Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5471 No. 4: 20 Jun. 2024
Type: Article
Published: 2024-06-20
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5471.4.1
Page range: 401-421
Abstract views: 58
PDF downloaded: 35

Key to sessile gnesiotrochan rotifers: Floscularia (Monogononta; Flosculariidae)

Department of Biology; Ripon College; Ripon; WI; 54971; USA
Department of Biology; Ripon College; Ripon; WI; 54971; USA
University of Massachusetts Lowell; Lowell; MA; 01854; USA
Department of Biological Sciences; University of Texas at El Paso; El Paso; TX; 79968; USA
Department of Biology; Ripon College; Ripon; WI; 54971; USA
Rotifera Coloniality dichotomous key Gnesiotrocha larvae morphology Rotiferasessile solitary

Abstract

Correct identification of species is necessary if we are to understand their biology, ecology, and evolutionary history, as well as to catalog their global biodiversity. This is acutely critical for many micrometazoans like rotifers, which are often difficult to identify because of their small size and complicated morphologies. Rotifers are ubiquitous micrometazoans that are found worldwide in fresh, brackish, and some marine waters. However, their study is hindered by a lack of both taxonomic expertise and concomitantly adequate guides to the identification of some taxa. These deficiencies are particularly true for the sessile species. To help alleviate these impediments, we assembled information from the literature on easily recognizable characters of all nine valid species in one notable genus: Floscularia (Monogononta; Gnesiotrocha; Flosculariidae). Using that information we developed a simple, dichotomous key to enable workers to identify species in this genus. Our key emphasizes easily observable characters of adult female morphology, including features of their tubes, anterior ends, trophi, and colony formation abilities, thereby allowing for relatively quick identification.

 

References

  1. Bedwell, F.A. (1877) The building apparatus of Melicerta ringens. The Monthly Microscopical Journal, 18, 214–223. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2818.1877.tb00131.x
  2. Bielańska-Grajner, I., Ejsmont-Karabin, J. & Radwan, S. (2015) Rotifers (Rotifera): Freshwater Fauna of Poland. Vol. 32. Jagiellonian University Press, Kraków, 580 pp. https://doi.org/10.4467/K9722.1/17.16.6981
  3. Colledge, W. R. (1918) Notes on a new rotifer. Melicerta coloniensis. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland, 30, 171–174. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.168253
  4. Collins, R.A. & Cruickshank, R.H. (2013) The seven deadly sins of DNA barcoding. Molecular Ecology Resources, 13, 969–975. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.12046
  5. Cubitt, C. (1870) Observations on some points in the economy of Stephanoceros. The Monthly Microscopical Journal, 3, 240–249. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2818.1870.tb01943.x
  6. Davies, N., LaFleur, A., Hochberg, R., Walsh, E.J. & Wallace, R.L. (2024) Key to sessile gnesiotrochan rotifers: Families, monospecific species in Flosculariidae, species of Atrochidae, Conochilidae, and Limnias. Zootaxa, 5397 (4), 497–520. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5397.4.3
  7. Diniz-Filho, J.A.F., Jardim, L., Guedes, J.J.M., Meyer, L., Stropp, J., Frateles, L.E.F., Pinto, R.B., Lohmann, L.G., Tessarolo, G., De Carvalho, C.J.B., Ladle, R.J. & Hortal, J. (2023) Macroecological links between the Linnean, Wallacean, and Darwinian shortfalls. Frontiers of Biogeography, 15, e59566. https://doi.org/10.21425/f5fbg59566
  8. Edmondson, W.T. (1940) The sessile Rotatoria of Wisconsin. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society, 59, 433–459. https://doi.org/10.2307/3222991
  9. Edmondson, W.T. (1944) Ecological studies of sessile Rotatoria, Part I. Factors affecting distribution. Ecological Monographs, 14, 32–66. https://doi.org/10.2307/1961631
  10. Edmondson, W.T. (1945) Ecological studies of sessile Rotatoria, Part II. Dynamics of populations and social structure. Ecological Monographs, 15, 141–172. https://doi.org/10.2307/1948601
  11. Edmondson, W.T. (1959) Rotifera. In: Edmondson, W.T. (Ed.), Freshwater Biology. 2nd Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, New York, pp. 420–494.
  12. Ejsmont-Karabin, J. (2019) Does the world need faunists? Based on rotifer (Rotifera) occurrence reflections on the role of faunistic research in ecology. Hydrobiology, 104, 49–56. https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.201901991
  13. Ejsmont-Karabin, J. & Karpowicz, M. (2021) Rotifera in lake subhabitats. Aquatic Ecology, 55, 1285–1296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-020-09818-1
  14. Fontaneto, D., Barbosa, A.M., Segers, H. & Pautasso, M. (2012) The ‘rotiferologist’ effect and other global correlates of species richness in monogonont rotifers. Ecography, 35, 174–182. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0587.2011.06850.x
  15. Fontaneto, D. & De Smet, W.H. (2015) Rotifera. In: Schmidt-Rhaesa, A. (Ed.), Handbook of Zoology: Gastrotricha, Cycloneuralia and Gnathifera. Vol. 3. Gastrotricha and Gnathifera. De Gruyter, Berlin, pp. 217–300. [http://www.degruyter.com/view/product/180465?format=G] https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110274271.217
  16. Fontaneto, D., Melone, G. & Wallace, R.L. (2003) Morphology of Floscularia ringens (Rotifera, Monogononta) from egg to adult. Invertebrate Biology, 122, 231–240. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7410.2003.tb00087.x
  17. Franch, V., Meksuwan, P. & Wallace, R.L. (2024) The dorsal plate is a critical feature in the reassessment of the rotiferan genus Ptygura (Monogononta; Gnesiotrocha; Flosculariidae). Zootaxa, 5425 (1), 107–123. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5428.1.5
  18. Glibert, P.M. & Mitra, A. (2022) From webs, loops, shunts, and pumps to microbial multitasking: Evolving concepts of marine microbial ecology, the mixoplankton paradigm, and implications for a future ocean. Limnology and Oceanography, 67, 585–597. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.12018
  19. Gosse, P.H. (1852) On the architectural instincts of Melicerta ringens, an animal of class Rotifera. Transactions of the Microscopical Society of London, 3, 58–64. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2818.1852.tb06030.x
  20. Harring, H.K. (1913) A list of the Rotatoria of Washington and vicinity, with descriptions of a new genus and ten new species. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 46, 387–405. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.46-2032.387
  21. Hochberg, A. & Hochberg, R. (2017) Musculature of the sessile rotifer Stephanoceros fimbriatus (Rotifera: Gnesiotrocha: Collothecaceae) with details on larval metamorphosis and development of the infundibulum. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 268, 84–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2016.09.002
  22. Hochberg, R., Hochberg, A. & Chan, C. (2015) Ultrastructure of the rotifer integument: peculiarities of Sinantherina socialis (Monogononta: Gnesiotrocha). Invertebrate Biology, 134, 181–188. https://doi.org/10.1111/ivb.12085
  23. Hochberg, R. & Lilley, G.W. (2010) Neuromuscular organization of the freshwater colonial rotifer, Sinantherina socialis, and its implications for understanding the evolution of coloniality in Rotifera. Zoomorphology, 129, 153–162. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-010-0108-6
  24. Hochberg, R. & Litvaitis, M.K. (2000) Functional morphology of the muscles in Philodina sp. (Rotifera: Bdelloidea). Hydrobiologia, 432, 57–64. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004003509017
  25. Hortal, J., de Bello, F., Diniz-Filho, J.A.F., Lewinsohn, T.M., Lobo, J.M. & Ladle, R.J. (2015) Seven shortfalls that beset large-scale knowledge of biodiversity. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 46, 523–549. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-112414-054400
  26. Hudson, C.T. (1875) On a new Melicerta. The Monthly Microscopical Journal, 14, 225–231. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2818.1875.tb00072.x
  27. Hudson, C.T. (1881) On Oecistes janus and Floscularia trifolium, two new species of rotifers. Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society, 1881, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2818.1881.tb05964.x
  28. Hudson, C.T. & Gosse, P.H. (1886) The Rotifera; or wheel-animalcules, both British and foreign. Vols. I & II. Longmans, Green, and Co., London, 128 pp. & 144 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.10136
  29. Jersabek, C.D., De Smet, W.H., Hinz, C., Fontaneto, D., Hussey, C.G., Michaloudi, E., Wallace, R.L. & Segers, H. (2018) List of Available Names in Zoology, Candidate Part Phylum Rotifera, species-group names established before 1 January 2000. Available from: https://archive.org/details/LANCandidatePartSpeciesRotifera (accessed 5 May 2024)
  30. Jersabek, C.D. & Leitner, M.F. (2013) The Rotifer World Catalog. World Wide Web electronic publication. Available from: http://www.rotifera.hausdernatur.at/Species/Index/222 (accessed 5 May 2024)
  31. Johnson, K. (2007) Natural history as stamp collecting: a brief history. Archives of Natural History, 34, 244–258. https://doi.org/10.3366/anh.2007.34.2.244
  32. Joliet, L. (1883) Monographie des Mélicertes. Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Générale, 2 (131–122), 11–13.
  33. Kordbacheh, A., Wallace, R.L. & Walsh, E.J. (2018) Evidence supporting cryptic species within two sessile microinvertebrates, Limnias melicerta and L. ceratophylli (Rotifera, Gnesiotrocha). PLoS ONE, 13, e0205203. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0205203
  34. Koste, W. (1972) Über ein sessile Rädertier aus Amazonien, Floscularia noodti sp. n. Archive für Hydrobiologie, 70, 534–540. https://doi.org/10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/70/1972/534
  35. Koste, W. (1975) Über den Rotatorienbestand einer Mikrobiozönose in einem tropischen aquatischen Saumbiotop, der Eichhornica-crassipes-zone im Littoral des Bung-Borapet, einem Strasee in Zentralthailand. Gewässer u. Abwässer, 57/58, 43–58.
  36. Koste, W. (1978) Rotatoria. Die Rädertiere Mitteleuropas. 2 Vols. Gebrüder Borntraeger, Stuttgart, 673 pp. (text), tafel 234 pp. [in German]
  37. Koste, W. (1989) Das Rädertierporträt. Die sessile Art Octotrocha speciosa. Mikrokosmos, 78, 115–121.
  38. Koste, W. & Böttger, K. (1989) Rotatorien aus Gewässern Ecudadors. Amazoniana, 10, 407–438.
  39. Koste, W. & Böttger, K. (1992) Rotatorien aus Gewässern Ecuadors II. Amazoniana, 12, 263–303.
  40. Koste, W. & Poltz, J. (1987) Über die Rädertiere (Rotatoria, Phylum Aschelminthes) des Alfsees, eines Hochwasser-Rückhaltebeckens der Hase, NW-Deutschland, FRG. Osnabrücker Naturwissenschaftliche Mitteilungen, 13, 185–220.
  41. Kutikova, L.A. (2007) Пять видов коловраток семейства Flosculariidae (Rotifera), их личинки и метаморфоз [Five species of rotifers of the family Flosculariidae (Rotifera), their larvae and metamorphosis]. Зоология беспозвоночных, 4, 161–172. [in Russian] https://doi.org/10.15298/invertzool.04.2.05
  42. Leutbecher, C. & Koste, W. (1998) Die Rotatorienfauna des Dümmers unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der sessilen Arten Teil I. Osnabrücker Naturwissenschaftliche Mitteilungen, 24, 223–255.
  43. Meksuwan, P. (2015) Systematics and phylogeny of sessile rotifers (Rotifera, Monogononta, Gnesiotrocha). Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, 140 pp.
  44. Meksuwan, P., Pholpunthin, P. & Segers, H. (2011) Diversity of sessile rotifers (Gnesiotrocha, Monogononta, Rotifera) in Thale Noi Lake, Thailand. Zootaxa, 2997 (1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2997.1.1
  45. Meksuwan, P., Pholpunthin, P. & Segers, H. (2013) The Collothecidae (Rotifera, Collothecacea) of Thailand, with the description of a new species and an illustrated key to the Southeast Asian fauna. ZooKeys, 315, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.315.5330
  46. Obertegger, U., Cieplinski, A., Raatz, M. & Colangeli, P. (2018) Switching between swimming states in rotifers – case study Keratella cochlearis. Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, 51, 159–173. https://doi.org/10.1080/10236244.2018.1503541
  47. Remane, A. (1929–1933) Rotatorien. In: Grimpe, G. (Ed.), Bronn's Klassen und Ordnungen des Tierreiches IV. (Vermes). 2 (Aschelminthes). I (Rotatorien, Gastrotrichen und Kinorhychen). Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft, Leipzig, pp. 1–448. [in German]
  48. Santo, N., Fontaneto, D., Fascio, U., Melone, G. & Caprioli, M. (2005) External morphology and muscle arrangement of Brachionus urceolaris, Floscularia ringens, Hexarthra mira and Notommata glyphura (Rotifera, Monogononta). Hydrobiologia, 546, 223–229. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-4200-8
  49. Sarma, S.S.S., Jiménez-Santos, M.A., Nandini, S. & Wallace, R.L. (2020) Review on the ecology and taxonomy of sessile rotifers (Rotifera) with special reference to Mexico. Journal of Environmental Biology, 41, 3–12. https://doi.org/10.22438/jeb/41/1/MRN-1344
  50. Segers, H. (1997) Contribution to a revision of Floscularia Cuvier, 1798 (Rotifera: Monogononta): notes on some Neotropical taxa. Hydrobiologia, 354, 165–175. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003166911731
  51. Segers, H., Meksuwan, P. & Sanoamuang, L. (2010) New records of sessile rotifers (Phylum Rotifera: Flosculariacea, Collothecacea) from Southeast Asia. Belgian Journal of Zoology, 140, 235–240. https://doi.org/10.26496/bjz.2010.174
  52. Segers, H. & Shiel, R.J. (2008) Diversity of cryptic Metazoa in Australian freshwaters: a new genus and two new species of sessile rotifer (Rotifera, Monogononta, Gnesiotrocha, Flosculariidae). Zootaxa, 1750 (1), 19–31. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1750.1.2
  53. Serra, M., Snell, T. & Wallace, R.L. (2018) Reproduction, overview by phylogeny: Rotifera. In: Encyclopedia of Reproduction. Academic Press, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 513–521. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809633-8.20646-8
  54. Sørensen, M.V. & Giribet, G. (2006) A modern approach to rotiferan phylogeny: combining morphological and molecular data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 40, 585–608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2006.04.001
  55. Tiefenbacher, L. (1972) Beiträge zur Biologie und Ökologie sessiler Rotatorien unter besonder Berücksichtigung des Gehäusebaues und der Regenerationsfähigkeit. Archiv für Hydrobiologie, Beiheft, 71, 31–78.
  56. Wallace, R.L. (1977) Distribution of sessile rotifers in an acid bog pond. Archiv für Hydrobiologie, 79, 478–505.
  57. Wallace, R.L. (1980) Ecology of sessile rotifers. Hydrobiologia, 73, 181–193. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00019445
  58. Wallace, R.L. (1987) Coloniality in the phylum Rotifera. Hydrobiologia, 147, 141–155. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00025737
  59. Wallace, R.L. (2002) Rotifers: exquisite metazoans. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 42, 660–667. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/42.3.660
  60. Wallace, R.L., Hochberg, R. & Walsh, E.J. (2023) The undiscovered country: ten grand challenges in rotifer biology. Hydrobiology, 851, 3225–3248. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-023-05247-x
  61. Wallace, R.L., Snell, T.W., Ricci, C. & Nogrady, T. (2006) Rotifera. Vol. 1. Biology, Ecology and Systematics. 2nd Edition. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, 299 pp.
  62. Wallace, R.L., Snell, T.W. & Smith, H.A. (2015) Phylum Rotifera. In: Thorp, J.H. & Rogers, D.C. (Eds.), Thorp and Covich’s Freshwater Invertebrates. Elsevier, Waltham, Massachusetts, pp. 225–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-385026-3.00013-9
  63. Wright, H.G.S. (1950) A contribution to the study of Floscularia ringens. Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club, Series 4, 3, 103–116.
  64. Wright, H.G.S. (1957) The rotifer fauna of East Norfork: notes of new species and some rarities among sessile forms. Transactions of the Norfork and Norwich Naturalists' Society, 18, 1–23.
  65. Wright, H.G.S. (1959) Development of the peduncle in a sessile rotifer. Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club, Series 4, 5, 231–234.
  66. Wu, D., Luo, Y., Wu, B. & Wang, Q. (2014) New record of Floscularia bifida (Rotifera) from China. Journal of Shanghai Normal University( Natural Sciences), 43, 266–268. https://doi.org/10.3969/J.1SSN.100
  67. Yang, H. & Hochberg, R. (2018a) Ultrastructural and elemental characterization of the extracorporeal tube of the sessile rotifer Floscularia conifera (Rotifera: Gnesiotrocha). Invertebrate Biology, 137, 319–328. https://doi.org/10.1111/ivb.12230
  68. Yang, H. & Hochberg, R. (2018b) Ultrastructure of the extracorporeal tube and “cement glands” in the sessile rotifer Limnias melicerta (Rotifera: Gnesiotrocha). Zoomorphology, 137, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-017-0371-x
  69. Yang, H., Hochberg, R., Walsh, E.J. & Wallace, R.L. (2021) Ultrastructure of the extracorporeal secretions of four sessile species of Rotifera (Gnesiotrocha) with observations on the chemistry of the gelatinous tube. Invertebrate Biology, 140, e12318. https://doi.org/10.1111/ivb.12318