In contrast to the well-studied trematode fauna of lymnaeid snails, only little is known about the role of small planorbid snails as first intermediate hosts for trematodes in temperate freshwater systems. This study aims at closing this gap by assessing the diversity and composition of larval trematode communities in Gyraulus albus and Segmentina nitida in a Central European reservoir system, and by providing an updated comprehensive review of the published trematode records of these snail hosts. A total of 3691 planorbid snails (3270 G. albus; 421 S. nitida) was collected in three consecutive years from four reservoirs of the River Ruhr catchment area in Germany. Gyraulus albus showed a higher overall trematode prevalence (11.7%) and more diverse trematode fauna (12 species) compared to S. nitida, which harboured three species and showed a lower trematode prevalence (1.7%). Altogether, 13 trematode species belonging to four families were identified in both hosts. Seven trematode species encountered in this study represent novel records for these hosts, and/or constitute first records of these larval stages from Germany. Trematode component communities in G. albus were stable across seasons and years, indicating excellent conditions for trematodes in this snail host and the continuous presence of the final hosts of the most dominant trematode species. Overall, this study reveals the importance of small planorbid snails, in particular G. albus, as first intermediate hosts for a species-rich trematode fauna in European freshwater systems, and highlights the parasites' contribution to the ecosystem's biodiversity.

Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research University of Duisburg Essen Universitätsstraße 5 45141 Essen Germany

Department of Zoology University of Johannesburg PO Box 524 2006 Auckland Park Johannesburg South Africa

Department of Zoology University of Otago P O Box 56 Dunedin 9054 New Zealand

Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice Branišovská 31 370 05 České Budějovice Czech Republic

Institute of Parasitology Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Branišovská 31 370 05 České Budějovice Czech Republic

Water Research Group Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management North West University Private Bag X6001 Potchefstroom 2520 South Africa

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