Insights into Subterranean Connectivity Within the Aquifer of the Yucatán Peninsula: Population Genetics and Distribution of Typhlatya Species

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

Species of the anchialine cave dwelling shrimp genus Typhlatya (Atyidae) are broadly distributed among karst subterranean estuaries (KSEs) worldwide and commonly observed throughout the aquifer of the Yucatan Peninsula. Recent phylogenetic work demonstrates the presence of at least five species, where four (T. pearsei, T. mitchelli, Typhlatya sp.A, Typhlatya sp.B) were associated with the meteoric lens of inland and coastal caves, and one (T. dzilamensis) identified as a salinity generalist and restricted to coastal caves. All five species were also observed as syntopic within the Ox Bel Ha cave system. This study will assess the population genetics and structure via deeper within species sampling from ~30 inland and coastal caves of the Yucatán Peninsula, including marine caves in Belize. Analyses of mitochondrial (COI, 16SrRNA, and CYTB) and nuclear (ITS and 28SrRNA) gene data will yield a better understanding of species distributions and connectivity among cave systems across the Peninsula.

Comments

Studies in Ecology
BLH 266

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