Cladoceran diversity, distribution and ecological significance

Abstract

Cladocerans invariably constitute a dominant component of limnological and zooplankton systems. Cladocerans have a key role in aquatic food chain and contribute to secondary production in aquatic ecosystems. Substantially cladocerans represent a very old group of Palaeozoic origin and currently 620 species are reported globally. In India so far nearly 130 species are recorded, of which the highest taxon was documented from Northeastern India. Cladocerans have been distributed in all the biogeographic regions with more endemic species in the Australasia. Indialona ganapati is the only endemic taxa, restricted to central India. Cladocerans are an important group for biomonitoring, and the group has been used as indicator as well as test organisms for estimation of pesticide toxicity levels and other environmental pollutants. They are also one of the major natural food sources for the fishes, especially fry and fingerlings.