Abstract

Existing studies on central Chilean inland waters only mention records of decapods, but there are no ecological studies about decapods and other crustacean groups. The aim of the present study was a first characterization of inland water crustaceans in Claro River, a Mediterranean-climate river from Chile. The results of redundance analysis (RDA) revealed that the crab Aegla affinis inhabits waters of high pH and low temperature values, whereas amphipods of the genus Hyalella inhabit habitats with high pH, high temperatures, and low values of dissolved oxygen. Finally, ostracods (family Cyprididae), isopods (Heterias sp.) and the southern river crayfish (Samastacus spinifrons) inhabit water systems with moderate values of pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity. This paper represents the first ecological report for crustaceans of central Chilean inland waters, and the results appear to be similar to comparable descriptions for northern Patagonian rivers.