Genotypic characteristics of the Cladocera

Work on the genetics of cladocerans reproducing by cyclic parthenogenesis has indicated that populations usually include a large number of genotypes, whose frequencies are in close approximation to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Less diverse genotypic arrays and pronounced instability in genotype frequencies occur only in permanent populations exposed to limited ephippial recruitment. Genetic diversification among local cladoceran populations is greater than in most other organisms as a consequence of the inefficiency of passive dispersal. Genotypic characteristics of cladocerans reproducing by obligate parthenogenesis are markedly different from those of cyclic parthenogens. Local populations include few clones, but genetic distances between them are often large and accompanied by significant ecological and morphological divergence. When considered over their entire range, cladoceran taxa reproducing by obligate asexuality are the most genotypically diverse asexual organisms known. This diversity has originated from the spread of a sex-limited meiosis suppressor through species that originally reproduced by cyclic parthenogenesis. The confused state of cladoceran taxonomy is partially a consequence of the presence of such obligately asexual groups, but also results from the occurrence of hybridization and sibling species. The genome size of cladocerans is exceptionally small and is associated with a large amount of endopolyploidy. Somatic tissues in adult cladocerans show a range in nuclear DNA content from 2–2048 c. DNA quantification studies have additionally revealed the frequent occurrence of polyploid clones in obligately asexual taxa.     

福建淡水枝角类及其区系

本文记录了福建淡水枝角类7科25属71种,其中25种为福建新纪录.文章分析了福建淡水枝角类的区系特点,并与邻近地区进行了比较.     

福建淡水枝角类及其区系

本文记录了福建淡水枝角类７科２５属７１种,其中２５种为福建新记录,文章分析了福建淡水枝角类的区系特点,并与邻近地区进行了比较。     

Osmoregulatory capacity of the Cladocera

Within the order Cladocera are found almost all varieties of osmotic regulation, which make it possible for them to live in waters of a wide range of salt concentrations. Many Cladocera are very powerful osmoregulators and are comparable to the teleosts and decapod crustaceans in their abilities. The variety of osmoregulatory capacities within the cladocerans are illustrated and discussed. The function of mitochondrion-rich ion transporting cells found in nuchal glands or on epipodites are diseussed and the physiological mechanisms involved in osmoregulation are compared with similar mechanisms in other crustaceans and in teleosts. Data is provided on osinotic regulation in eggs and embryos in open and elosed brood chambers. Other topics include the occurrence of physiological races in some species, recent changes in osmoregulatory abilities following man-induced changes in salinity, the effects of temperature on osmoregulation and the effects of pH.     

The evolution of groundwater Cladocera

Cladocera occur in various types of groundwater, but are most common in the underflow of rivers. Numerous surface water species occasionally venture into groundwater; some chydorids are more common in groundwaters than in surface waters; at least three groups within Alona, finally, have evolved exclusive groundwater species. The latter show few obvious adaptations to the subterranean habitat, except loss of an eye or total blindness. Some, however, have conserved an array of primitive characters (e.g. on the end-claw of the postabdomen, and the setation of the valve rims) which suggest that the physical protection and relative constancy of the hyporheic has permitted the survival of some ancient taxa.     

Groundwater Cladocera: A synopsis

A review is given of our present knowledge on the Cladocera that live in subterranean waters. Besides species that are accidentally or passively transported to caves and wells, at least one groundwater habitat, namely that of river gravels, is inhabited by species that either do not occur at the surface at all, or are only rarely thrown up by springs. Such species are now known from three continents.     

Altitudinal distribution of tropical planktonic Cladocera

The altitudinal distributions of planktonic Cladocera in Africa in three latitudinal bands: 0–10 °, 10–20 ° and 28–31 ° are described. Some species have altitudinal ranges of 2000 m within a latitudinal band of 10 °. It is possible to distinguish tropical species which do not extend up to high altitudes, particularly at higher latitudes. At the lowest latitudes, some species are found only at high altitudes, but occur at progressively lower altitudes with increasing latitude: Daphnia pulex and D. obtusa are good examples. A study in South America, with a smaller database, gives similar results.     

Cladocera: Predators and prey

Among the freshwater zooplankton community, Cladocera represent one of the most common elements of pelagic populations. Being almost exclusively filter feeders and algae users and, at the same time, the favourite prey of invertebrate and vertebrate predators, Cladocera represent the most important group in the plankton community of lakes as regards energy transfer along the food chain. Because of their short generation times and their high reproductive efficiency, predation by invertebrates, usually, has only a limited role in controlling their density. However, at high densities, invertebrate predators can provide an effective control of Cladocera populations. The intensive research on selective predation by vertebrates has demonstrated that this activity can be responsible, together with competitive interactions, for the dominance of different groups in the planktonic community: large Cladocera dominate when predation is low, Rotifera and small Crustacea dominate at high predation levels and high nannoplanktonic densities. These evidences on the role of vertebrate predation in structuring aquatic environments has greatly contributed to our better understanding of aquatic ecosystem functioning. In particular, it seems that the removal of large filter-feeding herbivorous Cladocera by zooplanktivorous fish can lead to worsening environmental conditions in eutrophicating lakes. In this respect, Cladocera appear to be the key group among zooplanktonic organisms, and their interactions the key factors in aquatic food chain management.     

Selective predation on Cladocera by brown trout Salmo trutta L.

The size and species composition of zooplankton ingested by brown trout in Lough Sheelin was studied. Zooplankton and fish samples were taken simultaneously. The zooplankton samples consisted of Daphnia hyalina var. galeata , Copepoda and Bythotrephes longimanus in the proportion of 246: 10: 1. The entire stomach contents of the fish were examined with particular attention paid to the zooplankton component. The results indicated a high degree of selection for B. longimanus .     

Macrothrix flabelligera, a newly-recorded Cladocera Macrothricidae in Brazilian freshwaters.

A short characterization of Macrothrix flabelligera Smirnov, 1992 (Cladocera, Macrothricidae) is presented, following a recent record of this species in Brazil. General aspects and morphological details of the body of parthenogenetic and ephippial females, as well as of males, are described and illustrated.     

博斯腾湖枝角类群落结构特征及其影响因子

2010—2013年对博斯腾湖17个站位的枝角类及其影响因子进行了11次季度采样调查,阐述了枝角类群落结构特征及其演替动态,分析了博斯腾湖枝角类物种和多样性对环境变量的响应.结果表明： 1)调查期间共鉴定枝角类14种,其中优势种3种.与历史数据比较,喜贫营养型水体的种类减少甚至消失,喜富营养型水体的种类逐步占据群落优势地位.2)枝角类密度时空变动较大,调查期间各站位密度变幅为0～567.0 ind·L^-1,总平均为30.0 ind·L^-1;年际变动上2011年最高(82.5 ind·L^-1),之后逐年递减;水平分布上密度差异显著,主要呈沿岸浅水区高、中心深水区低的特点.3)水温是影响枝角类群落最重要的生态因子;种类分布对水深的响应表现在长刺溞在深水区分布较多,长额象鼻溞多集中在浅水区;食物限制和食浮游动物鱼类的捕食可能是影响博斯腾湖枝角类群落结构变动的重要原因.     

Cladocera of coastal rivers of western Nigeria

Recent studies indicate that there are at least 100 species of Cladocera in the families Bosminidae, Chydoridae, Daphnidae, Macrothricidae, Moinidae and Sididae in the inland waters of Nigeria. Over 50% of these have been found in net plankton samples from the coastal rivers in addition to Evadne tergestina Claus (Family: Podonidae), and Daphnia barbata Weltner, hitherto unreported in the equatorial lowlands of Africa. In effect, the Cladocera of the coastal rivers and creeks consist of the marine/brackish assemblage made up of Penilia avirostris Dana and Evadne tergestina and the freshwater assemblage made up of all other Cladocera found. Unlike in the more inland water bodies, the freshwater assemblage of the coastal rivers is dominated by the Bosminids Bosmina longirostris (O. F. Muller) and Bosminopsis deitersi Richard. The distribution, seasonality and successional patterns of Cladocera in the coastal water bodies of Western Nigeria is presented.     

Two-egged ephippia in the chydorid Cladocera

SUMMARY. With a single reported exception, the ephippia of all specialized chydorid cladocerans hitherto described contain a single egg. Ephippia the European Chydorus ovalis and the North American species currently listed as C. cf. sphaericus have been found persistently, and so far invariably, to contain two eggs. The alternative strategies of producing 1-and 2-egged ephippia are briefly considered. Anomalous 1-egged ephippia of Daphnia (family Daphniidae) are also mentioned.