Diatoms on the carapace of common snapping turtles: Luticola spp. dominate despite spatial variation in assemblages.

ABSTRACT: Filamentous algae are often visible on the carapaces of freshwater turtles and these algae are dominated by a few species with varying geographic distributions. Compared to filamentous algae, little is known about the much more speciose microalgae on turtles. Our objectives were to compare the diatom flora on a single turtle species (the common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina) across part of its range to examine spatial patterns and determine whether specific diatom taxa were consistently associated with turtles (as occurs in the filamentous alga Basicladia spp.). Using preserved turtle specimens from museums, we systematically sampled diatoms on the carapaces of 25 snapping turtles across five states. The diverse diatom assemblages formed two groups-the southern Oklahoma group and th

SUBMITTER: Wu SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5305193 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature