Food preferences of the great ramshorn Planorbarius corneus (Linnaeus, 1758) allospecies (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Planorbidae) from the Ukrainian river system

Abstract

The “western” and “eastern” allospecies of the superspecies complex Planorbarius corneus (Linnaeus, 1758) sensu lato includes the most widespread and abundant gastropods in the Ukrainian aquatic fauna. The range of the “western” allospecies includes the north and central parts of Right Bank Ukraine, while the range of the “eastern” allospecies comprises the north-eastern and eastern parts of Left Bank Ukraine, and the extreme south (as far as the Danube River) of the Ukrainian steppe zone. The food preferences of these snails were established for the first time. Such data may provide the basis for studying the role of both allospecies in the food webs of the river systems of Ukraine.