Annotated Checklist of the Free-Living Copepods of the Great Lakes

Abstract

An annotated checklist of the free-living copepods of the Laurentian Great Lakes is developed on the basis of published records. Synonymies are included for each species, relating, wherever possible, invalid names in the literature with currently recognized taxonomy. Twelve species of calanoids, six species of planktonic cyclopoids, nine species of benthic/ littoral cyclopoids, and fourteen species of harpacticoids have been reported from the Great Lakes. Ten of the calanoids and four of the cyclopoids are characteristic of limnetic waters. Three calanoids and two planktonic cyclopoids have been reported infrequently and are perhaps accidental occurrences. The composition of the planktonic copepod fauna in most subregions of the Great Lakes is well-known. In contrast, the sampling of benthic/littoral cyclopoids and harpacticoids has been so infrequent that their kinds, areas of occurrence, and relative abundances are still poorly understood.