Page 3 - Marrone_Mura_2006

Updated status of Anostraca, Notostraca and Spinicaudata... 5

(1914, 1923), LONGHURST (1955), COTTARELLI & MURA (1983), NOURISSON
& THIÉRY (1988) and ALONSO (1996). Resting eggs were identified according
to MURA et al. (1978), THIÉRY & GASC (1991) and MURA (1986).
The distribution of the species is mapped using the UTM grid system,
map datum WGS 84.

DESCRIPTION OF THE HABITATS

Sicilian temporary water bodies vary considerably in terms of size, depth,
hydroperiod and turbidity. However, they can be grouped into five main typolo-
gies: ground pools, rock pools, ponds, saltworks and abandoned concrete reser-
voirs. Large branchiopods were observed in all of these habitat typologies.
1. Ground pools are a few centimetres deep ephemeral habitats, often
turbid and greatly disturbed by the passing of cattle and vehicles. Most of
them are formed in vehicle ruts.
2. Rock pools, even though present on substrata of different lithology,
are mostly spread on carbonatic outcrops, forming complex systems of pools
which are periodically connected.
3. Temporary ponds vary markedly depending on the underlying sub-
stratum, the surrounding landscape and the altitude at which they occur.
Accordingly, the hydroperiod lasts from 4 to over 9 months per year, and
water turbidity ranges from crystal clear waters, rich in aquatic macrophytes,
to argillotrophic systems.
4. Saltworks were once spread all around the Sicilian coasts. Nowadays,
they are in activity only along the western coast of the island, between the
towns of Trapani and Marsala (Trapani province). In the remaining parts of
the island they are now abandoned.
5. Artificial concrete water reservoirs, locally called “ggebbie”, were built
up for irrigation and watering purposes. Although they characterise the Sicil-
ian agriculture landscape, the establishment of modern irrigation techniques
caused the abandonment of most of such reservoirs. In this way, they started
to act as temporary water bodies, their hydroperiod being subjected only to
rainfall and evaporation.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Literature data concerning Sicilian large branchiopods list eighteen
inland water bodies hosting large branchiopods (Tab. 1). Moreover, a spini-
caudatan species is reported as being present on the island without having a