Water-bears from the Rocky Mountains: A First Look at Alberta's Tardigrade Fauna

Authors

  • Matthew J. Boeckner Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9
  • Heather C. Proctor Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v119i4.193

Keywords:

Tardigrada, elevation diversity, faunistic survey, Black Cat Mountain, Alberta

Abstract

There is no information in the published literature regarding Alberta’s terrestrial water-bear (Tardigrada) fauna. We surveyed across an elevational gradient (1100 – 1800 ft) on Black Cat Mountain in the Alberta Rocky Mountain range. Ten taxa were identified from 902 specimens, all of which are new records for Alberta and one species is new for Canada: Macrobiotus cf. islandicus Richters, 1904. There was no clear relationship between elevation and tardigrade distribution, possibly owing to patchiness of these animals in the field and lack of adequate replication at each elevation.

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Issue

Vol. 119 No. 4 (2005)

Section

Notes

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