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ysabetwordsmithThe First Record of American Tadpole Shrimp (Triops longicaudatus) in Illinois
American tadpole shrimp was traditionally considered to be a species of the Western U.S. but seems to have been on an eastward range expansion for several years (Taylor et al. 1987, Tindall et al 2009). Tindall et al. (2009) described the all documented specimens in Missouri. First reported in 1979 and 1983, specimens were collected near Jackass Bend on the Missouri River in Jackson County near the Kansas line. Single specimens were found in east central Missouri in St. Charles County on the Missouri River and in the bootheel in Pemiscot County on a rice field near the Mississippi River in 2007. Rice fields in the counties of Stoddard and New Madrid were reported to be infested with the species in 2008. In 2009, rice field infestations were reported in the bootheel counties of Dunklin and Mississippi. This species is considered to be a pest of rice throughout its range.
I came across a reference to triops in Illinois and tracked down this reference. Fascinating! I thought they were a desert or dryland critter, relying on pothole puddles in rock. But apparently they can live in other types of ephemeral pools as well, with silty bottoms. If there's one thing Illinois has plenty of, it's fluddles.
So that makes me wonder if the triops appear in other vernal pools. Some eastern woodlands are really wet in spring, with lots of floods and scattered pools. Other places have boulders or even slabs of exposed bedrock big enough to form potholes that can hold water for quite a while, especially during spring or fall rains. Studying vernal pools in particular is difficult and sometimes dangerous due to slogging through forests or wet prairies with deep soft mud. It's entirely possible that more triops are out there and just haven't been noticed.
The species is known to disperse via floodwater (Taylor et al. 1987). It was likely brought down the Mississippi River from the Missouri River during spring floods. Because this species is also known to disperse via birds and wind, it will likely be on the batture (inland) side of the levee soon if it is not already (Green and Figuerola 2005; Caceres and Soluk 2002; Nathan et al 2005; Graham and Wirth 2008). Although considered a pest by rice farmers, it is considered as a possible human ally against West Nile virus and a biological control agent for certain weeds (Fry et al.1994; Takahashi 1977).
It would be interesting to test their usefulness, especially how eager they are to eat mosquito larvae. The wind dispersal, by the way, happens because of their ephemeral life cycle. Triops grow fast and lay eggs before the pool dries up. Once dry, the eggs can lay dormant for many years before water makes them hatch again. In that form, they can easily be carried a long way on wind that picks up dust and debris from the ground or rocks. They may catch on birds similarly, although it's also possible for birds to pick up eggs from water while drinking.
American tadpole shrimp was traditionally considered to be a species of the Western U.S. but seems to have been on an eastward range expansion for several years (Taylor et al. 1987, Tindall et al 2009). Tindall et al. (2009) described the all documented specimens in Missouri. First reported in 1979 and 1983, specimens were collected near Jackass Bend on the Missouri River in Jackson County near the Kansas line. Single specimens were found in east central Missouri in St. Charles County on the Missouri River and in the bootheel in Pemiscot County on a rice field near the Mississippi River in 2007. Rice fields in the counties of Stoddard and New Madrid were reported to be infested with the species in 2008. In 2009, rice field infestations were reported in the bootheel counties of Dunklin and Mississippi. This species is considered to be a pest of rice throughout its range.
I came across a reference to triops in Illinois and tracked down this reference. Fascinating! I thought they were a desert or dryland critter, relying on pothole puddles in rock. But apparently they can live in other types of ephemeral pools as well, with silty bottoms. If there's one thing Illinois has plenty of, it's fluddles.
So that makes me wonder if the triops appear in other vernal pools. Some eastern woodlands are really wet in spring, with lots of floods and scattered pools. Other places have boulders or even slabs of exposed bedrock big enough to form potholes that can hold water for quite a while, especially during spring or fall rains. Studying vernal pools in particular is difficult and sometimes dangerous due to slogging through forests or wet prairies with deep soft mud. It's entirely possible that more triops are out there and just haven't been noticed.
The species is known to disperse via floodwater (Taylor et al. 1987). It was likely brought down the Mississippi River from the Missouri River during spring floods. Because this species is also known to disperse via birds and wind, it will likely be on the batture (inland) side of the levee soon if it is not already (Green and Figuerola 2005; Caceres and Soluk 2002; Nathan et al 2005; Graham and Wirth 2008). Although considered a pest by rice farmers, it is considered as a possible human ally against West Nile virus and a biological control agent for certain weeds (Fry et al.1994; Takahashi 1977).
It would be interesting to test their usefulness, especially how eager they are to eat mosquito larvae. The wind dispersal, by the way, happens because of their ephemeral life cycle. Triops grow fast and lay eggs before the pool dries up. Once dry, the eggs can lay dormant for many years before water makes them hatch again. In that form, they can easily be carried a long way on wind that picks up dust and debris from the ground or rocks. They may catch on birds similarly, although it's also possible for birds to pick up eggs from water while drinking.
