Cladocerans
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Distinguishing Features: They have one obvious eye that is black, can have a spine, are disk shaped, carry their young under their exoskeleton, and often look like they have a beak and hat.
Size: 0.05-4mm long
Swimming Behavior: Slow swimmers, using a twitch-like motion, similar to a flea
Diet and Feeding: Consume phytoplankton, other zooplankton (rotifers, copepod nauplii) and bacteria through filter feeding.
Reproduction: Clonal or sexual
Fun Facts: Often called water fleas. If you look carefully, you can see their heartbeat and gut movement!
Most Common During: Late Spring through late Fall
Taxonomic Groups Observed in Seneca Lake:
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Bosmina longirostris
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Daphnia galeata mendotae
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Chydorus sphaericus
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Daphnia longiremis
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Daphnia pulicaria
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Daphnia schoedleri
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Daphnia retrocurva
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Diaphanosoma birgei
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Eubosmina coregoni
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Holopedium gibberum
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Leptodora kindtii*
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Polyphemus pediculus
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Bythotrephes longimanus
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Cercopagis pengoi*
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*Predacious zooplankton
Cercopagis and Leptodora are examples of predacious cladocerans. They are booth larger than other cladocerans seen. Leptodora often appear ghost-like because they are transparent. Cercopagis have a large spine and a giant eye.
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