Journal of Threatened Taxa |
www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 March 2024 | 16(3): 24923–24929
ISSN 0974-7907
(Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8361.16.3.24923-24929
#8361 | Received 09
January 2023 | Final received 20 November 2023 | Finally accepted 12 January
2024
First report of Macrochaetus
sericus Thorpe, 1893 and Lecane tenuiseta Harring, 1914 (Rotifera:
Monogononta) from Jammu waters (J&K), India
Deepanjali Slathia 1, Supreet Kour
2 & Sarbjeet Kour 3
1,2,3 Department of Zoology, University
of Jammu, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Road, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir 180006, India.
1 deepanjalislathia96@gmail.com
(corresponding author), 2 supreetkour1994@gmail.com, 3 drsarbjeetkour@gmail.com
Editor: Sameer Padhye, University of Guelph,
Ontario, Canada. Date of publication: 26 March
2024 (online & print)
Citation: Slathia, D., S. Kour & S. Kour (2024). First report
of Macrochaetus sericus Thorpe, 1893 and Lecane tenuiseta
Harring, 1914 (Rotifera: Monogononta) from Jammu waters (J&K), India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 16(3):
24923–24929. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8361.16.3.24923-24929
Copyright: © Slathia et al. 2024. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction,
and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to
the author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: First author is thankful to University Grants Commission for funding
support in the form of research fellowship (UGC NET-JRF).
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Author details: Deepanjali Slathia is a research scholar, pursuing her Ph.D. from the Department of
Zoology, University of Jammu. She is working on diversity, taxonomy and ecology
of freshwater zooplankton. Supreet Kour is
also a Ph.D. research scholar in the Department of Zoology, University of Jammu, working on zooplankton ecology and epibiotic associations
among them. Dr. Sarbjeet Kour is
currently working as associate professor in the Department of Zoology,
University of Jammu. She has a research experience of 23 years and her area of
specialization includes limnology, aquatic biology, water quality
analysis and zooplankton ecology.
Author contributions: Deepanjali Slathia: field surveys, identification, data analyis,
interpretation and preparation of manuscript. Supreet Kour: Data collection, review and editing. Sarbjeet Kour: study design, supervision,
confirmation of species and final approval of manuscript.
Acknowledgements: Authors are highly grateful to
the head, Department of Zoology, University of Jammu for providing the necessary
laboratory facilities to carry out the research work. The corresponding author
is also highly thankful to UGC for providing financial aid in the form of
research grant.
Abstract: Water bodies, apart from having
aesthetic value, harbor a great diversity of both macro and microorganisms.
Rotifers or wheel animalcules are cosmopolitan aquatic invertebrates that play
a key role in aquatic food chain. Presently, two species of rotifers (Macrochaetus
sericus & Lecane tenuiseta) have been recorded for the first
time from Jammu. M. sericus is first record from Union territory of
J&K while L. tenuiseta has already been reported from Kashmir.
During the one year study period, M. sericus was observed in the
plankton sample during the monsoon season while L. tenuiseta was
collected from the periphytic zone during the winter season. M. sericus differed
from related congeneric species by absence of anal segment and anal spines.
L. tenuiseta is distinguished by its long separated claws and long toes.
The first report of these two species from Jammu has further expanded their
distributional ranges in the Indian
subcontinent.
Keywords: Diagnosis, distribution, first
reports, habitat, invertebrates, Jammu & Kashmir, morphology, periphytic,
plankton, seasonality, water, wheel animalcules.
Introduction
Phylum Rotifera includes a group
of microscopic, primarily freshwater pseudocoelomate animals, commonly called
wheel animalcules because of the presence of corona or wheel organ which
resembles rotating wheels. Being cosmopolitan, they occur in a variety of
habitats (aquatic and semi-aquatic) ranging from lakes to small puddles and
about 75% of all known species of rotifers inhabit littoral zones of water
bodies (Pennak 1989; Smith 2001; Wei & Xu 2014). Forming an important part
of the aquatic food chain, they are the most preferred food organisms for small
fish larvae because of their small size and slow movement (Loveson et al.
2020). They are regarded as the most suitable water quality indicators as they
are more sensitive and respond more rapidly to environmental alterations in
comparison to crustaceans (Gannon & Stemberger 1978). The highest rotifer
diversity has been observed in the tropics (Segers 2008). The work of Anderson
(1889) represents the very first study on Indian rotifers. Since then, the
appreciable amount of work on rotifer fauna of India has been done by many
workers (Edmondson & Hutchinson 1934; Arora 1963; Nayar 1968; Sharma 1976;
Sharma 1980; Sharma & Michael 1980; Battish 1992; Dhuru et al. 2003; Sharma
& Sharma 2009; Vanjare et al. 2017). A total of 434 valid species of rotifers
(belonging to 68 genera, 25 families) are known from India, making Indian
Rotifer fauna the most diverse compared to southern Asia and southeastern Asia
(Sharma & Sharma 2021). The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, an
important component of biodiversity hotspot (The Himalaya), is bestowed with
unique physiography, diverse climate, and a variety of water bodies ranging
from high mountain lakes, wetlands, hot water springs to small rivers, streams,
and ponds (Sharma & Sharma 2018). Presently, 173 valid rotifer species are
known from J&K (Sharma & Sharma 2018). Much work on the rotifer fauna
of J&K has been concentrated in Kashmir (Pandit 1999; Wanganeo & Wanganeo 2006; Shah et al.
2015; Sharma & Sharma 2018). From Jammu, limited valid information is
available (Sharma & Shrivastava 1986; Dalpatia 1998; Baba 2002; Kour 2006).
There are still many unexplored small lentic water bodies in Jammu which if
explored will add to the faunal biodiversity of the region. Present study was
conducted on a completely unexplored pond of Jammu. In total we observed 31
rotifer species from the pond, of which two species were first reports from
Jammu. This short communication briefly describes their diagnostic features,
distribution, and comparison with related congeneric species.
Material
and methods
In the present study the area
selected was a sacred perennial pond (32.701321˚N & 74.747988˚E) located in
the Sohanjana region of Jammu (Figure 1, Image 1). The pond holds great
religious significance. Many devotees make holy dips into the pond believing
that it can wash their sins and will help them in getting rid of diseases. The
pond is roughly rectangular-shaped and has an area of 2,295.45 m2
and concrete embankments. The sampling was done and both the presently
discussed species were observed during our preliminary seasonal study conducted
on Sohanjana pond (from January 2020 to December 2020). Macrochaetus sericus
Thorpe, 1893 was observed in the plankton sample while Lecane tenuiseta
Harring, 1914 was recorded in the sample collected from the periphytic zone.
Plankton samples were collected by filtering 50 litres of pond water through a
plankton net made of bolting silk (mesh size 40 μm). About 20 ml of planktonic
concentrate was then stored in 4% formalin in polyethylene vials for further
observation. For periphytic sampling, periphyton was scrapped from stones and
twigs with the help of a fine scalpel blade, washed with water, and then filtered
through a plankton net. The periphytic sample was also transferred to vials and
stored in 4% formalin for further observation. In the laboratory, preserved
samples were observed under an Olympus compound light microscope.
Identification was done by following standard identification keys (Koste &
Shiel 1990; Segers 1995; Sharma 1998; Sharma & Sharma 2013). The
taxonomical terminology was adopted from Segers (2002). The reference materials
were deposited in the Museum of Department of Zoology, University of Jammu. An
ocular micrometer was used for taking measurements. Glass camera lucida and
Rotring Germany 1928 pens were used for making drawings of preserved specimens.
For measuring abiotic parameters, water samples from the study area were
collected in sterilized bottles. Water temperature was recorded using a glass
mercury thermometer. pH was determined using a digital pH meter (Hanna
instruments-HI 96107). Water transparency was measured with the help of a
Secchi disc. Free carbon dioxide (FCO2), dissolved oxygen (DO), and
biological oxygen demand (BOD) were analyzed by using standard methods given in
APHA (2017).
Results
and Discussions
a). Macrochaetus sericus (Thorpe 1893) (Image
2a------------–c, Figure 2)
Phylum: Rotifera
Cuvier, 1817
Class:
Eurotatoria De Ridder, 1957
Subclass:
Monogononta Plate, 1889
Order: Ploima
Hudson & Gosse, 1886
Family:
Trichotriidae, Harring 1913
Synonym: Dinocharis serica Thorpe,
1893
Material
examined: Four
contracted specimens were studied for morphological features.
Environmental
data: Water
temperature: 310C, pH: 6.9, Free carbon dioxide: 24.64 mg/l,
Dissolved Oxygen: 4.82 mg/l, Transparency: 31.5 cm, and BOD: 1.32 mg/l.
Diagnosis: Lorica is broad than long,
shaped like a horse- shoe and covered with minute spines or tubercules at outer
angles. Its dorsal surface is characterized by the presence of eight spines
(four anterior and four posterior) which are symmetrically placed with
reference to mid-line. Anal segment and anal spines are absent. Mastax is malleate
type. Toes are small and spindle-shaped.
Distribution: It is a warm stenothermal,
pantropical species (Sharma & Sharma 2018). In India, it has been reported
from Maharashtra (Vanjare et al. 2017), Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil
Nadu, Orissa, Meghalaya, West Bengal, and Assam (Sharma & Sharma 2013). No
previous record of this species is known from J&K.
Remarks: Species was observed during the
monsoon season when temperature was high and water was less transparent. This
seasonal appearance might be attributed to the preference of this genus for
specific environmental conditions like warm temperature, low pH and low water
transparency (de Paggi et al. 2000). The numerical count of this species was
very low in the plankton sample (0.102 No./ litre) as the appearance of members
of this genus in open waters is quite rare due to their affinity for epiphytic
or benthic habitat and they appear in open water of reservoirs at the time of
seasonal flushing (Koste & Shiel 1989). Macrochaetus sericus Thorpe,
1893 can be confused with congener Macrochaetus collinsi Goose, 1867.
But absence of anal segment and anal spines easily distinguish Macrochaetus
sericus from Macrochaetus collinsi.
b). Lecane tenuiseta (Harring 1914) (Image 2d) (Figure
3)
Phylum:
Rotifera Cuvier, 1817
Class:
Eurotatoria De Ridder, 1957
Subclass:
Monogononta Plate, 1889
Order: Ploima
Hudson & Gosse, 1886
Family:
Lecanidae Remane, 1933
Synonym: Lecane punctata Carlin-
Nilsson, 1934
Material
examined: Six
specimens were examined for studying morphological features.
Environmental
data: Water
temperature: 140C, pH: 7.8, Free carbon dioxide: 14.08 mg/l,
Dissolved Oxygen: 6.24 mg/l, Transparency: 58 cm, and BOD: 0.64 mg/l.
Diagnosis: Lorica is elongated and distinct.
Anterior head aperture with nearly parallel margins. The anterio- lateral
corners of lorica are angulated. Ventral plate is more longer than broad, along
with incomplete longitudinal and transverse folds. Foot pseudo segment is
either slightly or completely not projecting. Mastax is malleate type. Toes
with claws that are long and completely separated from each other with claw to
toe length ratio of approximately 0.5.
Distribution: It is a cosmopolitan species. In
India, Lecane tenuiseta currently shows a discontinuous distribution
pattern (Sharma & Sharma 2014) and has been recorded from Delhi (Sharma
& Sharma 2013), Kerala (Kakkassery 2003) and Northeastern states like Assam
(Sharma 2014) and Manipur (Sharma 2007).
Remarks: Although cosmopolitan, it is a
rare species due to its restricted habitat preference (typically littoral)
(Glime 2017). Presently it was observed only during the winter season as this
species best proliferates at colder temperatures (Fiałkowska et al. 2016) and represented only 6% of the
total periphytic rotifer fauna. Some other lecanidae species which were
exclusively observed from the periphytic zone of the pond were Lecane luna
(O.F. Muller, 1776), Lecane hamata (Stokes, 1896) and Lecane
closterocerca (Schmarda, 1859). Lecane
tenuiseta can be confused with L. aeganea (Harring, 1914), L.
doryssa (Harring, 1914) or L. inermis (Bryce, 1892). But L.
inermis has comparatively soft lorica. Both L. aeganea and L.
dorysaa differs from L. tenuiseta by their stiffer lorica. But L.
aeganea has shorter claws and L. dorysaa has typically projecting
foot pseudo segment.
For
figures & images - - click here for full PDF
References
Anderson,
H.H. (1889). Notes on
Indian Rotifers. Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal 58: 345–358.
APHA (2017). Standard methods for the
examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Association,
Washington D.C., 1504 pp.
Arora, H.C.
(1963). Studies on
Indian Rotifera. Part IV: On some species of sessile Rotifera from India (with
a description of a new species of Genus Sinantherina). Archiv für
Hydrobiologie 59: 502–507.
Baba, D.I.
(2002). Ecosystemic
studies with special reference to faunal diversity in river Chenab. PhD Thesis.
University of Jammu, Jammu.
Battish, S.K.
(1992). Freshwater
Zooplankton of India. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, 233 pp.
Dalpatia,
B.S. (1998). Studies on
ecology and population dynamics of zooplankton of some sub- tropical ponds of
Jammu. PhD Thesis. University of Jammu, Jammu.
de Paggi,
S.J., C.W.C. Branco & B. Kozlowsky-Suzuki (2000). Description of Macrochaetus
kostei n. sp. (Rotifera, Trichotriidae) from a coastal lagoon of Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 35(2):
157–160. https://doi.org/10.1076/0165-0521(200008)35:2;1-9;FT157
Dhuru, S., B.
Suresh & B. Pilo (2003). Additions to the rotifer fauna of Gujarat. Journal of Aquatic
Biology 18(1): 35–39.
Edmondson,
W.T., & G.E. Hutchinson (1934). Report on rotatoria: article IX.
Yale North India expedition. Memoirs Connecticut Academy Arts and Science
10: 153–186.
Fiałkowska,
E., A. Pajdak-Stós, J. Fyda, W. Kocerba- Soroka & M. Sobczyk (2016). Lecane tenuiseta
(Rotifera, Monogononta) as the best biological tool candidate selected for
preventing activated sludge bulking in a cold season. Desalination and Water
Treatment 57(59): 28592–28599. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2016.1192565
Gannon, J.E.
& R.S. Stemberger (1978). Zooplankton (especially crustaceans and rotifers) as indicators of
water quality. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 97(1):
16–35. https://doi.org/10.2307/3225681
Glime, J.M.
(2017).
Invertebrates: Rotifer Taxa- Monogononta. Chapter 4–7c. In: Glime, J.M.
Bryophyte Ecology, Volume 2. Bryological interaction. https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/bryophyte-ecology2/
Kakkassery,
F.K. (2003). Studies on
freshwater rotifers of Kerala. PhD Thesis. University of Calicut.
Koste, W.
& R.J. Shiel (1990). Rotifera from Australian Inland Waters. Ⅴ. Lecanidae (Rotifera:
Monogononta). Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 114(1):
1–36.
Koste, W. &
R.J. Shiel (1989). Rotifera from Australian Inland
Waters. Ⅲ. Euchlanidae, Mytilinidae and
Trichotriidae (Rotifera:Monogononta). Transactions of the Royal Society of
South Australia 113: 85–114.
Kour, S.
(2006). Rotifer
diversity in freshwaters of Jammu province, J&K state. PhD Thesis.
University of Jammu, Jammu.
Loveson,
L.E., P. Laxmilatha, K. Sreeramulu, L. Ranjith & S. Megarajan (2020). Influence of certain
environmental parameters on mass production of rotifers: A Review. Journal
of Marine Biological Association of India 62(1): 49–53. https://doi.org/10.6024/jmbai.2020.62.1.2104-05
Nayar, C.K.G. (1968). Rotifers
fauna of Rajasthan, India. Hydrobiologia 31: 168–185.
Pandit, A.K.
(1999). Trophic
structure of plankton community in some typical wetlands of Kashmir, India. In:
Mishra SR (ed): Limnological Research in India. Daya Publishing House,
Delhi.
Pennak, R.W.
(1989). Freshwater
Invertebrates of United States 3rd edition: Protozoa to
Mollusca. A Wiley Inter-science Publication.
Segers, H.
(1995). Rotifera,
Volume 2: The Lecanidae (Monogononta). In: Dumont, H.J. & T. Nogrady (eds):
Guides to the Identification of the Microinvertebrates of the Continental
Waters of the World. SPB Academic Publishing, 226 pp.
Segers, H.
(2002). The
nomenclature of the Rotifera: annotated checklist of valid family-and
genus-group names. Journal of Natural History 36: 621–640.
Segers, H.
(2008). Global
diversity of rotifers (Rotifera) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia 595:
49–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-9003-7
Shah, J.A.,
A.K. Pandit & G.M. Shah (2015). A research on rotifers of
aquatic ecosystems of Kashmir Himalaya for documentation and authentication. Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences, India, Section- B Biological Sciences
85(1): 13–19.
Sharma, B.K.
(1976). Rotifers
collected from north–west India. Newsletter Zoological Survey of India
2: 255–259.
Sharma, B.K.
(1980).
Contributions to the rotifer fauna of Orissa, India. Hydrobiologia 70:
225–233. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016764
Sharma, B.K.
(1998). Freshwater
rotifers (Rotifera: Eurotatoria). In: Fauna of West Bengal. State
Fauna Series 3(11): 341–461. Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta.
Sharma, B.K.
(2007). Notes on rare
and interesting rotifers (Rotifera: Eurotatoria) from Loktak lake, Manipur- a
ramsar site. Zoo’s, Print Journal 22(9): 2816–2820.
Sharma, B.K.
(2014). Rotifers
(Rotifera: Eurotatoria) from wetlands of Majuli- the largest river island, the
Brahmaputra river basin of upper Assam, northeast India. Check List
10(2): 292–298.
Sharma, B.K.
& R.G. Michael (1980). Synopsis of taxonomic studies on Indian Rotatoria. Hydrobiologia 73:
229–236. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00019452
Sharma, B.K.
& S. Sharma (2009). Biodiversity and distribution of freshwater rotifers (Rotifera,
Eurotatoria) of Tamil Nadu. Records of the Zoological Survey of India
109(3): 41–60.
Sharma, B.K.
& S. Sharma (2014). Indian Lecanidae (Rotifera: Eurotatoria: Monogononta) and its
distribution. International Review of Hydrobiology 99: 38–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.201301702
Sharma, B.K.
& S. Sharma (2018). The rotifers (Rotifera: Eurotatoria) from the Kashmir Himalayan
floodplains and Rotifera biodiversity of Jammu and Kashmir, North India. International
Journal of Aquatic Biology 6(4): 208–220. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v6i4.507
Sharma, B.K.
& S. Sharma (2021). Biodiversity of Indian rotifers (Rotifera) with remarks on biogeography
and richness in diverse ecosystems. Opuscula Zoologica 52(1):
69–97. https://doi.org/10.18348/opzool.2021.1.69
Sharma, J.P.
& J.B. Srivastava (1986). Ecological observations on rotifer fauna of some freshwater ponds of
Jammu (J&K) India. Geobios New Reports 5: 6–10.
Sharma, S.
& B.K. Sharma (2013). Faunal Diversity of Aquatic Invertebrates of Deepor Beel (A Ramsar
site), Assam, Northeast India. Wetland Ecosystem Series, Volume 17.
Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, 227 pp.
Smith, D.G.
(2001). Pennak’s
Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States 4th edition: Porifera
to Crustacea. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 664 pp.
Vanjare,
A.I., C. Panikar & S.M. Padhye (2017). Species richness estimate of
freshwater rotifers (Animalia: Rotifera) of western Maharashtra, India with
comments on their distribution. Current Science 112: 695–698.
Wanganeo, A.
& R. Wanganeo (2006). Variation in zooplankton population in two morphologically dissimilar
rural lakes in Kashmir Himalaya. National Academy of Sciences 76(3):
222–239.
Wei, N. &
R. Xu (2014). Distinct
difference of littoral rotifer community structure in two mangrove wetlands of
Qi’ao Island, Pearl River estuary, China. Zoological Studies 53(30):
1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40555-014-0030-6