Checklist of the Anostraca

In this checklist, we number the named anostracan fauna of the world at 258 species and seven subspecies oraganized in 21 genera. The list contains all species described through 31 December 1993, and those new species names made available in previous pages of this volume. The most species rich genus isStreptocephalus with 58 described species level taxa.Chirocephalus with 43,Brachinecta 35, andBranchinella 33 occupy the next three places. With the exception ofBranchipodopsis andEubranchipus each having 16 species, all the other genera include less than 10 species each. The need for zoogeographic study of these animals is demonstrated by the fact that almost 25% of the named taxa are known only from their type localities.     

Anostracan cysts found in California salt lakes

The salt lakes of California are home to four genera and eight species of Anostraca. The cysts of most of these species are readily distinguished using a combination of cyst and geographic characters. Cyst identification is a valuable tool that can allow a look at fairy shrimp ecology when adults are not available. For example, fossil anostracan cysts from 500-year-old Mono Lake sediments show more character variation than currently exists in extant Artemia monica, indicating a greater diversity of Anostraca at that time. Continuing desertification, both natural and man-made, in the Mono Lake area over the last 500 years is associated with decreased diversity in the Mono Lake anostracan fauna.     

New records of large branchiopods (Branchiopoda: Anostraca,Notostraca, and Spinicaudata) in Mexico

This paper reports new distribution records of large branchiopods for Mexico following a three year survey of the Baja California peninsula. The occurance of the anostracans Thamnocephalus mexicanus (Linder, 1941) and T. platyurus (Packard, 1877), the notostracan Lepidurus lemmoni (Holmes, 1894), and the spinicaudatans Eulimnadia cylindrova (Belk, 1989) and E. texana (Packard,1871), all represent the first records for the peninsula. An undescribed species of the anostracan genus Streptocephalus is recorded from the state of Baja California (Norte). The occurrence of the notostracan genus Triops and four other anostracan species on the peninsula is also confirmed. The conchostracan Cyclestheria hislopi (Baird, 1859) is recorded from the state of Quintana Roo. The collections of Lepidurus and Cyclestheria are the first records for México. These records increase the number of species of large branchiopods reported fromMéxico to 36: 20 Anostraca, 3 Notostraca, 11 Spinicaudata, and 2Laevicaudata. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Patterns in the distribution of Arctic freshwater zooplankton related to glaciation history

We analysed circumpolar samples from 68 lakes within the 10°C-July isotherm from Arctic Canada, Nunavut, Greenland, Svalbard, Eastern Siberia, the Beringia region, and Alaska. In total, we found 3 species of Anostraca, 17 of Diplostraca, 1 species of cyclopoid and 14 species of calanoid copepods. Our study identifies a wider distribution for some copepods—e.g. Eurytemora pacifica, Leptodiaptomus sicilis, Arctodiaptomus novosibiricus, Cyclops abyssorum—than previously known. Moreover, one anostracan species, Artemiopsis bungei, was recorded in North America for the first time; and one chydoriid, Chydorus gibbus, is a new species for Greenland. We observed that species richness of crustaceans is lower in lakes that were glaciated during the Quaternary period, compared to those not glaciated (e.g. Chukotski Peninsula, Siberia; Point Barrow, Alaska; and Disko Island, Greenland). This confirms the findings of classic studies: glaciation has strongly affected the biogeography of freshwater crustaceans in circumpolar areas. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Diversity and zoogeography of the fairy shrimps (Branchiopoda: Anostraca) on the Indian subcontinent

The Indian subcontinent has a specific biogeographical history, but has remained understudied with respect to invertebrates like the Anostraca. In this study, we discuss the anostracan diversity and zoogeography on the subcontinent. We collected all pertinent literature and considered nineteen bioclimatic variables along with altitude and its terrestrial ecoregions. The study area was overlaid with 10,000 km² grids, and five hundred random GIS data points per grid were extracted for analysis besides the species locality data. Species richness estimators predict at least 3–4 more species to the existing list of 19 species. The beta diversity measure βsim reveals two zoogeographic “zones,” viz., a Northern (NZ) zone and the rest of the subcontinent (RS) comprising the Central (CZ) and South (SZ) zones by Unweighted Pair-Group Method using arithmetic averages clustering and Analysis of Similarity. Complementarity index shows that no fauna is shared between NZ and RS, while CZ and SZ share 50% of the species. Principal Component analysis shows that NZ and RS differ somewhat from one another climatically. NZ and RS have different ecoregions with montane and temperate grasslands commonly observed in NZ while the latter comprising tropical forests, implying differences in soil geochemistry which is crucial for anostracan distribution.     

Field evidence of dispersal of branchiopods, ostracods and bryozoans by teal (Anas?crecca) in the Camargue (southern France)

Invertebrate propagules may survive internal and external transports by waterbirds, thus facilitating their dispersal between aquatic habitats. However, field data on such transport remain limited, especially for exozoochory. We quantified and compared the rates of internal and external invertebrate transports simultaneously in a wintering population of teal (Anas crecca) in the Camargue (southern France). We inspected lower gut (rectum) contents of birds that had been shot (N = 366) and washed birds that had been live-trapped (N = 68) during the winters 2006–2007 and 2007–2008. At least one propagule was recorded in 2.5% and 10.3% of internal and external samples, respectively. Cladoceran, ostracod, plumatellid bryozoan and anostracan propagules were all recorded in both internal and external samples. Hatching confirmed their viability, except for anostracan eggs. At least three cladoceran species and two ostracod species were recorded, none of which had previously been shown to be dispersed by birds. Amongst external samples, we recorded a significant seasonal trend in 1 year with most propagules recorded before December, keeping with a seasonal decline in the availability of propagules on the water surface. This study provides evidence that teal may be important vectors of invertebrate dispersal both within the Camargue and along migratory flyways.     

Temporary pools are not `enemy-free'

Temporary pools are traditionally considered as refuges where the conspicuous anostracans are protected from predation. While this is true for the size-selective predation by fish, there is compelling evidence that invertebrate predation is an important biotic stress regulating temporary pool communities. In rock pools in southeastern Botswana, we studied the impact of some suspected invertebrate predators on populations of the freshwater anostracan Branchipodopsis wolfi by means of observations and manipulative experiments. In a survey of 45 pools, the relationship between B. wolfi natural population sizes and the abundance of suspected predators were never negative for turbellarians and mosquito larvae. When dragonfly larvae, notonectids or tadpoles were present, the anostracan populations were generally non-existent or very small. In enclosure experiments with turbellarians, there was a significant effect of predation within one hour of the start; the average daily predation rate was about 1/4 anostracan per turbellarian. Anostracans from a pool with few turbellarians were slightly less vulnerable than those from a turbellarian-rich pool. Furthermore, there was an indication of males being predated on more than females. With dragonfly larvae and notonectids, the predation effect was marked with all six anostracans in an experiment eaten in less than one day by a single predator (predation rate: about one anostracan every 2 h per predator). In a behavioral study, both sexes of B. wolfi avoided swimming above sediment that held more turbellarians than the open patches; there was no evidence for chemical communication with respect to this behavior.     

Distribution,diversity and conservation of Anostraca (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) in southern Africa

Southern Africa is defined here as Africa south of the Zambezi and Kunene Rivers. Here, annual average rainfall, rainfall season, and effective temperature are climatic factors which influence anostracan distribution. The type of temporary pool also appears to have some effect on distribution. Areas of high species richness are not confined to any particular climatic region and such areas occur in arid, montane and subtropical regions of southern Africa. Forty-six anostracan species have been recorded from the subcontinent and 80% of these are endemic. IUCN Red Data assessment of species revealed that two species can be considered 'Critically Endangered', while a further four are 'Endangered', and three are 'Vulnerable'. Many parts of southern Africa have been inadequately sampled but in South Africa, where the anostracans are relatively well known, temporary pool inhabitants are threatened mainly by agriculture, urbanization, pollution and pesticides. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Resilience of anostracan cysts to fire

California's Mediterranean ecosystems include shrubland and grassland vegetation types that are fire-prone. Dotted within this landscape are ephemeral wetlands called vernal pools. Since surrounding upland vegetation is adapted to survive fire, it is expected that vernal pool organisms should be able to survive as well. One group of animals common to vernal pools are anostracan crustaceans that survive the pool's dry period as encysted embryos. We hydrated anostracan cysts from the soil of a recently burned pool and from soil samples intentionally burned in a prescribed fire. We also sampled burned pools when refilled the next rainy season. We found that anostracan cysts in the soil can survive fire and that shrimp occur in pools in the first post-burn season. This information is important from a management perspective concerning fire effects, controlled or natural, on vernal pools and their rare and endangered species. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The malariology centenary (1898-1998). 1898

This editorial note presents the journal initiative to celebrate the Malariology Centenary. It includes the reprint of the first annual report of the Society for Malaria Studies (founded in 1898), presented by Angelo Celli on December 3rd, 1898, to the first meeting of the Society and published in the Journal of the Royal Italian Society of Hygiene (volume 20, issue 12, 31st December 1898). The text is followed by explanatory footnotes and relevant references. An exhaustive historical essai, including the english version of the Celli's report, is scheduled to appear as supplement to volume 41, and the same volume will host the contributions issued from the international conference. "The malaria challenge after one hundred years of malariology", held in Roma at the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei on November 16-19, 1998.