The findings of an investigation of the tardigrade fauna
associated with beech (Fagus sylvatica) leaf litter in the
Republic of Ireland and Scotland are reported. The
present study is the first to specifically target this
microhabitat in either country. Tardigrades were
extracted from 16 samples of leaf litter obtained from
seven locations (one in Ireland and six in Scotland).
Twenty five tardigrade taxa were encountered including
seven that represent new records for the Republic of
Ireland (Pseudechiniscus sp. nov., Diphascon pingue
group sp., Hypsibius cf. convergens, Hypsibius cf.
scabropygus, Itaquascon cf. globuliferum, Ursulinius
sp. nov., and Minibiotus sp. nov.) and four for Scotland
(Bertolanius weglarskae, Hypsibius cf. scabropygus,
Adropion belgicae and Pilatobius ramazzottii). The
collection of several taxa that either represent new
records or undescribed species within a small number of
samples demonstrates the importance for researchers to
include leaf litter when assessing and reporting the
tardigrade biodiversity of an area.
