Freshwater Zooplankton Species are hosts of different epibiotoc and endobiotic species

What is it about?

In several water bodies of the Dnipro river Basin, parasitological studies were conducted for representatives of the main taxonomic groups of freshwater zooplankton (Rotifera, Copepoda and Cladocera). Altogether 22 species of symbionts of zooplankters were found of different taxonomic groups (bacteria, flagellates, algae, fungi, ciliates etc.). The data was summarized on the symbiofauna of zooplankters and on the aspects of biology of certain epibiotic and parasitic species. The study showed the peculiarities of symbiotic distribution by host species in different taxonomic groups of zooplankton. The number of symbiotic species increased in following order: Rotifera → Cladocera → Copepoda. Among them, Copepoda had high species richness of epibiotic ciliates and the highest rates of colonization by epibiotic algae.

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Why is it important?

We established that some taxonomic and ecological groups of symbionts are confined to certain taxonomic groups of zooplankters, demonstrating different degrees of host specificity. Thus, the parasitic fungus Catenaria anguillulae was found in all three groups of zooplankters. Epibiont alga Colacium vesiculosum was found in Rotifera and Copepoda, with the highest indices of colonization on copepods. The greatest diversity of peritrichia was recorded on Copepoda, representatives of the genera Epistylis and Opercularia were observed only on this group of crustaceans. The attractiveness of Copepoda for colonization by epibionts is probably due to the specifics of their biology: the lack of adult molting and the diversity of attachment sites, due to the developed segmentation.

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