The 25Th Polish Malacological Seminar

Vol. 17(2): 73–99

THE 25TH POLISH MALACOLOGICAL SEMINAR

SEMINAR REPORT

Wearenow 25 yearsold! Well,not theAssociation 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-minuteposters(thus not in theprogramme was held (and thus the anniversary celebrated) from and theAbstract Book). Both thenon-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. Theaward for thebest Boszkowo. It is a littlevillagenearLeszno(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 somepeopleduringtheseasonbut whenwewere Cepaea vindobonensis and thegeologicalstructureof there, we seemed to be the only inhabitants, that is the substratum”. The best oral presentation award apart from thepeoplerunningour hoteland 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 Theorganising institutions includedTheAssocia- of recent bivalves and mineralisation of gills of Trias- tion of Polish Malacologists, Adam Mickiewicz Univer- sic Unionoida”. Bravegirls! 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 havequitea fewmalacologists – theorganising 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 Theattendancewasgood (morethan 60 malacolo - JASKULSKA. They never disclosed who was responsible gists in thelist 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, onefrom theUnitedKingdom (now basedin 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 theso-calledyoung malacologists. On the a bag, a T-shirt, a three-colour marker pen and a otherhand, someof thelast year’syoung malaco - snail-bank (like a piggy-bank, only different), the last logists arenow 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 thesessions.Theprogrammecontained33 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 threeormoreauthors. Peopletendto 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- Thedivision in thetabledisregardswhetherthe -consuming research. There were no participants main characterin thestory was a snail or a bivalveor 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 theaccompanying author. 1.54: 1 in 2008, 1.67:1 in 2007, 2.38:1 in 2006), and the Likeduring thelast threeseminars,to havea 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 (somehavebeenassignedto morethan onein the true of the interest in aquatic malacology already last Table),and I had to apply morethan onedivision 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 thesecondday and thegrill party on thethird. trarily divided in a slightly different way. The banquet was very good, especially that on this oc- Thenumbersin thecolumns 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 thenatureof somedisciplinesprecludesproduc- 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 hehad 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, Theplacemost participants likedmost was theExperi -

Number of papers/posters No. Discipline 2006 2007 2008 2009 1 Ecology 9 20 25 18 2 Lifehistories 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. Oneof theposters,plus two of theparticipants (Photo B. M. P OKRYSZKO)

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;thepersonwith thetieis thePresident)(Photo B. M. P OKRYSZKO)

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 wherewesawtamewolves(tamebut other - Wroc³aw malacologists (at present four professionally wisequitereal).Thenwewentto 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 thebeautiful Everybody was equally impressed by the new campus of Sto³oweMts. 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 havehad to do with thefact that thePoznañ (e-mail: [email protected]) Brewery was one of the sponsors.

ABSTRACTS OF THE 25TH POLISH MALACOLOGICAL SEMINAR, BOSZKOWO 2009

HISTORY, COLLECTIONS & DATABASES ableon-lineto beusedfor thepurposesof natureconservation or studies on mollusc biology, ecology and 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 the150th anniversary of thepublication of his information on themalacofauna of Wielkopolska “Origin of species”. The Evolution MegaLab invites all camefrom thelateProf. El¿bietaKoralewska-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, parean updatedestimateofthestateof knowledgeof pink or brown, unicolour of with banding patterns. thefauna and to assessthemollusc diversityusing 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 pogenic transformations 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, faunistic studies 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 providea basis for protectionplans. Data on rare placeaftersometimehas 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. ThePolish coordinator of theprogramme 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]). Collectionsof theFaculty of Biology and madeavail - 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 mollusc shells 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 theBible,thereisa similar sourceof asso - 26,600 are gastropods, bivalves are fewer; there are ciations. The shell was associated with the motif of single shells of other mollusc taxa. The specimes are birth. Aphrodite(Venus),born of theseafoam, 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.Themost popular picturewith 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 attributeof Virgin Mary, specimens of 35 species (the most abundantly repre- of whom it was said that shecarriedan 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 mollusc mantle 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- catedsculptureof themollusc shelland 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 artistic tastes. Aesthetic values 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 thenativemalacofauna wereanalysed.Especiallythe 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 genic reservoirs play an important part for preserving written more than 200 scientific papers, but he him- the mollusc diversity. It appears that wider hydrobio- self could not list all his publications which were cer- logical studies, including other macrobenthos com- tainly much morenumerous.Dueto his help18 re - ponents, in anthropogenic reservoirs 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 natureconservation 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 national 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 natureconservation. He was a member of the Zoological Com- TheNida is a lowland river;is forms theaxis of the mittee of the Polish Academy of Sciense and editor of Nida LandscapePark. Its molluscs arepoorly known the series “Przyroda Polski Zachodniej” [Nature of and thedata comefrom the1970s. Theresearchwas Western Poland]. In recognition of his merits be was aimed at ascertaining the effect of habitat conditions awarded an array of distinctions. on theoccurrenceof Theodoxus fluviatilis, and to char- acteriseitshabitats on thebackground 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 alkalinewaters.Thestudy inluded11 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 organic matter content. T. fluviatilis occurred molluscs of Upper Silesia. The common belief at that only in thesitein Nowy Korczyn, whereduringthe 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 thebiology, 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 occurrenceinNowy Korczyn was thechar - (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, oneof theimportant riversof the (LIMNEPHILUS FLAVICORNIS) FOR SNAILS USED Mazurian Lakeland, was earlier only fragmentarily FOR CASE BUILDING studied. Our 2008 sudies were aimed at inventorying themalacofauna of thewholeriver, albeitwithout 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 mollusc shells. (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 morethan 2.5 kg/m 2, for unionids, especially from 30 small water bodies and compared their com- Unio tumidus. position with the species composition and size structureof thesnails found in thesamesamples.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 abundanceof snails in thesample.Thefrequencyof 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 theirabundancein thesample.Thecasesof L. tors with the greatest effect on the structure, diversity flavicornis contained shells of A. leucostomus larger and abundanceof themollusc faunas. Thestudiesin - than themeansizein thesnail population (p=0.001; cluded 49 water bodies within the natural floodplain, Z= –3.22). Thesituation was theoppositefor S. nitida thefloodplain limitedby flood banks and theformer – the caddisfly used smaller shells (p<0.001; Z= floodplain outsidetheflood banks. Molluscs were –6.263). Thestudy was partly financedwithin 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 frequent species (F>50%) were: Stagnicola palustris, Planorbarius corneus, Planorbis planorbis, Anisus vortex and Segmentina nitida. Mollusc abundancein 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 rangeof thespecies.Thestudies 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 effecton thestructureof themalaco - BEETLES AS NATURAL ENEMIES OF SNAILS coenoses: age of the water body, depth, vegetation, hydrological 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 rideand calcium ions, and theproperconductivity, 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 arenot an easilyaccessiblefoodsourcefor Warszawski, Warszawa beetles. Though very abundant and thus potentially available to predators, they have defensive means that Lithoglyphus natiocoides inhabits largeand me - makethemunattractiveto theinsects.Theirbody 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- thic and decidedly avoids aquatic vegetation) 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 thePisa 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 bottom 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 werefoundamong therich 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 areassociatedwith outcrops of carbonaterocks. Vistula basin) and the Mazurian Great Lakes. Pene- The species is also found in different habitats, for ex- tration of L. naticoides into LakeMiko³ajskiecould amplealluvial depositsof largerivers:Vistula, Warta have a character of human-mediated “leap invasion” and Odra. Theoccurrenceof C. vindobonensis on (introduction). Thesnail could bebrought 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 carbonatesubstratum. Along theVistula 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 rangeis compatiblewith thegeochemicalmap lar population of L. naticoides in LakeMiko³ajskie, of alluvial deposits, showing calcium content in Po- namely that Poland is within the natural and not sec- land. Thecontinuous part of therangeis limitedto 82 Seminar Report carbonatesubstratum. Its insular parts areassociated OUR MALACOLOGICAL TRIP TO GEORGIA with alluvial deposits.Thepresenceofthesamespe - 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 phenotypic differences between 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 relic Tertiary 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- 2Institutefor 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 xerothermic vegetation. 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 theVistula 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 thefloodplains of theVistula 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. samplesfrom thefirst sitedid not differin theabun - 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 outsidetheterraceboundaries,and individuals quantitatively near the mussel bed (which would con- with deformed shells appear. firm earlier observations), the general abundance of benthic meiofauna 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 mussel.Thestudy is a part of theproject“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 reproduction. Snail shells are regarded as the main calcium ALEXANDRA L. RIZHINASHVILI sourcefor passerinebirds.Therearenodata 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 thesnails mainly becauseofcal - cium. Studies on the effect of predators on the morph Unionids arefood to waterfowl and somefishes, 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 organic matter 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 mateparticipation of unionid populations in circula- and energy expenditure on the part of the predator. tion of organic matter 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. Thebiomass and abunanceof thepopula- content in their shells should be energetically less tions from lakesLaborzhskoeand Krasnoewereas- 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 LakeKrasnoethedensityand 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 LakeLaborzhskoethere - 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 LakeLaborzhskoethetimerequiredfor lakevol - cium-seeking birds). Could such varied selection be ume filtration is equal to the water exchange period a/thefactor maintaining polymorphism in Cepaea? -1 (Kw=5.2 year ). In LakeKrasnoethat timeis 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¥ LakeLaborzhskoethebivalvesexcrete49.61gC/m 2 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 LakeKrasnoethebivalvesexcrete82.16 Poznañ gC/m2 which exceeds the zoobenthos food requirements 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- bufferzoneof thenaturereserveDêbno 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 atomic absorption 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 thesnails 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), thesmallestin theshell ceous vegetation and much litter of elm, ash, and (19.10±6.28). Theconcentrationin thefoot was hornbeam. These preferences were observed, but less 145.96±59.58. Theconcentrationin thealimentary 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 Osowiec was 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 thepopulations. Theresultssuggestthat H. obvia can be useful in monitoring heavy metal pollution. The Maltañski reservoir is located within the ad- ministrativeboundariesof thecity of Poznañ; it was formed as a result of damming of the Cybina River, a CONSERVATION right-bank tributary of theWarta. 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 observed. 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 thebottom Uniwersytet £ódzki deposits to the depth of 5 cm. 246 random samples were taken. The total weight of specimens was 37.65 Thepopulation of Unio crassus (species from An- kg, theaveragebiomasswas 0.153 kg/m 2 (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). The40 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. Thedistribution 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 arelocatedin 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 therichestin 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 themain 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 sedgebeds.Such habitats, rarein theregion,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; thevaluesfor 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. Theareais culturally uniquebe - 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), themeanage(n=237): 4.99±2.0 toric cultures in the bogs. The 2008 field work yielded (1–11) Thevaluesweresimilarto thoseobtainedfor localities and areas of occurrence of mollusc species thePilica population 10 yearsago. Thecharacterof included in Natura 2000 in wetlands and meadows. themid sectionof Pilica and thecondition of thelo - 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 beunderconstant 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

TheKampinos National Park, locatedwithin 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 TheDêbnicko-Tynieckiemeadowsarelocated extensive oxbows filled by decomposed peat with lac- within theDêbniki district in theSW. part of Cracow. ustrinechalk. Thehigh calcium contentand alkaline They occupy ca. 1,150 ha and include seven main divi- pH favour development of mollusc communities. 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 periodic pools. The most abundant species were 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.Themost important recordsarethoseof 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- arecommon 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 thediscussedpart of theCarpathians. Theinforma - 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 somewereperiod - 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 themating of Deroceras panormitanum, after mu- 90 localitiesof thesnail areknown). Theobservations 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 mollusc species from 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 theEuro - 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 continueand theslugs similarly proddedonly after cords of V. moulinsiana from thePolish Carpathians; gland eversion. There was again no significant differin 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. Thesituation 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 theareaadjoining run of the first experiment, but in the second run it theTatra, oneof themnearthePolish 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 agestructureand fecunditywerestudiedin V. IN THE SÄCHSISCHE SCHWEIZ AND contectus from oxbows to various extent connected ELSEWHERE with theBug 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 theautumn to 25 indiv./m in thesummer. Thesex Görlitz, Germany ratio was 1:1, sometimes with a slight predominance of males. The populations differed in their fecundity: Collections of Deroceras from theuplands 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,thecourtship and copulation arefast (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 takelongerin 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 theirlifecycleto periodicdrying of is often surprisingly difficult. Western populations of astatic field ponds. Three ponds of different hydro- D. rodnae should now be termed Deroceras juranum period (period of filling with water) were selected. Wüthrich, 1993. Wedescribetheconsiderablevari - 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 astatic water 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 beginning of June. The study is partly financed by the Long-term observations on Viviparus viviparus grant of MNiSW no. N N304 3400 33. madeit possibleto distinguish somecharactersof 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 structure, percentage of fertile females in the population). Such characters ensure maintaining a balanced abundance of the species. The number of embryos per female 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 thewild theyoungestage 1Katedra Zoologii, Uniwersytet Warmiñsko-Mazurski, class appearsin July. Themaximum lifespan 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; juvenilesaremoreactivethan adults. Indi - Theaim of thestudy was to tracethehistological vidual mobility is up to 5 m/month. structureof thegonad of Sinanodonta woodiana in annual 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, thecool supply canal of thepower Katedra Zoologii Ogólnej, Uniwersytet Szczeciñski, plant Konin, thewarm dischargecanal of thepower Szczecin plant Konin and two lakes: Œlesiñskie (cool) and Licheñskie (warm). The total of 142 specimens in- Theobjectiveofthestudy was to describethe cluded 71 females, 62 males, 5 hermaphrodites and 4 histological structureof theovary 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 eachovary. Thetissuewas 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 containedmaturemaleand femalegamets.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 thewholestudy periodthegonads of licles. Nurse cells are situated on the basal membrane specimens from the coolest site (supply canal) of thefollicle.Theoocytesgrow out of thefollicle 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 ascertainthefollowing lifecycleparametersof 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 thedistribution of theAlpine 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 thediscussedpart of therangethe 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 climateis crucial for thespe - of the first meiotic division, mitoses); they fill the cies’survival. Thecomposition of theaccompanying wholeorgan. StageJVII is very similar to JVI, though malacofauna varies between the sites which is prob- thegonad is slightly larger. At stageJVIII thegonad 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 singlesmall oocytesareobserved.At stageJIX thelob- 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. Somedata on shellvariation areprovided; 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 genic oocytes appear, 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 rarein 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 period 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 analysis 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 aquatic plant remains. In both ponds class 2 formed In laboratory conditions R. filograna produces themajority, whilethelargestand thesmallestindi - 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 havea maximum of 4–4.5 whorls. In thestudied Adults most often produce 2–3 juveniles, at most 4, ponds the largest shells were 4.3 mm wide and 1.1 mm with complete embryonic shells. Embryonic develop- high. Thesizestructurein thetwo 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 embryonic development were based may indicatetwo reproductiveperiods:May and July. on dissection of adult R. filograna from thepopulation In thespring only snails of class 4 werefound,indicat- in thenaturereserveDêbno on theWarta in Wielko- ing that they had appeared in the previous year. polska. Thesizeof theembryos doesnot changewith 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 thevisceralsac. Theembryos 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 thelaboratory (18–25 °C) this SARIDALENSIS FROM LAKE CHANY (W. SIBERIA) stage takes ca. two weeks. It is during this last stage that theclausiliar apparatus is built. It is composedof SVETLANA VODYANITSKAYA a complicated system of plicae and lamellae and the Instituteof Animal Systematicsand 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- Theaim of this study was to tracethepopulation 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. Thepossibleadaptivesig - 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 turein thesummer(r=0.892, p<0.05). Thedensity 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). Thechromo - GENETIC DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES somenumberin P. casertanum (2n=180–190) is well in AMONG SLUGS OF THE GENUS ARION compliance with earlier findings of other authors. Thekaryotypesof 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- Thegenus 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 thediagnostic charactersof the genitalia. Since the genus includes several plant pests, SHELL DEFECTS IN CEPAEA VINDOBONENSIS it is important that even inexperienced people should beableto identifyspecies.Wemadean attemptat DOMINIKA MIERZWA finding the best molecular marker which would en- Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii, Polska Akademia Nauk, able identification of all species of Arion. Thestudies Warszawa had other interesting implications. Molecular analyses 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- tematic information. 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 losetheir 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). Thewidevariation of thespeciesmay 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 quirean interdisciplinary approach. Theinterfaceof A. nobrei against A. flagellus and A. flugineusnieshowed 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- eachgeneavailableintheGeneBankfor Arion. tailed quantitative analysis in micro-areas made it 92 Seminar Report possibleto describethechemicalcomposition, 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 Thegenus 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), thenamewas changedto avoid homonymy Mickiewicza, Poznañ with Trichia deHaan, 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 thesameplacein thegenome.At presentthe in Poland showedthat thevariation rangewas very standard “barcode” for animals is a fragment of 648 wide. Populations of T. hispidus from Muszkowiceand nucleotides from the 5’ end of mitochondrial gene of Zieleniec departed in their shell proportions from the thefirst subunit of cytochromeoxidase( 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 becauseofthelow rateof 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- useDNA 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 databasesis theBarcodeof LifeDatabase to synonymise T. plebeius, T. concinnus and T. hispidus. (BOLD). Theanalysis (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 theresulting 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 morethan 300 algorhitms. Analysis of polymorphism of theresulting freshwater bivalves (Unionidae) DUI was detected, mitochondrial genome sequences is performed with based on single genes (cox1, cox2 or cytochromeb), in programmes DnaSP, Mega4, DNAMAN and PHYLIP. nearly 40 species. The two complete mitochondrial genomes are known only for Inversidens japonensis, whileonly F typeis known in Lampsilis ornata. Our FOSSIL study was aimed at obtaining a complete sequence of mitochondrial genomeofF typein 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 Theanalysis of composition of stableisotopesof 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 thewaterexchangerateandevapora - 1Katedra Genetyki, Uniwersytet Szczeciñski, Szczecin tion intensity. In most palaeolimnological studies fine 2Zak³ad Genetyki i Biotechnologii Morskiej, Instytut carbonatefraction is theonesubjectto isotopeanaly - 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 Useof isotopecontentin mollusc shellsin pa - maternal one (SMI, Standard Maternal Inheritance) laeolimnological studies has its advantages and limita- and called doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI), was tions. Somephysiological factors affecttheisotope observed in seven bivalve families (Mytilidae, composition of shells. Food-derived carbon and Veneridae, Hyriidae, Margaritiferidae, Unionidae breathing with atmospheric air may have an effect on 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. Oneof thedavantagesis theabsenceof 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 whilein finecarbonatefraction of depositswhich may contain Lampsilis ornata only thefemalegenomeisknown. allochthonous debris. It is believed that mollusc shells The greatest problem in comprehensive studies on areformedin isotopebalancewith DIC (dissolvedin - mtDNA, which includes ca. 16 thousand base pairs, is organic carbon) and water; consequently they pro- the scanty knowledge pertaining only to single genes videinformation on isotopeconditions 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 thelakemakesit possibleto com - 94 Seminar Report pareisotopecomposition of DIC and waterin various MOLLUSC-BEARING DEPOSITS IN WILDNO, parts of thelake.Isotopecomposition 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. (DobrzyñskieLakeland),at thedepthof 3.0–6.5 m. Thedepositsin theform 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 Thedominant 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”, Ostrowiec Œwiêtokrzyski 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- minethecharacterof thewaterbody 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 anthropogenic effects on 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 thecomposition of themollusc 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 mollusc remains determines them as older than the molluscs document the climate and vegetation. Ar- maximum of thelast glaciation. It can beconjectured 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- theVistula glaciation, which is rarein Poland. Further cal artifacts, mollusc remains were found. The mate- studies will explain the stratigraphic position and the rial included 12 shells, 8 of them Cepaea vindobonensis. origin of thedeposits. A shell of Bradybaena fruticum was found in oneobject, and shells of Unio crassus in two. Snail immigration to areas deforested by humans resulted in establishing FRESHWATER AND BRACKISH BIVALVE populations of Pontic and Mediterraean species. At ASSEMBLAGES FROM LOWER JURASSIC present C. vindobonensis lives in xerothermic swards DEPOSITS OF POLAND on limestone. Its presence in the discussed site indicates 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 theSandomierzUpland and the silicoclastic Upper Jurassic (Liassic) deposits of the ŒwiêtokrzyskieMts was usually associatedwith thebe - northernboundary of theŒwiêtokrzyskieMts. The ginning of the19th c., but thearchaeologicalstudies 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 contributeinformation on thetypeof land use. geologicalprofileof theEarly Jurassic in theŒwiêto - krzyskie region includes a few sedimentation episodes associated with the development of brackish and marine 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 theabsenceofcalcium phosphatecrystals – 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 thestateof preservation of thefossil ‘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- perimentaldata madeit possibleto estimatethetime rassic in Europe. Another succession is observed in of mineralisation as between 64th and 92nd hour af- thelateHettangiandeposits,during themaximum of ter death. Hettangian transgression in the early Jurassic epicontinental basin of Poland. Besides marine bivalves of the genus Cardinia, the deposits bear re- PARASITOLOGY mains and traces of marine arthropods (Limulidae, Malacostraca). Themaximum of theLiassic 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 appearance of Unionoida. The freshwater environ- BEATA JAKUBIK ments show a smaller species diversity (1–3 species) Katedra Ekologii i Ochrony Œrodowiska, Akademia comparedto thebrackish-marineand 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 estimated 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 Triassic deposits 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 digenetic trematodes. decomposition. The expeiment was to indentify the stageat which gill decompositionin theTriassic 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 species. 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 Instituteof Hydrobiology, National Academyof 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 persionforms of theparasiteand theirability 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 tectiveoperculum,aremoresusceptibletoparasite 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- mentalbivalvescamefrom thesamelocality). Two ex- ELENA A. SERBINA periments, of 14 and 30 days duration, were carried Institutefor Systematicsand 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 Thepopulation of Bithynia troscheli from the (hosts – unionids) and the30-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-increase 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 Valetteisthemost sen - (df=14; p=0.05), males 2+ – 112.2% (df=36; p<0.002); sitiveto pollution. males 3+ – 114.7% (df=83; p<0.001); shell width: females 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 Digenetic trematodes are parasites of heteroxenic 1+ – 108.3% (df=29; p<0.05); males 1+ – 115.4% lifecyclein which snails play a part of thefirst 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 changedependingon thetorpor phasebut varied spitethehigh invasion intensity, theparasiteremains 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 tectiveroleinthehepatopancreas,sinceit takespart 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 disturbedhormonal balanceof thehost or ageduring resumptionof activity. destructionof thegonad in which theparasite’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, structureand fiveconnectingloops. As a resultof in- JUSTYNA ROGALSKA2, MICHA£ CAPUTA1 teraction between the aminoacids in the domains and 1Zak³ad Fizjologii Zwierz¹t, Instytut Biologii Ogólnej theloops, thepolypeptideforms,in thetwo-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 such as CO2,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-enzymatic antioxidant – reduced glutathione formed an array of experiments in order to find their (GSH), as well as that of malonic aldehyde (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. Theactivity of theantioxidation 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 thecontrol. Theresultsweresubjectto co-variance probably haveaquaporines.Weareplanning to char - analysis considering the weight of slugs; Fisher test acterise their component proteins. was used at significance level 0.05. Some of the substances 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% provedto beattractiveto theslugs. 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

Atmospheric conditions in 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 feeding the plants lose their decorative and economic Slugs areamong themost seriouspestsof 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. Theslug originatesfrom areconstantly sought. Theaim of thestudy 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. TheInstituteof Plant Protectionin 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 Theuseof methaldehydewillbebannedin 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 damagecausedby 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 toxic to 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 measured 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., Grodziec Œl¹ski, 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 thepoint of viewof farming, tradeand process - microstructure. ing. Shells of Cornu and Helix can be characterised by