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Biogeographical parterns of terricolous oligochaetes in Turkey (Annelida: Clitellata: Lumbricidae, Enchytraeidae)

1999; eScholarship Publishing, University of California; Volume: 20; Linguagem: Inglês

10.21426/b6110025

1594-7629

Pietro Daniel Omodeo, Emilia Rota,

Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology

Biogeographia - vol. XX - 1999 (Pubblicato il 31 ottobre 1999) Biogeografia de||’Anato|ia Biogeographical patterns of terricolous oligochaetes in Turkey (Annelida: Clitellata: Lumbricidae, Enchytraeidae) 1 PIETRO OMODEO, EMILIA ROTA Dzpzzrrimento di Biologizz E2/olutiwz, Um'1/er5z'tz‘z di Siemz, Vizz P./1. Mzzttioli, 4 — 1353100 Siemz (Italy) Key words: Anatolia, biogeography, Lumbricidae, Spermap/aorozlrilur, Heal}/ellzz, Enchytraeidae. SUMMARY Recent surveys of terricolous oligochaetes in Turkey have led to the discovery of a taxon of Lumbricidae endemic to Anatolia, northern Greece and Epirus, which undoubtedly deserves subfamilial rank. The institution of the Spermophorodrilinae not only has produced a more rational classification (particularly with regard to the genus Bimartor) but is determinant for reconstructing the phylogeny of part 0F the order Lumbricina. On the basis of palaeogeographical evidence and of the diversity of adaptive types observed, it is possible to envision Anatolia as an area that provided a variety ofecologiml niches For a colonising, evolutionarily dynamic, earthworm fauna, originally formed by the Spermophorodrilinae and a stock of the genus Dendralzaena. It is plausible to date the indigenous stocks ofSpermophorodrilinae and Dendrolmenzz to the Palaeogene, or an earlier time, when Turkey and the Rhodopean area formed together an insular or semi-insular system. Isolation and the absence of competition from other megadriles favoured diversification within the two taxa. A more remote timing is preferable for the Spermophorodrilinae, because these should be contemporary, or older, as morphologically more archaic, than the Sardo«Corsican Diporodrilinae. Turkey and Transcaucasia represented indeed the major centre of diffusion of the genus DemI'rabrze7zzz, and some species spread from there both in an eastward and northwestward direction. For D. zzttemri, an accurate morphological and distributional study has made possible to trace the possible postglacial migratory routes towards the western Alps, the British Isles and Sweden. Other notable results concern some typical Carpatho—Balllan genera and species (Cenmrvitavia, Fitzingeria, A/[alubap/mrzz nnurugzlizza, A. leoni, etc.) which have penetrated into the northern or northwestern Anatolian districts. Previous views of the history of the Turkish lumbricofaurial components must be corrected, as the traditional subdivision into a northern and a southern Aegeid is not supported by modern palaeogeographical reconstructions. On the contrary, the new faunistic data confirm some curious absences of Holarctic species in Turkey (Lunzfiritus terrert-ri.r, Dendrabzzemz ocmetz'rzz, Allolabop/mm c/7[arotz'ctz, Orta/ztrian cyaneum, etc.). The southern limits of distribution of these species in the Mediterranean area must be only slightly retouched. Much work has to be done before a thorough biogeographical analysis of the Turkish enchytraeid Fauna becomes feasible, but there seem to be significant differences in species composition between the northern and southern zones: strictly Mediterranean species appear to be restricted to the south. INTRODUCTION In earlier discussions of the zoogeography of terricolous Oligochaeta, Ornodeo (1952a, 1961) observed that some distribution patterns involving the regions extending to the east of the Alpine are as far as the Caucasus could be referred 1 Zoological researches in the Near East by the Universities of Rome: 187.