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Journal Molluscan Studies Advance Access originally published online on May 8, 2009
Journal of Molluscan Studies 2009 75(3):223-234; doi:10.1093/mollus/eyp017
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Malacological Society of London, all rights reserved

Diversity of aquatic malacofauna within a floodplain of a large lowland river (lower Bug River, Eastern Poland)

Ewa Jurkiewicz-Karnkowska

Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Podlasie, B. Prusa 12, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland

Correspondence: E. Jurkiewicz-Karnkowska, e-mail: karnkowska{at}ap.siedlce.pl


  Abstract

This study analyses the composition and species richness of aquatic molluscan communities within a large sector (over 100 km) of the valley of the Bug, a large lowland river in eastern Poland. An attempt was also made to determine the number of samples sufficient to compile a representative mollusc list within the whole study area and in groups of water bodies representing different degree of permanence, as well as to test the completeness of sampling of the malacofauna. Within the study area, 54 mollusc species were found – 36 snails and 18 bivalves. Up to 27 species were recorded from individual sites with a mean of 8 ± 5 species per site. Mean number of species was significantly higher in permanent water bodies than in the two other site groups. Dominance patterns in molluscan communities and frequencies of individual species showed distinct differences within three groups of habitats differing in permanence. Species composition was related to permanence, size, depth, hydrological connectivity and successional stage of water bodies, as well as to the type of bottom sediments and macrophyte abundance. The aquatic malacofauna found within the study area was rich, comprising almost 90% of potential composition based on regional species lists. Rarefaction curves for the total malacofauna confirmed the low probability of finding additional species, whereas temporary and permanent water bodies showed incomplete species lists. About 20 samples should be sufficient to collect representative data in the study area and more than 60 samples would be necessary to collect a nearly complete dataset.

(Received 18 July 2008; accepted 16 February 2009)


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