The Biogeography and Physicochemical Characteristics of Aquatic Habitats of Freshwater Ostracods in Canada and the United States

B. Brandon Curry, L. Denis Delorme, Alison J. Smith, Donald F. Palmer, Barbara J. Stiff

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

A North American Combined Ostracode Database (NACODe) is introduced, comprising ostracod occurrence, environmental and climatic data from Canada (Delorme Database, 6719 sites) and the United States (North American Non-Marine Ostracode Database, 609 sites). NACODe's ostracod data are binary (present/not present) and include 108 species with three or more occurrences, from 34 genera. Biogeographic maps based on NACODe show the northern and southern distributional limits of several species, likely reflecting thermal (e.g. mean annual air temperature) boundaries. For others only northern (thermal) limits are indicated or their distributions extend beyond the confines of the data set. Hydrochemical limits are verified for some species, such as Limnocythere sappaensis and Limnocythere staplini which respectively prefer waters enriched in either bicarbonate or calcium ions. The combined data sets capture more fully the range of physicochemical characteristics of ostracod species' host water than either of the component databases, facilitating improved palaeohydrochemical and palaeoclimatic reconstructions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationDevelopments in Quaternary Science
PublisherElsevier Ltd
Pages85-115
Number of pages31
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012

Publication series

NameDevelopments in Quaternary Science
Volume17
ISSN (Print)1571-0866

Keywords

  • Biogeography
  • Database
  • Hydrochemistry
  • North America
  • Ostracoda

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geology
  • Earth-Surface Processes

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