1986/08/01 by J. O. Young, S. M. Spelling · 2 citations
Medicine · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Leech Biology and Applications #Study of Mite Species #Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.1986.tb00989.x
openalex publication_date 1986/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
SUMMARY. 1. Erpobdella octoculata (L.), Glossiphonia complanata (L.) and Helobdella stagnate (L.) were eaten readily by larval and adult dytiscid beetles, larval caddisflies and Sialis , nymphal odonatans and various fish in laboratory experiments. 2. A serological technique showed that very few lake‐collected specimens of these predatory taxa, plus triclads, leeches and stone fly nymphs, had been feeding on leeches. 3. A literature survey of lake studies on fish diet indicated that usually less than 6% of individuals with gut contents had eaten leeches. Few detailed records of waterfowl feeding on leeches have been documented. 4. It is concluded that predation pressure on lake‐dwelling leeches is light, and is more severe from fish than invertebrates, less on populations inhabiting stony shores than in vegetation, and greater on the erpobdellid than the two glossiphoniid species.