Amphipods: Difference between revisions
Created page with "''Amphipods'', are a type of crustacean which includes crabs, lobsters, and shrimp [1]. While they may look closely related to shrimp, amphipods can be found in both marine and terrestrial environments [2]. Amphipods are often considered keystone species with their large abundance within ecosystems serving as both a food source and material turnover [3]. ==Taxonomy== '''Class:''' Malacostraca '''Subclass:''' Eumalacostraca '''Phylum:''' Anthropoda..." |
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''Amphipods'', are a type of [[crustacean]] which includes crabs, lobsters | ''Amphipods'', are a type of [[crustacean]] which includes groups such as crabs, lobsters and shrimp [1]. Amphipods can be found in both marine and terrestrial environments with currently 10,753 known species [1]. Aquatic amphipods may also be referred to as scuds, shrimp or side swimmers while terrestrial amphipods may be referred to as land hoppers or beach/sand flies [1]. Amphipods are often considered keystone species due to their large abundance within ecosystems serving as a food source and contributing to material turnover [3]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
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==Description== | ==Description== | ||
Amphipods can range from 1 to 340 millimeters [2] with a laterally compressed, segmented body and prominent antennae [4]. Amphipods lack a carapace which is the hard upper shell that be seen on crayfish or lobsters [5]. Amphipoda also means "different feet", referring to their three pairs of pleopods and three pairs of uropods, whereas [[Isopods]], a related group of crustaceans, means "same feet" [1]. Amphipods are mostly [[detritivores]] scavenging on decaying plant and animal material [5]. AMphipods similar to cray fish and lobsters, mold their exoskeleton as they grow [6]. | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
'''Aquatic:''' Aquatic amphipods can be found in both marine and freshwater environments and are often found at the bottom of the substrate [5]. Some of the aquatic species may be seen burrowing in the substrate [5]. | |||
'''Terrestrial:''' Terrestrial amphipods live on the top half inch of moist [[soil]] [6]. As amphipods do not contain a waxy layer on their exoskeleton, they are prone to desiccation in dry environments due to significant water losses[6]. | |||
==Life Cycle== | ==Life Cycle== | ||
Most amphipod species complete their life cycle in one year or less [6]. Females are found to produce hundreds of eggs within a single brood to which they are kept in until they hatch [6]. Juvenile amphipods look like small versions of the adults becoming sexually mature after growing and molting several times [6]. | |||
==Ecosystem Importance== | ==Ecosystem Importance== | ||
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[3] https://www.eawag.ch/en/info/portal/news/news-detail/amphipods-a-miraculous-increase-in-biodiversity/ | [3] https://www.eawag.ch/en/info/portal/news/news-detail/amphipods-a-miraculous-increase-in-biodiversity/ | ||
[4] | [4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/amphipod | ||
[5] https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/scuds-sideswimmers-amphipods#:~:text=Habitat%20and%20Conservation,at%20the%20bottom%20of%20ponds. | |||
[ | [6] https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN377 | ||
Revision as of 12:05, 18 April 2025
Amphipods, are a type of crustacean which includes groups such as crabs, lobsters and shrimp [1]. Amphipods can be found in both marine and terrestrial environments with currently 10,753 known species [1]. Aquatic amphipods may also be referred to as scuds, shrimp or side swimmers while terrestrial amphipods may be referred to as land hoppers or beach/sand flies [1]. Amphipods are often considered keystone species due to their large abundance within ecosystems serving as a food source and contributing to material turnover [3].
Taxonomy
Class: Malacostraca
Subclass: Eumalacostraca
Phylum: Anthropoda
Order: Amphipoda
Family: Gammaridae
Description
Amphipods can range from 1 to 340 millimeters [2] with a laterally compressed, segmented body and prominent antennae [4]. Amphipods lack a carapace which is the hard upper shell that be seen on crayfish or lobsters [5]. Amphipoda also means "different feet", referring to their three pairs of pleopods and three pairs of uropods, whereas Isopods, a related group of crustaceans, means "same feet" [1]. Amphipods are mostly detritivores scavenging on decaying plant and animal material [5]. AMphipods similar to cray fish and lobsters, mold their exoskeleton as they grow [6].
Habitat
Aquatic: Aquatic amphipods can be found in both marine and freshwater environments and are often found at the bottom of the substrate [5]. Some of the aquatic species may be seen burrowing in the substrate [5].
Terrestrial: Terrestrial amphipods live on the top half inch of moist soil [6]. As amphipods do not contain a waxy layer on their exoskeleton, they are prone to desiccation in dry environments due to significant water losses[6].
Life Cycle
Most amphipod species complete their life cycle in one year or less [6]. Females are found to produce hundreds of eggs within a single brood to which they are kept in until they hatch [6]. Juvenile amphipods look like small versions of the adults becoming sexually mature after growing and molting several times [6].
Ecosystem Importance
Conservation Status
References
[2] https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/47628-Amphipoda
[4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/amphipod