Diporeia
| Diporeia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Malacostraca |
| Order: | Amphipoda |
| Family: | Pontoporeiidae |
| Genus: | Diporeia [1] |
Diporeia is a North American genus of freshwater amphipod that was formerly a dominant form of zooplankton in the Great Lakes.[1] Their loss in numbers is believed to be due to the presence of invasive species.
Habitat
Diporeia are most common is areas of the Great Lakes with a water depth between 30 m (98 ft) and 125 m (410 ft) deep. They remain present throughout the Great Lakes, especially in Lake Superior.[2]
Decline
The population of Diporeia began to fall rapidly in the 1990s, a decline which has continued. The species has seen major losses in all Great Lakes, with the exception of Lake Superior.[3] The decline of the species, believed to be due to invasive species of mussels, has negatively impacted the fishing industry in the Great Lakes.[4]
References
- ^ a b Debruyne, Robin. "Diporeia". Zooplankton of the Great Lakes. Central Michigan University. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ^ Rhude, Kirsten S.; Sterner, Robert W. (February 2023). "Diporeia site preference in Lake Superior: Food or physical factors?". Journal of Great Lakes Research. 49 (1): 268–275. Bibcode:2023JGLR...49..268R. doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2022.11.008.
- ^ "Diporeia Subindicator Report 2022" (PDF). State of the Great Lakes. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
- ^ "A Great Lakes mystery: The case of the disappearing species". Purdue University. Retrieved 15 October 2025.