Distribución areal y ecología de las asociaciones de ostrácodos recientes en la marisma Joyel (Cantabria)

Abstract

Recent ostracod assemblages of the Joyel marsh (Cantabria, N Spain) are described. Eigteen species are living in this marsh. The strongly eurihaline species Loxoconcha elliptica dominates the assemblages in the most of samples, which is indicative of the estuarine character of the area. Taking into account the ecology of these species, known from the literature, a zonal sketch of the different sub-environments is proposed for this transitional area. Fresh to oligohaline waters are detected by the occurrence of continental species as Eucypris virens and Cypridopsis vidua. The estuarine influence is evidenced by the eurihaline character of species such L. elliptica and Cyprideis torosa. A coastal marine zone is characterised by the occurrence of more diversified assemblage with Leptocythere castanea, Aurila convexa, Aurila woutersi, Heterocythereis albomaculata, Pontocythere elongata and Urocythereis oblonga, among others. Finally, the marine inner shelf influence is denoted by the presence of Semicytherura sella, Basslerites sp. and Caudites calceolatus