[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: NFC: Mystery shrimp (fwd)
- To: nfc at actwin_com
- Subject: Re: NFC: Mystery shrimp (fwd)
- From: "Thom DeWitt" <dewitt at ceeb_uky.edu>
- Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 08:49:13 +0000
- Comments: Authenticated sender is <dewitt at darwin_ceeb.uky.edu>
> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 23:32:34 -0700
> From: Tony <z966349 at niu_edu>
> Reply-To: Agustafs at niu_edu
> To: NFC <nfc at actwin_com>
> Subject: Mystery shrimp
>
> I'm hoping somebody here can answer this question which has plagued me
> for years. But first, the story...
Tony's mystery shrimp are likely to be isopods (genus Lirceus), which
are very closely related to amphipods such as Gammarus. These have
fascinated me for years, so I will provide some extra information for
those interested.
These isopods become very active under the ice as spring
approaches--the first organisms to show much activity for the season.
Put them in warm water and they begin a drastic mating frenzy
involving fierce competition among the large males (up to about an
inch), which are about three times the size of females. Males find a
female, crawl atop her and hang on desperately as other males try to
strip them and take control of the female. If a male can
successfully guard its intended mate until she molts, he will
fertilize her. As well as struggling with other males, however, a
male has to contend with female struggles to be released, which may
serve as a form of female mate choice among males. Once fertilized,
the female's offspring hatch internally from the eggs into a brood
chamber called a marsupium. The young are "born" live from this
chamber during the next molt.
To keep them in home aquaria requires alot of leaf litter and other
detritus, upon which the isopods feed.
Thom DeWitt
_________________________________________________________________
Dr. Thomas J. DeWitt
Address until March 1, 1999:
Center for Ecology, Evolution, & Behavior
TH Morgan School of Biological Sciences
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0225
http://darwin.ceeb.uky.edu/ceeb/profs/thom/webpage.htm
tel 606/323-4992; fax 257-1717; email dewitt at ceeb_uky.edu
After March 1, 1999:
Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-2258
E-mail tdewitt at wfscgate_tamu.edu
Follow-Ups: