Abstract
We present an updated checklist of the rotifer fauna from inland aquatic habitats in continental Ecuador and the Galápagos islands based on published rotifer records found in the literature. The checklist summarizes the status of the current taxonomic and faunistic knowledge on rotifers in Ecuador, updates the nomenclature, and reports the regions where each species has been found in the country. A total of 287 valid species (269 monogononts and 18 bdelloids was found. The Ecuadorian region with the highest number of records was Amazonia (228) followed by the Coastal region (139) and the Andes (121), whereas in the Galápagos Archipelago only 40 species have been recorded. Studies of the rotifer fauna of the areas are scarce and quite recent, pointing to important gaps in our knowledge on taxonomy and biogeography of Ecuadorian rotifers.
References
Bezerra-Neto, J.F., Aguila, L.A., Landa, G.G. & Pinto-Coelho, R.M. (2004) The exotic rotifer Kellicottia bostoniensis (Rousselet, 1908) (Rotifera: Brachionidae) in the zooplankton community in the tropical reservoir. Lundiana, 5 (2), 151–153.
Corgosinho, P., Hołyńska M., Marrone, F., Geraldes-Primero, L.J., Dos Santos-Silva, E.N., Perbiche-Neves, G. & López, C. (2019) An annotated checklist of freshwater Copepoda (Crustacea: Hexanauplia) from continental Ecuador and the Galápagos Archipelago. Zookeys, 871, 55–57.
https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.871.36880
De Smet, W. (1989a) Rotifera uit de Galápagoseilanden. Natuurwetenschappelijk Tijdschrift, 69, 110–131.
De Smet, W. (1989b) Addendum bij: Rotifera uit de Galápagoseilanden. Natuurwetenschappelijk Tijdschrift, 71, 80–81.
Dumont, H.J. (1983) Biogeography of rotifers. Hydrobiologia, 104, 19–30.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00045948
Ejsmont-Karabin, J. (2019) Does the world need faunists? Based on rotifer (Rotifera) occurrence reflections on the role of faunistic research in ecology. International Review of Hydrobiology, 104 (3–4), 49–56.
https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.201901991
Ferrando, N.S. & Claps, M.C. (2016) A revised and updated checklist of Monogononta rotifers from Argentina. Check List, 12 (4), 1–26.
https://doi.org/10.15560/12.4.1942
Fontaneto, D. (2014) Molecular phylogenies as a tool to understand diversity in rotifers. International Review of Hydrobiology, 99 (1–2), 178–187.
https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.201301719
Fontaneto, D. (2019) Long-distance passive dispersal in microscopic aquatic animals. Movement Ecology, 7 (1), 10.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-019-0155-7
Fontaneto, D., Herniou, E.A., Barraclough, T.G. & Ricci, C. (2007) On the Global Distribution of Microscopic Animals: New Worldwide Data on Bdelloid Rotifers. Zoological Studies, 46, 336–346.
Fontaneto, D., Barbosa, A.M., Segers, H.& Pautasso, M. (2012) The ‘rotiferologist’ effect and other global correlates of species richness in monogonont rotifers. Appendix. Ecography, 35 (2), 174–182.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0587.2011.06850.x
Fontaneto, D., Kaya, K., Herniou, E.A. & Barraclough, T.G. (2009) Extreme levels of hidden diversity in microscopic animals (Rotifera) revealed by DNA taxonomy. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 53 (1), 182–189.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2009.04.011
Garraffoni, A.R. & Lourenço, A.P. (2012) Synthesis of Brazilian Rotifera: an updated list of species. Check List, 8 (3), 375–407.
https://doi.org/10.15560/8.3.375
Hailer, F, Schreiber, E.A., Miller, J.M., Levin I.I., Parker, P.G., Chesser, R.T. &Fleischer, R.C. (2011) Long-term isolation of a highly mobile seabird on the Galapagos. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B, Biological Sciences, 278, 817–825.
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2010.1342
Jersabek, C.D. & Leitner, M.F. (2013) The Rotifer World Catalog. World Wide Web electronic publication. Available from: http://www.rotifera.hausdernatur.at/ (accessed 6 May 2018)
José de Paggi, S. (2002) New data on the distribution of Kellicottia bostoniensis (Rousselet, 1908) (Rotifera, Monogononta, Brachionidae). Its presence in Argentina. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 241 (4), 363–368.
https://doi.org/10.1078/0044-5231-00077
Koste, W. & Böttger, K. (1989) Rotatorien aus Gewässer Ecuadors. Amazoniana, 10 (4), 407–438.
Koste, W. & Böttger, K. (1992) Rotatorien aus Gewässer Ecuadors II. Amazoniana, 12 (2), 263–303.
López, C., Mosquera, P.V., Hampel, H., Neretina, A.N., Alonso, M., Van Damme, K. & Kotov, A.A. (2018a) An annotated checklist of the freshwater cladocerans (Crustacea: Brachiopoda: Cladocera) of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Invertebrate Zoology, 15,277–291.
https://doi.org/10.15298/invertzool.15.3.06
López, C., Steinitz-Kannan, M. & Segers, H. (2018b) Occurrence of the rotifer Keratella cochlearis (Gosse 1851) in San Cristobal Island, Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador). Check List, 14, 811–815.
https://doi.org/10.15560/14.5.811
López, C., M. Steinitz-Kannan, M., Michaloudi, E., Stamou, G., Papakosta, S., Fontaneto, D. & Segers, H. (2019) Brachionus rotundiformis Tschugunoff 1921 from the Brachionus plicatilis species complex (Rotifera. Monogononta): New record from Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador. Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, 59, e20195921.
https://doi.org/10.11606/1807-0205/2019.59.21
Luzuriaga de Cruz, M. (1998) Aporte al conocimiento del zooplancton de agua dulce y estuarina del Río Guayas, Guayaquil, Ecuador. Acta Oceanográfica del Pacifico, 9 (1), 171–176.
Morrone, J. (2014) Biogeographical regionalisation of the Neotropical region. Zootaxa, 3782 (1), 1–110.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3782.1.1
Mills, S., Alcantara-Rodriguez, J.A., Ciros-Pérez, J., Gómez, A., Hagiwara, A., Hinson Galindo, K., Jersabek, C. D., Malekzadeh-Viayeh, R., Leasi, F., Lee J.S., Welch, D.B., Papakostas S., Riss, S., Segers, H., Serra, M., Shiel, R., Smolak, R., Snell, T.W., Stelzer, C.P., Tang, C.Q., Wallace, R.L., Fontaneto, D. & Walsh, E.J. (2017) Fifteen species in one: deciphering the Brachionus plicatilis species complex (Rotifera, Monogononta) through DNA taxonomy. Hydrobiologia, 796, 39–58.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-016-2725-7
Myers, N., Russell, A., Mittermeier, R.A., Mittermeier, C.G., da Fonseca, G.A. & Kent, J. (2000) Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature, 403, 853–858.
https://doi.org/10.1038/35002501
Papakostas, S, Michaloudi, E, Proios, K, Brehm, M., Verhage, L.,Rota, J., Peña, C, Stamou, G. Pritchard, V., Fontaneto, D. & Declerck. S.A.J. (2016) Integrative Taxonomy Recognizes Evolutionary Units Despite Widespread Mitonuclear Discordance: Evidence from a Rotifer Cryptic Species Complex. Systematic Biology, 65 (3), 508–524.
https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syw016
Peixoto, R.S., Brandão, L.P.M., Valadares, C. de F. & Barbosa, P.M.M. (2010) Occurrence of Kellicottia bostoniensis (Rousselet, 1908) and Mesocyclops ogunnus Onabamiro, 1957 in lakes of the Middle River Doce, MG, Brazil. Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia, 22 (3), 356–360.
https://doi.org/10.4322/actalb.02203012
Prado, J.R., Brennand, P.G.G., Godoy, L.P., Libardi, G.S., Abreu-Junior, E.F., Roth. P.R.O., Chiquito, E.A. & Percequillo, A.R. (2014) Species richness and areas of endemism of oryzomyine rodents (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae) in South America: an NDM/VNDM approach. Journal of Biogeography, 42, 540–551.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12424
Quimi Tomalá, G. (2014) Composición y abundancia del zooplancton en la Represa San Vicente, Comuna Las Balsas, durante junio–noviembre del 2013, Santa Elena Ecuador. Tesis de grado, Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena, La Libertad. Available from: http://repositorio.upse.edu.ec/handle/46000/1874 (accessed 19 April 2020)
Ricci, C. (2001) Dormancy pattern in rotifers. Hydrobiologia, 446–447 (1), 1–11.
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017548418201
Segers, H. (1991) Contribution to the knowledge of the rotifer fauna of the Galápagos islands. Biologisch Jaarboek, Dodonaea, 58, 113–119.
Segers, H. (2007) Annotated checklist of the rotifers (Phylum Rotifera) with notes on nomenclature, taxonomy and distribution. Zootaxa, 1564 (1), 1–104.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1564.1.1
Segers, H. (2008) Global diversity of rotifers (Rotifera) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia, 595, 49–59.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-9003-7
Segers, H. & Dumont, H. (1993) Zoogeography of Pacific Ocean islands: a comparison of the rotifer faunas of Easter Island and the Galápagos archipelago. Hydrobiologia, 255/256, 475–489.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1606-0_63
Segers, H. & De Smet, W. (2008) Diversity and endemism in Rotifera: A review, and Keratella Bory de St Vincent. Biodiversity and Conservation, 17 (2), 303–316.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-007-9262-7
Segers, H., De Smet, W.H., Fischer, C., Fontaneto, D., Michaloudi, E., Wallace, R.L. & Jersabek, C.D. (2012) Towards a list of available names in zoology, partim Phylum Rotifera. Zootaxa, 3179 (1), 61–68.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3179.1.3
Toscano, E. & Severino, R. (2013) Brachionidae (Rotifera: Monogononta) de la albufera El Paraíso y el reporte de Brachionus ibericus en el Perú. Revista Peruana de Biología, 20 (2), 177–180.
https://doi.org/10.15381/rpb.v20i2.2683
Torres, G. & Palacios, C. (2007) Calidad Ambiental del Bloom algal en el área urbana del Estero Salado (Ciudad de Guayaquil) en Junio 2005. Acta Oceanográfica del Pacífico, 14 (1), 115–124.
Valencia, N. (2015) Diversidad de rotíferos en el área nacional de recreación “Parque Lago”, Embalse Chongón. Tesis de grado, Universidad de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Guayas Province. Available from: http://repositorio.ug.edu.ec/handle/redug/12123 (accessed 19 April 2020)
Vásquez, E., Pardo, M.J., Zoppi de Roa, E. & López, C. (1998) Rotifer fauna from Venezuela. Amazoniana: Limnologia et Oecologia Regionalis Systematis Fluminis Amazonas, 15 (1/2), 11–24.
Wallace, R.L., Snell, T. & Smith, H.A. (2015) Chapter 13. Phylum Rotifera. In: Thorp, J. & Covich, A. (Eds.), Freshwater Invertebrates: Ecology and General Biology. Academic Press, London, pp. 225–271.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-385026-3.00013-9