The occurrence of Pisidium species (Bivalvia: Sphaeriidae) in oligotrophic springs of the Blanice River catchment (Czech Republic) in relation to ecological conditions

Abstract

This paper presents a part of the results obtained from extensive studies conducted on springs -remarkable freshwater habitats with many unique characteristics and a high degree of biological diversity. The abiotic conditions and fauna composition of 68 submontane permanent oligotrophic springs in the Blanice River catchment (eastern part of The Bohemian Forest, Czech Republic) were investigated with a focus on their relationship to the Pisidium species occurrence. We attempted to determine the habitat requirements of individual pea clam species. Species of genus Pisidium generally preferred unshaded springs with fine substrate, the most favourable environment were helocrene springs. Although they were the second most numerous taxonomical group in the springs, only two species were present there: Pisidium casertanum and P. personatum. The occurrence of both species strongly positively correlated with each other. Substrate type and a few chemical parameters were the main parameters, which differentiated the distribution of both species. While P. casertanum was found to be most abundant in vegetation, P. personatum preferred humolite substrate. The occurrence of P. casertanum was further influenced by nutrients compared to P. personatum, whose occurrence positively correlated with the common minerals. In general, biotope characteristics of springs were found to be more important for Pisidium species inhabiting oligotrophic mountain springs than water chemistry.

The fingernail clams (Bivalvia: Veneroida: Sphaeriidae) of Morocco: Diversity, distribution and conservation status

“… Pisidium personatum is present in all habitats sampled, but is more concentrated in springs and rivers. Pisidium personatum is a typical cold-stenoecous inhabitant of springs and wells ( Dyduch-Falniowska 1982 , Wagner et al 2011 ) and seeks nutrient-rich sites ( Horsák et al 2007 , Kubíková et al 2011 ), which explains its abundance in marshy areas (Fig. 2 ).…”

Helocrenic springs as sources of nutrient rich fine particulate organic matter in small foothill watershed

“…The altitude of the area ranges from 790 to 1020 m above sea level; for a detailed description of the region, see. [37,38]. The investigated springs have small temperature fluctuations (the differences between the winter and summer temperatures were 0.5 to 5.6˚C) and a neutral or slightly acidic pH (5.85 ± 0.16; mean ± SD).…”

Long-term population fluctuations of the exotic New Zealand mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum and its introduced aporocotylid trematode in northwestern France

“…More precisely, the rapid increase (Kilgour & Mackie, 1988). Moreover, Sphaeriidae can survive both temporary air exposure and freezing of the sediment they inhabit (Jurkiewicz-Karnkowska & Zbikowski, 2004;Kubíková et al, 2011), yet may perform poorly at increased temperatures [e.g., the declines of Pisidium amnicum in the French Saône and Iberian Minho Rivers during heat waves (Mouthon & Daufresne, 2008;Sousa et al, 2011)]. This all suggests that the substantially lower mean and minimum water temperatures and lower depths may have favored the population performance of Sphaeriidae in Le Petit Hermitage, and disfavored the population performance of P. antipodarum.…”