Anchialine fauna of the Corona lava tube (Lanzarote, Canary Islands): diversity, endemism and distribution

Abstract

A checklist of 77 taxa recorded from the anchialine sections of the Corona lava tube is provided, including information on habitats, faunal distribution within the cave, and main references. Of the nine major groups recorded, Crustacea shows the highest diversity with 31 species and the highest degree of endemism (90.0%). Twenty-five species of Annelida are reported, 16 of which also occur in offshore waters (36.0% endemic). Except for two species, all annelids are benthic or interstitial species, whereas most of the crustaceans are either nektonic or epibenthic. Additionally, 13 species of Mollusca, 2 Nematoda, 2 Cnidaria, and 1 species each of Priapula, Ctenophora, Echinodermata and Echiura, are known from the lava tube, of which only 1 mollusc is endemic to this cave system.

How is the anchialine fauna distributed within a cave? A study of the Ox Bel Ha System, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

“…While several studies have explored the distribution of anchialine fauna at a regional scale (Kornicker andIliffe 1998, Alvarez andIliffe 2008) and others have described the bathymetric distribution of the fauna and the microbial communities (Humphreys 1999, Gonzalez et al 2011, few studies have looked at the within cave or cave system distribution. A first example is the study by Martínez-García et al (2009) who described the diversity and distribution of anchialine fauna in the Corona lava tube in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, recognizing three main sections with different habitats and a consequent zonation of species. A second example is the study by Calderón-Gutiérrez et al (2018) who described how density of organisms and species richness varied in four different anchialine caves in Cozumel Island, Quintana Roo, Mexico.…”

Anophthalmia and elongation of body appendages in cave scale worms (Annelida: Aphroditiformia)

“…Time and again, annelids have shown to be extremely successful in colonizing caves, with most recent discoveries showcasing their adaptive abilities in surviving even amidst sulphidic springs (Fend et al., ). In some cave systems, annelids represent the second most diverse group after crustaceans (arthropods; Martínez García, Palmero, Brito, Núñez, & Worsaae, ; Worsaae, Martínez, & Núñez, ). Like arthropods, not all annelids inhabiting caves show strong changes in morphology; however, several stygobiont species have contrasting morphologies compared to non‐cave species, suggested to represent troglomorphic characters (Martínez et al., , ; Worsaae et al., ).…”

Recently discovered landlocked basins in Indonesia reveal high habitat diversity in anchialine systems

“…The marine character of these systems is maintained by subterranean tunnels, fissures, cracks, or small dissolution channels in the surrounding rock, connecting the lakes to the adjacent sea. This environment has set the stage for small, isolated, rapidly evolving populations, and endemic (sub)species (Tomascik & Mah, 1994;Dawson & Hamner, 2005;Martínez García et al, 2009). Many rare and novel genera and species across a large spectrum of taxa have been found in anchialine systems (Holthuis, 1973;Maciolek, 1983;Tomascik & Mah, 1994;Kott, 1995;Fransen & Tomascik, 1996;Massin & Tomascik, 1996).…”

“…Brock & Kam (1997) subsequently provided a working definition for anchialine pools as ''pools isolated from other bodies of water at the highest tides.'' Since the 1970s, there has been heightened interest in anchialine systems, particularly anchialine caves-systems mostly covered by land with restricted exposure to open air (e.g., Iliffe, 1991;Iliffe, 2000;Humphreys & Eberhard, 2001;Jaume et al, 2009;Martínez García et al, 2009). As a result, the anchialine cave system has been comprehensively defined (Sket, 1996;Iliffe, 2000).…”