| Abstract | We carried out an overview of the studies on the traits of the meiofauna of the littoral zone of lakes to investigate the question relating to the Raunkiaeran shortfall (lack of knowledge on biological traits). For this purpose, we selected a series of keywords associated with response and effect traits (feeding habits, locomotion and substrate relation, body size, shape and mass, life history, reproductive strategy, respiration and thermal tolerance) and we counted the relative frequency of occurrence in a set of scientific papers retrieved from Web of Science. The results showed that, except for the traits related to diet and feeding habits, the Raunkiaeran shortfall is very pronounced for all meiofaunal taxa of the littoral zone of lakes, especially for those related to soft-bodied organisms. The reason behind this deficiency concerns many aspects ranging from the high taxonomic expertise required to the intrinsic difficulties of observing organisms of such a small size. The relationship with temperature has not been sufficiently explored and formalized in any of the examined traits; this research aspect needs to be rapidly addressed since the prospects of climate change impacts on lake littorals are expected to be particularly severe. |
| Text | 447245 2021 10.3390/w13040473 Scopus 2 s2.0 85101282444 response traits effect traits taxonomy based meiobenthos invertebrates An overview of studies on meiofaunal traits of the littoral zone of lakes Cifoni M.; Boggero A.; Paola Galassi D.M.; Di Lorenzo T. National Research Council Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems CNR IRET , Via Madonna del Piano, 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, National Research Council Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems CNR IRET , Via Madonna del Piano, 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy, , Italy; National Research Council Water Research Institute CNR IRSA , Corso Tonolli 50, Verbania, 28922, National Research Council Water Research Institute CNR IRSA , Corso Tonolli 50, Verbania, 28922, Italy, , Italy; Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of LAquila, Via Vetoio 1, Coppito, LAquila, 67100, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of LAquila, Via Vetoio 1, Coppito, LAquila, 67100, Italy, , Italy We carried out an overview of the studies on the traits of the meiofauna of the littoral zone of lakes to investigate the question relating to the Raunkiaeran shortfall lack of knowledge on biological traits . For this purpose, we selected a series of keywords associated with response and effect traits feeding habits, locomotion and substrate relation, body size, shape and mass, life history, reproductive strategy, respiration and thermal tolerance and we counted the relative frequency of occurrence in a set of scientific papers retrieved from Web of Science. The results showed that, except for the traits related to diet and feeding habits, the Raunkiaeran shortfall is very pronounced for all meiofaunal taxa of the littoral zone of lakes, especially for those related to soft bodied organisms. The reason behind this deficiency concerns many aspects ranging from the high taxonomic expertise required to the intrinsic difficulties of observing organisms of such a small size. The relationship with temperature has not been sufficiently explored and formalized in any of the examined traits; this research aspect needs to be rapidly addressed since the prospects of climate change impacts on lake littorals are expected to be particularly severe. 13 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 85101282444 origin=inward Articolo in rivista Molecular Diversity Preservation International 2073 4441 Water Basel Water Basel Water Basel Water. Basel CIFONI MARCO angela.boggero BOGGERO ANGELA tiziana.dilorenzo DI LORENZO TIZIANA |
