Research on Fresh Water Isopod Crustaceans: Suborder
Phreatoicidea
Recent contributions.
Despite their scientific importance, the literature
on the Phreatoicidea is quite limited, with the last major revision being done
in 1944. Our recent field efforts and specimens sent by colleagues have uncovered
many new records and new species of this isopod suborder throughout Australia.
The first description of a new Australian species in over 50 years (Crenoicus
buntiae Wilson & Ho, 1996; shown at right) contains a revision of the
genus, a complete morphological survey of external anatomy, studies of variation
and population biology of this species.
Research in Phreatoicidean Systematics
This research is supported by the Australian
Biological Resources Study and the Australian
Museum. New collections of phreatoicideans made recently and pre-existing
Museum collections provide the source for these studies.
- Crenisopus acinifer from a spring in the Kimberleys region of Western
Australia appears to be derived early in the evolution of the Phreatoicidea,
as is the South African genus Mesamphisopus Wilson
and Keable, 1999). Recently, Jarrad Clark from Ecologia (1025 Wellington
Street, WEST PERTH ) sent the specimen at the right, collected from a deep
bore on Koolan Island (NW of Derby in the West Kimberley region). It belongs
to a new species of the genus Crenisopus.
- All work is based on a DELTA
database that was begun during 1997. This database will allow an interactive
system for the identification of any phreatoicidean genus and species. This
database was used to generate the description of all new species.
- Descriptions of new genera (see one from the Kimberleys) will broaden
the known morphological diversity of the Phreatoicidea. We are currently working
on a new genus of Phreatoicidae from caves in southern Tasmania.
- Eophreatoicus, a genus endemic to the Arnhem Plateau, was collected
during an 1994 Australian Museum field trip. Our survey found more than 5
new species, different from the type species E. kershawi, within the
confines of Kakadu National Park. Four species are found within a 20km radius
of Nourlangie Rock, which is just south of the proposed Jabiluka Uranium mine.
Recent collections made by the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising
Scientist (ERISS) have increased the number of new species to approximately
15. Eophreatoicus will be revised and the conservation status of its
species will be evaluated in light of the mining activities taking place on
the Arnhem Plateau. As of March 2006, another new species has been discovered
from the plateau above Koongarra. Another interesting inquiry is whether the
presence of these animals (which require permanent water sources) correlates
with long term human habitation, based on anthropological studies of the ancient
rock art in the same region.
- Tasmania, where phreatoicideans may reach their highest diversity, will
require substantial study to understand the freshwater isopods that live in
this ancient environment. The monograph on the Phreatoicidea will attempt
to provide better definitions for the genera Colubotelson, Metaphreatoicus
and Paraphreatoicus
- Studies on species of Crenoicus will continue with descriptions of
new species, such as another common but undescribed species from Barrington
Tops.
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