Correlational analyses of the relationships between altitude and carapace size of Ostracoda (Crustacea)

Abstract

To explore the relationship between ostracods carapace (body) size and altitude, 117 non-marine aquatic habitats were sampled from Mersin province (Turkey) during 03–09 October 2015. A total of 36 species and 14 sub-fossils were detected from 66 of 117 sites located between −3 m and 1630 m a.s.l. Thirty-four of the species are previously unknown in the province. In addition, four of the taxa were new records for the Turkish Ostracoda fauna. Five species (Ilyocypris bradyi, Heterocypris salina, H. incongruens, Psychrodromus olivaceus, Potamocypris fallax) were the most common among all habitats with relatively wide ecological and altitudinal ranges. Canonical correspondence analyses revealed 72.6% of the relationship between 12 ostracods and five environmental variables. Water temperature and pH were the two most influential variables (p < 0.05) on the species. The mean length of right and left valves of the species were significantly different (p < 0.01, N = 3980) at all altitudinal ranges. A strong tendency of changes in valve height with increasing altitude seems to be more prominent (p < 0.05) than the changes in length for some species. Our results do not support some ecological rules but rather, suggest that a linear relationship between carapace size and altitude may only be applicable for some ostracods.