The fauna of Oligochaeta (Annelidae) in the shallow tundra lakes (North-east of the European part of Russia)

Study Extent

The dataset provides information on the number of individuals of aquatic invertebrates in zoobenthos sample.

Sampling

The research was carried out on June-July 2000–2001 on the: Ortina River Basin, Neruta River Basin, Kolva River Basin and More-yu River Basin. Later studies were carried out on July 2012 in the basin of the Yarey-yu River Basin - a tributary of the 2nd order of the Kara River, on July 2014 – on the area of the lakes near Syattey-ty lakes. The list of species contains only our own data.

Quality Control

The data were collected and identified by specialists from the Institute of Biology of the Komi Scientific Center of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Morphological analysis specimens were performed using compound microscopes BIMAM R13-1, Leica DM 4000B. For identification of species we used both standard keys and data reported in modern studies specifically addressing the taxonomy (Chekanovskaya 1962; Timm 2009; Key to identification of zooplankton and zoobenthos, 2010; Schmelz, Collado, 2010). 1. Key to Identification of Zooplankton and Zoobenthos of Fresh Water of European Russia, KMK Scientific Press, Moscow, 2010, pp. 151–183. [In Russian]. 2. Chekanovskaja O.V. Aquatic oligochaetes of the fauna of the USSR. Moscow-Leningrad: Nauka. 1962. 412 pp. [in Russian]. 3. Timm T. A guide to the freshwater Oligochaeta and Polychaeta of northern and central Europe. Lauterbornia, 1999. Issues 66. 235 pp. 4. Schmelz R., Collado R. A guide to Europeanterrestial and freshwater species of Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) // Soil Organisms. 2010. Vol. 82 (1). Pp. 1-176.

Method steps

1. Oligochaeta samples were taken with a Petersen grab (sampling area 0.025 m2) on soft bottoms and with a hydrobiological scraper (blade length 30 cm and mesh size of the attached with mesh size ≤158 μm, sampling area 0.09 m2) on gravel bottoms. Samples were preserved in 4% formaldehyde (in the field) and examined under light microscopes in the laboratory. Morphological analysis was performed using a stereomicroscope Leica DM 4000. The worm species affiliation was ascertained under existing taxonomic keys in accordance with the present-day classification of each group. Voucher specimens were deposited at the Institute of Biology, Syktyvkar

This dataset provides current data on Oligochaeta fauna of 33 shallow lakes in different river basins of tundra: from Ortina River Basin; from Neruta River Basin; from Kolva River Basin; lakes from More-yu River Basin; lakes near Syattey-ty lakes; from Yarey-yu River Basin

1. Annelida
   rank: phylum
2. Oligichaeta
   rank: subclass
3. Naididae
   rank: family
4. Enchytraeidae
   rank: family
5. Lumbriculidae
   rank: family
6. Propappidae
   rank: family
7. Naidinae
   rank: subfamily
8. Pristinae
   rank: subfamily
9. Rhyacodrilinae
   rank: subfamily
10. Telmatodrilinae
    rank: subfamily
11. Tubificinae
    rank: subfamily

The studied lakes are located in the Malozemelskaya (Neruta River Basin) and Bolshezemelskaya tundra (other lakes). The territory covers a narrow latitudinal gradient between 67º and 68º N, but a considerable extent from west to east (between 52º and 64° E). The lakes are shallow (up to 4-5 m deep), predominantly of thermokarst origin, located within the zone of continuous permafrost. Only the lakes of the Malozemelskaya tundra are located in the zone of insular permafrost. Most of the studied lakes are drained (in the More-yu River Basin – drainless lakes). Bottom in the littoral are sandy or boulders, often silt covered, in the profundal – silty. The height above sea level ranged from 3 (in the basin of the Neruta River Basin) to 179 m (in the basin of the Yarey-yu River Basin).