DOCSLIB.ORG

Adaptive Strategies in Populations of Chirocephalus Diaphanus (Crustacea, Anostraca) from Temporary Waters in the Reatine Apennines (Central Italy)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Adaptive Strategies in Populations of Chirocephalus Diaphanus (Crustacea, Anostraca) from Temporary Waters in the Reatine Apennines (Central Italy) J. Limnol., 62(1): 35-40, 2003 Adaptive strategies in populations of Chirocephalus diaphanus (Crustacea, Anostraca) from temporary waters in the Reatine Apennines (Central Italy) Graziella MURA*, Giovanni FANCELLO and Secondina DI GIUSEPPE Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell'Uomo, Università "La Sapienza", Viale dell'Università 32, 00185 Roma, Italy *e-mail corresponding author:[email protected] ABSTRACT To investigate the relationship between the adaptive strategies of Chirocephalus diaphanus (Crustacea, Anostraca) and the envi- ronmental characteristics of its habitat, we studied two populations living in high-altitude biotopes with very different characteris- tics, i.e. a semipermanent pool (Tilia Lake) and a temporary one (Illica Plain Pool), and we examined the essential features of their biological cycles (growth rate, reproductive biology, sex ratio and life cycle). The results show that the two populations adjust to the biotopes in which they live, fully exploiting the brief period available for development, in agreement with hypotheses formulated in studies of other colonizers of temporary environments. The strategy adopted by the Chirocephalus diaphanus population of Tilia Lake, a predictable and relatively constant environment, is similar to the k type, characterized by slow growth, late reproduction and a long life cycle. In contrast, the Illica Plain population presents rapid growth, precocious reproduction and a short life cycle, since it is highly dependent on the precariousness and unpredictability of the pool in which it lives. Key words: Anostraca, Chirocephalus diaphanus, life history, temporary waters, environmetal diversity, adaptive strategies perature range in which it normally lives is very wide 1. INTRODUCTION (5-26 °C) (Nourisson 1964), and there are occasional The life cycle of organisms, in its phenotypic ex- records of it in pools covered by a thick layer of ice pressions, represents a series of selective compromises (Hall 1961) or at temperatures above 30 °C (Mura imposed by different environmental variables. Natural 1991). Depending on the altitude of the colonized selection will modify the characteristics of the life cycle biotope, the biological cycle of different populations can to produce an adaptive strategy that optimizes individ- be autumn-winter, with a summer stasis due to disap- ual fitness and synthesizes the compromise between the pearance of the water, or spring-summer with a winter various selective pressures (Wilbur et al. 1974). The stasis due to freezing. Except for sporadic cases, Chiro- strategies adopted by populations of a species are re- cephalus diaphanus usually has a univoltine cycle lated to the population density-trophic resources rela- (Cottarelli 1966). tionship (Pianka 1970; Gadgil & Solbrig 1972), to stress from predatory pressure and competition (Hamer & 1.2. The study sites Appleton 1991), and to the duration of the colonized Tilia Lake (1591 m a.s.l.) is a semipermanent high- biotope (Marcus & Weeks 1997). pasture pool on Mount Tilia (1775 m a.s.l.) near To evaluate the importance of the duration and sta- Leonessa (Rieti) (Cottarelli 1966). The pool, with a bility of the biotope in anostracan crustaceans typically maximum depth of 97 cm, has a roughly rectangular confined to temporary water bodies, we chose two shape (54 × 48 m). Its total surface area is 2592 m2 and populations of Chirocephalus diaphanus living in its estimated volume is 474.3 m3. The water cycle be- biotopes with different environmental characteristics. gins with the melting of the snow, normally between The two pools are in the central Apennines north of March and April, followed by a variable period in which Rome in an area with winter snowfalls and dry sum- the water level oscillates depending on the temperature mers, and they both present a spring-summer cycle. and precipitation. However, the pool rarely dries up However, although at roughly the same altitude and thus completely. exposed to the same photoperiod and similar thermal Illica Plain Pool (1485 m a.s.l.) on Mount Inver- regime, they differ in the predictability and stability of saturo in the Laga Mountains is a small, oblong tempo- their water phase rary water body (25 × 16 m). It has a surface area of 264 m2, a maximum depth of 50 cm and a volume of 87.8 1.1. The species m3. This pool also has a spring-summer cycle. However, Chirocephalus diaphanus Prévost 1803 is the most because of its morphological and geological character- diffuse and tolerant species of the genus in Italy. For istics, it is characterized by erratic, short-term filling this reason, it is able to colonize temporary environ- and it often dries up before the animals can reach repro- ments both at sea level and at high altitude. The tem- ductive age. 36 G. Mura et al. 300 200 300 200 250 250 150 150 200 200 mm 150 100 150 100 cm cm mm 100 100 50 50 50 50 0 0 0 0 jul jul jun jan jan feb oct oct feb apr jun apr aug sep sep dec mar nov dec aug mar nov may may abrain snow rain snow 35 35 30 30 25 25 20 20 °C 15 °C 15 10 10 5 5 0 0 6/5 5/6 5/7 4/8 3/9 4/5 7/6 5/8 21/4 21/5 20/6 20/7 19/8 18/9 3/10 2/11 2/12 13/5 20/5 29/5 17/6 27/6 17/7 20/7 29/7 12/8 19/8 2/12 18/10 17/11 c 12/10 24/10 d air temp. (°C) air temp. (°C) 25 25 20 20 15 15 °C 10 °C 10 5 5 0 0 1/5 9/8 8/9 1/5 9/8 8/9 11/5 21/5 31/5 10/6 20/6 30/6 10/7 20/7 30/7 19/8 29/8 18/9 28/9 e 11/5 21/5 31/5 10/6 20/6 30/6 10/7 20/7 30/7 19/8 29/8 18/9 28/9 f water temp. water temp. Fig. 1. Seasonal variations of air and water temperature and precipitations during 2000 at Tilia Lake (a, c, e) and Illica Pool pool (b, d, f). laid in order to estimate the mean brood size in relation 2. METHODS to the increasing size of the animals. All the data for the two biotopes were analyzed statistically (STATISTICA Between April and August 2000, the two biotopes '98 for Windows, STATSOFT Inc®) to reveal any sig- were monitored on a weekly basis to evaluate the fluc- nificant differences. tuations of environmental conditions and to record in- formation about the basic characteristics of the life cycle 3. RESULTS of the animals. The abiotic environment was characterized by ob- 3.1. Characteristics of the biotopes servation of the climatic pattern and measurement of the Tilia Lake. The water-phase began on April 21st and the main chemical and physical variables (water tempera- water level remained constant until mid-May. Then ture, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, there was a phase of constant decline due to evaporation surface area and volume of the pools). Particular atten- and lack of precipitation. In July, unusual rainfall tion was given to the oscillations of water temperature, caused the water level to rise again, but there was a sub- in view of its strong influence on the life of aquatic or- sequent decline until the beginning of autumn, when ganisms (Lake 1969). For this purpose, we installed a new rainfall led to full capacity of the pool. continuous measurement probe in the two pools, which Illica Plain pool. The water-phase began on May 3rd allowed a detailed analysis of the temperature excur- and there were alternate phases of decline and filling of sions throughout the water cycle. the pool until it dried completely on August 19th. The The biological cycles of the two populations were pool then filled again but did not reach full capacity. A examined by periodic sampling, which provided infor- phase of decline began on October 1st and lasted for 20 mation about the growth rate of the animals, their rate of days, after which rainfall again filled the pool to its differentiation and sexual maturation, and the sex ratio. maximum volume. The material sampled on each visit was divided by de- The statistical comparison of the climatic data velopmental stage and measured with a micrometric showed that the two biotopes had a very similar weather eyepiece mounted on a stereomicroscope. When the du- pattern (rainfall, snowfall, air temperature) (Figs 1 a-f) ration of the cycle permitted it, we also collected data in the study year (2000); in fact, there were no signifi- on the fertility of the two populations: we isolated the cant differences between the two areas (ANCOVA, P females of each sample and counted the number of cysts >0.05). Adaptive strategies in populations of Chirocephalus diaphanus 37 350 10 350 10 300 300 8 8 250 250 200 6 200 6 -1 -1 150 4 150 4 mg l 100 mg l 100 2 2 50 50 0 0 0 0 b a 21/4 4/5 20/5 8/6 27/6 29/7 23/9 2/12 4/5 20/5 7/6 27/6 20/7 5/8 12/10 2/12 TDS pH TDS pH 700 0.35 700 0.35 600 0.3 600 0.3 500 0.25 500 0.25 400 0.2 -1 400 -1 0.2 300 0.15 ppm 300 0.15 ppm 200 0.1 S cm 200 0.1 S cm 100 0.05 µ µ 100 0.05 0 0 0 0 21/4 4/5 20/5 8/6 27/6 29/7 23/9 2/12 4/5 20/5 7/6 27/6 20/7 5/8 12/10 2/12 d c conductivity salinity(ppm) conductivity salinity(ppm) 20 20 15 15 10 10 5 5 0 0 f e 21/4 4/5 20/5 8/6 27/6 29/7 23/9 2/12 4/5 20/5 7/6 27/6 20/7 5/8 14/8 12/10 2/12 s/v s/v Fig.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Phylogenetic Analysis of Anostracans (Branchiopoda: Anostraca) Inferred from Nuclear 18S Ribosomal DNA (18S Rdna) Sequences
    MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 25 (2002) 535–544 www.academicpress.com Phylogenetic analysis of anostracans (Branchiopoda: Anostraca) inferred from nuclear 18S ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA) sequences Peter H.H. Weekers,a,* Gopal Murugan,a,1 Jacques R. Vanfleteren,a Denton Belk,b and Henri J. Dumonta a Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium b Biology Department, Our Lady of the Lake University of San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78207, USA Received 20 February 2001; received in revised form 18 June 2002 Abstract The nuclear small subunit ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA) of 27 anostracans (Branchiopoda: Anostraca) belonging to 14 genera and eight out of nine traditionally recognized families has been sequenced and used for phylogenetic analysis. The 18S rDNA phylogeny shows that the anostracans are monophyletic. The taxa under examination form two clades of subordinal level and eight clades of family level. Two families the Polyartemiidae and Linderiellidae are suppressed and merged with the Chirocephalidae, of which together they form a subfamily. In contrast, the Parartemiinae are removed from the Branchipodidae, raised to family level (Parartemiidae) and cluster as a sister group to the Artemiidae in a clade defined here as the Artemiina (new suborder). A number of morphological traits support this new suborder. The Branchipodidae are separated into two families, the Branchipodidae and Ta- nymastigidae (new family). The relationship between Dendrocephalus and Thamnocephalus requires further study and needs the addition of Branchinella sequences to decide whether the Thamnocephalidae are monophyletic. Surprisingly, Polyartemiella hazeni and Polyartemia forcipata (‘‘Family’’ Polyartemiidae), with 17 and 19 thoracic segments and pairs of trunk limb as opposed to all other anostracans with only 11 pairs, do not cluster but are separated by Linderiella santarosae (‘‘Family’’ Linderiellidae), which has 11 pairs of trunk limbs.
    [Show full text]
  • Downloaded 2021-10-01T00:38:27Z
    Provided by the author(s) and University College Dublin Library in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite the published version when available. Title ESManage Programme: Irish Freshwater Resources and Assessment of Ecosystem Services Provision Authors(s) Feeley, Hugh B.; Bruen, Michael; Bullock, Craig; Christie, Mike; Kelly, Fiona; Kelly-Quinn, Mary Publication date 2017 Series Report no. 207 Publisher Environmental Protection Agency Link to online version http://www.epa.ie/researchandeducation/research/researchpublications/researchreports/research207.html Item record/more information http://hdl.handle.net/10197/8516 Downloaded 2021-10-01T00:38:27Z The UCD community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters! (@ucd_oa) © Some rights reserved. For more information, please see the item record link above. Report No. 207 ESManage Project: Irish Freshwater Resources and Assessment of Ecosystem Services Provision Authors: Hugh B. Feeley, Michael Bruen, Craig Bullock, Mike Christie, Fiona Kelly and Mary Kelly-Quinn www.epa.ie ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Monitoring, Analysing and Reporting The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for on the Environment protecting and improving the environment as a valuable asset for • Monitoring air quality and implementing the EU Clean Air the people of Ireland. We are committed to protecting people for Europe (CAFÉ) Directive. and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation and pollution. • Independent reporting to inform decision making by national and local government (e.g. periodic reporting on the State of The work of the EPA can be Ireland’s Environment and Indicator Reports). divided into three main areas: Regulating Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulation: We implement effective regulation and • Preparing Ireland’s greenhouse gas inventories and projections.
    [Show full text]
  • Ponds and Wetlands in Cities for Biodiversity and Climate Adaptation
    7th European Pond Conservation Network Workshop + LIFE CHARCOS Seminar and 12th Annual SWS European Chapter Meeting - Abstract book TITLE 7th European Pond Conservation Network Workshop + LIFE CHARCOS Seminar and 12th Annual SWS European Chapter Meeting - Abstract book EDITOR Universidade do Algarve EDITION 1st edition, May 2017 FARO Universidade do Algarve Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnhologia Campus de Gambelas 8005-139 Faro Portugal DESIGN Gobius PAGE LAYOUT Susana Imaginário Lina Lopes Untaped Events ISBN 978-989-8859-10-5 1 7th European Pond Conservation Network Workshop + LIFE CHARCOS Seminar and 12th Annual SWS European Chapter Meeting - Abstract book Contents 7TH EUROPEAN POND CONSERVATION NETWORK WORKSHOP + LIFE CHARCOS SEMINAR ............................................................................................................ 9 Workshop Committees............................................................................................................. 10 Welcome .................................................................................................................................. 11 Programme ............................................................................................................................... 12 Abstracts of plenary lectures .................................................................................................... 14 PL04 - Life nature projects and pond management: Experiences and results ......................... 15 PL02 - Beyond communities: Linking environmental and
    [Show full text]
  • Zooplankton Community Dynamics in Temporary Mediterranean Wetlands: Which Drivers Are Controlling the Seasonal Species Replacement?
    water Article Zooplankton Community Dynamics in Temporary Mediterranean Wetlands: Which Drivers Are Controlling the Seasonal Species Replacement? Juan Diego Gilbert 1, Inmaculada de Vicente 2, Fernando Ortega 1 and Francisco Guerrero 1,3,* 1 Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Campus de Las Lagunillas s/n., 23071 Jaén, Spain; [email protected] (J.D.G.); [email protected] (F.O.) 2 Departamento de Ecología, Campus de Fuentenueva s/n., 18071 Granada, Spain; [email protected] 3 Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Ciencias de la Tierra, Energía y Medio Ambiente, Campus de las Lagunillas s/n., 23071 Jaén, Spain * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Temporary Mediterranean wetlands are characterized by both intra and interannual varia- tions in their environmental conditions. These inherent fluctuations in limnological features affect the seasonal variation in the structure and dynamics of the aquatic communities. In this study, we hypothesized that zooplankton community is coupled to seasonal changes of the environmental variables along the hydroperiod. To get this purpose, the study was focused in monitoring, by collecting monthly samples during an annual period, seven temporary Mediterranean ponds lo- cated in the south-eastern region of the Iberian Peninsula (Alto Guadalquivir region, Andalusia). The relationships between zooplankton community and the different limnological variables were analyzed based on two approaches: a Spearman correlation analysis and a correspondence canonical Citation: Gilbert, J.D.; de Vicente, I.; analysis (CCA). The results have shown that chlorophyll-a concentration, Secchi depth, total nitrogen Ortega, F.; Guerrero, F. Zooplankton concentration, wetland area and depth were the variables with a greater influence on the zooplankton Community Dynamics in Temporary community, explaining the zooplankton species replacement.
    [Show full text]
  • Tanymastix Stagnalis Linn. and Its Occurrence in Norway
    Tanymastix stagnalis Linn. and its occurrence in Norway. BY Robert Gurney M. A. (Narfolk). In these days it is necessary to use much circumspection in refer- ring to any European species of Phyllopod, since so many changes have been made recently in their nomenclature. It is important, therefore, to make clear in the first instance to what species I am alluding and to justify its identification with the species described by Linnaeus. Now Linnaeus, in his Fauna Suecica, describes one species only of Branchipodidae under the name of Cancer stagnalis, and, in his Systema Naturae, he gives as a synonym of it Schaeffer's ,,Apus pisciformis"l). The description given is inadequate to determine by itself to what species he refers, with the exception that the colour of the egg-sac as there given is certainly not the same as in Schaeffers's species'). We have the authority of Prof. Lilljeborg that one species of Branchipod occurs commonly near Upsala and that this species is not the same as that described by Schaeffer, which is not known to occur in Sweden at all. We have therefore this dilemma; - Either Linnaeus overlooked a rather conspicuous animal which was common in his own neighbourhood and, in place of it, recorded as a member of the Swedish fauna a species which does not occur in Sweden; or he was in error in supposing that the two species described by himself and by Schaeffer were identical. Such an error as the latter is by no means unusual, whereas the first alternative seems to me incredible.
    [Show full text]
  • Sovraccoperta Fauna Inglese Giusta, Page 1 @ Normalize
    Comitato Scientifico per la Fauna d’Italia CHECKLIST AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE ITALIAN FAUNA FAUNA THE ITALIAN AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHECKLIST 10,000 terrestrial and inland water species and inland water 10,000 terrestrial CHECKLIST AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE ITALIAN FAUNA 10,000 terrestrial and inland water species ISBNISBN 88-89230-09-688-89230- 09- 6 Ministero dell’Ambiente 9 778888988889 230091230091 e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare CH © Copyright 2006 - Comune di Verona ISSN 0392-0097 ISBN 88-89230-09-6 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publishers and of the Authors. Direttore Responsabile Alessandra Aspes CHECKLIST AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE ITALIAN FAUNA 10,000 terrestrial and inland water species Memorie del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona - 2. Serie Sezione Scienze della Vita 17 - 2006 PROMOTING AGENCIES Italian Ministry for Environment and Territory and Sea, Nature Protection Directorate Civic Museum of Natural History of Verona Scientifi c Committee for the Fauna of Italy Calabria University, Department of Ecology EDITORIAL BOARD Aldo Cosentino Alessandro La Posta Augusto Vigna Taglianti Alessandra Aspes Leonardo Latella SCIENTIFIC BOARD Marco Bologna Pietro Brandmayr Eugenio Dupré Alessandro La Posta Leonardo Latella Alessandro Minelli Sandro Ruffo Fabio Stoch Augusto Vigna Taglianti Marzio Zapparoli EDITORS Sandro Ruffo Fabio Stoch DESIGN Riccardo Ricci LAYOUT Riccardo Ricci Zeno Guarienti EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Elisa Giacometti TRANSLATORS Maria Cristina Bruno (1-72, 239-307) Daniel Whitmore (73-238) VOLUME CITATION: Ruffo S., Stoch F.
    [Show full text]
  • Neurosecretion in Chirocephalus Diaphanus Prevost the (Anostraca)
    NEUROSECRETION IN CHIROCEPHALUS DIAPHANUS PREVOST THE (ANOSTRACA). I. ANATOMY AND CYTOLOGY OF NEUROSECRETORY SYSTEM BY P. S. LAKE Department of Zoology, University of Southampton, Southampton, Great Britain 1) A considerable body of knowledge has been accumulated about the anatomy and cytology of the neurosecretory systems of malacostracan crustaceans, especially the Decapoda (Gabe, 1966). In contrast to the wealth of data available on neuro- secretion in the Malacostraca, the study of neurosecretion in the entomostracan groups has been largely neglected. Neurosecretion in the Anostraca has been studied by Lochhead & Resner (1958), Menon (1962) and Hentschel (1963, 1965 ) . In Artemia salina (L.) and Eubran- chipus sp., Lochhead & Resner (1958) reported the existence of neurosecretory cells in the brain, especially the protocerebrum, and in the suboesophageal gang- lion. Menon (1962) working with a species of StreptocePhalus reported finding two types of neurosecretory cells in the brain and circumoesophageal commissures. Neurosecretory structures, "the dorsal frontal organs", and a possible neurosecre- tory structure, "the ventral frontal organ" were located. A neurohaemal organ, the sinus gland, was found on the dorsal side of the optic peduncle. Hentschel (1963, 1965) identified four types of neurosecretory cells in the brain of Chiro- cephalus grubei Dybowski, and three types of secretory cells in the brain of Artemia .ralina. A "sinus" gland was identified in the optic peduncle of both species. In the gnaphocephalic, thoracic and abdominal ganglia of both species, he identified three types of neurosecretory cells. The structure of the neurosecretory system of the cladocerans, Dapbnia pulex (L.), Daphnia magna Straus and Simocephalus vetulus (0. F. M311er) has been studied by Sterba (1957).
    [Show full text]
  • Planning for Biodiversity: Bringing Agriculture
    United States Department of Planning for Biodiversity: Bringing Agriculture Forest Service Research and Management Together Pacific Southwest Research Station Proceedings of a Symposium for the South Coast Ecoregion General Technical Report February 29 - March 2, 2000 Pomona, California PSW-GTR-195 December 2005 Abstract Kus, Barbara E., and Beyers, Jan L., technical coordinators. 2005. Planning for Biodiversity: Bringing Research and Management Together. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-195. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 274 p. Southern California, recognized as a major center of biodiversity, contains some of the most diverse habitats of any landscape in North America. The ever-expanding human popula- tion of the region desires land, water, resources, and recreation, creating conflict with the habitat requirements of many rare species. Managing resources in a way that maximizes biodiversity in remaining habitats, while providing opportunities for other appropriate uses of the land, presents a formidable challenge, requiring coordination between scientists and resource managers. The papers in this proceedings volume reflect the breadth of issues facing the science and management communities in southern California, ranging from the threats of fire, air pollution, grazing, exotic species invasion, and habitat loss on native habi- tats and sensitive species, including birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, to the role of mycorrhizal fungi as indicators of biological change. Retrieval Terms: air pollution impacts, biological diversity, California south coast ecoregion, fire management, habitat management, rare species Technical Coordinators Barbara E. Kus is Research Ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Biological Re- sources Division, Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego Field Station, 4165 Spru- ance Road, Suite 200, San Diego, California 92101.
    [Show full text]
  • Updated Checklist and Distribution of Large Branchiopods (Branchiopoda: Anostraca, Notostraca, Spinicaudata) in Tunisia
    Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 31 (2016): 27–53 Updated checklist and distribution of large branchiopods (Branchiopoda: Anostraca, Notostraca, Spinicaudata) in Tunisia FEDERICO MARRONE1,*, MICHAEL KORN2, FABIO STOCH3, LUIGI NASELLI- FLORES1, SOUAD TURKI4 1 Dept. STEBICEF, University of Palermo, via Archirafi, 18, I-90123 Palermo, Italy 2 Limnological Institute, University of Konstanz, Mainaustr. 252, D-78464 Konstanz & DNA-Laboratory, Museum of Zoology, Senckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden, Königsbrücker Landstrasse 159, D- 01109 Dresden, Germany 3 Dept. of Life, Health & Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, I-67100 Coppito, L'Aquila, Italy 4 Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, Rue du 02 mars 1934, 28, T-2025 Salammbô, Tunisia * e-mail corresponding author: [email protected] Keywords: Branchinectella media, fauna of Maghreb, freshwater crustaceans, Mediterranean temporary ponds, regional biodiversity. SUMMARY Temporary ponds are the most peculiar and representative water bodies in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world, where they often represent diversity hotspots that greatly contribute to the regional biodiversity. Being indissolubly linked to these ecosystems, the so-called “large branchiopods” are unanimously considered flagship taxa of these habitats. Nonetheless, updated and detailed information on large branchiopod faunas is still missing in many countries or regions. Based on an extensive bibliographical review and field samplings, we provide an updated and commented checklist of large branchiopods in Tunisia, one of the less investigated countries of the Maghreb as far as inland water crustaceans are concerned. We carried out a field survey from 2004 to 2012, thereby collecting 262 crustacean samples from a total of 177 temporary water bodies scattered throughout the country.
    [Show full text]
  • Tanymastix Stagnalis Linn. and Its Occurrence in Norway
    Tanymastix stagnalis Linn. and its occurrence in Norway. BY Robert Gurney M. A. (Narfolk). In these days it is necessary to use much circumspection in refer- ring to any European species of Phyllopod, since so many changes have been made recently in their nomenclature. It is important, therefore, to make clear in the first instance to what species I am alluding and to justify its identification with the species described by Linnaeus. Now Linnaeus, in his Fauna Suecica, describes one species only of Branchipodidae under the name of Cancer stagnalis, and, in his Systema Naturae, he gives as a synonym of it Schaeffer's ,,Apus pisciformis"l). The description given is inadequate to determine by itself to what species he refers, with the exception that the colour of the egg-sac as there given is certainly not the same as in Schaeffers's species'). We have the authority of Prof. Lilljeborg that one species of Branchipod occurs commonly near Upsala and that this species is not the same as that described by Schaeffer, which is not known to occur in Sweden at all. We have therefore this dilemma; - Either Linnaeus overlooked a rather conspicuous animal which was common in his own neighbourhood and, in place of it, recorded as a member of the Swedish fauna a species which does not occur in Sweden; or he was in error in supposing that the two species described by himself and by Schaeffer were identical. Such an error as the latter is by no means unusual, whereas the first alternative seems to me incredible.
    [Show full text]
  • Autumn Populations of Branchinecta Orientalis G. O. Sars, 1903 And
    NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 10 (2): 435-437 ©NwjZ, Oradea, Romania, 2014 Article No.: 142301 http://biozoojournals.ro/nwjz/index.html Autumn populations of Branchinecta orientalis G. O. Sars, 1903 and Chirocephalus diaphanus Prévost, 1803 (Crustacea, Branchiopoda) in the Central European Lowlands (Pannonian Plain, Serbia) Marko ŠĆIBAN1, Aleksandar MARKOVIĆ2, Dunja LUKIĆ2 and Dragana MILIČIĆ3 1. Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia, Novi Sad, Serbia. 2. Society for Biological Research “Sergej D. Matvejev”, Belgrade, Serbia. 3. University of Belgrade, Faculty of Biology, Belgrade, Serbia. *Corresponding author, D. Miličić, E-mail: [email protected] Received: 23. October 2013 / Accepted: 12. February 2014 / Available online: 27. March 2014 / Printed: December 2014 Abstract. Autumn populations of two large branchiopod species, Branchinecta orientalis and Chirocephalus diaphanus in the area of southern part of Central European Lowlands (Pannonian Plain) are here reported for the first time. During surveys carried out in 2007–2013, autumn populations were observed in November 2009 (C. diaphanus) and in October 2012 (B. orientalis). Autumn specimens were smaller compared to those caught in spring. Although the two species were found in the same area, their habitats were spatially separated: B. orientalis was recorded only in the soda lake Rusanda, while C. diaphanus was found only in small ephemeral ponds placed over the surrounding meadows. Appearance of autumn populations point to the ecologically tolerant character of these species, and suggests they are able to tolerate lower temperatures during growth. Key words: B. orientalis, C. diaphanus, autumn populations, Pannonian Plain, Serbia. Occurrence of large branchiopod crustaceans is Romania (Demeter & Stoicescu 2008), Hungary highly correlated with type of habitat and climate.
    [Show full text]
  • BIODIVERSITY in IRELAND a Review of Habitats and Species
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY An Ghníomhaireacht um Chaomhnú Comhshaoil Ireland’s Environment BIODIVERSITY IN IRELAND A Review of Habitats and Species John Lucey and Yvonne Doris ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY PO Box 3000, Johnstown Castle Estate, Co. Wexford, Ireland. Telephone: +353 53 60600 Fax: +353 53 60699 Email: [email protected] Website: www.epa.ie July 2001 BIODIVERSITY IN IRELAND C ONTENTS LIST OF BOXES . iii LIST OF FIGURES . iv LIST OF TABLES . iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . v INTRODUCTION . 1 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK . 2 HABITATS . 4 Forests and Woodland . 4 Hedgerows . 5 Fen and Bog . 6 Turloughs . 7 Freshwater Habitats . 8 Coastal and Marine Habitats . 8 SPECIES . 10 Flora (Plants) . 10 Fauna (Animals) . 15 DISCUSSION . 22 CONCLUSIONS . 29 POSTSCRIPT . 32 NOTES . 32 REFERENCES . 33 APPENDIX 1 . 38 PAGE II A REVIEW OF HABITATS & SPECIES L IST OF B OXES 1 IRISH GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE . 1 2 CONSERVATION OF NATURAL AND SEMI-NATURAL WOODLANDS . 4 3 BOGS . 6 4 TURLOUGHS . 7 5 COASTAL / MARINE HABITATS . 9 6 MAËRL COMMUNITIES . 9 7 LOWER PLANTS . 13 8 VASCULAR PLANTS . 14 9 KERRY SLUG . 15 10 FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES . 16 11 MARSH FRITILLARY . 16 12 LAND SNAILS . 17 13 SOME RECENT INSECT AND MITE INTRODUCTIONS TO IRELAND . 17 14 FISHES . 18 15 AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES . 19 16A GREENLAND WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE . 19 16B BIRDS . 20 17 MAMMALS . 21 18 CETACEANS . 22 19 ANIMAL EXTINCTIONS AND INTRODUCTIONS DURING THE PAST MILLENNIUM . 23 20 OVERGRAZING . 24 21 GENETIC RESOURCES . 28 22 THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY . 29 23 CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY . 30 PAGE III BIODIVERSITY IN IRELAND L IST OF F IGURES 1 FRAMEWORK FOR THE DESIGNATION OF NATURA 2000 SITES .
    [Show full text]