Distribución y ecología de los ostrácodos recientes de las Lagunas de Villafáfila (Zamora, España)

Abstract

In this work, the ostracod assemblages that inhabit in the Villafáfila lakes have been studied, allowing the characterization of several subenvironments developed in these wetlands. Thus, a first subenvironment of temporary fresh water bodies with some hydrodynamism where Leucocythere aff. mirabilis is dominant has been identified. The abundance of Ilyocypris bradyi characterized a second subenvironment of streams and small rivers of flowing waters that run into shallow lacustrine margins. The third subenvironment consists in semipermanent water bodies with low current and moderate salinity defined by the abundance of Limnocythere inopinata. Finally, a fourth subenvironment of ephemeral wetlands with slow currents and high salinity has been defined by the predominance of Sarscypridopsis aculeata. This work highlights that hydrodynamic, hydroperiod and water salinity are the main ecological factors that control the ostracods distribution along the Villafáfila lakes. Besides, these data will be used as comparison or recent model for future works focused on the neogene palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of other limnic settlements of the Iberian Peninsula using ostracod assemblages.