Data on taxa composition of freshwater zooplankton and meiobenthos across Arctic regions of Russia

Abstract

We present the presence/absence species list (Table 1) of rotifer, cladoceran, and copepod (Calanoida, Harpacticoida, and Cyclopoida) fauna from seven Arctic regions of Russia (the Kola Peninsula, the Pechora River Delta, the Bolshezemelskaya tundra, the Polar Ural, the Putorana Plateau, the Lena River Delta, and the Indigirka River Basin) based on our own and literature data. Our own records were obtained by analyzing samples of zooplankton, meiobenthos, and two cores of bottom sediments (from the Kola Peninsula and the Bolshezemelskaya tundra lakes) that we collected once in July or August in 1992, 1995–2017. To supplement the list, we used relevant literature with periods of research from the 1960s to the 2010s. The list is almost identical to “Dataset 2: Zooplankton and Meiofauna across Arctic Regions of Russia”, which was analyzed but not published in [1] . The detailed analysis of this list revealed the specific composition of the aquatic fauna associated with the climatic and geographical factors [1] . The data provide information on the current state of biodiversity and species richness in Arctic fresh waters and can serve as the basis for monitoring these environments and predicting how they are likely to change in the future.

Assemblages of Meiobenthic and Planktonic Microcrustaceans (Cladocera and Copepoda) from Small Water Bodies of Mountain Subarctic (Putorana Plateau, Middle Siberia)

“…The list of microcrustacean fauna of the Putorana Plateau, compiled based on the original and literature data, includes 62 species of Cladocera and 63 species of Copepoda. Such species richness is comparable to well-studied Arctic regions such as the Bolshezemelskaya tundra (55 Cladocera and 62 Copepoda) [18], the Lena Delta (37 and 82) [35,44] and the Yamal peninsula (42 and 50) [38]. The remaining known fauna of microcrustaceans of the north Eurasia, both the Far East and Siberia, and the East European Plain, trailing on average 1.5-3 times the Putorana Plateau [33].…”

“…Two species of the order Calanoida from the genera Acanthodiaptomus and Mixodiaptomus (family Diaptomidae) were new for science. Thus, considering new findings, the performed studies expanded the data on the microcrustacean fauna of the Putorana Plateau up to 125 species, by 22% of the previously known list of fauna [18].…”

“…The compiled species lists from the existing database on microcrustaceans [33] were used in the analysis of biogeographical status of fauna of the Putorana Plateau. Additionally, published data on Cladocera and Copepoda species richness throughout Polar zone of the Kola Peninsula, Far East, West, Middle and East Siberia [17,18,[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] and other were used in the compilation of microcrustacean distribution ranges database. Some parts of relatively old articles cited in a general review by Fefilova et al [18] are not separately presented in the reference list.…”

“…Additionally, published data on Cladocera and Copepoda species richness throughout Polar zone of the Kola Peninsula, Far East, West, Middle and East Siberia [17,18,[34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41] and other were used in the compilation of microcrustacean distribution ranges database. Some parts of relatively old articles cited in a general review by Fefilova et al [18] are not separately presented in the reference list. Comparison of species lists from different regions was the basis of the biogeographical analysis.…”

“…Data on the potential southern invasive species has been obtained, and it is assumed that in the event of a warming climate in the region, the species richness and abundance of Cladocera will increase [16]. Based on the summarized results of all publications, list of 102 taxa of Cladocera and Copepoda of the Putorana Plateau were compiled [18,19].…”