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.     

A new species of the genusDiaphanosoma Fischer, 1850 (Crustacea: Daphniiformes: Sididae) from Central Asia and China

Diaphanosoma macrophthalma sp.nov. is described based on material (parthenogenetic females and males) obtained from a number of water bodies of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China. Intra- and interpopulation morphological variability, size range, sex structure and geographical distribution are analyzed.     

Redescription ofDiaphanosoma volzi Stingelin, 1905 (Crustacea: Daphniiformes: Sididae) with remarks on comparative morphology,biology and geographical distribution

The rareDiaphanosoma volzi Stingelin, long confused withD. sarsi Richard andD. celebensis Stingelin, is redescribed, based on extensive material of parthenogenetic and gamogenetic females and males from Thailand. Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, India, Australia and Sudan, and a study of intra- and interpopulation morphological variability. Compared with otherDiaphanosoma species, it shows the greatest degree of oligomerization and specialization. It is widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics of the Eastern hemisphere, and mostly occurs in shallow, vegetated habitats.     

Zooplankton of lakes in the spurs of the Putorana Plateau and adjacent territories (North of Krasnoyarsk Krai)

Species composition and parameters of biomass of net plankton were analyzed for four large and 35 small lakes from 10 areas located between 69.5° and 67.5°N and 87° and 92°E that were examined in July–August, 2001 and 2003–2004. In the composition of the first (dominant) and/or second (subdominant) species in the ranged row of the average biomass, the lakes were copepod in 78.8% of cases, in 67.3%, calanoid. The share of biomass of cladocerans in the total biomass of zooplankton exceeded 50% only in 31% of cases. By the frequency of occurrence as dominant or subdominant by biomass the first place is occupied by copepodites calanoid (34.6% of cases), the second, by sexually mature Heterocope appendiculata (26.9%), the third, by copepodites cyclopoid (17.3%), the fourth, by Polyphemus pediculus (15.4%), the fifth, by Acanthodiaptomus denticornis (13.5%), the sixth, by Bosmina cf. longispina (11.5%), the seventh, by Heterocope borealis (9.6%), the eighth, by Daphnia cf. longispina (7.7% of cases). For the first time in the region 14 species of crustacean zooplankton are given. The known range of some species and subspecies (for example, Chydorus biovatus, Camptocercus fennicus, Ophyoxus gracilis kolymensis, Arctodiaptomus acutilobatus, Acanthrodiaptomus tibetanus) is widened owing to the findings in the studied region. The groups of the areas are more similar in terms of zooplankton north to south than east to west; the number of the cladoceran species and the number of cladoceran lakes grew north to south and east to west, which corresponded to the general change of climate towards more mild north to south for similar altitudes and east to west for different altitudes from mountain areas to the low lands. The comparison of the species lists from different northern regions showed that the species diversity (total number of species) of cladocerans and copepods does not change significantly west to east. Distribution of species and changes in the zooplankton structure are discussed from the point of view of possible influence of the global warming.     

On the history of studies on cladoceran taxonomy and morphology,with emphasis on early work and causes of insufficient knowledge of the diversity of the group

The long history of cladoceran morphological andtaxonomic studies beginning in the second halfof the 17th century to nowadays is divided into sevensubsequent periods. Each of them is characterized bydomination of specific trends and a noticeableincrease of the number of taxa described. In spite ofthe multitude of studies the taxonomic diversity ofcladocerans, especially at species level, remain to beinsufficiently known. The history of hydrobiology isbriefly reviewed in order to reveal the causes ofthis insufficient knowledge among which historicalfactors and a long domination of an integral approachto studies of continental water bodies are thought tobe most important.     

A Study of Diaphanosoma Species (Crustacea: Cladocera) of the “Mongolianum” Group

Material from 49 localities in Europe, Asia and Africa is used to study two similar Diaphanosoma species, viz. D. mongolianum UENO, 1938, and D. lacustris KORINEK, 1981, both of which were described earlier under other names, the most common of which were “D. brachyurum”, “D. leuchtenbergianum” and “D. birgei lacustris”. These species are redescribed in detail, consideration being given to interpopulational and individual morphological variability, the type material, and material from type localities. The morphology of the setae of the swimming antennae is studied in detail, and the author concludes that some of them are not only used for swimming but also perform a sensory function. Some aspects of the biology of the species are described. They inhabit water bodies of different types, are often so abundant that they constitute the main component of zooplankton communities, and are an important link in the trophic chain. Little known cases of the co-occurrence of Diaphanosoma species in a water body are described. Localities known for D. mongolianum and D. lacustris are situated mainly in the temperate and subtropical zones, the former species penetrating farther north than the latter. However, they are also found in the White Nile (Sudan) and Ethiopian lakes. This southward penetration may be connected with the azonal distribution of fluviatile fauna and with the altitude of Ethiopian lakes.     

On the taxonomy and geographical distribution of the superfamily Sidoidea Baird, 1850 (Crustacea: Cladocera)

A systematic revision of the superfamily Sidoidea Baird, 1850 is carried out based on a considerable amount of material, including types. Unification of the families Sididae and Holopedidae in one group is found to be justified. Two new tribes of the recently isolated subfamily Sidinae Baird, 1850 are described. In considering the systematics of taxa at a species level, special attention is given to the genus Diaphanosoma. Its taxonomy is far from satisfactory but most species may be included in two morphoecological groups. The distribution of some genera and species is analyzed and their regions of origin and ranges are discussed.     

Global diversity of cladocerans (Cladocera; Crustacea) in freshwater

Cladocera is a primarily-freshwater monophyletic group, an important component of the microcrustacean zooplankton. They inhabit most types of continental fresh and saline water habitats, occurring more abundantly in both temporary and permanent stagnant waters. Cladocera is an ancient group of Palaeozoic origin. About 620 species are currently known, but we estimate that the real number of species is 2–4 times higher. A number of currently-recognised widespread species can be expected to harbour extensive cryptic diversity. Guest editors: E. V. Balian, C. Lévêque, H. Segers & K. Martens Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment     

Invertebrates of the littoral zone of Lake Glubokoe

This paper briefly reviews systematic, production and biocenotic studies on invertebrates of the littoral zone of Lake Glubokoe. It presents new data for a number of years on the spatial distribution and population dynamics of species (mainly cladocerans) constituting a zoocenosis confined to the lower surface of floating leaves of Nuphar luteum.     

Review of Sididae (Crustacea: Cladocera: Ctenopoda) of the Pacific Ocean Islands,with description of a new species of Diaphanosoma from West Samoa

Review of the Sididae of the Pacific Ocean islands revealed only three species (Diaphanosoma sarsi s. l., Latonopsis australis s. l., and L. brehmi) so far known from New Caledonia, Vanuatu (New Hebrides), Fiji, Guam Island, and Hawaii. Study of museum and other additional material made it possible to describe a new species, D. samoaensis, from West Samoa, the first record of an endemic sidid on a small ocean island. Its mode of speciation is discussed.