FLASH CARDS FOR BIOLOGICAL LIMNOLOGY
THESE CARDS CAN BE USED TO QUIZ YOURSELF ON THE ORGANISMS YOU
NEED TO KNOW FOR THE SECTION. THE NAME IS ON ONE SIDE, WITH A
PHOTO OR DRAWING THAT YOU CAN COVER IF YOU’D LIKE; ON THE OTHER
SIDE IS THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORGANISM
I AM GIVING YOU THIS FILE SO THAT YOU CAN ALSO MODIFY IT IF YOU’D
LIKE TO SUIT YOUR OWN STUDY NEEDS BEFORE PRINTING
INSTRUCTIONS:
(1) PRINT ON TWO SIDES OF A PIECE OF PAPER (IF YOUR PRINTER ISN’T
TWO-SIDED, THEN PRINT ODD PAGES AND RUN THE SHEETS THROUGH
THE PRINTER AGAIN TO PRINT EVEN PAGES ON BACK; OR PRINT ALL OF
THEM AND EITHER TAPE THE FRONT AND BACK TOGETHER OR ZEROX
ONE SHEET ONTO THE NEXT)
(2) SO, OBVIOUSLY, PAGE 2 OF THIS FILE IS THE FRONT OF ONE SET OF 8
ORGANISM FLASH CARDS, PAGE 3 IS THE BACK, PAGE 4 THE FRONT OF
THE SECOND SET, AND SO ON…
(3) CUT ALONG THE DARK LINES TO SEPARATE THE ORGANISMS
(4) THE PHOTOS/DRAWINGS ARE ALL IN THE SPOT ON THE CARDS. YOU
CAN COVER THIS SPOT OR CHOOSE NOT TO PRINT IT IF YOU’D RATHER
NOT HAVE THE PHOTOS
NOTE: BECAUSE THE FILE IS MEANT TO BE PRINTED ON THE FRONT AND
BACK OFA PIECE OF PAPER, THE ORGANISMS SHOWN ON ONE PAGE IN
COLUMN 1, ARE DESCRIBED ON THE SECOND PAGE IN COLUMN 2 (AND SO
WILL PRINT ON THE BACK OF THE CORRECT PICTURES!)
1
Potamogeton
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Myriophyllum
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Common name: pond weed
Common name: water milfoil
Elodea
Chara
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Common name: water weed
Vallisneria
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Common name: muskgrass; skunkweed
Nymphaea
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Common names: wild celery, tape grass (eel
grass)
Scirpus
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Common name: bulrush
Common name: water lily
Typha
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Common name: cattail
2
Type of Organism: Macrophyte
Other taxonomic information: Angiosperm
Ecological type: rooted submersed
Miscellaneous:
 M. spicatum is an exotic that has
crowded out many native macrophytes
in U.S.
 M. sibiricum is a native
Type of Organism: Macrophyte
Other taxonomic information: Angiosperm
Ecological type: mainly rooted submersed;
some rooted floating
Miscellaneous:
 About 80 species
 Variable shape
 Good food for wildlife
Type of Organism: Macrophyte
Other taxonomic information: Green alga in
order Charales (stoneworts)
Ecological type: rooted submersed
Miscellaneous:
 Large green alga, NOT higher plant
 Rough to touch
 Precipitates CaCO3
 Reproductive structures are sporangia
(not flowers)
Type of Organism: Macrophyte
Other taxonomic information: Angiosperm
Ecological type: rooted floating
Miscellaneous:
 Leaves nearly circular, notched in
center
Type of Organism: Macrophyte
Other taxonomic information: Angiosperm
Ecological type: rooted submersed
Miscellaneous:
 Invaded Europe from North America
 Used in aquaria
Type of Organism: Macrophyte
Other taxonomic information: Angiosperm
Ecological type: rooted emergent
Miscellaneous:
 Covers large areas of wetlands, lakes
and rivers
 Common; thrives in disturbed areas
 Brown cylindrical spikes that can reach
1 ft. long
Type of Organism: Macrophyte
Other taxonomic information: Angiosperm
Ecological type: rooted emergent
Miscellaneous:
 Eaten by birds
 Stems triangular
 Often has reduced leaves
Type of Organism: Macrophyte
Other taxonomic information: Angiosperm
Ecological type: rooted submersed
Miscellaneous:
 Sometimes forms underwater meadows
 Common in both still and fast-flowing
waters
3
Ceratophyllum
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Utricularia
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Common name: raccoon’s tail; coontail
Eichornia
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Common name: bladderwort
Common name: water hyacinth
Cladophora
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Lemna
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Common name: duckweed
Mollusca
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Common name: string algae, green turf algae
Common name: molluscs
Crustacea
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Crayfish
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Common name: ?
This is the common name
4
Type of Organism: Macrophyte
Other taxonomic information: Angiosperm
Ecological type: unrooted submersed
Miscellaneous:
 Carnivorous
 Gets nutrients from small animal prey
Type of Organism: Macrophyte
Other taxonomic information: Angiosperm
Ecological type: unrooted submersed
Miscellaneous:
 Leaves in whorls
 Underwater flowers; mobile pollen
Type of Organism: Macrophyte
Other taxonomic information: Angiosperm
Ecological type: unrooted floating
Miscellaneous:
 Common in sluggish waters
 Forms large floating mats
 Single root beneath each leaflet
Type of Organism: Macrophyte
Other taxonomic information: Angiosperm
Ecological type: unrooted floating
Miscellaneous:
 Exotic pest in S. U.S., S. America and
Africa; clogs waterways, increases
evapotranspiration, not very edible;
decomposes nearshore and decreases
O2, can block light penetration; made
into furniture near L. Victoria (Africa)
Type of Organism: Benthic filamentous alga
Other taxonomic information: Chlorophyta
(green alga)
Ecological type: filamentous algae
Miscellaneous:
 Can become a nuisance nearshore and
in small ponds
Type of Organism: Benthic invert. as adults
Other taxonomic information: This is a
phylum
Ecological type: benthic invertebrate; some
larvae are pelagic, some larvae are parasitic
Miscellaneous:
 Bivalves – have hinged shells; filter
feeders (includes exotic zebra mussels)
 Gastropods – ‘snails’; scrapers
Type of Organism: Benthic invertebrate
Common
name: information: Phylum
Other
taxonomic
Arthropoda; are 3 families of freshwater
crayfish
Miscellaneous:
 Have a wide diet range (omnivores,
herbivores, predators)
Type of Organism: Benthic and pelagic invert.
Other taxonomic information: In the Phylum
Arthropoda (jointed legs; exoskeleton)
Miscellaneous:
 Most common aquatic invertebrates
 In benthic includes crayfish and
amphipods
 In plankton includes cladocerans,
copepods, mysids, amphipods, fairy
shrimp, and ostracods.
5
Amphipod
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Hirudinea
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Common name: scud
Common name: leech
Porifera
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Cnideria
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Common name: sponge
Common name: Polyp, jellyfish
Nematoda
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Plecoptera
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Common name: roundworm
Common name: stoneflies
Trichoptera
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Ephemeroptera
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Common name: caddisflies
Common name: mayflies
6
Type of Organism: Benthic invertebrate
Other taxonomic information: In the Phylum
Annelida (segmented worms)
Miscellaneous:
 Parasitic on other organisms (including
unsuspecting limnologists)
Type of Organism: Benthic invertebrate
Other taxonomic information: In the Phylum
Arthropoda (jointed legs; exoskeleton)
Miscellaneous:
 Some make forays into the pelagic
zone and are merozooplankton
 Wide diet range (omnivores,
herbivores, carnivores, detritivores)
Type of Organism: Benthic/pelagic invert.
Common
name: information: This is a
Other
taxonomic
phylum
Miscellaneous:
Type of Organism: Benthic invertebrate
Other taxonomic information: This is a
phylum
Miscellaneous:
 Freshwater species are relatively
common, but poorly described
 Filter algae and small particles from
the water

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
Benthic Hydra (some also have symbiotic
algae)
Pelagic medusas -- Craspedacusta (have a
polyp life stage)
Captures organisms with stinging cells;
(cnidoblasts/nematocysts); some have
neurotoxins; eat invertebrates, larval fish
Type of Organism: Benthic invert. (larvae)
Other taxonomic information: Phylum
Arthropoda; one order of stream insects
Common
name:
Miscellaneous:
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Mostly temperate zone
Cool, clean, low order streams
Sensitive to low oxygen
Tolerant of low pH (high acidity)
Adults generally poor fliers
Mostly herbivores/detritivores
Type of Organism: Benthic invert. (larvae)
Other taxonomic information: Phylum
Arthropoda; one order of stream insects
Miscellaneous:
 Worldwide distribution (not Antarctic)
 Large gills
 Sensitive to low pH
 Adult (terrestrial) lifespan short; do not
feed as adults
Type of Organism: Benthic invertebrate
Other taxonomic information: This is a
phylum
Miscellaneous:

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Very abundant
Many detritivorous and eat bacteria and
fungi
Some carnivorous; some eat
periphyton/diatoms
Some types are parasitic, too
Type of Organism: Benthic invert. (larvae)
Other taxonomic information: Phylum
Arthropoda; one order of stream insects
Miscellaneous:
 Worldwide distribution (not Antarctic)
 Some build elaborate cases
 Some free-living species
 Mostly collectors/detritivores
7
Odonata
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Common name: dragonflies and damselflies
Diptera
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Common name: true flies
Coleoptera
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Cyanophyta
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Common name: water beetles
Microcystis
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Common name: blue-green algae
Anabaena
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Common name: none?
Common name: none?
Spirulina
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Common name: none?
Oscillatoria (Planktothrix)
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Common name: none?
8
Type of Organism: Benthic invert. (larvae)
Other taxonomic information: Phylum
Arthropoda; one order of stream insects
Miscellaneous:
 Widespread
 Many collectors; detritivores
 Includes Chironomidae (non-biting
midges) and Simuliidae (blackflies)
Type of Organism: Benthic invert. (larvae)
Other taxonomic information: Phylum
Arthropoda; one order of stream insects
Miscellaneous:
 Occur worldwide (not Antarctica)
 Predators (can even eat vertebrates)
 Adults are also predators
Type of Organism: Algae
Other taxonomic information: This is a
division (phylum)
Miscellaneous:
Type of Organism: Benthic invertebrates
Other taxonomic information: Phylum
Arthropoda; one order of stream insects
Miscellaneous:
 Very diverse
 Often aquatic both as larvae and adults
 Many adults carry air bubbles with
them
 Diverse diets - omnivorous, predatory,
herbivorous
Type of Organism: Algae - phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Cyanophyta/Cyanobacteria (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Abundant in eutrophic lakes
 Forms nuisance blooms
 Some species and strains produce
toxins
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Ancient group – fossils (stromatolites) are 3
billion yrs old; Prokaryotic
Chlorophyll a, phycobilins
Store glycogen
No flagella
Some have heterocysts (fix N) and akinetes
(resting stage); some toxic
Type of Organism: Algae - phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Cyanophyta/Cyanobacteria (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Common cyanobacterium
 Has the specialized cells akinetes and
heterocysts
Type of Organism: Algae – phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Cyanophyta/Cyanobacteria (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
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Grows in filaments with short vegetative
cells
Never has heterocysts
Important as an indicator of the onset of
eutrophication in a lake
Tolerant of low light
Type of Organism: Algae – phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Cyanophyta/Cyanobacteria (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Abundant in saline lakes and ponds
 Eaten by flamingoes
 Grown for sale as a protein supplement
in health food stores
9
Chlorophyta
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Spirogyra
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Common name: Green algae
Common name: none?
Chlamydomonas
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Volvox
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Common name: none?
Common name: none?
Cryptophyta
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Cryptomonas
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Common name: none?
Common name: none?
Chrysophyta
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Chrysophyceae
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Common name: golden algae, yellow-green
algae, diatoms
Common name: golden algae
10
Type of Organism: Algae
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Chlorophyta (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Has a spiral chloroplast
 Can live as a phytoplankton or a
benthic filamentous alga
Type of Organism: Algae
Other taxonomic information: This is a division
(phylum)
Miscellaneous:
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Eukaryotic
Chlorophyll a and b
Store starch
Cell wall – cellulose
May have flagella
Ancient Chlorophytes ancestral to higher
plants
Type of Organism: Algae – phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Chlorophyta (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Colonies with many cells along the
outside of a ball, each cell is similar to
a Chlamydomonas, with 2 equal length
flagella
 Some division of labor – only certain
cells are reproductive
Type of Organism: Algae – phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Cryptophyta (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Biflagellate unicell
 Capable of mixotrophy – will ingest
particles including bacteria
Type of Organism: Algae – phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Chlorophyta (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Single cell with 2 equal length flagella
 In the order volvocales which shows a
trend toward increasing amounts of
colony formation and cell
specialization from this single celled
organism to the colonial Volvox
Type of Organism: Algae – phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a division
Type of Organism: Algae
Other taxonomic information: This is a class
(now sometimes elevated to a division) in the
division Chrysophyta (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Variety of forms
 Lots of -carotene and xanthophylls
give these algae a golden-brown color
 Adapted to low temperature and low
light
Type of Organism: Algae
(phylum)
Miscellaneous:
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Eukaryotic
Chlorophylls a and c; xanthophylls and
carotenoids
Store starch
Naked cells – no cell walls
Biflagellate and unicellular
Generally good food for zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a division
(phylum); now often the diatoms are separated out
Miscellaneous:
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Eukaryotic
Chlorophylls a and c; carotenoids, fucoxanthin
Store chrysolaminarin and oils
Cells can be naked, or have cell wall of
cellulose, or silica frustule
Some have flagella (only 1 or 2 if present)
Some benthic, some phytoplankton
11
Mallomonas
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Common name: none?
Dinobryon
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Common name: none?
Bacillariophyceae
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Centrales
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Common name: diatoms
Common name: centric diatom
Aulacosira
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Pennales
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Common name: none?
Common name: pennate diatom
Asterionella
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Navicula
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Common name: none?
Common name: none?
12
Type of Organism: Algae – phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Chrysophyta (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Makes a lorica out of cellulose
 Has a diploid resting stage
 Is mixotrophic
Type of Organism: Algae – phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Chrysophyta (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Has silica plates, each with a spicule
(projection) that increases size of cell
and makes it hard for zooplankton to
eat
Type of Organism: Algae
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Chrysophyta; one order of diatoms (has those
traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Radially symmetrical in valve view
 Can be colonial
 Mostly pelagic or marine
Type of Organism: Algae
Type of Organism: Algae
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Chrysophyta; one order of diatoms (has those
traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Bilaterally symmetrical in valve view
 Have a raphe (split in frustule) through
which organic material is released that
allows gliding on surfaces
 Mostly freshwater pelagic or benthic
Type of Organism: Algae - Phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Chrysophyta; one of the pennate diatoms (has
those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Common in benthos and occasionally
in plankton
 Has a raphe and can glide on surfaces
Type of Organism: Algae - Phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Chrysophyta; one of the centric diatoms (has
those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 A colonial diatom that is radially
symmetrical in valve view, but forms
stacked colonies of cells in a filament
Other taxonomic information: Class (now sometimes
elevated to a division) in the division Chrysophyta (has
those traits)
Miscellaneous:
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Have frustules made of silica with 2 values
Opal is mineralized diatoms in sediments
Sedimented frustules are diatomaceous earth
Unicellular or colonial; benthic or phytoplankton
One daughter cell is smaller with each round of asexual
reproduction; sexual reproduction results in a zygote
(auxospore) - restores size
Type of Organism: Algae - Phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Chrysophyta; one of the pennate diatoms (has
those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Colonial pennate diatom
 Have never observed auxospores or
gametes (but still see same size
decrease, then increase)
13
Pyrrophyta
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Common name: dinoflagellates
Euglenophyta
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Ceratium
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Common name: none?
Euglena
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Common name: none?
Rhodophyta
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Common name: none?
Protista
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Common name: Red algae
Common name: protozoans
Mastigophora
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Common name: flagellates
Sarcodina
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Common name: amoebas
14
Type of Organism: Algae - Phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Pyrrophyta (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Armored; covered with small plates
 Undergoes cyclomorphosis through the
growing season, with projections
changing in size
Type of Organism: Algae - Phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a division
Type of Organism: Algae - Phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Euglenophyta (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Can take up dissolved organic material
from the water
 Have characteristic red eyespot
 biflagellate
Type of Organism: Algae - Phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a division
(phylum)
Miscellaneous:
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
(phylum)
Miscellaneous:
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Type of Organism: Microbe
Other taxonomic information: This is a
kingdom, but is not a monophyletic group
Miscellaneous:
 Single celled eukaryotic heterotrophic
organisms
 In benthos and microzooplankton
 Includes flagellates, amoeboid forms,
and ciliates
Eukaryotic
Chlorophylls a and c; xanthophylls
Stores starch
Cell wall cellulose (some armored – theca)
Biflagellate in equatorial and longitudinal
grooves
Eukaryotic
Chlorophylls a and b; carotenoids
Stores paramylon
Typically no cell wall; have pellicles – protein
strips in the cell membrane
Typically 2 flagella with unique structure
Red eyespot
Type of Organism: Algae - Phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a division
(phylum)
Miscellaneous:
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Eukaryotic
Chlorophylls a and d; phycobilins (especially
phycoerythrin – red pigment)
Store starch
Cellulose cell wall
No flagellated cells
Mostly marine; a few freshwater species
Type of Organism: Microbe
Other taxonomic information: This is a
Type of Organism: Microzooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a
subphylum in the Kingdom Protista
subphylum in the Kingdom Protista
Miscellaneous:
 Amoeboid protozoans
 Can engulf prey and particles for
nutrition
 Includes amoebas and heliozoans
Miscellaneous:
 Flagellates
 Some are closely related to algae (have
lost their chloroplasts)
 Feed on small particles (including
bacteria) and organic material
15
Amoeba
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Common name: none?
Ciliophora
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Common name: ciliates
Animalia
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Common name: animals
Difflugia
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Common name: none?
Paramecium
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Common name: none?
Craspedacusta
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Common name: freshwater ‘jellyfish’
Platyhelminthes
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Turbellaria
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Common name: flatworms
Common name:
16
Type of Organism: microzooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a
member of the subphylum Sarcodina in the
Kingdom Protista
Miscellaneous:
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
Makes a hard case called a test of sand
grains
Migrates vertically by regulating lipid
content
Blooms in the spring in Gt. Lakes
Type of Organism: microbe
Other taxonomic information: This is a
member of the subphylum Sarcodina in the
Kingdom Protista
Miscellaneous:
 Microzooplankton and also in benthos
 Engulfs particles, bacteria and
flagellates
Type of Organism: microzooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a
member of the subphylum Ciliophora in the
Kingdom Protista
Miscellaneous:
 Some members of this genus have
symbiotic algae
 Others are purely heterotrophic
Type of Organism: microzooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a
subphylum in the Kingdom Protista
Miscellaneous:
 Single celled heterotrophic organisms
that ingest bacteria, flagellates, and
other small particles dead and alive
Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: Kingdom
Animalia, in Phylum Cnidaria (Class
Hydrozoa)
Miscellaneous:
 Freshwater; invasive in U.S.
 Has a small polyp lifestage as well
 Eat zooplankton and small larval fish
 Have stinging cells (like Hydra)
Type of Organism: benthos, zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a
kingdom
Miscellaneous:
 Includes vertebrate and invertebrate
eukaryotic heterotrophs
 Like, us, fish, zooplankton and benthic
invertebrates
Type of Organism: benthos, zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: A free-living
class of animals in the Phylum
Platyhelminthes (other classes are parasitic)
Miscellaneous:
Type of Organism: benthos, zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: Phylum in the
Kingdom Animalia
Miscellaneous:
 Dorsoventrally flattened animals
 No body cavity
 Only one digestive tract opening –
mouth in center of body
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Move by cilia and muscular undulation
Hermaphrodites; internal fertilization
Direct development
Mostly aquatic; marine and freshwater
17
Rhabdocoela
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Common name:
Veliger
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Common name:
Rotifera
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Common name: wheel animalcules; rotatoria
Monogonata
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Glochida
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Common name:
Zebra mussels
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Common name: that is the common name
(Dreissena polymorpha is latin name)
Bdelloida
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Common name: none?
Keratella
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Common name: none?
Common name: none?
18
Type of Organism: zooplankton, parasite
Other taxonomic information: Larval stage of
some benthic bivalve mollusks
Miscellaneous:
 Are parasitic – attach to fish and encyst
 Will later metamorphose into adult
mussels and sink to bottom (benthic as
adults)
 Is the larval stage of our native
unionids
Type of Organism: benthic invertebrate
Other taxonomic information: Benthic bivalve
mollusk
Miscellaneous
 Exotic species in N. America
 Produces planktonic larva (veliger)
 Filter algae from water column as
adults
Type of Organism: benthos, zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: Order in Class
Turbellaria, Phylum Platyhelminthes
Miscellaneous:
 Predators and scavengers
 Some enter water and eat zooplankton
 Meroplankton and benthos
Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: Larval stage of
some benthic bivalve mollusks
Miscellaneous:
 Larval stage of zebra and quagga mussels


Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other
taxonomic information: This is one
Miscellaneous:
class in the Phylum Rotifera
Miscellaneous:
 Members of this class are similar in
appearance (need to look at trophi to
distinguish)
Very small
No males – asexual for ~40 million yrs
Eat algae
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Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a
member of the Class Monogonata in the
Phylum Rotifera (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Has a lorica that protects against
predators
 Is an herbivore
(exotic in N. America)
Unlike larvae of native mussels, these will
stay in the plankton for ~10 days and
consume algae there
Disperse widely in plankton
Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a Phylum
Miscellaneous: are eutelic (cell constancy)
 Almost all members are freshwater and pelagic
(some benthic and marine)
 Very small – 30m-1mm; short lifespan
 Morphologically diverse; distinct trophi - jaws
 Some have hard case – lorica
 Get food (algae, bacteria, other zoops) with
ciliary current and sticky mucus
Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is one
class in the Phylum Rotifera
Miscellaneous:
 Members of this class are cyclical

parthenogens; males are haploid; females
diploid
Product of sexual reproduction is a resting
egg
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Asplanchna
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Arthropoda
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Common name: none? (‘garbage bag’)
Common name: jointed foot animals
Branchiopoda
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Cladocera
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Common name:
Common name: water fleas
Daphnia
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Bosmina
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Common name: none (elephant water flea?)
Common name: water flea
Leptodora
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Cercopagis
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Common name: none (ghost water flea?)
Common name:
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Type of Organism: Benthic and pelagic invert
Other taxonomic information: This is a
Phylum
Miscellaneous:
 Many aquatic invertebrates are
Crustaceans in this Phylum (e.g.,
amphipods, crayfish, cladocerans,
copepods)
 Characterized by jointed legs and an
exoskeleton
Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: Suborder in the Order
Branchiopoda, Class Crustacea, Phylum Arthropoda
Miscellaneous:
 One of the 3 major zoop. groups
 Predators and herbivores
 Life cycles 1-2 weeks
 Cyclical parthenogens; males and females
diploid; sex produces a resting egg
(ephippium)
Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a
Cladoceran (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Is a small herbivore
 Very common in lakes and ponds
 Shape changes in response to presence
of invertebrate predators (long or short
mucro and rostrum)
Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a
Cladoceran (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Is an exotic predator in N. America
 Has a long tailspine that makes it hard
for small fish to eat it
Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a
member of the Class Monogonata in the
Phylum Rotifera (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Is a predator
 Changes shape depending on
population density (defense against
cannibalism)
Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: Order in the
Class Crustacea, Phylum Arthropoda
Miscellaneous:
 bivalve carapaces
 Herbivorous species have paddle
shaped legs that they use to draw algae
and water currents into the carapace
Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a
Cladoceran (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Is a large herbivore
 Very common in lakes and ponds
 His a high filtering rate and is responsible
for ‘clear water phase’
 Can eat a wide size range of particles
 Not selective feeder
Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: This is a
Cladoceran (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 Is a native predator
 Very common in lakes and ponds
 Very transparent
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Copepoda
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Cyclopoida
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Common name: none?
Common name: none?
Calanoida
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Harpacticoida
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Common name: none?
Common name: none?
Malacostraca
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Mysidacea (Mysis)
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Common name: none?
Common name: opossum shrimp
Eubranchiopoda
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Anostraca
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Common name:
Common name: fairy shrimp
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Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: Suborder in the
Class Crustacea, Phylum Arthropoda
Miscellaneous:
 Have short antennae
 Generation time 1-2 months
 Diapause as copepodite IV (no resting
eggs)
 Predaceous/omnivorous (nauplii are
herbivorous)
Type of Organism: benthic; parasitic
Other taxonomic information: Suborder in the
Class Crustacea, Phylum Arthropoda
Miscellaneous:
 Have very short antennae
 Mouthparts used for seizing and
scraping particles from sediments and
macrovegetation
 Some are parasitic
Type of Organism: zooplankton
Type of Organism: zooplankton; benthos
Other taxonomic information: Genus in Class
Crustacea, Phylum Arthropoda
Miscellaneous:
 Often live in benthos during day and move
Type of Organism: zooplankton; benthos
Other taxonomic information: Order in the
Class Crustacea, Phylum Arthropoda
Miscellaneous:
 Includes amphipods and mysids
Other taxonomic information: Order in the Class
Crustacea, Phylum Arthropoda
Miscellaneous:
 One of 3 major groups of freshwater
zooplankton; 300m-5mm
 Sexual reproduction
 Indirect development; juvenile - nauplius
 Longer generation time than cladoc. or rotifers
 Accumulate lipids (differ with temp.)
Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: Suborder in the
Class Crustacea, Phylum Arthropoda
Miscellaneous:
 Have long antennae
 Generation time 1-2 per year
 Diapausing eggs – thick shell
 Herbivores and predators (nauplii are
herbivorous)
 Selective feeders
into water column at night (meroplankton)
Glacial relicts
Omnivores – detritus, algae, inverts
Long-lived
Sexual reproduction




Type of Organism: zooplankton
Other taxonomic information: In the Class
Crustacea, Phylum Arthropoda
Miscellaneous:
 Swim on backs
 Consume algae, bacteria, protozoans,
rotifers, detritus
 Slow swimmers and vulnerable to
predation, so mostly in temporary
water bodies without fish
Type of Organism: zooplankton; benthos
Other taxonomic information: Order in the
Class Crustacea, Phylum Arthropoda
Miscellaneous:
 Includes fairy shrimp and tadpole
shrimp
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Ostacoda
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Common name:
Insecta
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Common name: insects
Chaoborus
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Desmids
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Common name: phantom midge larvae
Common name: none?
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Type of Organism: zooplankton; benthos
Other taxonomic information: Very large class
in the Phylum Arthropoda
Miscellaneous:
 Has many terrestrial species, but also
aquatic benthic and some pelagic
members (especially larvae)
Type of Organism: zooplankton; benthos
Other taxonomic information: Order in the
Class Crustacea, Phylum Arthropoda
Miscellaneous:
 Most benthic, a few pelagic
 Eat algae
 Leave carapaces that preserve well in
sediments and are important in
paleolimnology
Type of Organism: Phytoplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Division
Chlorophyta (has those traits)
Miscellaneous:
 2 half cells – mirror images
 common in low pH water
Type of Organism: meroplankton
Other taxonomic information: In Class Insecta
in the Phylum Arthropoda
Miscellaneous:
 Larval stage of phantom midge
 Predators of zooplankton
 Often have strong diel vertical
migration – at lake bottom in day,
water column at night
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