Abstract Since early 2000 years, the knowledge about the taxonomy of Aloninae (Cladocera: Chydoridae) has been in rapid progress. For this reason, the most of Brazilian fauna was affected concerning nomenclature, besides an increase in the number of known genera and species. Thus, in this study, we bring an updated species list of Aloninae in Brazil, as well as identification keys based in current nomenclature and morphological standards. Our finding pointed to the occurrence of 46 valid species, belonging to 21 genera and three groups of Alona sensu lato. Two of these genera are endemic to Brazil. So far, South-East Asia and Brazil have the most well-studied Aloninae fauna in the entire planet.

Abstract In recent years, an increase in knowledge about the diversity and biogeography of Brazilian Cladocera fauna has been evident. To keep up with these changes, it is opportune to carry out an update of the taxonomy and biogeography for the main cladoceran groups. Since 2008, some progress has been observed in Ilyocryptidae, with reports of four new taxa. In this study, an updated checklist of Ilyocryptidae from Brazil is provided, with a diagnosis for each cited taxon, as well as an identification key. Some of these taxa are considered rare; however, this issue might be an artifact of sampling. As this is the first in a series of papers compiling current information about Brazilian Cladocera, an identification key to orders and families occurring in Brazil is also provided.

ABSTRACTRecent worldwide taxonomical research on Cladocera is discovering a number of new species but hardly in South America. The Río de La Plata is the second largest basin in the continent and the knowledge on cladocerans of the different sub-basins is uneven. The recent increase in the number of cladocerans species worldwide inspired this survey in the Río de La Plata basin. It was expected that new species, or at least a significant number of new records, could be found which would contribute to the richness of the least studied sub-basins. Twenty three sampling locations were selected and the Cladocera were analyzed in detail to the species level. The family Chydoridae was targeted due to its high species richness. Fifty species of Chydoridae were recorded, two of them probably new for science and a third one whose taxonomical status could not be further addressed, due to insufficient material for analysis. All sub-basins had at least one specimen of one or both new species. The contribution of new species was more homogeneous among sub-basins when compared to the total contribution of new registers. It was concluded that the improvement of the taxonomical resolution and extensive samplings are fundamental in assessing the real cladoceran richness in the basin and that knowledge based on just a few research centers is not enough to promote secure taxonomical and biogeographical considerations yet.

O objetivo deste estudo foi inventariar a fauna de Cladocera em zonas úmidas localizadas em duas grandes áreas que protegem fragmentos de Cerrado. Estas estão localizadas no Parque Nacional de Brasília, DF, e Campo de Instrução de Formosa, Goiás, e são formadas pelo afloramento de lençol freático, com extensa cobertura vegetal. Foram encontradas 24 espécies no Parque Nacional de Brasília e 30 no Campo de Instrução de Formosa. A riqueza observada alcançou, aproximadamente, 80% dos valores estimados para ambas as áreas protegidas. Além disto, a comunidade de Cladocera no tipo de ambiente estudado parece ser influenciada pela profundidade, com maiores valores de riqueza e similaridade para áreas com maiores médias de profundidade. Contudo, as zonas úmidas mais rasas contribuíram para a riqueza total com espécies exclusivas, o que mostra a importância desses ambientes para a riqueza de espécies.

The aim of this study was to inventory the cladoceran fauna in wetlands located in two large areas that protect fragments of Cerrado. Located in the Brasília National Park-DF and Campo de Instrução de Formosa-GO, these wetlands are formed by upwelling groundwater, with extensive vegetation cover. We found 24 species in the Brasília National Park and 30 in the Campo de Instrução de Formosa. The observed richness reached approximately 80% of the estimated values for both protected areas. Moreover, the community of cladocerans in the kind of environment studied appears to be influenced by depth, with higher values of richness and similarity in wetlands of higher average depths. However, shallow wetlands contributed to the total richness with exclusive species, which shows the importance of these habitats for species richness.

The aim of this study was to describe the composition and structure of cladocerans of littoral areas with and without macrophytes from a temporary shallow pond in the Caatinga of Pernambuco state (Brazil). Samples were taken between June 2011 and August 2012. The sampling of cladocerans and environmental variables was performed at four fixed points, using a plankton net (45 µm) and a multiparameter probe. Twenty-two cladoceran species were recorded, with two new occurrences for Pernambuco state: Chydorus cf. brevilabris and Macrothrix superaculeata. The species richness of non-planktonic cladocerans (16) was higher than that of planktonic ones (4). The mean density was 186.7 ± 273.6 ind. L-1. Macrothrix elegans, Diaphanosoma spinulosum and Ephemeroporus hybridus were the most abundant. The fluctuation index of the main species showed greater instability during the driest months or greater rainfall, a pattern not observed for the environmental data. However, the pond did not show limnological and cladoceran structure differences between the dry and rainy seasons and between the areas with and without macrophytes. With the exception of temperature and rainfall, the structure and richness of cladocerans was not related to the fluctuation of the other variables. Warmer months had higher densities and richness of cladocerans. On the other hand, months of greatest rainfall had lower richness, especially for the Chydoridae family. Although this Caatinga pond is maintained exclusively by rainwater, the richness of cladocerans is high when compared to other tropical and subtropical ecosystems. These results suggest that rainfall and temperature exert greater control on the dynamics of cladocerans in the Caatinga's temporary shallow ponds, and demonstrate the importance of these ecosystems to biodiversity in the semiarid region.

OBJETIVO: Este estudo objetivou fornecer uma checklist de cladóceros e também uma avaliação da riqueza e composição de espécies no Distrito Federal, Brasil. MÉTODOS: A checklist de cladóceros foi obtida utilizando dados encontrados na literatura, dados de coleção (coleção de Elmoor-Loureiro) e dados de levantamentos faunísticos realizados por mais de três décadas em diferentes tipos de ambientes aquáticos. RESULTADOS: Os 57 corpos d'água avaliados apresentaram 56 espécies das quais 14 são novos registros. O número de espécies contido na lista apresentada corresponde a 85% do esperado por estimadores de riqueza. O maior número de espécies foi observado no conjunto de corpos d'água lênticos (52), que também apresentou composição específica de fauna (R = 0.110; p = 0.016), possivelmente, por amostragens realizadas entre a vegetação aquática. Segundo nosso entendimento, algumas espécies podem estar sujeitas a extinções locais por habitarem corpos d'água localizados exclusivamente em áreas urbanas, o que pode levar ao declínio da riqueza. CONCLUSÃO: Desta maneira, os resultados deste estudo podem auxiliar no monitoramento de ambientes aquáticos e na seleção de novas áreas para levantamentos da fauna de cladóceros no Distrito Federal.

AIM: This study aimed provides a checklist of cladocerans and also an evaluation of richness and species composition in the Federal District, Brazil. METHODS: Checklist of cladocerans was obtained evaluating data from the literature, from taxonomic collection (Elmoor-Loureiro's collection) and from fauna surveys conducted over more than three decades in different types of aquatic environments. RESULTS: The 57 water bodies studied showed 56 species, of which 14 are new records. The number of species contained in the list displayed corresponds to 85% of what was expected for richness estimators. The highest number of species was observed in the lentic water bodies (52), which also presented the specific composition of fauna (R = 0.110; p = 0.016), possibly because there were samples taken among the aquatic vegetation. According to our understanding, some species may be subject to local extinctions because they inhabit water bodies located exclusively in urban areas, which can lead to a decline in richness. CONCLUSION: Thus, the results of this study can assist in monitoring aquatic environments and in selection of new areas for surveys of cladocerans in the Federal District.

O presente trabalho buscou identificar as espécies de Cladocera em um lote de 15 amostras de zooplâncton, coletadas ocasionalmente entre os anos de 1981 a 2001, nos municípios pernambucanos de Recife, Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Paulista e Escada. Foram observadas 32 espécies de Cladocera, sendo que 10 delas são registradas pela primeira vez em Pernambuco, elevando para 51 o número de espécies listadas para este estado. A maior riqueza de espécies de Cladocera foi observada em corpos d'água com maior presença de macrófitas e com maior número de amostras disponíveis.

The present study aimed to identify the Cladocera species present in 15 samples of zooplankton, taken occasionally between 1981 and 2001, from the Counties of Recife, Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Paulista e Escada (state of Pernambuco, Brazil). In total, 32 species were reported; 10 of them represent first records, which increased to 51 the number of species known to occur in Pernambuco state. The highest cladoceran species richness was observed in water bodies where macrophytes were more abundant and with more samples available.

Este trabalho apresenta um inventário preliminar de cladóceros fitófilos do Parque Nacional das Emas. Onze amostras qualitativas foram coletados de diferentes ambientes (lagoa, vereda e campo úmido), no período de 2000 a 2006. Foram identificadas 18 espécies, pertencentes a famílias tipicamente não planctônicas, sendo Chydoridae a mais especiosa. Todas elas representam o primeiro registro para a região sudoeste de Goiás.

This paper presents a preliminary inventory of the phytophylous cladocerans from the Parque Nacional das Emas. Eleven qualitative samples were taken from different sites (lagoon, vereda, and wet campo), from 2000 to 2006. Eighteen species, belonging to typically non-planktonic families, were identified; the most specious family was the Chydoridae. All species are recorded for the first time in Southwest region of Goiás.