Milena Roszkowska

The Zoogeography of Marine Tardigrada

This monograph describes the global records of marine water bears (Phylum Tardigrada). We provide a comprehensive list of marine tardigrades recorded from around the world, providing an up-to-date taxonomy and a complete bibliography accompanied by geographic co-ordinates, habitat, substrate and biogeographic comments. A link is provided to an on-line interactive map where all occurrences for each species are shown. In total we list 197 taxa and their 2240 records from 39 oceans and seas and 18 Major Fishing Areas (FAO). It is hoped this work will serve as a reference point and background for further zoogeographic and taxonomic studies on marine tardigrades.

Two new tardigrade species from Romania (Eutardigrada: Milnesiidae, Macrobiotidae), with some remarks on secondary sex characters in Milnesium dornensis sp. nov.

In two moss and lichen samples collected in Romania, two new eutardigrade species were found. Milnesium dornensis sp. nov. belongs to the granulatum group and differs from most of other species in this group mainly by having a different claw configuration ([3-3]-[3-3]) and by some morphometric characters. Minibiotus diversus sp. nov. is very similar to M. gumersindoi Guil & Guidetti, 2005 and M. weglarskae Michalczyk et al., 2005, but differs from these and other congeners by the cuticular pore arrangement and morphometric characters of both adults and eggs. Males and females of the newly described Milnesium species differ not only by the shape and structure of claws I, but also by other morphometric characters. Males of Milnesium dornensis sp. nov. are smaller, more slender, have shorter papillae and relatively longer claws on legs III-IV.

The first record of Pyxidium tardigradum Van der Land, 1964 (Ciliophora) in Romania

In three lichen samples collected from eastern part of Romania, three populations of Ramazzottius cf. oberhaeuseri (Doyère, 1840) infested by Pyxidium tardigradum Van der Land 1964 were found. In this short correspondence we present a first record of P. tardigradum in Romania and infestation rates in studied populations according to the different life stages.

An integrative description of a new tardigrade species Mesobiotus romani sp. nov. (Macrobiotidae: harmsworthi group) from the Ecuadorian Pacific coast

In a mixed moss and lichen sample collected in Esmeraldas Province in north-western Ecuador, 20 tardigrades and 11 eggs, belonging to a new species of the genus Mesobiotus, were found. In addition to the traditional taxonomic description with morphometrics, light and scanning microscopy imaging, we also provide nucleotide sequences of three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2) and one mitochondrial (COI) DNA fragments of the new species. Based on the egg chorion morphology, Mesobiotus romani sp. nov. is the most similar to: M. binieki, M. coronatus, M. dimentmani, M. patiens, M. perfidus, M. philippinicusi, M. pseudoblocki, M. pseudocoronatus, M. pseudopatiens, M. radiatus, M. rigidus, M. simulans and M. wuzhishanensis, but differs mainly by some specific characters of both egg and adult morphology, and morphometrics.

Paramacrobiotus lachowskae, a new species of Tardigrada from Colombia (Eutardigrada : Parachela : Macrobiotidae)

ABSTRACT In this article we describe a new Paramacrobiotus species of the areolatus group by means of integrative taxonomy. Together with the detailed morphological and morphometric data (obtained from light and scanning electron microscopy) we also provide DNA sequences of four universal molecular markers used in tardigrade taxonomy (three nDNA fragments: 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2, and one mtDNA fragment: COI). The animals of Paramacrobiotus lachowskae sp. nov. are similar to several species of the areolatus complex and the eggshell ornamentation is similar to that of two species of the richtersi group. Therefore, the new species can be easily distinguished from the areolatus group species by egg morphology (dome-like, wrinkled processes with long flexible spines/filaments covered by fine short hairs) and from species of the richtersi complex by the absence of the microplacoid. Paramacrobiotus lachowskae sp. nov. is the 43rd species reported from Colombia and fifth Paramacrobiotus species from this South American country. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FEDC11D3-DCCF-4699-A704-CE6DEA1CDED4

Remains of non-pollen-palynomorphs – tardigrades from Spitsbergen found during pollen analyses

Pollen- and non-pollen-palynomorphs (NPP) analytical studies of the northwestern part of Spitsbergen were conducted between 1988 and 1991. As well as pollen from local native flora and more dispersed species, some well preserved remains of tardigrada exuvia, buccal tubes and eggs were found. This study reviewed the remains of at least six tardigrade taxa reported: Dactylobiotus ambiguous, Paramacrobiotus richtersi group, Richtersius coronifer, Macrobiotus hufelandi group, Macrobiotus peterseni and Minibiotus cf. intermedius , which are reassessed and determined more accurately. These findings provide some new insights into the past environmental conditions and changes for Spitsbergen. Based on the present research it can be concluded that tardigrade remains are frequent NPP elements of pollen analyses from lake, peat bogs and detritus sub-fossil sediment cores, at least in polar regions. It can also be stated that tardigrades can be considered indicators in further palaeontological studies helping to reconstruct past environmental conditions (for example humidity) for some regions. However, the knowledge of tardigrades in these types of analyses is still rather poor.

A new eutardigrade from Costa Rica with taxonomical and zoogeographical remarks on Costa Rican tardigrades

ABSTRACT In a moss sample collected in Costa Rica, 63 specimens and 13 eggs of the new species were found. Mesobiotus pseudopatiens sp. nov. belongs to the harmsworthi group and is most similar to Mesobiotus patiens, but it differs from it mainly by smaller eggs, longer flexible portions of egg processes and certain morphometric characters of adults. In addition, after re-examination of specimens of the genus Milnesium collected in Costa Rica, a new record of Milnesium kogui may be added to Costa Rican fauna. The paper also discusses taxonomical problems and the zoogeography of Costa Rican tardigrades, which partially agree with hypotheses of Great American Biotic Interchange and Mexican Transition Zone. A large number of so-called ‘Costa Rican species’ are doubtful taxa with ‘cosmopolitan’ distribution; the largest number of species, however, have tropical/subtropical or neotropical distribution. Certain species from colder regions are also present in the mountains of Costa Rica. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F6F6195E-0888-4279-A3AF-422642F8B40

Macrobiotus naskreckii sp. nov., a New Tardigrade (Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae) of the Hufelandi Group from Mozambique

Abstract In this paper, Macrobiotus naskreckii sp. nov., a new species of the hufelandi group from the Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, is described. The analysis have revealed that M. naskreckii sp. nov. is most similar to M. kristenseni, M. ramoli and M. serratus. The new species differs from M. kristenseni mainly through a different shape of egg processes and clearly dentate lunules IV; from M. ramoli mainly by smaller eggs and a smaller number of egg processes on the circumference; from M. serratus mainly by the absence of the reticulation between the egg processes. This is a third record of tardigrades from Mozambique and apart of the new species reported here, three other taxa from Gorongosa National Park are provided: Minibiotus cf. intermedius, Minibiotus sp. and Paramacrobiotus cf. richtersi.

A clarification for the subgenera of Paramacrobiotus Guidetti, Schill, Bertolani, Dandekar and Wolf, 2009, with respect to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature

The recent re-description of Paramacrobiotus Guidetti, Schill, Bertolani, Dandekar and Wolf, 2009 has inadvertently led to the description of an objective synonym within its subgenera nominal taxa. To resolve this issue, we have re-described both subgenera, and proposed a new substitute name for one subgenus, in line with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Additionally we have confirmed the placement of two recently published Paramacrobiotus species, not included in the last revision, within the respective subgenera established herein.

Tardigrades from Larus dominicanus Lichtenstein, 1823 nests on the Argentine Islands (maritime Antarctic)

Tardigrada in Antarctic regions are poorly known. The aim of this study was to examine for tardigrades the nests material of the kelp gull (Larus dominicanus Lichtenstein, 1823) in maritime Antarctic and discuss the possible ways of migration and dispersion of tardigrades by birds. We also discuss the influence of bird’s guano on the communities of microscopic invertebrates (mainly tardigrades). In the positive samples (mainly bryophytes and lichens) of seven Larus dominicanus nests, collected on Ardley Island (near Fildes Peninsula) and Argentine Islands, ca. 850 tardigrades and their eggs were found. In total, 13 taxa (including Ramajendas sp.) were identified, and four are new to science: Bryodelphax olszanowskii sp. nov., Diphascon puchalskii sp. nov., D. rudnickii sp. nov. and Hypsibius conwentzii sp. nov.. Bryodelphax olszanowskii sp. nov. differs from known Bryodelphax species in the weglarskae group mainly by having a different ventral plate configuration. Belonging to the pingue group, D. puchalskii sp. nov. differs from other species by some quantitative characters and D. rudnickii sp. nov. by having the first and second macroplacoids situated very close to each other. Hypsibius conwentzii sp. nov. differs from other species of the genus Hypsibius, with two macroplacoids and septulum, by some morphological and morphometric characters. Summarizing, Antarctic tardigrades are a very diverse group, and birds can be responsible for translocation of small invertebrates (including tardigrades) inside of various parts of plants and lichens. They also deposit large amounts of guano, which provides a lot of nutrients for poor tundra ecosystems and support small invertebrate communities.