| Abstract | The analysis of ecological niche is an important task to correctly identify the role exerted by species within ecosystems, to assess their vulnerability, to plan effective measures addressed at fulfilling the postulates of biological conservation, and ultimately to prevent biodiversity loss. However, for the majority of organisms our knowledge about the actual extent of their ecological niche is quite limited. This is especially true for microscopic organisms. Evidence exists that in different geographical areas allegedly conspecific populations can show different, if not antithetical, ecological requirements and not-overlapping ecological niches. This opinion paper discusses whether this "niche displacement" effectively occurs between conspecific populations or if the pattern is rather due to an inaccurate identification of species and/or to an insufficient knowledge about population and community ecology. Hence, some subjectively selected study cases when alleged phenomena of niche displacements take place are presented, and shortfalls in the correct assessment of the identity and ecological niches of microscopic aquatic eukaryotes, namely phytoplankton, zooplankton, and meiofauna are shown. |
| Text | 469166 2023 10.1007/s10750 022 04904 x Scopus 2 s2.0 85130190892 rotifera Cryptic diversity, niche displacement and our poor understanding of taxonomy and ecology of aquatic microorganisms Marrone F.; Fontaneto D.; Naselli Flores L. Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies STEBICEF , University of Palermo, Palermo, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies STEBICEF , University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy, , Italy; Molecular Ecology Group MEG , National Research Council of Italy Water Research Institute CNR IRSA , Verbania, Molecular Ecology Group MEG , National Research Council of Italy Water Research Institute CNR IRSA , Verbania, Italy, , Italy The analysis of ecological niche is an important task to correctly identify the role exerted by species within ecosystems, to assess their vulnerability, to plan effective measures addressed at fulfilling the postulates of biological conservation, and ultimately to prevent biodiversity loss. However, for the majority of organisms our knowledge about the actual extent of their ecological niche is quite limited. This is especially true for microscopic organisms. Evidence exists that in different geographical areas allegedly conspecific populations can show different, if not antithetical, ecological requirements and not overlapping ecological niches. This opinion paper discusses whether this niche displacement effectively occurs between conspecific populations or if the pattern is rather due to an inaccurate identification of species and/or to an insufficient knowledge about population and community ecology. Hence, some subjectively selected study cases when alleged phenomena of niche displacements take place are presented, and shortfalls in the correct assessment of the identity and ecological niches of microscopic aquatic eukaryotes, namely phytoplankton, zooplankton, and meiofauna are shown. Published version https //link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10750 022 04904 x marrone 2022_Hydro_Marrone et al.pdf Articolo in rivista Kluwer Academic Publishers 0018 8158 Hydrobiologia The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia. The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia Dordrecht The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia Boston The Hague. Print Hydrobiologia London The Hague. Print diego.fontaneto FONTANETO DIEGO |
