Diversidad de poliplacóforos tropicales del sur de la Provincia Panameña

For the first time a comprehensive record on the diversity of polyplacophorans in the south of the Province of Panama (Ecuador-Peru), corresponding to the Guayaquil ecoregion, was made. Chitons were collected from five locations and their diversity and the similarity of the assemblies were estimated. During winter 2013 and summer 2013-2014 a total of 539 chitons belonging to 11 species were collected. The diversity decreases from north to south due to a strong replacement of species and to the local dominance of some taxa. The ordination analysis suggests two faunal groups, one composed of the locations of Montañita and Santa Rosa form Ecuador, and Bonanza from Peru, while the second is composed of the Peruvian locations of Pocitas and Lobitos. The species that contribute most to the differentiation are Ischnochiton dispar, Acanthopleura echinata and Acanthochitona ferreirai. Polyplacophorans diversity at this part of Province of Panama is poor compared to the greatest number of species reported in Chile, Mexico and Puerto Rico. It is suggested that the type of habitat and environmental food supply would be key in explaining differences in diversity.