A1 Journal article (refereed)
Desiccation risk favours prevalence and diversity of tardigrade communities and influences their trophic structure in alpine ephemeral rock pools (2022)

Vecchi, M., Ferrari, C., Stec, D., & Calhim, S. (2022). Desiccation risk favours prevalence and diversity of tardigrade communities and influences their trophic structure in alpine ephemeral rock pools. Hydrobiologia, 849(9), 1995-2007. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-022-04820-0

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Vecchi, Matteo; Ferrari, Claudio; Stec, Daniel; Calhim, Sara

Journal or series: Hydrobiologia

ISSN: 0018-8158

eISSN: 1573-5117

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 01/03/2022

Volume: 849

Issue number: 9

Pages range: 1995-2007

Publisher: Springer

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-022-04820-0

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/80165

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.

Keywords: Tardigrada; biotic communities; diversity; pools (small water systems); dehydration; DNA barcodes

Free keywords: Tardigrada; rock pools; desiccation; DNA barcoding; community ecology; meiofauna

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1