1. Rotifer Identification: The Brachionidae Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

2. Rotifer Identification: the Brachionidae  Classification  Morphology:  Trophi  Lorica  Identification  Notes on biogeography and ecology  Problems Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

3. Brachionidae: classification Brachionidae Ehrenberg, 1838  Anuraeopsis Lauterborn, 1900 (5 spp.)  Brachionus Pallas, 1766 (63 spp.)  (Kellicottia Ahlstrom, 1938 (2spp.))  Keratella Bory de St. Vincent, 1822 (48spp.)  (Notholca Gosse, 1886 (40 spp.))  Plationus Segers et al., 1993 (3 spp.)  Platyias Harring, 1913 (3 spp.) Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

4. Some general features  Morphological diagnosis:  Malleate trophi  Trunk lorica present, dorsal and ventral plate, fused or separate  (corona features)  Weak diagnosis (esp. against Epiphanidae)  strong morphological adaptability (spine production and length, size)  Identification: Ahstrom 1940, 1943, Koste 1978, Koste & Shiel 1987 and scattered literature Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

5. Key to the genera of Brachionidae:  No foot:  Lorica dorsal and ventral plate  Anterior spines: Keratella, (Kellicottia)  No anterior spines, large, drop-shaped eggs: Anuraeopsis  Lorica plates fused, unci teeth differentiated: (Notholca) Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

6. Key to the genera of Brachionidae:  Foot present:  Foot annulated, crescent-shaped manubria shaft: Brachionus  Foot pseudosegmented  Lorica flat, rounded, foot ventrally: Platyias  Lorica high, foot terminally: Plationus Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

7. Keratella Bory de St. Vincent, 1822 Morphology:  Diagnosis = Lorica  Elongate, stiff  Dorsal plate: transversally arched  6(4) dorso-anterior spines, median largest and curved  Ventral plate bilobate anteriorly  Trophi: malleate Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010 Features: morphologically well-defined, ecologically diverse: pelagic and littoral; filter feeders - small algae

8. Identification  Dorsal lorica facettation (foundation pattern):  middorsal ridge or  middorsal row of facets  facets, extra facets, marginal facets,…  Caudal spines: 0, 1 or 2 but beware! Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

9. Ecology  Pelagic (no foot) to littoral  Oligotrophic to Dystrophic  (rarely) low to high pH  freshwater to marine  filter feeders on small unicellular algae  Very common and numerous in eutrophic and polluted waters Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

10. Biogeography  Cosmopolitanism important  Latitudinal variation: Northern-hemisphere centered, Gondwanan  Endemism: important, less so in Africa; strong in Australia, South America  Historical! Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

11. Problems  Cryptic speciation?: see Keratella cochlearis - tecta group  Huge morphological variability  Confused taxonomy and nomenclature (infrasubspecific variants) Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

12. Anuraeopsis Lauterborn, 1900 Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010 Features: Small (!), Pelagic, microphages; Dorsal and ventral lorica plate, no spines Typical egg mophology

13. Anuraeopsis Lauterborn, 1900 Key to Southeast Asian species:  Lorica ornamented: A. coelata  Lorica smooth  Head aperture margin smooth, body shape: A. fissa  Head aperture margin with fine serration, body shape: A. navicula Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

14. Ecology  Pelagic (no foot)  Meso- to eutrophic  freshwater, thermophilic  filter feeders on (very) small unicellular algae Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

15. Brachionus Pallas, 1766 Morphology:  Diagnosis = Trophi (except B. budapestinensis, B. murphyi)  Lorica: trunk, not subdivided  (corona) Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010 Features: DIVERSE: pelagic and littoral; filter feeders - algae

16. Identification Number of anterior dorsal spines (0, 2, 4, 6) relative size and shape of anterior spines Shape of ventral head aperture margin Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

17. Identification  Position of foot aperture (terminal, ventral)  Dorsal projection over foot aperture presence and shape  Special features Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

18. Ecology  Pelagic to littoral  Oligotrophic to Dystrophic  (rarely) low to high pH  freshwater to brackish  filter feeders on small unicellular algae  Very common and numerous in eutrophic and polluted waters Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

19. Biogeography  Cosmopolitanism important  Latitudinal variation: tropic-centered  Endemism: strong in Australia, South America  Historical! Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

20. Problems  Cryptic speciation: see Brachionus plicatilis group (papers:)  Huge morphological variability  Confused taxonomy and nomenclature (infrasubspecific variants) Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

21. Plationus Segers et al., 1993 One Southeast Asian species: P. patulus  Lorica asymmetrical  10 anterior spines  2 postero-lateral, 2 postero-median spines of variable length (phenotypic plasticity!) Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010 Features: littoral/pelagic, filter feeders

22. Ecology and distribution  Littoral to (rarely) Pelagic  Meso- to eutrophic  cosmopolitan  very common in rice fields Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

23. Features: Lorica: Dorsoventrally compressed, round Foot: ventral, pseudosegmented Trophi: malleate Platyias Harring, 1913 Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

24. Features: Dorsoventrally compressed, round lorica, ventral pseudosegmented foot Platyias Harring, 1913 Two Southeast Asian species: Platyias quadricornis and P. leloupi  Difference: dorsal lorica facettation:  anterior pentagonal facet: P. quadricornis  middorsal ridge: P. leloupi Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010

25. Ecology and distribution  Littoral / benthonic  freshwater  browsers, grazers (?)  P. quadricornis: cosmopolitan  P. leloupi: tropical Hue University Rotifer Taxonomy workshop 6-12 March 2010