MORPHOLOGY OF RESTING EGGS OF SOME ROTIFERS IN LAKE DONGHU WUHAN

Resting eggs of 14 rotifer species were collected from Lake Donghu and their morphology (size, shape, color and ornamentation) was observed under light microscope and scan electron microscope. Resting eggs are ovoid or spherical in shape.They are characterized by a thick, dark, opaque shell which bears surface sculpturing in the form of knobs, spines, wrinkes etc. The morphology of resting eggs of rotifer Brachionus caudatus, B. quadridentatus, Asplanchna intermedia, and Filinia terminalis was never recorded before. Basing on the results and comparing with other information,the authors are of opinion trhat the morphology of resting eggs differs in .differentrotifer species. But it appears to be not ouly species - specific but also polymorphologic in some species as external characteristics of resting eggs vary in the same species under different enviromental conditions and developing stages.