The first data on the freshwater microcrustaceans of Shokalsky Island (Russian Arctic)

Abstract. BACKGROUND: Information on freshwater invertebrates of the Russian Arctic is very scarce, especially concerning insular biota. The species composition of microcrustaceans (Cladocera, Copepoda) of many arctic islands is still unknown and have never been explored. Here we report the results of the first investigation of the zooplankton of the Shokalsky Island (Yamalo­Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia). Information on freshwater invertebrates of the Russian Arctic is very scarce, especially concerning insular biota. The species composition of microcrustaceans (Cladocera, Copepoda) of many arctic islands is still unknown and have never been explored. Here we report the results of the first investigation of the zooplankton of the Shokalsky Island (Yamalo­Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia). NEW INFORMATION: The new records reported here are novel for the region and significantly expand the knowledge of the high­-latitude aquatic biota. We studied the species composition of Cladocera and Copepoda of 21 freshwater habitats located on the south­western part of Shokalsky Island. We found 15 species of microcrustaceans in total and all of them are reported for the first time here. Also, the obtained data expand the existing ranges of distribution of some species and report several new taxa for the whole Yamalo­Nenets region of Russia.