The freshwater amphipod crustaceans (Gammaridae) of North America

Publication Type:

Report

Authors:

Holsinger, John R.

Source:

Water Pollution Control Research Series 18050 ELD04/72, US Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory, Issue 2nd printing with errata to 1st (1972) printing, Cincinnati, OH, p.89 (1976)

Call Number:

U76HOL01IDUS

URL:

http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/9100HCDU.TXT?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&Client=EPA&Index=1976+Thru+1980&Docs=&Query=&Time=&EndTime=&SearchMethod=1&TocRestrict=n&Toc=&TocEntry=&QField=&QFieldYear=&QFieldMonth=&QFieldDay=&IntQFieldOp=0&ExtQFieldOp=0&XmlQuery=&

Keywords:

Amphipod, Gammaridae

Abstract:

The amphipod crustacean family Gammaridae is represented in the freshwaters of North America by eight genera and 81 described species; numerous other species are still undescribed. These eight genera, with the number of described North American freshwater species in parentheses, include Gammarus (8) Crangonyx (18), Synurella (4), Apocrangonyx (6), Stygonectes (29), Stygobromus (10), Bactrurus (3), and Allocrangonyx (2). Ecologically, the freshwater gammarids are an important group of aquatic invertebrates, with species found in a variety of biotopes, including lakes, streams, ponds, swamps, springs, and subterranean waters. The identification of amphipods is rather difficult, especially because accurate determinations often depend on the recognition of diagnostic character combinations and the study of the whole morphology of the animals. To facilitate the identification of genera and the determination of species, analytical keys with accompanying illustrations are presented. Of further assistance is the inclusion of distributional maps showing the ranges of many of the species. A brief synopsis of pertinent ecological information and the type locality for each species are also given.

Notes:

ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology: Invertebrates

NOTE: This document was originally (1972) published under the same title but as Identification Manual No. 5, Biota of Freshwater Ecosystems (in the same Water Pollution Control Research Series with same number, 18050 ELD04/72). This 1976 version contains an errata to the 1972 version.