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The freshwater microcrustacea of Easter Island

Article  in  Hydrobiologia · January 1996

DOI: 10.1007/BF00028269

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Hydrobiologia 325 : 8 3-99, 1996. 83

© 1996 Kluwer Academic Publishers . Printed in Belgium .

The freshwater microcrustacea of Easter Island

Henri J . Dumont' & Koen Martens'

'University of Ghent, Laboratory of Animal Ecology, Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
2 Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Freshwater Biology, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium

Received 13 July 1995 ; in revised form 19 September 1995 ; accepted 20 December 1995

Key words : 'Cladocera', Copepods, Ostracods, passive dispersal, subantarctic zone

Abstract

The 'Cladocera', Copepod and Ostracod fauna of Easter Island amounts to only five species . Three of these are
wide-ranging, and four are cyclic parthenogens or at least capable of parthenogenesis . Two, the Cladoceran Alona
weinecki and the Ostracod Sarscypridopsis sp ., are more interesting from a biogeographic point of view, because
restricted (apart from Easter Island) to the subantarctic . It is argued that this is strong evidence of their introduction
by man, not by `natural' passive dispersal .

Introduction and the dragonfly Pantala flavesens (Dumont & Ver-

schuren, 1991) . In the latter paper, general reference
The small and extremely isolated Easter Island (or was made to the microcrustacea of the island . The
Rapa Nui) continues to generate much interest in scien- present paper gives a detailed account of these .
tific and nonscientific circles . Two recent books (Hey-
erdahl, 1989 ; Balm & Flenley, 1992) summarize much
of the fascination which this tiny volcanic speck has List of localities investigated (Map . 1)
exerted on the outside world since its discovery by the
Dutch admiral Jacob Roggeveen in 1722 . 18 August 1990 - W. of the island, North of Hanga
Organized research began with the Norwegian Roa village .
expedition of 1955 (Heyerdahl & Ferdon, 1961). Lat- loc . 1. Shallow pool in walled compound near Te
er, catalogues of the terrestrial fauna became available Ihu o Motu Pare .
'2 . Walled pool close to road .
(e .g . Kuschel, 1963), but until recently, there was no
3. Large shallow pool, roughly opposite to Pto .
information on the freshwater biota of the island, save
Espolon .
for the record of one dragonfly species (Campos & 4. Small puddle with cyper grass, close to Te
Pena, 1973) . Porn.
In August 1990, a three-week limnological expe- 5. Eutrophic pool close to boathouse at Te Peu .
dition to the island was organized by the Universities 6. Stone well with drinking water and Make-
of Ghent and Santiago de Chile . It had been prepared Make petroglyphs .
by a short reconnaissance by one of us (HD) in Febru- 7. Stagnant water in cave at Ana Ipu Maengo .
8. Idem, close to Maunga Hiva Hiva (roughly
ary 1987, and collected samples from various types of
opposite to Akivi ceremonial platform) .
surface waters across the island . In all, 39 sites were
9. Eutrophic pool east of Maunga Roiho .
visited (Figure 1) ; they included lakes, but also pud-
10 . Idem, ca. 600 m further south .
dles, pools in river beds, drinking water holes, springs,
and even cave waters . Dr K . Desender (Brussels) col-
lected some extra samples during December 1993 . 19 August 1990
So far, information has been published on diatoms Trail leaving Vaitea Eucalyptus wood, up Mount Tere-
(Cocquyt, 1991), rotifers (Segers & Dumont, 1993), vaka, along ravine of streamlet draining Rano Aroi

84
crater. Locally this ravine is deep and steep-walled,
and sections tunnel under the surface lava flow.
loc . 11 . Lower pool in river bed; clear water with
much Spirogyra ; no macrophytes .
12 . Upper pool in same river ; at foot of water-
fall (this locality resampled on 10 and
20.XIL 1993) .
13 . Rano Aroi crater lake, almost completely
overgrown with Schoenoplectus californicus
(totora) and Polygonum acuminatum (tavari) .
14 . Few meters of open water along west rim of
lake.
15 . Artificial lakelet (for watering cattle) in
meadow c . 500 m. S-SW of Rano Aroi crater.
20 August 1990
loc 16. Rainpools along road, facing quarry of
Maunga Orito .
17 . Lake in Rano Kau caldera, littoral (this
locality resampled on 11 .XII.1993, by
K. Desender) .
21 August 1990
loc . 18 . Drinking water well, named Vai Rau, at foot
of Maunga Ori volcano .
19, 20 : Two pools in ravine of river draining east
flank of Maunga Teravaka, roughly opposite
(and north of) Maunga Okoro .
21 . Stone basin close to seashore at Punta Vai
Pahu (La Pdrouse bay) ; a mix of sea- and
freshwater (red shrimps, and burrowing crabs
present), resampled on 29 August 1990.
22 . Freshwater well, closed by a lid, at He Kii
(La P6rouse).
23 . Second stone basin at sea shore, with sea-
water seeping in, at Na Manga (amphipods
seen) .
24 . Eutrophic stone basin, used for watering
horses, at Hanga Tuu Hata, opposite Rano
Raraku volcano.
22 August 1990
loc. 25 . Rano Raraku, in crater, various littoral sam-
ples (this locality also visited on 14 .11.1987,
three samples, and on 08 .XII .1993, one
sample) .
23 August 1990
loc. 26,27,28 . Three pools in crevices on basaltic plateau
Vai-Atare, south east of Rano Kau .
29 . Vertical haul in Rano Kau lake (N part) .
24 August 1990
South part of island.
loc. 30. Round stone well, c . 6 m deep, at Motu Ooki .
31 . Small, stone-walled water reservoir at Hanga
Maihiki.
32 . Water reservoir for cattle, c . 5 years old,
about 6 m across and 1 m deep, near Poike
trench, at Te Hakarava.
33 . Water in mouth of statue 'Roca tallada' at
Maunga Vai a Heva, on Poike peninsula.
34 . Small cave with clear water and petroglyphs,
west of Anakena bay (Vai tars Rai Ua) .
25 August 1990 .
loc . 35-37 . Three water puddles at foot (and west of)
Rano Raraku.
Species recorded
'Cladocera'
Alona weinecki Stiider (Map 1, Figures 1-35)
Localities and material examined
Long series, including parthenogenetic and ephippial
females, juvenile (instar II) and mature males from 19
localities, scattered across the island (Map 1) . No spec-
imens were found in any of the three major lakes, but
in Rano Raraku, headshields and valves were present
down to 115 cm in the sediment .
This species, originally described from Kergue-
len Island, was listed as 'incertae sedis' by Smirnov
(1971), but resurrected and redescribed by Frey (1988),
based on museum material from several sources, but
not from Kerguelen itself. The species is now known
from a variety of subantarctic islands, i .e . the Falk-
lands, South Georgia, the South Orkneys, Kerguelen,
the Heard Islands, New Amsterdam, Marion Island,
Macquarie island and, according to Frey ( p ers . com),
the south island of New Zealand . The species thus
occurs in a wide band (roughly between 50 and 60 °S)
around the antarctic .
Frey's material, especially of males, was limited,
and relatively little attention was given to trunk limb
structure . Here, we therefore provide extensive illus-
tration of the animals living on Easter Island, where
they occur island-wide (Map 1) . In the three large lakes,
none were found . However, poecilliid fish have been
introduced here (perhaps in the 1930s, but no confir-
mation on this date could be obtained), presumably
for controlling mosquitoes . In the sediment of Rano
 85

Map 1 . Easter Island, showing the localities visited (numbered dots are aquatic sites, empty circles are terrestrial sites) . Black dots: occurrences
of Alona weinecki .
86

50 pm

Figures 1-13 . 1 . Alona weinecki ; parthenogenetic female, habitus ; 2 . ventro-posterior section of valve; 3 . headshield with disposition of head
pores ; 4 . first antenna ; 5 . antennule antenna ; 6-10 . labrum; 11 . postabdomen, female ; 12 . postabdomen, mature male ; 13 . postabdomen,
immature male.
 87

Figures 14-20 . Alone weinecki, trunk limbs. 14 . trunk limb 1, female (IDL, inner distal lobe ; IDLS : setae of inner distal lobe; ODL, outer distal
lobe) ; 15 . trunk limb 2, female ; 16 . trunk limb 3 ; 17 . trunk limb 4 ; 18 . trunk limb 5 ; 19 . trunk limb 1, male (ODL, DL, IDLS as in Figure 14 ;
CB : copulatory brush; CH : copulatory hook ; MS : male seta); 20. IDL of male trunk limb 1 .
 88

Figures 21-24 . Alona weinecki. 21-22 . copulatory hook on trunk limb 1 of male ; 23 . hollowed-out apex of hook, seen from below ; 24 . head
pores (arrow : lateral pore) .

Length-frequency Distribution
15
10
5
0
0 .30 0 .40 0 .50
Length (mm)
Figure 25 . Frequency distribution of length classes of A . weinecki
(males and females) from different populations across Easter Island .
Raraku abundant identifiable remains of the species
were encountered down to 115 cm, suggesting that the
fish drove the species to local extinction .
Population structure
A body length-frequency distribution, compiled from
specimens from different sites in the island, is shown in
Figure 25 . There was a distinct mode at 0 .44 mm, and
no specimens were larger than 0 .6 mm . The smallest
ovigerous female seen was 0 .31 mm, and males were
from 0.29 mm to 0 .41 mm in length . All these sizes
are systematically below those given by Frey (1988)
for populations from South Georgia and Signy Island,
where modal length was between 0 .55 and 0.6 mm,
and the length of the smallest ovigerous female was
c . 0 .50 mm . In fact, the frequency distribution curve
for animals from Easter Island lies almost entirely to
the left of that from the subantarctic islands cited . It
is unclear whether this could be the result of environ-
mental differences (subtropical vs subantarctic envi-
ronments), or is related to genetic, possibly taxal dif-
ferences . A detailed morphological study was carried
out to pave the way for future comparisons, as new
material from subantarctic populations may become
available .
Description
Habitus (Figure 1) : dorsal margin of valves evenly
curved from tip of rostrum to dorso-posterior angle .
The latter rather weakly pronounced, its posterior
margin convex ; no ventro-posterior denticles . Ventral
margin convex, rather evenly curved . Setation along
posterior valve rim consisting of ungrouped, closely
89
apposed denticles (Figure 2), detaching from the rim
at about half the valve height, where only a slight
valve expansion occurs (Figure 34, arrow) from that
point upward becoming longer, but interspersed with
short spinules .
Ventral valve rim with c . 35 plumose setae (Fig-
ure 35), becoming longer from seta 1 to 6, thereafter
gradually shortening from 7- 13 ; short setae up to
setae 18-19, becoming longer again up to setae 24-25,
then shortening to posteriormost seta .
Head. Headshield with rostral part somewhat nar-
rowed, rounded anteriorly (Figure 3) .
Three main headpores connected . Lateral pores
small (Figure 24) . Ocellus and eye of similar size (Fig-
ure 1) . Antennules with 9-10 aesthetascs of subequal
length (Figure 4) . Lateral seta implanted distal to mid-
dle of antennule .
Antenna (Figure 5) : spine- and seta formula
3(1) 0(0) 0(1)
3(1) 1(0) 1(0)
Terminal spines as long as segment on which they
are implanted ; spine on basal segment of exopodite
shorter than middle segment.
Labrum (Figures 6-10,6-8 d' , 9-10 y) : keel broad-
ly rounded in both sexes; angle behind tip variable,
from shallow (e .g . Figure 8) to rather deep (Figure 9) .
Postabdomen (Figures 11-13,26-33) . Female : dis-
tal margin rounded (Figure 11), hardly excavated (Fig-
ures 28, 33) ; ventral margin slightly convex, with few
adjacent rows of minute denticles (Figure 28) . Dor-
sal margin with preanal margin only slightly indicated,
postanal margin weak but distinct (Figure 11) . Postanal
margin with 8-9 groups of marginal-submarginal den-
ticles ; the distalmost in marginal position, strongest
and composed of one large and one small denticle,
becoming smaller, more numerous, and progressively
submarginal towards the anus. Along the anal groove,
they consist of 4-5 groups of 6-7 spinules of equal
length . Distally, there are also fascicles of submarginal
spinules, one per group of marginal spines, extending
to beyond the anal groove, where three or four fasci-
cles of them occur (Figures 11, 28) . Abdominal setae
short.
Postabdominal claw slender, armed with spinules
at its base, externally, internally, and ventrally. In
all, six pectens may be distinguished (Figures 29-
33). Claws slightly unequal in length, one pointed,
one obtuse . The obtuse claw reinforced by longitudi-
nal ridges . Basal spine, also reinforced by longitudinal
ridges (Figure 30) .
90

Figures 26-34 . Alona weinecki. 26. postabdomen of mature male; 1-4, pectens on endclaw ; 27 . endclaw of the same; the arrow points to the
strong spine that marks the beginning of the distal external pecten ; the markedly stronger spines of the distal internal pecten are also partly
visible ; 28 . postabdomen of parthenogenetic female ; 29-32 . endclaws of female postabdomen (1-6, the different pecten of the endclaw ; 31 . tip
of blunt-ended claw, with longitudinal ridges ; 33 . female postabdomen, viewed from below ; 34 . inner margin of posterior rim of valve showing
the denticulation along its course (arrow: point where the spinules detach from the valve margin) ; 35 . a group of plumose setae on the ventral
valve margin .

Male . Postabdomen of mature male (Figure 12)
differs from that of the female by having a stouter end-
claw, with basal spine slightly over half as long as
claw ; pectens slightly stronger than in female, but in
same position . Dorsal margin : distalmost zone with
three rows of marginal spinules, of which the middle
one (20-22 spinules long) is the largest, thereafter, 3-4
shorter rows of spinules, and, in the anal gap, two fur-
ther rows of 10-17 submarginal spinules (Figure 12) .
Laterally, fascicles of spine- setae as in female, but
more strongly developed, and organized in 3-4 rows
in the postanal zone .
Immature males differ in having a relatively longer
postabdominal claw, and the dorsal marginal rows of
spinules are more like those of the female (Figure 13) .
Trunk limb 1 (Figure 14) . Female : ODL with one
seta, bearing a distal comb of numerous spinules of
- roughly - equal length on one side ; IDL with two
setae, groups and a short spine with two rows of spin-
ules . Dorsal ejector hooks present ; endites 1-3 with
setae adorned as in Figure 14 ; A rather short, thick,
ciliated seta in the ventral hollow of the limb, slightly
above the level of the gnathobase, which terminates in a
single spine . Mature male (Figure 19) : male seta (MS)
curved (Figure 20) ; copulatory brush (CB) well devel-
oped ; copulatory hook strongly recurved (Figure 22),
hollowed out (Figures 21, 23), without apical adorn-
ment or ridges . Trunk limb 2 (Figure 15) . Exopodite
small, barrel-shaped, one side ciliated with one, some-
times two (Figure 15) subapical, ciliated setae . Endite
with the usual 8 scrapers, each armed with two rows of
spinules ; gnathobase distally produced into two tooth-
like structures and a crooked seta ; gnathobasic comb
with six setae and a seventh, shortened and ciliated
seta, out of line with the other six . A crown of spikes
at the base of the gnathobase .
Trunk limb 3. Exopodite well developed, armed
with seven setae (Figure 16) . Setae 1 and 2 form a V,
with seta 1 more than twice the length of seta 2 ; seta 3
very long, as usual ; setae 4 and 6 long, setae 5 and
7 short, with characteristic length relationships (see
figure) .
Free margin of endite with a series (not exact-
ly implanted in one row) of partly spinelike, partly
sensilla-like appendages . Distal seta long and crooked,
followed by a row of c . 6 small, barrel-shaped sensil-
lar appendages . Gnathobasic filter comb composed of
6 ciliated setae, and followed by three short, distal-
ly restricted setae . Apex with one short and two long
hooks, the latter separated by a small, curved sensil-
lum.
91
Trunk limb 4 . Exopodite large, armed with 6 setae
(Figure 17) . Setae 1, 2 of equal length; seta 3 slightly
longer; setae 4, 5, 6 shorter, with relative lengths as
shown in the figure . Endite with a series of marginal
scrapers, with at least `scraper' 4 representing a recep-
tor with pore ; subdistal scraper massive ; distalmost
one short. Gnathobasic filter comb composed of 5 long
and 3 shortened setae . Apex composed of two strong
scrapers .
Trunk limb 5. Exopodite with 4 setae ; endite round-
ed, with long vertical seta curved, and short vertical
seta strongly restricted beyond its basal third (Fig-
ure 18) .
Copepoda : Cyclopoida
Paracyclops fimbriatus (Fischer) s.l. (Figures 36-42)
Localities
The species occurred in the same places as Alona wei-
necki, but in much lower abundance .
The status of this taxon, of presumed cosmopoli-
tan occurrence, is uncertain. Because of considerable
morphological plasticity, even within restricted areas
(Einsle, 1993), assigning different `forms' to specif-
ic or subspecific taxal rank has so far proved elusive .
On the other hand, genetic isolates have been shown
to occur in sympatric condition in Germany (Frenzel,
1976, 1977), partly without apparent morphological
basis .
It is hard to tell whether this species represents
a recent introduction to Easter Island ; a capacity for
dormancy is suspected by Einsle (1993) . Should this
occur in a female, it might facilitate passive dispersal .
We record the Easter Island populations under the
name fimbriatus on account of the following combina-
tion of characters : Al 8-segmented (Figure 36), furcal
rami c . 3 .5 times as long as wide ; with short, trans-
verse row of spinules at the level of the dorsal seta
(Figure 38) ; the coxal spine of P1 reaches almost to the
tip of segment 3 of the endopodite . In order to facilitate
comparisons with populations from other origins, we
here figure the trunk limbs (Figures 39-42), as well as
the first (Figure 36) and second (Figure 37) antennae
in extenso ; the female genital segment with P5, recep-
taculum seminis, abdominal segments, and furcal rami
(Figure 38) are also shown.
92

Figures 36-38. Paracyclops fimbriatus . 36. First antenna; 37 . Antennule ; 38 . Abdomen (with genital segment and P8) and furcal rami .
 93

Figures 39-42 . Paracyclops fimbriatus, trunk limbs . 39 . Pl, 40. P2, 41 . P3, 42. P4 .
94
Ostracoda
Heterocypris incongruens (Ramdohr, 1808)
Localities
3, 4, 5, 12, 16, 23, 24, 40
Ecology and distribution
A temporary pool species, typical of ephemeral habi-
tats and with cosmopolitan distribution .
Cypretta seurati Gauthier, 1929 (Figures 43-57)
Localities
3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26,
27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 35 (all material, except from
locality 31, was extremely decalcified . Animals from
locality 31 are used for the redescription) .
Redescription
Carapace with RV overlapping LV on anterior, ven-
tral and posterior sides (Figures 54, 55) ; in dorsal
view (Figure 54) greatest width situated in the middle,
obtusely pointed anteriorly, rounded posteriorly . In lat-
eral view (Figures 52, 53), both valves with greatest
height situated in the middle ; anterior and posterior
margins subequally rounded . Both valves with well-
developed inner lists along valve margins and with
10-15 radial septa along the anterior margin (Fig-
ures 50, 51) . Calcified inner lamella relatively wide
anteriorly, narrow posteriorly . External surface weak-
ly pitted and set with mediumlong setae (Figure 56) .
Measurements (in µm) : Length of carapace= 644-
677 (n=4) ; Width of carapace= 500-511 (n=2) ;
Height of carapace=433-466 (n=4) .
Antennule (Figure 43) with two large basal seg-
ments and five relatively short and wide terminal seg-
ments . Ventral natatory setae of S 1-3 reduced to short
setae .
Antenna (Figure 45) with natatory setae distally hir-
sute, reaching slightly beyond tips of terminal claws ;
the latter long and slender, nearly smooth . Two claws
with tip hook-like. Aesthetasc Y relatively long and
stout.
Mandibular palp (Figure 44) with alpha-seta con-
sisting of a broad basal and a slender apical part ;
beta-seta stout and hirsute; gamma-seta long, slen-
der and only weakly set with short setulae . Maxillule
(Figure 48) with second palp-segment nearly twice as
long as its basal width, apically set with three slender
claws and three setae, both types nearly indistinguish-
able from each other. Third endite with two stout and
apically serrated 'Zahnborsten' . Other aspects of its
morphology (first and second endite, respiratory plate)
without special features .
Maxilla without special features .
First thoracopod (Figure 46) with seta dl slightly
shorter than d2 ; penultimate segment divided and api-
cal claw long and slender ; apical and lateral setae on
terminal segment small.
Second thoracopod (Figure 49) with only two setae
on basal segment ; apical part of S3 and S4 fused to a
pincer-shaped organ .
Furca (Figure 47) with considerable reduction, as
usual in this genus : ramus short and weakly sclerotized ;
apical claws slender and seta-like ; proximal seta well
developed, distal setae minute or absent .
No males known .
Taxonomy and distribution
The genus Cypretta is speciose and has a circumtropi-
cal distribution . No less than 11 nominal species have
been reported from South America alone (Martens
& Behen, 1994) . Cypretta seurati was originally
described from North Africa (Gauthier, 1929), but has
since been reported from Southern Europe (Fox, 1965 ;
Petkovski, 1957), Japan (Okubo, 1973) and South East
Asia (Victor & Fernando, 1981) . The species reported
from the Gran Chaco (Paraguay) as Cypretta dubiosa
by Klie (1930) most likely also belongs to C . seu-
rati . Whether this nearly world-wide range reflects the
natural distribution of this species, or whether it has
been secondarily dispersed with man as prime agent
(McKenzie & Moroni, 1986) remains as yet unclear.
Populations from Easter Island comply in all aspects
with the original description, except that the carapace
in dorsal view has a narrower caudal side . However,
as nearly all populations belonging to this genus repro-
duce parthenogenetically, species boundaries are often
ill defined and a taxonomic revision will doubtlessly
reduce its number of species considerably . The present
allocation of the Easter Island species to C. seurati
remains somewhat tentative .
Sarscypridopsis spec . (Figures 58-62)
Localities
1, 6, 22, 33, 34 (all illustrations from loc . 33)
 95

Figures 43-49 . Cypretta seurati, parthenogenetic female. 43. Antennule. 44. Mandibular palp, showing only alpha, beta and gamma-setae .
45 . Antenna (arrow shows typical shape of claws) . 46. First thoracopod . 47 . Furca. 48 . Palp and third endite of Maxillula. 49 . Second thoracopod .
Y and Ya = aesthetascs .


96

Figures 50-57. Cypretta seurati, parthenogenetic female. 50. Left Valve, internal view. 51 . Right Valve, internal view . 52 . Carapace, right
lateral view. 53 . Carapace, left lateral view . 54. Carapace, dorsal view. 55. Carapace, ventral view . 56. Idem, detail of anterior side. 57 . Right
Valve, internal view, detail of posterior margin . Scale = 555 µm for 50-55 ; 145 µm for 56 ; 82 µm for 57 .

Description With regard to the appendages, only some diagnos-

As all valves were extremely decalcified, no descrip- tic features are indicated here .
tion or measurements of hard parts are possible . Male Antenna (Figure 58) stout ; natatory setae
reaching beyond tips of terminal claws by at least one
 97

Figures 58-62 . Sarscypridopsis spec. 58 . d', Antenna. 59 . d', hemipenis (arrows show pathway of sperm) . 60 . d, right prehensile palp
61 . d', left prehensile palp . (arrow shows diagnostic lobes) . 62 9, furcae. be =bursa copulatrix ; 'd' =coiled part of labyrinth ; ls=lateral shield ;
ms = medial shield ; Y = aesthetasc .
98
third of their length . Apical chaetotaxy with sexual
dimorphism as typical of the Cypridopsinae: claw Gm
very small ; penultimate segment with only two long
and one short claw and one long and two short setae .
Aesthetasc Y long and stout, but with short apical sen-
sory part . Prehensile palps highly dimorphic . Right
palp (Figure 60) large, with basal segment subrectan-
gular, terminal segment long, with a sclerotized rein-
forcement near its attachment . Left palp (Figure 61)
smaller, with basal segment apically dilating ; terminal
segment minute, with internal lobes along the proxi-
mal margin typical ; apical sensory organ on terminal
segment larger than in the right palp .
Hemipenis (Figure 59) with lateral shield rather
elongated and with a straight distal margin ; internal
anatomy with part `d' of the labyrinth coiled (typical
of the subfamily) and with a large bursa copulatrix .
Furca (Figure 62) in females (fused with hemipenes
in males) with triangular, although rather long basal
part, an apically inserted short lateral seta and a long
and slender terminal seta .
Taxonomy and distribution
As all material of this species is decalcified, specif-
ic allocation of the present populations is impossible .
Most species of this genus have indeed been described
on valve morphology only (Sars, 1924) . Judging from
the morphology of the hemipenis and prehensile palps
in the d, however (see below), it would appear that
we are dealing with a new species in the S. elizabethae
- lineage. Because of the impossibility of describing
valves, we refrain from formally placing the present
populations in a new species .
The presence of this genus on Easter Island is never-
theless of zoogeographical significance, as no species
of Sarscypridopsis, other than the halophilic, cos-
mopolitan S. aculeata (Costa), has thus far been record-
ed from South America (Martens & Behen, 1994) . The
origin of the species of Easter Island must therefore lie
elsewhere . No less than 17 nominal species have been
reported from southern Africa (Martens, 1984) and
this indeed constitutes the highest regional diversity
of species of this genus, which furthermore occurs
throughout the Afrotropical region . One species of
Sarscypridopsis was also recorded from at least one
subantarctic island (a new species, with short natatory
setae on A2, belonging to the same S. elizabethae-
group), from Inaccessible Island (James and Martens,
unpubl .) .
Conclusion
As in all other animal (and plant) groups so far inves-
tigated, the species richness of the microcrustacea of
Easter Island is extremely limited : 5 species only were
found . Of these, the majority is purely parthenogenetic,
or capable of apomictic parthenogenesis, or producing
drought-resistant eggs conducive to passive dispersal .
Hence, the majority (3 out of 5) are broad-ranging
species, with little or no biogeographic indicator val-
ue . Two, however, the Cladoceran and the Ostracod
Sarscypridopsis, are linked to the subantarctic zone,
which is remarkable, in view of the subtropical nature
of Easter Island . It is therefore not unreasonable to
suspect man as the introducing agent, the more so as
subfossil remains of both species in a core from Rano
Raraku lake reveal that they have lived on the island
for a limited period of time only.
The restricted microcrustacean fauna, as well as
that of the rotifers of the island, neatly confirms that
passive dispersal has its limits, and that, when distances
to be crossed are large, and the final target is small, its
effectiveness is low .
Acknowledgments
The senior author is grateful to Jan Van Uytvanck and,
especially, to Marcello Silva Briano, for help in draft-
ing the figures . The junior author acknowledges tech-
nical assistance of J . Cillis with the SEM micrographs
and thanks C . Behen for inking the line drawings .
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