Naim Saglam

Pontobdella muricata and Trachelobdella lubrica (Hirudinea: Piscicolidae) on some marine fish in the Dardanelles, Turkey

Fifteen individuals of four marine fish species ( Torpedo marmorata , Raja clavata , Scorpaena porcus and Scorpaena scrofa ) caught in the Dardanelles, Turkey, were examined for the leech Pontobdella muricata and Trachelobdella lubrica ; 18 P. muricata and 23 T. lubrica were found on gills, at the base of the fins, and abdomen on 14 of the 15 fish.

Trichlorfon-induced haematological and biochemical changes in Cyprinus carpio: ameliorative effect of propolis

Trichlorfon is among the most commonly used products to treat fish parasites in aquaculture. We investigated the effectiveness of propolis in alleviating the toxicity of trichlorfon on haematological and oxidant/antioxidant parameters in carp Cyprinus carpio. Fish were exposed to sublethal concentrations (11 and 22 mg l-1) of trichlorfon, and propolis (10 mg kg-1 of fish weight) was simultaneously administered. At the end of 14 d administration, blood and tissue (liver, kidney, gill) samples were collected. Haematological changes (red and white blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit level and erythrocyte indices: mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration) were determined in the blood samples, while antioxidant parameters (malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione levels and superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities) were evaluated in the liver, kidney and gill samples. Trichlorfon led to negative alterations in the haematological and antioxidant parameters investigated. The administration of propolis alleviated this effect and suggests that fish treated with trichlorfon improve their physiological status when fed a propolis-supplemented diet.

Observations on the ecology of the freshwater leech Helobdella stagnalis (Hirudinoidea: Glossiphoniidae), new for Turkey

Abstract The freshwater leech Helobdella stagnalis was found in fish ponds and discharge channels at a Fisheries Research Station near Elazığ on the Upper Euphrates. It was identified on the basis of morphological features. The species had not previously been recorded in Turkey. The abundance of the species was highest (1.3±0.07 leeches/m²) in August and lowest (0.2 leeches/m²) in February.

Punctuated invasion of water, ice, snow and terrestrial ecozones by segmented worms (Oligochaeta: Enchytraeidae: Mesenchytraeus)

Segmented worms (Annelida) are among the most successful animal inhabitants of extreme environments worldwide. An unusual group of enchytraeid oligochaetes of genus Mesenchytraeus are abundant in the Pacific northwestern region of North America and occupy geographically proximal ecozones ranging from low elevation rainforests and waterways to high altitude glaciers. Along this altitudinal transect, Mesenchytraeus representatives from disparate habitat types were collected and subjected to deep mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenetic analyses. Our data identify significant topological discordance among gene trees, and near equivalent interspecific divergence levels indicative of a rapid radiation event. Collectively, our results identify a Mesenchytraeus ‘explosion’ coincident with mountain building in the Pacific northwestern region that gave rise to closely related aquatic, ice, snow and terrestrial worms.

Operculum ultrastructure in leech cocoons.

Clitellate annelids (i.e., oligochaetes including leeches) secrete cocoons as part of their normal reproductive cycle. Typically, the cocoon sheath is passed over the head of the leech and sealed at both ends by opercula (i.e., glue‐like material secreted by the clitellum). Both the fibrous cocoon wall (CW) and opercula are chemically‐related biomaterials that share unusual physiochemical properties, including thermal and chemical resiliency. To explore the underlying morphology of the operculum, we examined cocoons from four leech species (i.e., Myzobdella lugubris, Theromyzon tessulatum, Erpobdella obscura, and Erpobdella punctata) by transmission (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Transmission electron micrographs of all opercula revealed a common, ultrastructural pattern comprising an electron‐dense mosaic of ordered polygons that surrounded interspersed cavities. The long axes of cavities were often oriented directionally, suggesting that operculum material is pliable prior to solidification and distorted as a consequence of cocoon deposition. Concomitantly, the operculum permeates jagged edges of the cocoon sheath sealing the cocoon, which provides a mechanically strong CW/operculum boundary. SEM of leech opercula revealed globular nanoparticles comparable to that observed in bioadhesives from disparate animal phyla (e.g., mussel, barnacle, sea star), suggesting a convergent mechanism of bioadhesion among animals. J. Morphol. 274:940–946, 2013.

First record of the leech Placobdella costata (Hirudinoidea: Glossiphoniidae) in Turkey

Abstract The freshwater leech Placobdella costata was found in discharge channels at Elazığ, Turkey. This represents the first record for the country. The density of P. costata was highest in August (0.45 individuals/m²) and lowest (0.05 individuals/m²) between December and February. A detailed morphological description is given of both the internal and external features, especially the digestive system and the male and female reproductive systems.

Elaborate ultrastructure of the Hirudo (Annelida: Hirudinae) cocoon surface

Species of medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis, H. verbana, and H. sulukii) secrete hard‐shelled cocoons. When initially deposited, a cocoon is surrounded by a foam. Over a short time, the foam is transformed into a three‐dimensional structure. We show here that this peripheral structure likely forms by the solidification and dehydration of a moderately viscous, proteinaceous substance that surrounds bubbles of various sizes. The resulting matrix‐like structure comprises a network of curved branches juxtaposed at ∼120° and taper in width as a function of distance from the outer cocoon wall. The material is proteinaceous, and traps environmental material in its composition, especially silicon. The geometry of compartments and abundance of silicon on branch surfaces suggest a mechanism for trapping water to prevent desiccation in a terrestrial environment.

Phylogenetic and morphological resolution of the Helobdella stagnalis species-complex (Annelida: Clitellata: Hirudinea)

The glossiphoniid freshwater leech, Helobdella stagnalis, was described by Linnaeus 1758 based on common European specimens. The presence of a brown, chitinous scute on the dorsal-anterior surface, as observed on leeches elsewhere in the world, has generally led to the classification of all scute-bearing members of the genus as H. stagnalis. Here we describe the morphology and behavior of the type species from Europe, and analyze H. stagnalis-like specimens collected worldwide. We present evidence for at least four distinct scute-bearing Helobdella species that can be morphologically resolved. Maximum Parsimony (MP) and Bayesian Inference (BI) analyses at the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) locus further supported this notion, with divergence values suggesting a mid-Miocene ancestor of this successful group of cosmopolitan hirudineans. New species, Helobdella echoensis nov. sp., Helobdella eriensis nov. sp., and Helobdella serendipitious nov. sp., are described, based on morphological, anatomical and molecular data. Current distribution patterns of Helobdella spp. suggest a robust, global dispersal mechanism, as well as local pockets of endemism.

Phylogeny and cocoon production in the parasitic leech Myzobdella lugubris Leidy, 1851 (Hirudinidae, Piscicolidae)

Myzobdella lugubris is a commensal leech on crustaceans and a parasite to fishes, surviving predominantly in brackish waters throughout North America. Specimens in this study were collected within the tidal zone of the Delaware River basin (New Jersey and Pennsylvania). To compare regional M. lugubris specimens, defined characters were scored after dorsal and ventral dissections, and phylogenetic relationships were resolved using cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1), 12S ribosomal RNA (rDNA) and 18S rDNA gene fragments. Variance between regional populations was low, suggesting recent dispersal events and/or strong evolutionary constraints. The reproductive biology of M. lugubris was explored by quantitative analysis of secreted cocoons. Specimens produced 32.67 ± 4.50 cocoons with fertilization ratios of 88.1% and hatching times of 48 ± 7 days at 17°C under laboratory conditions. At 22°C, 46 ± 28 cocoons were produced with fertilization ratios of 70.27% and hatching times of 28 ± 5 days. Surprisingly, each cocoon supported only one embryo, which is unusual among oligochaetes.

Reproduction in the Annelida

The Phylum Annelida – segmented worms – comprises the polychaetes (marine worms) and the clitellates (oligochaetes including leeches), as well as some recently added taxa (Echiuroidea, Sipuncula, Siboglinidae). As a group, annelids are found abundantly in oceanic, freshwater and terrestrial environments, and display a variety of reproductive behaviors ranging from fertilization in the open water to asexual fragmentation. Many marine worms reproduce sexually with independent sexes and pass through a motile trochophore larvae stage, while clitellates are hermaphrodites (containing both male and female gonads) with a specialized reproductive structure, the clitellum, which secretes a protective cocoon for embryo development. Exceptions to these common reproductive modes occur, and have facilitated the widespread distribution of annelids throughout the biosphere.