Cladocera of the Lençóis Maranhenses (NE - Brazil): faunal composition and a reappraisal of Sars' Method

We studied the Cladocera of a group of ephemeral interdunal pools in the Lençóis Maranhenses, Maranhão State (NE - Brazil) and recorded 34 species. The fauna was overwhelmingly neotropical, with no evidence of invasive species. Species composition differed in Lagoa da Colher, an acid system. We provide notes on behaviour, morphology and taxonomy of some lesser-known anomopods, with emphasis on the Chydoridae. We figure male Oxyurella longicaudis, Chydorus eurynotus, Disparalona leptorhyncha, Alonella dadayi and A. clathratula. We provide notes on the "Sars' Method", hatching of freshwater crustaceans from dry mud, a simple technique that complements the information of hit-and-run surveys. About half of the total species number (44%) was revived through this method; 18% of species were additional to field-collected samples. The Sars' method also yielded abundant specimens of rare species, useful for identification and studies on behaviour.