Evidence for Conductivity- and Macroinvertebrate-Driven Segregation of Ostracod Assemblages in Endorheic Depression Wetlands in North West Province of South Africa

Our knowledge of the ecology non-marine Ostracoda inhabiting endorheic wetlands (pans) semi-arid regions South Africa is very scarce. The present study investigates distribution ostracod species in grass, open, and salt pans central part North West province tests response to abiotic biotic predictor variables operating at a local scale. Distance-based linear models revealed three (pan type, water electrical conductivity abundance macroinvertebrate predators, collector-gatherers) that best explained variation dataset. Ostracod assemblages from studied pan types differed by dominance structure rather than composition. Salt with high ratio predaceous macroinvertebrates were dominated Heterocypris giesbrechti, accessory presence Plesiocypridopsis newtoni. In open low conductivities lowest predators (but highest Potamocypris mastigophora was typically dominant species, while grass pans, all mentioned had similar relative abundances. Although our findings lend provisional support some assemblage diversity across different types, more studies replicating depression other are required before generalizations can be made.