Abstract The introduction of the amphipod Dikerogammarus villosus in European fresh waters is to date recognized as a threat integrity invaded communities. Predation by D. on native benthic invertebrates assumed key determinant its ecological impact, yet available information describe species primary consumer well carnivore depending local conditions. Here, we assessed trophic position (TP) Lak...

Predators play a fundamental role in prey trophic behaviour, with indirect consequences for species coexistence and ecosystem functioning. Resource quality and availability also influence prey trophic behaviour, with potential effects on predator-prey dynamics. Although many studies have addressed these topics, little attention has been paid to the combined effects of predators and resources on...

The study of several Lake Baikal leech collections offered us the possibility to determine species diversity in the Chivyrkuy Gulf, the biggest one in the lake. As a result, the first information on the Chivyrkuy Hirudinea fauna (Annelida, Clitellata) has been revealed. There are two orders and four families of leeches in the Chivyrkuy Gulf: order Rhynchobdellida (families Glossiphoniidae and P...

The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of leeches of the genus Erpobdella as a means of assessing polychlorinated biphenyl contamination of watercourses. The River Skalice, heavily contaminated with PCBs, was selected as a model. The source of contamination was a road gravel processing factory in Rožmitál pod Třemšínem from which an estimated 1 metric ton of PCBs leaked in 1986. Levels of...

Hirudinea is a small and ecologically important group of aquatic organisms. However, up to date, the leech fauna of Kazakhstan is poorly studied. The presence of large under-collected areas, such as the Upper Irtysh basin, makes biodiversity studies concerning these invertebrates from Kazakhstan relevant. In this paper, the latest information on species diversity of the freshwater hirudofauna o...

Nicoletta Guaragnella, Mariarita Stirpe, William Burhans, Manuela Côrte-Real, Campbell Gourlay, Paula Ludovico, Frank Madeo, Dina Petranovic, Joris Winderickx, Cristina Mazzoni* and Sergio Giannattasio* 1 Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, CNR, Bari, Italy. 2 Pasteur Institute-Cenci Bolognetti Foundation, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “C. Darwin”...

The objective of this study was to establish the rate at which predatory leeches consume tubificid worms, at worm population densities simulating those of Cleveland Harbor. Two common species of leeches from Lake Erie were studied, Helobdella stagnalis and Erpobdella punctata. A mixed population of tubificids, mostly Limnodrilus hojfmeisteri, Limnodrilus cervix and Peloscolex multisetosus were ...

The study of leeches from Lake Gusinoe and its adjacent area offered us the possibility to determine species diversity. As a result, an updated species list of the Gusinoe Hirudinea fauna (Annelida, Clitellata) has been compiled. There are two orders and three families of leeches in the Gusinoe area: order Rhynchobdellida (families Glossiphoniidae and Piscicolidae) and order Arhynchobdellida (f...