The following diary summarizes the main excursions made for collecting freshwater molluscs. The July part was based at the field centre of the University of Volyn on the Lake Svityaz, with a group of undergraduate students from the Salomon International University of Kiev. The aims of this part were: collecting molluscs acccording to the Expedition plan and providing the students with field experience of invertebrate zoology. In the August part canoes were used to collect molluscs in the rivers Turiya and Pripyat downstream from Solovôyi (near Kovel') to Lake Lyubyaz, with Land-rover trips to other sites away from these rivers.
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| Monday 6 | Arrival in Svityaz. |
| Tuesday 7 | Excursion with students around the base, collecting aquatic invertebrates in Lake Svityaz, and from small ponds and ditches in the forest. |
| Wednesday 8 | Excursion to the Vtenske nature reserve in the Expedition vehicle, with a Expedition scientists and 2 students. |
| Thursday 9 | Identification work with students. |
| Friday 10 | Excursion with students to Lake Linovets, a small lake; collecting in the lake and adjacent ponds and streams. |
| Saturday 11 | Excursion to Lake Chernoye (near of Shatsk). |
| Sunday 12 | Participation by students in the survey of Lakes Pesochnoye and Sominets. |
| Monday 13 | Boat excursion with students on Lake Svityaz, dredging the lake for molluscs, crustacians and other underwater invertebrates. |
| Tuesday 14 | Excursion with students to Lakes Pulemetskoye and Klimovskoye. |
| Wednesday 15 | Identification work. |
| Thursday 16 | Departure from Volyns'ka Oblast. |
| Thursday 30 | Arrival on the Turya River. |
| Friday 31 | Investigation of the Turya River and adjacent swamps near Solovôyi Village, sampling in the lake near the Lyubche Village, canoeing down the Turya and camping near the Miltsy Village. |
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| Saturday 1 | Sampling in the valley of Turya near Miltsy, canoeing down to Podsynivka. |
| Sunday 2 | Sampling the Turya River near Podsynivka and survey of Lake Synovo. |
| Monday 3 | Camping near Stavyshche, investigation of the river and Lake Dobroye. |
| Tuesday 4 | Camping near Stavyshche, investigation of the river and Lake Dobroye. |
| Wednesday 5 | Camping near Stavyshche, investigation of the river and Lake Dobroye. |
| Thursday 6 | Land-rover excursion to the Stokhid River, sampling in the Stokhid near Stobykhva. |
| Sunday 9 | Land-Rover trip to Lake Turskoye and Lake Orekhovo. |
| Monday 10 | Land-Rover trip to Lake Turskoye and Lake Orekhovo. |
| Wednesday 12 | Sampling at Lake Svyatoye and Lake Volyanskoye, canoeing to Lake Beloye. |
| Thursday 13 | Survey of Lake Beloye, and adjacent ditches and swamps. |
| Friday 14 | Survey of Lake Beloye, and adjacent ditches and swamps. |
| Saturday 15 | Survey of Lake Beloye, and adjacent ditches and swamps. |
| Sunday 16 | Survey of Lake Beloye, and adjacent ditches and swamps. |
| Monday 17 | Canoeing down the Pripyat River from Nevir to Vetly, with sampling. |
| Tuesday 18 | Canoeing down the Pripyat River from Nevir to Vetly, with sampling. |
| Wednesday 19 | Sampling of Lake Rogoznoye near Vetly, moving campsite to Lake Lyubyaz. |
| Thursday 20 | Survey of Lake Lyubyaz. |
| Friday 21 | Survey of Lake Lyubyaz. |
| Saturday 22 | Departure from Volyns'ka Oblast. |
Field training of students
The students learned the main methods for collecting invertebrates, and made observations of typical representatives of the most important groups of invertebrates present in the study area: protozoans (testaceous amoebae and ciliates), freshwater sponges, annelids (oligochaetes and leeches), molluscs, crustaceans (cladocerans, copepods, isopods, crayfish), insects (dragonflies, orthopterans, beetles, hymenopterans, butterflies, etc.). They carried out species identification within the selected groups, mainly of leeches, gastropod and bivalve molluscs, dragonflies, beetles, butterflies. They became familiar with the main faunistic and ecological features of the region.
Among the organisms identified by students, the record of a dragonfly Anax imperator, included in the Red List for Ukraine, is notable. Collected water beetles were sent for identification to Mykola M. Bilyashivskyi (Kiev University), testaceous amoebae were sent to Dr Marina M. Vovchenko (Institute of Zoology) and epibiont ciliates were sent to Dr Igor V. Dovgal (Institute of Zoology).
The Malacological survey
During July, seven lakes were sampled (Svityaz, Pulemetskoye, Pesochnoye, Sominets, Chernoye, Klimovskoye, and Linovets) together with adjacent streams, ditches, swamps and small ponds); lakes Chernoye and Klimovskoye were sampled for the first time; the other lakes were sampled for the second time (first sampling took place in 1990), and for these it was possible to test whether any the changes had occurred in the fauna. Malacological records of this part are included in the general list attached below.
During August two large rivers, the Turya and Prypyat, were surveyed. The Stokhid River was also sampled at one point. Ten lakes were explored: Lyubche, Synovo, Dobroye, Turskoye, Orekhovo, Svyatoye, Volyanskoye, Beloye, Rogoznoye and Lyubyaz, 7 for the first time. Molluscs collected from 3 other lakes (Somino, Sirye and an unnamed lake near Vyderte) by other participants were identified.
Annotated list of molluscs collected during the Expedition
This list is based on the system of Gloer & Meier-Brook (1994), with some changes.
GASTROPODA
NERITIDAE
Theodoxus fluviatilis (L., 1758) - in general an inhabitant of large rivers, therefore rare in the studied area. Abundant only in the channel connecting lakes Beloye and Volyanskoye, several specimens found in lakes Beloye and Svyatoye.
HYDROBIIDAE
Lithogliphus naticoides (C. Pfeiffer, 1828) - ecology and distribution similar to the previous species, in the study area found only in lake Svyatoye
VIVIPARIDAE
Viviparus viviparus (L., 1758) - very common in the study area, lives in rivers and large lakes
Viviparus contectus (Millet, 1813) - very common in the study area, lives in smaller stagnant rivers, ponds and peat bogs
VALVATIDAE
Valvata cristata Muller, 1774 - rare in the studied area, found in the lakes Svityaz and Klimovskoye (Shatsk district), in lake Rogoznoye and swamps nearby (Lubeshov distr.), and in Turia near Solovyi
Valvata pulchella Studer, 1820 - common throughout the study area, abundant in swamps and wet meadows.
Valvata piscinalis (Muller, 1774) - abundant in lakes Orekhovo (Ratne distr.), Beloye (Kamen-Kashirsky distr.) and Lyubyaz (Lubeshov distr.), occasional specimens in Svyatoye and Volyanskoye (Ratne disr.)
Valvata piscinalis subsp. antiqua (Morris, 1838) - lake Pulemetskoye (Shatsk distr.)
BITHYNIIDAE
Bithynia tentaculata (L., 1758) - very common and abundant in the study area, in rivers, lakes, ponds, peat bogs and swamps
Bithynia leachi subsp. troschelii (Paasch, 1842) - rare, found in a small river near Pidsynivka (Starovyzhevsky distr.) and in swamp in Turiya valley near Solovyi
PLANORBIDAE
Planorbarius corneus (L., 1758) - very common throughout the study area, in rivers, peat bogs and swamps
Planorbis planorbis (L., 1758) - distribution and ecology as in the previous species
Planorbis carinatus Muller, 1774 - rare in the study area, several specimens found in swamps near the lakes Svyatoye and Beloye and in channels connecting these lakes
Anisus vortex (L., 1758) - very common throughout the study area, in rivers, peat bogs and swamps
Anisus vorticulus (Troschel, 1834) - only one record in a swamp on the bank of Turya near Lychyny
Anisus spirorbis (L., 1758) -rare, found in small river near Svityaz, in swamps near the lake Sominets and near Lychyny
Anisus leucostoma (Millet, 1813) - common throughout the study area, in swamps
Anisus leucostoma subsp. septemgyratus (Rossmaessler, 1835) - rare, found in several localities around lake Svityaz, and near the lakes Dobroye and Svyatoye, in swamps
Gyraulus albus (Muller, 1774) - rare, found in lakes Sominets, Lubche (near Kovel), Turskoye (Ratne distr.), Dobroye and Svyatoye, in Prypyat near Nevir and in lake Lyubyaz
Segmentina nitida (Muller, 1774) - common throughout the study area, in swamps
Bathyomphalus contortus (L., 1758) - common throughout the study area, in swamps
ACROLOXIDAE
Acroloxus lacustris (L., 1758) - occasionally in Turia river
PHYSIDAE
Aplexa hypnorum (L., 1758) - common in Shatsk district (found near villages Svityaz and Zalissya), in small rivers and ditches
Physa fontinalis (L., 1758) - common in the study area, in small rivers, ponds and swamps with thick vegetation
LYMNAEIDAE
Lymnaea stagnalis (L., 1758) - abundant throughout the study region, in rivers, lakes, ponds and swamps
Radix auricularia (L., 1758) - not abundant, but found throughout the study area, in rivers and lakes
Radix auricularia forma ampla (Hartmann, 1821) - in lake Pesochnoye
Radix ovata (Draparnaud, 1805) - distribution and ecology as in the previous species
Radix peregra (Muller, 1774) - throughout the study area, in swamps
Stagnicola palustris (Muller, 1774) - abundant throughout the study area, on banks of lakes and rivers, in ponds and swamps
Stagnicola corvus (Gmelin, 1791) - found together with L. stagnalis or L. palustris, but not so abundant
Myxas glutinosa (Muller, 1774) - only one specimen found in Pripyat near Vetly
BIVALVIA
UNIONIDAE
Unio tumidus Philipsson, 1788 - common throughout the study area, in rivers, sometimes in lakes
Unio pictorum (L., 1758) - distribution and ecology as in the previous species, but usually not so abundant
Anodonta cygnea subsp. cellensis (Schroeter, 1779) - relatively rare in the study area, found in lakes Turskoye, Lubche, Synovo, Beloye and Rogoznoye
Anodontoa anatina (L., 1758) - common in the study area, in larger rivers and lakes
DREISSENIDAE
Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas, 1771) - abundant in lakes Svytyaz and Beloye, found also in Volyanskoye
SPHAERIIDAE
Sphaerium rivicola (Lamarck, 1818) - rare in the study area, occasionally found in Turia and Pripyat rivers (in general, prefers larger rivers)
Sphaerium corneum (L., 1758) - common throughout the area, lives in small lakes and ponds, rare in large lakes (Svityaz, Pesochnoye, Sominets and Synovo)
Sphaerium nucleus Studer, 1820 - found in swamps around the lakes Linovets, Synovo, Turskoye and Dobroye
Sphaerium radiatum Westerlund, 1897 - one record in the channel connecting lakes Svyatoye and Volyanskoye
Musculium lacustre (Muller, 1774) - common in the study area, in small ponds and temporary water bodies
Pisidium amnicum (Muller, 1774) - distributed throughout the study area, but relatively rare; found in rivers with stronger current (small rivers near Stavyshche and Velyky Obzyr, occasionally in Turya and Prypyat), and in lakes (abundant in Svityaz, several specimens in Lubche, empty shells in Svyatoye and Rogoznoye)
Pisidium moitessierianum (Paladilhe, 1866) - rare, found in lakes Svyatoye, Volyanskoye and Beloye, earlier (1986-1990) recorded in Svityaz (deep water) and Lyubyaz.
Pisidium casertanum (Poli, 1791) - very common in the study area, lives in springs, streams, rivers and lakes
Pisidium casertanum var. ponderosum (Stelfox, 1918) - peculiar form of the previous species, common in lakes
Pisidium globulare Clessin in Westerlund, 1873 - found in swamps near the lakes Linovets, Sominets and Klimovskoye
Pisidium obtusale (Lamarck, 1818) - common in the study area, in swamps
Pisidium henslowanum (Sheppard, 1823) - common in the study area, in rivers and lakes
Pisidium supinum Schmidt, 1851 - found in lakes Svyatoye and Rogoznoye
Pisidium lilljeborgi Clessin, 1886 - abundant in lakes Svityaz, Pesochnoye and Sominets, earlier recorded in Zgoranskoye, several specimens found in Dobroye
Pisidium subtruncatum Malm, 1853 - common throughout the study area, in rivers and lakes
Pisidium pulchellum Jenyns, 1832 - rare, found in small river near Pidsynivka, lake Dobroye, and in Prypyat near Nevir
Pisidium nitidum Jenyns, 1832 - common throughout the study area, in rivers and lakes
Pisidium pseudosphaerium Favre, 1927 - rare, but in some places abundant; found in swamps around the lakes Sominets (a few specimens), Klimovskoye (1 specimen in a ditch), Turskoye (common) and Synovo (abundant)
Pisidium milium Malm, 1853 - common in the study area, found in small rivers and swamps
Pisidium hibernicum Westerlund, 1894 - rare; in the study area found in lakes: Sominets, Pulemetskoye (earlier recorded in some other lakes of Shatsk district), Turskoye, Lubche, Dobroye and Beloye.
Notable species and localities
Several species of the subgenus Lymnaea (Stagnicola) are distinguished now in Europe (Jackiewich, {), but this group is not properly studied in Ukraine. In particular, Lymnaea (S.) palustris and Lymnaea (S.) turricula make a pair of geographically separated species. The Expedition area was approximately on the line separating them (the first is distributed to the north, the latter to the south). Only the more northern, Stagnicola palustris was found in this Expedition's collections, providing important new information about the distribution of this species.
Lymnaea auricularia forma ampla and Lymnaea stagnalis forma fragilis are sometimes considered distinct species (see Gloer & Meier-Brook, 1994). Lymnaea ovata and Lymnaea peregra may, however, be considered a single species, and all lymnaeid species observed here included in one genus (Jackiewicz, 1998). The status of some subspecies and forms in Valvata, Bithynia, Anisus and Pisidium mentioned here are also disputable. Concerning Pisidium casertanum forma ponderosum, the Expedition's collections indicate that infraspecific status is appropriate: intermediate forms between this form and the typical Pisidium casertanum were collected and transition from one form to another was observed in lakes Svityaz and Pesochnoye since the previous survey in 1990.
Pisidium lilljeborgi is a species of boreo-alpine distribution. Lake Dobroye is a new locality for this species, the previously published (Stadnichenko, 1984) record from the lake Turskoye is not confirmed (the author probably dealt with Pisidium hibernicum). The localities mentioned here mark some part of the southern distribution limit of the species, not well known before.
Sphaerium nucleus, Sphaerium radiatum and Pisidium globulare were only recently recognized as species and new anatomical characters were suggested for their distinction (Korniushin, 1996). All records provided here are supported by anatomical data. The distribution area of Pisidium pseudosphaerium in eastern Europe is still poorly known. The new localities of the species discussed here contribute significantly to understanding of their distribution area.
Zoogeographic characteristics of the study area and the concept of green corridors
The freshwater molluscs of the study region have clear affinities to those of the more northern part of Europe. These affinities are marked by abundance of Valvata pulchella, Stagnicola palustris and Pisidium hibernicum, presence of Pisidium lilljeborgi and Pisidium pulchellum and absence of Stagnicola turricula.
Two aspects of green corridors should be distinguished: natural migration and man-induced migration. Natural migration in the lowland area may provide an explanation for the distribution of Pisidium lilljeborgi. The boreo-alpine distribution area of this species suggests its post-glaciation origin. It is common in lakes of the Baltic Sea basin (including the Shatsk lakes) but is represented in the Dnieper River basin at only two localities: Lake Zgoranskoye and Lake Dobroye. Both of these populations seem to be isolated from the main distribution area. Its peculiar pattern of distribution in the Shatsk lakes (present only in three lakes) and absence from connecting channels and ditches suggest a limited migration ability in this species. However, its dispersal might have taken place a long time ago when lake systems in the area were much more inter-connected. It is notable, that the population in Lake Zgoranskoye has been observed over several decades (Stadnichenko, 1984) and has proved to be rather constant, suggesting that it is ancient. The population in Lake Dobroye, which is not old, might have been introduced in recent times. Occurrence of the species in some other lakes of West Polessye, especially those near the town of Krymno, seems likely.
Dispersal of Dreissena polymorpha is an example of man-induced migration. Its invasion of lakes Svityaz, Beloye and Volyanskoye was certainly facilitated by channels connecting these lakes to the lower Pripyat (the species is absent in the upper Prypyat) and/or the Bug. Two other species of large rivers, Theodoxus fluviatilis and Lithogliphus naticoides, which were not found in the Turia or upper Pripyat, might also have invaded the lakes by the same route. Occurrence of Planorbis carinatus in the same lake district is also interesting, but this species should be studied more carefully. It is notable that the molluscs of the channel connecting lakes Volyanskoye and Beloye (Khabaryshche) are different from those of the adjacent section of Pripyat, but are more similar to those of the lower reaches of the Pripyat. In particular, the abundance of Theodoxus and Pisidium amnicum is worth mentioning.
Conservation aspects
None of the freshwater molluscs in the IUCN Red List are thought to occur in Ukraine. Some species found in the study area are, however, included in the red lists of other European countries. In Germany, for example, Anisus spirorbis, Bithynia leachii, Myxas glutinosa, Pisidium pseudosphaerium, Sphaerium rivicola, Theodoxus fluviatilis and Valvata pulchella are strictly protected (categories A1-A2). Most of these species are widely distributed and abundant in Ukraine.
The Red List for Ukrainian freshwater molluscs needs revision. Two species of Lymnaea included there are recognized only by Russian taxonomists. At the same time several species which are clearly rare, were not included in the present version. Rearrangement of the Red List on the basis of a more modern taxonomic approach is planned.
Using distributional data available now, the following species should be recommended for protection in Ukraine: Myxas glutinosa, Pisidium hibernicum, Pisidium lilljeborgi, Pisidium pseudosphaerium and Pisidium pulchellum. The following species and forms need more careful study throughout Ukraine: Anisus spp., Anodonta cygnea, Aplexa hypnorum, Bithynia leachii, Pseudanodonta complanata, Stagnicola spp., Unio crassus and Valvata spp. It is worth noting that, of these species, Pseudanodonta complanata and Unio crassus were supposed to be present in the Expedition's study area but were not found. Quite possibly the natural conditions of the studied habitats were not ideal for these species, but man-induced extinction cannot be ruled-out.
The protected status of Shatsk National Park should be confirmed. It has the highest species diversity of molluscs in the area and numerous populations of rare species, such as Anisus leucostoma subsp. septemgyratus, Aplexa hypnorum, Pisidium lilljeborgi, Pisidium hibernicum, Pisidium pseudosphaerium. Lake Dobroye (near Stavyshche) and its sorroundings, having three rare species of bivalves (Pisidium lilljeborgi, Pisidium hibernicum and Pisidium pulchellum), should be recommended for protection.
The following lakes are also marked by presence of rare species: Lubche (Pisidium hibernicum), Synovo (Pisidium pseudosphaerium), Turskoye (Pisidium pseudosphaerium and Pisidium hibernicum). Lake Beloye is distinguished by rich malacofauna, including six species of Pisidium. Awarding protected status to these habitats should also be considered.
Information gathered during the Expedition will be included in a planned publication dealing with distribution of some sphaeriid species in Ukraine. A publication on species of the genus Stagnicola is also in preparation. Sphaeriids gathered during the Expedition are kept in the author's personal collection. Other specimens have been submitted to the National Museum of Natural History in Kiev and will significantly contribute to its mollusc collections.
The Royal Geographical Society is warmly thanked for making this fieldwork possible.
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