First time surveying meiofauna in Singapore

Meiofauna is the community of microscopically small, benthic animals living in and on soft aquatic substrates. Meiofaunal organisms, which have representatives of almost all invertebrate phyla, are smaller than macrofauna. The meiofauna of Singapore has never been explored. In the present study, we show results from the first exploration of the marine meiofauna of this geographical region. Several of the localities sampled yielded specimens of the meiofaunal groups Tardigrada, Kinorhyncha and/or meiofaunal Rhabditophora (Platyhelminthes). In the future, quantitative and qualitative studies would be required to assess the geographical distribution, as well as population density and taxon richness of the meiofaunal community in Singapore.