Cladocerans
Cladocerans are diverse and abundant in fresh waters, but only 8 species are marine. The subarctic species are all characterized by prominent compound eyes. They swim by rowing their bodies with their large antennae. Although they are classically thought of has "filter-feeders", morphology and the large eye suggest they may be more omnivorous or predatory than originally believed.
Cladocerans are unique among the crustaceans in having "parthenogenesis", where females produce young without males. Young are incubated within the carapace and released as minatures of the adult, allowing rapid explosion of their populations, with multiple generations per year. When conditions become unfavorable, males begin to appear and sexual reporduction occurs resulting in the production of resting eggs that fall to the sediments where they overwinters until waters warm the next year
Four (4) species are known from the subarctic Pacific.
Page Author: Russ Hopcroft
Created: January 1, 2010
