Diatoms define a novel freshwater biogeography of the Antarctic

Terrestrial biota in the Antarctic are more globally distinct and highly structured biogeographically than previously believed, but information on biogeographic patterns and endemism in freshwater communities is largely lacking. We studied biogeographic patterns of Antarctic freshwater diatoms based...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecography (Copenhagen) 2021-04, Vol.44 (4), p.548-560
Main Authors: Verleyen, Elie, Van de Vijver, Bart, Tytgat, Bjorn, Pinseel, Eveline, Hodgson, Dominic A., Kopalová, Kateřina, Chown, Steven L., Van Ranst, Eric, Imura, Satoshi, Kudoh, Sakae, Van Nieuwenhuyze, Wim, Sabbe, Koen, Vyverman, Wim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antarctica
Bacillariophyceae
Biogeography
Biota
diatoms
Dispersal
Endemic species
Endemism
Fresh water
freshwater
lake
Lakes
Marine microorganisms
Polar environments
Terrestrial environments
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Summary:Terrestrial biota in the Antarctic are more globally distinct and highly structured biogeographically than previously believed, but information on biogeographic patterns and endemism in freshwater communities is largely lacking. We studied biogeographic patterns of Antarctic freshwater diatoms based on the analysis of species occurrences in a dataset of 439 lakes spread across the Antarctic realm. Highly distinct diatom floras, both in terms of composition and richness, characterize Continental Antarctica, Maritime Antarctica and the sub‐Antarctic islands, with marked biogeographic provincialism in each region. A total of 44% of all species is estimated to be endemic to the Antarctic, and most of them are confined to a single biogeographic region. The level of endemism significantly increases with increasing latitude and geographic isolation. Our results have implications for conservation planning, and suggest that successful dispersal of freshwater diatoms to and within the Antarctic is limited, fostering the evolution of highly endemic diatom floras.
ISSN:0906-7590
1600-0587
DOI:10.1111/ecog.05374