Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Aquatic Oligochaeta of the St. Lawrence Great Lakes Region

  • Chapter
Aquatic Oligochaete Biology

Abstract

An extensive amount of research has been conducted on the freshwater Oligochaeta of the St. Lawrence Great Lakes, making this region perhaps the best known in the continental United States. Prior to the advent of useable systematic keys, little attempt was made to identify Great Lakes oligochaete species. Taxonomic problems that have materialized in the literature are presented. The zoogeography of the Great Lakes fauna is discussed along with the question of endemic species. A state-of-the-art review on the distribution of the aquatic Oligochaeta occurring in the 5 major Great Lakes and inland waters of the region is presented. Future areas of research should center around resolving the various systematic problems within the Naididae and Tubificidae, and a revision of the Enchytraeidae in North America is proposed. More intense surveys of the Great Lakes fauna, especially on inland waters, is required to provide further baseline information on the fauna before environmental degradation occurs, and continued monitoring of previously studied areas is indicated to determine changes in species associations.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Adams, C.E. and R.D. Kregear, 1969, Sedimentary and faunal envivironment of eastern Lake Superior. Proc. 12th Conf. Great Lakes Res., 1969:1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adamstone, F.B., 1924, The distribution and economic importance of the bottom fauna of Lake Nipigon with an appendix on the bottom fauna of Lake Ontario. Univ. Toronto Stud.,Biol. Ser. No. 25, Publ. Ont. Fish. Res. Lab., 24:35–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adamstone, F.B. and W.J.K. Harkness, 1923, The bottom organisms of Lake Nipigon. Univ. Toronto Stud.; Pub. Ont. Fish. Res. Lab., 15:123–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, F.C., 1924, The fauna of the Lake Winnebago region. Trans. Wis. Acad. Sci., Arts, Letts., 21:109–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton, D.R. and H.B.N. Hynes, 1978, Wave-zone macrobenthos of the exposed Canadian shores of the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. J. Great Lakes Res., 4:27–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bocsor, J.G. and J.H. Judd, 1972, Effect of paper plant pollution and subsequent abatement on a littoral macroinvertebrate community in Lake Ontario: preliminary survey. Proc. 15th Conf. Great Lake Res., 1972:21–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkhurst, R.O., 1963, Taxonomical Studies on the Tubificidae (Annelida, Oligochaeta). Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. Syst. Beih., 2:7–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkhurst, R.O., 1964, Studies on the North American aquatic Oligochaeta. I: Naididae and Opistocystidae. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 116:195–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkhurst, R.O., 1965, Studies on the North American aquatic Oligochaeta. II: Tubificidae. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 117:117–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkhurst, R.O., 1967, The distribution of aquatic oligochaetes in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. Limnol. Oceanogr., 12:137–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brinkhurst, R.O., 1968, Oligochaeta, p. 69–85. In F.K. Parrish (ed.) Keys to the Water Quality Indicative Organisms of the-Southeastern United States. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, Fed. Wat. Poll. Contr. Admin., Cincinnati, Ohio.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkhurst, R.O., 1969, Changes in the benthos of Lakes Erie and Ontario. Bull. Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sci., 25:45–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkhurst, R.O., 1970, Distribution and abundance of tubificid (Oligochaeta) species in Toronto Harbour, Lake Ontario. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can., 27:1961–1969.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brinkhurst, R.O., 1976, Aquatic Oligochaeta recorded from Canada and the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. Fish. Mar. Serv. Pac. Mar. Sci. Rep., 76-4:1–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkhurst, R.O., 1978, Freshwater Oligochaeta in Canada. Can. J. Zool., 56:2166–2175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brinkhurst, R.O. and D.G. Cook, 1966, Studies on the North American aquatic Oligochaeta III: Lumbriculidae and additional notes and records of other families. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 118:1–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkhurst, R.O., 1974, Aquatic earthworms (Annelida:Oligochaeta), p. 143–156. In C.W. Hart, Jr. and S.L.H. Fuller (eds.) Pollution Ecology of Freshwater Invertebrates. Acad. Press, New York, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkhurst, R.O., A.L. Hamilton and H.B. Herrington, 1968, Components of the bottom fauna of the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. Univ. Toronto Great Lakes Inst. No. PR 33:1–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkhurst, R.O. and B.G.M. Jamieson, 1971, Aquatic Oligochaeta of the world. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, 860 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, E.H., 1953, Survey of the bottom fauna at the mouths of ten lake Erie south shore rivers. Ohio Dept. Nat. Res. Water Div. L. Erie Poll. Sur., Final Rep., 156–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, D.G., 1975a, A preliminary report on the benthic macro-invertebrates of Lake Superior. Fish. Mar. Serv. Tech. Rept., 572:44 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, D.G., 1975b, Cave-dwelling aquatic Oligochaeta (Annelida) from the eastern United States. Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc., 94:24–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, D.G. and J.K. Hiltunen, 1975, Phallodrilus hallae, a new tubificid oligochaete from the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. Can. J. Zool., 53:934–941.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, D.G. and M.G. Johnson, 1974, Benthic macroinvertebrates of the St. Lawrence Great Lakes. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can., 31:763–782.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eggleton, F.E., 1931, A limnological study of the profundal bottom fauna of certain fresh-water lakes. Ecol. Monogr., 1:233–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eggleton, F.E., 1936, The deep water bottom fauna of Lake Michigan. Pap. Mich. Acad. Sci. Arts Lett., 21:599–612.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eggleton, F.E., 1937, Productivity of the profundal benthic zone in Lake Michigan. Pap. Mich. Acad. Sci. Arts Lett., 22:593–611.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hare, L. and J.C.H. Carter, 1977, The Oligochaeta, Polychaeta and Nemertea of Parry Sound, Georgian Bay. J. Great Lakes Res., 3:184–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harman, W.J. and M.S. Loden, 1978, Bratislavia unidentata (Oligochaeta: Naididae), a re-description. Southwest. Nat., 23:541–544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harman, W.J. and M.L. McMahan, 1975, A reevaluation of Pristina longiseta (Oligochaeta: Naididae) in North America. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 88:167–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayden, H.E., 1922, Studies on American naid oligochaetes. Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc., 41:167–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henson, E.B., 1962, Notes on the distribution of the benthos in the Straits of Mackinac region. Proc. 5th Conf. Grt. Lakes Res., Univ. Mich. Great Lakes Res. Div. Publ., 9:174 (Abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Henson, E.B., 1966, A review of Great Lakes benthos research. Univ. Mich. Great Lakes Res. Div. Publ., 14:37–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiltunen, J.K., 1967, Some oligochaetes from Lake Michigan. Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc., 86:433–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hiltunen, J.K., 1969a, Distribution of oligochaetes in western Lake Erie, 1961. Limnol. Oceanogr., 14:260–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hiltunen, J.K., 1969b, Invertebrate macrobenthos of western Lake Superior. Mich. Acad., 1:123–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiltunen, J.K., 1969c, The benthic macrofauna of Lake Ontario. Great Lakes Fish. Comm. Tech. Rep. No., 14:39–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiltunen, J.K., 1971, Limnological data from Lake St. Clair, 1963 and 1965. U.S. Dept. Commer., Nat. Oceanic Atoms. Admin., Nat. Mar. Fish. Serv., Data Rep., 54, 45p. on 1 macrofiche.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiltunen, J.K., 1973, A laboratory guide: Keys to the tubificid and naidid Oligochaeta of the Great Lakes region, unpublished manuscript. 24 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmquist, C., 1978, Revision of the genus Peloscolex (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae) 1. Morphological and anatomical scrutiny; with discussion on the generic level. Zool. Scripta, 7:187–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howmiller, R.P., 1974a, Composition of the oligochaete fauna of central Lake Michigan. Proc. 17th Conf. Great Lakes Res., 1974:589–592.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howmiller, R.P., 1974b, Studies on aquatic Oligochaeta in inland waters of Wisconsin. Wis. Acad. Sci., Arts, Lett., 62:337–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howmiller, R.P. and A.M. Beeton, 1970, The oligochaete fauna of Green Bay, Lake Michigan. Proc. 13th Conf. Great Lakes Res., 1970:15–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howmiller, R.P. and M.S. Loden, 1976, Identification of Wisconsin Tubificidae and Naididae. Wis. Acad. Sci., Arts, Lett., 64:185–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • HrabÄ›, S., 1967, Two new species of the family Tubificidae from the Black Sea, with remarks about various species of the subfamily Tubificinae. Publ. Fac. Sci. Univ. J.E. Purkyne, Brno., 485:331–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • HrabÄ›, S., 1973, On a collection of Oligochaeta from various parts of Yugoslavia. Biolski Vestnik., 21:39–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, G.S., 1962, Water pollution and the ecology of some aquatic invertebrates in the lower Detroit River. Proc. 5th Conf. Great Lakes Res., Univ. Mich. Inst. Sci. Tech., Great Lakes Res. Div., Publ., 9:29–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, M.G. and R.O. Brinkhurst, 1971, Associations and species diversity in benthic macroinvertebrates of Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can.,28:1683–1697.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, M.G. and D.H. Matheson, 1968, Macroinvertebrate communities of the sediments of Hamilton Bay and adjacent Lake Ontario. Limnol. Oceanogr., 13:99–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Judd, J.H. and J.G. Bocsor, 1975, Environmental changes in a portion of Lake Ontario following pollution abatement. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 19:1984–1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasprzak, K., 1972, Variability of Chaetogaster diaphanus (Gruithuisen). 1828 (Oligochaeta, Naididae) in different environments. Zoologica Poloniae., 22:43–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, C.R., 1965, The distribution and habitat of Limnodrilus Claparede (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae). Oikos, 16:26–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kenk, R., 1949, The animal life of temporary and permanent ponds in southern Michigan. Mis. Pub. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich., 71:66 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinney, W.L., 1972, The macrobenthos of Lake Ontario. Proc. 15th Conf. Great Lakes Res., 1972:53–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krecker, F.H. and L.Y. Lancaster, 1933, Bottom shore fauna of western Lake Erie: population study to a depth of six feet. Ecol., 14:79–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langlois, T.H., 1954, The western end of Lake Erie and its ecology. J.W. Edwards, Inc., Ann Arbor., 479 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lauritsen, D., 1979, Distribution of oligochaetes in Lake Michigan and their use as indices of pollution. 22nd Conf. Grt. Lks. Res. (Abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Loden, M.S., 1978a, A revision of the genus Psanmoryctides (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae) in North America. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 91:74–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loden, M.S., 1978b, Life history and seasonal abundance patterns of aquatic Oligochaeta in four southeastern Louisiana habitats. Ph.D. dissertation, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 132 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loveridge, C.C. and D.G. Cook, 1976, A preliminary report on the benthic macroinvertebrates of Georgian Bay and North Channel. Fish. Mar. Serv. Tech. Rept., 610:46 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maciorowski, A.F., E.F. Benfield, and A.C. Hendricks, 1977, Species composition, distribution, and abundance of oligochaetes in the Kanawha River, West Virginia. Hydrobiologia, 54:81–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merna, J.W., 1960, A benthological investigation of Lake Michigan. M.S. thesis, Mich. State Univ., 74 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michaelsen, W., 1900, Oligochaeta. Tierreich 10:1–575.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michaelsen, W., 1926. Oligochaeten aus dem Ryck bei Greifswald und von benachbarten Meersgebieten. Mitt Zool. St. Inst. Hamb., 42:21–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milbrink, G. and L. Nyman, 1973a, On the protein taxonomy of aquatic oligochaetes. Zoon 1:29–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milbrink, G., 1973b, Protein taxonomy of aquatic oligochaetes and its ecological applications. Oikos 24:473–474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, G.M., 1939, A limnological investigation of the microscopic benthic fauna of Douglas Lake, Michigan. Ecol. Monogr., 9:537–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, J.P., 1906, Hirudinea and Oligochaeta collected in the Great Lakes region. Bull. Bur. Fish., 25:155–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mozley, S.C. and L.C. Garcia, 1972, Benthic macrofauna in the coastal zone of southeastern Lake Michigan. Proc. 15th Conf. Great Lakes Res., 1972:102–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mozley, S.C. and R.P. Howmiller, 1977, Environmental status of the Lake Michigan region. vol. 6: zoobenthos of Lake Michigan. Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Ill., 148 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mozley, S.C. and M.H. Winnell, 1975, Macrozoobenthic species assemblages of southeastern Lake Michigan, U.S.A. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol., 19:922–931.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nalepa, T.F. and N.A. Thomas, 1976, Distribution of macrobenthic species in Lake Ontario in relation to sources of pollution and sediment parameters. J. Grt. Lks. Res., 2:150–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson, H.A., 1873, Contributions to a fauna canadensis; being an account of the animals dredged in Lake Ontario in 1872. Can. J. Sci. Lit. Hist. H.S., 13:490–506.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pliodzinskas, A.J., 1978, Aquatic oligochaetes in the open water sediments of Lake Erie’s western and central basins. Ph.D. dissertation, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. 160 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rains, J.H., 1971, Macrobenthos population dynamics in Indiana waters of Lake Michigan in 1970. M.S. thesis. Ball State Univ., Muncie, Ind., 78 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reighard, J.E., 1894, A biological examination of Lake St. Clair. Bull. Mich. Fish Comm. No. 4, Append. 11th Bienn. Rep., (1892–4):60 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ricker, K.E., 1959, The origin of two glacial relict crustaceans in North America, as related to Pleistocene glaciation. Can. J. Zool., 37:871–893.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shelford, V.E. and M.W. Boesel, 1942, Bottom animal communities of the island area of western Lake Erie in the summer of 1937. Ohio J. Sci., 42:179–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shrivastava, H.N., 1974, Macrobenthos of Lake Huron. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. Tech. Rep., 449:45 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, F., 1919, Lake Superior lumbriculids, including Verrill’s Lumbricus lacustris. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., 32:33–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, F. and B.R. Green, 1916, The Porifera, Oligochaeta and certain other groups of invertebrates in the vicinity of Douglas Lake, Michigan. Rept. Mich. Acad. Sci., 17:81–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K.R., 1966, A comparison of benthic oligochaete fauna from different stations in the Put-in-Bay region of Lake Erie. M.S. thesis. Ohio State University. Columbus, Ohio.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S.I., 1874, Sketch of the invertebrate fauna of Lake Superior. Rep. U.S. Comm. Fish., 1872–73:690–707.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S.I. and A.E. Verrill, 1871, Notice of the invertebrate dredge in Lake Superior in 1871, by the U.S. Lake Survey, under the direction of Gen. C.B. Comstock, S.I. Smith, naturalist. Am.J. Sci., 2:448–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, D.R., 1977, A species of Pristina (Oligochaeta: Naididae) new to Lake Erie. Ohio J. Sci., 77:24–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, D.R., 1978a, Pristina acuminata Liang, a naidid oligochaete new to North America. Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc., 97:236–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, D.R., 1978b, The Oligochaeta of Cayuga Lake, New York with a redescription of Potamothrix bavaricus and P. bedoti. Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc., 97:139–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stimpson, K.S., J.R. Brice, M.T. Barbour and P. Howe, 1975, Distribution and abundance of inshore oligochaetes in Lake Michigan. Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc., 94:384–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teter, H.E., 1960, The bottom fauna of Lake Huron. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., 89:193–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, M.L.H., 1966, Benthos of four Lake Superior bays. Can. Field Nat., 80:200–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Timm, T., 1970, On the fauna of the Estonian Oligochaeta. Pedobiologia.,10:52–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veal, D.M., 1968, Biological survey of the St. Mary’s River. Ont. Wat. Resour. Comm., 53 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veal, D.M. and D.S. Osmond, 1968, Bottom fauna of the western basin and near-shore Canadian waters of Lake Erie. Proc. 11th Conf. Great Lakes Res., Univ. Mich. Great Lakes Res. Div. Publ., 15:151–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walton, L.B., 1906, Naididae of Cedar Point, Ohio. Amer. Nat., 40:683–706.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiley, M.J. and S.C. Mozley, 1978, Pelagic occurrence of benthic animals near shore in Lake Michigan. J. Grt. Laks. Res., 4:201–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, S., 1955, Limnological survey of western Lake Erie. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Spec. Sci. Rep. Fish. No., 139:341 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, S. and W.M. Tidd, 1933, Summary of limnological investigations in the western end of Lake Erie, 1929–30. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., 63:271–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecological Sciences Division, NUS Corporation, 1910 Cochran Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15220, USA

    D. R. Spencer

Authors
  1. D. R. Spencer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ocean Sciences, Sidney, British Columbia, Canada

    Ralph O. Brinkhurst

  2. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    David G. Cook

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1980 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Spencer, D.R. (1980). The Aquatic Oligochaeta of the St. Lawrence Great Lakes Region. In: Brinkhurst, R.O., Cook, D.G. (eds) Aquatic Oligochaete Biology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3048-6_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-3048-6_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-3050-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-3048-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation