FOLIA Vol. 17(2): 73–99 MALACOLOGICA ISSN 1506-7629 The Association of Polish Malacologists & Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznañ 2009

doi:10.2478/v10125-009-0012-1

THE 25TH POLISH MALACOLOGICAL SEMINAR

SEMINAR REPORT

We are now 25 years old! Well, not the Association were there. It also advertised 27 posters, many of as such (it was established in 1995), but the tradition which somehow failed to arrive but instead there were of organising Seminars certainly is. The 25th Seminar two last-minute posters (thus not in the programme was held (and thus the anniversary celebrated) from and the Abstract Book). Both the non-materialised April 21st till Aptril 24th, in Boszkowo near Leszno. posters and the extra posters are included in the ab- We seem to be oscillating between two extremes: last stracts below. A special committee judged presenta- year we went to Gdynia – a big city, this year – to tions of young malacologists. The award for the best Boszkowo. It is a little village near Leszno (and for poster was won by DOMINIKA MIERZWA (Museum and those who do not know their geography, Leszno is not Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, War- far from Poznañ), on a lake. Boszkowo (presumably) saw) for her “Malacology and geology. Distribution of has some people during the season but when we were Cepaea vindobonensis and the geological structure of there, we seemed to be the only inhabitants, that is the substratum”. The best oral presentation award apart from the people running our hotel and from went to ALEKSANDRA SKAWINA (Department of Pa- participants of some other conference. It was a very laeobiology and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, War- good arrangement, we felt as if we owned the place. saw University) for the “Experimental decomposition The organising institutions included The Associa- of recent bivalves and mineralisation of gills of Trias- tion of Polish Malacologists, Adam Mickiewicz Univer- sicUnionoida”. Brave girls! Congratulations! Will sity in Poznañ, Plant Protection Institute in Poznañ there ever be some awards for old malacologists? We and the University of Life Sciences, also in Poznañ. It liked some other presentations very much. Most post- turns out that the last three institutions between them ers were beautiful (Fig. 1), and we especially enjoyed have quite a few malacologists – the organising com- the two lectures by our guests from across the border mittee consisted of ANDRZEJ LESICKI, JERZY B£OSZYK, –HEIKE REISE and JOHN HUTCHINSON – both about JAN KOZ£OWSKI, EWA DANKOWSKA, BART£OMIEJ slug mating behaviour, and both with short porn GO£DYN, TOMASZ KA£USKI, JOANNA PIEÑKOWSKA, movies. ELIZA RYBSKA, MARIA URBAÑSKA and MONIKA The attendance was good (more than 60 malacolo- JASKULSKA. They never disclosed who was responsible gists in the list of participants, actually 59 malacolo- for which part of the organisation, but everything was gical people, plus two children, plus two non-mala- absolutely perfect, so there was nobody to blame. cological husbands). There was one guest from Ger- Good team! Great thanks! many, one from the United Kingdom (now based in At the registration desk we were given very good Germany), plus their son, and one guest from the conference packets which contained not only the Czech Republic. About one quarter of the partici- usual programme, abstract book, badge, notebook pants (14 people) are still at the pre-doctoral stage and pen, but also a few extra items: a conference mug, and thus the so-called young malacologists. On the a bag, a T-shirt, a three-colour marker pen and a other hand, some of the last year’s young malaco- snail-bank (like a piggy-bank, only different), the last logists are now doctors. item – we suspect – to encourage us to save money for Unfortunetaly, some very important people failed the next Seminar. The opening ceremony (speeches to be there: Professors STEFAN W. ALEXANDROWICZ and so on) was very brief and followed by the first ses- (who had started the sequence of events that ulti- sion. mately led to the 25th Seminar), ADOLF RIEDEL (hon- In all, those who were diligent spent two whole orary member) and ANDRZEJ WIKTOR (another hon- days in the sessions. The programme contained 33 orary member). We regretted it very much, but they, oral presentations, and most or even all participants too, certainly regretted not being there. 74 Seminar Report

The number of presentations in the Abstract Book dealing mostly with various aspects of clausiliid ecol- was 60, with the mean of about one presentation per ogy, life histories and conservation – this time there head, but this was only the mean. The reality was were as many as four clausiliid papers. Again, like last much more complicated: there were 30 single-author year, we were promised some presentations and the presentations, 15 double-barrelled presentations and promisers never delivered – our eastern neighbours 15 with three or more authors. People tend to co- simply failed to attend, although their presentations operate a lot, and many papers/posters presented were on the Seminar menu (naughty people!). were either interdisciplinary or a result of very time- The division in the table disregards whether the -consuming research. There were no participants main character in the story was a snail or a bivalve or without presentations (or without at least a part of where it lived (land or water). The snail:bivalve ratio presentation) to their name, and only one poster among the presentations was 2.35:1 (compared to without the accompanying author. 1.54: 1 in 2008, 1.67:1 in 2007, 2.38:1 in 2006), and the Like during the last three seminars, to have a pic- land:water ratio was 0.94:1 (0.91:1 in 2008, 0.54:1 in ture of the variety of presented topics, I have at- 2007 and 1.13:1 in 2006). Apparently, the trend in the tempted assigning papers to disciplines and com- snail:bivalve ratio which for three years kept changing pared the result with a few previous seminars. Some in favour of bivalves is now reversed (are they running presentations were difficult to assign to a discipline out of bivalves?). The same, to a smaller extent, was (some have been assigned to more than one in the true of the interest in aquaticmalacologyalready last Table), and I had to apply more than one division year, and the increase tendency was maintained. into categories. To show how difficult it is to catego- There were two official social events: the banquet rise presentations, the abstracts below have been arbi- on the second day and the grill party on the third. trarily divided in a slightly different way. The banquet was very good, especially that on this oc- The numbers in the columns do not show any re- casion we consumed a huge anniversary cake, like a ally significant trend, especially since last year; I would wedding cace only with a snail on top (see Fig. 2). We rather interpret the changes as reflecting the varying have a new honorary member now: Professor attendance (the random presence/absence of mala- ANDRZEJ PIECHOCKI (University of £ódŸ), who is an cologists during consecutive meetings) or the fact outstanding specialist in freshwater molluscs, one of that the nature of some disciplines precludes produc- the founder-members of the Association and the ing a new paper every year. Of things that are not in main organiser of two of our Seminars (Fig. 3). Pro- the table: most applied presentations dealt with pest fessor PIECHOCKI was very surprised, he said he did slugs and attempts at curbing their appetite with vari- not expect this, and he was telling us the truth – the ous substances; many conservation papers were about proof was that he had not brought a tie. species from Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive. The Seminar excursion went to quite many places. Also, there is now a rather strong clausiliid lobby, The place most participants liked most was the Experi-

Number of papers/posters No. Discipline 2006 2007 2008 2009 1 Ecology 9 20 25 18 2 Life histories 9778 3 Conservation 7247 4 Fossil molluscs 5644 5 Applied malacology 4254 6 Parasitology 3364 7 Faunistics 2245 8 Methodology 2 3 2 9 Physiology 2 1 1 10 Structure (histology, cytology, shell) 2 0 5 11 Variation 0231 12 Systematics 2243 13 Molecular genetics 1313 14 Collections 31 15 Others (general, behaviour, archaeology) 2335 16 History of malacology 2 Seminar Report 75

Fig. 1. One of the posters, plus two of the participants (Photo B. M. POKRYSZKO)

Fig. 2. The anniversary cake (the snail and the inscription were also eaten in the end; they were made of jelly) (Photo B. M. POKRYSZKO) 76 Seminar Report

Fig. 3. Professor ANDRZEJ PIECHOCKI in the act of becoming honorary member (the absence of tie merci- fully invisible; the person with the tie is the President) (Photo B. M. POKRYSZKO)

Fig. 4. Young malacologists performing (Photo B. M. POKRYSZKO) Seminar Report 77 mental Station of The University of Life Sciences of The next Seminar will be organised by the Poznañ where we saw tame wolves (tame but other- Wroc³aw malacologists (at present four professionally wise quite real). Then we went to Obrzycko. Those active and one actively retired) who volunteered who remembered the palace in Obrzycko, where we (well, do you know the expression “to be volun- had had our 8th (1992) and 10th (1994) Seminars, teered?”). We know already when and where it will be: could not recognise it and/or believe what they saw. April 20th–23rd 2010, Kudowa-Zdrój in the beautiful Everybody was equally impressed by the new campus of Sto³owe Mts. the Adam Mickiewicz University, and their working Our Abstract Book was mostly in Polish, with TWO conditions. Now these people should be required to snails on the cover. Brief abstracts in English are pre- produce twice as many publications per year. At least... sented below; in most cases translated and abbrevi- The grill party, after the Seminar excursion, was in ated surreptitiously behind the authors’ back, by some respects even better than the banquet. Not only Yours Truly. was the food good and plenty, but also our younger BEATA M. POKRYSZKO participants turned out to be bloody good singers Museum of Natural History, Wroc³aw University (see Fig. 4). Unofficial social events were many, and it Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wroc³aw, Poland may have had to do with the fact that the Poznañ (e-mail: [email protected]) Brewery was one of the sponsors.

ABSTRACTS OF THE 25TH POLISH MALACOLOGICAL SEMINAR, BOSZKOWO 2009

HISTORY, COLLECTIONS & DATABASES able on-line to be used for the purposes of nature con- servation or studies on molluscbiology, ecologyand distribution. MOLLUSC FAUNA OF WIELKOPOLSKA – 50 YEARS OF STUDIES DARWIN AND CEPAEA SNAILS. EVOLUTION JERZY B£OSZYK, EL¯BIETA KORALEWSKA-BATURA, MEGALAB BART£OMIEJ GO£DYN, AGNIESZKA NAPIERA£A Zak³ad Zoologii Ogólnej, Instytut Biologii MA£GORZATA O¯GO Œrodowiska, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza, Instytut Biologii, Pomorska Akademia Pedagogiczna, Poznañ S³upsk The knowledge of terrestrial molluscs of Poland The year 2009 is Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday varies between regions. The idea of summarizing the and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his information on the malacofauna of Wielkopolska “Origin of species”. The Evolution MegaLab invites all came from the late Prof. El¿bieta Koralewska-Batura. who want to see evolution with their own eyes to study Her doctoral thesis, later published as “Miêczaki one of the favourites of evolutionary research – the Wielkopolski” [Molluscs of Wielkopolska] was the Cepaea snail. Cepaea snails are terrestrial and rather first attempt at such a summary. We decided to pre- common, with beautifully coloured shells: yellow, pare an updated estimate of the state of knowledge of pink or brown, unicolour of with banding patterns. the fauna and to assess the molluscdiversity using our These characters are genetically determined and it is own studies and unpublished sources. Fast anthro- possible to tell what genes an individual has without pogenictransformations of the environment make it killing it and sending it to a molecular lab. The fre- necessary to monitor changes through time; conse- quency of various colour morphs depends on envi- quently, faunisticstudies gain importance.Properly ronmental factors (climate, microclimate, predators accumulated and adequately organised information etc.). Can we catch evolution red-handed by compar- can be used for assessment of the environment quality ing populations from various places or from the same and provide a basis for protection plans. Data on rare place after some time has elapsed? Go to and protected mollusc species, as well as species in- www.evolutionmegalab.org and join the pan-Euro- cluded in Annex II to the Habitats Directive, are of pean studies – observe snails in your nearest sur- special significance. All the data on the molluscs of roundings. The Polish coordinator of the programme Wielkopolska, verified by us and included in the se- is Dr Ma³gorzata O¿go, Instytut Biologii i Ochrony ries of publications now in preparation, are at the Œrodowiska, Akademia Pomorska, Arciszewskiego same time entered in the computer database of the 22B, 76-200 S³upsk (e-mail: [email protected]). Collections of the Faculty of Biology and made avail- 78 Seminar Report

SHELL AS A SYMBOL MALACOLOGICAL COLLECTION OF THE UPPER SILESIAN MUSEUM ELIZA RYBSKA Wydzia³owa Pracownia Dydaktyki Biologii i Przyrody, KATARZYNA SKOWROÑSKA Wydzia³ Biologii, Uniwersytet im. Adama Centrum Dziedzictwa Przyrody Górnego Œl¹ska, Mickiewicza, Poznañ Katowice Though representation of molluscshells in art is The collection of the Natural History Department not very common, their symbolic meaning is wide, re- of the Upper Silesian Museum (zoological, botanical, lating to their shape (e.g. resembling moon), compli- geological) includes more than 500,000 specimens. It cated form (sophisticated beauty), natural environ- is the largest such collection in the Polish Upper ment (freshwater, sea, land), properties (noise – mu- Silesia, and one of the largest in Poland, after the Mu- sic), and protective function (protection of life, skele- seum and Institute of Zoology, PAS, Warsaw, Institute ton as death). The symbolism, often invoking oppo- of Evolution and Systematics of Animals, PAS, Cracow site phenomena and experiences (life and death, vir- and Natural History Museum, Wroc³aw University. ginity and licentiousness), stems from the culture The malacological collection of the Upper Silesian which produced the work of art. In the Mediterra- Museum includes more than 28,000 specimens, classi- nean where the culture is based on Greek-Roman my- fied in scientific and educational collection. Of these thology and the Bible, there is a similar source of asso- 26,600 are gastropods, bivalves are fewer; there are ciations. The shell was associated with the motif of single shells of other mollusctaxa. The specimesare birth. Aphrodite (Venus), born of the sea foam, was dry (shells) or alcohol-preserved. Marine snails from repeatedly depicted as standing on a shell among various parts of the world include 667 specimens, rep- waves. The most popular picture with this motif was resenting more than 200 species. The best repre- Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus”. In the Christian culture a sented genera are Conus (38 species), Cypraea (18) bivalve shell symbolised virginity, immaculate concep- and Strombus (12). Freshwater snails include 24,300 tion, virginal birth. It was an attribute of Virgin Mary, specimens of 35 species (the most abundantly repre- of whom it was said that she carried an invaluable sented species are Potamopyrgus antipodarum, Planorbis pearl in her womb – Jesus. Art, inspired by mythical planorbis, Physella acuta, Gyraulus albus, Gyraulus crista, motifs, often referred to Amphitrite – a nereid, the Planorbarius corneus and Radix balthica). Terrestrial most beautiful of Okeanos’s daughters, and wife of gastropods (over 1,600 specimens) are represented Poseidon. She was presented as the queen of seas trav- by native (85%) and tropical species. Among species elling in the company of tritons and nereids. Fortune of the Polish fauna, 68 terrestrial gastropod species was imagined as riding a shell charriot. In these con- are represented in the collection. The bivalves (1,400 texts shells were attributes of water or lunar deities. specimens) comprise marine (40%) and freshwater The shell motif often appeared in connection with species. The collection is of mixed origin. The oldest vanitative problematics. Calcareous-organic products part, from the early 20th c., includes over 180 fresh- of molluscmantle were to remind the observers of in - water and terrestrial shells. The collection of marine evitable end which awaits us all. According to primi- snail and bivalve shells of Jerzy Jasieñski includes tive tribes conchs ensured immortality of the de- more than 200 specimens. Regular scientific expedi- ceased. On Christian tombstones the shell was an em- tions to Turkey by the Natural History Department, blem of the body, the corporeal clod abandoned by started in 2000, and occasional expeditions to other immortal soul, or the deceased’s house. The compli- countries (Bulgaria, Greece) yielded also small mala- cated sculpture of the mollusc shell and its sophisti- cological collections, of more than 200 specimens in cated form in themselves became symbols of beauty total. Roland Dobosz’s recent expedition to New Cal- and exquisite artistictastes. Aestheticvalues of shells edonia enriched the collection with over 200 speci- were successfully used in applied art. The shell motif mens of marine molluscs. Over 8,800 freshwater was used not only as an architectural ornament, but molluscs were collected by Piotr Cuber in Silesian also for ornamenting china objects or jewellery. The voivodeship in 2006. More than 15,800 specimens of universal beauty of shells is confirmed by ancient pic- freshwater molluscs were collected by Katarzyna tures, intended as faithful copies of definite mollusc Skowroñska in 2004–2008 in 26 districts of Silesian species and now regarded as works of arts. voivodeship. Seminar Report 79

IN COMMEMORATION OF PROFESSOR common freshwater snails, and especially on their life URBAÑSKI (1909–1981) ON THE HUNDREDTH cycles and shell morphology, e.g. Gyraulus albus, G. ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTHDAY rossmaessleri, Planorbis planorbis, Stagnicola corvus. Later research dealt with malacofauna of water bodies cre- KAZIMIERZ STÊPCZAK, JERZY B£OSZYK ated by man on purpose or accidentally. Development Zak³ad Zoologii Ogólnej, Instytut Biologii of snail communities was presented on the back- Œrodowiska, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza, ground of characteristics of degraded habitats; the in- Poznañ troduction routes and effect of introduced species on the native malacofauna were analysed. Especially the Dr hab. Jaros³aw Urbañski, ordinary professor of effect of alien species (Potamopyrgus antipodarum, the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznañ, was, dur- Physella acuta, Ferrissia wautieri) was studied in great ing many years, a member of the Board of Faculty of detail. In was found that in conditions of progressing the Biology and Earth Sciences of the University, head anthropopressure they showed great adaptive abilities of the Departament of General Zoology, active mem- and often gained advantage over native species. The ber of various organisations and scientific societies studies show that in areas degraded by industry and and a researcher with an unusually wide scope of in- devoid of natural water bodies, numerous anthropo- terests and great knowledge. He is usually said to have genicreservoirs play an important part for preserving written more than 200 scientific papers, but he him- the molluscdiversity. It appears that wider hydrobio - self could not list all his publications which were cer- logical studies, including other macrobenthos com- tainly much more numerous. Due to his help 18 re- ponents, in anthropogenicreservoirs are fully justi - searchers got degrees of habilitated doctor and pro- fied. fessor. He supervised 15 doctoral dissertations and more than 160 masters’ theses. Thousands of students listened to his fascinating lectures. He was the first FAUNISTICS & ECOLOGY doctor in Poland promoted after World War II. J. Urbañski devoted nearly 70 publications to molluscs alone. His other papers dealt with arthropods, fishes, THE EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL birds, mammals and nature conservation in broad CONDITIONS ON THE OCCURRENCE OF sense; he also published numerous popular articles. THEODOXUS FLUVIATILIS IN THE NIDA RIVER Many nature reserves, nature monuments and two na- tional parks were created due to his initiative or with ANNA CIEPLOK his help. For many years, till his death, he was active in Katedra Hydrobiologii, Uniwersytet Œl¹ski, Katowice various institutions and organisations for nature con- servation. He was a member of the Zoological Com- The Nida is a lowland river; is forms the axis of the mittee of the Polish Academy of Sciense and editor of Nida Landscape Park. Its molluscs are poorly known the series “Przyroda Polski Zachodniej” [Nature of and the data come from the 1970s. The research was Western Poland]. In recognition of his merits be was aimed at ascertaining the effect of habitat conditions awarded an array of distinctions. on the occurrence of Theodoxus fluviatilis, and to char- acterise its habitats on the background of mollusc communities of the river. T. fluviatilis lives in fresh THIRTY FIVE YEARS OF RESEARCH and brackish waters, most often in rivers where it atta- ON FRESHWATER MOLLUSCS OF INDUSTRIAL ches to stones and submerged logs. It is regarded as a HABITATS IN UPPER SILESIA calciphile of high oxygen requirements, associated with slightly alkaline waters. The study inluded 11 MA£GORZATA STRZELEC, MARIOLA KRODKIEWSKA, sites (in representative sections of the river) sampled ANETA SPYRA, AGNIESZKA MICHALIK-KUCHARZ from May till September 2008, with routine methods. Katedra Hydrobiologii, Uniwersytet Œl¹ski, Katowice Site selection considered the substratum character, flow velocity, depth, and the character of the banks. Malacological research, started in early 1970s at Physico-chemical analysis of the water revealed no sta- the Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, tistically significant differences between the sites Silesian University, was mainly aimed at supplement- which however differed in the substratum character ing the earlier information on the freshwater and organicmatter content. T. fluviatilis occurred molluscs of Upper Silesia. The common belief at that only in the site in Nowy Korczyn, where during the time was that industrial and urbanized areas were not whole study period seven snail species were recorded interesting from hydrobiological point of view. The (generally 22 snail species were recorded from the first stage of research included studies on the effect of Nida). It was the most abundant in May when its den- various factors, related to mining and heavy industry, sity was 792 indiv./m2, the least so in September – 440 on the biology, physiology and morphology of some indiv./m2. It co-occurred constantly with Viviparus 80 Seminar Report viviparus and Bithynia tentaculata. The factor deter- MOLLUSCS OF THE KRUTYNIA RIVER mining its occurrence in Nowy Korczyn was the char- (MAZURIAN LAKELAND) acter of the bottom: submerged boulders and blocks, the so called macrolittoral covered by a thin deposit BEATA JAKUBIK, KRZYSZTOF LEWANDOWSKI layer. Katedra Ekologii i Ochrony Œrodowiska, Akademia Podlaska, Siedlce PREFERENCES OF CADDISFLY LARVAE Krutynia, one of the important rivers of the (LIMNEPHILUS FLAVICORNIS) FOR SNAILS USED Mazurian Lakeland, was earlier only fragmentarily FOR CASE BUILDING studied. Our 2008 sudies were aimed at inventorying the malacofauna of the whole river, albeit without the BART£OMIEJ GO£DYN1, JAKUB Z. KOSICKI2, associated lakes. Samples from 10 sites, from the £UKASZ KACZMAREK3 sources to the mouth, revealed 29 species (19 snails, 1Zak³ad Zoologii Ogólnej 10 bivalves). The number of species per site ranged 2Zak³ad Biologii i Ekologii Ptaków from 4 (middle section) to 24 (mouth section). The 3Zak³ad Taksonomii i Ekologii Zwierz¹t most common species were Bithynia tentaculata and Instytut Biologii Œrodowiska, Viviparus contectus (frequency 80–90%), the least so – Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza, Poznañ Planorbis carinatus, Anisus vortex, Gyraulus albus, Stagnicola palustris, S. corvus, Sphaerium rivicola, Larvae of limnephilid caddisflies build cases from Pisidium subtruncatum and Pseudanodonta complanata a variety of materials; they often use molluscshells. (frequency 10%). Sphaerium corneum, Dreissena This is especially true of Limnephilus flavicornis.Itis polymorpha, Anodonta anatina and Unio pictorum were commonly assumed that the caddisfly shows no spe- present in the upper, middle and lower sections. The cies or size preferences when acquiring its building highest density, locally exceeding 100 indiv./m2, was materials. Our study was to test this assumption. We observed for Theodoxus fluviatilis, the greatest bio- analysed 283 cases of L. flavicornis from samples taken mass, of more than 2.5 kg/m2, for unionids, especially from 30 small water bodies and compared their com- Unio tumidus. position with the species composition and size struc- ture of the snails found in the same samples. The most frequent species in the cases was Anisus leuco- MOLLUSC DIVERSITY IN PERIODIC WATER stomus (86.6% of the total). The remaining species BODIES: FLOODPLAIN OF THE LOWER BUG were Segmentina nitida (7.3%), Planorbis planorbis RIVER (3.9%), Stagnicola corvus and Armiger crista (0.5% each), Planorbarius corneus and Radix balthica (0.4%), EWA JURKIEWICZ-KARNKOWSKA Aplexa hypnorum and Lymnaea stagnalis (0.1%). The Katedra Ekologii i Ochrony Œrodowiska, Akademia frequency of shells (irrespective of species) in the Podlaska, Siedlce caddisfly cases was positively correlated with the abun- dance of snails in the sample. The frequency of A. The research was to determine the structure, spe- leucostomus in the cases was greater than in the cies richness and diversity (Shannon-Weaver index, samples (p<0.001; Z= –5.663). For the remaining spe- H’) of malacocoenoses in periodic water bodies of the cies the dependence was reversed – in the caddisfly lower Bug River valley (ca. 100 km section). An at- cases they were fewer than could be expected based tempt was also made at identifying environmental fac- on their abundance in the sample. The cases of L. tors with the greatest effect on the structure, diversity flavicornis contained shells of A. leucostomus larger and abundance of the mollusc faunas. The studies in- than the mean size in the snail population (p=0.001; cluded 49 water bodies within the natural floodplain, Z= –3.22). The situation was the opposite for S. nitida the floodplain limited by flood banks and the former – the caddisfly used smaller shells (p<0.001; Z= floodplain outside the flood banks. Molluscs were –6.263). The study was partly financed within the sampled in May and June 2007 and 2008. Samples of grant of MNiSW no. N N304 3400 33. water and bottom deposits were also taken. Thirty six mollusc species were recorded – 30 snails (including 6 prosobranchs) and 6 bivalves. The number of species in a water body ranged from 2 to 17. The most fre- quent species (F>50%) were: Stagnicola palustris, Planorbarius corneus, Planorbis planorbis, Anisus vortex and Segmentina nitida. Molluscabundancein samples from ca. 1 m2 ranged from 20 to 1,826 individuals. Species diversity (H’) was 0.44–3.12. The dominance structure varied. Species resistant to drying out domi- Seminar Report 81 nated in most water bodies, but in some, especially ondary distribution range of the species. The studies those periodically connected with the river or with are a part of research project 2 P04G 005 28. large permanent water bodies, less resistant species dominated. An array of factors was found to have a significant effect on the structure of the malaco- BEETLES AS NATURAL ENEMIES OF SNAILS coenoses: age of the water body, depth, vegetation, hy- drological connection, position within the floodplain SZYMON KONWERSKI1, PAWE£ SIENKIEWICZ2, and character of bottom deposits. Among the chemi- ZBIGNIEW ADAMSKI3, JERZY B£OSZYK1,4 cal parameters, the concentration of phosphate, chlo- 1Zbiory Przyrodnicze, Uniwersytet im. Adama ride and calcium ions, and the proper conductivity, Mickiewicza, Poznañ had a significant effect. The project was financed by 2Katedra Ochrony Œrodowiska Przyrodniczego, grant no. N305 11731/3934. Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy, Poznañ 3Pracownia Mikroskopii Elektronowej i Konfokalnej/ Zak³ad Fizjologii i Biologii Rozwoju Zwierz¹t, HOW DID LITHOGLYPHUS NATIOCOIDES REACH Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza, Poznañ THE MAZURIAN GREAT LAKES? 4Zak³ad Zoologii Ogólnej, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza, Poznañ ANDRZEJ KO£ODZIEJCZYK Zak³ad Hydrobiologii, Instytut Zoologii, Uniwersytet Snails are not an easily accessible food source for Warszawski, Warszawa beetles. Though very abundant and thus potentially available to predators, they have defensive means that Lithoglyphus natiocoides inhabits large and me- make them unattractive to the insects. Their body is dium-sized, slow, lowland rivers. It is sporadically covered in mucus, and they can retract into the shell found in lakes; in the Mazurian Lakeland it was re- when attacked. Members of several beetle families are corded from Lake Jeziorak and some flow lakes of specialised snail hunters: Carabidae, Silphidae, the Jorka River. At least since 1997 it has occurred, in Lampyridae and Drilidae. This pertains to both larvae low numbers and a limited area, in Lake Miko³ajskie. (Carabidae, Lampyridae, Drilidae) and imagines According to literature data the snail reached Po- (Carabidae, Silphidae). The specialisation has re- land from south-east and was first observed in 1877 sulted in far-reaching structural modifications of in the Bug, and then in the Narew and Vistula Rivers. some beetles (e.g. Phosphuga atrata, Carabus intricatus, The only direct connection between these rivers and C. irregularis, genera Cychrus and Licinus), especially the Mazurian Great Lakes is the Pisa River. In the their mouthparts and head. Members of Drilidae also summer 2008 bottom deposits (L. naticoides is ben- use the prey shells as shelters for their larvae and pu- thicand decidedlyavoids aquaticvegetation) were pae. Structural and biological adaptations of beetles sampled in the Jegliñski Canal (connecting Lake to feeding on snails are discussed in detail. Roœ, out of which the Pisa flows, with Lake Œniardwy), in 12 sites along the Pisa and in the Narew above its mouth. L. naticoides was found nei- THE EFFECT OF GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTER ther in the canal nor in the entire, 80 km, Pisa OF ROCK ON THE OCCURRENCE AND course. The malacofauna of the river was extremely DISTRIBUTION OF CEPAEA VINDOBONENSIS poor qualitatively and quantitatively which may be IN POLAND associated with considerable flow speed, kind of bot- tom deposits and river bed character (high banks, no DOMINIKA MIERZWA riverine habitats). In the Narew numerous speci- Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii, Polska Akademia Nauk, mens of L. naticoides were found among the rich and Warszawa varied malacofauna. The results indicate that the Pisa is, at least to molluscs, a distinct environmental Localities of C. vindobonensis in south-eastern Po- barrier between the Narew basin (or more broadly land are associated with outcrops of carbonate rocks. Vistula basin) and the Mazurian Great Lakes. Pene- The species is also found in different habitats, for ex- tration of L. naticoides into Lake Miko³ajskie could ample alluvial deposits of large rivers: Vistula, Warta have a character of human-mediated “leap invasion” and Odra. The occurrence of C. vindobonensis on (introduction). The snail could be brought in crev- floodplains of the Vistula and Odra river systems is as- ices in yacht hulls; in the spring numerous yachts sociated with water dispersal of individuals from areas travel from Warsaw along the Vistula, Narew and Pisa with carbonate substratum. Along the Vistula valley to the Great Lakes. Earlier literature data indicate the species reaches the environs of Œwiecie. Its distri- that there may be another explanation for the insu- bution range is compatible with the geochemical map lar population of L. naticoides in Lake Miko³ajskie, of alluvial deposits, showing calcium content in Po- namely that Poland is within the natural and not sec- land. The continuous part of the range is limited to 82 Seminar Report carbonate substratum. Its insular parts are associated OUR MALACOLOGICAL TRIP TO GEORGIA with alluvial deposits. The presence of the same spe- cies in two different habitats has resulted in two forms BEATA M. POKRYSZKO1,ROBERT A. D. CAMERON2 of different phenotypes. The light form (pallescens)is 1Museum of Natural History, Wroc³aw University, characteristic of carbonate habitats of uplands of Wroc³aw south-eastern Poland, while the dark form 2Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Univer- (expallescens) is typical of floodplains. Though a great sity of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK & The Natural His- proportion of phenotypicdifferencesbetween popu - tory Museum, London, UK lations of the species seem to have genetic back- ground, there are also differences distinctly corre- In July 2008 we sampled terrestrial gastropods in lated with the geochemical character of the substra- nine localities with a total of 30 standard forest sam- tum. An example is a weakened shell combined with pling plots in the Lesser and Greater Caucasus. The fading of the characteristic colour pattern in snails plots differed in the character of the forest (some of from secondary habitats (floodplains), compared to them relicTertiary forests), substratum and altitude. populations from habitats regarded as optimum The resulting collection includes 88 species, among (limestone substratum). others 24 pupilloids, 20 zonitoids, 18 clausiliids and 13 helicoids. The paper is in preparation.

MALACOLOGY AND GEOLOGY. DISTRIBUTION OF CEPAEA VINDOBONENSIS DREISSENA POLYMORPHA AS A COMPONENT OF AND THE GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE HABITAT OF BENTHIC MEIOFAUNA IN KLEINES OF THE SUBSTRATUM HAFF (SZCZECIN LAGOON)

DOMINIKA MIERZWA TERESA RADZIEJEWSKA1, CHRISTIANE FENSKE2, 1 2 Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii, Polska Akademia Nauk, BRYGIDA WAWRZYNIAK-WYDROWSKA , PHILIP RIEL , 3 Warszawa ADAM WOZNICZKA 1Zak³ad Paleooceanologii, Uniwersytet Szczeciñski, In Poland, original (natural) occurrence of Cepaea Szczecin vindobonensis is associated with carbonate rock out- 2Institute for Biochemistry, Ernst Moritz Arndt Uni- crops of the Lublin Upland, Roztocze, Kielce–San- versity of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany domierz Upland, Cracow–Czêstochowa Upland and 3Morski Instytut Rybacki, Œwinoujscie Silesian Upland. C. vindobonensis is most often found on sunny slopes with xerothermicvegetation. Rocks The zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha, a sessile of such localities are often dissected by river erosion. filtrator, is regarded as a link connecting pelagial and High water flow causes faster erosion of rock and allu- benthal. Many authors point to its crucial role for im- vial deposits, as well as dispersal of C. vindobonensis to provement of living conditions of benthic communi- lower river sections. Decreasing water level after a ties of the deposit surrounding the zebra mussel colo- flood episode causes deposition of the snails, among nies. In the sumer 2007 we studied the distribution of other places, on floodplains (secondary localities), aggregations of D. polymorpha in Kleines Haff (Ger- even several dozen kilometres away from the original man part of the Szczecin Lagoon) and their effect on site. Such secondary sites are most often located on the meiobenthos communities. Meiobenthos was right bank terraces of the Vistula (e.g. environs of sampled in two sites: one with small, loose aggrega- Pu³awy, Skurcza, Wilga, Górki, Warsaw, Zakroczym, tions of the mussel, another with a dense mussel bed. P³ock, Dobrzyñ on the Vistula and W³oc³awek). Be- In the first site samples were taken very close to the sides sedimentation, which directly affects mineral mussel aggregations and far from them, in the second composition of deposits, the possibility of survival of – at the mussel bed and 10 m away. The sites differed C. vindobonensis on the floodplains of the Vistula de- in the character of their deposits: in the first site it was pends to a large degree on the Ca2+ content in the permeable sand with detritus and shell fragments, in substratum (1–4%). Calcium deficit (probably below the second – a layer of sand with detritus and shell 0.5% in deposits), acid pH, poor insolation, high hu- rubble underlain by a peat layer at the mussel bed and midity and anthropogenic factors cause decrease in by a layer of permeable sand away from it. The abundance and then disappearance of populations. samples from the first site did not differ in the abun- The snails will persist only if they do not leave the dance and composition of their meiobenthos. In the floodplain area. Their abundance drops with migra- second site the meiobenthos was considerably richer tion outside the terrace boundaries, and individuals quantitatively near the mussel bed (which would con- with deformed shells appear. firm earlier observations), the general abundance of benthicmeiofauna was smaller at the mussel bed than away from it. The results suggest that parameters of Seminar Report 83 meiobenthos communities in waters with D. poly- of unionid populations functioning was not consid- morpha depend at least partly on those habitat proper- ered before. ties that are not affected by the presence of the mus- sel. The study is a part of the project “Biologische Renaturierungsmethoden für das Oderhaff [Biologi- CAN DIFFERENCES IN CALCIUM CONTENT cal Restoration Methods for the Szczecin Lagoon]” fi- BETWEEN COLOUR MORPHS OF CEPAEA nanced by the Internationale Büro des Bundes- NEMORALIS INFLUENCE PREDATION PRESSURE? ministeriums für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Project MOE 07/R58. ZUZANNA M. ROSIN Zak³ad Biologii Komórki, Instytut Biologii Œrodowiska, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza, THE ROLE OF UNIONID POPULATIONS Poznañ IN WATER BODIES OF THE EUROPEAN PART OF RUSSIA Calcium is important for snail and bird reproduc- tion. Snail shells are regarded as the main calcium ALEXANDRA L. RIZHINASHVILI source for passerine birds. There are no data on the Department of the Technospheric and Ecological dependence between calcium content in shells of var- Safety, St. Petersburg State Railway University, St. Pe- ious morphs of Cepaea nemoralis, and preferences of tersburg, Russia birds which catch the snails mainly because of cal- cium. Studies on the effect of predators on the morph Unionids are food to water fowl and some fishes, frequency in Cepaea focused on birds. Information on hosts to parasites, and play an essential part in aquatic the role of rodents and their effect on snail popula- ecosystems’ equilibrium. Information on the quantity tions is scanty, though they can be major Cepaea pred- of organicmatter passing through bivalves with fil- ators. Shell thickness increase may be a possible tered water is scanty. The aim of this study was to esti- anti-predatory adaptation; it would increase the time mate participation of unionid populations in circula- and energy expenditure on the part of the predator. tion of organicmatter in lakes with different trophic Calcium ensures mechanical resistance of snail shells level: Laborzhskoe (hypertrophic) and Krasnoe and thus better protection against mechanical dam- (mesotrophic), with populations of Unio tumidus and age (and/or predators). Hence, snails with higher Ca U. pictorum. The biomass and abunance of the popula- content in their shells should be energetically less tions from lakes Laborzhskoe and Krasnoe were as- profitable for protein- and energy-seeking predators, sessed in the summer of 1982 and 2005, respectively. and thus favoured by such selection. It is possible that In Lake Krasnoe the density and biomass were: U. predation pressure in Cepaea populations exerts selec- tumidus 60 indiv./m2, 1854.61 g/m2, U. pictorum 24 tion in two directions at once – for increased calcium indiv./m2, 615.6 g/m2 and both species combined 84 concentration in shells (snails with thin shells more indiv./m2, 2470.21 g/m2. In Lake Laborzhskoe the re- often caught by protein- and energy-seeking preda- spective values were 4 indiv./m2, 106.53 g/m2;5 tors) and for decreased calcium concentration indiv./m2, 91.85 g/m2 and 9 indiv./m2, 198.38 g/m2. (thick-shelled snails more often selected by cal- In Lake Laborzhskoe the time required for lake vol- cium-seeking birds). Could such varied selection be ume filtration is equal to the water exchange period a/the factor maintaining polymorphism in Cepaea? -1 (Kw=5.2 year ). In Lake Krasnoe that time is 4 times shorter than the water exchange period (Kw=1.25 year-1). These values indicate a significant water tur- GASTROPOD DISTRIBUTION IN REGULAR- bulence caused by the bivalves. Its intensity is compar- -SAMPLING PLOTS IN THE NATURE RESERVE able to that of water exchange in the waterbodies. In DÊBNO NAD WART¥ Lake Laborzhskoe the bivalves excrete 49.61 gC/m2 with faeces and pseudofaeces, which nearly equals the KRYSTYNA SZYBIAK, EL¯BIETA KORALEWSKA-BATURA, food requirements of the macrozoobenthos. The BART£OMIEJ GO£DYN, JERZY B£OSZYK quantity of oxygen needed for mineralisation of the Zak³ad Zoologii Ogólnej, Instytut Biologii remainder of bivalve-excreted organic matter is equal Œrodowiska, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza, to BOD5. In Lake Krasnoe the bivalves excrete 82.16 Poznañ gC/m2 which exceeds the zoobenthos food require- ments 14 times. The oxygen quantity required to min- Four regular-sampling plots were selected in the eralise the remainder exceeds BOD5 20 times. The bi- buffer zone of the nature reserve Dêbno nad Wart¹ valves contribute not only to water purification, but (Wielkopolskie voivodeship). Each plot, 15 m2 in also to eutrophication. Organic matter accumulation area, was divided into of 1 × 1 m squares. A litter resulting from mollusc activity may lead to creation of sample was taken from each square four times a year. anaerobic conditions in the hypolimnion. This aspect Besides the malacofauna composition, the propor- 84 Seminar Report tion of leaves of various tree species was counted for adults were randomly selected from each locality. each sample. The degree of coverage with herb layer Zinc concentration was analysed in the foot, alimen- plants was noted for each square. The distribution of tary tract and shell, with spectrometer BUCK 200 A, 17 gastropod species in the plots was analysed, as well using atomicabsorption spectrophotometry (AAS). as their preference to leaves of various trees. The wid- Statistical analysis (ANOVA) revealed statistically sig- est distributed species were Trichia hispida, Cochlodina nificant differences in Zn content, between the or- laminata and Perforatella incarnata. Canonical analysis gans (F(2,54) =83.91; p<0.001), and localities (F(1,54) (CCA) showed that Ruthenica filograna, Discus rotun- =24.23; p<0.001). For the snails from Busko-Zdrój the datus and Clausilia bidentata were stenoecious. For greatest concentration was found in the alimentary their wintering they selected places with little herba- tract (940.47±353.90), the smallest in the shell ceous vegetation and much litter of elm, ash, and (19.10±6.28). The concentration in the foot was hornbeam. These preferences were observed, but less 145.96±59.58. The concentration in the alimentary pronounced, also during the remaining seasons. With tract was significantly higher (p<0.001) than in the progressing vegetation season the distribution of the shell and foot, while there were no significant differ- species became less aggregated. The remaining gas- ences between the foot and shell. Zn concentration in tropod species seemed to be euryoecious and win- the snails from Osowiecwas less varied between the tered over in places with intermediate conditions. organs: alimentary tract 295.14±68,02, foot 216.20±63 and shell 16.81±2.58. The concentration in the shell was significantly smaller (p<0.001) than in the foot ANODONTA CYGNEA FROM THE MALTAÑSKI and alimentary tract. Post hoc LSD test showed that Zn RESERVOIR concentration in the alimentary tracts of the snails from Busko-Zdrój was significantly higher (p<0.001), PIOTR WOJCIESZAK, WOJCIECH ANDRZEJEWSKI compared to those from Osowiec. The concentration Katedra Rybactwa Œródl¹dowego i Akwakultury, in foot and shell did not differ significantly between Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy, Poznañ the populations. The results suggest that H. obvia can be useful in monitoring heavy metal pollution. The Maltañski reservoir is located within the ad- ministrative boundaries of the city of Poznañ; it was formed as a result of damming of the Cybina River, a CONSERVATION right-bank tributary of the Warta. It is a shallow (max 5.5 m) lowland retention reservoir, 64.0 ha in area. It mainly serves sports and recreation. For exploitation MONITORING UNIO CRASSUS IN THE MID reasons it is emptied every 4 years. In October and PILICA. IMPLEMENTING THE HABITATS November 2008, during commercial fishing and DIRECTIVE IN POLAND emptying, Anodonta cygnea and A. complanata were ob- served. Biomass and abundance were estimated for ANNA ABRASZEWSKA the dominant species, A. cygnea. The bivalves were col- Katedra Zoologii Bezkrêgowców i Hydrobiologii, 2 lected from the surface (1 m ) and from the bottom Uniwersytet £ódzki deposits to the depth of 5 cm. 246 random samples were taken. The total weight of specimens was 37.65 The population of Unio crassus (species from An- kg, the average biomass was 0.153 kg/m2 (1,530 nex II, Habitats Directive) was studied in the mid kg/ha). In order to assess density, 37 kg of bivalves Pilica in 2008, in an 80 km section between Maluszyn were randomly divided into 1 kg samples. The mean and Polanka (above the Sulejowski Reservoir) (per- number of individuals per sample was 49 (74,970 mission SR.V.6631/257/2008). The 40 km fragment indiv./ha). of the river below Przedbórz is a Natura 2000 area. The study was aimed at creating a monitoring system which would meet the Habitats Directive require- ZINC CONCENTRATION IN SHELLS ments. Twenty five sites (on average every 3.6 km) in AND TISSUES OF HELICELLA OBVIA FROM the Pilica, mouth sections of two tributaries and in THE REGION OF BUSKO-ZDRÓJ AND OSOWIEC one oxbow were sampled. The resulting 3,395 bivalves represented six native unionid species. The occur- W£ODZIMIERZ WOJTAŒ rence analysis was based on U. crassus – 273 speci- Instytut Biologii, Uniwersytet Pedagogiczny, Kraków mens, U. tumidus – 1,869, U. pictorum – 1,077, Anodonta cygnea – 24, A. anatina – 137 and Pseudanodonta Snails for the study originated from two localities: complanata – 15. The distribution was practically con- 1. near Osowiec(53 °28’N, 22°40’E), 2. near tinuous except the sections with high level of organic Busko-Zdrój (50°28’N, 20°43’E). Both are located in pollution (Gêsiarnia, Przedbórz). A 23 km section be- “biologically pure” areas with no major industry. Ten low Przedbórz, between Faliszewo and Bia³a (water Seminar Report 85 quality class III), was the richest in unionids, includ- land) holds diverse habitats and thus biodiversity. ing U. crassus. U. tumidus and U. pictorum were typical Wetlands form only 0.5–0.6% of the area. Non-forest for this river section; U. crassus was common but not habitats with species included in the network Natura abundant. It was found sporadically in the main cur- 2000 – Vertigo angustior, V. moulinsiana and Anisus rent; it stayed mainly in the sandy-muddy littoral, in vorticulus – are oxbows, molinia meadows, chalk fens the reed belt where it accompanied other bivalves. A. and sedge beds. Such habitats, rare in the region, are anatina was much less frequent and less abundant; the still insufficiently studied. They were not malacolo- remaining two protected species – A cygnea and P. gically inventoried before. The region suffers water complanata – were accessory. The unionid density var- deficit and consequent vegetational and faunal ied from 0.25 to 110.8 N/m2; the values for U. crassus changes. The decreasing water level, as well as other were 0.1–6.6 N/m2. The largest aggregation of U. anthropogenic changes, have resulted in destruction crassus (66 individuals on a 10 m stretch) was ob- of bogs near Gnie¿dziska, Czarnca, ¯elis³awice, served near the village Trzy Morgi. The mean shell Rytwiany and £y¿wy. The area is culturally unique be- length of U. crassus (n=243) was 60.2±13.5 mm (range cause of archaelogical sites with sequences of prehis- 22.6–86.8 mm), the mean age (n=237): 4.99±2.0 toricculturesin the bogs. The 2008 field work yielded (1–11) The values were similar to those obtained for localities and areas of occurrence of mollusc species the Pilica population 10 years ago. The character of included in Natura 2000 in wetlands and meadows. the mid section of Pilica and the condition of the lo- Fourteen areas of integrated protection of species cal population of U. crassus suggest that the popula- and habitats were selected. Some show a drying-out tion should be under constant monitoring. tendency, pedogenesis and damage to active bogs. The process can be stopped by renaturization. This requires an urgent monitoring of the state of wetlands MALACOFAUNA OF THE SOUTHERN WETLAND and maintaining or improving the water regime in BELT OF THE KAMPINOS NATIONAL PARK the protected areas.

JADWIGA ANNA BARGA-WIÊC£AWSKA Instytut Biologii, Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego, MOLLUSCS OF THE DÊBNICKO-TYNIECKIE Kielce MEADOWS IN CRACOW

The Kampinos National Park, located within the MARCIN KASZUBA largest confluence of rivers in Poland (Vistula, Bug, Instytut Systematyki i Ewolucji Zwierz¹t, Polska Narew and Bzura), is varied with respect to its topo- Akademia Nauk, Kraków graphy and habitats. Its southern wetland belt is bor- dered by dunes and the B³oñska Plain and includes The Dêbnicko-Tynieckie meadows are located extensive oxbows filled by decomposed peat with lac- within the Dêbniki district in the SW. part of Cracow. ustrine chalk. The high calcium content and alkaline They occupy ca. 1,150 ha and include seven main divi- pH favour development of mollusccommunities.In sions: Bodzów, Kostrze, Ko³o Tynieckie, Podgórki 2008 the wetland molluscs were sampled (8 sampling Tynieckie, Zakrzówek, Skotniki and Pastwiska. The plots) for inventorying purposes. Forty species (38 malacofaunistic inventory was within a larger faunistic snails: 23 terrestrial, 15 aquatic, and 2 bivalves) were project verifying the boundaries of a Natura 2000 recorded. The number of species per site ranged area. It was conducted from the end of June till Au- from 6 to 15. The largest group included species of gust 2008. Thirty four gastropod species were re- small periodicpools. The most abundant specieswere corded (3 of them aquatic: Lymnaea stagnalis, L. aquatic Anisus leucostomus and Aplexa hypnorum as well turricula, Planorbis planorbis). The greatest diversity as hygrophile Carychium minimum. Sedge and reed was found in Skotniki, Podgórki Tynieckie and beds harboured species from Annex II of the Habitats Kostrze. The most important records are those of Ver- Directive: Vertigo angustior and V. moulinsiana. tigo angustior Jeffreys, 1830 (Annex II of Habitats Di- rective). In recent years near Cracow it was reported only from a new locality in Alwernia. In Poland after RENATURIZATION OF NON-FOREST HABITATS 1975 it was known only from 20 localities. It has new IN THE ŒWIETOKRZYSKI REGION localities in Pastwiska, Podgórki Tynieckie and Skot- niki. Another noteworthy species is Cepaea vindobo- JADWIGA ANNA BARGA-WIÊC£AWSKA nensis, found in Kostrze. In the environs of Cracow it Instytut Biologii, Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego, was previously known from Podgórki Tynieckie, hills Kielce between Kostrze and Bodzów, Bielany, Przegorza³y and Ska³ki Twardowskiego. The remaining 32 species Because of its topographic, hydrological and geo- are common and abundant in Poland. logical character, the Œwiêtokrzyski region (SE. Po- 86 Seminar Report

NEW LOCALITIES OF VERTIGO ANGUSTIOR Slovakia V. angustior is protected in 23 areas, 6 of them IN POMERANIAN AND WESTERN-POMERANIAN in the Carpathians. Till 2008 only 10 areas were desig- VOIVODESHIPS nated for the species in Poland, of which one was in the Carpathians. In 2008, 4 Carpathian areas were ZOFIA KSI¥¯KIEWICZ added to the Polish list. Till 2008 U. crassus had 27 ar- Instytut Ochrony Przyrody, Polska Akademia Nauk, eas in Poland, 3 of them in the Carpathians. In Kraków Slovakia 22 areas were designated for it, 3 of them in the discussed part of the Carpathians. The informa- Seven localities of Vertigo angustior were found in tion on these species in the Polish Carpathians is still 2007 in Pomeranian voivodeship. In September 2008 insufficient; the situation is much better in the case of the search in that region was continued and extended Slovak localities. to include the adjacent areas of Western-Pomeranian voivodeship. The field work included mainly places of constant humidity, not drying; only some were period- DEVELOPMENT, REPRODUCTION ically under water. The studied habitats were alkaline & POPULATION DYNAMICS fens (wetland to a considerable extent covered in sedge-moss plant communities), with sedges. Snails were sought among decomposing leaves of Carex sp. REMATING AND THE ROLE OF THE PENIAL During September search a total of 8 localities of V. GLAND IN THE TERRESTRIAL SLUG DEROCERAS angustior were recorded: 3 in Pomeranian and 5 in PANORMITANUM Western-Pomeranian voivodeship. Most were located in small river valleys (only two on lakes). One site was J. M. C. HUTCHINSON, B. JÄSCHKE, I. SCHULZE, periodically under water and the snails stayed on H. REISE sedge leaves. The remaining localities were not Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz, flooded and the snails stayed in the litter. In all, in Görlitz, Germany 2007–2008, 15 new localities of V. angustior were found in the studied area (thus at present in Poland In the mating of Deroceras panormitanum, after mu- 90 localities of the snail are known). The observations tual exchange of sperm each partner everts a large suggest that the snail is absent from the northern part penial gland which deposits a secretion over the part- of Pomeranian voivodeship (or its localities are very ner. Here we use latency to remate as an assay to test few), while many records are located near Drawsko two hypotheses (amongst several) for the function of (as many as 3 sites). this secretion. The first hypothesis is that the secretion identifies the donor and thus allows slugs to avoid remating with the same partner. Slugs collected from MOLLUSC PROTECTION IN THE NETWORK the wild were isolated for a week or more and then NATURA 2000 IN THE CARPATHIANS allowed to mate with a specified partner; partners were ON THE POLISH-SLOVAK BOUNDARY AREA then either swapped or kept constant and these pairs were provided with repeated opportunities to remate. KATARZYNA ZAJ¥C Latency to remate did not differ significantly between Instytut Ochrony Przyrody, Polska Akademia Nauk, these treatments, yielding no support for the first Kraków hypothesis. The second hypothesis is that the secretion manipulates the recipient to delay remating, to the Four molluscspeciesfrom Annex II of the Habitats advantage of the donor in reducing sperm competi- Directive were recorded in the Carpathians on the tion and possibly in increasing the recipient’s fecun- Polish-Slovak boundary: Unio crassus, Vertigo geyeri, V. dity. Slugs collected from the wild were isolated for at angustior and V. moulinsiana. According to the Euro- least a week and then allowed to mate. After sperm ex- pean Union legislation both Poland and Slovakia change matings were either disturbed so that the part- should desigate a network of areas to protect a repre- ners separated before gland eversion or were allowed sentative part of their populations. There are no re- to continue and the slugs similarly prodded only after cords of V. moulinsiana from the Polish Carpathians; gland eversion. There was again no significant differ- in Poland the species is known to occur only in the ence between treatments in latency to remate, yielding lowlands. Slovakia designated 5 such areas for this no support for the second hypothesis. In both experi- species, one of them in the Carpathians on the Pol- ments the proportion of pairs mating was lower in the ish-Slovak boundary. The situation of V. geyeri was simi- days soon after the last mating than later. In the second lar till not long ago. In 2006 an area for this species experiment it took only three days before over half the was designated in Poland at the foot of the Tatra Mts. pairs had remated; remating rate was similar in one Slovakia has 5 areas for V. geyeri in the area adjoining run of the first experiment, but in the second run it the Tatra, one of them near the Polish boundary. In took five days before half had remated. Seminar Report 87

MATING BEHAVIOUR AND TAXONOMY changed form in various types of habitats. Density, sex OF THE DEROCERAS RODNAE COMPLEX and age structure and fecundity were studied in V. IN THE SÄCHSISCHE SCHWEIZ AND contectus from oxbows to various extent connected ELSEWHERE with the Bug River (flow oxbows, cut-off oxbows). V. contectus did not form as dense aggregations as V. J. M. C. HUTCHINSON, H. REISE viviparus. The mean density ranged from 12 indiv./m2 2 Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Görlitz, in the autumn to 25 indiv./m in the summer. The sex Görlitz, Germany ratio was 1:1, sometimes with a slight predominance of males. The populations differed in their fecundity: Collections of Deroceras from the uplands south of in flow oxbows in the summer the mean number of Dresden (along the Czech-German border) revealed embryos per female was 13, and in the cut-off oxbow – two similar species differing in mating behaviour. The 6.4. The fecundity was more or less average for the ranges interdigitate, but at no site did the species species. In flow oxbows the females, irrespective of co-occur, suggesting competitive exclusion. One spe- the size class, produced numerous embryos. The fe- cies has a wide sarcobelum held over the animal’s own cundity in size class II was greater than in larger fe- head, the courtship and copulation are fast (typically males in the flow oxbow. Early maturation of V. 0.5 h and 15 s respectively), and the everted penes are contectus is an adaptation to unstable environmental fully visible from above. It resembles Deroceras praecox, conditions. occurring 100 km further east, whose morphology and courtship behaviour are nevertheless consistenly distinct. Courtship and copulation take longer in the CHANGES IN SIZE STRUCTURE OF SNAIL second species (2 h and 40 s) and its sarcobelum has a POPULATIONS IN THREE ASTATIC WATER much enlarged base, but most distinct is that the BODIES penes evert downwards, and coil round each other for an additional revolution. At copulation, the hand-like ANNA JANKOWIAK, KATARZYNA SZULC, penial gland is often the only part of the penis becom- BART£OMIEJ GO£DYN ing visible from above. This species is conspecific with Zak³ad Zoologii Ogólnej, Instytut Biologii Swiss, German and Austrian populations of D. rodnae, Œrodowiska, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza, but distinct from eastern populations, which more Poznañ closely resemble D. praecox. Trees based on allozymes or mDNA sequences support this division. Neverthe- The study was to check to which extent aquatic less, identifying non-mating animals by their anatomy snails adjust their life cycle to periodic drying of is often surprisingly difficult. Western populations of astaticfield ponds. Three ponds of different hydro- D. rodnae should now be termed Deroceras juranum period (period of filling with water) were selected. Wüthrich, 1993. We describe the considerable vari- They were inhabitaed by Anisus leucostomus, Segmenti- ation within both species in sarcobelum shape and its na nitida, Lymnaea stagnalis and Planorbarius corneus. disposition during mating. Qualitaive samples were taken every fortnight, from February till October 2008. Live snails were measured based on photographs. Species typical of the most FECUNDITY AS AN ADJUSTABLE LIFE HISTORY astaticwater bodies ( A. leucostomus and S. nitida)re- PARAMETER IN VIVIPARUS CONTECTUS produced several times a year, resulting in many over- lapping generations. Less resistant species (L. BEATA JAKUBIK stagnalis, P. corneus), from ponds of longer hydro- Katedra Ekologii i Ochrony Œrodowiska, Akademia period (more permanent), reproduced only once a Podlaska, Siedlce year. Juveniles of such species hatched only at the be- ginning of June. The study is partly financed by the Long-term observations on Viviparus viviparus grant of MNiSW no. N N304 3400 33. made it possible to distinguish some characters of life history which are constant and independent from the type of environment (tendency to form aggregations in the same places at certain times, age and sex struc- ture, percentage of fertile females in the population). Such characters ensure maintaining a balanced abun- dance of the species. The number of embryos per fe- male varies with environmental conditions. The same life history parameters were analysed in another viviparid – Viviparus contectus – in order to check if in this species the expected strategy functioned in its un- 88 Seminar Report

HISTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE GONAD ber-February) and summer (May-September), in OF SINANODONTA WOODIANA FROM HEATED batches of 2–20. They are calcified, slightly oval, ca. KONIN LAKES 1.5 × 1.8 mm. Incubation takes 8–34 days, hatching is asynchronous. Growth from hatching to maturity lasts DOROTA JUCHNO1, ANDRZEJ KRASZEWSKI2 from ca. 3 to 9 months. In the wild the youngest age 1Katedra Zoologii, Uniwersytet Warmiñsko-Mazurski, class appears in July. The maximum life span is 3 Olsztyn years. Activity is the greatest in the spring and au- 2Instytut Rybactwa Œródl¹dowego, Olsztyn tumn; in all seasons it is greater in the night and early morning; juveniles are more active than adults. Indi- The aim of the study was to trace the histological vidual mobility is up to 5 m/month. structure of the gonad of Sinanodonta woodiana in an- nual cycle, considering hydrological characters of the lakes and canals of the system. Bivalves were caught HISTOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE OVARY from May 2005 till June 2006 (except December-Feb- OF SINANODONTA WOODIANA ruary), every month, on each occasion from three, four or five sites including the warmest reservoir of ANNA MARIA £ABÊCKA, JÓZEF DOMAGA£A initial cooling, the cool supply canal of the power Katedra Zoologii Ogólnej, Uniwersytet Szczeciñski, plant Konin, the warm discharge canal of the power Szczecin plant Konin and two lakes: Œlesiñskie (cool) and Licheñskie (warm). The total of 142 specimens in- The objective of the study was to describe the cluded 71 females, 62 males, 5 hermaphrodites and 4 histological structure of the ovary of Sinanodonta specimens of unidentified sex. Gonads were pre- woodiana (Lea, 1834) and to measure its component served in the Bouin fixative or buffered formalin; sec- structures. The bivalves were caught in the discharge tions 7 µm thick were stained with hematoxilin and canal of the power plant in Nowy Czarnów. They were eosin. The sex ratio in all sites was 1:1. The four speci- preserved in 6% formaldehyde. A fragment of 10 × 5 mens of unknown sex came from the cool canal; their mm was cut out from each ovary. The tissue was dehy- gonads contained only connective tissue and empty, drated, cleared and embedded in paraffin. Serial sec- undeveloped follicles. In the spring-summer-autumn tions were made of 269 ovaries. Slides stained with the period the bivalves from both warm and cool reser- Ehrlich hematoxilin and Y eosin were examined in voirs contained mature male and female gamets. Al- light microscope Nikon Eclipse 80i. Measurements of ready in March their ovaries contained follicles filled follicles and oocytes during proto- and trophoplasmic with vitellogenic oocytes, and their testes contained growth were taken with the programme NIS Ele- spermatozoa. In the summer (June, July) in some ments. S. woodiana is dioecious, with 2% of hermaph- specimens we observed a decreased number of oocy- roditic individuals. Its ovary has a follicular structure. tes contained in small follicles, and almost empty The gonad is in places overgrown with muscular tis- male follicles with remains of spermatozoa in the sue, and interfollicular spaces are filled by centre. This indicates gonads emptied during repro- haemocoel. The gonad parenchyma is formed by fol- duction. Within the whole study period the gonads of licles. Nurse cells are situated on the basal membrane specimens from the coolest site (supply canal) of the follicle. The oocytes grow out of the follicle showed a different structure. Their gonads contained wall. At the end of vitellogenic growth the oocyte con- fewer gametes, often degenerating oocytes, some of tacts with somatic cells only with its basal part, by the follicles were empty, surrounded by large quanti- means of a peduncle. Ovulated oocytes of S. woodiana ties of connective tissue. This indicates that in colder are polarised, the nucleus is located on the animal reservoirs reproductive abilities of S. woodiana dis- pole. The cells are surrounded by vitelline membrane tinctly decrease. of gelatinous character. The study was financed by grant no. N303 068 32/2367 (2007–2009).

LIFE HISTORY OF PERFORATELLA BIDENTATA

EL¯BIETA KUZNIK-KOWALSKA, ANETA ROKSELA Katedra Zoologii i Ekologii, Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy, Wroc³aw Laboratory and field observations made it possible to ascertain the following life cycle parameters of Perforatella bidentata: mating includes four phases, the longest being courtship; sperm is transferred in sper- matophores. Eggs are laid in the winter (Novem- Seminar Report 89

WHEN DO VESTIA GULO AND V. TURGIDA MACROGASTRA BADIA IN ZIELENIEC BECOME FULLY MATURE? (BYSTRZYCKIE MTS, CENTRAL SUDETES). ECOLOGY, CONSERVATION STATUS AND LIFE TOMASZ K. MALTZ1, ANNA SULIKOWSKA-DROZD2 HISTORY – PRELIMINARY DATA 1Muzeum Przyrodnicze, Uniwersytet Wroc³awski, Wroc³aw TOMASZ K. MALTZ, BEATA M. POKRYSZKO 2Katedra Zoologii Bezkrêgowców i Hydrobiologii, Muzeum Przyrodnicze, Uniwersytet Wroc³awski, Uniwersytet £ódzki, £ódŸ Wroc³aw Development of the reproductive system in Vestia Information on the distribution of the Alpine M. gulo and V. turgida was studied based on specimens at badia in Poland dates from the 1960s and was not veri- development stages: JVI (6.0–6.9 whorl), JVII fied subsequently. A new locality was discovered in (7.0–7.9), JVIII (8.0–8.9), JIX (9.0 till closing appara- 2003 (Bystrzyckie Mts, Zieleniec near Duszniki- tus completion), SA (closing apparatus and lip), AM1 Zdrój); it forms a part of a group of isolated, Polish (one month after lip completion), AM3 (adults of 3 and Czech localities on the border of the species’ dis- months) and AM6 (adults of 6 months). Maturation tribution range. In the discussed part of the range the of the reproductive system is very similar in V. gulo and species is threatened by habitat destruction and cli- V. turgida. Stage JVI is the earliest when gonad matic changes. It is legally protected in Poland but primordia can be identified, as small lump-like struc- preserving its populations requires protection of its tures not divided into lobules. Histologically, only nu- habitats. The preferred habitat is herb-rich beech for- merous intensely dividing cells can be seen (prophase est, and cool and humid climate is crucial for the spe- of the first meioticdivision, mitoses); they fill the cies’ survival. The composition of the accompanying whole organ. Stage JVII is very similar to JVI, though malacofauna varies between the sites which is prob- the gonad is slightly larger. At stage JVIII the gonad ably associated with their origin. M. badia is oviparous; lobes occupy an even greater space; the lobules begin it reproduces in May and June producing batches of to form. Besides the intensely dividing cells, the first, 1–3 eggs. The eggs are partly calcified, 1.39–1.61 in single small oocytes are observed. At stage JIX the lob- major and 1.32–1.45 mm in minor diameter. The in- ules are clearly visible; besides the dividing cells they cubation period is 16–19 days; the hatching is asyn- contain the first spermatocyte rosettes and few small chronous; the juveniles reach adult size in 7–8 oocytes. At stage AS the lobules are filled by numer- months. Some data on shell variation are provided; ous dividing cells, the number of rosette-forming the number of apertural folds varies more widely than spermatocytes increases, the first spermatids appear, formerly believed. as well as spermatozoa at various development stages. One month after lip completion (AM1) the dividing cells are still visible, the number of mature sperm THE OCCURRENCE AND VARIATION packets and the number of growing previtellogenic OF HIPPEUTIS COMPLANATUS IN FOREST oocytes increase. At stage AM3 the lobules are mainly SUBSIDENCE PONDS filled by numerous sperm packets, cells in meiotic prophase being less numerous. Also the first vitello- ANETA SPYRA genicoocytesappear, while at AM6 the gonad is Katedra Hydrobiologii, Uniwersytet Œl¹ski, Katowice histologically identical with that of adults of one year, two years and older. The remaining organs at stages Hippeutis complanaus (L.) is rare in anthropogenic JVI-IX are small ducts (thin, translucent threads) – reservoirs of southern Poland, except fish ponds. In primordial hermaphroditic duct, spermoviduct, the Red List of Upper Silesia it is endangered by envi- epiphallus, penis, oviduct and vagina; at stage AS the ronmental transformations. It usually reaches small hermaphrodite duct becomes visible as a somewhat densities and occurs in scattered localities. The re- folded structure, primordium of spermatheca with a search was aimed at determining its habitat require- round widening at the end as well as mucus gland ments and presenting its shell size structure in annual primordium form, and primordia of penis (distinct cycle. Samples were taken thoughout the year from thickening), oviduct, vagina and albumen gland be- two forest subsidence ponds in Upper Silesia. The come visible. Three months after growth completion ponds formed as a result of deep coal mining; pond 1 all the organs are well developed, and six months af- is 22.3 ha, and pond 2 – 66.7 ha in area; their maxi- ter growth completion developing embryos can be re- mum depth does not exceed 3 m. Fallen leaves tained in the oviduct. accumulate near their shores. During the study pe- riod 20 samples were taken in each pond. The snails were collected from plants (mainly their remains) and fallen tree leaves, using metal frame 0.25 m2 in area; the snail density was then converted to 100 g dry 90 Seminar Report plant weight. Shell height and width were measured ers is discussed in relation to the reproductive biology and whorls were counted. Five width classes were of Clausiliidae. adopted – class 1: 0–1 mm, 2: 1.1–2 mm, 3: 2.1–3 mm, 4: 3.1–4 mm and 5: 4.1–5 mm. Physico-chemical analy- sis of water considered parameters which affect snail RUTHENICA FILOGRANA – AN OVOVIVIPAROUS occurrence. A total of 837 live H. complanatus were CLAUSILIID collected. It was present in the samples from April till November. Its peak abundance differed between the KRYSTYNA SZYBIAK ponds (September for pond 1, June for pond 2). Most Zak³ad Zoologii Ogólnej, Instytut Biologii individuals were found in the thick layer of leaves Œrodowiska, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza, fallen from the shore trees (84.5% in pond 1; 97% in Poznañ pond 2), only single snails were collected from aquaticplant remains. In both ponds class2 formed In laboratory conditions R. filograna produces the majority, while the largest and the smallest indi- progeny at the earliest one month after lip comple- viduals were relatively few. According to literature tion. The interval between consecutive births is on av- data the shells reach 5 mm width and 1.2 mm height, erage ca. 1.5 month. R. filograna is ovoviviparous. and have a maximum of 4–4.5 whorls. In the studied Adults most often produce 2–3 juveniles, at most 4, ponds the largest shells were 4.3 mm wide and 1.1 mm with completeembryonicshells. Embryonicdevelop - high. The size structure in the two ponds was similar. ment takes place within the parent’s body, and on The smallest snails in both appeared in June and Au- birth the juveniles are capable of independent exist- gust. In pond 1 juveniles were present also in July. In ence. No egg batches were observed in the laboratory. August they were most numerous in both ponds. This Observations on embryonicdevelopment were based may indicate two reproductive periods: May and July. on dissection of adult R. filograna from the population In the spring only snails of class 4 were found, indicat- in the nature reserve Dêbno on the Warta in Wielko- ing that they had appeared in the previous year. polska. The size of the embryos does not change with Starting with the spring the largest (last year) speci- their number in the uterus. The embryo length is ca. mens began to die out and a distinct growth of juve- 1/8 of the mean shell height and 2/5 of the mean niles was observed. shell width. The embryo-filled uterus occupies from 2/3 to 1 1/2 whorl of the visceral sac. The embryos in the uterus are always arranged linearly. With few ex- DEVELOPMENT OF CLAUSILIAR APPARATUS ceptions, the embryos within the uterus are at the IN VESTIA GULO same development stage. The proportion of ad- vanced embryos was high in May, July and August, and ANNA SULIKOWSKA-DROZD dropped to zero from September to April. From No- Katedra Zoologii Bezkrêgowców i Hydrobiologii, vember till February no adults contained embryos; R. Uniwersytet £ódzki, £ódŸ filograna does not winter over as pregnant. Clausiliid shell growth is uneven: the greatest shell height increments are observed during the body POPULATION DYNAMICS OF LYMNAEA whorl formation. In the laboratory (18–25°C) this SARIDALENSIS FROM LAKE CHANY (W. SIBERIA) stage takes ca. two weeks. It is during this last stage that the clausiliar apparatus is built. It is composed of SVETLANA VODYANITSKAYA a complicated system of plicae and lamellae and the Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Sibe- so called clausilium. The clausiliar apparatus provides rian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, important taxonomic characters. The shell growth Novosibirsk, Russia terminates with lip formation. The formation of clausiliar apparatus in Vestia gulo was analysed and il- The aim of this study was to trace the population lustrated with SEM photography. The sequence of dynamics of Lymnaea saridalensis, a common fresh- lamellae and folds formation was as follows: 1) infe- water snail, in the south of Western Siberia. The popu- rior and spiral lamella, 2) superior lamella, lation was monitored in 2002–2007 in Lake Chany. subcolumellar lamella, clausilium, principal palatal The density was assessed based on the approximate plica 3) lunella and other palatal folds. Under labora- number of snails collected per square metre of the tory conditions the closing apparatus developed dur- lake littoral. Data on water level and temperature ing two weeks. The shell development in Vestia gulo were obtained daily in the estuary of the Kargat River. was compared with literature data on another The mean water level changed within 0.5 m. During clausiliid Herilla bosniensis. The possible adaptive sig- the study period the mean annual snail density de- nificance of the rapid development of apertural barri- creased from about 16.1 to 4.0 per square metre. There was no significant correlation between the den- Seminar Report 91 sity and the mean water level (r=0.296, p<0.05), KARYOTYPES OF SOME PALAEARCTIC SPECIES though there was an increase tendency with the in- OF THE GENERA SPHAERIUM AND PISIDIUM creasing water level. The mean annual density was positively correlated with the mean water tempera- TEREZA KOØÍNKOVÁ ture in the summer (r=0.892, p<0.05). The density Katedra Zoologie & Katedra Genetiky was the greatest in June (large number of juveniles). a Mikrobiologie, Universita Karlova, Praha, In the autumn the number of molluscs decreased. In Èeska republika years with high water level and high temperature the population densiy tended to increase. The study was Chromosome numbers of sphaeriid species re- financed by the Russian Fund of Basic Research ported so far vary from 30 to more than 200, the (03-04-48807, 07-04-01416a). higher ones probably resulting from ancient allopoly- ploidy; in Sphaerium corneum intraspecific variability and supernumerary chromosomes have been re- SYSTEMATICS, STRUCTURE ported. I examined karyologically 2 species of & GENETICS Sphaerium (S. corneum, S. nucleus) and 6 species of Pisidium (P. casertanum, P. personatum, P. obtusale, P. supinum, P. nitidum and P. henslowanum). The chromo- GENETIC DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES some number in P. casertanum (2n=180–190) is well in AMONG SLUGS OF THE GENUS ARION compliance with earlier findings of other authors. The karyotypes of P. personatum (2n~210), P. obtusale TOMASZ KA£USKI1, MARIANNA SOROKA2, (2n~210), P. supinum (2n~150), P. nitidum (2n~180) JAN KOZ£OWSKI1 and P. henslowanum (2n=200–210) are reported here 1Zak³ad Zoologii, Instytut Ochrony Roœlin – for the first time. Within the sibling species complex Pañstwowy Instytut Badawczy, Poznañ S. corneum and S. nucleus, differences in karyotypes are 2Katedra Genetyki, Uniwersytet Szczeciñski, Szczecin intraspecific rather than interspecific – both taxa have 30 chromosomes plus a varying number of su- The genus Arion includes five subgenera: Arion, pernumeraries. Supernumerary chromosomes do not Carinarion, Kobeltia, Mesarion and Microarion. About a form bivalents during meiosis. Interestingly, in con- dozen species live in Europe; eight of them are found trast to some other organisms with B-chromosomes, in Poland. Identifying members of Arion based on in Sphaerium the supernumeraries are probably not anatomical characters is often problematic. Many spe- heterochromatinised, as could be inferred from the cies differ only in the structure of their reproductive results of C-banding. system. Specimens found in the field are often too young to display all the diagnostic characters of the genitalia. Since the genus includes several plant pests, SHELL DEFECTS IN CEPAEA VINDOBONENSIS it is important that even inexperienced people should be able to identify species. We made an attempt at DOMINIKA MIERZWA finding the best molecular marker which would en- Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii, Polska Akademia Nauk, able identification of all species of Arion. The studies Warszawa had other interesting implications. Molecular analy- ses of various members of Arion included nuclear and The terrestrial snail shell is one of the structures mitochondrial DNA (genes 16S rRNA and cox1) and reflecting the effect of geochemical factors on organ- were based on our own results and the Gene Bank isms. Shells show many characters which provide sys- data. Analyses of nuclear DNA involved the region re- tematicinformation. Variation in shell morphology peated in the genome, including ribosomal genes under the effect of geochemical characters of the en- and non-coding sequences (18S, ITS1, 5,8S, ITS2, vironment may create problems when trying to iden- 28S) in 27 species of Arion. That DNA region was tify species. Shells of Cepaea vindobonensis lose their found not to vary in 10 species, in the remaining spe- colour pattern in extreme habitats (e.g. margins of cies the variation was up to 1.5%; it was the greatest in floodplains). The wide variation of the species may A. subfuscus (3%). Variation between species was cause problems regarding identification, constancy 0.3–11.7%; it was the greatest (ca. 54%) between A. and genetic continuity of features regarded as charac- subfuscus and the remaining species. Some species, teristic of the species. Studies on such problems re- such as A. irratti against A. lizarrustii and A. moline or quire an interdisciplinary approach. The interface of A. nobrei against A. flagellus and A. flugineusnie showed malacology, physiology, geology, mineralogy, crystal- no interspecific differences in that DNA region. Mis- lography and chemistry may explain these problems identifications of some species were detected, based in C. vindobonensis. Preliminary results show that such on the analysis of variation for over 100 sequences in an approach is useful. Microscope studies and de- each gene available in the Gene Bank for Arion. tailed quantitative analysis in micro-areas made it 92 Seminar Report possible to describe the chemical composition, simi- DO TROCHULUS PLEBEIUS (DRAPARNAUD, 1805) larities and differences in the shell structure between AND T. CONCINNUS (JEFFREYS, 1830) EXIST? C. vindobonensis from different habitats. MA£GORZATA PROÆKÓW Muzeum Przyrodnicze, Uniwersytet Wroc³awski, DNA BARCODING AS A TOOL FOR IDENTIFYING Wroc³aw MOLLUSC SPECIES The genus Trochulus Chemnitz, 1786 was earlier JOANNA ROMANA PIEÑKOWSKA known as Trichia Hartmann, 1840. As a result of the Zak³ad Biologii Komórki, Instytut Biologii decision of the ICZN, Opinion 2079 (BZN 61 (3) Sep. Eksperymentalnej, Uniwersytet im. Adama 2004), the name was changed to avoid homonymy Mickiewicza, Poznañ with Trichia de Haan, 1839 (Crustacea: Brachyura). Till now T. hispidus (Linnaeus, 1758) was regarded as DNA barcoding is a means of quick and unambigu- distinct from T. plebeius (Draparnaud, 1805) and T. ous species identification. The main criterion of cons- concinnus (Jeffreys, 1830), described from western pecificity is possessing an almost identical marker and central Europe. Distinguishing between the three DNA sequence. The nucleotide sequence used as forms was always problematic, and the studies on “barcode” must be short and come from a specified, interpopulation and individual variation of T. hispidus always the same place in the genome. At present the in Poland showed that the variation range was very standard “barcode” for animals is a fragment of 648 wide. Populations of T. hispidus from Muszkowice and nucleotides from the 5’ end of mitochondrial gene of Zieleniecdeparted in their shell proportions from the the first subunit of cytochrome oxidase (COI). The remaining Polish populations, and resembles forms fragment proved sufficient to identify many bird, fish, described as T. plebeius. Biometrical analysis of an ex- fly, butterfly and other animal species. Variation in tensive material (total of 2,339 specimens from 58 lo- COI sequence among conspecific animals is very small calities) showed that conchological variation ranges and essentially within 1–2%, while it is much greater of T. plebeius and T. concinnus were within that range among individuals of different, even closely related, of T. hispidus and revealed not a single character that species. The COI “barcode” turned out to be useless would enable an unambiguous distinction between for plants, probably because of the low rate of evol- these forms. Nearly every examined population diffe- ution of their COI gene. Experiments are in progress red statistically significantly from the remaining popu- in order to find a different barcode sequence for lations in at least one character, while intra-popula- plant species identification. Consortium for the tion variation ranges of most characters were very Barcode of Life (CBOL) was established in order to wide. Most populations differed in their shell mea- use DNA barcoding as a global standard in taxonomy; surements, proportions and the number of whorls. till now it was joined by over 170 institutions from 50 Some pairs of populations differed in all or nearly all countries. One of its main aims is to create a large analysed characters. Though descriptions of T. ple- public library of barcode sequences assigned to par- beius (Draparnaud 1805: 105) and T. concinnus ticular species. Such a database would enable re- (Jeffreys 1830: 336) are very laconic, and the original searchers to assign their specimens to species of al- materials have been preserved only for T. plebeius ready known barcode sequences. One of the main (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien), it seems justified such databases is the Barcode of Life Database to synonymise T. plebeius, T. concinnus and T. hispidus. (BOLD). The analysis (March 2009) of data from the BOLD base shows that all the sequences there origi- nate from 772,665 specimens, 553,176 of the se- MITOGENOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF UNIO quences meeting the requirements of barcode se- PICTORUM quences and representing 75,000 species. Among these, molluscs are represented by 27,462 specimens; MARIANNA SOROKA1, ARTUR BURZYÑSKI2 21,665 meet the barcode requirements and represent 1Katedra Genetyki, Uniwersytet Szczeciñski, Szczecin 4,597 species. Molluscs are represented by six classes 2Zak³ad Genetyki i Biotechnologii Morskiej, Instytut in the BOLD base: Aplacophora (6 specimens, 6 spe- Oceanologii, Polska Akademia Nauk, Sopot cies); Bivalvia (5,213 specimens, 808 species); Cepha- lopoda (2,118 specimens, 252 species); Gastropoda As a rule, animal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is (18,756 specimens, 3,440 species); Polyplacophora inherited from the mother (SMI, Standard Maternal (1,168 specimens, 74 species) and Scaphopoda (128 Inheritance). A different system, called doubly unipa- specimens,16 species). rental inheritance (DUI) has been described in some marine (Mytilidae, Veneridae, Danacidae, Solenidae) and freshwater bivalves (Unionidae, Margaritiferidae, Hyriidae). In DUI females transfer their mtDNA (F Seminar Report 93 haplotype) to both daughters and sons, while males tain sequences of the whole mitochondrial DNA mol- transfer their mtDNA (M haplotype) only to their ecules, amplification with long range PCR is necessary sons, and it is present in male gonads. The occur- (LR-PCR) using properly selected starters, and then rence of DUI in phylogenetically remote families sug- sequencing of PCR product with “primer walking”. gests that it may be widespread among bivalves. The Processing and assembling of raw sequencing results DUI mechanism is better known in marine bivalves is done with computer programmes Phred, Staden, where deviations from it, concerning recombination FitchTV or DNAMAN. Annotation of the resulting and masculisation, are often observed. Complete genomes is semiautomatic, with a package of mtDNA sequences including F and M aplotypes have programmes (critica, glimmer3, wise2 and cove) im- been obtained for Mytilus edulis, M. galloprovincialis plementing several different gene-identifying and Venerupis philippinarum. Among more than 300 algorhitms. Analysis of polymorphism of the resulting freshwater bivalves (Unionidae) DUI was detected, mitochondrial genome sequences is performed with based on single genes (cox1, cox2 or cytochrome b), in programmes DnaSP, Mega4, DNAMAN and PHYLIP. nearly 40 species. The two complete mitochondrial genomes are known only for Inversidens japonensis, while only F type is known in Lampsilis ornata. Our FOSSIL study was aimed at obtaining a complete sequence of mitochondrial genome of F type in Unio pictorum. Three female genomes were obtained; they were ana- USE OF ISOTOPE RECORD (D13C AND D18O) lysed with respect to the size, number and sequence IN MOLLUSC SHELLS IN PALAEOLIMNOLOGY of the genes, and intraspecific variation within F haplotype. The female mitochondrial genome in U. KARINA APOLINARSKA pictorum is relatively small and tightly packed. It has Instytut Geologii, Uniwersytet im. Adama 15,760 base pairs and 37 genes: 13 coding proteins, 2 Mickiewicza, Poznañ ribosomal genes and 22 tRNA genes. The sequence of the genes is identical with that in Lampsilis ornata; the The analysis of composition of stable isotopes of variation level is 30%. The study is financed by the carbon and oxygen (d13C and d18O) in autochtho- MNiSW, grant no. N 303 3647 33. nous lacustrine carbonates has been a part of palaeolimnological studies for thirty years. Interpreta- tion of carbon isotope record enables conclusions SECRETS OF BIVALVE MITOCHONDRIAL about productivity and time of water retention in the GENOME lake. Oxygen isotopes make it possible to reconstruct changes in water temperature. d18O record conveys MARIANNA SOROKA1, ARTUR BURZYÑSKI2 information on the water exchange rate and evapora- 1Katedra Genetyki, Uniwersytet Szczeciñski, Szczecin tion intensity. In most palaeolimnological studies fine 2Zak³ad Genetyki i Biotechnologii Morskiej, Instytut carbonate fraction is the one subject to isotope analy- 13 18 Oceanologii PAN, Sopot sis (e.g. d C and d O in ostracod carapaces). Though molluscs are often well represented in depos- Inheritance of mitochondrial DNA is among the its, their shells are rarely subject to isotope analyses. important problems of contemporary genetics. The The most often studied shells are those of Pisidium. system of inheritance of mtDNA, different from the Use of isotope content in mollusc shells in pa- maternal one (SMI, Standard Maternal Inheritance) laeolimnological studies has its advantages and limita- and called doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI), was tions. Some physiological factors affect the isotope observed in seven bivalve families (Mytilidae, composition of shells. Food-derived carbon and Veneridae, Hyriidae, Margaritiferidae, Unionidae breathing with atmosphericair may have an effecton and recently Danacidae and Solenidae). DUI was de- d13C in shells. Mollusc fossil record often lacks conti- tected in relatively few species, based on female and nuity. Freshwater snail and bivalve shells are usually male sequences for single genes (cox1, cox2 or built of aragonite which then recrystallises to calcite; cytochrome b). Complete sequences of both mito- this may be accompanied by changes in their isotope chondrial genomes are known only for a few species, composition. One of the davantages is the absence of of mainly marine bivalves. Among freshwater bivalves any doubts as to the origin of shells, as opposed to the they are known for Inversidens japonensis while in fine carbonate fraction of deposits which may contain Lampsilis ornata only the female genome is known. allochthonous debris. It is believed that mollusc shells The greatest problem in comprehensive studies on are formed in isotope balance with DIC (dissolved in- mtDNA, which includes ca. 16 thousand base pairs, is organic carbon) and water; consequently they pro- the scanty knowledge pertaining only to single genes vide information on isotope conditions in which they of different species (on average ca. 10% per species). arise. Selection of species which inhabit different This precludes simple PCR reactions. In order to ob- microhabitats in the lake makes it possible to com- 94 Seminar Report pare isotope composition of DIC and water in various MOLLUSC-BEARING DEPOSITS IN WILDNO, parts of the lake. Isotope composition of consecutive DOBRZYÑSKIE LAKELAND 13 shell increments reflects seasonal changes in d Cdic 18 and d Owater and in long-lived species even long-term JAN DZIER¯EK, MARCIN SZYMANEK changes. There is no published information on the Instytut Geologii Podstawowej, Uniwersytet dependence between isotope composition of shells of Warszawski, Warszawa 13 18 particular mollusc taxa and d Cdic and d Owater. Such studies could verify the shell formation in isotope bal- Mollusc-bearing deposits were found during geo- ance with DIC and water, postulated on the basis of logical research in Wildno, ca. 10 km N of Lipno analyses of isotope composition of single species. (Dobrzyñskie Lakeland), at the depth of 3.0–6.5 m. The deposits in the form of silt, sandy mud and fine-grained sands are covered by loams of the Vistula MOLLUSCS AND RECONSTRUCTION glaciation (upper stadial), and overlay dark grey silt OF THE NEOLITHIC ENVIRONMENT without mlacofauna. The shells are poorly preserved. AND HUMAN ECONOMY The dominant taxa are Viviparus sp. and Valvata sp. (probably V. piscinalis), shells with upper whorls pre- JADWIGA ANNA BARGA-WIÊC£AWSKA1, ARTUR JEDYNAK2 served (to 2.5) being the most numerous. One com- 1Instytut Biologii, Uniwersytet Jana plete and several damaged opercula of Bithynia Kochanowskiego, Kielce tentaculata were also found, as well as shell fragments 2Muzeum i Rezerwat Archeologiczno-Przyrodniczy of that species and Theodoxus cf. fluviatilis, shell debris “Krzemionki”, OstrowiecŒwiêtokrzyski of Pisidium cf. amnicum and Sphaerium sp. All the molluscs are freshwater forms, of both stagnant and Human economy in the Sandomierz Upland dates flowing waters, and it is difficult to precisely deter- back to the beginning of the Neolithic; it involved de- mine the character of the water body in Wildno. forestation, grazing, mining of iron ore and flint. Palynological analysis of the underlying silts indicates Archaelogical exploration makes it possible to recon- their accumulation in a small, shallow oligotrophic struct spatial organisation of local communities, but water body in a cool climate (presence of Pediastrum the anthropogeniceffectson the natural environ- kawraiskii), in an open environment. The malaco- ment are still obscure. Such changes are sudden and fauna-bearing deposits are practically devoid of pol- trigger irreversible successional and biogeographical len, but the composition of the mollusc assemblage processes. Studies on Quaternary natural environ- (i.a. presence of Viviparus sp.) indicates more favour- ment in the Kamienna river catchment area provide able temperature conditions. Radiocarbon dating of information on its development; fossil soils and molluscremains determines them as older than the molluscs document the climate and vegetation. Ar- maximum of the last glaciation. It can be conjectured chaeological site No 63 in Krzczonowice, on a loess that the deposits may represent an interstadial within hill, was excavated in 2006–2008. Besides archaeologi- the Vistula glaciation, which is rare in Poland. Further cal artifacts, mollusc remains were found. The mate- studies will explain the stratigraphicposition and the rial included 12 shells, 8 of them Cepaea vindobonensis. origin of the deposits. A shell of Bradybaena fruticum was found in one object, and shells of Unio crassus in two. Snail immigration to areas deforested by humans resulted in establishing FRESHWATER AND BRACKISH BIVALVE populations of Ponticand Mediterraean species.At ASSEMBLAGES FROM LOWER JURASSIC present C. vindobonensis lives in xerothermicswards DEPOSITS OF POLAND on limestone. Its presence in the discussed site indi- cates that during ca. 1,500 years the habitat on the GRZEGORZ NIEDZWIEDZKI, ALEKSANDRA SKAWINA loess hill in Krzczonowice had a steppe character. Ap- Zak³ad Paleobiologii i Ewolucji, Instytut Zoologii, pearance of B. fruticum – a typical species of shaded Uniwersytet Warszawski, Warszawa habitats – means cessation of grazing on the hill and development of vegetation. Appearance of C. The studied fossil bivalve assemblages come from vindobonensis in the Sandomierz Upland and the silicoclastic Upper Jurassic (Liassic) deposits of the Œwiêtokrzyskie Mts was usually associated with the be- northern boundary of the Œwiêtokrzyskie Mts. The ginning of the 19th c., but the archaeological studies collection includes several hundred specimens col- in Krzczonowice place it much earlier. Besides lected from nine localities, stratigraphically including floristic data which are used in archaeology, molluscs the Hettangian, Pliensbachian and Toarcian. The can contribute information on the type of land use. geological profile of the Early Jurassic in the Œwiêto- krzyskie region includes a few sedimentation episodes associated with the development of brackish and ma- rine environments within the epicontinental basin of Seminar Report 95 fluvial accumulation. Preliminary results of palaeo- to the surrounding deposit which contained mainly ecological analysis of the deposits indicate significant aluminosilicates). The Triassic gills contained aggre- succession-associated changes in the malacofauna. gations of 1–2 µm long mineralised bacteria, suggest- The lowest Hettangian is represented by river depos- ing – in the absence of calcium phosphate crystals – its, and their bivalve fauna consists of unionoids. bacterial mineralisation. Bacteria of a similar mor- Estuarine deposits, situated above them, are associ- phology and density were found in the experimental ated with the marine influence and development of gills at pH ca. 6.5 (bacteria of such morphology were brackish habitats; they bear a rich assemblage with present only in samples at pH=6.9), which may be as- Cardinia follini, C. inglensis, C. cf. kullensis Troedsson, sociated with a greater stability of calcium phosphate, ‘Modiola’ ruuthi Troedsson, Taeniodon nathorsti compared to calcium acrbonate, in acid conditions. (Lundgren), ‘Pholadomya’ cuticulate (Lundgren), Comparison of the state of preservation of the fossil ‘Eotrapezium’ sp. A similar assemblage from brackish gill filaments and the morphology of bacteria, and deposits of the Hettangian in Skåne (Sweden) is asso- also adductor muscles (non-functional) with the ex- ciated with the initial transgression of the lowest Ju- perimental data made it possible to estimate the time rassic in Europe. Another succession is observed in of mineralisation as between 64th and 92nd hour af- the late Hettangian deposits, during the maximum of ter death. Hettangian transgression in the early Jurassic epicontinental basin of Poland. Besides marine bi- valves of the genus Cardinia, the deposits bear re- PARASITOLOGY mains and traces of marine arthropods (Limulidae, Malacostraca). The maximum of the Liassic transgres- sion corresponds to silty-sandy sedimentation; the de- TREMATODE INFECTION IN VIVIPARUS posits contain numerous fossils of marine bivalves and VIVIPARUS IN SELECTED OXBOWS OF THE BUG arthropod traces. The Liassic sequence ends with de- RIVER posits associated with fluvial accumulation and the ap- pearance of Unionoida. The freshwater environ- BEATA JAKUBIK ments show a smaller species diversity (1–3 species) Katedra Ekologii i Ochrony Œrodowiska, Akademia compared to the brackish-marine and lagoon habitats Podlaska, Siedlce (3–7 species). Six assemblages of different age can be distinguished in the Œwiêtokrzyski region: two associ- Viviparus viviparus is known to adjust its fecundity ated with freshwater habitats, two – with brackish con- to unstable environmental conditions. Long-term stu- ditions (estuary-lagoon) and two – with brackish-mar- dies on its populations in oxbows connected with the ine environments. river showed a high fecundity irrespective of the size class. The aim of the research was to explain this high fecundity. The reason may be the so called compensa- EXPERIMENTAL DECOMPOSITION OF RECENT tion fecundity, associated with earlier sexual matura- BIVALVES AND MINERALISATION OF GILLS tion of young, infected snails. The extensity of OF TRIASSIC UNIONOIDA infecion with larvae of digenetic trematodes was esti- mated in populations of V. viviparus from two oxbows ALEKSANDRA SKAWINA of the Bug River. In both water bodies most snails Zak³ad Paleobiologii i Ewolucji, Instytut Zoologii, were infected with larvae of Amblosoma exile, Neocan- Uniwersytet Warszawski, Warszawa thoparyphium echinatoides and Leucochloridiomorpha lutea. The extensity in both sexes exceeded 80%. The Fossil bivalves of the order Unionoida with miner- trematodes were found only in the largest snails – size alised gills were found in late Triassicdeposits of classes III and IV. The invasion intensity increased Lower Silesia. Preservation of such tissues requires with the shell size. No decrese in fecundity was ob- mineralisation early enough to prevent their further served in snails with larvae of digenetictrematodes. decomposition. The expeiment was to indentify the stage at which gill decomposition in the Triassic bi- valves stopped, and to explain the mechanism of min- SNAILS OF THE BRODNICKIE LAKELAND eralisation. In involved decomposition of recent Unio AS HOSTS TO DIGENETIC TREMATODES tumidus; the results were then compared with the state of preservation of the mineralised fossil gills. SEM ob- ANNA NOWAK, EL¯BIETA ¯BIKOWSKA servations of recent gills (known time of bivalve’s Zak³ad Zoologii Bezkrêgowców, Uniwersytet death, pH, O2 concentration, electric conductivity, Miko³aja Kopernika, Toruñ temperature) made it possible to identify stages of gill decomposition. EDS analysis showed that the fossil The study was aimed at ascertaining the species gills were preserved as calcium phosphate (contrary composition and degree of infection of the most 96 Seminar Report abundant pulmonates and prosobranchs with RESPONSES OF FRESHWATER MOLLUSCS’ partenites of digenetic trematodes. The 2008 collect- SYMBIOTIC COMMUNITIES TO ing, from May to September, included selected water ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT IN FIELD bodies of the Brodnickie Lakeland and yielded 5,548 EXPERIMENTS snail individuals representing 6 families and 16 spe- cies. The most abundant species were Lymnaea VOLODYMYR YURYSHYNETS, IULIIA IVASIUK, stagnalis (1,386 specimens), Planorbarius corneus NATALYA KRASUTSKA (1,009) and Viviparus contectus (1,229). Twenty two Institute of Hydrobiology, National Academy of Sci- trematode species were detected in L. stagnalis,12in ences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine P. corneus and only 6 in V. contectus. The prevalence of infection among the two pulmonate species was iden- Biological indication of water quality with the use tical (mean annual prevalence 31%); only about one of symbiotic (parasitic) organisms is currently devel- quarter of the prosobranchs (24.9%) carried parasitic oping and being discussed. Infection parameters of larvae. The difference may have external reasons (ac- widespread ciliates – unionid symbionts – can also be cess of ultimate hosts to snail habitats, survival of dis- used as biological indicators: samples of unionids persion forms of the parasite and their ability to find (with known parameters of ciliate infection) are host snails), but may also be related to the structure placed in habitats under different anthropogenic im- and behaviour of potential hosts. Pulmonates, ex- pact; the ciliate presence and number are recorded ploiting more varied microhabitats and devoid of pro- after a period of exposure. The method was further tective operculum, are more susceptible to parasite developed by using also snails and their trematodes. infection. In field experiments, samples with known parameters of infection were placed in an extremely polluted Lake Opechen-Verkhnje (Kyiv). The results of parasi- THE EFFECT OF PROSTHOGONIMID tological dissection after the exposure were com- PARTHENITES ON MORPHOMETRIC SHELL pared with infection parameters in the control local- CHARACTERS OF BITHYNIA TROSCHELI ity – a flood reservoir of the Desna River (the experi- mental bivalves came from the same locality). Two ex- ELENA A. SERBINA periments, of 14 and 30 days duration, were carried Institute for Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Si- out. At the beginning of the experiments, the berian Branch, Rusian Academy of Sciences, molluscs were attached to the bottom in soft net con- Novosibirsk, Russia tainers. The 14-day exposure seemed to be optimal for detection of changes for the ciliate–clam system The population of Bithynia troscheli from the (hosts – unionids) and the 30-day exposure – for the Kargat river (Lake Chany basin, SW. Siberia) was stud- trematode–snail system (host – Viviparus viviparus L.). ied with respect to its age (growth lines) and sex (gen- The 14-day ciliate-unionid experiment suggests that ital system) structure, and morphometrics (shell different ciliate species of the genus Conchophthirus re- height and width, spire height, aperture height and act differently to anthropogenic impact. C. curtus width). Snails aged 2+ and 3+ differed signifiantly in Eng., 1862 is sensitive to such impact which results in all measurements. 4,343 shells of uninfected snails a decrease of infection parameters. A considerable in- were compared with 202 shells of prosthogonimid-in- crease in infection intensity (almost 3 times) was ob- fected snails. All the shell characters assumed greater served for C. unionis Raabe, 1932. The 30-day values in the infected snails: shell height: females 1+ – trematode-snail experiment indicates that the system 110.8% (df=46; p=0.002); females 4+ – 108.4% V. viviparus-Cercaria pugnax La Valette is the most sen- (df=14; p=0.05), males 2+ – 112.2% (df=36; p<0.002); sitive to pollution. males 3+ – 114.7% (df=83; p<0.001); shell width: fe- males 1+ – 105.8% (df=29; p<0.04); females 3+ – 105.5% (df=31; p<0.001), males 1+ – 109.8% (df=14; PARASITIC CASTRATION OF SNAILS – FACTS p=0.004); males 2+ – 109.1% (df=33; p=0.003); males AND MYTHS 3+ – 111.6% (df=28; p=0.003); spire height: females 1+ – 110.6% (df=29; p<0.006); females 3+ – 108.1% EL¯BIETA ¯BIKOWSKA (df=18; p<0.001), males 1+ – 126.9% (df=11; Zak³ad Zoologii Bezkrêgowców, Instytut Biologii p=0.002); males 2+ – 119.0% (df=28; p<0.001); males Ogólnej i Molekularnej, Uniwersytet Miko³aja 3+ – 122.4% (df=16; p<0.01); aperture height: females Kopernika, Toruñ 100-103%, males 1+ – 115.5% (df=32; p=0.004); males 2+ – 103.8% (df=28; p<0.03); aperture width: females Digenetictrematodes are parasites of heteroxenic 1+ – 108.3% (df=29; p<0.05); males 1+ – 115.4% life cycle in which snails play a part of the first inter- (df=11; p<0.001); males 2+ – 108.4% (df=28; p<0.03). mediate hosts. The parasites reach sexual maturity in many vertebrate species, while their relation to Seminar Report 97 molluscs is highly specific – usually parthenites of one por and then increased with its progress; these trematode species can develop only in one or two changes suggest a precise regulation of antioxidation snail species. The unique character of the trema- defensive mechanisms. The GSH concentration did tode-snail interaction results from the fact that, de- not change depending on the torpor phase but varied spite the high invasion intensity, the parasite remains between the organs, being the highest in the in a long-term relationship with its intermediate host, hepatopancreas and the smallest in the foot. The successively releasing dispersion forms. Parasitic lar- MDA concentration increased in the kidney and foot, vae developing in snails may affect a variety of aspects but remained unchanged in the hepatopancreas dur- of their host’s life: mortality, condition, reproduction ing the whole torpor period. GSH seems to play a pro- and behaviour. The effect on the reproduction of tective role in the hepatopancreas, since it takes part host snails is polyvalent and may cause host’s earlier in detoxication processes. The results suggest that the maturation, compensation fecundity, inhibition of go- Roman snail actively regulates its antioxidation de- nad activity or castration. Parasitic castration may re- fense during the winter torpor, thus preventing dam- sult from disturbed hormonal balance of the host or age during resumption of activity. destruction of the gonad in which the parasite’s parthenites develop. Limiting or complete preven- tion of snail reproduction is regarded by various au- DO MOLLUSC CELL MEMBRANES HAVE thors as the reason for the changed shell growth pat- AQUAPORES? tern (shape change, forming additional structures), disturbed calcium metabolism, somatic dwarfishness EWA TOMKOWIAK, JOANNA ROMANA PIEÑKOWSKA, or gigantism, and also changes in the host’s behaviour ANDRZEJ LESICKI whereby the parasite would manipulate the host to in- Zak³ad Biologii Komórki, Instytut Biologii crease its own success. Eksperymentalnej, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza, Poznañ PHYSIOLOGY Aquapores are found in cell membranes of nearly all organisms. They are built of proteins called aquaporines, members of the group of major intrinsic ANTIOXIDATION DEFENSE OF THE ROMAN proteins (MIP). All aquaporines characterised till SNAIL DURING WINTER TORPOR now are homotetrameres. Each of their monomeres contains six transmembrane domains of alpha-helix ANNA NOWAKOWSKA1, GRA¯YNA ŒWIDERSKA-KO£ACZ2, structure and five connecting loops. As a result of in- JUSTYNA ROGALSKA2, MICHA£ CAPUTA1 teraction between the aminoacids in the domains and 1Zak³ad Fizjologii Zwierz¹t, Instytut Biologii Ogólnej the loops, the polypeptide forms, in the two-layered i Molekularnej, Uniwersytet Miko³aja Kopernika, phospholipids of the cell membrane, an hour-glass Toruñ shaped structure, with a pore in the centre. Its struc- 2Zak³ad Fizjologii Zwierz¹t, Uniwersytet Jana ture ensures selective transport, letting through only Kochanowskiego, Kielce molecules without electric charge, such as water or glycerol. Recently it has been found that some Resuming activity after a period of winter torpor aquaporine pores transport also other substances, implies a risk of oxidation stress: increased metabolic suchasCO2,H2O2, NO, NO2 and NH3. However, the rate and consequent oxygen consumption result in question if the transport of such molecules through intensified synthesis of free radicals. Our earlier stud- aquapores is of physiological significance remains ies showed that the Roman snail was capable of spon- open. Since the discovery of aquaporines, they have taneously resuming activity in the spring, irrespective been studied in detail in cells of various organs of of environmental conditions. This study was aimed at mammals, especially mice and humans. Little is checking if the increased activity in that period was known of invertebrate aquaporines. There is no infor- preceded by enhanced antioxidation defense. Activity mation on the presence or kind of aquaporines in of antioxidation enzymes and concentration of a molluscs. To demonstrate their presence we per- non-enzymaticantioxidant – reducedglutathione formed an array of experiments in order to find their (GSH), as well as that of malonicaldehyde (MDA), a corresponding nucleotide sequences in genetic mate- natural indicator of lipid peroxidation, were mea- rial isolated from a selected snail species. Based on sured in the hepatopancreas, kidney and foot of snails the known sequences of two conservative aminoacid at the beginning (November), in the middle (Janu- motifs lining the pore, we designed degenerated ary) and at the end (April) of winter torpor. The con- oligonucleotides which we then used in PCR reac- trol group included active snails examined in the au- tions. The matrix for the reaction was cDNA reversely tumn and spring. The activity of the antioxidation en- transcribed from RNA isolated from a fragment of zymes was the smallest at the beginning of winter tor- foot of Helix pomatia. The nucleotide sequence of one 98 Seminar Report of the products obtained by us was to a large degree sumed leaf fragments were measured and the propor- similar to the known aquaporine sequences. Unfortu- tion of consumed surface was calculated. Six repli- nately, the obtained fragment was very short and al- cates were run for each object and 24 replicates for lowed only to conjecture that snail cell membranes the control. The results were subject to co-variance probably have aquaporines. We are planning to char- analysis considering the weight of slugs; Fisher test acterise their component proteins. was used at significance level 0.05. Some of the sub- stances were found to inhibit feeding of A. lusitanicus and limit the leaf damage. The most effective sub- APPLIED stances were: methiocarb at 0.1%, 0.01% and 0.5%, pine oil at 0.05% and melissa oil at 0.5%. Turpentine, bergamot and lemon oils, as well as ginger extract at LABORATORY TESTING OF SELECTED 0.1% proved to be attractive to the slugs. CHEMICALS AS MEANS OF SLUG CONTROL

EWA DANKOWSKA EFFECTIVITY OF SELECTED ACTIVE Katedra Metod Ochrony Roœlin, Uniwersytet SUBSTANCES AGAINST PLANT DAMAGE Przyrodniczy, Poznañ BY ARION LUSITANICUS

Atmosphericconditionsin glasshouse and foil tun - JAN KOZ£OWSKI, TOMASZ KA£USKI, nel cultivatins favour development and feeding of MONIKA JASKULSKA slugs throughout the year. Their excessive reproduc- Zak³ad Zoologii, Instytut Ochrony Roœlin – tion, combined with the absence of natural enemies, Pañstwowy Instytut Badawczy, Poznañ may create serious problems. As a result of slug feed- ing the plants lose their decorative and economic Slugs are among the most serious pests of culti- value. In such conditions slug control with traditional vated plants in central and northern Europe. The methods – molluscicides – is difficult and not always greatest damage, besides Deroceras reticulatum,is satisfactory. New means of control and new chemicals caused by Arion lusitanicus. The slug originates from are constantly sought. The aim of the study was to test the Iberian Peninsula and spreads in many European selected chemicals – non-molluscicides – for their use- countries including Poland. It most often occurs in fulness as means of slug control. masses and damages many cultivated and wild plant species. It destroys almost completely garden plants, especially vegetables and some ornamental, orchard ESSENTIAL OILS – AN ALTERNATIVE TO PLANT and medicinal plants; it damages field cultivations, PROTECTION MEANS USED FOR SLUG mainly germinating winter rapeseed and winter CONTROL wheat. Protecting plants against pest slugs involves use of granulated molluscicides which contain MONIKA JASKULSKA, JAN KOZ£OWSKI, methiocarb or methaldehyde as active substances. TOMASZ KA£USKI Their effectivity in slug control is often unsatisfactory, Instytut Ochrony Roœlin – Pañstwowy Instytut and they may have a deleterious effect on other or- Badawczy, Poznañ ganisms. The Institute of Plant Protection in Poznañ conducts research on new active substances which Arion lusitanicus is among the most serious pest gas- may potentially limit slug feeding on cultivated tropods; it damages wild and cultivated plants every- plants. Within this research we performed no-choice where in Europe. At present two active substances are tests for the effectivity of selected molluscicides, insec- used to control it: methaldehyde and methiocarb. ticides and natural substances in limiting slug damage The use of methaldehyde will be banned in 2010 to plants. The tests were perfomed in controlled con- since it is not inluded in Annex I, Directive 91/414 ditions, using rape seedlings sprayed with the tested EC. Alternative substances are sought. Our experi- substances and exposed to feeding of A. lusitanicus. ments were to test effectivity of selected essential oils Among the tested substances the following were the in limiting damage caused by A. lusitanicus. They were most effective: abamectin (0.2%), methiocarb (0,5%) conducted in a climatic chamber, at 16°C, RH 93% and methaldehyde (1.0%), the activity of methal- and day length 12 h. No-choice tests were performed dehyde being maintained only during 9 days after ap- on Peking cabbage leaves (Optiko F1) treated with plication. These three compounds were not phyto- the tested oils. Eleven oils, ginger extract and toxicto rapeseed plants and none of them, at the con - methiocarb at concentrations of 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and centration used, was lethal to slugs. The reduction of 0.5% were used. Leaf fragments submerged in water rapeseed plant damage resulted from their deterrent were used as control. After 24 hrs the slugs were re- and/or antifeedant effect. Abamectin was found to moved and checked for their condition, the non-con- show a considerable potential usefulness for protec- Seminar Report 99 tion of winter rapeseed against slugs. The compound their width, height and diameter; the width/height is a macrocyclic glycoside derived from a soil bacte- ratio depends on the species, subspecies, geograph- rium Streptomyces avermitilis and is effective against a ical form, area and habitat conditions. The shell wide range of pests. It is also effective against herbivo- thickness, as the mean of measurements of its numer- rous slugs. The research was financed by the MNiSW, ous fragments, is associated with its mechanical resis- grant no. N31000831/0912. tance. The resistance is estimated with computerised texture analyser, as the so called piercing force mea- sured with a steel needle and associated with the shell QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SHELLS hardness, and as the crushing force, measured with a OF FARMED EDIBLE SNAILS CORNU ASPERSUM cylinder and associated with the shell elasticity. The AND HELIX POMATIA diameter of the cylinder is adjusted so that the kind of resulting damage corresponds to such damage arising MACIEJ LIGASZEWSKI1, JULIA STEKLA2 as a result of mechanic-chemical cleaning of shells 1Instytut Zootechniki – Pañstwowy Instytut during processing. The shell massiveness is expressed Badawczy, Balice as massiveness coefficient [shell mass (shell width × -1 -2 2Zak³ad Doœwiadczalny IZ-PIB, Grodziec Œl¹ski Sp. shell height) ] 100 (g cm ), which makes it possible z o.o., GrodziecŒl¹ski, Œwiêtoszówka to compare shells of different size and mass, as well as shells of different species and populations. Calcium Two subspecies of Cornu aspersum: C. aspersum content (mineral microstructure), phosphorus con- aspersum and C. a. maxima are farmed and commer- tent (organic microstructure) and raw ash content cially sold. The quality of their shells is important are chemical indicators of the degree of maturity and from the point of view of farming, trade and process- microstructure. ing. Shells of Cornu and Helix can be characterised by