Survey of the Branchiobdella (Annelida: Clitellata) or Crayfish Worms in the GSMNP
Survey of the Branchiobdella (Annelida: Clitellata) or Crayfish Worms in the GSMNP
Branchiobdellidans or crayfish worms are small leech-like annelids that live on the surface of crayfish. The worms eat algae and organisms that grow on the surface and help keep the crayfish healthy; they are not parasites. The Appalachian region has the highest concentration of branchiobdellidan species in the world. As crayfish worms have not been studied in the GSMNP, our knowledge of the actual diversity of the region remains incomplete. The study will involve collection, and identification of branchiobdellidans from crayfish sampled at selected sites across the Park. From this information a species and distribution list will be constructed for the Park. Representative branchiobdellidans will be preserved and mounted on microscope slides as permanent preparations, and placed in the GSMNP repository for future reference. As surrounding areas change, it is vital to know what species are present in the protected park.
Branchiobdellidans, or crayfish worms, are species-rich in the Appalachian area of the southeastern United States. However, only one species record exists for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). As part of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory initiative, we undertook the first general survey of the branchiobdellidan taxa in the GSMNP. Six species of crayfish were collected from a total of 15 sites distributed across 13 major watersheds in the park. We identified a total of 10 species of crayfish worms: one Bdellodrilus, one Oedipodrilus, two Pterodrilus, one Xironodrilus, and five species of Cambarincola. The composition and number of species per site varied, and individual crayfish worm species occurrence ranged from one to eleven sites. Although there was no consistent pattern of species distribution or host preference, our results suggest that multiple factors affect crayfish worm species composition. A detailed survey of all the watersheds and their crayfish fauna in the GSMNP is necessary to explain the variations we found in our observations of the crayfish-worm associations. The study will assist in developing management plans needed to preserve the endemic fauna of the park from invasive crayfish species known to be in adjacent areas.
