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A cautionary tale. In 1989, an ostracod worker (Dr. Koen Martens) collected some unique fairy shrimp in South Africa. He passed these on to Dr. Luc Brendonck, who realized that these fairy shrimp were quite unique. They were described as the only member of a new genus, called Rhinobranchipus, with the species name, martensi, honoring the original discoverer. #arthropoda #crustacea #branchiopoda #anostraca #southafrica
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In between the time when the specimens were discovered (1989) and the species description published, the locality (The Thomas Baines Nature Reserve) where they were found was changed. In the name of improvement, a bird observatory was added--the temporary pool that Rhinobranchipus depended on was made permanent, with fish introduced. #oops #biology
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Permanence of a temporary pool sounds like a good idea. However, fairy shrimp depend on the drying out of the pools to reproduce. Furthermore, fish will prey on them to the point of extinction. Rhinobranchipus martensi, known only from this one locality, has not been sighted since. It is presumed extinct. #extinction #conservation
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