Desiccation risk favours prevalence and diversity of tardigrade communities and influences their trophic structure in alpine ephemeral rock pools

Abstract

Rock pools are ephemeral freshwater habitats characterized by their small size, well-defined boundaries, and periodic desiccation, making them ideal model systems to answer numerous ecological questions. Although there are numerous studies on rock pool fauna around the world, tardigrades have only rarely been recorded. We conducted the first tardigrade-focused study on rock pools by quantitatively extracting and classifying them from rock pools in the Italian Apennines. Rock pools were divided into three types, based on maximum duration of their inundation period. Following the patterns usually observed with rock pool invertebrates, we tested the hypothesis that desiccation has a negative effect on prevalence, abundance, and diversity of tardigrades, and thus could alter the trophic structure of their communities. In contrast to what is commonly found for other animal groups in the same type of habitat, we found that tardigrades were more diverse and prevalent in shallower, more desiccation prone, rock pools. Moreover, the trophic structure of tardigrade communities was different among the different pool types. Lastly, we also provide DNA barcodes of the most commonly found taxa. Ultimately, our study demonstrates that tardigrade communities in rock pools provide a valuable model system for the study of abiotic factors influencing meiofauna communities.

A first look into moss living tardigrades in boreal peatlands

“…It has been commonly noted that even though terrestrial tardigrades require a film of water to stay active, the highest population densities and species richness are typically found in habitats with alternate periods of wet and dry conditions (Nelson et al., 2015 ). Similar patterns have also been found in studies on tardigrades in rock pools: higher tardigrade population density (Jocqué et al., 2007 ) and more diverse communities (Vecchi et al., 2022 ) have been found in rockpools that have shorter wet periods and are in risk of periodic desiccation. Experimentally increased hydration has also been found to have species‐specific responses on tardigrade population densities in mosses growing on rocks, including a negative impact on predator taxa (Jönsson, 2007 ).…”

Integrative Redescription of the Minibiotus intermedius (Plate, 1888)—The Type Species of the Genus Minibiotus R.O. Schuster, 1980

“…(a) COI: 21.3-28.4% (23.7% on average), with the most similar being M. gumersindoi (FJ435803 [14]), M. furcatus (JX683828-29 [65]), and Minibiotus sp. (MW306857 [66]), and the least similar being M. ioculator (MT023412 [10]); (b) 18S rRNA: 0.4-1.0% (0.9% on average), with the most similar being M. gumersindoi (FJ435748 [15]), and the least similar being Minibiotus sp. (EU266934 [47]); (c) 28S rRNA: 4.8-13.7% (9.4% on average), with the most similar being M. gumersindoi (FJ435761 [15]), and the least similar being M. pentannulatus (MT024043 [10]).…”

How long can tardigrades survive in the anhydrobiotic state? A search for tardigrade anhydrobiosis patterns

“…This adaptation strategy is important for mosses, lichens, liverworts in habitats characterized by irregular water availability, such as soil, temporary ponds or puddles, cryoconite holes or tree holes [e.g. 11 – 14 ]. In multicellular organisms, anhydrobiosis may occur at particular stages of development, but it is rarely observed in adulthood [e.g.…”