Incidence of Marvinmeyeria lucida (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) in the fingernail clam, Sphaerium occidentale

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Abstract
Marvinmeyeria lucida (Moore, 1954) is noted for the first lime in Ontario. It has been reported to feed exclusively on freshwater gastropods but the present study shows that it also occurs in natural association with the fingernail clam. Sphaerium occidentale (Prime). This small leech is found in the pericardium of its sphaeriid host and shows a marked preference for larger clams (> 5.0 mm shell length). Infestation rates are highest in winter (11.1–15.5%), lowest in spring and fall (1.1–3.6%), and intermediate (4.1–5.4%) in estivating clams. Rates of infestation are inversely related to dissolved oxygen levels in spring, fall, and early summer and to temperature in the fall. Possible commensal, parasitic, and (or} predatory relationships of M. lucida with S. occidentale are discussed.

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