Freshwater Copepoda (Crustacea) from the Chihuahuan Desert with Comments on Biogeography

The zooplankton fauna of freshwater systems of the Chihuahuan Desert was surveyed 2005–2008. Samples were obtained from habitats including natural lakes, ephemeral waters, springs, and reservoirs. Copepods were sorted and identified to species. Including previous surveys, a total of 38 species occur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Southwestern naturalist 2010-12, Vol.55 (4), p.525-531
Main Authors: Suárez-Morales, Eduardo, Gutiérrez-Aguirre, Martha A, Walsh, Elizabeth J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic habitats
Biodiversity conservation
Biogeography
Biological taxonomies
Copepoda
Copepods
Cyclopinae
Deserts
Diaptomidae
Endemic species
Eucyclopinae
Fauna
Feature s
Fresh water
Identification and classification
Plankton
Taxonomy
Temoridae
Zoology
Zooplankton
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Summary:The zooplankton fauna of freshwater systems of the Chihuahuan Desert was surveyed 2005–2008. Samples were obtained from habitats including natural lakes, ephemeral waters, springs, and reservoirs. Copepods were sorted and identified to species. Including previous surveys, a total of 38 species occur in the Chihuahuan Desert, the checklist includes 6 calanoids (1 Temoridae, 5 Diaptomidae), 24 cyclopoids (12 Eucyclopinae, 12 Cyclopinae), and 8 harpacticoids. These species were assigned to different biogeographic categories (i.e., cosmopolitan, Nearctic, Neotropical, potential endemics). Results indicated that the Chihuahuan Desert, a transitional biogeographic region in Mexico with both Nearctic and Neotropical influences, represents an interesting geographic and environmental realm characterized by a balanced mixture of elements from different origins and affinities. There is a relatively high proportion (23%) of species that probably are endemic.
ISSN:0038-4909
1943-6262
DOI:10.1894/JC-35.1