Amphipoda sp. (unidentified)
Found throughout the plant beds, sandy substrate, and open water of the Freshwater Lake, this small detritivore grazes algal biofilm and fine organic matter from submerged surfaces and has foraged more openly and visibly since Flagfish predation pressure was removed in April 2026.
Amphipods became more visible and began grazing openly in the water column after Flagfish removal on April 5, 2026, interpreted as a behavioral response to reduced predation pressure rather than a sudden population increase. Multiple size cohorts are present, indicating continuous in-system reproduction. Exact population count has not been assessed.
Detritivore and algae grazer in the Freshwater Lake; feeds on fine detritus, bacteria, algal biofilm, microbes, and suspended organic particles across plant surfaces, the sandy substrate, and pockets of decaying organic matter. In miniBIOTA, the amphipods were directly observed grazing more openly in the water column from April 2026 onward, following the removal of the predatory Flagfish. The species also serves as direct prey for the Slough Crayfish and Ghost Shrimp, functioning as an important link between the detrital base and larger consumers in the freshwater food web.
Broadly tolerant of organic waste and elevated nutrient levels typical of a well-stocked freshwater system. Highly sensitive to copper and aquatic chemical treatments, which can rapidly eliminate a population. Upper thermal limit is approximately 86°F (30°C); prolonged exposure above this threshold is lethal.
Continuous reproduction in the Freshwater Lake, with multiple size cohorts (juveniles to breeding-sized adults) visible throughout. Following the removal of the Flagfish on April 5, 2026, juvenile survival improved as predation pressure dropped and population growth accelerated. Released juveniles are miniature versions of adults and require no separate larval development period.
Primary detritus processor in the Freshwater Lake; feeds on decaying plant material, algal biofilm, bacteria, and fine organic particles across plant surfaces and the sandy substrate. Directly linked to larger consumers: Slough Crayfish and Ghost Shrimp feed on amphipods, channeling recycled detrital energy upward through the freshwater food web. The population expanded its visible activity after Flagfish removal in April 2026, with amphipods observed grazing openly in the water column rather than remaining hidden in vegetation.
Follow this species across the habitats where it currently appears in the miniBIOTA biosphere.
