Abstract
Occurrence and breeding of Hirudo medicinalis were recorded in birds’ nests in the fishing ponds and water bodies used extensively by anglers in south-eastern Poland, in 4 of 11 studied bird species (Circus aeruginosus, Fulica atra, Cygnus olor, Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Factors important for the distribution and density of this leech were: nest height, pH of the water and oxygen concentration in the water inside the nests, the body-length of the nesting birds. Our data show that (1) H. medicinalis chooses nests as habitats that are safe in water bodies rich in predators (particularly fish) and provide stable feeding conditions; (2) fishing ponds and other water bodies used extensively by anglers in a landscape modified by human pressure can be an important secondary habitat for the medicinal leech. As the nesting activity of some aquatic birds apparently favors the occurrence of H. medicinalis, active protection of aquatic birds and creating sites appropriate for their breeding may be an indirect way for the conservation of the leech in such areas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ben Ahmed R., Fuchs A.Z., Tekaya S., Harrath A.H. & Świątek P. 2010. Ovary cords organization in Hirudo troctina Johnson, 1816 and Limnatis nilotica (Savigny, 1822) (Clitellata, Hirudinea). Zool. Anz. 249(3–4): 201–207. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2010.08.004
Bielecki A., Świątek P., Cichocka J.M., Ropelewska E., Jeleń I. & Adamiak-Brud Ż. 2011. Pijawki (Hirudinea) wód powierzchniowych Olsztyna. Forum Faun. 1(1): 12–34.
Buczek T. & Keller M. 1994. Breeding ecology of the Marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus in eastern Poland. Part I. Population numbers and phenology of the onset of laying. Acta Ornithol. 29(2): 67–80.
Buczyński P., Dąbkowski P., Zawal A., Tończyk G., Jaskuła R., Grabowski M., Buczyńska E., Lewandowski K., Janicki D., Cios S., Pietrzak L., Mrowiński P., Pakulnicka J., Guzik M. & Jabłońska A. 2008. Occurrence and threats of the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis L.) in Poland (Annelida: Hirudinea). Fragm. Faun. 51(2): 79–89.
Busse P. 1990. Mały słownik zoologiczny. Ptaki. Tom 1, 2. Wiedza Powszechna, Warszawa, 801 pp. ISBN: 83-214-0563-0
Cramp S. 1980. Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Vol. 2. Hawks to Bustards. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 687 pp. ISBN-10: 019857505X, ISBN-13:978-0198575054
Cramp S. 1980. Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Vol. 2. Hawks to Bustards. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 687 pp. ISBN-10: 019857505X, ISBN-13:978-0198575054
Cramp S. & Simmons K. 1977. Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. 1. Ostrich to Ducks. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 722 pp. ISBN: 0-19-857358-8
Herter K. 1936. Die Physiologie der Hirudineen, pp. 123–319. In: Bronn H.G. & Autrum H. (eds), Klassen und Ordnungen des Tierreichs, Bd 4. Abt.3. Buch 4, Hirudineen, Teil 2, 4 lieferung, Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft M.B.H., Leipzig, 622 pp.
Jażdżewska T. & Wiedeńska J. 2004. Hirudo medicinalis Linnaeus, 1758, pp. 33–34. In: Głowaciński Z. & Nowacki J. (eds), Polska czerwona księga zwierząt, Tom 2, Bezkręgowce, Instytut Ochrony Przyrody PAN, Akademia Rolnicza im. Augusta Cieszkowskiego, Kraków — Poznań, 447 pp. ISBN: 83-88934-60-0
Kasparek M., Demirsoy A., Akbulut A., Akbulut N.E., Cşalişkan M. & Durmuş Y. 2000. Distribution and status of the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis L.) in Turkey. Hydrobiologia 441(1): 37–44. DOI: 10.1023/A:1017555322002
Koshelev A.I. 1984. Lysukha v Zapadnoi Sibiri (ekologiya, povedenie i khozyaistvennoe znachenie). Nauka, Novosibirsk, 175 pp.
Lukin E.J. 1976. Piyavki presnykh i solonovatykh vodoemov. Fauna SSSR. Piyavki. T. 1. Izdatelstvo Nauka, Leningrad, 484 pp.
Minelli A. 2010. Fauna Europaea: Hirudinidae. In: Fauna Europaea, Version 2.4. http://www.faunaeur.org (accessed 09.07.2010)
Pawłowski L.K. 1936. Pijawki (Hirudinea). Fauna słodkowodna Polski, Z. 26, Wyd. Kasy Imienia Mianowskiego Instytutu Popierania Nauki, Warszawa, 176 pp.
Rizi H., Benyacoub S., Chabi Y. & Banbura J. 1999. Nesting and reproductive characteristics of Coots Fulica atra breeding on two lakes in Algeria. Ardeola 46(2): 179–186.
Sawyer R.T. 1986. Leech Biology and Behaviour. Vol. I, II, III. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1065 pp. ISBN I.: 0198573774, 970198573774, 978-0198573777, ISBN II.: 0198576226, 9780198576228, ISBN III.: 0198576234, 9780198576235
Trontelj P. & Utevsky S. 2012. Phylogeny and phylogeography of medicinal leeches (genus Hirudo): Fast dispersal and shallow genetic structure. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 63: 475–485. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2012.01.022
Utevsky S., 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. Mar. Freshwater Ecosyst. 20(2): 198–210. DOI: 10.1002/aqc.1071
Witkowski J. 1989. Breeding biology and ecology of the Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus in the Barycz valley, Poland. Acta Ornithol. 25(3): 223–320.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Buczyński, P., Tończyk, G., Bielecki, A. et al. Occurrence of the medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) in birds’ nests. Biologia 69, 484–488 (2014). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-014-0329-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-014-0329-0