HINTON, J. G.*; MEYER, H. A.; McNeese State University; McNeese State University: Terrestrial Tardigrada of Louisiana East of the Mississippi River

The distribution of limnoterrestrial tardigrades in the American south is poorly known. This is especially true in the Gulf Coast states. There is only one published record of tardigrades from Louisiana. Nine species were found in two sites in southwestern Louisiana. We collected samples of lichens and mosses from fifteen sites in southeastern Louisiana, encompassing all parishes east of the Mississippi River. Sampling was not quantitative. The sites chosen included both natural woodlands and highly disturbed habitats. The collected material was soaked in deionized water overnight, allowing anhydrobiotic tardigrades to become active. Tardigrades were then mounted in Hoyer’s medium for identification. The species collected included Echiniscus cavagnaroi, E. kofordi, Milnesium tardigradum, Macrobiotus cf. hufelandi, M. tonollii, M. cf. harmsworthi, Minibiotus intermedius, Minibiotus fallax, Doryphoribius citrinus, and one Macrobiotus sp. new to science. D. citrinus has not previously been found in North America. The other species found in southeastern Louisiana are found in similar habitats in Florida.