An overview of stygobiontic invertebrates of Poland based on published data

By

Dumnicka, Elzbieta
Galas, Joanna

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2017

Original Publication

Subterranean Biology

Volume

23

Pages

1-18

Subjects

Caves , Checklist , interstitial waters , springs , subterranean fauna , Wells

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.23.11877

 

Abstract

Based on published literature, at least eighty species of stygobiontic invertebrates are confirmed in Poland. The highest number of these species is found in interstitial waters and wells, while a lower number was discovered in caves and springs. Hydrachnidia is represented by 45 species living mainly in interstitial waters, Crustacea by 24, Annelida by eleven species, while Turbellaria and Gastropoda are each represented by one species. As many as 14 endemic species were described from Poland but the taxonomical status of some of them is unclear. The highest number of stygobionts was stated in southern part of Poland, an area onto which most of the studies were focused on.