Six hundred and twenty species and lower taxonomical units of Rotatoria found in Czechoslovakia and surrounding countries are listed alphabetically and classified according to water quality. The numerical characteristics include the saprobic valence in 10 balls, the indicative weight of species, Ii, and the individual saprobic index, Si. Rotifers are considered to be good indicators and some of them are figured on Plates 1–3. The situation is illustrated by four graphs and the relation to BOD5 values is stressed. All rotifers are aerobic organisms and occur only within limnosaprobity. They can also serve as indicators of trophic conditions. To characterize the situation in standing and slowly flowing waters a Brachionus: Trichocerca quotient is proposed. Rotifers can also be used as test organisms in toxicity experiments.

Rotifers as indicators of water quality

Phylum Rotifera comprises about 2030 known species classified in three main groups, the marine Seisonida (3 species), the Monogononta (1570 species) and the unique, exclusively parthenogenetic Bdelloidea with 461 clonal species. Here I present an annotated checklist of the taxon, giving the global distribution of the valid species. This checklist contains over 3,000 available names at the genusand species-group level, including valid names and a non-comprehensive list of synonyms. A number of taxonomic and nomenclatural suggestions following from the review is presented. Suggestions include several new synonyms and two nomina nova: Dissotrocha kostei for Dissotrocha aculeata Koste, 1996 non Ehrenberg, 1838 (stat. nov., ex. Dissotrocha hertzogi aculeata) and Lepadella zigzag for Lepadella bractea Myers, 1934 non (Ehrenberg, 1838). This contribution also describes features of an on-line, global names database of the Rotifera, on which this checklist is based.

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Annotated checklist of the rotifers (Phylum Rotifera), with notes on nomenclature, taxonomy and distribution

The biogeography of rotifers is discussed in light of general biogeographical concepts. It is argued that, in spite of considerable abilities for passive dispersal, vicariance can develop well in this group. Examples selected from the Brachionidae illustrate the high levels of endemicity found in Australia and South America, while the Indian subcontinent and Africa have a predominantly cosmopolitan fauna. An explanation for these patterns is found in drifting continents and Pleistocene climatic changes.

Biogeography of rotifers

Anthropogenic biological invasions are a leading threat to aquatic biodiversity in marine, estuarine, and freshwater ecosystems worldwide. Ballast water discharged from transoceanic ships is commonly believed to be the dominant pathway for species introduction and is therefore increasingly subject to domestic and international regulation. However, compared to species introductions from ballast, trans-location by biofouling of ships' exposed surfaces has been poorly quantified. We report translocation of species by a transoceanic bulk carrier intercepted in the North American Great Lakes in fall 2001. We collected 944 individuals of at least 74 distinct freshwater and marine taxa. Eight of 29 taxa identified to species have never been observed in the Great Lakes. Employing five different statistical techniques, we estimated that the biofouling community of this ship comprised from 100 to 200 species. These findings adjust upward by an order of magnitude the number of species collected from a single ship. Thus, overall invasion risk from biofouling may be comparable or exceed that of ballast water discharge.

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Hull fouling is a risk factor for intercontinental species exchange in aquatic ecosystems

Diagnostic features of Rotifera: Monogononta are summarized, and a dichotomous key to the ploimate rotifers is followed by detailed diagnostic keys to the planktonic and facultatively planktonic representatives of the Epiphanidae (Proalides, Epiphanes, Cyrtonia, Rhinoglena and Microcodides) and Brachionidae (Platyias, Brachionus, Keratella, Kellicottia, Notholca and Anuraeopsis). All species known from Australian inland waters are described and figured, as are some widely distributed taxa not yet recorded from the continent. Distribution data and ecological information are also given.

Elbert Halvor. Ahlstrom

Papers

A revision of the rotatorian genus Keratella, with descriptions of three new species and five new varieties. Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 80, article 12.