Producción CyT
Impact of anthropogenic disturbance on urban tardigrade assemblages in Argentina

Artículo

Autoría
Ostertag, Belén ; Gonzalez Reyes, Andrea ; Ballardini, Florentina ; GRABOSKY, ALFONSINA AYELÉN ; Muñoz Li, Rogelio ; Corronca, José ; Rocha, Alejandra
Fecha
2026
Editorial y Lugar de Edición
WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC
Revista
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC
Resumen Información suministrada por el agente en SIGEVA
Urbanisation is a significant contributing factor to the biotic homogenisation and dominance of generalist species, which are among the primary anthropic pressures on biodiversity. Tardigrades are an appropriate model for assessing the impact of anthropogenic factors on biological communities due to their susceptibility to environmental changes and resistance. This study investigates the impacts of urbanisation on tardigrade communities in three locations in Argentina: Santa Rosa, Salta, and Sa... Urbanisation is a significant contributing factor to the biotic homogenisation and dominance of generalist species, which are among the primary anthropic pressures on biodiversity. Tardigrades are an appropriate model for assessing the impact of anthropogenic factors on biological communities due to their susceptibility to environmental changes and resistance. This study investigates the impacts of urbanisation on tardigrade communities in three locations in Argentina: Santa Rosa, Salta, and San Salvador de Jujuy. In urban habitats that were distributed along a vehicular traffic gradient (high, medium, and low), 108 samples of mosses and lichens were collected. Additionally, environmental and microhabitat variables were recorded. Four of the fourteen species identified were found in all localities. The urban assemblages demonstrated a pattern of nestedness and species loss that was associated with high levels of urbanisation, with substantial distinctions between Santa Rosa and the northern localities. The results of this study confirm that vehicular traffic reduces diversity by causing nestedness species loss. Nevertheless, the community's response was not universal; it was contingent upon the biogeographical identity of the region. These results challenge the generalisation of biotic homogenisation and emphasise the necessity of developing conservation strategies that are tailored to ecological conditions and the local species pool.
Ver más Ver menos
Palabras Clave
ALPHA DIVERSITYDIVERSITYBETA DIVERSITY