POPULATION AND INTERSPECIFIC MORPHOLOGICAL VARIABILITY OF SOME SPECIES OF THE GENUS DAPHNIA OF MULLER 1785 (CRUSTACEA, DAPHNIIDAE)

The variability of the body shape was studied in five species of cladocerans (D. cristata, D. cucullata, D. galeata, D. hyaline, and D. longispina) using the method of geometric morphometrics. The shape of ventral margin and those of the head and carapace were found to be the most variable traits for all studied species of daphnia. A positive correlation between the body shape and body sizes of Daphnia was revealed. Any significant influence of the environmental conditions (water body depth, temperature, water transparency and pH) on the body shape of Daphnia were not found. However, a tendency to prefer some certain conditions and water bodies was noted for some Daphnia species.