The Distribution and Habitat of Limnodrilus Claparède (Oligochaeta: Tubificidae)
- 1 January 1965
- Vol. 16 (1/2) , 26-+
- https://doi.org/10.2307/3564862
Abstract
The geographical distribution of the 7 species of Limnodrilus is summarized. Three species are cosmopolitan, two are holarctic, one neotropical, and one is restricted to Eastern Asia and Western U.S.A. Five species of the genus occur in Britain. Two, L. cervix and L. profundicola. have a very restricted distribution and it is concluded that they have both been introduced into this country within comparatively recent times. The remaining 3 species, L. hoffmeisteri, L. claparedeanus and L. udekemianus, are widespread. All species of Limnodrilus are unable to tolerate a high degree of organic on inorganic pollution, or to withstand high salinities, but L. hoffmeisteri was more tolerant of these factors than the other species. All species occurred in almost all types of freshwater habitat, and it was not possible to recognize the habitat preference of Individual species or their limiting factors. Studies in selected localities revealed a high degree of spatial and temporal variation and the observed abiotic factors of the environment. It is concluded that the factors influencing the distribution and abundance of the species of Limnodrilus are primarily biotic in nature, and that attempts to relate distribution to abiotic factors are likely to be of limited value.This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: