Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
This study was performed to assess tardigrade (Tardigrada) diversity in the localized Cincinnati area of Xavier University in response to a shortage of similar studies in recent years. We expected to find a wide variety of genera and species in moss and lichen samples. We collected moss and lichen from many locations on the campus of Xavier University and recorded height above ground level, tree genus, latitude and longitude, and cardinal directionality. Samples were air dried until processing, when we then individually rehydrated each sample and removed all intact tardigrades for identification. Tardigrades were identified as precisely as keys allowed, and we were able to identify most to species. Results indicate that tardigrade abundance was highest in lichen samples as opposed to moss, and tardigrade genera and species diversity was lower than projected. The species Macrobiotus hufelandi was most bountiful in comparison to other genera and species. The most recent study done in 1986 also supports the finding of Macrobiotus hufelandi as the most common species in the area. In future studies, we will expand our survey to include the wider Cincinnati region and explore the causes of any observed changes in tardigrade diversity in recent decades.
Included in
Survey of tardigrade diversity in Cincinnati, OH
This study was performed to assess tardigrade (Tardigrada) diversity in the localized Cincinnati area of Xavier University in response to a shortage of similar studies in recent years. We expected to find a wide variety of genera and species in moss and lichen samples. We collected moss and lichen from many locations on the campus of Xavier University and recorded height above ground level, tree genus, latitude and longitude, and cardinal directionality. Samples were air dried until processing, when we then individually rehydrated each sample and removed all intact tardigrades for identification. Tardigrades were identified as precisely as keys allowed, and we were able to identify most to species. Results indicate that tardigrade abundance was highest in lichen samples as opposed to moss, and tardigrade genera and species diversity was lower than projected. The species Macrobiotus hufelandi was most bountiful in comparison to other genera and species. The most recent study done in 1986 also supports the finding of Macrobiotus hufelandi as the most common species in the area. In future studies, we will expand our survey to include the wider Cincinnati region and explore the causes of any observed changes in tardigrade diversity in recent decades.
Comments
Kaleigh Falimirski, Xavier University