Order Cyclopoida
Freshwater Copepod (Cyclopoida)
An order-level cyclopoid copepod node for tiny freshwater crustaceans using bottom, plant, and water-column surfaces while feeding on planktonic and fine-particle resources.
- Common Name
- Freshwater Copepod (Cyclopoida)
- Scientific Name
- Order Cyclopoida
- Realm
- Freshwater
- Biome
- Freshwater Lake
- Introduction Method
- Introduced as part of a mixed wild-collected microfauna batch to seed the Freshwater Lake.
- Current Estimated Population
- Stable and growing. They are highly active along the bottom sand and plant surfaces.
- Population Status
- Uncertain
- Carrying Capacity Status
- Thriving. The removal of the predatory flagfish on April 5, 2026, has allowed the benthic copepod population to establish successfully, utilizing the rich organic debris and biofilms on the lake bottom.
- Date Last Observed
- April 16, 2026
Section Notes
Freshwater copepods were observed throughout the water column by 2026-04-13 and again in close-up swimming footage on 2026-04-16 after Flagfish removal reduced predation pressure. Treat this Cyclopoida node as an order-level public graph participant, not proof of order-specific abundance, reproduction, or observed feeding by cyclopoids alone.
- Trophic Level
- Primary Consumer
- Feeding Niche / Method
- Filter feeder or predator (varies by species)
- Dietary Inputs
- Suspended algae, phytoplankton, microbes, and fine organic particles
Section Notes
Trophic classification is Primary Consumer. Food-web role: Suspended-algae plankton grazer. Feeding method: Filter feeder or predator (varies by species). Dietary inputs: Suspended algae, phytoplankton, microbes, and fine organic particles
- Temperature Range
- Highly resilient, tolerating water temperatures from 50°F to 84°F (10°C to 29°C). They thrive in standard room temperatures (68°F to 77°F) inside the cabinet system.
- pH Range
- Adaptable to pH values between 6.5 and 8.2, preferring neutral to slightly alkaline waters.
- Lighting Requirements
- No special lighting needed. They naturally seek shaded crevices and stay near the bottom or under thick plant leaves when the cabinet lights are bright.
- Flow / Aeration Preference
- Prefers still or slow-moving water. They are excellent swimmers but spend most of their time crawling on surfaces, making them highly suited to our no-flow lake system.
Section Notes
Extremely tough. They can tolerate very low oxygen levels and high organic waste. However, they are highly sensitive to copper and chemical water treatments.
- Expected Lifespan
- Usually 1 to 2 months, progressing from microscopic free-swimming larvae to shell-bearing adults.
- Reproductive Strategy
- Sexual reproduction. Males fertilize females, who then carry eggs in two distinct sacs on either side of their tail. In dry or poor water conditions, some species can form a protective cocoon to hibernate in the mud until conditions improve.
- System Reproduction Status
- Confirmed reproducing. Both tiny larvae and adult females carrying two prominent egg sacs are regularly observed in the benthic zone.
- Growth Rate
- Rapid. Reaches breeding age in 2 to 4 weeks under warm cabinet temperatures and with a steady supply of microbial food.
Section Notes
Continuous breeding. The absence of a fish predator has allowed their bottom-dwelling larvae to survive and grow safely on the sand and plants.
- Ecological Role
- Plankton grazing and food-web transfer
- Symbiotic Relationships
- Strongly associated with submerged vegetation (particularly Ludwigia repens and Tapegrass) and decomposing organic debris which provide physical crawling surfaces and harbor their microscopic prey.
- Microhabitat Preference
- Benthic sand surface, submerged leaves and stems of shoreline plants, organic sediment pockets, and plant roots.
Section Notes
They act as active microbial hunters and waste recyclers. By feeding on rotifers, organic debris, and biofilm, they help keep the bottom clean and act as a critical high-protein food source for larger detritivores like crayfish and ghost shrimp.
Biomes This Species Lives In
Follow this species across the habitats where it currently appears in the miniBIOTA biosphere.
April 17, 2026
Change
Fish removal reopens the lake food web
Cyclopoid copepods are part of the water-column community affected by the fish-removal reset.
Context
Biome: Freshwater Lake
View primary chronicle