934 in the family Parergodrilidae, possibly related to some other interstitial forms or to deposit feeders of mobile bottoms. The position of Hrabeiella appears more obscure, yet very interesting in view of the many convergences (concerning the organization of th...

Clitellate diversity in Nationalstadsparken, an urban national park in Stockholm, Sweden

To increase the overall faunistic knowledge of Swedish Clitellata, a survey was performed in Nationalstadsparken, a mosaic of fresh and brackish waters, parklands alternating with remnants of natural biota, and areas of urban development, within the cities of Stockholm and Solna on the Baltic coast of Sweden (59° N, 18° E). One hundred and twenty-one species (113 Oligochaeta, 8 Hirudinea) were collected at 31 aquatic and 27 terrestrial or littoral localities; 49 species of Oligochaeta were found at the aquatic localities, 70 species at the terrestrial/littoral sites. Twenty-four species are new records for Sweden, and this urban national park thus features 64% of all non-marine clitellates known from the country. The result is consistent with a view that diversity is enhanced when human activities increase habitat complexity, even in areas in direct contact with a large city.

Redescription of Fridericia heliota (Annelida, Clitellata: Enchytraeidae), a luminous worm from the Siberian taiga, with a review of bioluminescence in the Oligochaeta

The Siberian enchytraeid Fridericia heliota Zalesskaja, 1990 has so far been known only through a paper in Russian briefly describing its luminescence and the major external and internal morphological features. The present study expands that preliminary description, amending it as regards the chaetal formula, the clitellar pattern, the form of the nephridia and the occurrence of glands at the spermathecal orifices, and providing a more comprehensive taxonomic characterization of the species. More detailed information is also given on its habitat and geographical range as well as on its unusual luminous properties. In F. heliota, the production of light is confined to the body wall with a pattern corresponding to that of the epidermal gland cells, although it does not involve discharge of luminous mucus. This contrasts with observations on other enchytraeids and on the oligochaetes in general. Records of luminosity in the Oligochaeta are reviewed with comments.

Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) of western Anatolia: Taxonomy and faunistics∗

Abstract During a survey of Mediterranean enchytraeids, soil samples were taken at 21 localities in western Anatolia (Turkey) in May 1990. Twenty‐seven species were identified from eight genera. All species but Enchytraeus buchholzi are new for Turkey; three species are new to science: Henlea montana sp.n., Fridericia brachiata sp.n., Fridericia isseli sp.n. The bulk of the collection (60% of the species) was obtained from the northern massif of Ulu Dag, while at most other localities the fauna was much poorer. Moreover, there seem to be significant differences in species composition between the northern and southern zones: strictly Mediterranean species appear to be restricted to the south.