New record of non-indigenous cladoceran Pleuroxus denticulatus Birge, 1879 (Cladocera: Chydoridae) in the European Russia

Abstract

: Biological invasions require thorough and comprehensive research. During a field investigation in a mouth area of a tributary of the Gorky Reservoir (Middle Volga) an non-indigenous species Pleuroxus denticulatus Birge, 1879 (Crustacea: Cladocera) was encountered. It is one of most common species of Chydoridae in Canada and USA. Morphology of studied specimens fully agrees with earlier descriptions of the species. The role of the species in the zooplankton community of the mouth area river was not significant. Discovery of P. denticulatus in the mouth area of the Shacha River (Kostroma Area) is the second record of its presence in European Russia and its fourth record in the entire country. The mouth area of the Shacha River can apparently act as a local pool for further dispersion of this species into other streams and lakes of the Volga basin, including its major reservoirs.