Exceptional tardigrade-dominated ecosystems in Ellsworth Land, Antarctica

We describe a terrestrial faunal community including only Tardigrada and Rotifera, present on inland nunataks of Ellsworth Land, Antarctica (∼75°–77° S, 70°–73° W). The fauna is exceptional in its simplicity, including five tardigrade species (three new to science) and at least two rotifer species,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology
Main Authors: Convey, Peter, McInnes, Sandra J.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Ecological Society of America 2005
Subjects:
Zoology
Biology and Microbiology
Antarctic
Ellsworth Land
Ross Sea
Antarc*
Antarctica
Nematode worms
Rotifer
Tardigrade
Online Access:http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/1729/
https://doi.org/10.1890/04-0684
Description
Summary:We describe a terrestrial faunal community including only Tardigrada and Rotifera, present on inland nunataks of Ellsworth Land, Antarctica (∼75°–77° S, 70°–73° W). The fauna is exceptional in its simplicity, including five tardigrade species (three new to science) and at least two rotifer species, which comprise two consumer trophic levels. Nematode worms, the most important element of the simplest faunal communities previously reported worldwide (from the Ross Sea Dry Valley region of continental Antarctica), and microarthropods, otherwise represented in all known Antarctic terrestrial communities, are absent. The tardigrade community composition shows affinity with the continental Antarctic fauna, with which it shares three species. The remaining two species are unique to Ellsworth Land and may suggest a prolonged existence as a distinct biogeographical unit.

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