Biodiversity assessment of the metazoan communities of undisturbed and disturbed cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
4-2025
Abstract
Karst aquifers are vital groundwater resources and host endemic cave adapted fauna. In the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico they can be accessed through cenotes, natural sinkholes that enable the study of these subterranean ecosystems. Biodiversity assessments of cenotes have mostly relied on morphological methods, with most recorded species underrepresented in molecular databases. The goal of this study is to assess biodiversity through the direct collection of species, and through metagenomic analyses of environmental samples. This study was conducted in Cenote Dzonot Miis (urban area) and Cenote Tres Rayos (undeveloped jungle habitat), Sotuta, Yucatan. Metazoan specimens were morphologically identified and sequenced (COI & 16S) to build a molecular reference library. Environmental samples were subject to DNA extraction and low-pass whole genome sequencing to characterize eukaryotic diversity, focusing on Metazoa. These data will serve as a baseline for evaluating groundwater health near underdeveloped and human impacted areas.
Recommended Citation
Mashaan, Muntadher, "Biodiversity assessment of the metazoan communities of undisturbed and disturbed cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula" (2025). Student Research Symposium 2025. 9.
https://digitalcommons.tamusa.edu/srs_2025/9
Comments
1:00-2:00 p.m.
BLH 362
Studies in Computational & Systems Biology
Zechun Cao, Moderator