Overview of Neotropical-Caribbean freshwater ostracode fauna (Crustacea, Ostracoda): identifying areas of endemism and assessing biogeographical affinities

Abstract

Freshwater ostracodes from the Neotropical-Caribbean region are potentially excellent tools for evolutionary and paleoenvironmental studies but their use is limited, because integrated data in taxonomy, environmental, and geographical preferences of the species at large scale remain unknown. A total of 118 species were recorded in the Neotropical-Caribbean region based on existing literature and results from fieldwork. About 74% of the species are restricted to the region and most of them show limited distributional areas as a consequence of environmental heterogeneity. Based on Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity, five areas of endemism were identified:(1) southern Florida, (2) southern Mexico-northern Central America, (3) Cuba, (4) Lesser Antilles, and (5) northern Venezuela-Aruba-Curacao-Trinidad. The conservation status of these areas was revised and lake ecosystems with endemic taxa were proposed to be included in environmental protection initiatives. Biogeographical analysis showed a strong differentiation between the ostracode faunas of the Neotropical-Caribbean region and the Neotropical-Neogen region. Few exchanges of species were attributed to ecological and geographical barriers such as volcanism and irregular orography. Faunal affinities within the Neotropical-Caribbean region indicated closer relationship between southern Mexico, southern Florida and the Antilles suggesting a common biogeographical history. Middle Central America and Chiapas-Guatemala highlands were discriminated as isolated regions.

Influence of late Quaternary climate on the biogeography of Neotropical aquatic species as reflected by non-marine ostracodes

“…Dissected appendages were mounted in Hydromatrix® mounting media. Taxonomic identification followed Karanovic, (2012) and Cohuo et al (2016). Four ostracode species were selected for this study: Cypria petenensis Ferguson et al, 1964, Paracythereis opesta (Brehm, 1939, representing taxa endemic to the northern Neotropical region (Cohuo et al, 2016) (Fig.…”

“…Taxonomic identification followed Karanovic, (2012) and Cohuo et al (2016). Four ostracode species were selected for this study: Cypria petenensis Ferguson et al, 1964, Paracythereis opesta (Brehm, 1939, representing taxa endemic to the northern Neotropical region (Cohuo et al, 2016) (Fig. 1A, B), and Daday, 1905 andDarwinula stevensoni (Brady &Robertson, 1870), which are widely distributed (non-endemic) on the American continent (Fig.…”

“…Ostracodes were selected because they possess one of the best fossil records in the region since the Late Quaternary (Pérez et al, 2011(Pérez et al, , 2013 and have demonstrated to be sensitive to climatic variation (at modern and past). Given their intermediate role on trophic chains (Valtierra-Vega and Schmitter-Soto, 2000;Bergmann and Motta, 2005;Cohuo et al, 2016), changes in their abundances and assemblage composition can also reflect changes in primary production and higher trophic levels.…”

Tropical freshwater ostracodes as environmental indicators across an altitude gradient in Guatemala and Mexico

“…Carapaces with well-preserved soft parts were stored in Eppendorf vials with 95 % ethanol and then dissected and mounted following methods described by Danielpol et al (2002). Ostracode species were identified using Pérez et al (2010Pérez et al ( , 2012 and Cohuo et al (2016) descriptions and literature elsewhere. Here we used the most current species names suggested by Cohuo et al (2016): Cypria petenensis (Ferguson et al, 1964) Water chemistry: Concentrations of major cations (Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , K + ) and anions (HCO 3 -, SO 4 -2 , Cl -) were determined in all collected water samples, following standard procedures (APHA, 1995(APHA, , 1998(APHA, , 2005Armienta et al, 2008).…”

“…In spite of the name of National Parks and RAMSAR sites, the limnological characteristics of the lakes are rare and poorly known (Alcocer et al, 2016), as well as ecological and biogeographical studies (Cohuo, Macario-Gónzalez, Pérez, & Schwalb, 2016). Although such information is needed to develop reliable paleoecological and paleoclimatic reconstructions for the region (Pérez et al, 2012(Pérez et al, , 2013Cohuo et al, 2016;. Lakes of El Petén in Northern Guatemala have been previously studied probably because of their abundance, size, proximity to tourist attractions like Maya archaeological sites, and more recently, their relatively easy access (Brezonik & Fox, 1974;Deevey, Brenner, Flannery, & Yezdani, 1980;Basterrechea, 1988;Correa-Metrio et al, 2012;Pérez et al, 2013).…”