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- Title
Rediscovery of Branchipus schaefferi (Branchiopoda: Anostraca) in Belgium - notes on habitat requirements and conservation management.
- Authors
Vanschoenwinkel, Bram; Brendonck, Luc; Pinceel, Tom; Dupriez, Pascal; Waterkeyn, Aline
- Abstract
Fairy shrimps (Crustacea, Anostraca) are specialized inhabitants of inland water bodies that periodically dry or freeze over. Here we report the first observation since 1997 of a member of this basal crustacean order in Belgium and the first sighting of the species Branchipus schaefferi Fischer, 1834 since 1930. Nineteen populations were found in a restricted area located 55 km SE of Brussels in the Province of Hainaut. Based on a field survey, we discuss the habitat characteristics of these populations. We discuss also the distribution and habitat requirements of the species based on literature and formulate a number of guidelines for the conservation of this species as well as other large branchiopods in densely settled areas with intensive agriculture such as Belgium. Finally, we formulate a number of likely explanations for the lack of recent observations of these organisms in Western Europe and in Belgium.
- Subjects
BELGIUM; FAIRY shrimps; BRANCHIPUS; FIELD research; MARINE habitats; MARINE resources conservation
- Publication
Belgian Journal of Zoology, 2013, Vol 143, Issue 1, p3
- ISSN
0777-6276
- Publication type
Article