The Feeding Strategies of the Leech Erpobdella octoculata (L.): A Laboratory Study

International Review of Hydrobiology - Tập 88 Số 1 - Trang 94-101 - 2003
U. Kutschera1
1Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Str. 40, 34109 Kassel, Germany

Tóm tắt

AbstractThe feeding behaviour of the freshwater leech Erpobdella octoculata was analysed by exposing potential invertebrate and vertebrate prey organisms (alive, wounded or dead) to leech attack in dishes, in the laboratory. The fact that E. octoculata is a macrophagous feeder that swallows living prey organisms whole (preferentially Chironomus larvae) is documented. However, it was repeatedly observed that adult leeches sucked the body fluids from wounded larvae. Likewise, cut pieces of earthworms, dead crustaceans and crushed water snails were attacked and the soft parts sucked in with the aid of the unarmed pharynx. Adult leeches sucked the body fluids from dead, decaying bodies of vertebrates (fish, newt larvae). Newly hatched young are blood suckers that rapidly attacked the wounded regions of Chironomus larvae and other invertebrates such as crushed water snails. It is concluded that the common leech E. octoculata is not only a predator, but also a fluid sucker and a scavenger. The ecological implications of this finding are discussed.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

10.1007/BF00378232

10.1002/iroh.19830680404

Davies R.W., 1975, The feeding of four species of freshwater Hirudinoidea in Southern Alberta, Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 19, 2816

Davies R.W., 1988, The comparative ecology of three species of Erpobdellidae (Annelida = Hirudinoidea), Arch. Hydrobiol., 111, 601, 10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/111/1988/601

10.2307/3297

Elliott J.M.andK.H.Mann 1979:A key to the British freshwater leeches with notes on their life cycles and ecology. – Freshwater Biological Association Scientific Publications No.40 72 pp.

Greene K.L., 1974, Experiments and observations on the feeding behaviour of the freshwater leech Erpobdella octoculata (L.) (Hirudinea: Erpobdellidae), Arch. Hydrobiol., 74, 87

Herter K. 1968:Der medizinische Blutegel und seine Verwandten. – A. Ziemsen Verlag Wittenberg Lutherstadt 199 pp.

Kutschera U., 1983, Dichteregulation durch intraspezifische Kokonzerstörung und Untersuchungen zur Fortpflanzungsbiologie beim Egel Erpobdella octoculata L. (Hirudinea: Erpobdellidae), Zool. Jb. Syst., 110, 17

Kutschera U., 1986, Zur Fortpflanzungsbiologie von Trocheta bykowskii Gedr. (Hirudinea: Erpobdellidae), einer erstmals für Deutschland nachgewiesenen Egelart, Arch. Hydrobiol., 108, 97, 10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/108/1986/97

10.1007/s12064-001-0012-1

Neubert E.andH.Nesemann 1999:Annelida Clitellata. Branchiobdellida Acanthobdellea Hirudinea. –In:Schwoerbel J. and P.Zwick(Eds.): Süßwasserfauna von Mitteleuropa 6/2. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag Heidelberg 189 pp.

Sawyer R.T. 1986:Leech biology and behaviour. Vol. 1–3. – Clarendon Press Oxford 1065 pp.

Schönborn W., 1985, Die ökologische Rolle von Erpobdella octoculata (L.) (Hirudinea: Erpobdellidae) in einem abwasserbelasteten Fluß, Zool. J. Syst., 112, 477

10.1111/j.1365-2427.1995.tb00419.x

10.1007/BF00017378

Toman M.J., 1997, The diet of Erpobdella octoculata (Hirudinea: Erpobdellidae) in two Danish lowland streams, Arch. Hydrobiol., 140, 549, 10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/140/1997/549

Young J.O., 1979, The natural diet of Erpobdella octoculata (L.) (Hirudinea: Erpobdellidae) in British lakes, Arch. Hydrobiol., 87, 483

10.1007/BF00018828

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

International Review of Hydrobiology

Tập 88 Số 1

94-101

Thông tin tác giả