Diversity and updated checklist of limno-terrestrial tardigrade species in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Abstract

Introduction. Quintana Roo is the only state in the Yucatán Peninsula where the limno-terrestrial tardigrade fauna has been documented; however, the records have been limited to generic reports. Objective. To provide an updated checklist of limno-terrestrial tardigrades for Quintana Roo and to explore the spatiotemporal variation of these animals in two rural environments. Materials and methods. A taxonomic review was conducted on tardigrades collected between 2016 and 2018. Moreover, during two sampling campaigns in 2018, specimens were collected from the moss Aulacopilum sp. and the lichen Parmotrema sp. in a citrus plantation and an evergreen forest fragment. Data were compared using the student’s t test (P < 0.05). Results and discussion. Kristenseniscus kofordi, Milnesium sp. 1, Milnesium cf. cassandrae, Macrobiotus alvaroi, Macrobiotus cf. polyopus, Macrobiotus cf. ocotensis, Macrobiotus sp. 1, Macrobiotus cf. semmelweisi, Minibiotus cf. intermedius, Paramacrobiotus cf. savai, Mesobiotus cf. pseudopatiens and Ramazzottius cf. baumanni were recorded. The addition of these taxa, along with previous records of Echiniscus sp. and Doryphoribius chetumalensis, increases the number of limno-terrestrial tardigrade species in Quintana Roo to 14, also the coastal mangrove forest is added to the list of environments in the entity. The highest species richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity were observed in the citrus plantation. Conclusions. The updated checklist of limno-terrestrial tardigrades in Quintana Roo comprises 14 species. Diversity was higher in the citrus plantation, suggesting that tardigrades adapt well to anthropogenic environments.