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Nematode fauna associated with freshwater microbialites in Bacalar Lake, Quintana Roo, Mexico

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Abstract

Bacalar Lake is characterized by a high saturation of calcium, bicarbonate, sulfate and silicate in its water and these conditions harbor a microbialite community. To explore the nematode fauna, associated with microbialites, 11 sites along the lake were selected. The collected microbialites were carefully dissolved and nematodes extracted manually. Nematodes were represented by 2 classes, 10 orders, 17 families, and 22 genera. Dorylaimidae and Xyalidae were the richest in genera (3 each), while the family Selachinematidae was represented by Choanolaimus, which is first reported in epicontinental systems. Dichromadora (48), Epitobrilus (31), Dorylaimus (30), Ischiodorylaimus (24), Belondira (13), Aphanolaimus (11) and Monhystera (10) were the most abundant genera. All Nematode's freshwater feeding types were present, but deposit feeders (DF) were observed with 35%. We concluded that nematodes are an important component of the metazoan fauna in microbialites from Bacalar Lake, with a higher diversity than reported in other lakes and marine environments. Nematodes can take advantage of the micro-spaced texture of microbialites and function as bioturbators, as well as escape predation, taking advantage of available food, which is reflected in the structure of nematode feeding types. More research on the interaction of microbialites-nematodes is necessary to understand their role in this poorly known environment.

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Acknowledgements

Technical assistance is acknowledged to Holger Weissenberger (ECOSUR, Chetumal). Authors are grateful for funding from UNAM PAPIIT No. IN207220 (LIF). AYM received a graduate studies scholarship from CONACyT, Mexico.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Sistemática y Ecología Acuática, El Colegio de La Frontera Sur, Grupo, Estructura y Función del Bentos. Av. Centenario km 5.5, Chetumal Quintana Roo, México

    Alberto de Jesús-Navarrete, Alfredo Yanez-Montalvo & Abel Vargas-Espósitos

  2. UNAM, Instituto de Ecología, Parque Científico Y Tecnológico de Yucatán, Sierra Papacal, 97302, Yucatán, México

    Luisa I. Falcón

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  1. Alberto de Jesús-Navarrete
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  2. Alfredo Yanez-Montalvo
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  3. Luisa I. Falcón
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  4. Abel Vargas-Espósitos
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Correspondence to Alberto de Jesús-Navarrete.

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de Jesús-Navarrete, A., Yanez-Montalvo, A., Falcón, L.I. et al. Nematode fauna associated with freshwater microbialites in Bacalar Lake, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Limnology 22, 347–355 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10201-021-00662-2

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