Potamothrix moldaviensis
Vejdovsky and Mrazek, 1902
Common Name:
A tubificid worm
Synonyms and Other Names:
Euilyodrilus moldaviensis
Identification:
This oligochaete has bundles of 6–9 bifid crochets with longer and thinner upper teeth in comparison to the lower ones on anterior segments. There are modified thick spermathecal chaetae with long teeth on segment 10 and there is one very long bifid ventral seta per bundle on segment 11. There are no prostate glands, no chitinous penis sheaths, and no capilliform chaetae (Brinkhurst 1965; Spencer 1978; Finogenova and Poddubnaja 1990; Yildiz et al. 2005).
Size:
ranges in length from 10 to 30 mm (Finogenova and Poddubnaja 1990; Yildiz et al. 2005)
Native Range:
Potamothrix moldaviensis is from the Ponto-Caspian region in the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and Sea of Azov (Brinkhurst 1965; Milbrink and Timm 2001).
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This map only depicts Great Lakes introductions.
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Great Lakes Nonindigenous Occurrences:
Potamothrix spp. were probably introduced to the Great Lakes basin before 1959 and remained undetected. Potamothrix moldaviensis has been recorded from Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River, St. Mary’s River, the Detroit River, the Niagara River, Cayuga Lake, and other water bodies within the Great Lakes basin (Brinkhurst 1965, 1967; Hiltunen 1969; Johnson and Brinkhurst 1971; Mozley and Garcia 1972; Stimpson et al. 1975; Spencer 1978, 1980; Graney et al. 1986; Barton 1988; Griffiths 1991; Weider 1992; Boyd et al. 2001; Lozano et al. 2001; Nalepa et al. 2002; Grigorovich et al. 2003a, b; Spencer and Hudson 2003).
Table 1. Great Lakes region nonindigenous occurrences, the earliest and latest observations in each state/province, and the tally and names of HUCs with observations†. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Potamothrix moldaviensis are found here.
Table last updated 4/25/2024
† Populations may not be currently present.
Ecology:
Potamothrix moldaviensis is a freshwater oligochaete that can tolerate brief increases in salinity only. It is generally rheophilic, preferring rivers or lakes with bottom currents. It has been recorded at depths of 3–115 m, although it is generally less common below 35 m. It occurs in mesotrophic to eutrophic conditions in gravelly sand, sand, muddy sand, amongst macrophytes, and crushed shells. It is generally absent from substrate with high silt and clay content (Brinkhurst 1967; Hiltunen 1967; Timm 1970; Moroz 1974, 1994; Stimpson et al. 1975; Spencer 1978; Probst 1987; Barton 1988; Lang and Reymond 1993; Sauter and Gude 1996; Milbrink and Timm 2001; Strayer et al. 2003, 2006).
Potamothrix moldaviensis reproduces by making pear-shaped cocoons covered in sediment particles that adhere to hard substrates. One study found that at 10ºC Potamothrix moldaviensis spends around 46 days in cocoons, 300 days as an immature individual after it hatches, and 150 days in the mature stage. At 15ºC the length of time spent in the cocoon decreases to 30 days (Arkhipova 1983; Bonacina et al. 1987; Milbrink and Timm 2001).
Means of Introduction:
Unknown
Status:
Established where recorded.
Great Lakes Impacts:
Summary of species impacts derived from literature review. Click on an icon to find out more...
Current research on the environmental impact of Potamothrix moldaviensis in the Great Lakes is inadequate to support proper assessment. There is little or no evidence to support that Potamothrix moldaviensis has significant socio-economic impacts in the Great Lakes.
There is little or no evidence to support that Potamothrix moldaviensis has significant beneficial effects in the Great Lakes.
Potential:
Some studies suggest that Potamothrix spp. may have a positive impact on native oligochaetes in Europe. The benefit could result from the numerous bacteria found in Potamothrix spp. faeces, which could allow for improved feeding by natives. In Lake Malaren, Sweden, P. moldavienis and other Ponto-Caspian Potamothrix spp. are associated with increased oligochaete diversity (Milbrink 1993, Milbrink and Timm 2001).
Management:
Regulations
There are no known regulations for this species.
Note: Check federal, state/provincial, and local regulations for the most up-to-date information.
Control
Biological
While no there are no known biological controls specifically for Potamothrix moldaviensis, Brown trout, Salmo trutta L., has been shown to prey on oligochaetes, and its removal from an experimental environment led to rapid multiplication of benthic fauna (Wahab et al. 1989). However, brown trout is itself nonindigenous to the Great Lakes region and across nearly all of the United States (Fuller et al. 2013).
Research on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in southwestern Lake Ontario before and after the invasion of Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussels) and Dreissena bugensis (quagga mussels) suggests that the presence of Dreissena helps to improve benthic habitat, facilitating increases in macroinvertebrates, including the tubificids Potamothrix vejdovskyi and Spirosperma ferox (Stewart and Haynes 1994). This indicates that control of invasive quagga and zebra mussels could facilitate improved control of benthic macroinvertebrates such as the tubificids.
Physical
Potamothrix moldaviensis has been shown to be more likely to occur in sandy substrate with a clay and silt content of less than 10%, but information on its ability to survive in other substrates is not available (Sauter and Gude 1996). However, this does indicate that substrate type is a possible physical control method to be further explored.
Chemical
While there are no known chemical controls specifically for Potamothrix moldaviensis, declines in Oligochaeta in southern Lake Michigan were recorded between 1980 and 1993 in correlation with reductions in phosphorus loads (Nalepa et al. 1998), suggesting that reduction of excess nutrients would help to reduce oligochaete populations.
Note: Check state/provincial and local regulations for the most up-to-date information regarding permits for control methods. Follow all label instructions.
Remarks:
Potamothrix moldaviensis has dispersed throughout much of eastern and central Europe with the aid of the shipping industry and canals (Milbrink and Timm 2001).
Potamothrix moldaviensis is synonymous with Euilyodrilus moldaviensis.
References
(click for full reference list)
Author:
Kipp, R.M., J. Larson, A. Fusaro, and T. Makled
Contributing Agencies:
Revision Date:
9/12/2019
Citation for this information:
Kipp, R.M., J. Larson, A. Fusaro, and T. Makled, 2024, Potamothrix moldaviensis Vejdovsky and Mrazek, 1902: U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, and NOAA Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System, Ann Arbor, MI, https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/greatlakes/FactSheet.aspx?Species_ID=2705&Potential=N&Type=0&HUCNumber=DHuron, Revision Date: 9/12/2019, Access Date: 4/26/2024
This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.