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Biodiversity of littoral nematodes from two sites in the Gulf of California

Hydrobiologia volume 586, pages 179–189 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The Gulf of California, Mexico, consists of unique environmental conditions resulting in a rich array of biological diversity. Nematodes are present in most marine sediments and are probably the most abundant metazoans. This research analyses and compares nematode biodiversity in two shallow, littoral locations of the Gulf and compares the results with other Pacific and Atlantic faunae. Samples collected in Punta Estrella and Santa Clara were processed for nematode extraction by standard methods. A total of eighty genera were identified, sixty-seven occurring in coarser sediments at Punta Estrella and fifty-five in more silty sediments at Santa Clara. Nematode abundance was higher at the latter location, on average. The region was not especially high or low in diversity compared to other littoral sites, and was most similar to locations in Europe with a corresponding ecology but at temperate latitudes.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by US National Science Foundation grants DEB 0315829, DEB 02282692, by Mexican SEMARNAT-CONACyT 2004-C01-300 grant and a collaborative grant between the University of California and Mexico (UC MEXUS-CONACyT).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nematology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521-0415, USA

    Manuel Mundo-Ocampo, Ian W. King, Paul De Ley, James G. Baldwin & Irma Tandingan De Ley

  2. Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK

    P. John D. Lambshead, Nicola Debenham & Margaret Packer

  3. UMR-CNRS 5178 BOME Département Milieux et Peuplements Aquatiques, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 61 rue Buffon, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France

    Guy Boucher

  4. Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educacion Superior de Ensenada, Apdo. Postal 2732, Ensenada, Baja California, C.P. 22860, Mexico

    Axayacatl Rocha-Olivares

  5. Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Apdo. Postal 453, Ensenada, Baja California, C.P. 22800, Mexico

    Dora Waumann

  6. Hubbard Center for Genome Studies, University of New Hampshire, 35 Colovos Rd., Durham, NH, 03824, USA

    W. Kelley Thomas

Authors
  1. Manuel Mundo-Ocampo
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  2. P. John D. Lambshead
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  7. Irma Tandingan De Ley
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  8. Axayacatl Rocha-Olivares
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  10. W. Kelley Thomas
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  11. Margaret Packer
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  12. Guy Boucher
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Correspondence to Manuel Mundo-Ocampo.

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Mundo-Ocampo, M., Lambshead, P.J.D., Debenham, N. et al. Biodiversity of littoral nematodes from two sites in the Gulf of California. Hydrobiologia 586, 179–189 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0624-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0624-z

Keywords

  • Marine nematodes
  • Biodiversity
  • Gulf of California