The diaptomid fauna of Israel (Copepoda, Calanoida, Diaptomidae), with notes on the systematics of Arctodiaptomus similis (Baird, 1859) and Arctodiaptomus irregularis Dimentman & Por, 1985 stat. rev

Abstract

Background: To date, only scarce information is available about the diaptomid copepods of the Middle East despite the ecological and biogeographical importance of the family Diaptomidae in the inland waters of the Holarctic region. Moreover, the taxonomic status of some of the taxa occurring in the area is in need of revision. We studied crustaceans collected from temporary and permanent lentic water bodies in Israel with the aim of providing an updated census of the diaptomid copepods occurring in the country. Furthermore, we morphologically and genetically analysed samples of Arctodiaptomus similis s.l. to shed light on its taxonomy. Results: Five diaptomid taxa were collected during this survey. Among these, Phyllodiaptomus blanci is new for the country and the whole circum-Mediterranean area and might be an allochthonous species of eastern origin. Within the collected samples, we singled out two parapatric groups of populations within A. similis s.l.; these consistently differ both based on morphology (chaetotaxy of the left male antennule) and molecular data (divergence over 17% at the mitochondrial gene for the cytochrome b). We thus attribute the full species rank to Arctodiaptomus irregularis Dimentman & Por, 1985 stat. rev., originally described as a subspecies of the widespread species Arctodiaptomus similis (Baird, 1859). Conclusions:We critically evaluated all species hitherto reported for Israeli inland waters. Considering both the confirmed literature data and the new findings, Israeli diaptomid fauna is composed of at least seven species. However, the need for further surveys in the Middle East and for detailed systematic revisions of some controversial taxa is stressed. Our results on the systematics of A. similis s.l. illustrate the importance of implementing molecular analyses when investigating diversity patterns of groups which are difficult to resolve based on morphology alone.

An annotated checklist and bibliography of the Diaptomidae (Copepoda, Calanoida) of Italy, Corsica, and the Maltese islands

“…2). In addition to the species listed below, Kiefer (1978) and Dussart and Defaye (2002) reported the presence of Arctodiaptomus similis (Baird, 1859) in Sardinia, although no other data were provided by these authors to substantiate the record of this species, which occurs in eastern Europe and the Middle East (Marrone et al, 2014). A review of the correspondence between late prof. E. Stella and prof. F. Kiefer (now deposited in F. Stoch library) led to the finding of an explicit mention of a single female Arctodiaptomus specimen from Sardinia whose morphology and chaetotaxy were compatible with A. similis (File S3).…”

“…In fact, the Sicilian populations ascribed to this taxon belong to a putative new species, currently pending a formal description (Marrone et al, 2009;. Other references: Marrone et al, 2013Marrone et al, , 2014Marrone et al, , 2019 Arctodiaptomus (Arctodiaptomus) wierzejskii (Richard, 1888). (WAL), CAP, APU, SAR, COR, SIC.…”

“…Its only record in NAP is the lake Giacopiane (Giussani et al, 1986). Other references: Jersabek et al, 2001;Angeli et al, 2002;Manca and Armiraglio, 2002;Marchetto et al, 2004;Tolotti et al, 2006;Tiberti, 2011;Tiberti and Barbieri, 2011;Iacobuzio and Tiberti, 2011;Magnea et al, 2013;Tiberti and Iacobuzio, 2013;Tiberti et al, , 2014aTiberti et al, , 2014bTiberti et al, , 2016Tiberti et al, , 2019Tiberti et al, , 2020aTiberti et al, , 2020bMarrone et al, 2014Marrone et al, , 2017Belmonte, 2018. Arctodiaptomus (Rhabdodiaptomus) salinus (Daday, 1885). APU, SIC, SAR.…”

Phyllodiaptomus (Phyllodiaptomus) roietensis, a new diaptomid copepod (Copepoda, Calanoida) from temporary waters in Thailand and Cambodia, with a key to the species

“…To date, the genus Phyllodiaptomus has been recorded in Asia, including south China, Turkey, Israel, Uzbekistan, Iran, Iraq, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Philippines and Cambodia (Dumont and Ranga Reddy 1993;Dumont et al 1996;Sanoamuang 1999;Sanoamuang and Yindee 2001;Sanoamuang and Teeramaethee 2006;Khalaf 2008;Alekseev et al 2013Alekseev et al , 2016Marrone et al 2014;Bekleyen et al 2017;Guinto et al 2018;Sanoamuang and Watiroyram 2018). Most species are considered endemic to specific countries.…”

The freshwater diaptomid copepod fauna (Crustacea: Copepoda: Diaptomidae) of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra with notes on distribution, species richness and ecology

“…Use of molecular tools for taxonomy might reveal cryptic diversity, especially in case of widespread species like P. blanci, (see Dussart and Defaye, 2002;Marrone et al, 2014), as reported for other taxa (Korn et al, 2013 -Notostraca;Marrone et al, 2010, 2013Schwentner et al, 2013 -Cyclestherida). These findings in relatively large and well-studied Crustacea highlight the potential of discovery of unknown diversity in other groups as well.…”