Biology & Ecology of large branchiopods

1. Biology & Ecologyof large branchiopods Carol W. Witham, VernalPools.Org www.vernalpools.org

2. Talk Overview Classification of large branchiopods Anatomy of a fairy shrimp Biology of a fairy shrimp Ecology of large branchiopods Distribution of fairy shrimp Endangered Species Act Section 10(a) Recovery Permit www.vernalpools.org

3. Classification Phyllum: Arthropoda Subphyllum:Crustacea Class:Branchipoda Subclass: Phyllopoda Conchostraca – clam shrimp Cladocera – water fleas Notostraca – tadpole shrimp Anostraca – fairy shrimp www.vernalpools.org

4. Branchiopodasubclass Phyllopoda Water Fleas Fairy Shrimp Tadpole Shrimp Clam Shrimp Long extinct shelled ancestor to fairy shrimp Diplostraca www.vernalpools.org

5. Tadpole Shrimp - Notostraca Name means “Not” = back “Ostraca” = hard plate or shell 2 genera and 3 speciesin California Lepidurus* and Triops *Genera with Threatened or Endangered Species Lepidurus packardi, an Endangered Species, occurs at Mather www.vernalpools.org

6. Fairy Shrimp - Anostraca Name means “An” = without “Ostraca” = hard plate or shell 6 genera and 27+ species in California Artemia, Branchinecta*, Eubranchipus, Linderiella, Streptocephalus*, Thamnocephalus *Genera with Threatened or Endangered Species Branchinecta lynchi, an Threatened Species, and Linderiella occidentalis occur at Mather www.vernalpools.org

7. Anatomy of a Fairy Shrimp Branchinecta lynchi male www.vernalpools.org

8. Anatomy of a Fairy Shrimp Branchinecta lynchi female www.vernalpools.org

9. Identification of Fairy Shrimp Males face-on California Fairy ShrimpLinderiella occidentalis Vernal Pool Fairy ShrimpBranchinecta lynchi www.vernalpools.org

10. Biology of Fairy Shrimp Circulatory System Heart pumps hemolymph through open system Hemoglobin can make shrimp pink Oxygen Regulation Feet are primary gills, but entire surface can respire Water, Salts and Waste Very little is known about the osmotic regulation of most fairy shrimp www.vernalpools.org

11. Biology of Fairy Shrimp Reproduction Males constantly in search of females Females use antennae ornamentation to determine a suitable, mature mate Mating behavior actions Detection, Orientation, Station-taking, Clasping, Copulation, Ejaculation Disengagement www.vernalpools.org

12. Reproduction of Fairy Shrimp So what really happens? Detection Orientation Station-taking Clasping Copulation Ejaculation Disengagement www.vernalpools.org

13. Production of Cysts www.vernalpools.org

14. Fairy Shrimp Cysts www.vernalpools.org

15. Hatching of Fairy Shrimp Cysts www.vernalpools.org

16. Immature Fairy Shrimp Nauplius www.vernalpools.org

17. Immature Fairy Shrimp Metanauplius www.vernalpools.org

18. Vernal Pool Tadpole Shrimp General Biology Contains large amounts of hemoglobin Molts its exoskeleton as it grows Grows more phyllopods with each molt Three sexes Males, females and hermaphrodites Females & hermaphrodites have 2 ovisacks www.vernalpools.org

19. Maturation Time for Shrimp Linderiella occidentalis – California fairy shrimp 18-31 days, can have multiple hatchings Branchinecta lynchi – vernal pool fairy shrimp 6-16 days, single hatching, temperature sensitive Lepidurus packardi – vernal pool tadpole shrimp 21-41 days, can live 144 days, multiple hatchings Extremes Branchinecta mesovallensis, B. conservatio www.vernalpools.org

20. Ecology of Large Branchiopods Ephemeral freshwater systems Vernal pools, potholes, snow melt ponds Primary consumers in the food chain Filter feeders – phyto & zooplankton Munch anything that will fit in mandibles Some are predators of other fairy shrimp Essential food chain services Birds, bugs and beetles www.vernalpools.org

21. Worldwide distribution of Anostraca Southern Africa 45 species (38 endemic) Western US & Baja ~28 species (15 endemic) Southwestern Australia 19 species (12 endemic) Argentina 18 species (14 endemic) Italy & southwestern France 16 species (7 endemic) • Total # species • 286 • Yet to be described • ~300 • Important group of freshwater habitats in temperate zones www.vernalpools.org

22. California distribution of Anostraca Primarily central valley 28 species 15 endemics 5 listed under the federal Endangered Species Act www.vernalpools.org

23. Endangered Species Act www.vernalpools.org

24. Endangered Species Act The federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 was enacted to protect animal and plant species from extinction by preserving the ecosystems in which they survive and by providing programs for their conservation Includes prohibitions against “take”, but allows certain activities www.vernalpools.org

25. Endangered Species Act To “take” a species means to “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, would, kill, trap, capture or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct”. Exceptions are made under the recovery section of the act where some activities are determined beneficial to the species, including increased knowledge www.vernalpools.org

26. Section 10(a) Recovery Permits Allows “take” to occur if it is considered beneficial to species recovery Educational permits Geographically restricted Only requires general knowledge of listed species occurring in that area Requires collection of data to justify the benefit to recovery of the species www.vernalpools.org

27. Shrimp Fairy www.vernalpools.org

28. VernalPools.Orgdedicated to saving California’s vernal pool landscapes www.vernalpools.org