Diversity of groundwater dwelling cyclopoida (Crustacea, Copepoda) in a Danube Wetland in Austria

The taxonomic diversity of groundwater dwelling cyclopoid fauna (23 species , 10 hypogean and 13 epigean taxa) occurring within an area of about 0.8 km (2) of the Lobau, a Danube wetland at Vienna, is analysed using several met ric scales. These data are compared with those of two other sites, Regelsbr unn and Deutsch-Wagram, located 16 km remote from the Lobau. Laboratory obs ervations on selected cyclopoid species related to their search activity du ring the election of substrate and potential food items exemplifies aspects of the ecological diversity of groundwater cyclopoids occurring within the Danube wetlands. The origin and the "potential diversity" of the cyclopoid s in the investigated area are discussed using statistical, ecological, bio geographic and evolutionary arguments.