Chorological and Ecological Differentiation of the Commonest Leech Species from the Suborder Erpobdelliformes (Arhynchobdellida, Hirudinea) on the Balkan Peninsula
This study is the result of extensive investigations of leeches on the Balkan Peninsula. Our aim was to detect actual and potential (modeled) distributions of common Erpobdellidae species, and to identify their ecological differentiation with respect to the altitudinal and waterbody type gradient. A...
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doaj-fc874ce3bcb14172a5973d285b3ffbce2020-11-25T03:32:00ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-01-0112235610.3390/w12020356w12020356Chorological and Ecological Differentiation of the Commonest Leech Species from the Suborder Erpobdelliformes (Arhynchobdellida, Hirudinea) on the Balkan PeninsulaNikola Marinković0Branko Karadžić1Valentina Slavevska Stamenković2Vladimir Pešić3Vera Nikolić4Momir Paunović5Maja Raković6Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Invertebrates and Animal Ecology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University “St. Cyril and Methodius” Arhimedova 3, 1000 Skopje, North MacedoniaDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Montenegro, Cetinjski put b.b., 81000 Podgorica, MontenegroFaculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, SerbiaThis study is the result of extensive investigations of leeches on the Balkan Peninsula. Our aim was to detect actual and potential (modeled) distributions of common Erpobdellidae species, and to identify their ecological differentiation with respect to the altitudinal and waterbody type gradient. Although widespread, these species rarely live together. Intense competition is avoided by preferences for different types of habitats. This was confirmed by Pearson correlation analyses that yielded negative results. Differentiation of these species was clarified by the results of logistic Gaussian regression analyses. While <i>Erpobdella octoculata</i> and <i>Dina lineata</i> have a similar distribution along the altitudinal gradient, they prefer different waterbody types. <i>Erpobdella vilnensis</i> prefers higher altitudes than the other two species. Its preferred habitats are smaller rivers and streams located at altitudes from 400 to 1000 m a.s.l. Although present in all waterbody types, large lowland rivers and standing waterbodies are the preferred habitats of <i>E. octoculata</i>. Fast-flowing springs and streams are mostly inhabited by <i>D. lineata</i>. While the distribution of the species overlaps to a large degree, the ecological preferences of species differ significantly and thus they can be used as confident typological descriptors and indicators of ecological status.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/2/356hirudineaerpobdellidaelogistic gaussian regressionmaxentwaterbody type |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Nikola Marinković Branko Karadžić Valentina Slavevska Stamenković Vladimir Pešić Vera Nikolić Momir Paunović Maja Raković |
spellingShingle |
Nikola Marinković Branko Karadžić Valentina Slavevska Stamenković Vladimir Pešić Vera Nikolić Momir Paunović Maja Raković Chorological and Ecological Differentiation of the Commonest Leech Species from the Suborder Erpobdelliformes (Arhynchobdellida, Hirudinea) on the Balkan Peninsula Water hirudinea erpobdellidae logistic gaussian regression maxent waterbody type |
author_facet |
Nikola Marinković Branko Karadžić Valentina Slavevska Stamenković Vladimir Pešić Vera Nikolić Momir Paunović Maja Raković |
author_sort |
Nikola Marinković |
title |
Chorological and Ecological Differentiation of the Commonest Leech Species from the Suborder Erpobdelliformes (Arhynchobdellida, Hirudinea) on the Balkan Peninsula |
title_short |
Chorological and Ecological Differentiation of the Commonest Leech Species from the Suborder Erpobdelliformes (Arhynchobdellida, Hirudinea) on the Balkan Peninsula |
title_full |
Chorological and Ecological Differentiation of the Commonest Leech Species from the Suborder Erpobdelliformes (Arhynchobdellida, Hirudinea) on the Balkan Peninsula |
title_fullStr |
Chorological and Ecological Differentiation of the Commonest Leech Species from the Suborder Erpobdelliformes (Arhynchobdellida, Hirudinea) on the Balkan Peninsula |
title_full_unstemmed |
Chorological and Ecological Differentiation of the Commonest Leech Species from the Suborder Erpobdelliformes (Arhynchobdellida, Hirudinea) on the Balkan Peninsula |
title_sort |
chorological and ecological differentiation of the commonest leech species from the suborder erpobdelliformes (arhynchobdellida, hirudinea) on the balkan peninsula |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Water |
issn |
2073-4441 |
publishDate |
2020-01-01 |
description |
This study is the result of extensive investigations of leeches on the Balkan Peninsula. Our aim was to detect actual and potential (modeled) distributions of common Erpobdellidae species, and to identify their ecological differentiation with respect to the altitudinal and waterbody type gradient. Although widespread, these species rarely live together. Intense competition is avoided by preferences for different types of habitats. This was confirmed by Pearson correlation analyses that yielded negative results. Differentiation of these species was clarified by the results of logistic Gaussian regression analyses. While <i>Erpobdella octoculata</i> and <i>Dina lineata</i> have a similar distribution along the altitudinal gradient, they prefer different waterbody types. <i>Erpobdella vilnensis</i> prefers higher altitudes than the other two species. Its preferred habitats are smaller rivers and streams located at altitudes from 400 to 1000 m a.s.l. Although present in all waterbody types, large lowland rivers and standing waterbodies are the preferred habitats of <i>E. octoculata</i>. Fast-flowing springs and streams are mostly inhabited by <i>D. lineata</i>. While the distribution of the species overlaps to a large degree, the ecological preferences of species differ significantly and thus they can be used as confident typological descriptors and indicators of ecological status. |
topic |
hirudinea erpobdellidae logistic gaussian regression maxent waterbody type |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/2/356 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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