ITALIAN BRACKISH AND MARINE OSTRACOD FAUNA

In this contribution, we present an updated database of the ostracod species pertaining to the infralittoral and circalittoral zones, together with those occurring in lagoon, intertidal, submarine cave and deep water settings. Furthermore, we intend to highlight the links between the ostracod assemblages recorded all along the coasts of the Italian peninsula, Sicily and Sardinia, and some environmental parameters. The main issue is the heterogeneous geographic distribution of the data; we have used the most updated literature, including unpublished data collections as well as reports about ostracod occurrence in natural parks, reserves or SCI (Sites of Community Importance). Such research intends to realize a synthesis of these data, which could be used as an integrative support, focused on the Mediterranean Sea, to the already existing available databases of the European Marine Biodiversity Research Site and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. The aim of this work is to propose a straightforward database containing taxonomic, including possible synonymies, ecological and geographical information. We also think that this database might be a starting point for the achievement of a more complete database covering the whole Mediterranean area.