The filtration apparatus of Anostraca (Crustacea): species-specific setulation in the genus Streptocephalus

The structure of the setae, setules, spines and spinules on the limbs of males and females of Streptocephalus torvicornis, S. rubricaudatus and S. proboscideus are described, based on scanning electron micrographs. The data disclose significant variation among the three species in fine structure of the setules and inter-setular distance. The variation may be related to different trophic specialisations, facilitating the sympatric occurrence of congeneric species.     

Streptocephalus caljoni n.sp. (Crustacea: Anostraca) from Burundi and analysis of its limb structure

Streptocephalus caljoni n. sp. from Burundi is described. It is related to Streptocephalus trifidus, but differs from it and other Streptocephalus in the cheliform hand of the male antenna II. We also analyse the morphology of the setae on the endo- and exopodite of the fifth trunk limb, using light- and scanning electron microscopy. This analysis reveals additional differences between the two related species, and is a useful tool in the study of the taxonomy of the Anostraca.     

Observations on temperature optimum,cyst production,and survival of Streptocephalus proboscideus (Frauenfeld, 1873) (Crustacea: Anostraca), fed different diets

Somatic growth in S. proboscideus, fed Chlorella vulgaris increased with temperature reaching a plateau after about 8 to 11 days at between 26 and 31 °C. Survival was best below 29 °C. Fertility (the number of cysts produced per female) and survival, tested at 27 °C, demonstrated some variability as a function of the composition of four different diets. However, large variances and few replicates make exact evaluation impossible.It was found that S. proboscideus can successfully be cultured, using a variety of food sources. Only pure Spirulina platensis gave unsatisfactory results in terms of low cyst production and high mortality. Filamentous blue-green algae, because of their possible toxicity, should preferably be excluded from formulated diets.     

Structural differences between the cyst walls of Streptocephalus dichotomus (Baird), S. torvicornis (Waga), and Thamnocephalus platyurus (Packard) (Crustacea: Anostraca), and a comparison with other genera and species

The surface topography and layering of the cyst wall of the fairy shrimps Streptocephalus dichotomus, S. torvicornis and Thamnocephalus platyurus are described, based on scanning electron micrographs. Cyst walls are not invariably bilayered, but may be composed of up to four layers. They are species-specific in all taxa so far studied. Cyst wall structure within single cysts may differ according to the topographical location on the cyst.     

On predatory tendencies in the feeding ecology of the fairy shrimp Streptocephalus proboscideus (Frauenfeld, 1873) (Crustacea: Anostraca)

The feeding habits of the filter-feeding fairy shrimp Streptocephalus proboscideus are documented experimentally by offering them ciliates, Volvox, rotifers, nematodes and small crustaceans as prey. Escape capabilities (e.g. swimming speed) rather than size or shape were found to determine these animals' vulnerability to predation by the fairy shrimp. Ingestion rates for Volvox increased hyperbolically with size and, at the high temperatures in which they live, fairy shrimps may daily remove the equivalent of their body weight from the environment.     

Evidence for sex-related differences in phototactic bahaviour ofStreptocephalus proboscideus (Crustacea: Anostraca)

The phototactic behaviour of adults of the Sudanese fairy shrimpStreptocephalus probiscideus was studied under laboratory conditions. Males were less negatively phototactic than females. This was also evident when colour filters were used. females only became little less negatively phototactic under yellow light, whereas males showed a strong positively phototactic response. The response to the positioning of a yellow filter was stronger than to the use of a red or blue filter for both sexes. The laboratory findings were compared with casual field observations onStreptocaphalus torvicornis that indicate differential vertical distribution between the sexes and a nocturnal vertical migration. Migratory behaviour with ascent starting at dusk is also predicted forS. proboscideus. This behaviour may reduce common stress factors in desert pools such as photodamage, visual predation pressure, and high surface temperatures.     

Effect of zooplankton type and abundance on prey consumption by the fairy shrimp, Streptocephalus proboscideus (Anostraca: Crustacea)

Laboratory cultured Streptocephalus proboscideus (three sizes (mm), viz. 8.44 ± 0.95 (virgin), 14.18 ± 1.49 (adult I) and 19.24 ± 1.52 (adult II)) were offered (separately for males and females) field collected zooplankton (12 prey types) at three levels of abundance (1.0 ml⁻¹, 2.0 ml⁻¹ and 4.1 ind. ml⁻¹ in 30-minute feeding experiments. Gut contents, analyzed for abundance and diversity of prey type, showed that predator size, sex and their interaction had strong effects on prey consumption. Regardless of their size, and of prey density, S. proboscideus females consumed 25–90% more prey than males. Their filtration rates (adult II) were higher (125 ml ind.⁻¹ h.⁻¹) than those of males (30 ml ind.⁻¹ h.⁻¹) too. Rotifers had the highest numerical percentage in the gut, regardless of predator size or sex. Cladocerans were only consumed by adults I and II. Adult II females consumed 28.5–43.3 μg zooplankton dry weight ind.⁻¹ h.⁻¹. Size distribution of B. longirostris in the field and in the gut were closely similar. This study confirms S. proboscideus as a non-selective filter feeder. Since it did not eat jumping rotifers, copepod nauplii and copepodites, it may contribute to structuring its prey communities, because good escapers will be enriched in the medium, while poor escapers will be depleted.     

Predatory Filter-Feeding in Fairy Shrimps: Functional Response of Streptocephalus proboscideus (Crustacea: Anostraca) Fed Anuraeopsis fissa (Rotifera)

Four size classes of both sexes of laboratory-cultured Streptocephalus proboscideus (post-metanauplii 4.7±0.4; juvenile virgins 8.7±0.7; adults I 13.8±0.9, and adults II 22.07±1.1 mm) were fed five concentrations (20 to 320 ml⁻¹) of Anuraeopsis fissa, or six concentrations (20 to 640 ml⁻¹) in adults I and adults II, for 30 minutes. Post-metanauplii consumed at maximum 66±9 rotifers ind.⁻¹ min.⁻¹ (mean±S.D.) while the largest adult females maximally ingested 347±37 rotifers min.⁻¹. Regardless of predator size and sex, prey consumption was dependent on prey density. Functional response curves either plateaued or declined at 320 prey ml⁻¹ in post-metanauplii, juveniles and adults I, and at 640 ml⁻¹ in adults II. Females consumed c. 40% more prey than males. On a daily basis, adult II females consumed up to 1.05 mg rotifer dry weight (10% of their own body weight) while post-metanauplii consumed up to 0.2 mg DW (100% of their body weight). Intermediate stages had intermediate consumption rates. Filtration rates indicated that a fully grown S. proboscideus may filter as much as 2 1 of water per day, suggesting that fairy shrimps, in their natural environment, may often be food-limited.     

Distribution and morphological variation of Streptocephalus torvicornis (Waga, 1842) in Northern Africa

The known range of S. torvicornis is extended to areas of the Western and Central Sahara and Sahel. Morphological variation between populations is important, and cannot be accomodated within the known Iberian and Maghrebian subspecific taxa, which appear untenable. A grouping of populations according to drainage basins appears, however, possible. Populations of the Hoggar, Air, and Tibesti waters, draining towards the Soudanian zone, are more closely related than populations from waters draining towards the Atlantic. Tassili-n-ajjer populations from Central Algeria have individual characteristics, and deserve further study.     

Larviculture of the fairy shrimp,Streptocephalus proboscideus (Crustacea: Anostraca): effect of food concentration and physical and chemical properties of the culture medium

Food concentration (0.5 × 10³ – 5 × 10⁵ Scenedesmus cells m1^–1) significant influenced the somatic growth, maturation and survivorship ofS. proboscideus larvae. A density of 5 × 10⁴ cells m1^–1 was optimal for early larval stages. Of four temperature tested (20–35 °C), 30 °C resulted in the best growth and survival. Maturation time was inversely related to temperature, and was size- rather that age-dependent. Larvae were tolerant of a wide conductivity range, but optimal growth and survival were observed at 260 µS cm^–1. Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO₂-N) caused a larval mortality of 50% after 24 h at 0.58 mg1^–1.     

Uptake of lead,cadmium and zinc by the fairy shrimp,Branchinecta longiantenna (Crustacea: Anostraca)

Individuals of the fairy shrimp, Branchinecta longiantenna, were subjected to 5 concentrations (0.1 to 15 mg l^–1) of Pb in diluted habitat water at 13 °C. Lead concentrations (mg kg^–1 wet weight) in the animals were determined at 2-day intervals by digestion in nitric acid followed by atomic absorption analysis. The shrimp were also subjected to 0.1 mg l^–1 media of Cd and Zn, separately.Uptake rates by the fairy shrimp for the three metal ions at 0.1 mg l^–1 were: 0.111, 0.0885, and 0.0460 mg kg^–1 day^–1 for Zn, Pb, and Cd, respectively. After 2 days in 1.0 mg l^–1 Cd or Zn, the animals expired; but they surviced for 8 days in a 10 mg l^–1 Pb medium and for 2 days in 25 mg l^–1 Pb. Lead uptake demonstrated a linear dependence on the Pb concentration in the media.Shrimp survived at much higher tissue accumulations of Pb compared to Zn and Cd. Estimated lethal doses were 20, 1.2–2.4, and 0.4–1.4 mg kg^–1 wet weight for Pb, Zn, and Cd, respectively. Pb was found to be at much lower concentration than Cd or Zn in the natural pond water but between Cd and Zn levels in the sediment. Thus Cd and Zn probably present a greater threat to B. longiantenna than Pb, although Pb may be in higher concentration in the environment.Contribution 47, Laboratory of Ecology, The Claremont Colleges, Claremont, CA 91711, USA. Send reprint requests to Clyde Eriksen.     

Fatty acid and amino acid composition of two fairy shrimp species (Crustacea,Anostraca) from Italy: Chirocephalus diaphanus and Chirocephalus kerkyrensis

The fairy shrimps Chirocephalus kerkyrensis and C. diaphanus show a high EFA concentration as compared with other marine and freshwater organisms. Based on its 18:3w3 and 20:5w3 FA pattern, C. kerkyrensis is comparable with marine-type Artemia; C. diaphanus, on the contrary, is rich in both these essential fatty acids. Both species contain 22:6w3, a fatty acid seldom found in Artemia.     

On the presence of the genus Branchinecta Verrill, 1869 (Crustacea,Anostraca) in Yugoslavia

The genus Branchinecta Verrill, 1869 is represented in Yugoslavia by two species: Branchinecta ferox (Milne-Edwards, 1840) and Branchinecta orientalis G.O. Sars, 1901. The first species was collected in the steppe-like province of Banat, Pannonian Lowland, and in the lowland around the Skadar Lake, Montenegro, the second only in the province of Banat.On the basis of rich material of both species, a detailed study of the most essential morphological characters has been carried out and comparisons have been made with data in the literature. In B. ferox, significant morphological deviations are not found, whereas, in B. orientalis, essential features are clearly ascertained which were previously unknown or were not stated with sufficient precision. B. ferox is known to appear in small, temporary, natronsoda water rainpools, while B. orientalis has been found in a large temporary inundation pool with a high content of natronsoda and salt in the water.     

Biogeography and ecology of Anostraca (Crustacea) in middle Paroo catchment of the Australian arid-zone

Fourteen species of Branchinella and one each of Parartemia, Streptocephalus (Parastreptocephalus) and an undescribed branchipodid genus occur in a limited area (2000 km²) of the Paroo in northwestern New South Wales and southwestern Queensland. Syntopic coexistence was common (55% of collections) but to a large degree species interactions are minimized by habitat factors of turbidity, salinity and length of the wet phase in decreasing order of importance, and by a species factor of relative size. Discrete habitats such as claypans had a similar species composition each time they filled, but creek pools and other connected sites had variable species composition over time. The high biodiversity is explained by the presence of many distinct types of wetlands, each with their own characteristic anostracans.     

Rice bran as a diet for culturing Streptocephalus proboscideus (Crustacea: Anostraca)

We cultured Streptocephalus proboscideus using rice bran as a food source, and compared its growth, mortality, fertility, and cyst hatching with published data on animals fed other food sources. We also analysed the fatty acid profile of animals and cysts. The performance of rice-bran fed shrimp was indistinguishable from that of shrimp fed most other formulated diets, but there are indications that some previously applied diets were either defective in essential fatty acids, or toxic.     

Sex-linked differences in phenol oxidase in the fairy shrimp Streptocephalus dichotomus Baird and their possible role (Crustacea: Anostraca)

Phenol oxidase activity in the hemolymph of male Streptocephalus dichotomus is only 1/3rd of that of females. About 70% of this activity resides in cell lysate and 30% in plasma. Electrophoretic analysis revealed that male plasma has a single fraction of tyrosine hydroxylase, evidenced by positivity towards tyrosine methylester-PMS-NBT. Female hemolymph has as many as three isozymes showing diphenoloxidase activity. The significance of these results is discussed with reference to sex-linked enzyme activity and its possible role in longevity. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Branchinecta belki n. sp. (Branchiopoda: Anostraca), a new fairy shrimp from Mexico,hybridizing withB. packardi Pearse under laboratory conditions

A new fairy shrimp,Branchinecta belki n.sp., endemic to the south of Coahuila state is described and figured. A total of nine species of phyllopods, including the new species, occur in ponds in the type area.The laboratory hybridization ofB. belki andB. packardi through no-choice mating tests in reciprocal crosses is discussed. A mixture of characteristics of parental species is present in male F1 and F2 hybrids. This may provide a biological tool, or search image (sensu Wiman, 1979a), for detecting male hybrids, should such exist, between theBranchinecta species of this study in nature. In addition to the reported interspecific hybridizations inStreptocephalus (Wiman, 1979a & 1979b) and inArtemia (Bowenet al., 1985) under laboratory conditions, the new evidence inBranchinecta suggests that absence of efficient premating mechanisms may be common in Anostraca.     

A New Species of Streptocephalus Fairy Shrimp (Crustacea,Anostraca) with Tetrahedral Cysts from Central Thailand

A new species of fairy shrimp, Streptocephalus siamensis n. sp., is described from five temporary pools in Suphan Buri and Kanchana Buri Provinces, central Thailand. It sometimes co‐occurs with its congener, S. sirindhornae . This new species belongs to the subgenus Parastreptocephalus which is defined by bearing tetrahedral cysts. This is the third anostracan species reported from Thailand. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The fairy shrimp genus Branchinella Sayce (Crustacea: Anostraca: Thamnocephalidae) in Western Australia,including a description of four new species

The genus Branchinella is diverse in Western Australia, with 18 species, including four new species described here. B. complexidigitata n. sp. is characterized by an intricate frontal appendage, unlike any within the genus. The other three are less remarkable; B. halsei n. sp. is like B. lyrifera, B. kadjikadji n. sp. belongs to the B. affinis group and B. nana n. sp. is similar to B. simplex; similarities are based on frontal appendage and to a lesser extent on the second antennae and penis. Only two species, B. affinis and B. longirostris, are common and widespread; many of the remainder being localized endemics. The high diversity in Western Australia is explained by broad latitudinal range, habitat diversity, and great age and isolation of the landscape.