Mesozoic fossils (>145 Mya) suggest the antiquity of the subgenera of Daphnia and their coevolution with chaoborid predators

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The timescale of the origins of <it>Daphnia </it>O. F. Mueller (Crustacea: Cladocera) remains controversial. The origin of the two main subgenera has been associated with the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea. This vicariance hypothesis is supported by reciprocal monophyly, present day associations with the former Gondwanaland and Laurasia regions, and mitochondrial DNA divergence estimates. However, previous multilocus nuclear DNA sequence divergence estimates at < 10 Million years are inconsistent with the breakup of Pangaea. We examined new and existing cladoceran fossils from a Mesozoic Mongolian site, in hopes of gaining insights into the timescale of the evolution of <it>Daphnia</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We describe new fossils of ephippia from the Khotont site in Mongolia associated with the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary (about 145 MYA) that are morphologically similar to several modern genera of the family Daphniidae, including the two major subgenera of <it>Daphnia</it>, i.e., <it>Daphnia </it>s. str. and <it>Ctenodaphnia</it>. The daphniid fossils co-occurred with fossils of the predaceous phantom midge (Chaoboridae).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings indicate that the main subgenera of <it>Daphnia </it>are likely much older than previously known from fossils (at least 100 MY older) or from nuclear DNA estimates of divergence. The results showing co-occurrence of the main subgenera far from the presumed Laurasia/Gondwanaland dispersal barrier shortly after formation suggests that vicariance from the breakup of Pangaea is an unlikely explanation for the origin of the main subgenera. The fossil impressions also reveal that the coevolution of a dipteran predator (Chaoboridae) with the subgenus <it>Daphnia </it>is much older than previously known -- since the Mesozoic.</p

Cladocera of the Lençóis Maranhenses (NE - Brazil): faunal composition and a reappraisal of Sars' Method

We studied the Cladocera of a group of ephemeral interdunal pools in the Lençóis Maranhenses, Maranhão State (NE - Brazil) and recorded 34 species. The fauna was overwhelmingly neotropical, with no evidence of invasive species. Species composition differed in Lagoa da Colher, an acid system. We provide notes on behaviour, morphology and taxonomy of some lesser-known anomopods, with emphasis on the Chydoridae. We figure male Oxyurella longicaudis, Chydorus eurynotus, Disparalona leptorhyncha, Alonella dadayi and A. clathratula. We provide notes on the "Sars' Method", hatching of freshwater crustaceans from dry mud, a simple technique that complements the information of hit-and-run surveys. About half of the total species number (44%) was revived through this method; 18% of species were additional to field-collected samples. The Sars' method also yielded abundant specimens of rare species, useful for identification and studies on behaviour