Photo by: Josh Hull/USFWS
Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp
Branchinecta lynchi
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Threatened
(fws.gov)
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U.S. Endangered Species Act
(fws.gov)
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The major threats consist of habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural development, alterations caused by climate change and drought, pesticides, and stress or predation from non-native species such as bullfrogs (fws.gov).
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Found in California and southern Oregon (fws.gov).
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Vernal pool fairy shrimp are located in vernal pools which are shallow wetlands. During the reproduction stage, the female carries egg sacs under their body which are dropped and sink to bottom of the vernal pool. The eggs remain until they dry up along with the water in summer. Hatching starts when the pools fill up again following the dry season. The average lifespan is 91 days, and they take about 40 days to reproduce (fws.gov).
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Look more at how the number in populations differs between vernal pools that are monitored or heavily restored vs. those that are in a natural state to evaluate different restoration plans and effectiveness.
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Vernal pool fairy shrimp have narrow bodies with large compound eyes. They contain 11 pairs of swimming legs and swim upside down with wavelike body motions. These shrimp also lack a hard outer shell. Vernal pool fairy shrimp look similar to other fairy shrimp found in the same vernal pools such as the longhorn fairy shrimp or Conservancy fairy shrimp. The shape of the second antenna for males and third thoracic segment for females is what separates vernal pool fairy shrimp from other species (fws.gov).
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