Zoogeography of Chilean inland water crustaceans

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The Chilean inland water crustaceans are characterized by a combination of endemic and cosmopolitan species: some occur throughout the territory of continental Chile, while others are restricted to specific latitudinal regions. This study examined the zoogeographical patterns exhibited by Chilean inland water crustaceans. We considered six regions: Northern Chile (18º-27°S), North-Central Chile (27º-30°S), Central Chile (30º-38°S), Northern Patagonia (38°-41°S), Central Patagonia (41º-51°S), and Southern Patagonia (51º-55°S), and these were identified based on literature records of inland water crustaceans. The classification analysis generated dendrograms for the following groups considered in this categories: all inland water crustaceans (Branchiopoda, Copepoda and Malacostraca), the zooplanktonic crustaceans (Branchiopoda and Copepoda), the Malacostraca alone, and each group separately. Analysis of total data and of the zooplankton group taxa alone revealed the existence of a main grouping consisting of the three Patagonian zones plus Central Chile, that is distinct from that of Northern Chile and North-Central Chile. Similarly, analysis of the malacostracan data revealed the existence of two main groups, one comprising the three Patagonian zones plus Central Chile, contrasted with a second group of Northern and North-Central Chile combined. Our results are in agreement with other panbiogeographical studies of South American crustaceans and insects. Possible factors responsible for generating this pattern are the dispersal and colonization potential of zooplanktonic crustaceans and the marked endemism of the malacostracans.

Invertebrates inhabiting temporary ponds found in the Tambo-Puquíos wet pasture (Andes of north-central Chile), and the physicochemical characteristics of their habitat

“…Inland waters of north-central Chile appear to have low microcrustacean richness (De los Ríos-Escalante et al, 2013). Our study ponds and the small streams of the area repeat this pattern (Alvial et al, 2014 et al (2006) from saline lakes of the Argentinean Pampa.…”

“…In our case, the high content of sulfate in the study ponds can be explained by the abundance of native sulfur in the area and the active hydrothermal mineralization (Oyarzún et al, 2004). Chile currently lacks taxonomic expertise for most of the groups of invertebrates inhabiting the Andean waters, and taxonomic resolution of the studies is frequently low (Villalobos, 2006;De los Ríos-Escalante et al, 2013;Alvial et al, 2014). The present study faced this problem as well.…”

“…Counting was conducted using both a Bogorov-open chamber and a reticular grid. Taxonomic identification was made following Villalobos (2006) and De los Ríos-Escalante et al (2013). In all cases, density is expressed as individuals per liter (ind L -1 ).…”

Caracterización de la composición y fluctuaciones en la densidad y diversidad de los ensambles planctónicos en cuatro humedales de Tarapacá

“…Durante los meses del invierno austral, la humedad atmosférica es particularmente baja, pero durante los meses del verano se caracteriza por manifestar un régimen pluvial de carácter torrencial, concentrado en cortos períodos de tiempo (Aceituno 1997), con efectos directos sobre los ecosistemas a menor altitud, producto de los escurrimientos superficiales y la recarga de los acuíferos (Peña et al, 1989). En este contexto climático de estepa altoandina (Gajardo 1994), paisaje semi-arido y biológicamente uniforme, se destaca la presencia de humedales asociados a salares y depósitos salinos (Niemeyer & Cereceda, 1984;De los Ríos-Escalante, 2010; De los Ríos-Escalante et al, 2013). Éstos están formados en cuencas cerradas donde la evaporación potencial siempre es superior a la recarga freática, por lluvias o por derretimiento de nieves (Keller & Soto 1998), como espacios que albergan ecosistemas complejos y variados.…”

A checklist of subterranean water crustaceans from Chile (South America)

“…Chile has a marked latitudinal gradient ( Fig.1) with various water bodies (Niemeyer & Cereceda 1984, De los Ríos-Escalante et al 2013) such as saline lakes and ephemeral rivers in the north (18-278 S), rivers originating from rains and summer thaws and reservoirs in the central regions (27-398 S), rivers from lake effluents and deep lakes with rivers in southern central Patagonia (39-518 S), and rivers originating from rains and summer thaws and shallow permanent or ephemeral lagoons in southern Patagonia (51-558 S). However, there are few studies about the Chilean subterranean waters and most of these studies are focused on the hydrological processes and physico-chemical parameters with the objective of providing freshwater resources for the population (Arumí & Oyarzún 2006, Arumí et al 2012.…”