A human challenge: discovering and understanding continental copepod habitats

Copepods have invaded an astonishing variety of aquatic and humid continent al environments and microhabitats. The historical process of discovery and investigation of copepods in ephemeral, acid and thermal waters, subterrane an waters and sediments, phytotelmata, humid soils, leaf litter, human-modi fied and artificial habitats, and other situations extends over about 130 y ears. The methods developed to collect in and study these habitats range fr om simple nets to elaborate pumping systems and diving techniques. Investig ations of non-lacustrine continental environments have contributed greatly to the understanding of aspects of copepod biology such as reproduction, di apause and population dynamics. Questions regarding faunistics and biologic al diversity, biogeography, evolution, transport and introductions of alien species have also been informed by such studies. This article briefly revi ews these topics, and provides detailed lists of records from some of the l ess well-known kinds of habitats.