| Brachionus calyciflorus, a plankton rotifer. The ligaments which hold the four amcitic eggs eggs are clearly visible |
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| Brachionus calyciflorus, another specimen; red arrowheads: muscles and nerve cells; green arrowheads: gastric glands; LT: lateral antenna; D: intestinum; B: bladder. (2) |
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| Brachionus calyciflorus, lateral view of (part of) the head with sensory organs: red: eyespot. Left: dorsal antenna protruded; right, dorsal antenna retracted. |
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| Brachionus calyciflorus, focus plane is on the nephridial system (triangles) |
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| Brachionus calyciflorus, malleate trophi (5) |
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| Brachionus calyciflorus, is common in many lakes and ponds in Germany. Upper images: specimens from (1); lower left: specimen from (2); lower right: specimen from (8) |
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| ecology |
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| ecology 1 |
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| Another variety of B. calyciflorus with long spines on the back is >>> Brachionus calyciflorus var. anuraeiformis |
| If the carnivorous rotifer Asplanchnais present in the water B. calyciflorus develops long spines which function as a protection because when having spinesthe animal is too bulky to be engulfed by the predator. It has been shown that the growth of the spines is induced by a substance that is produced by Asplanchna itself. An interesting topic with developmental, genetic and ecological facets. |
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| ecology 2 |
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| Brachionus calyciflorus; this specimen is full of fungal parasites: Bertramia asperospora (Plistophora asperospora, Microsporodia) |
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