Taxonomy and Biology of Entomostraca of Northern Punjab

Abstract

For taxonomic part, the following districts at Northern Punjab as detailed under were surveyed. Collection was done from the following districts. 1. Rawalpindi. 2. Attock. 3. Gujrat. 4. Gujranwala. 5. Jhelum. 6. Jhang. 7. Khushab. 8. Sialkot. 9. Mianwali. 10. Sargodha. 11. Sheikhupura. In total, 245 samples taken from 150 localities were collected. In all, 71 species belonging to 21 genera and 5 families as detailed below were determined and descried from Northern parts of the Punjab, Pakistan. The summary of the findings is given below: A. One genus along with one species is preliminary being reported as Genus novum along with species novum. B. One Species of Genus Moina Baird and Alona Baird each are preliminary being recorded as Species novum. C. The following genera with species listed against each are being recorded for the first time from Pakistan: 1. Bosmina Baird 1845 B. Longirostris (O.F. muller 1785) 2. Llyocryptus Sars 1861 I. Spinifer Herrick 1884 3. Kurzia Dybowski K. Latissimi kurz 1874 (Male and female) Grochowski 1894 4. Graptoleberis Sars 1863 G. Testudinaria (Fishcher) 1848 5. Dunhevidia King 1853 D. Crassa King 1853 6. Camptocercus Baird 1843 C. Macrurus (O.F. Muller) 1785 (Male and female) C. rectirostris schodler 1862 D. The following genera with species against each are being recorded for the first time from Pakistan: Genus Species 1. Daphnia (O.F. Muller) 1785 D. Longiremis Sara D. Ambigua scourfield 1947 D. Laevis Birge 1879 D. Schodleri Sars 1862 2. Ceriodaphina Dana 1853 C. Quadrangula (O.F. Muller) 1785 C. Laticaudata P.E. Muller 1867 3. Moina Baird 1853 M. Irrasa Brehm 1937 M. weismanni Ishikawa 1896 4. Macrothrix Baird 1843 M. borysthenica matile 1890 M. hirsuticornis norman and brady 1867 5. Leydigia Kurz 1874 L. quadrangularis (Leydig) 1860 6. Alona Baird 1850 A. Karau King 1853 A. Quadrangular (O.F. Muller) 1785 A. Rectangula Sars 1861 A. Intermedia Sars 1862 7. Pluroxous Baird 1843 P. hastatus Sars 1862 P. triggonellus (O.F. Muller) 1785 P. aduncus (Jurine) 1820 P. striatus schodler 1863 8. Chydorus Leach 1843 B. Latus Sars 1862 C. Gibbus Lilljeborg 1880 C. Ovalis Kurz C. Fviformis Birge 1893 C. Sphericus (O.F. Muller) 1785 9. Alonella Sars 1862 A. Excise (Fishcher) 1854 A. Dentrifera Sars 1901

E. The male of the following species is being recorded for the first time from Pakistan.

Genus Species 1. Daphnia (O.F. Muller) 1785 D. Mangna Straus 1820 D. Similis Claus 1876 D. Galeata Sars 1864 2. Simocephalus Schodler 1858 S. Vetulus Schodler 1858 S. Serrulatus (Koch) 1841 3. Scapholeberis Schodler 1858 S. Kingi Sar 1863 4. Ceriodaphinia Dana 1853 C. Rigaudi Richard 1894 C. Recticulata (Jurine) 1820 C. Laticaudata P.E. Muller 1867 5. Macrothrix Baird 1842 M. Rosea (Jurine) 1820 6. Chdorus Leach 1843 C. Globosus Baird 1850 7. Pheuroxus Baird 1843 F. Aduncus (Jurine) 1820

F. The following genera with species against each have already been described from the Punjab, Pakistan though from limited localities.

Genus Species 1. Diaphanosoma Fischer 1850 D. Leuchtenbergianum Fishcher 1850 2. Latonopsis Sars 1888 L. Fasiculata Dady 1905 L. Occidentalish Birge 1891 3. Daphnia (O.F. Muller) 1785 D. Magna Staus 1820 D. Similis Claus 1876 D. Dubia Herrick 1895 D. Rosea, Sars 1864 D. Lumholtzi Sars 1885 D. Galeata Sars 1864 D. Pulex leydig 1860 (male and female) D. Catawba Coker 1926 4. Simocephalus Schodler 1858 S. Expinosus (Koch) 1841 S. Vetulus Schodler 1858 S. Serrulats (Koch) 1841 5. Scapholeberis Schodler 1858 S. Kingi Sara 1903 S. AUrita (Fischer) 1849 6. Ceriodaphnia Dana 1853 C. Rigaudi Richard 1894 C. Reticulata (jurine) 1820 C. Acanthina Ross 1897 C. Megalops Sars 1861 7. Moina Baird 1850 M. micrura Kurz 1874 M. Macrocopa Staus 1820 M. Brachiata (Jurine) 1820 M. Rectirostris (Leydig) 1860 M. Affinis Birge 1893 8. Macrothrix Baird 1843 M. Rosea (Jurine) 1820 M. Laticornis (Jurine) 1820 M. Monatana Birge 1904 9. Leydigia Kurz 1874 L. Acanthocercoides (Fisher) 1854 10. Oxyurella Dybowski and Grochowski 1894 O. Tenuicaudis (Sars) 1862 11. Alona Baird 1850 A. Guttata Sars 1862 A. Costata Sars 1901 A. Monacantha Sars 1901 12. Chydorus Leach 1842 C. Globosus Baird 1850 13. Alonella Sars 1862 A. Diaphana (King) 1853

From the study of the distributional plan of the Cladoceran, it appeared that five families viz chydoridae, Macrothricidae, Bosminidae, Sididae and Daphnidae inhabited water bodies of the northern Punjab. Of these families, family chydoridae was represented in all the districts except Jhelum and Sheikhupura i.e., central and lower north of N. Punjab. Family Macrothricidae was confined to Rawalpindi and Attock (north of N. Punjab), Sialkot (east of N. Punjab), Sargodha, and Jhang (central N. Punjab) while it was absent from Jhelum and Gujrat 9lower N. Punjab), Gujrawala (central Punjab) and Mianwali and Khushab (west N. Punjab). Family Bosminidae was present in only one district i.e., Jhelum (lower north of N. Punjab). Siddae was present along the eastern border of N. Punjab i.e., Rawalpindi, Gujrat, and Sialkot and was absent from all other districts. Family Daphnidae was found in every district of N. Punjab except Jhang and Jhelum (central and lower north of N. Punjab). pH-wise distribution revealed that primitive families (Chydoridae, Macrothricidae, Bominidae and Sididae) were confined to acidic to neutral pH with some odd occurance at pH 8.0 while the adavanced family ( Daphnidae) seemed to be adapted to a basic pH. Extremes of pH (5.0 and 10.0) were occupied by family chydoridae and daphnidae respectively. In second phase, analysis of fish food was undertaken. For this purpose, 554 specimens of 22 species belonging to 16 genera of fishes were worked upon. From these observations and statistical application, it was revealed that there exists a certain relationship between fish species and chladoceran genera. Also, it was clear that fish selectively feed upon Chladocerans (and Entomostraca as a whole) in the presence of other food types, e.g., C. Baculis (Hamilton) selectively feeds upon Daphnia while C. ranga (Hamilton) prefers Chydorus spp. In the third phase, culturing of those chladoceran species was undertaken with a view to increase the production of these chladocera in the laboratory that are most favoured by fish species. For this purpose, different culture methods were tried. The methods that are tried with success elsewhere in the world by different authors, did not prove satisfactory for our local climate and condition. A new culture medium, Buffalo Manure method was tried with significant success. At present the experiments were run in jars but these experiments could be run in tanks for larger scale propagation.