Current distribution of Branchinecta gaini on James Ross Island and Vega Island

To complete its life cycle, a significant period with liquid water is needed and subzero temperatures represent a real physiological constraint on adult animals. The Clearwater Mesa on the south-eastern side of Croft Bay, James Ross Island, is characterized by the presence of tens of shallow lakes a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antarctic science 2017-08, Vol.29 (4), p.341-342
Main Authors: Nedbalová, Linda, Nývlt, Daniel, Lirio, Juan Manuel, Kavan, Jan, Elster, Josef
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Altitude
Animals
Aquatic crustaceans
Bay, James
Branchinecta gaini
Coastal zone
Crustaceans
Curie, Marie (1867-1934)
Current distribution
Cysts
Developmental stages
Ice
Islands
Lakes
Larvae
Life cycle engineering
Life cycles
Marine invertebrates
Physiology
Ponds
Population density
Science
Shallow water
Shores
Short Note
Water
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Summary:To complete its life cycle, a significant period with liquid water is needed and subzero temperatures represent a real physiological constraint on adult animals. The Clearwater Mesa on the south-eastern side of Croft Bay, James Ross Island, is characterized by the presence of tens of shallow lakes and ponds at an altitude of 170-250 m a.s.l. In February 2009, B. gaini was observed in all of the lakes. Thick layers of dead animals accumulated by wind cover the shores of some lakes, indicating high population density at these sites. (1996), who state that 'this crustacean does not occur today anywhere on James Ross Island or the surrounding area', our field observations confirm that B. gaini is widely distributed in the ice-free areas on James Ross and Vega islands. The requirement of liquid water for at least c. 2.5 months is considered to be the main physiological constraint on the distribution of B. gaini (Hawes et al. 2008). Since the temporal window available for non-cyst life stages can reach three months in coastal areas (Váczi et al. 2011), the sites on James Ross Island are at present suitable for B. gaini development.
ISSN:0954-1020
1365-2079
DOI:10.1017/S0954102017000128