Late Glacial and Holocene Ostracoda of the Gulf of Gdańsk,the Baltic Sea,Poland

To trace environmental changes in water hydrology and salinity in the Late Glacial to Holocene of the Gulf of Gdańsk, a south‐eastern bay of the Baltic Sea within the maritime zone of Poland, the distribution of ostracod valves was studied in 20 sediment cores collected from both the shallow‐ and deep‐water zones (depth 10.9–67.5 m). The studied sediment sequences yielded ca. 3000 valves of 21 ostracod species, of which only five are known to live today in the Gulf, which has a present maximum depth of 118 m and water salinity up to 7–8‰. The majority of the studied sediment layers that contained ostracod valves corresponded to the period of the Late Glacial to Mid‐Holocene and was dominated by non‐marine species, of which the most common were Candona neglecta (present in 17 cores), Cytherissa lacustris (15 cores) and Candona candida (14 cores). By clustering classification five major ostracod assemblage types were recognised in the studied cores. Initial assemblage types dominated mostly by inhabitants of the profundal/sub‐littoral zones of modern oligo‐mesotrophic lakes (C. lacustris and C. neglecta) in some sediment sequences were replaced in stratigraphical order by the assemblages dominated by brackish‐water species (Cyprideis torosa or Cytheromorpha fuscata). The structure and species composition of the distinguished ostracod assemblage types as well as their successional transitions indicate that the studied sediments were deposited initially in the Late Glacial in freshwater lacustrine conditions, and subsequently, during the Holocene marine transgression, covered by marine sands. The present results confirm and consolidate inferences based on previously published data on ostracods from the western part of the Gulf of Gdańsk as well as on other biotic (molluscs, diatoms) and abiotic (seismoacoustic) indices from this area (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Distribution of subfossil ostracod assemblages in lacustrine profundal sediments of north-eastern Poland

The distribution of ostracod valves was studied in seven short (< 50 cm) sediment cores collected from the sublittoral-profundal zones (depth > 12 m) of four lowland, dimictic lakes (Kamedu?, Szelment Ma?y, Szelment Wielki and Szurpi?y) situated in the Eastern Suwa?ki Lakeland of NE Poland. These postglacial channel lakes are still moderate in trophy level, but to some extent, they differ from each other in the increase of anthropogenic alterations, especially in their hypolimnion. The studied sediment sequences, corresponding roughly to the period of the last ca. 300 years, yielded ca. 5500 valves of 20 ostracod species, out of which only seven are here considered as the autochthonous profundal component of the fossil assemblages: Candona candida, C. neglecta, Fabaeformiscandona protzi, F. tricicatricosa, Bentocypria curvifurcata, Cytherissa lacustris and Limnocytherina sanctipatricii. Valves of the remaining species were most probably subjected to postmortem transport from shallow water deposits or from lakeside and/or subaqueous springs, and thus were not deposited in situ at the deep bottom. By clustering classification and multi-dimensional scaling ordination, three major assemblage types were recognised in the moderately eutrophicated parts of the studied lakes: (a) assemblage dominated by C. candida, (b) assemblage dominated by C. lacustris and (c) the most diverse assemblage, in which four species (C. lacustris, C. candida, F. protzi and C. neglecta) occur in more or less equal percentages. On the other hand, sediments of the most eutrophic basins of the lakes (especially in Kamedu? and Szelment Ma?y) are characterised by the decline of total valve abundances and complete extinction of C. lacustris, a species indicative of low trophy, so that, in extreme cases, a few valves (if any) of more eurytopic or only allochthonous species could be found in some of the uppermost layers. Successional transitions of the recognised assemblage types are discussed according to the generalised model of the deep lacustrine ostracod succession previously established for the Polish lakes on the country scale. The recorded assemblages correspond well with the trophic diversity of the studied lakes, confirming inferences based on previously published data on other trophy indices from this area. Finally, additional data on modern profundal ostracod fauna from dredge samples of the studied lakes are also provided.     

A new giant cypridid ostracod (Crustacea) from southern Buenos Aires Province,Argentina

Amphicypris argentinensis sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Laguna Caliba, an ephemeral fresh water lake from the southern coast of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Specimens were raised from dried sediment recovered from a bank of ostracod shells found at the edges of the lake. Deposition of progressively smaller ostracod valves stacked one into another (cup-in-cup structure) is documented. The geographical distribution and ecology of the genus is briefly discussed.     

A new giant cypridid ostracod (Crustacea) from southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Amphicypris argentinensis sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Laguna Caliba, an ephemeral fresh water lake from the southern coast of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Specimens were raised from dried sediment recovered from a bank of ostracod shells found at the edges of the lake. Deposition of progressively smaller ostracod valves stacked one into another (cup-in-cup structure) is documented. The geographical distribution and ecology of the genus is briefly discussed.     

Ostracod distribution in Ulungur Lake (Xinjiang,China) and a reassessed Holocene record

Ostracod shells in surface sediments from Ulungur Lake (Xinjiang, China) belong mainly to Limnocythere inopinata as the dominant species, and Candona neglecta and Darwinula stevensoni as accompanying, less abundant taxa. Shells of an additional nine species were recorded only sporadically. The three most abundant ostracods have wide tolerance ranges in terms of salinity, substrate and water depth. The similarly recorded bivalve Pisidium subtruncatum, and the gastropods Gyraulus chinensis and Radix auricularia belong to the most tolerant representatives of the genera. The bivalve and gastropods, in addition to the ostracod assemblage, reflect the fact that Ulungur Lake has experienced strong lake level and salinity variations due to water withdrawal in the catchment and the counteracting diversion of river waters to the lake in recent decades. The substrate in Ulungur Lake is typically fine-grained, apart from the delta region of the Ulungur River channel, which is marked by relatively coarse-grained detrital sediments barren of ostracod shells. This channel was created 40 years ago to divert water to Ulungur Lake and support its local fisheries and recreational facilities. A reassessed Holocene ostracod record from the lake shows that a significantly higher salinity and lower lake level existed in the early Holocene before 6.0 ka in response to the regional climate. In contrast, a higher lake level and lowest salinity is inferred for the late Holocene period between ca. 3.6 and 1.3 ka before present. Afterwards, the lake level declined and salinity increased in response to regional moisture reduction, although conditions similar to the early Holocene lake status were not re-established. Our surface-sediment-derived data provide a baseline for analysis of future environmental variations due to global climate change and regional water management.     

An example of intralacustrine evolution at an early stage: the freshwater ostracods of the Miocene crater lake of Steinheim (Germany)

I present the findings of two detailed studies on Steinheim lake ostracods carried out over the last eight years. The 178 samples studied cover a combined section about 30 m thick, comprising the whole sequence of seven planorbid beds. Of the 53 species found, 44 occur in the basic sediment layers, the kleinibeds. In contrast, all of the subsequent beds contain 16 species, and only seven species withstood the extinction at the kleini–steinheimensis boundary.This may be mainly due to the loss of littoral habitats brought about by a constantly increasing lake level, as the majority of the species in the kleinibeds were shallow water dwellers. Long-term lake level fluctuations are considered the most important external factor of the post-kleini period. Density fluctuations of the ostracods Pseudocandona steinheimensis and Potamocypris gracilis broadly reflect these water level fluctuations. At the beginning of the sulcatusperiod, when the lake level was very high, some species show morphological changes in their carapaces. During this time Leucocythere immigrata split into the daughter species L. sieberi and L. esphigmena. In the following trochiformis period, when the water level was lowest, the most curious carapace sculptures appear. The morphological changes detected, however, cannot simply be interpreted as ecophenotypic. The speciation event in Leucocythere, the non-recolonization with ubiquitous species during the low water level stage (trochiformis period), as well as the types of morphological changes indicate mainly evolutionary processes, as also the planorbid molluscs prove. Moreover, ostracods and planorbids show convergent evolutionary patterns. Compared with data on ostracod speciation in ancient lakes, the ostracod assemblage of Lake Steinheim seems to be a good palaeontological example of intralacustrine evolution at an early stage.     

Mid to Late Holocene palaeoenvironment of Lake Eastern Juyanze (north-western China) based on ostracods and stable isotopes

An exposed section of nearly 13 m thick was investigated in the ancient depression of Lake Eastern Juyanze, north-eastern China. The succession of lacustrine and aeolian deposits covers a period from about 5400 to 2700 cal. a BP as indicated by four radiocarbon ages of macro-plant debris. Fifteen ostracod taxa were identified of which Limnocythere inopinata and Darwinula stevensoni are by far the most abundant species. Stable isotope (O, C) data of ostracod calcite as well as ostracod species abundances and X-ray diffraction results of bulk sediment samples were used to reconstruct the history of Lake Eastern Juyanze. Highest lake levels (water depth ∼10 m) occurred between 5100 and 4100 cal. a BP and were succeeded by intermediate and low levels until about 3150 cal. a BP. Three short-term events of complete desiccation were recorded between 3150 and 2900 cal. a BP. The lake experienced relatively high levels again for some decades at about 3000 cal. a BP and for at least two centuries after 2900 cal. a BP. According to the ostracod and gastropod record and the high abundance of a large diatom (Campylodiscus clypeus) in the lake sediments oligohaline to slightly mesohaline conditions were reconstructed for most of the lake periods (4-6 g/l). Geochemical and palaeontological records of Lake Eastern Juyanze reveal the retreat of the Asian monsoon after China’s Hypsithermal culminating in climate instability at about 3000 cal. a BP.     

Land use and ostracod community structure

Ostracods are important members of the benthos and littoral communities of lake ecosystems. Ostracods respond to hydrochemistry (water chemistry) which is influenced by climatic factors such as water balance, temperature, and chemicals in rainfall runoff from the land. Thus, at local scales, environmental preferences of ostracods and characteristics of lakes are used to infer changes in climate, hydrology, and erosion of lake catchments. This study addresses potential drivers of ostracod community structure and biodiversity at multiple spatial scales using NMS, CART^?, and multiple regression models. We identified 23 ostracod species from 12 lake sites. Lake area, maximum depth, spring conductivity, chlorophyll a, pH, dissolved oxygen, sedimentary carbonate, and organic matter all influence ostracod community structure based on our NMS. Based on regression analysis, lake depth, chlorophyll a, and total dissolved solids best explained ostracod richness and abundance. Land uses are also important community structuring elements that varied with scale; locally and regionally agriculture, wetlands, and grasslands were important. Nationally, using regression tree analysis of lakes sites in the North American Non-marine ostracod database (NANODe), row-crop agriculture was the most important predictor of biodiversity. Low agriculture corresponded to low species richness but greater landscape heterogeneity produced sites of high ostracod richness.     

Freshwater ostracod assemblages and their relationship to environmental variables in waters from northeast Germany

An ecological calibration dataset for freshwater ostracods from 33 localities throughout West-Pomerania (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany) was evaluated using multivariate statistical methods. A total of 47 freshwater ostracod species were identified. Nine species were rediscovered after 100 years since the last published record and Candonopsis scourfieldi and Pseudocandona sucki was recorded for the first time in the study area. Special emphasis is put on the phenology of each species to gain information on the water characteristics at the time of their last moult. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that the ecological variables such as water temperature, Ca, Mg, and lake area were statistically most significant (p < 0.005; n = 72) in explaining variation in the distribution of ostracod assemblages. In addition, a transfer function was developed for paleolimnological approaches, based on a weighted-averaging (WA) model to calculate water temperature from the relative abundances of 22 selected ostracod species. This model was successfully applied to infer lake water temperature from subfossil ostracod assemblages collected from lacustrine deposits in northeast Germany (Lake Krakower See). Electronic supplementary material Electronic supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users.     

Morphological and geochemical variations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprideis</Emphasis> (Ostracoda) from modern waters of the northern Neotropics

The variability of modern Cyprideis salebrosa and Cyprideis americana (Ostracoda) from the northern Neotropics were investigated in order to understand site specific influences on the isotopic composition of their valves (δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C) in comparison to their host water and to connect this to morphological features of their valves (valve size, nodosity). C. salebrosa was found in a stream (Shell Creek, Florida) and a slightly brackish lake (Laguna del Rincon, Dominican Republic; salinity <0.7 psu) while C. americana occurred in a coastal lake with polyhaline waters (Parrotee Pond, Jamaica; salinity: >20 psu). Valve size and position of nodes differed between the two species. A reverse temperature dependency have been considered to influence Shell length (seasonally in Shell Creek, summer: 1076 µm; winter: 1092 µm, supposedly permanently in Laguna del Rincon, 1035 µm). But, regarding the small dataset other factors could not be excluded to influence ostracod valve size. A decline of node frequency of C. salebrosa is mainly related to an increase in salinity. Isotopic values of ostracod valves reflect the trend in stable isotopes of their host water. Variations in Cyprideis salebrosa δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values signify differences in their host water. Offsets of ostracod valves to a theoretical calcite precipitated in their host water with an uncertain time lag (+0.015 to +2.63 ‰) needs to be clarified. This study presents a contribution to the understanding of environmental influences on modern ostracod shell characters as basis for paleontological applications.     

The ostracod fauna (Crustacea,Ostracoda) of the profundal benthos of Loch Ness

We report the results of quantitative and qualitative investigations of the ostracod fauna of the profundal benthos of Loch Ness, an oligotrophic lake in Scotland, UK. Six ostracod species were recorded from profundal samples: Candona angulata, C. candida, Cryptocandona reducta, Cypria ophthalmica, Cyclocypris ovum and Potamocypris smaragdina. In addition, Psychrodromus robertsoni was found in fish gut contents. The mean density of profundal ostracods was 262 individuals m², with an average Brillouin's Diversity of 0.7. A weak inverse relationship between fish body weight and the number of ostracods eaten is reported for Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus.     

Ostracod Assemblages in Relation to Littoral Plant Communities of a Shallow Lake (Lake Świdwie,Poland)

The aims of this study included: specifying values of ecological parameters and Ostracoda species characteristic for different types of plant habitats occurring in lake systems, determining the impact of mud presence on the taxonomic structure and density of the ostracods, tracing seasonal changes in the structures of Ostracoda assemblages identifying the species typical of particular seasons. Various types of rushes and underwater meadows were taken into consideration as lake microhabitats. The research was conducted in the shallow Lake Œwidwie (NW Poland). Multivariate (constrained) ordination methods were used to analyse the relationships between species composition and environmental variables. In the lake and its margins 31 species of the Ostracoda were identified. The development of water vegetation during the vegetation season was conducive to growth in ostracod density. The accessibility of mud in plant habitats had a favourable effect on the general density of ostracods. Species which preferred a high mud content in their habitats included: Cypria ophtalmica, C. exsculpta and Physocypria kraepelini. Species typically encountered in underwater meadow habitats were: Cyclocypris ovum and Cypridopsis vidua. Underwater meadows of charophyte were characterized by the highest ostracod density in the whole lake system, with the average of 7860 ind. m^–2 and the maximum of 17 470 ind. m^–2. Species typically encountered in rush habitats included Notodromas monacha, Dolerocypris fasciata and Metacypris cordata. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Recent ostracods (Crustacea,Ostracoda) found in lowland springs of the provinces of Piacenza and Parma (Northern Italy)

The “fontanili” are artificial aquatic ecosystems, typical of the lowland plains of Northern Italy, exploiting natural resurgences of deep groundwater. These habitats are characterized by low variation in hydrologic, hydrochemical and thermal conditions throughout the year. Proper management is required to prevent the spring clogging by biomass accumulation. In spite of their importance as refugia for endangered species, many springs were completely abandoned in the last years and several of them will disappear. We report the results of a study carried out in 2001 on 31 springs of the provinces of Piacenza and Parma, distributed in seven areas defined on hydrological and geological considerations. Physical and chemical variables and parameters of waters were measured and ostracod samples were collected. Most of the springs showed high nitrate concentration, due to a diffuse pollution of agricultural origin. Twelve ostracod species in four families were identified. Ostracod valves were analysed by scanning electron microscopy. Cypria ophtalmica was found in all the springs; other relatively common species were Cyclocypris laevis,Notodromas persica, and Prionocypris zenkeri.The maximum number of species per site was four. Cypridopsis vidua,P. zenkeri, and N. persicashowed a very localized distribution in the study area. The ostracod fauna of the “fontanili” was compared to other species assemblages found in spring habitats and to the available information on recent freshwater ostracods reported for Italy.     

Ecology and Phenology of Freshwater Ostracods in Lake Gölköy (Bolu,Turkey)

Seventeen ostracod species were recorded from Lake Gölköy (Bolu, Turkey) between January 2000 and December 2001. Limnocythere inopinata is a new record for the Bolu region. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) explained 73% of the correlation between species and environmental variables, suggesting that the occurrence of many species is temporally variable, and is related to seasonal changes in physico-chemical conditions. The four most frequently occurring cosmopolitan ostracod species (Candona neglecta, Darwinula stevensoni, Physocypria kraepelini, and Cypridopsis vidua) accounted for more than 70% of the species recorded. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), and redox potential were the most affective variables on the species occurrence. Two species (C. vidua, I. bradyi) were positively correlated to redox potential, while such a correlation was negative for P. kraepelini. The most frequently occurring species C. neglecta was most closely related to the changes in redox potential, whereas C. vidua and D. stevensoni showed a positive correlation to water temperature. Negative strong correlation (p<0.01) was found between pH and I. bradyi, but correlation was positive and weak for C. vidua. Some species (e.g. L. inopinata) showed no clear relationship with any of those environmental variables. UPGMA clustering of species based on their occurrence in different ecological conditions revealed three main species assemblages. Analysis of species phenology using the ‘Ostracod Watch Model’ showed that temporal patterns of occurrence could be similar among species with similar ecological preferences. The current status of the lake is discussed based on the present study.     

Changes in the relative abundance of Polyarthra vulgaris and P. dolichoptera,following the elimination of fish

In the last decade palynological investigations of the sediments of large lakes in the USSR (Ladoga, Onega, Kubenskoye, Vozhe, Lacha, Beloye) and the Baltic Sea have been carried out. Limnic and marine sediments are notable for their high pollen and spore concentrations and pollen diagrams from these deposits have a regional significance. The diagrams from Lakes Onega and Ladoga belong to the Kola-Karelian type while the sediments of Lacha, Vozhe, Kubenskoye and Beloye belong to the North-Russian type (Neustadt 1957). Three types of Holocene pollen diagrams are registered for the Baltic Sea. Modern and fossil pollen spectra reflect the composition of the zonal vegetation. Late-glacial sediments are found in several profiles of lake and sea deposits. Holocene deposits are divided into eight stratigraphic zones: Late-glacial sediments (DR₂-Al-DR₃) and Post-glacial sediments (PB, BO, AT, SB, SA). The zonations of lake and sea sediments can be clearly correlated.     

Distribution of Cyprideis torosa (Ostracoda) in Quaternary Athalassic Sediments in Germany and its Application for Palaeoecological Reconstructions

Cyprideis torosa (Jones , 1850) is a very common brackish water ostracod of the German coasts, but, despite empty valves are found occasionally in surface sediments of some modern inland waters, C. torosa could not be found living in modern athalassic waters of Germany so far. During interglacial periods, including the Holocene, however, fossils of this species are quite common in Central Germany, at a distance of more than 300 km away from the coasts of the Baltic and North Seas. All 31 Quaternary localities with C. torosa known so far from Germany are documented. C. torosa is an indicator for brackish waters and widely used as index‐fossil in palaeosalinity reconstructions relying on water chemistry bound morphological changes (nodes, sieve‐pores). The comparisons imply a general underestimation of palaeosalinity in oligo‐ to mesohaline athalassic waters if using nodes and sieve‐pores of C. torosa as proxy. A water chemistry (ionic composition) driven morphological response is assumed instead one by salinity only. Palaeosalinity estimations for athalassic waters, relying on morphological variability alone, should therefore be used with caution. Palaeosalinity trends, however, can be detected. Distinguishing thalassic and athalassic sediments with C. torosa is possible by using the associated ostracod fauna as a discriminator. Regarding the ecology and distribution of C. torosa, permanent, brackish, and shallow water bodies under relatively warm conditions are required for its settlement. The source of the salt are brines originating from Zechsteinian or Triassic underground evaporites. Warm and relatively dry climates could enhance the process for such water bodies of becoming salty, a situation present in Holocene Central Germany. The occurrence of C. torosa can therefore be used for palaeoclimatological studies. The most probable migration path of this ostracod species to athalassic waters is by avian transport. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Vegetation history,climate and human impact over the last 15,000 years at Lago dell’Accesa (Tuscany,Central Italy)

Interdisciplinary studies of the sediments of Lago dell’Accesa started in 2001. We present here results from the palynological study. The pollen diagram provides a record of vegetation and climatic change spanning over 15,000 years. The oldest pollen spectra show a late-glacial steppe vegetation typical of central and southern Italy during this period. The Late-glacial Interstadial, interrupted by two cooling events, is dominated by open deciduous oak forests. The Younger Dryas is represented by 150 cm of sediment and shows the presence of steppic vegetation. The Holocene vegetation is characterised by alternating dominance of deciduous oaks and Quercus ilex. The three zones characterised by Q. ilex are accompanied by peat layers marking lake-level lowering at ca. 8600–7900, 4600–4300 and 3700–2800 cal b.p. Between approximately 9000 and 6000 cal b.p. extensive Abies-forests existed on the Colline Metallifere located 15–20 km to the north and northeast of the lake. Local fir populations may also have existed by the lake. Human impact starts at approximately 8000 cal b.p. during the Neolithic period, and increases at ca. 4300 cal b.p. Castanea and Juglans pollen is recorded from ca. 2800 cal b.p. The impact of the Etruscan settlement near the lakeshore is shown in the increasing values of arable crops, species of secondary forest canopy (Ericaceae, Pinus, Pistacia, Myrtus) and anthropogenic indicators (Chenopodiaceae, Plantago lanceolata, Rumex etc).     

Effects of desiccation on the toxicant sensitivity of rotifers

Non-native aquatic macrophytes have invaded different types of ecosystems all over the world. The exotic submersed macrophyte Hydrilla verticillata recently invaded the Paraná basin, Brazil, being recorded by the first time in the natural habitats of this river in 2005. We investigated the effects of this species on ostracod assemblages and compared the abundance, richness, and Shannon–Wiener diversity of ostracod assemblages that colonize the invading species with those that colonize Egeria najas, a native submersed species with similar architecture and physical complexity. Fragments of these two species were left for 28 days in tanks to root and grow and then they were transferred to a floodplain lake where they remained in pairs (one plant of each species; N = 7) during 30 days for colonization by ostracods. A detrented correspondence analysis was used to summarize ostracod assemblage composition. Although there were no significant differences in ostracod abundance, richness and Shannon diversity when analyzed separately, cumulative curves, which permit to eliminate effects of abundance on richness, indicated a significantly higher number of ostracod species on H. verticillata. Assemblage composition was significantly different between both plant species, as shown by the first DCA axis. Our results show that H. verticillata might provide favorable habitats for native ostracod assemblages.     

Miocene ostracods of Chuya and Kurai depressions of the southeastern Altai

Ostracods from the lacustrine–alluvial beds of intermontane troughs of the Altai Mountains are examined. Ostracods similar in species composition are recorded in the Lower–Middle Miocene of southeastern Kazakhstan. Changes in species composition and abundance of ostracods in the section of boreholes caused by changes in paleogeographical conditions of water bodies are analyzed. A new species of the genus Candona is described. For the previously known ostracod species, figures are provided.     

Combined effects of local environment and continental biogeography on the distribution of Ostracoda

Summary 1. The relationship between altitudinal gradients on small spatial scales and latitudinal gradients on broader scales has been repeatedly recognised in the biogeography of animals and plants. However, little is known about this topic in the ecology and biogeography of ostracod communities in Mediterranean flowing waters or the factors underlying these spatial patterns. 2. We analysed the ostracod assemblages of near‐natural headwater streams in the Betic and Pre‐Betic Mountains in the southern Iberian Peninsula to decipher the most important environmental gradients structuring ostracod communities on a local scale. In addition, the European altitudinal and latitudinal distributions of the most commonly found species were analysed with GIS and regression models to compare geographical effects from local to continental scales. 3. Forty sampling sites, distributed among six catchments and ranging in altitude between 150 and 1940 m a.s.l., were sampled seasonally. Limnological and geographical information was also recorded for each sample. Seventeen ostracod species were found, two of which were new findings for the Iberian Peninsula: Potamocypris fulva and Cypria reptans. The most common species were Potamocypris zschokkei, Candona neglecta, Herpetocypris brevicaudata, Cyclocypris ovum, Potamocypris villosa and Pseudocandona albicans. The distribution of these species in 918 European locations was analysed to test the hypothesised change in altitudinal distribution with varying latitude. 4. The best subset of logistic and linear regression models, selected by means of the information‐theoretic approach, found that oxygen content and the variables related with substratum and discharge were the most important variables with a negative influence on ostracod presence, abundance and species richness on a local scale. These findings suggest that the negative effect on benthic invertebrates of physical disturbances relates to high flow velocity and turbulences. 5. Multivariate ordination methods show how altitude and water chemistry are the most important variables to explain the distribution of ostracod assemblages on the small spatial scale. On a larger scale, differences in latitudinal distribution throughout Europe were significant for the six most common species found in Granada. In addition, four of these showed significant negative linear relationships between latitude and altitude in Europe, supporting the important effect of climate on local and continental scale distributions. While ostracod biogeographies are still poorly known, our results indicate the influence of Quaternary climate variability on ostracod dynamic colonisation and extinction in Europe in accordance with species‐specific temperature and water chemistry preferences.