Taxonomic Diversity of the Freshwater Zooplankton in Argentina: A Review

Abstract

Argentina, an extensive country located in southern South America, encompasses a considerable range of latitude and altitude, with a high diversity of lowland and highland waterbodies. Our study is aimed at providing information regarding the current taxonomic diversity of the main groups of the country's inland-water zooplankton. A total of 242 Protozoa, 375 Rotifera Monogononta, 170 Cladocera, and 120 Copepoda species and subspecies are reported. We submit considerations of the current level of taxonomic knowledge, the regional distribution of the species, and the biogeographical (or zoogeographical) aspects. Since most research was focused on a few regions or a small number of water bodies within large regions, many habitats have been scarcely studied, particularly in areas with wide seasonal or interannual variability. We assume that the potential species number in all groups is much higher than currently recognized. Further studies at wider spatial and temporal scales and at a higher taxonomical resolution as well, are needed in order to provide a full picture of the zooplankton diversity of Argentina.