Eubosmina maritima
P. E. Müller, 1867
Common Name:
A cladoceran
Synonyms and Other Names:
Bosmina maritima, Bosmina (Eubosmina) longispina c.f. Maritima, Bosmina (Eubosmina) longispina maritima
Identification:
This water flea has a relatively long carapace. Its antennules run half the length of the body and lay towards the posterior end along the ventral side. The mucro is around 20–55 μm in length and juts out diagonally from the body. The post-abdominal claw exhibits proximal pecten with a total of 13 spines: 6 very short, 6 larger and similar in size, and 1 separating the two groups. The rostrum recurves ventrally to the compound eye and there is a lateral circular head pore located next to the mandibular articulation (De Melo and Hebert 1994).
Size:
Parthenogenetic females range in length from 595–720 μm in the Great Lakes (De Melo and Hebert 1994)
Native Range:
Eubosmina maritima is native to the Baltic and Barents Seas as well as inland lakes surrounding these drainages (De Melo and Hebert 1994).
Great Lakes Nonindigenous Occurrences:
The first occurrence of E. maritima in the Great Lakes dates from 1988 in Lake Michigan. It has also been recorded from Lake Erie in 1991 and 1992 and Lake Huron in 1992 (De Melo and Hebert 1994). It was later observed in Lake Ontario and Lake Superior in 2016 (Whitmore 2019).
Table 1. Great Lakes region nonindigenous occurrences, the earliest and latest observations in each state/province, and the tally and names of HUCs with observations†. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Eubosmina maritima are found here.
Full list of USGS occurrences
Table last updated 4/19/2024
† Populations may not be currently present.
Ecology:
Eubosmina maritima has adapted to freshwater environments in the Great Lakes, where it is most abundant and sometimes dominant in the winter zooplankton community. In its native range in Europe it is a brackish water cladoceran, producing its resting eggs in estuarine and marine environments. E. maritima feeds on phytoplankton. It is capable of surviving massive cyanobacteria blooms in the Baltic Sea, even though this type of phytoplankton is not an ideal food source (Berzins 1949; Madhupratap et al. 1996; Witt et al. 1996; Hebert and Cristescu 2002; Schmidt et al. 2002; Duggan et al. 2005).
Eubosmina maritima is capable of producing resting eggs (ephippia) through sexual reproduction. These ephippia can stay dormant in the sediments until favorable environmental conditions occur. Parthenogenetic females give rise to juveniles asexually. In the Great Lakes, only asexually producing females have been recorded. In the Baltic Sea, E. maritima utilizes sexual reproduction more frequently in areas where selection pressures are higher (Kankaala 1983; De Melo and Hebert 1994; Viitasalo and Viitasalo 2004; Wonham et al. 2005).
Means of Introduction:
Eubosmina maritima was very likely introduced in ballast water by ships entering the Great Lakes from Europe (De Melo and Hebert 1994; Duggan et al. 2005; Gray et al. 2005).
Status:
Established where recorded.
Great Lakes Impacts:
Summary of species impacts derived from literature review. Click on an icon to find out more...
Current research on the environmental impact of Eubosmina maritima in the Great Lakes is inadequate to support proper assessment.
There is little or no evidence to support that Eubosmina maritima has significant socio-economic impacts in the Great Lakes.
There is little or no evidence to support that Eubosmina maritima has significant benefical effects in the Great Lakes.
Management:
Regulations (pertaining to the Great Lakes)
There are no known regulations for this species. Note: Check federal, state/provincial, and local regulations for the most up-to-date information.
Control
Biological
The mysid shrimps Mysis mixta and Mysis relicta consume Eubosmina maritima diapausing eggs (ephippia) selectively in the northern Baltic Sea, but only at a rate which can affect local abundances of E. maritima (Viitasalo and Viitasalo 2004).
Physical
It is possible that Eubosmina maritima is transported over land by recreational boaters. Though it is not as likely to foul gear and attach to equipment as the more commonly known spiny waterflea (Bythotrephes longimanus) and fishhook waterflea (Cercopagis pengoi), the same responsible maintenance and cleaning methods are recommended to prevent spread between water bodies, including cleaning all aquatic equipment with high pressure water (>250 psi) or hot water (>50°C) after each use (Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program). Electron beam irradiation and ultraviolet light treatments have been used to control spiny and fishhook waterfleas in aquatic pathways, and are likely effective against E. maritima (GLMRIS 2012). Another possible non-selective pathway control is high water turbidity, which may decrease zooplankton (especially cladoceran) abundances due to the negative effects of suspended clay particles on filtering and assimilation rates (Suchy and Hann 2007).
Chemical
Santagata et al. (2008) found that ballast water exchange methods which flush freshwater organisms into euhaline seawater are effective against Eubosmina maritima at a minimum of 24 PSU (practical salinity units) for 2 hours in a laboratory simulation. However, E. maritima ephippia may remain in residual unpumpable sediment in ballast tanks, and Gray et al. (2005) found that exposing zooplankton ephippia to open ocean saline water of 32 ppt (parts per thousand) did not reduce egg abundances or consistently affect richness of invertebrates hatched from exposed eggs.
Note: Check state/provincial and local regulations for the most up-to-date information regarding permits for control methods. Follow all label instructions.
Remarks:
The current name for this species listed by the Integrated Taxonomic Information System is Eubosmina maritima, however this name is likely out of date. The most current suggested name is Bosmina (Eubosmina) longispina c.f. maritima based on Kotov et al. (2009) (Whitmore and Bailey pers comm. 2019). To avoid confusion, GLANSIS and NAS are waiting until a consensus is reached on this species’ name before updating.
References
(click for full reference list)
Author:
Kipp, R.M., J. Larson, T.H. Makled, and A. Fusaro
Contributing Agencies:
Revision Date:
9/12/2019
Citation for this information:
Kipp, R.M., J. Larson, T.H. Makled, and A. Fusaro, 2024, Eubosmina maritima P. E. Müller, 1867: U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, and NOAA Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System, Ann Arbor, MI, https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/greatlakes/FactSheet.aspx?Species_ID=2370&Potential=N&Type=0&HUCNumber=DHuron, Revision Date: 9/12/2019, Access Date: 4/19/2024
This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.