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Invasion of terrestrial enchytraeids into two postglacial tundras: North-eastern Greenland and the Arctic Archipelago of Canada (Enchytraeidae, Oligochaeta)

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Abstract

The aim was to study the invasion of terrestrial enchytraeids into the two postglacial tundras, North-eastern Greenland and the Arctic Archipelago of Canada. The majority of species recorded have a wide distribution in the Northern Hemisphere and the species diversity is considerably lower than that of potential source regions indicating either strong selection or varied dispersal ability. It appears that the Archipelago is influenced mainly from North America and North-eastern Greenland from Europe while the specialized fauna of the ancient Beringian tundra is of minor importance. The two alternative scenarios: (a) survival of a prepleistocene fauna in protected refugia within the area or (b) a postglacial re-invasion from outside are discussed, but the available data do not discriminate between these two possibilities. A total of 24 terrestrial enchytraeid taxa are recorded of which 22 are identified to the species level. Bryodrilus archipelagicus and Hemifridericia bivesiculata are described as new to science and Henlea groenlandica Černosvitov is revalidated. We hesitate to conclude that the new taxa described are endemic.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the following persons for sampling in the field: Christian Bay, Ole Bennike, Torben R. Christensen, Bjarne Jakobsen, Anna Joabsen, Bent Fredskild, Hans Meltofte, Niels Nielsen, Pål-Axel Olson, Helene Ruhberg and the late Søren Ødum. We also express our thanks to The Soros Foundation and the Danish Rectors Conference for covering travel expenses for K. Dózsa-Farkas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Evolutionary Biology, Biological Institute, Universitetsparken 15, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Bent Christensen

  2. Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary

    Klára Dózsa-Farkas

Authors
  1. Bent Christensen
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  2. Klára Dózsa-Farkas
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Correspondence to Bent Christensen.

Appendix : Overview of locations and observed species diversity

Appendix : Overview of locations and observed species diversity

Location I: Mestersvig; 72°14′N, 23°55′W, 50 m above sea level (s.l.,) samples from 8 sites: Henlea perpusilla, H. glandulifera, Bryodrilus parvus, B. diverticulatus.

Location II: Zackenberg; 74°30′N, 21°00′W, from s.l., to 150 m above s.l., 22 samples representing a number of different habitat types: Mesenchytraeus cf. flavus, M. sp., Henlea perpusilla, H. groenlandica, H. glandulifera, Bryodrilus parvus, B. diverticulatus, Fridericia bulboides, Enchytraeus sp., Marionina argentea, Lumbricillus bülowi, L. nielseni (the two latter species recorded at a site near the littoral zone).

Location III: North-east of Annekssø; 77°25′N, 21°20′W, 140 m above s.l., samples from four sites: Mesenchytraeus cf. flavus, Cernosvitoviella cf. pusilla, Henlea perpusilla, H. groenlandica, Bryodrilus diverticulatus.

Location IV: V. Clausen Fjord, northern branch; 77°30′N, 20°34′W, 50 m above s.l., one sample: Henlea perpusilla, H. groenlandica, H. glandulifera, Bryodrilus diverticulatus.

Location V: Sdr. Mellemland, Jökelbugten; 77°58′N, 21°32′W, 30 m above s.l., samples from two sites: Bryodrilus parvus, B. diverticulatus.

Location VI: Sdr. Mellemland; 78°00′N, 21°29′W, 50 m above s.l., sample from one site: Mesenchytraeus cf. flavus, Henlea groenlandica, Bryodrilus diverticulatus.

Location VII: Lambert Land; 78°09′N, 20°40′W, 125 m above s.l., samples from two sites: Cernosvitoviella cf. pusilla, Henlea perpusilla, H. groenlandica, H. glandulifera, Bryodrilus parvus, B. diverticulatus, Marionina argentea, M. communis.

Location VIII: Nr. Mellemland; 78°30′N, 21°10′W, 75–150 above s.l., samples from four different sites: Henlea groenlandica, Bryodrilus diverticulatus, Marionina argentea.

Location IX: Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden, Kronprins Christians Land; 79°40′N, 21°02′W, 40 m above s.l., sample from one site: Henlea perpusilla, H. groenlandica, Bryodrilus parvus.

Location X: Frigg Fjord, Peary Land; 83°07′N, 51°08′W, sample from one site: Mesenchytraeus argentatus, Cognettia quadrosetosa, Henlea perpusilla, H. groenlandica, Bryodrilus parvus, B. diverticulatus.

Location XI: Ellesmere Island, South; 76°28′N, 86°55′W, samples were studied from nine different sites: Mesenchytraeus argentatus, Henlea perpusilla, H. heleotropha, H. ventriculosa, H. glandulifera, H. conchifera, Bryodrilus parvus, B. diverticulatus, B. archipelagicus, Marionina argentea.

Location XII: Devon Island, South; 74°33′N, 82°48′W, samples from six different sites: Henlea perpusilla, H. ventriculosa, H. glandulifera, H. conchifera, Bryodrilus parvus, B. diverticulatus, B. sp., Enchytraeus cf. christenseni, Marionina argentea.

Location XIII: Ellef Island; 78°56′N, 104°39′W, samples from 10 different sites: Henlea perpusilla, H. heleotropha, H. ventriculosa, H. glandulifera, H. conchifera, Bryodrilus parvus, B. diverticulatus, B. archipelagicus, B. sp., Marionina nordica, M. argentea.

Location XIV: Banks Island, South; 73°37′N, 115°50′W, samples from seven different sites: Henlea perpusilla, H. heleotropha, H. ventriculosa, H. groenlandica, H. conchifera, Bryodrilus parvus, B. diverticulatus, B. archipelagicus, Hemifridericia bivesiculata, Enchytraeus albidus, Marionina nordica.

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Christensen, B., Dózsa-Farkas, K. Invasion of terrestrial enchytraeids into two postglacial tundras: North-eastern Greenland and the Arctic Archipelago of Canada (Enchytraeidae, Oligochaeta). Polar Biol 29, 454–466 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-005-0076-3

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