Vertical distribution and abundance of Ceriodaphnia quadrangula (O. F. Muller) (Crustacea, Cladocera)

Distribution and abundance of C. quadrangula (O. F. Muller) has been studied in two small lakes in the southern part ofthe English Lake District. Esthwaite Water (maximal depth 15 m) was sampled from 1958 to 1969 and Blelham Tarn (maximal depth 12 m) from 1961 to 1963. Samples in both lakes were taken with a 5-1 water bottle at a fixed station in deep water. No difference in vertical distribution between day and night samples was observed. The majority of individuals were located below 7 m in Esthwaite Water and above 8 m in Blelham Tarn. The seasonal cycle in the open water was from May to December with maximal abundance in September and October. Males and ephippial females regularly appeared in early October, irrespective of population density, water-temperature or the time of the overturn.     

Tropical zooplankton: phenotypic and spatial analyses of polymorphic Ceriodaphnia cornuta (Crustacea: Cladocera)

SUMMARY. 1. The predation-balanced polymorphism of Ceriodaphnia cornuta (a small-eyed horned form and a large-eyed unhorned form) in Lake Gatun, Panama, is re-examined approximately 12 years after the original study (Zaret, 1972a). We consider morphological variability, distribution and fecundity of the population inhabiting Laboratory Bay.
2. The two morphological characters emphasized by Zaret, eye size and horn length, are studied in detail. The C. cornuta population exhibits wide, yet continuous variation; coefficients of variation are 28% or eye diameter and range from 114% to 136% for horn and spine lengths. Phenotypic variation in the population is characterized by: (1) negative correlations between spine lengths and eye size; (2) positive correlations among spines from different body regions (anterior horn, lateral spines, and tail spine); and (3) weak correlations between body length and spine lengths.
3. While the horned and unhorned forms continue to coexist in Laboratory Bay. the frequencies of horned forms have increased in the open water areas since the time of the original study. The increase in horned form frequencies may be due to changes in fish predation intensity. Did vertical distribution patterns of the forms remain very similar to each other.
4. In contrast to previous laboratory findings, egg ratio calculations from field samples revealed similar clutch sizes for the horned and unhorned forms. The egg development time of the horned form, however, was found to be approximately 30% longer than that of the unhorned form, perhaps because of increased moulting difficulties produced by the presence of spines.     

Tolerance of Ceriodaphnia quadrangula and Diaphanosoma brachyurum(Crustacea: Cladocera) to experimental soft water acidification

We analysed in how far the decrease of pH, that is part of the ongoing restoration of the softwater Lake Windsborn (conductivity below 30 S cm^–1), may in future influence the occurrence of the two cladoceran species Ceriodaphnia quadrangula and Diaphanosoma brachyurum. In the field, the abundance of Ceriodaphnia was positively correlated with lake water pH, whereas there was no correlation between abundance and pH for D. brachyurum. Experiments on the tolerance against acidification included dynamic (24 h) and static tests (24, 48 h, 30 d), and were conducted with acidified lake water. C. quadrangula tolerated a slight acidification to pH 5.2, but not pH 4.8, whereas the NOEC value seems to be between pH 4.2 and 4.5 for D. brachyurum. Differences between the experimental NOEC values and field data may be explained by diurnal pH fluctuations and the low ion content of Lake Windsborn which puts an additional physiological challenge to its inhabitants.     

The influence of microbial food sources and aeration on the growth of Ceriodaphnia quadrangula (O.F.Müller) (Crustacea: Cladocera) under experimental conditions

Casual observations had shown that, in laboratory cultures, populations of Ceriodaphnia quadrangula (O. F. Muller) rarely persisted for more than a month at most. It is shown here that populations of C. quadrangula can be maintained in static water on a diet of mixed algae (mainly Scenedesmus quadricauda (Turp.) Brev., but if the water is disturbed by a slow current of ascending air bubbles, the numbers of C. quadrangula decline. Death is not, however, immediate, and at high densities populations may persist in disturbed water for several weeks before numbers start to decline. Numbers of C. quadrangula did not decline in disturbed water when the food was changed from the alga Scenedesmus to the animal Artemia salina (L.). Individuals of C. quadrangula in the presence of decomposing naupliar larvae of A. salina grew as well in disturbed as in static water and in static water their numbers increased at a greater rate on this animal diet than on an algal diet of Scenedesmus. When the bacterial populations associated with Scenedesmus were greatly reduced, there was no increase in the numbers of C. quandrangula. Microbes associated with Scenedesmus, and not the alga per se, seem to be used as food by C. quandrangula.     

Der Ankerapparat vonSida crystallina (Crustacea,Cladocera)

Zusammenfassung Die in eine Grundsubstanz eingebetteten Klebanker und Ankerfäden, mit deren Hilfe sichSida crystallina am Substrat befestigt, liegen auf der Epicuticula. Die Fäden sind mit der Epicuticula über Trennvorrichtungen verbunden. Die Sekretion der Ankerstrukturen durch die Epidermiszellen erfolgt zunächst in oberflächenparallelen Schichten. Später wird das Sekretionsfeld mit den Fadenenden nach hinten verschoben. Es folgt die Bildung der Trennstellen und schließlich die Sekretion der Cuticula. Nach der Häutung klappt die Ankerleiste in ihre funktionelle Stellung und die Procuticula skierotisiert.

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The anchor apparatus ofSida crystallina (Crustacea, Cladocera)II. Ultrastructure and formation

Summary Sida crystallina attaches itself to the substratum by adhesive anchors. Anchors and anchor threads are embedded in a matrix and situated on the epicuticle. The anchor threads are connected to the epicuticle by special junctions at which they can be separated. The new structures of the anchor organs, which are secreted by epidermal cells, are firstly laid down in layers parallel to the surface. Later the area of secretion becomes shifted backward. Then the junctions are formed and finely the secretion of the cuticle follows. After molting the anchor ledge turns out in its functional position and sclerotisation of the procuticle takes place.

     

The evolutionary history of the Chydoridae (Crustacea: Cladocera)

Although much is known about the evolutionary history of the pelagic 'cladocerans', there is little information on benthic families such as the Chydoridae. In this study, we examine the phylogenetic history of 37 chydorid species using sequence variation in two mitochondrial genes, COI and 16S rDNA, and one nuclear gene, 18S rDNA. The four recognized subfamilies of chydorids (Eurycercinae, Saycinae, Aloninae and Chydorinae) were well supported, being separated by large sequence divergences of 14.3–16.4%. By contrast, the existing taxonomic system appears to be less clear at a generic level, since many genera (e.g. Alona , Chydorus , Pleuroxus ) consist of an amalgam of distantly related species. However, among those genera which are monophyletic, levels of divergence are very high, suggesting that they originated somewhere in the mid-Palaeozoic. The factors involved in promoting diversification in this group are discussed.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 79, 629–643.     

Revision of the Genus BosminaBAIRD, 1845 (Crustacea,Cladocera)

The genus Bosmina can be differentiated into four subgenera: 1. Bosmina s. str. BAIRD , 1845, 2. Eubosmina SELIGO , 1900, 3. Neobosmina LIEDER , 1957, and 4. Sinobosmina LIEDER , 1957. Subgeneric discrimination is based upon several features of the females (postabdominal claw, serration of the mucro, patterns of the lateral head pores) and, mainly, upon certain differences in the morphology of the male (postabdomen and, according to LILLJEBORG 1900, BURCKHARDT 1924 and KOŘINEK 1971, the first leg). The distribution of the Bosmina subgenera throughout the world varies: Bosmina s. str. is distributed worldwide (except for Australia?), Eubosmina is holarctic, Neobosmina has been found in Africa, the neotropical zone, Australia and Oceania, and Sinobosmina occurs in East and South-East Asia.     

The Biogeography of Cladocera (Crustacea) in Tropical Australia

Ninetysix species of Cladocera, comprising 8 Sididae, 50 Chydoridae, 17 Macrothricidae, 5 Moinidae, 2 Bosminidae, and 14 Daphniidae, occur in tropical Australia. Of this number 38% are cosmopolitan including so-called cosmopolitan species, 13.5% are circumtropical, 13.5% occur as well innear by countries, and 35% are endemic. North Queensland is a major area of speciation. Species richness varies from north to south and from wetter coastal areas to the drier inland. Major factors influencing richness and distribution are the relative proportion of floodplain billabongs in an area, coupled with rainfall reliability. The most common species include Alonella clathratula, Chydorus nr. pubsecens, Macrothrix triserialis, Oxyurella singalensis, Ephemeroporus nr. barroisi, Dadaya macrops, Diaphanosoma sarsi, Ceriodaphnia cornuta, and Dunhevedia crassa.     

Redescription of Scapholeberis echinulata Sars 1903 (Crustacea,Cladocera)

Scapholeberis echinulata Sars is rediscribed, based on type material of Sars (S. echinulata), Daday (s. erinaceus) and the author's own samples. A differential diagnosis with Scapholeberis spinifera Nicolet and S. mucronata O. F. Müller, S. microcephala Sars, S. kingi Sars and S. aurita Fischer is given.     

Redescription of Diaphanosoma celebensis Stingelin, 1900 (Crustacea,Cladocera)

A rare species, Diaphanosoma celebensis (Stingelin, 1900) is redescribed from type material and material from the South of Vietnam. In comparative morphological aspect it is close to D. volzi, but it is relatively less specialized. D. celebensis is known from single locations in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam. It probably also occurs in Malaysia. The size frequency and sex structure of a population from Vietnam is described.     

First record of fossil Mesozoic Ctenopoda (Crustacea, Cladocera)

Pre-Pleistocene representatives of the crustacean order Ctenopoda Sars, 1865 are unknown. Here we describe Mesozoic fossil specimens of ctenopods from two localities in Mongolia: Khotont (Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary, about 145 Mya) and Khutel Khara (Lower Cretaceous, about 129 Mya). All specimens apparently belonged to the tribe Latonini Korovchinsky, 1986 of the subfamily Sidinae Baird, 1850. At the Khotont site, ctenopods were the most numerous microscopic animal fossils. We assigned these cladocerans to a new genus and species Archelatona zherikhini gen. nov., sp. nov. Our findings support a pre-Cretaceous origin for cladocerans.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 146 , 269–274.     

Ultrastructural investigations on the labral glands of Daphnia obtusa (Crustacea,Cladocera)

The labral glands of Daphnia consist of three distinct functional units on each side: (1) several cells at the base of the head, (2) two large cells at the base of the labrum and one large cell (cell A) in the median part of the labrum and (3) one large cell (cell B) in the median part of the labrum. These gland cells do not form a syncytium, contrary to reports by previous investigators. With the exception of cell B, they have a well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and many active Golgi complexes. The Golgi activity changes during the molt cycle. The Golgi activity of the cells of the head base is different from that of the large cells of the labrum. Since clear exocytotic phenomena were not observed, the secretion can be assumed to flow into the hemolymph after accumulation in the enlarged intercellular spaces. Cell B has a distinctive cytoplasmic ultrastructure the function of which is not yet understood. The four large cells of the labrum are in contact with a duct cell (or several duct cells) characterized by a deep infolding of the plasma membrane. This delimits a narrow lumen, which contains no secretion. No passage of substance is visible from the gland cells to the duct cell(s).     

A revision of the Scapholeberinae (Crustacea: Cladocera)

The group of hyponeustonic daphniid cladocera previously known under the generic name Scapholeberis is raised to the rank of a subfamily (Scapholeberinae) and contains two genera, Megafenestra n.gen. (2 species), and Scapholeberis s.s. (7 species and one subspecies). The characters upon which this revision is based are: structure of the rostrum, structure of the first antennae, structure of trunk limbs 1, 2, and 5, presence and nature of headpore(s), structure of the ventral rim of the valves, armature of the distal rim of the valves, structure of the postabdomen and its end-claws. Males were examined in all but two species, and proved to be more primitive than females and much less diagnostic than in the Chydoridae. It also appeared that the shape and armature of the postabdomen are less important taxonomical tools than heretofore supposed. In more than half of the species, it is of generalised shape and hardly usable beyond the species-group level. The same, although less drastically, holds true for the P1 of males. Of greatest diagnostic value at the species level are the shape of the rostrum and the armature of the valve margins. A phylogeny of the subfamily is proposed, with Megafenestra as the more primitive genus, closely allied to Ceriodaphnia, and within Scapholeberis, S. mucronata as the most apomorphic species. In biogeographical respect, no species is cosmopolitan, although their ranges may be of continental dimensions. Species and populations appear to concentrate in the temperate and continental climate belts of the northern hemisphere, but more research in the southern hemisphere is needed. A key for the identification of all species is given.     

Palaeolimnological investigations in Poland based on Cladocera (Crustacea)

The results of subfossil Cladocera analysis obtained from deposits of 26 lakes throughout Poland have been presented. For years throughout Poland a broad range of palaeolimnological studies have been conducted. Their aim is to discover the historical development of water basins and climatic changes in the course of the last 13,000 years and also to investigate the gradual influence of man on the ecosystem with particular emphasis on the last few decades. The hitherto obtained results of palaeolimnological studies, including the results of Cladocera analysis, have yielded information about the development of lakes and provided the basis for plans of certain reservoirs and their basins. Over the past years, analysis of subfossil Cladocera has become one of the leading palaeolimnological methods. The results of detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of Cladocera remains from sediments of 15 lakes allowed for a reconstruction of the lakes' development. The littoral and limnetic regions, changing trophy, from oligotrophy to advanced eutrophication, changes in pH and fluctuation of water levels, as well as changes resulting from settlement — from Mesolithic and Neolithic through Medieval times until the present — have been reconstructed. For individual lakes, phases of Cladocera development and periods of eutrophication were indicated which partially correlated with certain pollen zones as well as periods of human impact and geochemical effects.     

The ultrastructure of the posterior gut and caecum inAlona affinis (Crustacea,Cladocera)

Summary The posterior midgut, the anterior hindgut and the caecum ofAlona affinis were studied by transmission electron microscopy. The caecum arises from the junction of the entodermal midgut and the ectodermal hindgut. It consists of gastrodermis and epidermis. Because of the ultrastructural similarity of the caecum with the posterior midgut and the anterior hindgut it is concluded that the caecum is a functional supplement of the latter gut parts. But the functional significance of these gut parts is poorly understood. Some ultrastructural features suggest that they contribute in excretion and salt regulation.Abbreviations Au autolysosome - Ba bacteria - Bl basal lamina - Ca canaliculi - Cae caecum - Crc crypt cell - Cu cuticle - Ec epicuticle - Ep epidermis - G Golgi complex - Hae hemolymph - Hc head cell - La basal labyrinth - Lu gut lumen - lMv long microvilli - Mg midgut - Mi mitochondria - mC mitochondria rich cell - nBc new border cell - Nc neck cell - Nu nucleus - oBc old border cell - Pc procuticle - pMe peritrophic membrane - pMg posterior midgut - Rm ring muscle - S secretion (? uncertain) - sMv short microvilli - vC vacuolated cell     

The effect of different algal densities of Scenedesmus acuminatus on the population growth of Moina micrura Kurz (Crustacea: Anomopoda,Moinidae)

Six densities (0.5 × 10⁶, 1.0 × 10⁶, 1.5 × 10⁶, 2.0 × 10⁶, 3.0 × 10⁶, and 4.0 × 10⁶ cells ml^–1) of the micro-alga Scenedesmus acuminatus, were fed to the cladoceran, Moina micrura, in 40-litre glass aquaria. Moina population increased with increasing cell densities of Scenedesmus only up to treatment 3 (i.e. 1.5 × 10⁶ cells ml^–1) where a peak population of 11303 individuals per litre was obtained. Moinapopulation growth was inhibited at higher algal densities. The percentage of egg-bearing females and the number of eggs per egg-bearing females, followed a similar pattern. Comparatively, the peak production density of approximately 11000 Moina per litre, is interesting from a mass production point of view and indicates that S. acuminatus is a satisfactory micro-alga food for M. micrura.     

The Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) as a relict group

According to the fossil record and DNA data, the Cladocera is an ancient crustacean group. Recent revisions make their taxonomy amenable to zoogeographical analysis. A bipolar (antitropical) disjunct distribution of faunal complexes and taxa ( Daphnia , Daphniopsis , Pleuroxus , Tretocephala , etc.), the wide ranges of some species and narrow restriction of others, the presence of isolated populations and the concentration of endemics in the warm temperate – subtropical zone of both hemispheres are traits of cladoceran zoogeography. These enable us to compare them with better studied (both living and fossil) plants, invertebrates and vertebrates, and to analyse their faunal formation by the modern version of the concept of 'ejected relicts' instead of vicariance. This reveals the extant Cladocera as a relict group, whose taxa were widely distributed in the past. Tertiary climatic changes, primarily within the present tropical and boreal latitudes, resulted in mass extinction of their biotas, while the warm temperate – subtropical regions remained comparatively unchanged. Although most recent Cladocera have relict status, others such as the D. pulex and D. longispina species groups and the subgenus Eubosmina are evolutionary young and show recent speciation.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 147 , 109–124.     

The ultrastructure of the so-called olfactory setae on the antennula ofDaphnia magna Straus (Crustacea,Cladocera)

A group of nine sensory setae is found on the tip of the antennula ofDaphnia magna in both sexes. Inside a seta four dendrites are situated, each with one receptor cilium. The receptor cilia extend through a liquor space into the exterior part of the seta. The exterior part of the liquor space is divided from the interior part by a knob-like thickening of the innermost layer of the epicuticle, the basal bead. The basal bead narrows the liquor space and the receptor cilia. The interior part of the liquor space is surrounded by five sheath cells, the exterior part by a thin cuticle. In the exterior part the receptor cilia branch partly and reach a terminal pellet on the tip of the seta. The terminal pellet is a thickened part of the epicuticle. It is permeable to several dissolved substances. It is the exterior part of the receptor that projects over the tip of the antennula and seems to be the entire seta. During the premoult the fifth sheath cell builds up the articulation of the seta, the fourth the basal bead, and the third the shaft of the seta. The first sheath cell forms the cuticular sheath. The organ seems to be a chemoreceptor, but the adequate stimulus is as yet unknown.