Biodiversity of marine tardigrades from the northern coast of Portugal (Iberian Peninsula)

Abstract

Information about marine tardigrades in the Iberian Peninsula is very scarce. To improve our knowledge of this group, a sampling programme was started in 2010. The main coastal marine habitats of northern Portugal were explored. Eighteen species were found. Four species are new to science (the previously described Prostygarctus aculeatus Rubal, Veiga, Fontoura & Sousa-Pinto, 2013 and three species of the genus Batillipes), and another four species of the genera Batillipes, Echiniscoides, Halechiniscus and Wingstrandarctus are potentially new species. Moreover, six species (Stygarctus bradypus Schulz, 1951; Halechiniscus greveni Renaud-Mornant & Deroux, 1976; Styraconyx haploceros Thulin, 1942; Styraconyx sardiniae D'Addabbo Gallo, Morone De Lucia & de Zio Grimaldi, 1989; Anisonyches diakidius Pollock, 1975; and Batillipes tubernatis Pollock, 1971) were recorded in the Iberian Peninsula for the first time. Two species (A. diakidius and S. sardiniae) were recorded for the Atlantic Ocean for the first time and the distribution range of S. haploceros and B. tubernatis was extended to the south. The results showed the importance of collecting information from poorly studied regions to achieve a better understanding of the biogeography of marine tardigrades. Finally, intertidal rocky shores were shown to be more diverse than other habitats, probably due to the great habitat heterogeneity.

Batillipes (Tardigrada, Arthrotardigrada) from the Portuguese coast with the description of two new species and a new dichotomous key for all species

“…Therefore, these results suggest that the Portuguese coast is the occidental boundary for some Mediterranean tardigrade species. Additionally, Rubal et al (2016) also reported a new southern limit of B. tubernatis and S. haploceros Thulin, 1942 at the Portuguese coast. These boundary patterns suggested by the genera Batillipes and Styraconyx (i.e., southern limit for boreal and northern limit for warmer water species) is in agreement with observations on other marine groups such as macroalgae (Ardré 1971) or gastropods (Rubal et al 2013a).…”

“…In addition, this study confirms the particular biogeographical position of the Portuguese coast which is supported by the first record outside the Mediterranean Sea of B. adriaticus. Similarly, Rubal et al (2016) reported the first occurrence out of the Mediterranean Sea of Styraconyx sardiniae Group A D'Addabbo gallo, Morone De Lucia & de Zio grimaldi, 1989. Therefore, these results suggest that the Portuguese coast is the occidental boundary for some Mediterranean tardigrade species.…”

“…nov. Therefore, as suggested by Rubal et al (2016Rubal et al ( , 2017, the presence of B. similis on the Portuguese coast cannot be assumed.…”

“…A common, worldwide distributed intertidal species that can occur in subtidal zones (for a more detailed geographic distribution see Kaczmarek et al 2015). Batillipes pennaki was already known for Portugal, but up till now, only recorded in the northern region (Rubal et al 2016) both on sandy beaches as well as on rocky shores.…”

“…Bartels, Warren Wilson College, uSA) was used for the same purpose. Finally, specimens of B. tubernatis, B. minius and misidentified B. similis (Rubal et al 2016) from Portugal as well as Batillipes sp. 1 (Veiga et al 2009) from galicia (NW Spain) from the collection of the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, university of Porto were also examined.…”