Diversity of branchipus populations (branchipoda, crustacea) on the territory of Serbia - could the body size be an indicator of geographical and environmental distinctness?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Large branchiopod crustaceans (Class Branchiopoda) usually inhabit small and ephemeral inland water bodies. Some species have been included into national red lists, and some are strictly protected in many European countries. Both the abundance of their specimens in natural populations and their body size can be used as bioindicators of geographical and environmental differences. For the reasons stated above, this group can be used for defining the ephemeral wetland habitats and their possible functions and values. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine whether the morphological analysis can be used to differentiate Branchipus populations from several areas within a certain territory. We used populations from the northern, Pannonian parts (Srem,Banat, and Bačka Districts), and from the southern, mountainous region of Serbia, whose habitats are particularly different in their origin, and physical/chemical features. METHOD / DESIGN: After selecting the most representative locations, body parts that are common to both sexes were measured in all examined populations: a total body length, thorax, abdomen, and cercopod lengths, ratio of total body to thorax length and ratio of total body to the abdomen length. The measurements were performed with the accuracy of 0.1 cm. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: According to the linear body measurements common for both sexes, results of descriptive statistical analysis showed that two geographical groups of individuals can be distinguished: Branchipus populations from the northern habitats (plain landscape of the country), and populations from localities in the southern (hilly part of the country). Morphological parameters that mostly affected differentiation of samples were: abdominal length, the contribution of thorax in total body length, and the contribution of abdomen in total body length. CONCLUSIONS: Large branchiopod crustaceans are the flagship animal group for some inland water ecosystems and temporary pools. Results of this study show that two geographical groups of individuals stood out from very different types of habitats, occurring in the northern lands and in the southern hilly and mountainous areas of the country. Present results indicate that linear morphological data obtained by applying the method of discriminate morphological analysis can be an auxiliary method in taxonomic determination of populations and assessment of the regional biodiversity.