Supplement to the Prosobranchia (Mollusca: Gastropoda) Fauna of Fresh and Brackish Waters of Turkey
Abstract
This study re-evaluated the brackish and freshwater Prosobranch fauna list of Turkey. Furthermore, recent systematic changes and future studies to be performed were discussed. Theodoxus (Theodoxus) danubialis (C. PFEIFFER 1828). Th. (Th.) subthermalis (ISSEL 1865). Bythinella opaca (FRAUENFELD 1857). Pseudamnicola macrostoma (KÜSTER 1852). P. kotschyi FRAUENFELD 1856 and P. elbursensis STARMÜHLER & EDLAUER 1957 were removed from the list, while the following taxa were added: Viviparus mamillatus (KÜSTER 1852), Bithynia pentheri STURANY 1905. Hydrobia ventrosa (MONTAGU 1803). Hydrobia (Peringia) ulvae (PENNANT 1777), Belgrandiella adsharica (LINDHOLM 1913). Sadleriana byzanthina demirsoyii YILDIRIM and MORKOYUNLU 1997, Sadleriana fluminensis (KÜSTER 1852). Tefennia tefennica SCHÜTT and YILDIRIM 2003, Falsipyrgula schuetti YILDIRIM 1999, Bythinella occasiuncula BOETERS and FALKNER 2001 and Paludinella littorina (DELLE CHIAJE 1825). The number of currently recognised taxa reaches 80.
... The study of freshwater snails in Anatolia began in Izmir with Roth (1839) and spread throughout the country with local and foreign researchers. These studies concentrated on the Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Marmara regions (Yıldırım, 1999;Yıldırım et al., 2006aYıldırım et al., , 2006bGürlek et al., 2019;Yıldırım ve Gürlek, 2019). Gözler and Baytaşoğlu (2020) studied the mollusc fauna of the Çoruh River in the eastern Black Sea region of the Black Sea. ...
... After the sediment was sieved with a griddle (mesh size 0.25 cm), it was dried in porcelain containers at room temperature. Gastropod samples were separated from the sediment using an Olympus SZX7 stereo microscope (Tokyo, Japan), and species identifications were performed by the method of Glöer (2019), Welter-Schultes (2012), Yıldırım et al. (2006aYıldırım et al. ( , 2006b. Photographs of identified species were recorded using an Olympus SZX7 stereo microscope and LCmicro Image Analysis Software (Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH, Version 510_UMA_Install-LCmicro21_Quesnel_en_00_13092016, Münster, Germany). ...
The Kızılırmak Delta was declared as a Ramsar Site because of its location on the birds' migration routes and high exposure to anthropogenic pressures on the delta. There are recent comprehensive studies conducted to determine the trophic levels of the lakes in the delta, together with faunal studies to assess its biodiversity. However, there are limited preliminary studies on the freshwater snail fauna. In this study, we determined 15 species, including two from Neritimorpha, three from Caenogastropoda, and ten from Heterobranchia, at 25 stations in the research area. Gyraulus piscinarum (N: 462) was abundant at most stations, while Acroloxus lacustris (N: 1) was determined at one station. We recorded Armiger crista, G. piscinarum, and A. lacustris for the first time from the study area and in the Black Sea Region. Theodoxus major and Ecrobia maritima, which are Ponto-Caspian species, are classified as "Data Deficient" (DD) according to International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species Data (2022). In addition, the populations of Valvata macrostoma (LC-Decreasing) are declining, and there is no information about the population status of Ecrobia ventrosa (LC), Planorbis planorbis (LC), and G. piscinarum (LC). Detailed fauna studies should be completed in our country urgently to determine the factors that threaten freshwater snails and to take the necessary protective measures. This is the first comprehensive study to determine the freshwater snail fauna of the Kızılırmak Delta to close the malacofaunal gap in the region.
... It has been demonstrated that it is impossible to identify and separate out Bythinella species without molecular data (Falniowski & Szarowska 2011), although the morphology must be considered in identification as well (Bichain et al. 2007, Haase et al. 2007). More than 120 recognised species and subspecies occur in springs, caves and groundwater (Giusti & Pezzoli 1977, Falniowski 1987, Yıldırım et al. 2006) from northern Africa and NE Spain across central Europe to W Turkey, with at least two richness centres in France and the Balkans (Glöer & Pešić 2014). Many taxa are liable to become endangered due to their limited range and vulnerable habitat. ...
As most extant snails, Bythinella schmidti is characterised by dextral (right-handed) coiling of the shell. Nevertheless, a small sinistral (left-handed) individual from the spring on a mountain pasture was sampled, together with its larger dextral conspecifics. In our report on this first case of sinistrality within the superfamily Truncatelloidea, we discuss its shell abnormalities and provide a review on chirality in snails.
... Among these, caenogastropods are the most prevalent group. Studies have documented the presence of 80 neritimorph and caenogastropod species in Turkish waters (Yıldırım and Bahad 2006). These species belong to various genera within the Neritimorpha and Caenogastropoda. ...
This study presents new insights into the near-threatened endemic microsnail Sheitanok amidicus (Schütt & Şeşen, 1991), shedding light on its distribution and morphological characteristics, which have never been documented alive. Surveys conducted in 2023 uncovered two previously unknown localities where the species thrives: stenothermic springs in Tavşantepe village and a private farm in Diyarbakır, Turkey. The snail has whitishgrey body tissue, tentacles with an average length of 0.3 mm, and a foot extending up to 2 mm with grey dots on the upper part. The oval-shaped operculum has an average height and width of 0.4 and 0.3 mm, respectively. The shell width and height is 1.0 mm and 0.7 mm, respectively. The snail has unique features including an orange operculum, heartshaped blackish mouth parts and two blackish eyes at the base of its tentacles. Previously, the species was known to inhabit seven locations in Southeast Turkey. Its near threatened status on the IUCN Red List highlights the urgency of conservation efforts. The identification of these new locations provides hope for reducing the risk of extinction for S. amidicus. Additionally, describing the snail’s external characteristics would aid in systematic classification of newly found species within this monotypic genus.
... The representative forms of ostracods were selected for the SEM study, and the SEM-BSE images were acquired at Hacettepe University. Within the systematic palaeontology studies, many studies on ostracods (e.g., Beker et al., 2008;Freels, 1980;Fuhrmann, 2012;Karanovic, 2012;Meisch, 2000;Ş afak et al., 1999;Tuncer, 2020;Tuncer and Tunoglu, 2015;Tunoglu et al., 1995Tunoglu et al., , 2012Witt, 2003) and mollusks (e.g., Schütt, 1990Schütt, , 1991Schütt and Ş en, 1993;Yıldırım, 1999;Yıldırım et al., 2006aYıldırım et al., , 2006bZhadin, 1965) in Anatolia and the World were used and referred for the identification of the taxa, and taxonomic rules by International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) (1999) were followed. After that, the abundance of fauna at all levels and their distribution along the core successions were identified, and distribution and abundance figures using a computer program (TILIA 2.0.b.4 software) were created for better evaluations. ...
The Şarkikaraağaç coalfield is located in the north-western part of the Lake Beyşehir Basin, which is the most significant graben area in the eastern flank of Isparta Angle, and hosts a 300-Mt coal resource. This study focuses on the first palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstruction of Pliocene and early Pleistocene coal-bearing sequences cored in the two coal exploration wells (SK-1 and SK-2) using coal petrography, mineralogy, faunal (ostracod and mollusk), and floral (palynology and diatom) data from four coal seams (from bottom to top: B, A, X-1, and X-0) with the variable total thickness (1 to 7 m). According to the palynological data, warm and humid climate conditions prevailed during the early Pliocene, and the precursor peats of seams A and B were mainly accumulated under limno-telmatic conditions, with high contributions of herbaceous peat-forming plants. Nevertheless, the co-occurrence of syngenetic carbonate minerals and framboidal pyrites along with calcareous fossil and diatom remains implies neutral to weakly alkaline conditions within palaeomires of these seams. Furthermore, ostracod and gastropod fauna from these seams might imply nutrient-rich shallow water conditions and spring support (e.g., karstic aquifer) into palaeomires. Thus, algal activity within the palaeomires was presumably high, and freshwater algae and diatoms were commonly identified in these seams.With the development of increased uplift ratio of central Taurides and climatic changes towards to late stages of Pliocene and particularly early Pleistocene, the common peat-forming plants within palaeomires and vegetation in the surrounding areas were changed. The increased precipitation caused an elevation of water levels in the study area; hence, the precursor peats of the seam X-1 were accumulated under wet forest mire conditions. This increase also explains the existence of ostracod and mollusk fauna related to river and spring support underlying sequences of the seam X-1. With the ceasing of accumulation of peat of the seam X-1, the climate became drier, and very shallow water conditions have been common. The development of spring support and relatively high precipitation in a short period of time allowed for final peat accumulation (seam X-0) during the early Pleistocene. Nevertheless, this period was followed by the development of relatively colder conditions in the study area, and cold small water conditions were developed during the end of the early Pleistocene. Furthermore, microthermic vegetation was common in the vicinity of the palaeomires during the early Pleistocene. Overall, the peat accumulation and water level of lakes in the study area seem to be controlled by climatic oscillations and uplift of margins of the Lake Beyşehir Basin during the Pliocene to early Pleistocene.
... In Türkiye, it was firstly recorded in 1980 [10]. Then, reports of it came from different places from regions of Aegean, West Mediterranean and Marmara to West Anatolia (Gaziantep) and Black Sea (Kızılırmak) [17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28]. With this study, P. antipodarum was detected from only one sampling site, Lake Sarıkum, with high population density (21.82%) after Theodoxus fluviatilis (51.63%). ...
Commonly found in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, Gastropoda members are the class with the highest number of species within the Mollusca. Freshwater Gastropods which are generally listed in primary consumer play a crucial part in aquatic environments by feeding numerous fish species and vertebrate species. They include species that are widely distributed in rivers and lakes and are used as indicators in aquatic systems monitoring studies. In Turkey, the Black Sea Region is also a privileged geography in terms of its topography and historical development history of aquatic systems, rich in rivers and lakes. In this research, field studies were conducted from 20 different stations in the Black Sea region in 2017-2018. Benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected from lakes and rivers with an Ekman grab sampler and hand net. Samples were washed in situ and fixed with 70% ethyl alcohol. Totally 10442 benthic macroinvertebrate members belong to 21 taxa were determined in the study. In the region, Oligochaeta was the dominant taxa with 56.80% dominancy value and followed by Chironomidae and Gastropoda with 18.26 and 8.24, respectively. As third dominant taxa, Gastropoda members were consist of 870 individuals belong to 11 taxa. It was determined that Gyraulus elenae and Radix labiata from Gastropoda were widely distributed in the region. These species have broad tolerance to pollution. In the study, it was determined that both densities of species and population were increased in the regions of the rivers that are far from the settlement areas or that have not been intervened and in the littoral parts of the lakes. In general, a decrease was observed not only in the Gastropoda members but also in the expected population density of the macrozoobenthos members in the parts of the streams that are under pressure.
... Out of these, 73 species occur both in freshwater and brackish water (Yıldırım 2002). The number of currently recognized taxa reached 80 (Yıldırım et al. 2006). In any case, we can expect that the number of species in the individual groups is much higher than actually reported. ...
For thousands of years, Turkey has served as the cultural “bridge” and melting pot of the European, Asian, and African continents. It has been subject to human migration and settlement throughout its long history. Turkey (26–45°E, 36–42°N) is a transcontinental country encompassing an area of 784,000 km². About 97% of the country is in Asia Minor (Anatolia) and 3% in Europe (Thrace). In this chapter, we focus on 16 catchments in Turkey, although the Terek and Kura Rivers are only covered marginally. Turkey is drained by 107 major rivers, each with a catchment area of more than 1500 km². Kızılırmak is the longest river (1355 km), followed by the Euphrates (Fırat; 1263 km in Turkey), Tigris (Dicle; 523 km in Turkey), Seyhan (560 km), Aras (548 km in Turkey), Yeşilırmak (519 km), Ceyhan (509 km), Çoruh (442 km in Turkey), Gediz (400 km), Susurluk (321 km), Greater Meander (307 km), and Smaller Meander (174 km). Of these, the Euphrates, Tigris, Meric, Çoruh, Aras, and Asi are transboundary rivers. Fishes, biodiversity, geomorphology of the river basins, conservation and water management practices that have been enforced in the rivers have been discussed.
Climate change and invasive species represent two intertwined global environmental challenges profoundly affecting freshwater ecosystems. This study uses Ecological Niche Modeling along with risk screening to delve into the preferences and potential distribution of Potamopyrgus antipodarum, an invasive species, in relation to climate zones and habitat types, shedding light on the critical importance of coastal wetlands and high soil organic carbon content in shaping habitat suitability. Our findings underscore that P. antipodarum exhibits a distinct affinity for cool temperate, moist climates, as well as temperate floodplain rivers, wetlands, and coastal areas. Notably, coastal wetlands, endowed with elevated soil organic carbon levels, emerged as pivotal habitats for this species. Projections indicated a significant expansion in North America, potentially extending into South America. Türkiye reveals an intriguing alignment between its habitat and the natural distribution areas of P. antipodarum, presenting potential for habitat contraction while still retaining a broader range compared to other regions. These potential expansions were predominantly driven by climate suitability, playing a pivotal role in the invasiveness of P. antipodarum, with anticipated future climate regimes exerting substantial influence on its dispersal capabilities.
We describe here a newly discovered, diverse fossil fauna of freshwater gastropods and bivalves from the Denizli Basin in SW Turkey. The material was collected from the Kolankaya Formation, for which latest chronostratigraphic and magneto-stratigraphic data indicate an Early Pleistocene age, which is much younger than previously assumed for the fossil-bearing strata of the Denizli Basin. The fauna consists of at least 27 species (25 gastropods, 2 bivalves) and includes a new ge-nus, Harzhauseria gen. nov., and 6 new species within the Hydrobiidae: Falsipyrgula? coronata sp. nov., Graecoanatolica? alcicekorum sp. nov., Harzhauseria schizopleura gen. et sp. nov., Iraklimelania minutissima sp. nov., Iraklimelania submedi-ocarinata sp. nov., and Xestopyrguloides? sagitta sp. nov. Additionally, we define lectotypes for Staja orientalis (Bukowski, 1896) and Valvata orientalis Fischer, 1866, as well as a neotype for Theodoxus percarinatus (Oppenheim, 1919). Nine of the recovered species (33.3%) are only known from the Denizli Basin. Almost half of the fauna (44.7%) is endemic to the Aegean-Anatolian region, with biogeographical affinities to the Pliocene-Early Pleistocene faunas of Rhodes, Kos, and mainland Greece, as well as the Çameli and Eşen Basin in Turkey. On the genus level, the fauna also contains several typical Pontocaspian elements. The composition points toward a typical long-lived lake environment with oligohaline conditions.
In this study, freshwater mollusks and their zoogeographical distributions in Trabzon region were investigated. During the period of June-December 2021, samples were collected from 38 freshwater river localities. From the study area, Ancylus fluviatilis from gastropoda class Planorbidae family, nonnative species Physella acuta from Physidae family, and Dreissena polymorpha from Bivalvia class and Dreissenidae family were identified. While A. fluviatilis specimens were sfound from all freshwater systems in Trabzon region, the non native Physella acuta could be identified from Fol Stream, Yıldızlı Stream, Sera Lake and Manahoz River. Empty shells belonging to the D. polymorpha species were identified from the area where Çatalzeytin Stream joins the sea. P. acuta and D. polymorpha are new records for the freshwater streams of Trabzon region.
Manisa İli sınırları içerisinde yer alan Demirköprü Baraj Gölü’nde yaşayan Viviparus contectus (Millet, 1813) türüne ait bazı biyometrik özelliklerinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma alanında toplanan, toplam 180 bireye ait genişlik (mm), yükseklik (mm), apertur yüksekliği, vücut helezon yüksekliği ve genişliği (mm), spir yüksekliği (mm) verileri dijital kumpas ile; bireylerin ağırlıkları (g) hassas terazi kullanılarak ölçülmüştür. Bireylere ait veriler sırasıyla; ortalama kabuk yüksekliği 20.23±5.16 mm, kabuk genişliği 16.11±3.33 mm, apertur yüksekliği 11.93±2.39 mm, apertur genişliği 9.71±2.11 mm, vücut helezon yüksekliği 15.71±3.87 mm, spir yüksekliği 4.49±1.73 mm ve ağırlıkları 4.50±0.93 g olarak belirlenmiştir. Temel bileşenler analizine göre, Kabuk yüksekliği (KY), Kabuk genişliği (KG), Apertur yüksekliği (AY) ve Vücut helezon yüksekliği (VHY) arasında güçlü bir ilişki olduğu belirlenmiştir. Demirköprü Baraj Gölü’nde yaşayan V. contectus türü bu çalışma ile bölgeden ilk defa rapor edilmiştir.
The aim of this work was to investigate mollusc fauna of some freshwater ecosystems in Sinop and Bafra. The samples were obtained from littoral zones (0.5-1.5 m) by using handle dredge, spatula, handle oar. As a result of this study, 12 species belonging to Gastropoda and 6 species belonging to Bivalvia, totally 18 Mollusca species were determined. Valvata pulchella Studer,1820, Gyraulus parvus (Say,1817) (Gastropoda), Unio mancus eucirrus Bourguignat,1860 (Bivalvia) are new records for the Mollusca fauna of freshwaters of Turkey.
Of the Prosobranchia species found in Turkey, 60 species and 12 subspecies were determined to be present in the study area according to our results and the results of foreign malacologists. The species and their genera are: 8 species, 2 subspecies belonging to Theodoxus; 1 species, 1 subspecies belonging to Viviparus; 4 species belonging to Valvata; 3 species belonging to Hydrobia; 1 species belonging to Semisalsa; 6 species belonging to Graecoanatolica; 2 species belonging to Kirelia; 2 species belonging to Belgrandiella; 1 species belonging to Falsibelgrandiella; 3 species belonging to Islamia; 3 species belonging to Bythinella; 2 species, 2 subspecies belonging to Pseudamnicola; 1 species belonging to Orientalina; 1 species belonging to Turkorientalia; 3 species belonging to Sadleriana; 1 species belonging to Sheitanok; 1 species belonging to Horatia; 1 species belonging to Potamopyrgus; 1 species belonging to Lithoglyphus; 1 species belonging to Pyrgorientalia; 2 species belonging to Falsipyrgula; 5 species belonging to Bithynia; 1 species, 6 subspecies belonging to Melanopsis; 2 species, 1 subspecies belonging to Fagotia and 1 species belonging to Melanoides. From the known taxa, 35 species and 5 subspecies are distributed only in Anatolia. Also, 22 fossil Prosobranchia species and 6 subspecies were determined from the sediments of different regions and different geological periods of Anatolia. The species and their genera are: 3 species, 2 subspecies belonging to Theodoxus; 1 species belonging to Caspicyclotus; 3 species belonging to Valvata; 2 species belonging to Hydrobia; 1 species belonging to Semisalsa; 1 species belonging to Graecoanatolica; 1 species, 4 subspecies belonging to Prososthenia; 1 species belonging to Belgrandiella; 1 species belonging to Pseudamnicola; 2 species belonging to Pyrgula; 3 species belonging to Falsipyrgula; 2 species belonging to Micromelania; 1 species belonging to Bithynia. From the known fossil taxa, 21 species and 6 subspecies have been found only in Anatolia and 4 species are still present. The systematic and zoogeographical distribution of the taxa are described in this study.
The composition of the freshwater mollusc fauna from Lake Sapanca (Marmara region, NW Turkey) is described. The occurrence of Sadleriana fluminensis (Hydrobiidae) is a new record for Turkey. The origin of several species from the former catchment basin of the Lower Danube (the “Dardanelles River”) is discussed. Kurzfassung Die Zuśammensetzung der Wassermollusken-Fauna des Sapanca-Sees (Marmara-Region, NW-Türkei) wird vorgestellt. Neu für die Türkei ist das Vorkommen von Sadleriana fluminensis (Hydrobiidae). Die Herkunft einiger Arten aus dem ehemaligen Einzugsbereich der unteren Donau (“Dardanellenstrom”) wird diskutiert.