Brachionus calyciflorus
Brachionus calyciflorus is a planktonic rotifer species occurring in freshwater. It is commonly used as a model organism in toxicology, ecology and evolutionary biology.
Its advantages include the small size and short generation time (average generation time of B. calyciflorus is around 2.2 days at 24 °C).
Brachionus calyciflorus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | Ploimida |
Family: | Brachionidae |
Genus: | |
Species: | B. calyciflorus |
Binomial name | |
Brachionus calyciflorus | |
Reproduction
B. calyciflorus normally reproduces by cyclical parthenogenesis.[1]
Transitions to obligate parthenogenesis have been described. Obligate parthenogens were homozygous for a recessive allele, which caused inability to respond to the chemical signals that normally induce sexual reproduction in this species.[2]
Species complex
Like the Brachionus plicatilis cryptic species complex Brachionus calyciflorus seems also to be a species complex consisting of more than one species.[3][4]
References
- http://rotifera.lifedesks.org/pages/324%5B%5D
- C.-P. Stelzer, J. Schmidt, A. Wiedlroither, and S. Riss (2010). Loss of Sexual Reproduction and Dwarfing in a Small Metazoan. PLoS ONE 5(9): e12854.
- Brachionus calyciflorus is a species complex: mating behavior and genetic differentiation among four geographically isolated strains JJ Gilbert, EJ Walsh - Rotifera X, 2005 - Springer
- Spatial patterns of genetic differentiation in Brachionus calyciflorus species complex collected from East China in summer XL Xiang, YL Xi, XL Wen, JY Zhang, Q Ma - Hydrobiologia, 2010 - Springer