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Information about Water Flea

Water flea is a generic term for a number of small aquatic crustacea characterised by their jumping or jerky mode of swimming. Most are between 0.1 mm and 3 mm in length. Most commonly, they will be species of Daphnia but a number of other genera are also commonly included, including Cyclops, and Diaptomus. Water fleas are commonly sold as aquarium food since they are easy to culture and reproduce rapidly. They are capable of existing in salt or fresh water, though different species inhabit each region. There are over 100 species of water flea.

Invasive Species

The "spiny water flea", Bythotrephes cederstroemi, is causing serious concerns in the lakes of Canada. The problem is that it feeds on zooplankton and can actually eliminate zooplankton species. As zooplankton is the backbone of aquatic food chains, this tiny crustacean presents a serious risk to the ecosystem. The eggs survive even after being dried out or eaten by fish.[1]

See Also

References

1. ^ Robert Roy Britt (2005). Invasive Creatures Attack Like Internet Viruses. LiveScience.com.
crustaceans (Crustacea) are a large group of arthropods, comprising approximately 52,000 described species [1], and are usually treated as a subphylum [2].
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1 millimetre =
SI units
010−3 m 0 cm
US customary / Imperial units
010−3 ft 010−3 in
The millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm
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Daphnia
Müller, 1785

Species
  • Subgenus Daphnia
:D. ambigua
:D. arenata
:D. catawba
:D. cheraphila
:D.

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Cyclops
O. F. Müller, 1776

Species
over 100
Cyclops is one of the most common genera of freshwater copepods, comprising over 100 species [1].
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Diaptomus
Westwood, 1836

Diaptomus is a genus of copepods with a single eye spot. It is superficially similar in size and appearance to Cyclops. However it has characteristically very long first antennae that exceed the body length.
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aquarium (plural aquariums or aquaria) is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Aquaria are primarily used for fishkeeping, although invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, and aquatic plants
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Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve.
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species is one of the basic units of biological classification. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.
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B. cederstroemi

Binomial name
Bythotrephes cederstroemi
Schodler, 1877 [1]

Bythotrephes cederstroemi, commonly known as the spiny water flea
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Cape Breton Island
  • Lake Ainslie
  • Bras d'Or Lake
  • Loch Lomond
Halifax Regional Municipality
  • A Lake
  • Albro Lake
  • Anderson Lake
  • Ash Lake
  • Lake Banook
  • Baptizing Lake, Nova Scotia
  • Barrett Lake
  • Bayers Lake
  • Beaver Lake

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Zooplankton are the heterotrophic (or detritivorous) component of the plankton that drift in the water column of oceans, seas, and bodies of fresh water. The name is derived from the Greek terms, ζῴον
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Plankton are any drifting organism that inhabits the pelagic zone of oceans, seas, or bodies of fresh water. It is a description of life-style rather than a genetic classification.
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Daphnia
Müller, 1785

Species
  • Subgenus Daphnia
:D. ambigua
:D. arenata
:D. catawba
:D. cheraphila
:D.

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