New Insights Into the Origins of Crustaceans of Antarctic Lakes JOHN A.E
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Antarctic Science 19 (2), 157–164 (2007) © Antarctic Science Ltd Printed in the UK DOI: 10.1017/S0954102007000235 New insights into the origins of crustaceans of Antarctic lakes JOHN A.E. GIBSON1,2 and IAN A.E. BAYLY3,4 1Institute for Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 77, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia 2School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 5, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia 3School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia 4501 Killiecrankie Road, Flinders Island, Tasmania 7255, Australia [email protected] Abstract: New evidence regarding the origins of the Crustacea of Antarctic lakes is reviewed. Palaeolimnological data indicates that the cladoceran Daphniopsis studeri has been present in Lake Reid, Larsemann Hills, for over 120 000 yr. This is the first direct evidence of a continental lacustrine refugium during the last glacial maximum. There are strong indications that the calanoid copepod Boeckella poppei maintained populations over the same period in lakes of the Amery Oasis, and the rapid post-glacial colonization by this species of newly formed lakes on the Antarctic Peninsula and Signy Island argues for a local rather than an extra-continental source. Evidence for the entry of marine-derived species into the longer term fauna of the continent is also presented. It is concluded that many of the Crustacea in Antarctic lakes are likely to have had a long association with the continent. Received 29 March 2006, accepted 15 May 2006 Key words: biogeography, Boeckella poppei, Daphniopsis studeri, glacial refuge, Gladioferens antarcticus, palaeolimnology Introduction the remainder of the continent within this fauna. At least eighteen species of Crustacea, including copepods, In this paper we reconsider the origins of selected cladocerans, ostracods and an anostracan, have been found Antarctic lacustrine Crustacea in the light of recent to inhabit lakes of the Antarctic continent or islands evidence that suggests that at least some may have had offshore from the Antarctic Peninsula (Table I). Two of much longer associations with the continent. In particular, these (Harpacticus furcatus and an unidentified we make use of palaeolimnological data that has provided harpacticoid copepod) recorded in nearshore ponds (Pugh new insights into the long-term dynamics of some species. et al. 2002) possibly do not reproduce in limnetic environments. A further four species are restricted in the Evidence Antarctic region to Signy Island (South Orkney Islands: Daphniopsis studeri Fig. 1), and one to Signy Island and the South Shetland Islands. Of the remaining eleven species that occur on the With the exception of a single lake in Mac.Robertson Land, Antarctic continent sensu stricto, seven occur in freshwater the continental populations of Daphniopsis studeri are lakes and four in saline lakes. restricted to the Vestfold and Larsemann Hills (Fig. 1). The The origins of the Crustacea that inhabit Antarctic lakes species also occurs on oceanic sub-Antarctic islands of the were discussed in a recent review (Pugh et al. 2002), in Indian Ocean (Gibson et al. 1998), and Pugh et al. (2002) which it was concluded that ‘There are no Antarctic suggested that these were the probable sources for the palaeoendemic Crustacea’, and that all continental species continental populations. were Holocene colonizers from either marine or extra- The recent discovery that some lakes in the Larsemann continental sources. Pugh et al. (2002) noted, however, that Hills have been in continual existence for upwards of species that inhabited Antarctica prior to the Last Glacial 120 000 yr (Hodgson et al. 2005) raised the question of Maximum (LGM) may have reinvaded the continent at the whether any of the fauna currently present had survived the end of the glacial period. This is in contrast to terrestrial LGM in situ. Cromer et al. (2006) approached this question animal groups, for which pre-Holocene origins without by searching for preserved microfossils and found ephippia subsequent recolonization have been deduced. For example, and mandibles of D. studeri throughout the glacial and the distribution of the endemic Antarctic mite genus interglacial sediments of one of these lakes, Lake Reid. Maudheimia suggests an ancient radiation followed by Therefore this species has been present on the Antarctic vicariant speciation (Marshall & Coetzee 2000). Similarly, continent for at least 120 000 yr, and there is no need to the nematode fauna of the continent is nearly entirely necessarily invoke colonization from sub-Antarctic endemic (Andrássy 1998), and there is a strong populations. biogeographic divide between the Antarctic Peninsula and Daphniopsis studeri is adapted to survival under often 157 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. Open University Library, on 12 May 2019 at 17:22:20, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102007000235 158 JOHN A.E. GIBSON & IAN. A.E. BAYLY Table I. Species of crustacea reported to occur in Antarctic lakes. This table is updated from Pugh et al. (2002), with unconfirmed records and those from marine lagoons removed. Further references are given where there is relevant, more recent information. Species Class Distribution1 Saline or Freshwater References Branchinecta gaini Daday de Dées Anostraca SOI, SSI, AP Fresh Peck 2004 Alona weinecki Studer Anomopoda SOI, SSI Fresh Daphniopsis studeri Rühe Anomopoda VH, LH, MRL Fresh Ilyocryptus brevidentatus Ekman Anomopoda SOI Fresh Kotov et al. 2002 Macrothrix sp. Anomopoda SOI, SSI, AP Fresh Toro et al. 2007 Boeckella poppei (Mrázek) Copepoda: Calanoida SOI, SSI, AP, AO Fresh Bayly et al. 2003 Gladioferens antarcticus Bayly Copepoda: Calanoida BH Fresh Bayly et al. 2003 Parabroteas sarsi (Daday de Dées) Copepoda: Calanoida SOI Fresh Paralabidocera antarctica (I.C. Thompson) Copepoda: Calanoida VH Saline Acanthocyclops mirnyi Borutsky & Vinogradov Copepoda: Cyclopoida BH, VH, LH Fresh Amphiascoides sp. Copepoda: Harpacticoida VH Saline Harpacticus furcatus Lang Copepoda: Harpacticoida AP Saline Idomene scotti Lang Copepoda: Harpacticoida VH Saline Unknown (Laophontidae) Copepoda: Harpacticoida VH Saline Unknown Copepoda: Harpacticoida SSI Saline Unknown Copepoda:? MDV Fresh Roberts et al. 2004 Eucypris fontana (Graf) Ostracoda SOI Fresh Notiocyridopsis frigogena (Graf) Ostracoda SOI Fresh 1Abbreviations: SOI = South Orkney Islands (in particular Signy Island), SSI = South Shetland Islands, AP = Antarctic Peninsula, MDV = McMurdo Dry Valleys, BH = Bunger Hills, VH = Vestfold Hills, LH = Larsemann Hills, AO = Amery Oasis, MRL = Mac. Robertson Land. difficult conditions. While it can be abundant in productive D. studeri overwinters as ephippial eggs, as the lake lakes of the Vestfold Hills (> 30 000 m-3; T. Walker, becomes completely anoxic under a thick layer of ice in personal communication 2005), it occurs in ultra- winter (Kaup & Burgess 2003). After ice break out and re- oligotrophic Crooked and Druzhby lakes at far lower oxygenation of the water column juveniles rapidly appear densities (< 35 m-3: Bayliss & Laybourn-Parry 1995). (J.C. Ellis-Evans, personal communication 1997). Daphniopsis studeri can adapt its life history strategy to suit Daphniopsis studeri is clearly capable of surviving conditions in particular lakes: it overwinters as developing glacial periods in continental refugia. What is not clear from juveniles in Crooked Lake but as adults in nearby Druzhby the study of Lake Reid (Cromer et al. 2006) is whether the Lake (Bayliss & Laybourn-Parry 1995). In Lake Reid, species is a long term (i.e. it has survived multiple glaciations on the continent) or more recent (i.e. it arrived during the previous interglacial) member of the Antarctic fauna. While there is limited evidence that indicates little genetic variation between D. studeri on the Antarctic continent and the sub-Antarctic islands (Wilson et al. 2002), this study also indicated that D. studeri has been isolated from its congeners for c. 50 Ma. Clearly D. studeri is a true long-term endemic of the broad sub- Antarctic–Antarctic region. Boeckella poppei Boeckella poppei is a calanoid copepod that occurs in lakes of South America, the islands of Drake Passage, and the Fig. 1. Map of Antarctica showing the locations mentioned in the Antarctic Peninsula south to Alexander Island (71°S) text. Filled squares indicate locations with crustacean (Heywood 1977, Menu-Marque et al. 2000). Further, populations. The species present are indicated by the initials of isolated populations, which differ morphologically from the generic and specific names (U indicates unknown). The South American populations, occur in lakes of the Amery extent of species distributions along the Antarctic Peninsula are Oasis, East Antarctica (Bayly & Burton 1993, Bayly et al. indicated by the offshore line. The locations of Harpacticus furcatus and the unknown harpacticoid copepod (UH) are 2003). Pugh et al. (2002) concluded that the Antarctic shown in brackets to indicate that these species are not Peninsula populations arose from Holocene colonization, widespread and are only found in nearshore ponds. The open presumably from South America. The Amery Oasis square indicates a location mentioned in the text without population was adjudged likely to be an anthropogenic confirmed crustacean populations. introduction. Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. Open University