Deprez, T.

Open Marine Archive

Taxonomy and biogeography of the shallow water Mysidacea of the Western 
lndian Ocean - taxonomic and biogeographical research by use of taxonomic 
databases 
Deprez T. 
Ghent University, Marine Biology Section 
K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 8-9000 Gent 
E-mail: tim.deprez@rug.ac.be 
Up to date, a complete overview of the Mysidacea fauna for the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) was 
limited to species lists and overview reports on discrete regions, mainly due to lack of technology. The 
development of the Mysidlan database has made it possible to manage big amounts of information in a 
systematic and organized way. 
The Mysidlan database was built in order to manage both ecological, morphological and 
biogeographical data on the Mysidacea. Relevant data on the shallow water Mysidacea of the WIO were 
collected from all the available (published) information of the region, including original information from 
the east coast of South Africa and the north of Mozambique. 
The advantages of Mysidlan compared to other taxonomic databases are: 
= all data are based on published information available (digitally) in the database 
full search possibilities 
interaction with all recent software is easy 
C & 1 :  . 
The database consists of two parts: part 1 is containing systematic, morphological, ecological and 
geographical information and part 2 is presenting the collection of information sources. 
With this new tool, a complete overview of the actual knowledge of the Mysidacea of the WIO is given; 
a biogeographical review is presented and a hypothesis on possible relationships between 
biogeographical and tectonic processes or water circulation patterns is proposed. 
Next to these interpretations, identification keys were developed and taxa which need to be reviewed in 
the future, are indicated. 
Broadening the current dataset into a database on the world Mysidacea fauna will enlarge the value of 
taxonomic databases like Mysidlan. 


Taxonomy and biogeography of the shallow water Mysidacea of the Western Indian Ocean: taxonomic and biogeographical research by use of taxonomic databases

Taxonomy and biogeography of the shallow water Mysidacea of the Western Indian Ocean: taxonomic and biogeographical research by use of taxonomic databases

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