An inverse latitudinal biodiversity pattern in asellote isopods (Crustacea, Peracarida) from the Southwest Atlantic between 35° and 56°S

DOTI, B.L.; ROCCATAGLIATA, D; LÓPEZ GAPPA, J.

Marine Biodiversity

Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Lugar: Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung; Año: 2014 vol. 44 p. 115 - 125

1867-1616

Abstract A distinct trend of decreasing biodiversity from thetropics to the poles is well-known for terrestrial organisms.This pattern, however, is less clear in marine systems. In thepresent study, an inverse latitudinal biodiversity pattern isreported for the asellote isopods from Argentina. Speciesrichness is shown to be about six times higher in the BeagleChannel and southern Patagonia, i.e., south of 47°S, thannorth of this latitude. This high species richness of Asellotasouth of 47°S seems to be related with the predominance ofgravelly bottoms in the southern Patagonian shelf and alsowith the tectonic history of the southern tip of South America.Inverse latitudinal gradients had been reported previously forechinoderms, bryozoans, sponges, amphipods and macroalgaefrom the southern Southwest Atlantic. Based on unpublishednew records and information gathered from the literature,a database summarizing the distribution ranges of theAsellota along the coast of Argentina was compiled. A total of108 species was recorded and the distribution records of thisfauna were increased by 36.15 % (260 and 354 before andafter our surveys, respectively).