Abstract
Natural oil seeps remain poorly explored in terms of their biodiversity. Most studies on these habitats have focused on prokaryotic communities involved in hydrocarbon metabolism, whereas the microscopic invertebrates inhabiting these environments have received little attention, and existing observations rarely include species-level identifications. Here, we collected samples from a natural oil seep and characterized the meiofaunal community using DNA barcoding to support species identification. We detected representatives of four animal phyla known for their tolerance of extreme conditions: Annelida, Nematoda, Rotifera and Tardigrada. Across these groups, we identified at least seven putative species, including several that may represent previously unrecognized taxa. The meiofaunal assemblage comprised both widespread species and rarer taxa occasionally found in other habitats. Although hydrocarbon-polluted environments likely restrict many species, they also appear to provide ecological niches for extremophile animals and may serve as important reservoirs of specialized biodiversity. Nevertheless, the association between meiofaunal taxa and seep habitats requires further validation and investigations. Overall, meiofauna offer a promising model for eco-evolutionary studies of hydrocarbon-impacted environments and for applications in biomonitoring and bioremediation.