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The Distribution of Fresh-Water Triclad Planarians in Jefferson County, Ohio
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Stokely, Paul S. Brown, Thomas Kuchan, Frank Slaga, Thomas J. |
| Copyright Year | 1965 |
| Abstract | Seasonal distributions are described for fresh-water triclad planarians throughout the main drainage systems of most of Jefferson County, Ohio. The species found were Phagocata gracilis gracilis (Haldeman), Phagocata morgani (Stevens and Boring), and Dugesia tigrina (Girard). Dugesia dorotocephala (Woodworth), apparently a common species in the United States, was not found. Of the species found, P. g. gracilis was the most abundant, while D. tigrina occurred less abundantly. P. morgani was found rarely and only in association with P. g. gracilis. D. tigrina occurred characteristically in lakes and ponds of appreciable temperature ranges. P. g. gracilis occurred in cool, fresh springs. Planarians were not found in the large, swift, main streams and were absent from polluted water. The paucity of studies on the distribution of species and on the ecology of triclad planarians is indicated by flyman (1951). She points out that such studies east, of the Mississippi are few and practically non-existent west of the great river. As far as the midwest is concerned, we found only the work of Kenk (1944) on the triclads of Michigan. Recently, Jenkins and Miller (1962) made a study of the planarian population along Pennington Creek in Oklahoma. The present work is the result of an intensive study of the occurrence of these flatworms within the confines of a single county. Intensive studies of the population, distribution, and ecology throughout the range of such a widespread group have important aspects which may not be obvious at first consideration. However, the accumulation of such studies may contribute greatly to the development of population genetics, our understanding of speciation, and the implication of ecological factors for both. The purpose of this stud}^ was to determine the distribution of triclad planarians in Jefferson County, Ohio. This survey covered the two main drainage systems in the county, including the main streams and their feeders. In addition to the streams 10 lakes, 3 ponds, 1 river, and 1 strip mine were also investigated. The only water systems that were not studied extensively were the strip mines. The study was limited to natural streams and to artificial" lakes. Some attention was given to basic ecological factors such as air and water temperatures, bottom condition, relative water speed and depth, partial chemical analysis of the water, and relative abundance of living organisms. Because of the scope of the project, no attempt was made to classify any organisms, other than planarians, except in broad, general terms. Jefferson County is located in eastern Ohio and borders on the Ohio River (fig. 1). The study was actually undertaken between 40° 32' and 41° 32' W latitude Manuscript received April 16, 1964. Prepared by Thomas H. Campbell due to Dr. Stokely's untimely death. THE OHIO JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 65(6): 305, November, 1965. 306 PAUL S. STOKELY ET AL. JEFFERSON CO., OHIO Vol. 65 FIGURE 1. Map of Jefferson County, Ohio, showing the general locations of all the lake and pond stations and the course of Yellow Creek and Cross Creek, the two main streams in the county. The name of each station is as follows: A, Jefferson Lake; B, Austin Lake, C, Shantz's Farm; D, Dye's Lake; E, St. John Vianney Seminary; F, Lake 22; H, Mingo Sportsman's Club; I, Jefferson Sportsman's Club; J, Smithfield Lions Club; K, Pine Valley Sportsman's Club; a, Richmond Riding Stable; b, St. John Fisher's Church; c, Campbell's Frog Pond; and d, Pine Valley strip mines. No. 6 JEFFERSON COUNTY PLANARIANS 307 and 80° 37' to 80° 52' N longitude. This area takes in the northern three quarters of the county. The locations of the individual stations are as follows: I. Lakes and Ponds: Station A, Jefferson Lake, is located in Jefferson State Park in Ross Township, section 18, two miles off state route 43 on county route 54. Station B, Austin Lake, is in Knox Township, sections 31 and 32, one-half mile from Osage on county route 152. Station C, Shantz's Farm, is in Salem Township, section 10, one-half mile off state route 43 on county route 152. Station D, Dye's Farm, is in Salem Township, section 10, two-thirds of a mile west of Richmond off state route 43. Station E, St. John Vianney Seminary, is in Salem Township, section 19, one-half mile off county route 36. Station F, Lake 22, is in Wayne Township, section 27, one mile west of Bloomingdale on U. S. route 22. Station H, Mingo Sportsman's Club, is in Cross Creek Township, section 32, one mile from county route 25. Station I, Jefferson Sportsman's Club, is in Wayne Township, section 9, one-half mile off county route 25. Station J, Smithfield Lions Club, is in Smithfleld Township, section 24, one-half mile off state route 151. Station K, Pine Valley Sportsman's Club, is in Smithfield Township, section 36, one mile off county route 10. Station a, Richmond Riding Stables, is in Salem Township, section 15, two miles off state route 152. Station b, St. John Fisher (a pond about 100 yards behind the church), is in Salem Township, section 10, one and a half miles off state route 152. FIGURE 2. Sketch of Yellow Creek showing the location of stations 1 through 10. 308 PAUL S. STOKELY ET AL. Vol. 65 Station c, Campbell's Frog Pond (on T. H. Campbell's farm), is located in Knox Township, section 31, 100 yards off county route 56. Station d, Strip mines, are in Smithfield Township, sections 35 and 36, one mile off county route 10. II. Stations on Yellow Creek: Station 1, where creek empties into the Ohio River, is in Saline Township, section 8, about 100 yards from state route 7. Station 2, where Town Fork Creek enters Yellow Creek, is in Knox Township, section 34, 20 yards from county route 57. Station 3, 140 yards above point where Town Fork enters Yellow Creek, is in Knox Township, section 34. Station 4, one-half mile above point where Town Fork Creek enters Yellow Creek (just above Nutter's Dam), is in Knox Township, section 34, 200 yards from county route 57. Station 5, one and a half miles from county route 57, is in Ross Township, section 4. Station 6, one-fourth of a mile from the junction of county routes 53 and 57, is in Ross Township, section 3. FIGURE 3. Sketch of Cross Creek showing the location of stations 2 through 20. Station 7, located at the junctions of county routes 53 and 58, is in Ross Township, section 4. Station 8, where Roach Run enters Yellow Creek, is in Ross Township, section 10. Station 9, one mile above station 8 where a small feeder enters Yellow Creek, is in Ross Township, section 16. Station 10, near the bridge on county route 54, is in Ross Township, section 28. III. Stations on Cross Creek: Station 11, at point where Cross Creek enters the Ohio River, is in Steubenville Township, section 26, one and a half mile from state route 7. Station 12, near bridge at junction of county routes 74 and 28, is in Cross Creek Township, section 2. Station 13, near third bridge on county route 74, is in Cross Creek Township, section 8. Station 14, one-half mile from Fernwood where a small feeder enters Cross Creek, is in Cross Creek Township, section 21. Station 15, where a small feeder enters Cross Creek, is in Cross Creek Township, section 34, one and a fourth miles from U. S. route 22. No. 6 JEFFERSON COUNTY PLANARIANS 309 Station 16, a large feeder at Reeds Mill, is in Cross Creek Township, section 35, one mile from U. S. route 22. Station 17, main creek one mile from state route 152, is in Wayne Township, section 6. Station 18, where Salem Creek enters Cross Creek, is in Wayne Township, section 18, three miles from U. S. route 22. Station 19, one mile from county route 30, is in Wayne Township, section 30. Station 20, where Cross Creek crosses Jefferson County line, is in Wayne Township, section 34, one mile from county route 30. The area covered in this study is in very hilly country containing moderately swift-flowing streams. Yellow Creek is 860 ft above sea level at Bergholz and drops to 633 ft where it enters the Ohio. This represents a drop of 227 ft over a distance of 19 miles. Cross Creek is 940 ft above sea level at Unionport and drops to 633 ft where it enters the Ohio. This represents a drop of 307 ft over a distance of 13j^ miles. The inland hills average about 1100 ft above sea level and drop to 800 ft very rapidly. Most of the hills have about a 40to 50-degree slope with a thick covering of the deciduous trees and herbs common to this part of the country. A large portion of this county has been stripped for coal, perhaps as much as 30 per cent. Both Yellow Creek and Cross Creek pass through strip-mine country and several feeders show visible signs of pollution. Yellow Creek is about 40 ft wide throughout most of its length. It begins about 13 miles inland and winds its way to the Ohio River. It is fed by two or three large creeks and many small springs. The bottom is ver}^ rocky, as might be expected, because, in a stream with such a velocity, silt and pebbles would be carried along. Only in the few variable pools is there a mud bottom. These pools, however, are not very abundant. For most of its length the water is about 10 inches deep. From a point below Pravo, for a distance of about 9 miles, the creek has a bright orange color. This orange color has its source in a few springs that arise from coal tipple washers and mine run-offs. Here no living organisms were found, not even the ever-present crawfish. Above Pravo, the water is not visibly polluted. In this section can be found a variety of microscopic invertebrates, insects, crawfish, and fish. Throughout the length of Yellow Creek and Cross Creek, there is to be found very little vegetation in the water. The most common plants are diatoms and algae. The main feeder entering Yellow Creek is Town Fork Creek at station No. 2. At the point where it enters Yellow Creek, it is 8 ft wide and fairly swift. Its current carries it half way out into Yellow Creek. The water of Town Fork Creek is clear and |
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| Alternate Webpage(s) | https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/1811/5112/V65N06_305.pdf;jsessionid=521DCBFA78B37505272C77718202542E?sequence=1 |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
