File for the Full Video

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

File for the Full Video The Structural and Compositional Basis for the Transparency and Physical Properties of the Skogsbergia lerneri Carapace A thesis submitted to Cardiff University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy March 2020 Benjamin Martin Rumney Structural Biophysics Group School of Optometry and Vision Science Cardiff University Supervisors: Professor Keith Meek Dr Julie Albon Dr Philip Lewis Ben Rumney Acknowledgements and Contents Acknowledgements I would like to firstly thank all of my supervisors for helping me through a thesis with such a unique subject compared to the norm. I would like to thank Professor Keith Meek for supporting me beyond the required level both in and out of the PhD. I would like to thank Dr Julie Albon for being a constant source of help and support throughout the three and half years of the project. I would like to thank Dr Phil Lewis for his help in all things EM-based and his advice through seemingly endless microscope issues. I would like to thank all my friends for their support and for suffering with me effectively going radio silent for the final year of my PhD, as well as all the new friends I have made at Cardiff. All the chats and socials we had amongst both the postgrads and the biophysics group as a whole were a constant and welcome support. I especially want to thank my parents, Martin and Louise Rumney and my sister Abi, who have supported me both emotionally and practically throughout the entire project as they have throughout all my life. I would also like to thank Dr Siân Morgan for all her assistance throughout the ostracod project as well as all our trips to and from Diamond, as well as everyone in the Biophysics team for always being friendly and happy to help with anything. I would also like to thank Nick White for his enormous help and advice with all things non-linear.I would like to thank Professor Andrew Parker for his help on both the project as a whole, his specific advice on ostracods and his assistance with locating the ostracod populations that were used in this thesis. I would like to thank both Professor Andrew Parker and Dr Tegwen Malik for their assistance in capturing and transporting the ostracods to Cardiff from Florida. I’m especially grateful after hearing about some of the horror stories they came back with! I would also like to thank Tegwen for all her help with maintaining the ostracod tanks, without which the ostracods would not have thrived as well as they did. Finally I would like to thank DSTL for their funding of this project, allowing me to be able to carry out this PhD in the first place and giving me the opportunity to be able to present my work at numerous speciailsed conferences. ii Ben Rumney Acknowledgements and Contents Table of Contents Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................ iii Table of Figures……………………………………………………………………………………………..………vii Abbreviation List………………………………………………………………………………………………….…xi Abstract ..................................................................................................................... xiii 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 15 1.1 Skogsbergia lerneri ..................................................................................... 15 1.1.1 Habitats ................................................................................................ 15 1.1.2 Physical Features .................................................................................. 17 1.1.3 Life Cycle................................................................................................. 19 1.2 General Crustacean Integument Architecture and its relationship to Ostracods ................................................................................................................ 21 1.2.1 Composition ......................................................................................... 21 1.2.2 Architecture ......................................................................................... 25 1.3 Physical Properties of Crustacean Carapaces ............................................. 31 1.3.1 Hierarchical Design ............................................................................... 32 1.3.2 Heat Resistance .................................................................................... 35 1.3.3 Hardness ............................................................................................... 36 1.3.4 Hydration.............................................................................................. 37 1.3.5 Elastic Modulus .................................................................................... 38 1.3.6 Fracture Toughness .............................................................................. 39 1.3.7 Transparency ........................................................................................ 40 1.4 Aims and Hypothesis ................................................................................... 43 1.4.1 Overall Hypothesis ............................................................................... 43 1.4.2 Overall Aim ........................................................................................... 43 1.4.3 Hypothesis 1 ......................................................................................... 43 1.4.4 Aim 1 .................................................................................................... 43 1.4.5 Hypothesis 2 ......................................................................................... 44 1.4.6 Aim 2 .................................................................................................... 44 1.4.7 Hypothesis 3 ......................................................................................... 44 1.4.8 Aim 3 .................................................................................................... 44 1.4.9 Hypothesis 4 ......................................................................................... 44 iii Ben Rumney Acknowledgements and Contents 1.4.10 Aim 4 .................................................................................................... 45 2. Methodology ...................................................................................................... 47 2.1 Aquaculture ................................................................................................. 47 2.1.1 Licensing for the Acquiring and Transportation of Samples................ 47 2.1.2 Transfer of Ostracods from Deliveries to Aquaculture Tanks ............. 47 2.1.3 Maintenance of Aquaculture ............................................................... 48 2.2 Dissection .................................................................................................... 49 2.2.1 Development of dissection protocol ................................................... 49 2.2.2 Dissection Axes .......................................................................................... 50 2.3 Electron Microscopy .................................................................................... 51 2.3.1 Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) ........................................... 51 2.3.2 Serial Block Face Scanning Electron Microscopy ................................. 53 2.3.3 Amira Software .................................................................................... 55 2.3.4 Scanning Electron Microscopy ............................................................. 55 2.4 Non-linear microscopy Sample Preparation ............................................... 56 2.4.1 Cryosectioning ..................................................................................... 56 2.4.2 Butyl:methyl methacrylate (BMMA) .................................................... 57 2.4.3 Equipment and software ..................................................................... 59 2.5 X-ray Microtomography and Ptychography ................................................ 60 2.5.1 X-ray Microtomography ....................................................................... 60 2.5.2 Ptychography ....................................................................................... 61 2.6 Elemental Analysis....................................................................................... 63 2.6.1 Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy ................................................. 63 2.6.2 X-ray Fluorescence ............................................................................... 64 2.6.3 X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure ................................................ 65 2.6.4 Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) ................................................... 66 2.7 Summary of Structural and Compositional Techniques ............................. 67 2.8 Spectroscopy ............................................................................................... 69 2.8.1 Refractometry ...................................................................................... 69 2.8.2 Transmittance measurements ............................................................. 69 3. Ultrastructure analysis........................................................................................ 71 3.1 Introduction................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Volume 2, Chapter 10-2: Arthropods: Crustacea
    Glime, J. M. 2017. Arthropods: Crustacea – Ostracoda and Amphipoda. Chapt. 10-2. In: Glime, J. M. Bryophyte Ecology. Volume 2. 10-2-1 Bryological Interaction. Ebook sponsored by Michigan Technological University and the International Association of Bryologists. Last updated 19 July 2020 and available at <http://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/bryophyte-ecology2/>. CHAPTER 10-2 ARTHROPODS: CRUSTACEA – OSTRACODA AND AMPHPODA TABLE OF CONTENTS CLASS OSTRACODA ..................................................................................................................................... 10-2-2 Adaptations ................................................................................................................................................ 10-2-3 Swimming to Crawling ....................................................................................................................... 10-2-3 Reproduction ....................................................................................................................................... 10-2-3 Habitats ...................................................................................................................................................... 10-2-3 Terrestrial ............................................................................................................................................ 10-2-3 Peat Bogs ............................................................................................................................................ 10-2-4 Aquatic ...............................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • On a New Species of the Genus Cyprinotus (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from a Temporary Wetland in New Caledonia (Pacific Ocean), With
    European Journal of Taxonomy 566: 1–22 ISSN 2118-9773 https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2019.566 www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu 2019 · Martens K. et al. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0). Research article urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0A180E95-0532-4ED7-9606-D133CF6AD01E On a new species of the genus Cyprinotus (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from a temporary wetland in New Caledonia (Pacifi c Ocean), with a reappraisal of the genus Koen MARTENS 1,*, Mehmet YAVUZATMACA 2 and Janet HIGUTI 3 1 Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Freshwater Biology, Vautierstraat 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium and University of Ghent, Biology, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. 2 Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Faculty of Arts and Science, Department of Biology, 14280 Gölköy Bolu, Turkey. 3 Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aquicultura, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia de Ambientes Aquáticos, Av. Colombo 5790, CEP 87020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil. * Corresponding author: [email protected] 2 Email: [email protected] 3 Email: [email protected] 1 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:9272757B-A9E5-4C94-B28D-F5EFF32AADC7 2 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:36CEC965-2BD7-4427-BACC-2A339F253908 3 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:3A5CEE33-280B-4312-BF6B-50287397A6F8 Abstract. The New Caledonia archipelago is known for its high level of endemism in both faunal and fl oral groups. Thus far, only 12 species of non-marine ostracods have been reported. After three expeditions to the main island of the archipelago (Grande Terre), about four times as many species were found, about half of which are probably new.
    [Show full text]
  • Distribution and Ecology of Non-Marine Ostracods (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from Friuli Venezia Giulia (NE Italy)
    J. Limnol., 68(1): 1-15, 2009 Distribution and ecology of non-marine ostracods (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from Friuli Venezia Giulia (NE Italy) Valentina PIERI, Koen MARTENS1), Fabio STOCH2) and Giampaolo ROSSETTI* Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Parma, Viale G.P. Usberti 33A, 43100 Parma, Italy 1)Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Freshwater Biology, Vautierstraat 29, 1000 Brussels, Belgium 2)Formerly Technical Secretariat for Protected Areas, Ministry for Environment, Territory Protection and Sea; present address: Via Sboccatore 3/27, 00069 Trevignano Romano, Roma, Italy *e-mail corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT From August 1981 to July 2007, 200 inland water bodies were sampled to gather information on the Recent ostracod fauna of Friuli Venezia Giulia (NE Italy). A total of 320 samples were collected from surface, interstitial and ground waters. Whenever possible, ostracod identification was performed at species level based on the morphology of both valves and limbs. Seventy-four taxa in 30 genera belonging to 9 different families (Darwinulidae, Candonidae, Ilyocyprididae, Notodromadidae, Cyprididae, Limnocytheridae, Cytheridae, Leptocytheridae and Xestoleberididae) were identified. The maximum number of taxa per site was seven. The most common species was Cypria ophthalmica (133 records), followed by Cyclocypris ovum (86 records), C. laevis (49 records), Cypridopsis vidua (40 records) and Notodromas persica (28 records). Of particular relevance is the occurrence of six species new to Italy: Microdarwinula zimmeri, Penthesilenula brasiliensis, Fabaeformiscandona wegelini, Pseudocandona semicognita, Candonopsis scourfieldi, and C. mediosetosa. Scanning electron microscopy images of valves are provided for most of the described taxa. Geographical distribution of ostracods and their occurrence in relation to environmental variables were examined.
    [Show full text]
  • Heterocypris Incongruens and Notodromas Monacha (Crustacea, Ostracoda)
    www.nature.com/npjmgrav ARTICLE OPEN The influence of gravity and light on locomotion and orientation of Heterocypris incongruens and Notodromas monacha (Crustacea, Ostracoda) Jessica Fischer1,2 and Christian Laforsch1,2 For future manned long-d uration space missions, the supply of essentials, such as food, water, and oxygen with the least possible material resupply from Earth is vital. This need could be satisfied utilizing aquatic bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS), as they facilitate recycling and autochthonous production. However, few organisms can cope with the instable environmental conditions and organic pollution potentially prevailing in such BLSS. Ostracoda, however, occur in eu- and even hypertrophic waters, tolerate organic and chemical waste, varying temperatures, salinity, and pH ranges. Thus, according to their natural role, they can link oxygen liberating, autotrophic algae, and higher trophic levels (e.g., fish) probably also in such harsh BLSS. Yet, little is known about how microgravity (µg) affects Ostracoda. In this regard, we investigated locomotion and orientation, as they are involved in locating mating partners and suitable microhabitats, foraging, and escaping predators. Our study shows that Ostracoda exhibit altered activity patterns and locomotion behavior (looping) in µg. The alterations are differentially marked between the studied species (i.e., 2% looping in Notodromas monacha, ~50% in Heterocypris incongruens) and also the thresholds of gravity perception are distinct, although the reasons for these differences remain speculative. Furthermore, neither species acclimates to µg nor orientates by light in µg. However, Ostracoda are still promising candidates for BLSS due to the low looping rate of N. monacha and our findings that the so far analyzed vital functions and life-history parameters of H.
    [Show full text]
  • Bijdragen Tot De Dierkunde, 52 (2): 103-120 19Ô2
    — Bijdragen tot de Dierkunde, 52 (2): 103-120 19Ô2 The chaetotaxy of Cypridacea (Crustacea, Ostrocoda) limbs: proposals for a descriptive model by Nico W. Broodbakker Institute of Taxonomie Zoology, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 20125, 1000 HC Amsterdam, The Netherlands & Dan L. Danielopol Limnological Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Gaisberg 116, A-5310 Mondsee, Austria Abstract On souligne l’importance des recherches sur le développe- ment dans le but d’établir des homologies au niveau de la The need for better and more of systematic descriptions chétotaxie. the data the struc- chaetotaxy (especially concerning shape, Des exemples de morphologie fonctionnelle des setae sont and of distribution of ture pattern the setae) is emphasized. analysés, et on arrive à la conclusion que la morphologie The historical of studies in developments chaetotaxy are de celles-ci être fonctionnelle de la majeure partie peut mieux reviewed. étude de dont les comprise par l’organe entier setae sont Two of cuticular be basic types processes can recognized: Une seulement une partie constitutive. signification adaptive setae and The former have sensorial and pseudochaetae. n’est le de les setae. pas propre toutes mechanical functions, the latter mechanical only a function. On modèle de la chétotaxie des propose un descriptif A of is special type seta the aesthetasc or the chemosenso- des Ostracodes Cypridacés. Les diverses particularités setae, rial Using the and structure of the setae, receptor. shape ainsi que leur position sur les extrémités, sont codés par most of them can be classified in the following categories: lettres et chiffres, avec utilisation de formules simples.
    [Show full text]
  • Animal Eyes.Pdf
    Animal Eyes Oxford Animal Biology Series Titles E n e r g y f o r A n i m a l L i f e R. McNeill Alexander A n i m a l E y e s M. F. Land, D-E. Nilsson A n i m a l L o c o m o t i o n A n d r e w A . B i e w e n e r A n i m a l A r c h i t e c t u r e Mike Hansell A n i m a l O s m o r e g u l a t i o n Timothy J. Bradley A n i m a l E y e s , S e c o n d E d i t i o n M. F. Land, D-E. Nilsson The Oxford Animal Biology Series publishes attractive supplementary text- books in comparative animal biology for students and professional research- ers in the biological sciences, adopting a lively, integrated approach. The series has two distinguishing features: first, book topics address common themes that transcend taxonomy, and are illustrated with examples from throughout the animal kingdom; and second, chapter contents are chosen to match existing and proposed courses and syllabuses, carefully taking into account the depth of coverage required. Further reading sections, consisting mainly of review articles and books, guide the reader into the more detailed research literature. The Series is international in scope, both in terms of the species used as examples and in the references to scientific work.
    [Show full text]
  • Arthropods: Crustacea – Copepoda and Cladocera
    Glime, J. M. 2017. Arthropods: Crustacea – Copepoda and Cladocera. Chapt. 10-1. In: Glime, J. M. Bryophyte Ecology. Volume 2. 10-1-1 Bryological Interaction. Ebook sponsored by Michigan Technological University and the International Association of Bryologists. Last updated 19 July 2020 and available at <http://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/bryophyte-ecology2/>. CHAPTER 10-1 ARTHROPODS: CRUSTACEA – COPEPODA AND CLADOCERA TABLE OF CONTENTS SUBPHYLUM CRUSTACEA ......................................................................................................................... 10-1-2 Reproduction .............................................................................................................................................. 10-1-3 Dispersal .................................................................................................................................................... 10-1-3 Habitat Fragmentation ................................................................................................................................ 10-1-3 Habitat Importance ..................................................................................................................................... 10-1-3 Terrestrial ............................................................................................................................................ 10-1-3 Peatlands ............................................................................................................................................. 10-1-4 Springs ...............................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Download Download
    J. Limnol., 2018; 77(1): 1-16 REVIEW DOI: 10.4081/jlimnol.2017.1648 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). A review of rice field ostracods (Crustacea) with a checklist of species Robin J. SMITH,1* Dayou ZHAI,2 Sukonthip SAVATENALINTON,3 Takahiro KAMIyA,4 Na yU5 1Lake Biwa Museum, Oroshimo 1091, Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture 525-0001, Japan; 2yunnan Key Laboratory for Palaeobiology, yunnan University, No. 2 Cuihubei Road, Kunming 650091, China; 3Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham 44150, Thailand; 4College of Science and Engineering, School of Natural System, University of Kanazawa, Kakuma, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan; 5Laboratory of Aquaculture Nutrition and Environmental Health (LANEH), School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, No. 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, China *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT Ostracods are very common in rice fields and they can have a significant influence on the rice field ecosystem. They can reach very high densities, often higher than other meiofauna, and their activities can have both positive and negative effects on rice har- vests. They directly affect nutrient recycling through excretion, and indirectly by physically disturbing the soil and releasing min- erals, thus improving rice growth. On the other hand, ostracods grazing on nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria potentially reduce rice yields. Rice is a primary staple food for over half of the world’s population, and therefore ostracods can have a significant impact on human food supply. The origin of the rice field ostracod fauna is poorly known, but manyonly rice field ostracods are considered in- vasive, especially in southern Europe, and from rice fields they have the potential to spread to surrounding natural habitats.
    [Show full text]
  • The Freshwater Ostracod (Crustacea) Genus Notodromas Lilljeborg, 1853 (Noto- Dromadidae) from Japan; Taxonomy, Ecology and Lifestyle
    Zootaxa 3841 (2): 239–256 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2014 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3841.2.4 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FF9AB04E-BEA7-4782-9D69-190C53827EA7 The freshwater ostracod (Crustacea) genus Notodromas Lilljeborg, 1853 (Noto- dromadidae) from Japan; taxonomy, ecology and lifestyle ROBIN J. SMITH1 & TAKAHIRO KAMIYA2 1Lake Biwa Museum, 1091 Oroshimo, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-0001, Japan. email: [email protected] 2College of Science and Engineering, School of Natural System, University of Kanazawa, Kakuma, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan 1Corresponding author Abstract Although Notodromas monacha (O. F. Müller, 1776) was first reported from Japan over 85 years ago, detailed compari- sons between Japanese and European specimens reveal that the Japanese specimens have been misidentified. The Japa- nese specimens are described as a new species, Notodromas trulla n. sp., herein. This species differs from Notodromas monacha by the morphology of the male fifth limbs and sexual organs, and the morphology of the female carapace. Like other Notodromas species, it is at least partially neustonic, spending considerable amounts of time hanging upside down from the water surface, facilitated by an oval concavity on its ventral surface. It is found in rice fields and small, shallow ponds with few or no floating plants and a muddy substrate, and in suitable habitats can be very abundant. However, ev- idence suggests that this conspicuous species has experienced a significant and widespread population decline in Japan; reported as abundant in rice fields, swamps and ponds in the 1940s–70s, this species has been collected from only a small number of localities in recent years.
    [Show full text]
  • 22 a Check.List of the Recent Non-Marine Ostracods (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from the Inland Waters of South America and Adjacent Islands
    a , PI' .. • ISSN 0251 - 2424 MINISTERE DES AFFAIRES CULTURELLES TRAVAUX SCIENTIFIQUES DU MUSEE NATIONAL D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE DE LUXEMBOURG 22 A Check.list of the Recent Non-Marine Ostracods (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from the Inland Waters of South America and Adjacent Islands by Koen MARTENS & Francis BEHEN Luxembourg, 1994 ISSN 0251 - 2424 MINISTERE DES AFFAIRES CULTURELLES TRAVAUX SCIENTIFIQUES DU MUSEE NATIONAL D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE DE LUXEMBOURG 22 A Checklist of the Recent Non-Marine Ostracods (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from the Inland Waters of South America and Adjacent Islands by Koen MARTENS & Francis BEHEN Luxembourg, 1994 A Checklist of the Recent Non-Marine Ostracods (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from the Inland Waters of South America and Adjacent Islands by Koen MARTENS & Francis BEHEN Royal Belgian Institute ofNatural Sciences, Freshwater Biology, Vautierstraat 29, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium. Abstract A checklist of the recent non-marine ostracods of South American .inland waters, based on extant literature, is presented. 260 species in 53 genera are reported in c. 130 papers. About 20% of the genera and c. 85% of the species appear to be endemic to this continent. Five species and one genus are here formally synonymized and 24 species are transferred to another genus. Three new names are proposed for junior homonymes. Especially the fauna of the West Indies and of parts of Brasil appear to be fairly well known. Most parts of South America, however, remain terra incognita with regard to their ostracod fauna and the number of species presently reported constitutes only a fraction of the ostracod diversity that can be expected. On the other hand, various nominal taxa, especially in large genera such as Chlamydotheca and Strandesia s.l., will eventually turn out to be synonyms.
    [Show full text]
  • Freshwater Ostracods As Bioindicators in Arctic Periglacial Regions
    Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung Forschungsstelle Potsdam Arbeitsgruppe ’Periglazialforschung’ Freshwater ostracods as bioindicators in Arctic periglacial regions Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades "doctor rerum naturalium" (Dr. rer. nat.) in der Wissenschaftsdisziplin "Geowissenschaften" eingereicht an der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität Potsdam von Sebastian Wetterich Potsdam, Dezember 2008 Table of contents __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Table of contents Table of contents I Kurzfassung V Abstract VIII Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1.1 Scientific background 1 1.1.1 Arctic environmental dynamics 1 1.1.2 Freshwater ostracods and their use in palaeoenvironmental studies 2 1.1.3 Permafrost and periglacial environment 5 1.2 Aims and approaches 7 1.3 Study region 9 1.3.1 Study sites 9 1.3.2 Geological characteristics 10 1.3.3 Climate 11 1.3.4 Periglacial freshwaters 13 1.4 Synopsis 13 Chapter 2: Arctic freshwater ostracods from modern periglacial environments in the Lena River Delta (Siberian Arctic, Russia): geochemical applications for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions 15 2.1 Abstract 15 2.2 Introduction 15 2.3 Study area and types of water bodies 17 2.4 Materials and methods 19 2.5 Results 22 2.5.1 Physico-chemical characteristics of the ostracod habitats 22 2.5.2 Ostracod taxonomy and environmental ranges of their habitats 24 2.5.3 Ostracod geochemistry 26 2.6 Discussion 28 2.6.1 Taxonomy and ecology of
    [Show full text]
  • Distribution of Recent Ostracods in Inland Waters of Sicily (Southern Italy)
    J. Limnol., 65(1): 1-8, 2006 Distribution of Recent ostracods in inland waters of Sicily (Southern Italy) Valentina PIERI, Koen MARTENS1), Luigi NASELLI-FLORES2), Federico MARRONE2) and Giampaolo ROSSETTI* Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 33A, 43100 Parma, Italy 1)Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Freshwater Biology, Vautierstraat 29, 1000 Brussels, Belgium 2)Department of Botanical Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 38, 90123 Palermo, Italy *e-mail corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT From 2003 to 2005, freshwater ostracods were sampled in 67 water bodies of mainland Sicily (Provinces of Agrigento, Caltanisetta, Catania, Enna, Palermo, Messina, Ragusa, Siracusa and Trapani) located from sea level up to 1300 m a.s.l. This survey took into account streams, springs, wells, but especially temporary and ephemeral habitats (e.g., flooded meadows, temporary ponds). The aim of this research was to give the first comprehensive picture of the regional ostracod fauna and establish relation- ships between the distribution of ostracod species and some habitat features. Altogether, 21 ostracod taxa belonging to five families (Candonidae, Ilyocyprididae, Cyprididae, Notodromadidae, and Limnocytheridae) were identified. A maximum of four species was found in a single sample. The most frequent species was Heterocypris incongruens, followed by Eucypris virens. The following ten taxa have been found only once: Candona lindneri, Ilyocypris decipiens, Notodromas persica, Trajancypris clavata, Herpetocypris brevicaudata, Heterocypris salina, Cypridopsis cf. elongata, Cypridopsis vidua, Potamocypris cf. villosa, and Limnocythere inopinata. The faunal assemblage of Sicily is compared with the known ostracod distribution in some Mediterranean areas. Key words: Sicily, freshwater ostracods, taxonomy, distribution, biogeography 1.
    [Show full text]