Phytotelma

The word "phytotelma" derives from the ancient Greek roots phyto-, meaning 'plant', and telma, meaning 'pond'. Thus, the correct singular is phytotelma. The term was coined by L. Varga in 1928. The correct pronunciation is "phytotēlma" and "phytotēlmata" because of the Greek origin (the stressed vowels are here written as ē). == Ecology ==

Often the faunae associated with phytotelmata are unique: Different groups of microcrustaceans occur in phytotelmata, including ostracods (Elpidium spp. Metacypris bromeliarum), harpacticoid copepods (Bryocamptus spp, Moraria arboricola, Attheyella spp.) and cyclopoid copepods (Bryocyclops spp.,Tropocyclops jamaicensis). In tropical and subtropical rainforest habitats, many species of frogs specialize on phytotelma as a readily available breeding ground, such as some microhylids (in pitcher plants), poison dart frogs and some tree frogs (in bromeliads). Many insects use them for breeding and foraging, for instance odonates, water bugs, beetles and dipterans. Some species also are of great practical significance; for example, immature stages of some mosquitoes, such as some Anopheles and Aedes species that are important disease vectors, develop in phytotelmata. ==See also==