Cryptozoic copepods from Belgium: diversity and biogeographic implications

During an intensive survey of the presence and distribution of soil nematod es in Belgium, several samples were found to contain harpacticoid and cyclo poid copepods. Population characteristics could not be studied because the sampling methods were inadequate for the collection of copepods. We report here on the diversity, and discuss the habitat preferences, of those crypto zoic copepods. Four cyclopoid and 13 harpacticoid species were identified. One cyclopoid and eight harpacticoids have not been previously reported fro m Belgium. Species of Morariinae and Canthocamptinae were encountered in ne arly every type of habitat. The presence of the hypogean cyclopoid Graeteri ella unisetigera in leaf litter was unexpected and we discuss its distribut ion in Europe. Based on those observations, the concept of the importance o f leaf litter in the dispersion of stygofauna and its population maintenanc e is advanced.