Characterizing ecoregions in Argentinian Patagonia using extant continental ostracods

GABRIELA C. CUSMINSKY; CORINA A. COVIAGA; LORENA Y. RAMOS; A. PATRICIA PÉREZ; ANTJE SCHWALB; VERA MARKGRAF; DANIEL ARIZTEGUI ; FINN VIEHBERG; MARTA ALPERIN

ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS.

ACAD BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS

Lugar: Rio de Janeiro; Año: 2020 vol. 92 p. 1 - 23

0001-3765

In order to characterize Patagonian (Argentina) ecoregions using non-marine ostracods, their associations in 69 environments were assessed. Twenty eight taxa were recorded, 12 endemic of Neotropical region. Our results indicate that Patagonian ostracods are influenced by host waters features, mainly EC, altitude, pH, and temperature; and shows a correlation with Argentinian ecoregions. Assemblage A, was composed by sites located at high altitude in the Andean Patagonian forest ecoregion, with waters of low temperature, EC and pH, and Cypris pubera, Eucypris virens, Bradleystrandesia fuscata, Tonacypris lutaria and Amphicypris nobilis as representative species. Assemblage B, related to environments in the Patagonian Steppe ecoregion, placed at moderate altitude with waters of moderate to high EC, and alkaline pH values; was dominated by Limnocythere rionegroensis, L. patagonica, E. virgata, Riocypris whatleyi, R. sarsi, Newnhamia patagonica, Kapcypridopsis megapodus, Ilyocypris ramirezi and Penthesinelula incae. Assemblage C inhabited environments within Monte and Espinal ecoregions, situated in the eastern of the study area at low altitude, with temperate waters, and Heterocypris hyalinus, A. argentinensis, Sarscypridopsis aculeata, Cypridopsis vidua, Herpetocypris intermedia and Chlamidotheca incisa as typical fauna. Our results indicates that Argentinian Patagonia host a diverse ostracod fauna and highlights their capacity as proxies in ecological and palaeoenvironmental studies.