Taxonomic analysis of species characters for copepodid instars 4 and 5 of the subfamily Eucyclopinae of European Russia

Abstract

Morphological characters useful for taxonomic identification of older copepodid instars of the subfamily Eucyclopinae were studied among 14 species of Eucyclops, Macrocyclops, Ectocyclops, Paracyclops and Tropocyclops known from European Russia. For taxonomic analysis, the following elements of copepodid morphology were chosen: armament and proportion of furcal rami; morphology of swimming legs and reduced 5th and 6th legs; antennule segmentation; and relative body length of copepodid instars in comparison with the female length. Changes in morphology of major copepodid instars of the subfamily Eucyclopinae during ontogenetic development are traced and noticeable differences among five genera and 14 species are described. These differences among major copepodid stages may be important for both taxonomic and ecological analysis. For taxonomy, they provide information on development of sexes and species during maturation. For ecology they allow identification of the specimens at 4–5 copepodid instars in diapause. A key to major copepodid instars of the species from the subfamily Eucyclopinae which are known from limnetic habitats of the European part of Russia is presented.