1 - Instituto de Biologia da UFRJ
1 - Instituto de Biologia da UFRJ
1 - Instituto de Biologia da UFRJ
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14<br />
Dominance of Tardigra<strong>da</strong> in associated<br />
fauna of terrestrial macroalgae Prasiola crispa<br />
(Chlorophyta: Prasiolaceae) from a<br />
penguin rookery near Arctowski Station<br />
(King George Island, South Shetland<br />
Islands, Maritime Antarctica)<br />
Adriana Galindo Dalto 1,* , Geyze Magalhães <strong>de</strong> Faria 1 ,<br />
Tais Maria <strong>de</strong> Souza Campos 1 , Yocie Yoneshigue Valentin 1<br />
1<br />
Laboratório <strong>de</strong> Macroalgas Marinhas, <strong>Instituto</strong> <strong>de</strong> <strong>Biologia</strong>, Universi<strong>da</strong><strong>de</strong> Fe<strong>de</strong>ral do Rio <strong>de</strong> Janeiro – <strong>UFRJ</strong>, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho,<br />
373, sala A1-94, Centro <strong>de</strong> Ciências <strong>da</strong> Saú<strong>de</strong>, Ilha do Fundão, CEP 21941-902, Rio <strong>de</strong> Janeiro, RJ, Brazil<br />
*e-mail: ag<strong>da</strong>lto@gmail.com<br />
Abstract: Tardigra<strong>da</strong> are among the microinvertebrates commonly associated to terrestrial vegetation, especially in<br />
extreme environments such as Antarctica. In the austral summer 2010/2011, Tardigra<strong>da</strong> were found in high <strong>de</strong>nsities on<br />
Prasiola crispa sampled at penguin rookeries from Arctowski Station area (King George Island). Taxonomic i<strong>de</strong>ntifications<br />
performed to <strong>da</strong>te suggest that the genus Ramazzottius is the dominant taxa on P. crispa. This genus has been reported for West<br />
Antarctica and Sub-Antarctic Region. In this context, the present work intends to contribute to the knowledge of the terrestrial<br />
invertebrate fauna associated to P. crispa of the ice-free areas around Admiralty Bay.<br />
Keywords: microinvertebrates, terrestrial macroalgae, tardigra<strong>da</strong>, Ramazzottius<br />
Introduction<br />
Tardigra<strong>da</strong> are micrometazoans (average 250-500 µm) that<br />
present a large distribution in variety of diverse habitats, from<br />
rain forests to arid polar environments, including nunataks<br />
and mountain tops to abyssal plains of the oceanic regions<br />
(Brusca & Brusca, 2007; McInnes, 2010a). In terrestrial<br />
environments, Tardigra<strong>da</strong> are abun<strong>da</strong>nt, especially in<br />
mosses and lichens, which is the main component of the<br />
crypticfauna. Many linmo-terrestres tardigra<strong>de</strong>s can survive<br />
to total <strong>de</strong>siccation in a state of cryptobiosis (ametabolic<br />
state) that is a protection against <strong>de</strong>siccation and freezing<br />
un<strong>de</strong>r natural conditions, but anydrobiosis also allows a<br />
resistance against unnatural abiotic extremes (Jönsson &<br />
Bertolani, 2001). Actually, about 800 species of Tardigra<strong>da</strong><br />
have been <strong>de</strong>scribed from marine, freshwater and terrestrial<br />
environments (Nelson & Marley, 2000).<br />
Antarctic Tardigra<strong>da</strong> were at the beginning <strong>de</strong>scribed<br />
by Murray (1906) and Richters (1908) (apud Convey &<br />
McInnes, 2005), after species lists of Antarctic Tardigra<strong>da</strong><br />
were prepared by Morikawa (1962), Sudzuki (1964),<br />
Jennings (1976, 1979) and Utsugi & Ohyama (1989, 1993).<br />
Tardigra<strong>da</strong> species are currently known from the continental<br />
and Maritime Antarctica biogeographical zones (Pugh,<br />
1993; Convey & McInnes, 2005). Actually, 17 genera and<br />
48 species have been <strong>de</strong>scribed for associated fauna of<br />
terrestrial vegetation of ice-free areas in Antarctica and Sub-<br />
Antarctica regions (McInnes, 2010b), 11 of these species<br />
were reported for King George Island (South Shetland<br />
Islands, Maritime Antarctica) by Utsugi & Ohyama (1993).<br />
In King George Island, terrestrial vegetation is almost<br />
exclusively cryptogamic, comprising mostly mosses,<br />
Science Highlights - Thematic Area 3 |<br />
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