Overview of Neotropical-Caribbean freshwater ostracode fauna (Crustacea, Ostracoda): identifying areas of endemism and assessing biogeographical affinities

Freshwater ostracodes from the Neotropical-Caribbean region are potentially excellent tools for evolutionary and paleoenvironmental studies but their use is limited, because integrated data in taxonomy, environmental, and geographical preferences of the species at large scale remain unknown. A total of 118 species were recorded in the Neotropical-Caribbean region based on existing literature and results from fieldwork. About 74% of the species are restricted to the region and most of them show limited distributional areas as a consequence of environmental heterogeneity. Based on Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity, five areas of endemism were identified: (1) southern Florida, (2) southern Mexico-northern Central America, (3) Cuba, (4) Lesser Antilles, and (5) northern Venezuela-Aruba-Curacao-Trinidad. The conservation status of these areas was revised and lake ecosystems with endemic taxa were proposed to be included in environmental protection initiatives. Biogeographical analysis showed a strong differentiation between the ostracode faunas of the Neotropical-Caribbean region and the Neotropical-Neogen region. Few exchanges of species were attributed to ecological and geographical barriers such as volcanism and irregular orography. Faunal affinities within the Neotropical-Caribbean region indicated closer relationship between southern Mexico, southern Florida and the Antilles suggesting a common biogeographical history. Middle Central America and Chiapas-Guatemala highlands were discriminated as isolated regions.