Abstract
According to recent literature, five of the six known Austrian ‘conchostracan’ species are extinct. However, interim results of a current study on large freshwater branchiopods in Austria show that five species still occur at a restricted number of sites in the Pannonian region of Lower Austria. The clam shrimps Leptestheria dahalacensis and Eoleptestheria ticinensis were rediscovered in May 1994 in the flood plains of the river Morava near Marchegg. Imnadia yeyetta and Cyzicus tetracerus have been known to the authors in the same region since 1981, and 1992, respectively. Limnadia lenticularis occurs in the flood plains of the rivers Morava and Danube.
Lynceus brachyurus, the only Austrian representative of the Laevicaudata, was not found and most probably got extinct. All Austrian clam shrimp species are considered to be endangered. Main threats are agricultural activities and artificial changes of the hydrologic conditions. Conservational measures are discussed for their effectivity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Farasin, K. & W. Lazowski, 1990. Ramsar-Bericht 1, Rheindelta/Marchauen, Bestandesaufnahme österreichischer Schutzgebiete, Teil B — Marchauen. Umweltbundesamt Monographien Bd. 18, Wien.
Gepp, J., 1984. Rote Listen gefährdeter Tiere Österreichs (Band 2). Grüne Reihe des Bundesministeriums für Gesundheit und Umweltschutz, Wien.
Hödl, W., 1994. A short review of the Anostraca, Notostraca, Laevicaudata and Spinicaudata of Austria. IUCN Anostracan News 2/1: 2–3.
Hödl, W. & E. Rieder, 1993. Urzeitkrebse an der March. Verein zur Erhaltung und Förderung ländlicher Lebensräume (Distelverein), Orth/Donau, 50 pp.
Löffler, H., 1993. Anostraca, Notostraca, Laevicaudata and Spinicaudata of the Pannonian region and in its Austrian area. Hydrobiologia 264: 169–174.
Österreichisches Statistisches Zentralamt, 1992. Demographisches Jahrbuch. Österreichische Staatsdruckerei, Wien.
Rieder, N., 1989. Veränderungen und neuere Entwicklungen im Gefährdungsstatus der Phyllopoden. Schr. f. Landschaftspflege u. Naturschutz, Bonn-Bad Godesberg H. 29: 294–295.
Straskraba, M., 1966. Taxonomical studies on Czechoslovak Conchostraca. III. Family Leptestheriidae. Hydrobiologia 27: 571–589.
Vornatscher, J., 1968. Anostraca, Notostraca, Conchostraca. Catalogus Faunae Austriae VIIIaa. Österr. Akad. Wiss.: 1–5.
Wagner, K. & R. Gayl, 1988. Donau Auen — Nationalpark oder Kraftwerk. Nationalparkplanung Donau-Auen, Wien.
Wiggings, G. B., R. J. Mackay & I. M. Smith, 1980. Evolutionary and ecological strategies of animals in annual temporary pools. Arch. Hydrobiol./Suppl. 58: 97–206.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hödl, W., Eder, E. Rediscovery of Leptestheria dahalacensis and Eoleptestheria ticinensis (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Spinicaudata): an overview on presence and conservation of clam shrimps in Austria. Hydrobiologia 318, 203–206 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016681
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00016681