We present here a database on the bdelloid rotifers (Rotifera: Bdelloidea) collected within the SPEEDY Project in lichen patches of the genus Xanthoria in Flanders, Belgium. We sampled 81 stations, collected 79 lichens and found bdelloids in 75 of them. The survey yielded a total of 4936 individuals from 21 species, of which two identified only at genus level.
Rotifera: Bdelloidea of the genera Adineta, Habrotrocha, Macrotrachela, Mniobia, Philodina, Pleuretra Phylum: Rotifera Class: Bdelloidea Genus: Adineta Genus: Habrotrocha Genus: Macrotrachela Genus: Mniobia Genus: Philodina Genus: Pleuretra
Geographic Coverage
Flanders, Belgium Min Latitude: 46.377 Max Latitude: 58.124 Min Longitude: -4.043 Max Longitude: 22.236 Global Coverage: n/a
Citation
Fontaneto D (2023). Rotifera: Bdelloidea from Xanthoria lichens of the SPEEDY project in Flanders, Belgium. Version 1.6. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/bfmkst accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-05-03.
Rotifera Bdelloidea from Xanthoria lichens of the SPEEDY project in Flanders, Belgium
Content: This research is part of the “SPatial and environmental determinants of Eco-Evolutionary DYnamics: anthropogenic environments as a model” (SPEEDY) Project.
Funding: The Project is funded by the Interuniversity Attraction Poles program of the Belgian Science Policy Office BELSPO (IAP-grant P7/04).
Study Extent: The selection of plots was designed to be homogeneous across Flanders. The selection of subplots within a plot was random within the constraints imposed by the availability of targeted habitats (e.g. lichen patches), accessibility, and the permission to sample. This sampling design resulted in a total of up to 81 sampling sites (i.e. nine plots × three landscape-scale urbanization levels × three local-scale urbanization levels). Sampling: Dry lichen thalli between 5 and 10 cm² were cut from the substrate with a knife and kept in paper bags. Quality Control: Taxonomic identification was performed by the same person, Diego Fontaneto, in a short period of one month. Taxonomic identification was always performed comparing original descriptions and more recent reviews on the taxonomic group. Georeferenced data were checked by plotting coordinates on a map. Method Steps: Each sample was kept dry after collection and stored for two months before being examined. For each lichen sample, an area of 2.5 cm2 was then hydrated with distilled water in a plastic petri dish. The bdelloid rotifers that were active within four hours after rehydration were picked from the dishes using micropipettes, whole mounted alive and identified to species level using a compound microscope. Animals belonging to undescribed species were assigned to genera.
Additional Info
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Acknowledgements
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IR0000032 – ITINERIS, Italian Integrated Environmental Research Infrastructures System
(D.D. n. 130/2022 - CUP B53C22002150006) Funded by EU - Next Generation EU PNRR- Mission 4 “Education and Research” -
Component 2: “From research to business” - Investment 3.1:
“Fund for the realisation of an integrated system of research and innovation infrastructures”
National Research Council of Italy. All Rights Reserved.
