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Ecological parameter: saprobity according to Tachet

Parameter group: saproby related parameters

Explanation:
Following the saprobity system of water quality (Kolkwitz & Marsson 1909; Sládecek 1973), this trait describes the distribution of taxa along a gradient of organic matter availability/contamination from xenosaprobic (i.e. the lowest water saturation rate with decomposing organic substances in any water body) to polysaprobic (i.e. the richest water bodies in decomposable organic matter) systems. Indirectly, this trait provides information on the sensitivity of invertebrates to organic contamination. Five categories are defined.

Tachet, H., Bournaud, M., Richoux, P. & Usseglio-Polatera, P. (2010): Invertébrés d'eau douce - systématique, biologie, écologie. CNRS Editions, Paris, 600 p.
Kolkwitz R. & Marsson M. 1909. Ökologie der tierischen Saprobien. Internationale. Revue der Hydrobiologie, 2, 126-519.
Sládecek V. 1973. System of water quality from the biological point of view. Archiv für Hydrobiologie, 7, 1-218.


Additional information:
Note that several classifications of the Tachet database are on higher taxonomic level than on species level. To display them in the list please enable "include higher taxonomic units" in the "advanced search".

Abbreviations:
Category name:Abbreviations:Explanation:
xenosaprobicxspecies occurring in the xeno-saprobic zone (perfectly clean water courses)
oligosaprobicospecies occurring in the oligo-saprobic zone (unpolluted to slightly polluted water courses)
b-mesosaprobicbspecies occurring in the beta-meso-saprobic zone (moderately polluted water courses)
a-mesosaprobicaspecies occurring in the alpha-meso-saprobic zone (heavily polluted water courses)
polysaprobicpspecies occurring in the poly-saprobic zone (extremely heavily polluted water courses)
Assigned taxa for each higher systematic unit:
TaxagroupNumber of assigned taxa / total number of taxa - percentage
Bivalvia3 / 77 - 3.8%
Bryozoa6 / 19 - 31.5%
Coelenterata2 / 13 - 15.3%
Coleoptera52 / 2678 - 1.9%
Crustacea11 / 270 - 4%
Diptera (excl. Chironomidae)2 / 2404 - 0%
Ephemeroptera16 / 353 - 4.5%
Gastropoda15 / 241 - 6.2%
Heteroptera10 / 124 - 8%
Hirudinea10 / 68 - 14.7%
Kamptozoa1 / 1 - 100%
Lepidoptera4 / 19 - 21%
Nemertini1 / 1 - 100%
Odonata17 / 174 - 9.7%
Oligochaeta16 / 240 - 6.6%
Planipennia1 / 12 - 8.3%
Plecoptera9 / 576 - 1.5%
Polychaeta1 / 13 - 7.6%
Porifera3 / 12 - 25%
Trichoptera38 / 1439 - 2.6%
Turbellaria4 / 61 - 6.5%