First reports of short-term temporal variations in crustacean species richness in north Patagonian coastal temporary pools

Temporary pools are freshwater bodies of significant interest due to their high species diversity, and the colonization and extinction processes observed at temporal scales. The aim of the present study was to perform a short-term ecological comparison in a group of shallow temporary pools in northern Chilean Patagonia in two periods, August and September 2018. The results revealed marked differences in terms of species richness in the study pools at different conductivities and chlorophyll a concentrations. The dominant species was the calanoid copepod Boeckella gracilis Daday, 1902, while the presence of the rare Anostracan Branchinecta rocaensis Cohen, 1982 was reported in conditions of low chlorophyll a and low conductivity. The community was studied using co-occurrence null models that revealed the absence of structured patterns in species associations, and the presence of niche overlap, with many repeated species that have a similar ecological niche. The present results are identical with observations from temporary pools in southern Chilean Patagonia.

Automated summary

Temporary pools in northern Chilean Patagonia showed marked differences in species richness under different water chemistry parameters, with the dominant species being the calanoid copepod. Community analysis using co-occurrence null models revealed a lack of structured patterns in species associations, with many repeated species occupying similar ecological niches. The results of this study align with observations from temporary pools in southern Chilean Patagonia.