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Daphnia spp.
Introduction
Introduction
Water Fleas are microorganisms that live in fresh water bodies of water throughout the United States and Europe. They occasionally can be found in salt water, but this occurrence is not common. They are very common, however, typically people are not aware of them due to their microscopic size.
Rapid evolution of thermal tolerance in the water flea Daphnia, performed by scientists, : D. Atkinson, T. A. Davidson, L. De Meester, H. Feuchtmayr, A. N. Geerts.
Scientists gathered a better understanding of the quick change in Daphnia when the temperature of their habitats was increased
Habitat
Habitat
Water Fleas live in freshwater environments:
Ponds
Lakes
Rivers
They are found in freshwater environments that connect to coastal waterways.
They live all over the United States and Europe.
Some types of water fleas are found in salt water, however this is uncommon.
Characteristics
Characteristics
Water Fleas are microscopic organisms
Measuring 0.2 – 0.3 mm in length
Water fleas have antennae and their bodies are enclosed with a thick membrane
Diet
Diet
Water fleas diet includes microscopic organic matter
Water fleas are preyed upon by fish
Taxonomy
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Branchiopoda
Order: Anomopoda
Family: Daphniidae
Genus: Daphnia
Species: Daphnia spp
Eukaryotic cells
Arthropod: multi - jointed legs
Crustacean: invertebrate, no backbone
Habitat – Marine
Common Water Flea
Primary Literature
Primary Literature
Rapid evolution of thermal tolerance in the water flea Daphnia
Scientists: D. Atkinson, T. A. Davidson, L. De Meester, H. Feuchtmayr, A. N. Geerts
Scientists gathered a better understanding of the quick evolution of Daphnia when the temperature of their habitats was increased
Water fleas were exposed to ambient environments and heated environments. Scientists measured their size (whether the organisms grew or shrunk) and their CT levels (Critical Thermal Maximum)
The water fleas used were from a half-century old egg bank and recently hatched water fleas from the same body of water
The graph to the left shows the two different types of water fleas exposed to different environments (red is the recent water fleas and blue is the half-century old water fleas). This shows their size in relation to the temperature of the environment that they were being held in. It was found that the Water Fleas do not shrink as a result of a higher temperature climate, but they are able to increase their CT levels, and therefore increase in size.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Evidence shows that Daphnia are capable to rapid evolutionary adaptation to rising environmental temperatures through their rising CT levels and size increase.
The purpose of studying rapid adaptation to temperature is to relate the lives of microorganisms to the rising global temperatures and climate change
Further Studies that can be done:
Rapid evolutionary adaptation to rising temperatures in larger organisms
Effects on organisms of natural temperature increase vs human caused temperature increase
Sources
Sources
Primary Source:
Atkinson, D., Davidson, T. A., De Meester, L., Feuchtmayr, H., Geerts, A. N., et al. 2015. “Rapid evolution of thermal tolerance in the water flea Daphnia” Nature Climate Change, 5: 665-668
Images:
https://idomyselph.com/20-koi-pond-ideas-create-unique-garden/koi-pond-12/
https://aquarium.michaeljensens.com/2020/01/01/daphnia-aquarium-fish-food/
https://aquariumbreeder.com/how-to-culture-daphnia-in-aquariums/
https://www.svginsects.com/prodotto/daphnia/
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What-are-these-aquatic-microorganisms
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