Belyaeva M.A. 2004. Littoral Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) from the Altai mountain lakes, with remarks on the taxonomy of Chydorus sphaericus (O.F. Müller, 1776) // Arthropoda Selecta. Vol.12 (for 2003). No.3–4: 171–182 [in English].
A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospekt 33, Moscow 119071 Russia.
ABSTRACT: The faunistic data on Cladocera (Crustacea) of the Altai Mountains are summarized from published and the author’s records. The latter include data on 18 lakes situated between 450 and 2700 m a.s.l. Of 22 species of littoral cladocerans, which are mostly eurytopic and widely distributed, five are recorded for the region for the first time. Cluster analysis revealed three groups of habitats that differ in their cladoceran species composition. A detailed investigation of the population of Chydorus cf. sphaericus from Lake Verhnii Kuyguk (2250 m a.s.l.) and its comparison with the type material of the species revealed substantial morphological differences. Nevertheless, the absence of males and gamogenetic females made it impossible to come to an unambiguous conclusion regarding the taxonomic status of the Altaian Chydorus.
KEY WORDS: faunistics, Cladocera, Chydorus sphaericus, Altai, mountain lakes, littoral zone.