The bottom Oligochaeta communities in sand pits of different trophic status in Upper Silesia (Southern Poland)

• DOI: 10.1007/s10452-008-9199-2
• Publication Date: 2008-07-28T15:37:51Z
• Authors: M. Krodkiewska; A. Michalik-Kucharz
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 14. Life underwater; 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water

Oligochaeta, occurring in the littoral zones of two sand pits, were sampled in order to determine the relationship between the oligochaete species and the waters’ trophic level. Differences between sand pits attributable to community structure and to an overall higher abundance of oligochaetes, especially tubificids, were observed in Dzierzno Male. Multivariate analyses (correspondence analysis [CA] and canonical correspondence analysis [CCA]) reveal correlations between the distribution patterns of oligochaete species and the concentration of nitrates, phosphates and dissolved oxygen. Some species, e.g. Dero digitata, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Potamothrix hammoniensis, Nais simplex, Limnodrilus claparedeanus, Limnodrilus udekemianus and Tubifex tubifex, were more abundant in eutrophic sites. The results of the study showed that the richness of Oligochaeta species is not a good method for estimating the trophic levels of the studied sand pits. Indicators based on the share of oligo-, meso- and eutrophic species in Oligochaeta communities are better for evaluating the water quality in the studied reservoirs.