Review of Colombian Conchostraca (Crustacea) — ecological aspects and life cycles — family Cyclestheriidae

Abstract

This study gives an overview and describes special aspects of the biology, ecology and the life cycle of Cyclestheria hislopi (Baird, 1859). This species is most commonly found in parthenogenically reproducing populations which produce large, directly developing nondiapause eggs. But periodically and under certain environmental conditions, sexually reproducing generations appear and produce diapause eggs. The sexual generations include males and particularly constituted females, which undergo a complete transformation into a special type of ephippium. Cyclestheria is the only known conchostracan species which does not occur in the initial phases of temporary water bodies, but develops in older temporary pools and even in permanent waters. It survives in the presence of effective depredators like fish by hiding within a special self-made mucus capsule.