A new species of subterranean amphipod (Amphipoda: Gammaridae: Crangonyctidae) from Florida, with a genetic analysis of associated microbial mats

Abstract

Crangonyx sulphuriumn. sp., a new species of stygobitic amphipod, is described from three springs in central Florida, U.S.A. The description of the new species brings the number of described stygobitic species of Crangonyx found in the Floridan aquifer to three. The specimens were collected in the spring basins of Wekiwa and Volusia springs and De Leon Springs Cave. Specimens from De Leon Springs Cave were found swimming in and around white microbial mats characteristic of sulfur oxidizing bacteria. Next generation sequencing of microbial mat samples, collected from the spring ten years after the collection of the new species, indicates a heterotrophic and autotrophic community dominated by five phylotypes. The ecology of these three caves may be unique when compared to other caves within the Floridan aquifer.