English - Convention on Biological Diversity

58
COUNTRY STUDY FOR BIODIVERSITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Nemathelminthes (Roundworms) – Of the roundworms, studies have found only two
classes, Rotifera (Rotifers) and Nematoda (Nematodes), represented by 613 species. The
data on Rotifera originate from the analyses of the plankton communities of the three
lakes, recognising 60 species. As planktonic organisms, they are characterised by a wide
area of distribution and have no endemic species. Research to date has identified a total
of 553 species of Nematodes in Macedonia, which is likely to be much less than the
actual number of species. In the first study of roundworms in Ohrid Lake, 23 aquatic,
free-living Nematodes were found. Later, greater stress was given to the study of
terrestrial Nematodes, mainly in forest ecosystems (450 species), as well as Nematodes
which parasitise early vegetables, animals and humans (80 species).
Mollusca (Molluscs) – Molluscs are well studied, with a total of 282 known taxa
(276 species and six subspecies). The class of Snails (Gastropoda) is represented by 267
taxa (262 species and five subspecies), with 102 (97 species and 5 subspecies) belonging
to the Aquatic Gastropods. The Terrestrial Gastropods, although incompletely studied,
show a great diversity of species, with 165 recorded to date. From the class of Bivalves
(Bivalvia), 15 species have been recorded. The most important centre of diversity of this
group is Ohrid Lake.
Annelida (Segmented worms) – This is a relatively well studied group, with a total of
182 recorded taxa, (160 species and 22 subspecies). With regard to the class Oligochaeta
(Oligochaetes), 139 taxa have been recorded (123 species and 16 subspecies), while the
class Hirudinea (Leeches) is represented by 35 taxa (29 species and six subspecies).
Centres of their diversity are natural lakes and other aquatic biotopes.
Arthropoda (Arthropods) – This group has numerous representatives in the animal
world and is also well represented within the Republic of Macedonia with a large
number of taxa (7,743), including 7,574 species and 169 subspecies.
With regard to the subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates), representatives of the class
Arachnida (Arachnids) total of 825 taxa (819 species and six subspecies). Among the six
orders in this class, the order Aranea (Spiders) is dominant with 558 species. The order
Pseudoscorpiones (Pseudo-scorpions) is represented by 37 taxa (36 species and one
subspecies) and the order Opiliones (Daddy longlegs) by 40 taxa (38 species and two
subspecies). The order Scorpiones (Scorpions) is represented by three species, and the
order Solpugida (Sun spiders) by one species only. The order Acarina (Ticks and mites)
is represented by 196 taxa (193 species and three subspecies), most of which belong to
the group of Terrestrial mites (123 species), with the remainder being Aquatic mites (70
species and three subspecies). The western portion of Macedonia is an important centre
of biodiversity for this group, which is present in various types of habitats.
The subphylum Branchiata (Branchiate arthropods), with its unique class Crustacea
(Crustaceans), represents one of the most thoroughly studied groups of organisms, with a
total of 513 taxa (486 species and 27 subspecies). The subclass Copepoda (Copepods) is
represented by 140 taxa (136 species and four subspecies), separated into three orders.
The order Cyclopoida is represented by 60 taxa (57 species and three subspecies), the
order Harpacticoida by 50 taxa (49 species and one subspecies) and the order Calanoida
by a small number of species (30). From the subclass Branchiura (Branchiurans), only
one species has been recorded to date – the Carp louse (Argulus foliaceus) in Doyran
Lake. The subclass Ostracoda (Ostracods) is represented by 172 species, the subclass
Branchiopoda by 105 species, the order Anostraca by seven species, the order
Notostraca by two species, the order Conchostraca by three species and the order
Cladocera by 93 species. The subclass of Malacostracans (Malacostraca) is represented