Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Environmental factors determining the distribution pattern of leeches (Clitellata: Hirudinida) in large river systems: A case study of the Oder River system

  • Published:
Biologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The largest rivers in Europe are under strong human pressure, resulting in habitat changes and consequently in structural changes in the quantitative and qualitative composition of fauna assemblages. The aim of this study was to identify the taxonomic structure of leech assemblages and the main environmental factors influencing their distribution pattern on a 306 km stretch of the Oder River encompassing different habitat types. Representatives of 28 leech taxa were recorded in 527 samples of bottom macrofauna. The most abundant and most frequently recorded species was the eurytopic Erpobdella octoculata, occurring in all examined habitat types. Although a significant influence of habitat type on the species composition of leech assemblages was noted, a significant positive correlation with habitat type was found only in the case of Piscicola pojmanskae and P. geometra. Our results show that abundance of food resources was the most important factor influencing the distribution of leeches.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agapow L. 1975. Pijawki (Hirudinea) środkowej i dolnej Odry oraz niektórych jej dopływów [Leeches (Hirudinea) of the middle and lower parts of the Odra River and some its tributaries]. Badania Fizjograficzne nad Polską Zachodnią, ser. C Zoologia 28: 79–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agapow L. 1980. Pijawki (Hirudinea) środkowej i dolnej Odry (Część faunistyczno — ekologiczna) [Leeches (Hirudinea) of the middle and lower part of the Odra River (Part faunistic-ecological)]. Zesz. Nauk. Uniw. Łódz /Acta Universitatis Lodziensis Ser. 2/33: 105–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arimiche Nwabueze A. 2013. A preliminary investigation on the toxicity of Tetracera alnifolia on Piscicola geometra in fish culture. Agr. Sci. 1 (2): 1–9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12735/as.v1i2p01

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennike S. 1943. Contribution to the ecology of Danish freshwater leeches (Hirudinea). Series: Folia Limnologica Scandinavica 2, Kobenhavn, pp. 1–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beracko P. & Košel V. 2011. Life cycle and feeding habits of Dina punctata Johansson, 1927 (Erpobdellidae, Hirudinea) in a Small Carpathian stream. Int. Rev. Hydrobiol. 96 (1): 39–47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.201011260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bielecki A. 1990. Life cycle of Caspiobdella fadejewi (Epstein, 1961) (Hirudinea, Piscicolidae) in Poland, p. 42. In: Thrid International Conference of Leech Scientisis, Jeruzalem, Israel, May 6–11, 1990, Program & Abstracts, 49 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bielecki A. 1994. Piscicola pojmanskae a new leech species from Poland (Hirudinea: Piscicolidae). Genus 5 (4): 411–421.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bielecki A. 1997. Fish leeches of Poland in relation to the Palearctic piscicolines (Hirudinea: Piscicolidae: Piscicolinae). Genus 8 (2): 223–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bielecki A. 2004. Description of a vector tissue in Batracobdelloides moogi (Nesemann and Csányi, 1995) (Hirudinea; Glossiphoniidae Vaillant, 1850). Lauterbornia 52: 101–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bielecki A. 2013. Typ: pierścienice Annelida, pp. 54–66. In: Boroń A & Szlachciak J. (ed.), Tom 1. Podrecznik metodyczny. Różnorodność i taksonomia zwierząt, Tom 2. Przewodnik terenowy do rozpoznawania wybranych krajowych taksonów zwierząt. UWM w Olsztynie, 228 pp. ISBN: 978-83-62860-25-8

    Google Scholar 

  • Bielecki A., Cichocka J.M., Jeleń I., Świątek P. & AdamiakBrud Ż. 2011. A checklist of leech species from Poland. Wiad. Parazytol. 57 (1): 11–20. PMID: 21634229

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bielecki A., Cichocka J.M., Jeleń I., Świątek P., Płachno B.J. & Pikuła D. 2013. New data about the functional morphology of the chaetiferous leech-like annelids Acanthobdella peledina (Grube, 1851) and Paracanthobdella livanowi (Epshtein, 1966) (Clitellata, Acanthobdellida). J. Morphol. 275 (5): 528–539. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.20235

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bielecki A. & Dzika E. 2000. Pijawki pasozytujace na rybach (Hirudinea: Piscicolidae i Glossiphonidae) w jeziorach Ukiel, Warniak i Wulpinskie. Badania wstepne. Wiad. Parazytol. 46 (1): 123–126.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bielecki A., Jawniak A. & Kalinowska J. 2004. The leeches (Hirudinea) of the “Karas Lake” reserve in Poland. Lauterbornia 52: 33–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bielecki A., Rybak. J. & Łukowiak-Bielecka M. 1999. Glossiphoniidae Vaillant, 1850 (Hirudinea) of Poland. Systematics and Perspectives of Studies. Wiad. Parazytol. 45 (1): 29–61. PMID: 16883714

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bielecki A., Świątek P., Cichocka J.M., Siddall M.E., Urbisz A.Z. & Płachno B.J. 2014. Diversity of features of the female reproductive system and other morphological characters in leeches (Citellata, Hirudinida) in phylogenetic conception. Cladistics 30 (5): 540–554. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12058

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bij de Vaate A., Jazdzewski K., Ketelaars H.A.M., Gollasch S. & Van der Velde G. 2002. Geographical patterns in range extension of Ponto-Caspian macroinvertebrate species in Europe. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 59 (7): 1159–1174. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/f02-098

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brylińska M. (ed.). 2000. Ryby słodkowodne Polski [Freshwater Fishes of Poland]. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa, 521 pp. ISBN: 83-01-13100-4

    Google Scholar 

  • Borda E. & Siddall M. 2004. Review of the evolution of life history strategies and phylogeny of the Hirudinida (Annelida: Oligochaeta). Lauterbornia 52: 5–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun-Blanquet J. 1964. Pflanzensoziologie: Grundzüge der Vegetationskunde. Zweite, umgearbeitete und vermehrte Auflage. Springer-Verlag, Wien, 865 pp.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Brönmark C. 1992. Leech predation on juvenile freshwater snails: effect of size, species and substrate. Oecol. 91 (4): 526–529. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00650326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cichocka J. & Bielecki A. 2015. Phylogenetic utility of the geometric model of the body form in leeches (Clitellata: Hirudinida). Biologia 70 (8): 1078–1092. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/biolog2015-0121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cichocka J., Jabłońska-Barna I., Bielecki A., Buczyńska E., Buczyński P., Stryjecki R. & Pikuła D. 2015. Leeches (Clitellata: Hirudinida) of an upland stream: taxonomic composition in relation to habitat conditions. Oceanol. Hydrobiol. Stud. 44 (2): 245–253. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2015-0023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott J.M. & Dobson M. 2015. Freshwater Leeches of Britain and Ireland. Keys to the Hirudinea and a Review of their Ecology. Freshwater Biological Association Scientific Publication 69, 108 pp. ISBN: 9780900386824

  • Engelmann H.D. 1978. Zur Dominanzklassifizierung von Bodenarthropoden. Pedobiologia 18 (5-6): 378–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon N.D., McMahon T.A. & Finlayson B.L. 1992. Stream Hydrology: An Introduction for Ecologists. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 526 pp. ISBN: 0471930849

    Google Scholar 

  • Grabowski M., Jażdżewski K. & Konopacka A. 2007. Alien Crustacea in Polish waters — Amphipoda. Aquat. Invasions 2 (1): 25–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammer Ø., Harper D.A.T. & Ryan P.D. 2001. PAST: paleon-tological statistics software package for education and data analysis. Palaeontol. Electron. 4 (1): art. 4., 9 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatto J. 1968. Observations on the biology of Glossiphonia heteroclita (L.). Hydrobiologia 31 (3): 363–384. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00134439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jabłonśka-Barna I. 2007. Macroinvertebrate benthic communities in the macrophyte-dominated Lake Łuknajno (northeastern Poland). Oceanol. Hydrobiol. Stud. 36 (Suppl. 4): 29–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jabłońska-Barna I. & Bielecki A. 2002. Leeches (Hirudinea) in the central part of brackish Lake Gradno. Pol. J. Natur. Sci. 12 (3): 235–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jabłońska-Barna I. & Bielecki A. 2003. Piscicola pojmanskae Bielecki, 1994 (Piscicolidae, Hirudinea) reported in a new location in central Pomerania. Bull. Sea Fish. Inst. 2003 (1): 77–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jueg U., Grosser C. & Bielecki A. 2004. Zur Kenntnis der Fischegelfauna (Hirudinea: Piscicolidae) in Deutschland. Lauterbornia 52: 39–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kakareko T., Żbikowski J. & Żytkowicz J. 2005. Diet partitioning in summer of two syntopic neogobiids from two different habitats of the lower Vistula River, Poland. J. Appl. Ichthyol. 21 (4): 292–295. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0426.2005.00683.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalbe L. 1965. Die Verbreitung der Hirudineen in Fliessgewässern des Havelgebiet. Veröffentlichungen des Bezirksheimatmuseums Potsdam 9, 116 pp. ISBN-13: 4048906886423

  • Kendzierska H., Dąbrowska A.H., Cichocka J.M., Janas U. & Bielecki A. 2014. The first record of Piscicola pojmanskae Bielecki, 1994 in the Gulf of Gdańsk (the southern Baltic Sea) with species characteristics distinguishing it from Piscicola geometra (Linnaeus, 1758). Oceanol. Hydrobiol. Stud. 43 (3): 324–327. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13545-014-0147-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Konopacka A. 2004. Inwazyjne skorupiaki obunogie (Crustacea, Amphipoda) w wodach Polski [Invasive crustacean amphipods (Crustacea, Amphipoda) in Polish waters]. Przegl. Zool. 48 (3-4): 141–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klemm D.J. 1975. Studies on the feeding relationships of leeches (Annelida: Hirudinea) as natural associates of mollusks. Sterkiana 58: 1–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koperski P. 2003. Stone-dwelling leeches (Hirudinea, Clitellata) of Lake Hańcza (Poland): different sampling methods determine different taxonomic structures. Pol. J. Ecol. 51 (3): 353–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koperski P. 2006. Relative importance of factors determining diversity and composition of freshwater leech assemblages (Hirudinea; Clitellata): a metaanalysis. Arch. Hydrobiol. 166 (3): 325–341. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1127/0003-9136/2006/0166-0325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koperski P. 2010. Diversity of macrobenthos in lowland streams: ecological determinants and taxonomic specificity J. Limnol. 69 (1): 88–101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2010.88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kubova N. & Schenkova J. 2014. Tolerance, optimum ranges and ecological requirements of free-living leech species (Clitellata: Hirudinida). Fundam. Appl. Limnol. 185 (2): 167–180. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1127/fal/2014/0594

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kubova N., Schenkova J. & Horsák M. 2013. Environmental determinations of leech assemblage patterns in lotic and lenitic habitats. Limnologica 43: 516–524. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.limno.2013.05.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kutschera U. 2003. The feeding strategies of the leech Erpobdella octoculata (L.): A laboratory study. Int. Rev. Hydrobiol. 88 (1): 94–101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.200390008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kutschera U. & Weisblat D.A. 2015. Leeches of the genus Helobdella as model organisms for Evo-Devo studies. Theory Biosci. 134 (3-4): 93–104. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12064-015-0216-4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kutschera U. & Wirtz P. 2001. The evolution of parental care in freshwater leeches. Theory Biosci. 120 (2): 115–137. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12064-001-0012-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Light J.E. & Siddall M.E. 1999. Phylogeny of the leech family Glossiphoniidae based on mitochondrial gene sequences and morphological data. J. Parasitol. 85 (5): 813–823. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3285816

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lukin E.I. 1976. Fauna SSSR. Piyavki. Piyavki presnikh i solonovatikh vodoemov [Fauna of the USSR. Leeches of Fresh and Saline Waters. Fauna SSSR, Pijavki]. AN SSSR Zoologicheskii Institut, Nauka, Leningrad Russia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matysiak K. 1967. Uwagi o pijawkach z gatunku Piscicola geometra L. [Annotation on leeches of the species Piscicola geometra L.]. Przegl. Zool. 11 (3): 286–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matysiak K. 1976. Struktura zgrupowan pijawek (Hirudinea) v zanieczyszczonych fragmentach dorzecza Bzury i Neru, Czesc 1. Badania terenowe [Structure of leech groups (Hirudinea) in polluted parts of the catchment area of Rivers Bzura and Ner. Part 1. Field investigations]. Acta Hydrobiol. 18: 259–276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore J.E. 1964. Notes on the Leeches (Hirudinea) of Alberta. Report. Nat. His. Paper Natl. Mus. Can. 27: 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obolewski K. 2011. Macrozoobenthos patterns along environmental gradients and hydrological connectivity of oxbow lakes. Ecol. Eng. 37 (5): 796–805. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecileng.2010.06.037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pawłowski L.K. 1936. Leeches (Hirudinea). Fauna Slodkowodna Polski — Pijawki, Zeszyt 26. Wydawnictwo Kasy Imienia Mianowskiego Instytutu Popierania Nauki, Warszawa, 176 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pawłowski L.K. 1955. Révision des genres Erpobdella de Blainville et Dina R. Blanchard (Hirudinea). Bulletin de la Sociétédes Sciences et des Lettres de Łódź, Classe III de Sciences Mathématiques et Naturelles 6 (3): 15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poznańska M., Kobak J., Wolnomiejski N. & Kakareko T. 2009. Shallow-water benthic macroinvertebrate community of the limnic part of a lowland Polish dam reservoir. Limnologica 39 (2): 163–176. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.limno.2008.10.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poznańska M., Kobak J., Wolnomiejski N. & Kakareko T. 2010. Macrozoobenthos communities from two types of landwater transition zones in a European lowland dam reservoir. Fund. Appl. Limnol. 176 (2): 115–126. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1127/1863-9135/2010/0176-0115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rast G., Obrdlik P. & Nieznański P. (eds). 2000. Atlas zalewanych obszarów Odry. Kraft-Druck, Etlingen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sawyer R.T. 1986. Leech Biology and Behaviour. Vol. I–III, Clarendon Press Oxford. I.: Anatomy, Physiology, and Behavior, 464 pp, ISBN: 0198573774. II.: Feeding Biology, Ecology, and Systematics, 420 pp. ISBN: 0198576226. III.: Bibliography, 150 pp. ISBN: 0198576234

    Google Scholar 

  • Schöll F., Błahuta J. & Soldán P. 2003. Makrozoobentos Odry 1998–2001. Międzynarodowa Komisja Ochrony Odry przed Zanieczyszczeniem Wrocław, 49 pp. ISBN: 83-919533-0-0

    Google Scholar 

  • Schenkova J., Jarkovský I. & Helešic J. 2007. Strategies of coexistence of two species: Erpobdella octoculata and E. vilnensis (Hirudinea: Erpobdellidae). Int. Rev. Hydrobiol. 92 (4–5): 527–538. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.200610992

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schenkova J., Komarek O. & Zahrádková S. 2001. Oligochaeta of the Morava and Odra River basins (Czech Republic): species distribution and community composition. Hydrobiologia 463 (1): 235–240. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A: 1013128413701

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sokal R.R. & Rohlf F.J. 1995. Biometry: The Principles and Practice of Statistics in Biological Research. 3rd ed. Freeman, New York, 887 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strzelec M., Spyra A. & Serafińska W. 2010. Biologia wód śródlądowych. Skrypt dla studentów studiów I i II stopnia na kierunkach biologia i ochrona środowiska [Biology of the Inlands Waters. A Textbook for Students of the I and II Level of Graduated Studies on Faculties of Biology and Environmental Protection]. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego Katowice, 144 pp. ISSN: 1644-0552, ISBN: 978-83-226-1873-8

    Google Scholar 

  • ter Braak C.J.F. 1986. Canonical correspondence analysis: a new eigenvector technique for multivariate direct gradient analysis. Ecology 67 (5): 1167–1179. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1938672

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ter Braak C.J.F. & Smilauer P. 2002. CANOCO reference manual and Cano Draw for Windows user‘s guide: Software for canonical community ordination (version 4.5). Microcomputer Power Ithaca NY, 500 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • ter Braak C.J.F. & Verdonschot P.F.M. 1995. Canonical correspondence analysis and related multivariate methods in aquatic ecology. Aquat. Ecol. 57 (3): 255–289. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00877430

    Google Scholar 

  • Trontelj P., Sket B. & Steinbruck G. 1999. Molecular phylogeny of leeches: congruence of nuclear and mitochondrial rDNA data sets and the origin of bloodsucking. J. Zool. Sys. Evol. Res. 37 (3): 141–147. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0469.1999.00114.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trontelj P. & Utevsky S.Y. 2012. Celebrity with a neglected taxonomy: molecular systematics of the medicinal leech (genus Hirudo). Mol. Phylogen. Evol. 34 (3): 616–624. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2004.10.012

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Utevsky S.Y., Zagmajster M., Atemasov A., Zinenko O., Utevska O., Utevsky A. & Trontelj P. 2010. Distribution and status of medicinal leeches (genus Hirudo) in the Western Palaearctic: anthropogenic, ecological, or historical effects. Aquat. Conserv. 20 (2): 198–210. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.1071

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber E. 2005. Population size and structure of three mussel species (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in a northeastern German river with special regard to influences of environmental factors. Hydrobiologia 537 (1): 169–183. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-2839-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkialis J. 1964. Haementeria costata (Fr. Müller) na pólnocnowschodnich krańcach woj. białostockiego [Haementeria costata (Fr. Müller) in north-eastern part of the bialostockie voivodeship]. Przegl. Zool. 8 (2): 152–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkialis J. 1970a. Some regularities in the occurrence of leeches (Hirudinea) in the waters of the Bialystok region. Ekol. Pol. 18 (33): 647–680.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkialis J. 1970b. Investigations on the biology of leeches of the Glossiphoniidae family. Zool. Polon. 20 (1): 29–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, J.O. 1981. A comparative study of the food niches of lakedwelling triclads and leeches. Hydrobiologia 84 (1): 91–102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00026167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young J.O. & Ironmonger J.W. 1980. A labratory study of the food of three species of leeches occuring in British Lakes. Hydrobiologia 68 (3): 209–215. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00018828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young J.O. & Ironmonger J.W. 1981. A quantitative study of the comparative distribution of non-parasitic leeches and triclads in the stony littoral of British lakes. Int. Rev. Ges. Hydrobiol. 66 (6): 847–862. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.19810660609

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zettler M.L. & Daunys D. 2007. Long-term macrozoobenthos changes in a shallow boreal lagoon: comparison of a recent biodiversity inventory with historical data. Limnol. Ecol. Manage. Inland Waters 37 (2): 170–185. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.limno.2006.12.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Żbikowski J., Kobak J. & Żbikowska E. 2010. Is Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm. a structuring factor for macrozoobenthos and selected abiotic parameters of water and bottom sediments throughout the year. Aquat. Ecol. 44 (4): 709–721. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-009-9309-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Ecology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Oczapowskiego Str. 5, 10-718, Olsztyn, Poland

    Izabela Jabłońska-Barna

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Oczapowskiego Str. 5, 10-718, Olsztyn, Poland

    Aleksander Bielecki & Aldona Walerzak

  3. XI High School in Olsztyn, Kolobrzeska St. 9, 10-444, Olsztyn, Poland

    Joanna M. Cichocka

  4. Department of Zoology, Animal Ecology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences, Akademicka Str. 13, 20-033, Lublin, Poland

    Edyta Buczyńska

  5. Department of Zoology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka Str. 19, 20-033, Lublin, Poland

    Paweł Buczyński

  6. Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Limnology, University of Szczecin, Wąska 13, 71-415, Szczecin, Poland

    Agnieszka Szlauer-Łukaszewska

Authors
  1. Izabela Jabłońska-Barna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aleksander Bielecki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joanna M. Cichocka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Edyta Buczyńska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Paweł Buczyński
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Aldona Walerzak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Agnieszka Szlauer-Łukaszewska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Agnieszka Szlauer-Łukaszewska.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jabłońska-Barna, I., Bielecki, A., Cichocka, J.M. et al. Environmental factors determining the distribution pattern of leeches (Clitellata: Hirudinida) in large river systems: A case study of the Oder River system. Biologia 72, 407–416 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1515/biolog-2017-0043

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/biolog-2017-0043

Key words

Search

Navigation