It is hypothesized that harpacticoid copepods are the only meiofaunal organisms to develop larval stages because their nauplii share the same habitat as the adults. I am interested to know whether the nauplii (larvae) and copodite stages of harpacticoid copepods are pelagic or benthic compared to calanoid or cyclopoid copepods?
Dear Moumita, perfect question.
As you know some marine harp. cop’s. are planktonic. So, for them there is no choice like to develop in plankton. Anyway in freshwater some copepods (cyclopoids) had been found in bottom conditions in wintering (look publ. of Natalia Kovalchuk in hydrobiological J. - in RG! But if I understand well we’re speaking about freshwater benthos! Thus, being involved about 40 years with alive samples of different habitats both fresh and brackish waters I'm absolutely sure that naup. & copep. of h. in freshwaters are mainly inhabited the same biotope as adult that is benthos, periphytos (if fast flow of stream) or submerged in case of lenthic basins! This provide much better survivance of youth as protect them against raptor cyclops!
Andrey
Dear Dr. Kovalchuk,
Thank you for your kind reply. But can you please provide me a couple of more references in this regard? My question is regarding brackish or marine harpacticoid species.
Dear Moumita,
I agree with Andrey and I suggest you to read the following article :
Article Life histories of the Harpacticoida (Copepoda, Crustacea): A...
Best regards.
Fred
Dear Moumita.
The harpacticoids are almost entirely benthonic and clamber about on the bottom or creep over the surface of aquatic plants.So their development larval stages is generally on bottom.
Thank you so much. All of yours suggestions are really helpful and must needed for me.
Dear Moumita,
I think that the review "Hicks & Coull_Oceanogr Mar Biol Ann Rev 1983_The ecology of marine meiobenthic harpacticoid copepods" may help you although it is a bit old .
Good luck,
Viviana
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