An investigation into the morphological variation and ecological-environmental range of Cyphoderia compressa: A case study of Scottish material

Abstract

Cyphoderia compressa has only been described from supralittoral environments, as a psammobiont, with salinities from 1.33 to 36.00 ‰. Other Cyphoderia such as those in the C. ampulla species complex are more ecologically and environmentally widespread, occurring as free-living individuals within water bodies or in association with vegetation, and over a wider salinity range, including freshwater. We postulate that C. compressa may not be as restricted in terms of its environmental or ecological distribution. To this end, we examined a variety of water and sediment samples from Scottish localities, ranging from supralittoral to inland freshwater environments. The Scottish material occurs as a psammobiont within supralittoral beach sands and is newly recorded within sands from freshwater to brackish stream sections and along the margin of the freshwater Loch Lomond. It is also recorded from freshwater to brackish settings as part of the stream and pond water biota, associated biofilm and vegetative material. Test morphology is more variable than previously appreciated, including those with a papillate fundus, and many that are not as laterally compressed as typified by the species. Differences in plate morphology and size were also noted, as well as a novel arcuate cross-cutting ridged cement structure, that is restricted to C. compressa.