2024-03-28T19:03:51Z
https://aca.pensoft.net/oai.php
10.3897/aca.1.e29329
2018-08-30
aca
Nematodes down under: State of knowledge and future trends
du Preez,Gerhard
Majdi,Nabil
Swart,Antoinette
Traunspurger,Walter
Fourie,Hendrika
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29329
Nematodes inhabit most environments that address their need of water, carbon, and energy. They also play an important role in epigean food webs by occupying different trophic levels, while providing essential ecosystem services such as regulating decomposition and nutrient mineralization. Conversely, little is known about the role that nematodes play in subterranean ecosystems. For this reason, an in-depth review was undertaken in order to concatenate data from existing literature and provide a baseline for future studies. A total of 41 surveyed scientific works, published over a time period of 138 years, reported 295 unique taxa from 78 different cave systems. Although an increase in scientific outputs was recorded from the late 1990s, there is a considerable lack of information on cave-dwelling nematodes from Asia, South America, and North America. Also, only seven true cave-dwelling (troglobitic) species have been discovered, which may indicate a lack of comprehensive taxonomic efforts. From an ecological perspective, very few works have reported on the importance of nematode assemblages associated with cave ecosystems. This has resulted in the causal factors leading to population resilience processes, as well as trophic interactions, remaining mostly speculative. Nonetheless, the isolated cave-dwelling nematode assemblage associated with Movile Cave, including the true cave-dwelling species Chronogaster troglodytes, fulfills an important role by feeding on microbial mats and in turn serving as a food source for predators. This example of a cave nematode assemblage providing ecosystem services has inspired the undertaking of the Gcwihaba Caves Research Project, which aims at studying artificially opened caves in Ngamiland, Botswana. Compared to other caves in the area with natural openings, the artificially opened systems present different food source pathways, atmospheric conditions, and community assemblage structures. This provides a unique opportunity to study isolated cave communities, including nematode assemblages, as well as their ecological importance.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29329
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29329
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29329/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29329/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29368
2018-08-30
aca
Dynamics of collembolan communities inside the forested scree slope
Rendoš,Michal
Kováč,Ľubomír
Mock,Andrej
Dana,Miklisová
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29368
The monthly dynamics of collembolan communities was studied over a year-long period in the depth profile of forested scree slope in the karst area of the Čierna hora Mts. (Western Carpathians, Slovakia). Collembola were sampled using non-baited subterranean traps consisted of a plastic cylinder with the small openings drilled around at 10 horizontal levels (5 – 95 cm), and a system of 10 plastic cups connected to each other by a helical rod and nuts. The plastic cylinder, after being buried in the slope profile, served as a protective casing for inserting the plastic cups filled with the preservative solution. The cups inside the cylinder were placed right under the openings on the cylinder perimeter, enabling to trap specimens in the particular depth. The temperature was measured continuously throughout the study at four-hour intervals using thermo-data loggers affixed to the wall of the plastic cups. During the year, the monthly temperature means on the surface ranged between 0.2°C (January) to 16.6°C (August) while the monthly temperature means at the depth of 95 cm ranged between 3.5°C (April) to 15.2°C (September). Monthly temperature ranges varied from 5.0°C (February) to 12.5 °C (October) on the surface and from 0.5°C (February, April) to 4.5 °C (July) at 95 cm. A total of 60 collembolan species were identified, among them 27 trogloxenes, 19 subtroglophiles, 12 eutroglophiles and 2 troglobionts. Fluctuations of the locomotory activity during the year were observed in all four categories of Collembola and at all depths. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed collembolan activity to be substantially affected by the thermal conditions fluctuating over the year. Most eutroglophiles and troglobionts, associated with deeper layers of the scree slope, preferred rather lower temperature ranges and were typical of the autumn months.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29368
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29368
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29368/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29368/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29275
2018-08-30
aca
Pensoft’s ARPHA Publishing Platform top innovations in OA publishing as demonstrated by Subterranean Biology
Stoev,Pavel
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29275
There are three key challenges that need to be addressed by journal publishers nowadays:
increasing machine-readability and semantic enrichment of the published content to allow text and data mining, aggregation and re-use;
adopting open science principles to expand from publication of mainly research articles to all research objects through the research cycle, and
facilitating all of this to authors, reviewers and editors through novel and user-friendly technological solutions.
ARPHA stands for: Authoring, Reviewing, Publishing, Hosting and Archiving, all in one place. ARPHA is the first publishing platform to support the full life cycle of a manuscript within a single online collaborative environment.
The platform consists of two interconnected but independently functioning journal publishing workflows:
ARPHA-XML: Entirely XML- and Web-based, collaborative authoring, peer review and publication workflow;
ARPHA-DOC: Document-based submission (PDF, or text files), peer review and publication workflow.
A full list of services provided by ARPHA is available at: http://arphahub.com/about/services
Furthermore, Pensoft has been heavily investing in the technological advancement of its journals. The most significant technologies implemented by Pensoft as demonstrated also by the journal Subterranean Biology in the recent years are:
Automatic registrations of reviews at Publons - Publons helps reviewers and editors get recognition for every review they make for the journal;
Dimensions - powerful tracker of citations, which provides ranking of given research in a given field;
Scopus CiteScore Metrics - interactive tool providing information on journal’s performance;
Еxport of published figures & supplementary materials to Biodiversity Literature Repository at ZENODO - increases visibility and traceability of article and sub-article elements;
Hypothes.is - tool allowing annotations on selected texts from the published article.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29275
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29275
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29275/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29275/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29300
2018-08-30
aca
Subterranean Species in Washington, D.C.: Spatial Analysis, Habitat Preferences, & Urban Conservation Implications
Keany,Jenna
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29300
Washington, D.C. is home to a remarkable assemblage of troglomorphic amphipods and isopods living in shallow groundwater habitats, the hypotelminorheic. Groundwater from the hypotelminorheic emerges on the surface into low-flowing seepage springs, or “seeps”, which are categorized as having blackened leaves, an underlain layer of clay, a drainage area of less than 10,000 m2, and are situated in slight topographical depressions. Stygobiotic species found in D.C.’s seeps include Crangonyx and Stygobromus amphipods and Caecidotea isopods. One species, Stygobromus hayi, is on the endangered species list and is endemic to the district; however, little is known about their habitat preferences or their distribution. All small water bodies, including rainwater puddles and seepage springs were sampled in national park lands in Southeast D.C. for hypotelminorheic fauna, soil morphology, and water quality indicators such as nitrates, phosphates, radon, pH, DO, and conductivity. Comparing sites with and without stygobionts, all phsysico-chemical parameters were statistically insignificant except for conductivity, which was able to distinguish between stygobiont-rich and stygobiont-poor seeps using logistic regression. Spatially, Crangonyx and Stygobromus amphipods rarely inhabit the same seepage spring, with only three occasions of cohabitation and an expected occurrence of ten. Caecidotea, however, is found in habitats with both amphipods. These results can be explained by either competitive exclusion or the presence of chemical differences in their habitats; however, even if there were some slight differences in their habitats, that still does not exclude competitive exclusion as an explanation. This study highlights new and important findings into the environmental preferences of D.C.’s most cryptic and rare species, and the importance of continued exploration of D.C.’s lesser known park lands.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29300
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29300
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29300/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29300/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29259
2018-08-30
aca
Carbon cycling and food web interaction in groundwater ecosystems - key drivers and major limitations
Griebler,Christian
organic matter
carbon flow
aquifers
oligotrophic
groundwater
food web
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29259
Groundwater ecosystems are naturally low in productivity (oligotrophic) reflected by a comparably low standing stock of biomass and slow growth and reproduction of organisms. On the other hand, aquifers are, due to their dimensions, enormous (interim) reservoirs of carbon. However, since we typically lack detailed information on carbon and energy flow through groundwater food webs, it is difficult to predict effects of climate and global change on groundwater ecosystems performance with regard to ‘sink’ or ‘source’ of carbon. Applying stable isotope analysis, high end mass spectrometry, and flow cytometry in addition to a suite of established methods in microbiology and geochemistry, we started to dissect, at selected sites, the various pools and fluxes of organic carbon in aquifers, including dissolved organic matter, particulate organic matter, and organisms. Moreover we investigated the link between carbon (organic and inorganic) and microbial growth and productivity. Last but not least, we tried to uncover food sources for groundwater fauna and the connection to microbes. The work was done in collaboration with Roland Hofmann, Katrin Hug, Marion Gallus, Lucas Fillinger, Marina Spona-Friedl, Alexander Braun, Ramona Brejcha (Institute of Groundwater Ecology at the Helmholtz Zentrum München, Germany) and Jenny Uhl, Norbert Hertkorn, and Philip Schmitt-Kopplin (Research Unit Analytical Biogeochemistry at the Helmholtz Zentrum München).
Groundwater rarely contained less than 1 mg/L DOC, however, with only a small fraction being readily biodegradable (BDOC, AOC). Unrecognized, 10-100 times the amount of organic carbon dissolved in groundwater was found to be adsorbed to the sediment matrix. Cell numbers and activities of microbes in aquifers typically ranged 1-3 orders below values from surface waters. In fact, carbon use efficiency (CUE) of groundwater bacterial communities was considerably lower than values from other oligotrophic aquatic environments, with a mean value of 5% (200 samples from 100 sites). There is ample evidence that biogeochemical processes are primarily linked to the sediment associated microbial communities that outnumber their suspended counterparts in terms of biomass and activity by 1-4 orders of magnitude. While groundwater fauna at many sites seem to live on plant derived organic matter and cannibalism, we also collected evidence for chemolithoautotrophic primary production fueling groundwater food webs.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29259
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29259
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29259/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29259/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29283
2018-08-30
aca
Red List of Azorean endemic cave adapted arthropods: an ecological and conservation overview
Borges,Paulo
Lamelas-Lopez,Lucas
Nunes,Rui
R. Amorim,Isabel
Boieiro,Mário
Rego,Carla
Azores
cave species
islands
IUCN
Arthropoda
Portugal
species conservation profiles
rarity
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29283
The Azorean endemic arthropod fauna includes seventeen species and subspecies adapted to the subterranean environment. Most of these species are known from single lava-tubes or volcanic pits (seven out of the 17 species) and only a few are widespread (namely Trechus terceiranus and Trechus picoensis). Moreover, many of the caves are under severe impact of the main economic activity on Azores, dairy–cattle production. Consequently, it is urgent to assess the conservation status of the Azorean endemic cave arthropod fauna. The aims of this contribution are twofold:
present the results of the first IUCN red-list assessment of the conservation status of Azorean endemic cave adapted arthropods (e.g. Borges et al. 2016, Borges and Amorim 2017a, Borges and Amorim 2017b, Borges and Amorim 2017c, Boieiro et al. 2018, Borges and Amorim 2018a, Borges and Amorim 2018b, Borges and Amorim 2018c, Borges and Amorim 2018d, Borges and Amorim 2018e, Rego et al. 2018) and
present an overview of the major threats involving the conservation of those species. The assessments of extinction risk were based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria and the most updated guidelines. Overall, 15 out of the 16 assessed species are threatened (CR+ EN + VU). The most diverse group, the ground-beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) include half of the assessed species and have five species considered as Critically Endangered (CR) (Thalassophilus azoricus, Trechus jorgensis, Trechus montanheirorum, Trechus oromii, Trechus pereirai).
Most of the species have small extent of occurrence (EOO less than 12 km²) and reduced area of occupancy (AOO less than 12 km²). The main current threat to the species is the impact of agriculture activities. We suggest as future measures of conservation the regular monitoring of the species (every ten years) and fencing the entrances of the caves where human intrusion and disturbance has been occurring. The Azorean Government will publish legislation for the protection of the most important Azorean caves in 2018.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29283
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29283
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29283/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29283/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29395
2018-08-31
aca
Conservation concern’ bryophytes find refuge on cave entrances in the Azores
Gabriel,Rosalina
Sim-Sim,Manuela
González-Mancebo,Juana Maria
IUCN
species conservation profiles
rarity
Mosses
Liverworts
Macaronesia (Azores
Madeira
Canary Islands)
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29395
Bryophytes, including mosses, liverworts and hornworts, are terrestrial plants, with a particular life cycle where the gametophyte is dominant over the sporophyte; many species are pokilohydric, meaning that they achieve a quick equilibrium between the cell water content and that of the environment, suspending their life, but not dying, in the absence of water. Due to their light spores, these plants have a great dispersal ability and may be found from the poles to the equator. In the Azores, there are almost 500 species (Gabriel et al. 2010), colonizing a large number of habitats and substrata, but forming particularly luxuriant communities inside native forests. Nevertheless, these forests are presently restricted to medium-high elevations (above 500 m) and below this altitude, adequate habitats for many bryophyte species are scarce (Henriques et al. 2016). Cave entrances, at different elevations, serve as surrogate habitats for bryophyte species, since they present an adequate relative humidity, fewer competitor species and are usually not disturbed by chemical products such as herbicides or pesticides. The aims of this work are twofold:
present the results of the first IUCN red-list assessment of the conservation status of Azorean conservation concern bryophytes; and
present an overview of the major threats involving the conservation of those species.
The assessments of extinction risk were based on the most updated categories and criteria. Seven liverworts (Calypogeia azorica, Cheilolejeunea cedercreutzii, Fuscocephaloziopsis crassifolia, Leptoscyphus porphyrius subsp. azoricus, Lophocolea fragrans Plagiochila longispina and Radula holtii,) and seven mosses (Andoa berthelotiana, Echinodium renauldii, Heterocladium flaccidum, Hookeria lucens, Microcampylopus laevigatus, Rhynchostegiella trichophylla and Thamnobryum rudolphianum) benefit from populations at cave entrances, mostly the Azorean and Macaronesian endemic species. The three most common threats harming “cave” bryophytes include: climate change & severe weather, habitat change and degradation and invasive plant species of native forest. These threats are also documented in the literature (e.g. Patiño et al. 2016; Ferreira et al. 2016; Triantis et al. 2010 and Silva et al. 2008). Cave habitats are thus an important part of bryophyte conservation in the Azores, and should be both legally protected and monitored to the mutual benefit of species and habitat conservation.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29395
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29395
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29395/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29395/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29397
2018-08-31
aca
Characterization and perspectives on studies of subterranean invertebrate communities in Latin America
Zepon,Tamires
Bichuette,Maria Elina
Latin America cave biology
Scenario
Invertebrate Communities
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29397
Studies about subterranean fauna in Latin America were intensified in the last decades. Many research are species description, but other knowledge areas have been studied, such as subterranean invertebrates communities. This study aims to characterize studies about these communities in Latin America countries. We made a bibliographic survey of published papers in scientific journals and bulletins of speleology groups, and different aspects were verified, like localities (country), publish date, number of sampled caves, use of tests and statistical analyzes and sample effort. Of the 20 Latin America countries, we not found those studies for ten (10) of them (Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, and Uruguay). We accessed a total of 164 published studies, of which the most was conducted in Brazil (69), followed by Mexico (52), Venezuela (17) and Cuba (11). In Brazil, most of studies was published in the last two decades (2000-2017), in Mexico in the 70’s, in Venezuela between 80’s and 2009 and in Cuba in 70’s and 90’s. Except for Brazil, where the most of studies explored the influence of biotic and abiotic factors in the communities, all countries published mainly faunistic inventories about only an unique cave or region. Thus, they do not present tests and statistical analysis and, sometimes, neither ecological discussion. Moreover, many publications do not have information about number of sample occasions and most of Brazilian studies did only one sample occasion. That makes it harder both the ecological approach that permits the verification of patterns that acts in the communities structuring and the comparison of data from different regions. Therefore, although the knowledge of subterranean invertebrates communities has increased, the Latin American has a huge potential to be explored in relation to areas with few or no studies, and to more consistent ecological studies.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29397
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29397
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29397/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29397/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29391
2018-09-04
aca
The Mexican Blindcat Project: new discoveries and future efforts
Gluesenkamp,Andrew
Hendrickson,Dean A.
Sprouse,Peter
conservation
endangered species
endangered species
Mexico
Prietella
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29391
The endangered Mexican blindcat (Prietella phreatophila, Carranza 1954) is one of only four described stygobitic ictalurid catfish in North America. Members of two monotypic genera (Satan eurystomus and Trogloglanis pattersoni) are known from the Edwards Aquifer in Texas and, until recently, Prietella (represented by P. lundbergi and P. phreatophila) was only known to occur in Mexico (northern Coahuila to southern Tamaulipas). The recent discovery of P. phreatophila in a cave on the Amistad National Recreation Area in Val Verde County, Texas is the result of decades of sporadic effort on both sides of the US/Mexican border and has stimulated a renewed effort to investigate the distribution, ecology, evolutionary history, and conservation status of this species. Collaborative efforts among The San Antonio Zoo, The University of Texas at Austin, Zara Environmental, and The National Park Service are currently focused on habitat surveys in Texas as well as captive husbandry and propagation. Ongoing efforts with collaborators from the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, Área de Protección de Recursos Naturales Sabinas and the Laboratorio de Genética para la Conservación, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz include expanded fieldwork in Mexico, hydrogeologic studies, and surveys using environmental DNA.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29391
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29391
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29391/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29391/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29513
2018-09-04
aca
Global correlates of diversity in aquatic subterranean fauna
Martinez,Alejandro
Fontaneto,Diego
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29513
Subterranean aquatic systems are island-like habitats spread all over the world consisting of many caves linked by a common geological history but displaying different ecological parameters (e.g. distance to the sea, topography, depth). Therefore, they comprise numerous, discrete, and varied entities that facilitate independent colonization events by epigean biota, providing many replicates of comparable evolutionary processes. The data produced over the past 100 years of research collectively indicates that subterranean aquatic systems harbor a high percentage of local endemism and disharmonic animal communities when comparing them to surrounding epigean environments. However, it remains unclear whether those are general trends, or whether confounding effects such as sampling bias may produce misleading results. We investigate these two problems by analyzing a global dataset of ca. 50,000 records for ca. 4,000 species in 2,000 caves with two goals.
We search for global correlates of diversity in cave aquatic animals by testing the effect of ecological and geological parameters on the number of species, species composition and functional diversity in each cave and subterranean system;
We account for the influence of sampling intensity on the analyses by including the number of samples and number of published papers explicitly in the analyses.
The highest species diversity was found in the Caribbean and Mediterranean basins: two areas with many caves covering a wide range of ecological conditions, as both basins include marine, anchialine and freshwater subterranean habitats. However, the number of papers per area explained a high proportion of the variation observed of our data, with a taxonomical bias favoring crustaceans. Our results indicate that sampling bias should be carefully considered when drawing conclusions from large-scale analyses, and that we still need further sampling, especially in groups different to crustaceans, to better understand the generality of the processes driving global patterns in subterranean biodiversity.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29513
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29513
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29513/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29513/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29515
2018-09-04
aca
Preliminary conservation status assessment of cave-dwelling planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) of Italian Alps and Apennines.
Manenti,Raoul
Barzaghi,Benedetta
Lana,Enrico
Stocchino,Giacinta
Manconi,Renata
Lunghi,Enrico
Stenoendemic
cave conservation
invertebrate
flatworm
planarian
Triclads
undergund biodiversity
pollution
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29515
Despite being a fundamental source of biodiversity, several highly diverse taxa of aquatic invertebrates, including Platyhelminthes, remain still poorly known and poorly considered in protection programs. This is the case especially of several invertebrate species that inhabit groundwater. In this environment, invertebrates play significant roles that are strictly connected to the usefulness of these systems for human survival. The groundwater biodiversity of continental Italy is largely unknown and its importance neglected in national and regional legislation. One of the most poorly studied group of the Italian groundwater fauna are planarians. Most of the known species are endemic of small single karst areas or a single cave, with their distribution being never investigated after the original description. The aims of this study are to provide an update conservation status assessment of cave-dwelling planarians known from Italian Alps and Apennines. In particular, we want to analyze the major threats for their survival and the factors determining the possibility to contact and observe these important invertebrates for the subterranean systems. From October 2016 to September 2017, we explored the known localities of nine taxa and a relevant number of surrounding caves. Our results suggest that most of the cave-dwelling planarians species of continental Italy are threatened by water pollution and habitat destruction; moreover, our research underlines that there is a large conservation issue dealing with stenoendemic planarians that may involve other cave-dwelling invertebrates with narrow ranges. Generally, the underground habitat of most species appears to be deeply compromised and changed since species description.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29515
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29515
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29515/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29515/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29462
2018-09-04
aca
Beauty underground: cavefishes in China
Zhao,Yahui
Fenolio,Danté B.
Soares,Daphne
Gluesenkamp,Andrew
Niemiller,Matthew L.
Bichuette,Maria Elina
Chakrabarty,Prosanta
Cavefish
Species diversity
Distribution
Conservation
China
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29462
Cavefishes are a distinctive group of animals restricted to subterranean environments for at least for part of their lives. Their level of troglomorphism differentiates them into groups: stygobionts (troglomorphic) and stygophiles/stygoxenes (non-troglomorphic). China is home to the greatest diversity of cavefishes in the world, with more than 76 endemic stygobiotic species and an additional 70+ non-stygobiotic taxa. All but one species (Onychostoma macrolepis in northern China), are found in the southwest, primarily in the karst of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Sinocyclocheilus, the largest cavefish genus with 35 stygobiotic species, has undergone rapid evolution and diversification. Many species in this genus possess horns and humpbacks (i.e., horn-like structures and hyperdevelopment of a dorsal protuberance similar to a humpback), probably resulting from parallel evolution. Syntopy (inhabitation of the same cave system by multiple cavefishes) is common in China, and sometimes several stygobiotic species are found in the same cave pool or subterranean river. Caves and karst habitats are fragile environments, and cavefishes are extremely sensitive to environmental change. Threats from rapid economic growth in recent decades have increased the need for conservation efforts for cave-dwelling communities, and the conservation of Chinese cavefishes is an urgent issue, in particular. To this end, the Chinese Cavefish Working Group (CCWG) was created form a collaborative effort by researchers from China and the United States. The primary goal of the CCWG is to document the distribution and diversity of Chinese cavefishes, to gather information on their status and threats to wild populations and describe unknown aspects of their organismal biology. These data can be used to make sound conservation and management decisions. Research efforts are not limited to surveys and collection but also taxonomy, systematics, morphology, ecology, behavior, sensory neuroethology, evolution, population biology, and conservation science.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29462
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29462
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29462/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29462/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29437
2018-09-04
aca
Can the subterranean fauna be used as proxy for past environmental changes? – the example of the Carpathians cave fauna
Moldovan,Oana Teodora
Mirea,Ionut-Cornel
Kenesz,Marius
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29437
Carpathian Mountains were one of the main refuge areas during the climate changes of the Pleistocene and the Holocene in Europe and one of the richest regions in the world in subterranean (caves and associated habitats) endemic species. Nevertheless, the Carpathian Mountains subterranean fauna importance is underestimated especially due to dispersed information on its diversity and the scarcity of molecular studies in the area. Here, we present a first general view of the cave fauna hotspot represented by the Romanian Carpathians and the geological and historical processes that shaped the patterns of subterranean distribution and diversity at regional scale. The Carpathians are an amalgam of various geological units with complex paleogeographical evolution that is reflected in completely different species assemblages dominated by unit specific fauna groups. Phylogeography of Coleoptera and environmental parameters are adding to the general view at regional scale and offer additional explanation for this exceptional subterranean diversification in a non-Mediterranean region. We also use the example of the Carpathians cave fauna as proxy for past environmental changes in the area. Troglobionts are endemic on small areas and by studying their present distributions and phylogeny, past processes of landscape evolution on the surface can be better understood.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29437
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29437
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29437/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29437/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29414
2018-09-04
aca
Radiation and ancestral range reconstruction of the cave beetle genus Anthroherpon (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Leptodirini)
Njunjić,Iva
Hendriks,Kasper
Schilthuizen,Menno
Merckx,Vincent
Perreau,Michel
Deharveng,Louis
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29414
The genus Anthroherpon Reitter, 1889 is the most species-rich genus of the exclusively subterranean subtribe Anthroherponina. It comprises 26 species and 55 subspecies distributed in the Dinaric mountains which are known to be a world biodiversity hotspot for subterranean fauna. Most species are short-range endemics and more than half of the species are known only from a single cave, but the genus as a whole has a wide range. This study provides a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the Anthroherpon radiation, using a dated molecular tree as a framework for understanding the diversification of the genus and reconstructing its ancestral range. We reconstructed the phylogeny of Anthroherpon using Bayesian analysis of six loci, both mitochondrial and nuclear, and we inferred the ancestral range of the genus using BioGeoBEARS. Our main findings show that Anthroherpon is monophyletic and started to diverge approximately in the Early Miocene (ca. 22 MYA). The genus has diversified entirely underground. Our results show that troglobitic lineages like Anthroherpon can disperse and diversify underground over a large geographic area during long periods of time. Biogeographic reconstruction of the ancestral range shows the origin of the genus in the area comprising three high mountains in western Montenegro: Dobreljica, Moračke planine, and Orjen. From this area the presumed ancestor dispersed to the other parts of its present range.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29414
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29414
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29414/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29414/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29273
2018-09-05
aca
Subterranean millipedes, some patterns and adaptations
Enghoff,Henrik
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29273
Millipedes (class Diplopoda) are a large group of arthropods mostly living in the soil. More than 10,000 species have been described, but this is surely just a mere fraction of the actually existing number of living species. Many lineages of millipedes have invaded caves and other subterranean habitats, not the least in southern Europe.
In spite of their many legs, millipedes are in general poor dispersers, and their present-day distributions often reflect very old biogeographical patterns. The monotypic genus Cantabrodesmus Mauriès, 1971, of uncertain family placement and only known from a few caves in N Spain, is an extreme example of this.
The genus Thalassisobates Verhoeff, 1908, provides an example of “ecological disjunction”: One species is truly littoral and occurs along the coasts of Europe and eastern N America, whereas the two other species of the genus were collected in a cave in S Spain and in MSS on the island of La Gomera, Canary Islands, respectively, in both cases more than 500 m above sea level. Similar ecological disjunctions (littoral/subterranean) are known from pseudoscorpions (genus Paraliochthonius Beier, 1956) and isopods (genera Halophiloscia Verhoeff, 1908, and Littorophiloscia Hatch, 1947).
Subterranean millipedes often exhibit classical troglomorphisms, but there are also some not-so-classical adaptations, such as modification of the mouthparts for a semiaquatic/hygropetric mode of life. Such modifications have apparently arisen at least seven times independently in unrelated lineages belonging to four millipede families.
Millipedes are often hosts to epibiotic fungi of the order Laboulbeniales. Available evidence, although scant, suggests a difference between cave and epigean millipedes in the distribution patterns of the fungi on the hosts: Laboulbeniales on epigean millipedes tend to grow on body parts which come into contact during copulation, whereas those on cave millipedes tend to be scattered along the millipede body, suggesting transfer via the substrate.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29273
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29273
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29273/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29273/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29514
2018-09-11
aca
A new insight into the Stygofauna Mundi: assembling a global dataset for aquatic fauna in subterranean environments
Martinez,Alejandro
Anicic,Nikoleta
Calvaruso,Salvatore
Sanchez,Nuria
Puppieni,Laura
Sforzi,Tommaso
Zaupa,Silvia
Alvarez,Fernando
Brankovits,Dávid
Gąsiorowski,Ludwik
Gerovasileiou,Vasilis
Gonzalez,Brett
Humphreys,William Frank
Illife,Thomas
Worsaae,Katrine
Bailly,Nicolas
Fontaneto,Diego
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29514
The potential of subterranean environments as models to address major evolutionary and ecological questions has been highlighted in the literature. They represent partially isolated, discrete units offering several replicates of the same evolutionary processes. Species occurrence data of these environments is abundant, although sparse in the literature or gathered in databases established according to regional, taxonomical, or ecological criteria. We here present a newly assembled dataset consisting of records of aquatic animals in all types of caves or wells from all over the world. Literature sources were gathered from Google Scholar by independently searching for each metazoan phylum/arthropod order, as well as the key words “cave”, “groundwater”, “well”, or “stygobite”, in English, Galician, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalonian, French, Italian, Hungarian, Greek, German, Polish, Russian, and Serbo-Croatian. The relevance of each source was confirmed after checking the title and the abstract. For each selected source, we examined its reference list in order to identify studies that were not published in journals indexed in the databases we searched. From the 6852 selected references, we manually extracted all records that concerned either
occurrence of a species in a given geographical area or
occurrence of any taxon in a particular cave or well.
Records were classified as primary or secondary, depending on whether they provided new information or referred to already publish records, allowing us to identify redundant information in posterior analyses. Information for each access point was organized in as a gazetteer, including synonym names, geographical, ecological, and geological information. Following this strategy, we have obtained 48,800 records (32,769, primary) from 1957 references checked so far. Most records are amongst fish and crustaceans. In contrast, few data exist for other groups that are comparatively diverse outside caves, such as Nematoda. Relevant information will be included in World Register of Marine Cave Species (Fig. 1).
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29514
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29514
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29514/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29514/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29605
2018-09-11
aca
Research and stakeholders: Bathynellidae (Bathynellacea, Crustacea) case studies in mining areas. New genera from Australia and the enigma of the “cosmopolitan” Bathynella genus
Perina,Giulia
Camacho,Ana
Huey,Joel
Koenders,Annette
Horwitz,Pierre
Crustacea
Bathynellidae
Pilbara
stygofauna
Environmental Protection
Western Australia
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29605
It seems obvious to say that research can provide benefits to multiple stakeholders and that stakeholder involvement is more often than not essential for research to proceed. Concrete examples of these mutual dependencies are valuable, where industry, government agencies and biological studies increase each others’ potential and efficiencies.
In the past 20 years the number of subterranean taxa discovered in Australia, especially in the Pilbara bioregion, has increased consistently thanks to environmental and biological surveys, often associated with mining development, but the investment on research needed to understand this vast biodiversity is far from what is required.
The family Bathynellidae (Crustacea) occur in most Australian aquifers, but collecting them is not simple and their study and identification are very difficult due to their small and fragile bodies and their conservative morphology. Additionally, the poor and incomplete description of the type genus and species of this family (Bathynella natans Vejdovsky, 1882) have led to the assignment of many species occurring around the world, including Australia, to this genus. The taxonomic framework is therefore not well defined and their biodiversity and distribution assessments needed by government agencies become challenging. This research started with a collaboration with different environmental consultants who provided a conspicuous number of specimens collected through several years, which allowed an accurate analysis of specific aquifers. Studies of Bathynellidae populations occurring in different areas produced results useful to inform mining companies on species distribution and groundwater connectivity, underling the importance of cooperation among stakeholders. Morphological and molecular data reveal new genera and species with fascinating relationships, and the collection of some fresh material from type localities belonging to Bathynella clarifies the position of this “cosmopolitan” genus.
This example demonstrates (again) the value of research as both underpinning, and supplementing, existing knowledge to improve the management and monitoring of the delicate subterranean environment and its resources.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29605
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29605
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29605/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29605/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29581
2018-09-11
aca
Exploring the morphospace in subterranean spiders
Dejanaz,Andrea
Mammola,Stefano
Isaia,Marco
Niche differentiation
functional traits
Araneae
Huntchisonian hypervolume
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29581
In light of the reduced diversity and abundance of species, subterranean habitats represent ideal models systems in which to investigate characters displacement in species sharing the same habitat. In order to minimize direct competition, it is expected that sibling species occupying the same subterranean habitat should differentiate their morphological niche. Conversely, geographically vicariant species occupying similar microhabitats should display a convergent morphology. We tested these hypotheses by studying character displacement in different species of Troglohyphantes Joseph, 1881 spiders (Araneae: Linyphiidae) in the Western Italian Alps. These spiders underwent a remarkable radiations in subterranean habitats, with numerous stenoendemic elements showing different degrees of subterranean adaptation. For each considered species, we examined 10 to 15 females specimens for a number of morphological characters related to body size, degree of subterranean adaptation (eyes development, flattening of the cephalotorax and leg elongation) and trophic specialization (chelicera and fang length). These traits were combined in a multidimensional space in order to describe the geometry of the n-dimensional Hutchinsonian hypervolume representing the morphological niche of each species. Once the hypervolumes were constructed, pairwise similarity among each species niche was calculated using different overlap indexes. We found that the niche hypervolume of all Troglohyphantes species had a comparable size. However, the distance among niche centroids was lower for species with similar subterranean adaptation and significantly higher in coexisting species. Furthermore, when found in the same cave, species with similar degree of adaptation showed a limited niche overlap. Overall, our results highlight the key role of competition in shaping morphology when competing species are present.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29581
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29581
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29581/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29581/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29583
2018-09-11
aca
On climate change and subterranean spiders
Mammola,Stefano
Piano,Elena
Jones,Alexandra
Dejanaz,Andrea
Isaia,Marco
Global Warming
Subterranean Biology
Thermal niche
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29583
Subterranean ecosystems offer intriguing opportunities to study mechanisms underlying responses to changes in climate because species within them are often adapted to largely constant temperatures. However, responses of specialized subterranean species to anthropogenic climate warming are still largely undiscussed. We combined physiological tests, species distribution models and genetic data to investigate the potential effect of raising temperatures on subterranean coenosis. We used spiders of the genus Troglohyphantes Joseph, 1881 (Araneae: Linyphiidae) as model organisms, focusing on a coherent biogeographic area of the Western Alps in which the distribution of these spiders has been well documented. Thermal tolerance experiments in climatic chambers pointed at a reduced physiological tolerance to temperature fluctuations at increasing levels of troglomorphism. This result suggests that, during their subterranean evolution, spiders have progressively fine-tuned thermal tolerance to the constant and narrow temperature ranges of their habitats. Further evidence of the sensitivity of our model species to temperature increase derives from species distribution models projected onto different climate change scenarios. Model projections point toward a future decline in habitat suitability for subterranean spiders. Moreover, genetic data at the population/species interface are suggestive of limited gene flow between subterranean populations, testifying reduced dispersal capacity and habitat connectivity. In light of these results, we predict the potential extinction of the most restricted endemic species. Our findings therefore emphasize the importance of considering subterranean organisms as model species for ecological studies dealing with climatic changes, and to extend such investigations to other subterranean systems worldwide.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29583
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29583
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29583/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29583/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29582
2018-09-11
aca
Unraveling the eastern North American Hesperochernes (Pseudoscorpiones, Chernetidae) species complex
Stephen,Charles
Niemiller,Matthew L.
Bond,Jason
Pseudoscorpiones
RADseq
subterranean
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29582
The pseudoscorpion genus Hesperochernes presently includes 19 species, 17 of which are endemic to North America. On this continent, most species in the genus have been found in association with bats or rodents, and six species are known exclusively from subterranean habitats. Three species are distributed south of the Great Lakes in the eastern part of the mainland continent: H. holsingeri, H. mirabilis, and H. occidentalis. All three have only been collected from karst caves. Hesperochernes holsingeri is presumed to be endemic to one cave in southern Indiana in the Interior Low Plateau karst region. Specimens attributed to H. mirabilis are widely distributed across all karst regions east of the Mississippi River, excluding the Florida Lime Sink. Specimens identified as H. occidentalis are restricted to west of the Mississippi River, where they are broadly distributed in the Ozarks karst region. These three species were defined from morphological characters that have since been speculated to suffer from a high degree of variation among populations. This ambiguity has effectively rendered unreliable any species-level determinations of Hesperochernes from caves in eastern North America. Additionally, previous authors have noted that there exists high potential for undescribed diversity within this geographic distribution of the genus. The present study seeks to disentangle relationships within Hesperochernes from subterranean populations in eastern North America. Within this region, we collected 95 samples of Hesperochernes and nine samples of outgroup pseudoscorpions from 53 caves located in the Appalachians, Ozarks, and Interior Low Plateau karst regions. The 3RAD restriction-associated digest (RADseq) method was used to sample thousands of loci from across the whole genome. Population genetics, species delimitation, phylogeographic, and morphological analyses are presented that will inform a taxonomic revision of this remarkably successful, exclusively hypogean species complex of pseudoscorpions.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29582
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29582
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29582/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29582/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29629
2018-09-11
aca
The remarkable remipedes
Yager,Jill
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29629
This presentation will be a very general look at the exciting history of the crustacean class Remipedia, from discovering them in a water-filled cave in the Bahamas in 1979 to today. I will begin with an introduction to the beautiful remipede cave habitat. We will explore where these fascinating animals live and what other cave crustaceans inhabit their community.
I will review remipede research since publishing their description in the first volume of the Journal of Crustacean Biology in 1981 through 37 years of research. Several interesting remipede species will be highlighted for their unusual morphology. In closing I will propose questions to encourage future research with these interesting crustaceans.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29629
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29629
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29629/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29629/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29777
2018-09-18
aca
What happens to groundwater ecosystems when you take out the groundwater?
Hose,Grant
Korbel,Kathryn
Chariton,Anthony
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29777
The removal of groundwater results in the lowering of water tables, which, for groundwater organisms, translates to reduced habitat availability and changed environmental conditions in the habitat that remains. While changes in groundwater levels may be well modelled and predicted, the impacts on groundwater ecosystems remain poorly known.
There are three key processes associated with groundwater drawdown in shallow alluvial aquifers that may threaten groundwater ecosystems. These processes are 1. the physical decline of water levels, from which fauna can be stranded in isolated or unsaturated sediments; 2. the loss of or change to habitat, particularly as water levels move through different geological strata and 3. changes in hydrological connectivity, that may influence water quality as a result of increasing distance or disconnection from the surface and other water sources.
Results from laboratory studies show the variable capacity for stygobiotic invertebrates to move with declining water tables, dependent on both drawdown rate and sediment attributes. Once isolated in unsaturated habitats, our tests show that survival of fauna is limited beyond 48 h. Invertebrates are constrained by sediment size and unable to use those with relatively small pore spaces and may not be able to use all available saturated habitats.
This talk will present a framework that identifies the key threats of groundwater drawdown to groundwater ecosystems and will highlight the current state of knowledge of each of these threatening processes. We present the results of empirical studies on the response of stygobiotic invertebrates to specific elements of the framework.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29777
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29777
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29777/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29777/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29830
2018-09-18
aca
Speciation underground in desert aquifers or just another case of hybridisation by blind beetles?
Cooper,Steven
Langille,Barbara
Hyde,Josephine
Humphreys,William Frank
Austin,Andrew
speciation
subterranean dytiscid beetles
calcrete aquifer
opsin gene evolution
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29830
Phylogeographic studies have provided evidence for speciation underground within the confines of a cave environment, questioning the assumption that cave animals evolved from surface ancestors (Juan et al. 2010). However, for many of these studies, it is difficult to rule out the possibility that phylogeographic patterns may have resulted from multiple colonisation events from the same ancestral surface species, introgressive hybridisation among related species, and/or the extinction of surface ancestral lineages. Such is the case for the subterranean diving beetle species (Dytiscidae) of the groundwater calcrete archipelago of central Western Australia, where more than 100 species have been described that appear to have evolved by a combination of ecological/allopatric speciation and in some cases possibly sympatric speciation. We have further explored these speciation theories by phylogeographic analyses of nuclear gene data (WG, TOPO, ARK, Cn) from 86 species in the genera Limbodessus and Paroster, including analyses of genes involved in photoreception for select Paroster taxa. Analyses provide further support for the presence of sympatric sister species, thus, rejecting the hypothesis that previous phylogeographic patterns, based on mitochondrial DNA, resulted from introgressive hybridisation. Our analyses also uncovered deleterious frameshift and stop mutations in a long wavelength opsin gene that mapped to the common ancestor of a sympatric sister triplet of stygobiont species, providing strong evidence that this ancestor was already adapted to living underground and that the species triplet evolved within the confines of a single groundwater calcrete. Our analyses show that while the majority (~75%) of these stygobiont beetle species evolved from surface ancestors, a significant number diversified underground through a process of either sympatric or parapatric speciation.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29830
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29830
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29830/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29830/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29834
2018-09-18
aca
Which processes are behind the relationship between species abundance and environmental suitability? Monte Albo cave salamander as model species
Lunghi,Enrico
Manenti,Raoul
Mulargia,Manuela
Veith,Michael
Corti,Claudia
Ficetola,Francesco Gentile
Biospeleology
modelling
environmental suitability
body condition
Sardinia
amphibia
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29834
Species can show a strong variation of local abundance across their ranges. Recent analyses suggested that variation in abundance can be related to environmental suitability, as the highest abundances are often observed in populations living in the most suitable areas. However, there is limited information on the mechanisms through which variation in environmental suitability determines abundance. We analyzed populations of the microendemic Monte Albo cave salamander Hydromantes (Speleomantes) flavus Stefani, 1969 (Plethodontidae), and tested several hypotheses on potential relationships linking environmental suitability to population parameters. For multiple populations across the whole species range, we assessed suitability using species distribution models and measured density, activity level, food intake, and body condition index. In high-suitability sites, the density of salamanders was up to 30 times higher than in the least suitable ones. Variation in activity levels and population performance can explain such variation of abundance. In high-suitability sites, salamanders were active close to the surface and showed a low frequency of empty stomachs. Furthermore, when taking into account seasonal variation, body condition was better in the most suitable sites. Our results show that the strong relationship between environmental suitability and population abundance can be mediated by the variation of parameters strongly linked to individual performance and fitness. Furthermore, we highlighted the potential use of cave animals as model species to answer macroecological questions.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29834
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29834
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29834/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29834/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29836
2018-09-18
aca
Diversity and conservation of the cave fauna of Crete (Greece)
Paragamian,Kaloust
Paragkamian,Savvas
Cave fauna
biodiversity
conservation
protection
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29836
Located in the southernmost of the Aegean Sea, Crete is the largest of the Greek islands covering an area of 8,261 km2. The first records on the cave fauna of Crete were published in 1869 and since then a total of 175 publications have been gradually increased our knowledge on the cave-dwelling species of the island.
Crete is currently the best-studied Region of Greece regarding biospeleology. Although it covers only 6.3% of the national area, the faunistically investigated caves represent 35% of the investigated caves of Greece while the recorded cave fauna includes 30% of the cavernicolous species of Greece. In total, 250 species belonging to 166 genera, 83 families, 36 orders, 13 classes, and 5 phyla, have been recorded from 158 caves. The most diverse groups are Araneae (64 species), Isopoda (29 species), Gastropoda, Copepoda, and Coleoptera (21 species each), Pseudoscorpiones (17 species) and Chiroptera (15 species). Among the invertebrate species, 102 are endemic to Greece of which 92 are Cretan endemics. The obligate cavernicolous fauna includes 42 species, most of them in Isopoda (13), Araneae (11) and Pseudoscorpiones (11). Only 3 species are distributed outside Greece, the isopods Libanonethes probosciferus Vandel, 1955 and Trichonethes kosswigi Strouhal, 1953.
The cave habitats and the cave fauna of Greece are quite neglected in Greece’s environmental legislation and policy. Furthermore, there is an implementation gap in the environmental law. In Crete, 62 out of the previously mentioned 158 caves happened to be situated within protected areas (wildlife refuges and/or Natura 2000 sites). With the exception of the bat species, no other cave associated species is protected by specific law. Further efforts are also needed to assess the conservation status of most of the species. Out of 250 species only 35 have been assessed for IUCN Red List and 51 for Greece’s Red Data Book. Most of them are bats, gastropods and isopods.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29836
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29836
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29836/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29836/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29877
2018-09-19
aca
Comparative phylogeography of two cavernicolous springtails (Collembola) codistributed across a geologically complex karst landscape
Katz,Aron
Taylor,Steven
Davis,Mark
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29877
Genetic isolation and biological diversification in caves is generally attributed to physical barriers to gene flow, but few studies have evaluated the influence ecology has on patterns of divergence and molecular variation in cave organisms. Collembola (springtails)—a class of tiny, insect-like arthropods—constitute an under-utilized and information-rich source of data for inferring evolutionary processes in cave environments. They are among the most abundant and diverse animals in caves with species that are often codistributed and have varying levels of ecological specificity to, or dependence upon, cave habitats—differences that may affect dispersal capacity and genetic connectivity. This is the first study to characterize and compare patterns of molecular diversity and genetic structure among ecologically distinct and codistributed species of cavernicolous springtails. Twenty-five caves were sampled throughout the Salem Plateau in Illinois and Missouri—a once continuous karst region, now bisected by the Mississippi River Valley. Multilocus datasets generated for morphospecies in the genera Pygmarrhopalites and Pogonognathellus were used to delimit species, identify genetic barriers, and evaluate and compare phylogeographical patterns between troglobiotic and eutroglophilic species to assess whether two codistributed cave-dwelling species have congruent phylogeographical patterns across a complex geological landscape, despite having distinct ecologies. Populations of troglobiotic Pygmarrhopalites sp. were strongly structured among karst areas and across the Mississippi River valley, but these patterns were not recovered for eutroglophilic Pogonognathellus sp., which displayed little to no genetic structure, except among caves. Results indicate that cave-dependence is associated with deep phylogeographic divisions across geographical barriers—supporting the hypothesis that ecological specialization to cave habitats is correlated with low dispersal capacity. The recovery of highly divergent and cryptic lineages, genetically isolated at fine geographic scales (microendemism), also highlights how little we understand microarthropod diversity in caves and presents major concerns for cave conservation biology.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29877
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29877
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29877/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29877/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29843
2018-09-19
aca
A comprehensive database for the cave fauna of Greece
Paragamian,Kaloust
Poulinakis,Manoussos
Paragkamian,Savvas
Nikoloudakis,Ioannis
Cave fauna
database
Greece
open data
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29843
Within the framework of the project “Conservation of the Cave Fauna of Greece”, the Hellenic Institute of Speleological Research developed the Cave Fauna of Greece (CFG) Database (https://database.inspee.gr/, Fig. 1), a free online data infrastructure that provides reliable information on the taxonomy, distribution, conservation status and referenced literature for all cavernicolous animal species in Greece. Furthermore, it provides information on geography, protection status and the fauna of each cave, as well as the referenced literature.
The database was compiled after gathering, critically evaluating and integrating all taxonomic and faunistic information for species recorded in the caves of Greece. It includes all species recorded up to date and currently regarded as valid. The taxonomic reference system is harmonized with the Pan-European Species directories Infrastructure (PESI, EU-nomen). Considerable effort was also made to find the locations of the caves and to solve problems of synonymies, misspellings, etc.
CFG database is a comprehensive, dynamic and digitally-available reference for several user-groups: research scientists, policy and decision-makers, nature conservation community, the education community, and citizen scientists. It was developed and launched to serve as a basic tool for research and conservation policies of cave species and caves in Greece. Currently, it hosts 2,567 records of 843 valid species in 465 caves, 763 literature references for species and more than 440 cave descriptions references. The user can navigate through 3 themes: fauna, caves, and references. A species can be found either by searching the name (or part of it) or by browsing through the taxonomic hierarchy to look for names of organisms within a group. A cave can be found either by searching the name/synonym (or part of it) or by browsing through the administrative hierarchy. Navigation from species to caves and vice versa can be performed through the names of species and caves.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29843
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29843
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29843/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29843/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29845
2018-09-19
aca
Behavioural adaptations of cave orb spiders
Hesselberg,Thomas
cave spider
orb web
Tetragnathidae
behavioural flexibility
off-web foraging
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29845
Given the low abundance of flying insects in subterranean habitats, it is surprising that troglophile orb spiders in the genus Meta (family Tetragnathidae) are relatively abundant in subterranean habitats, especially in the twilight zone of European caves. As is the case for most subterranean invertebrates, we know very little about their behaviour. However, they have been reported to possess a number of specific behavioural adaptations to the cave environment. These include modifications of the traditional orb web such that webs do not have frame and anchor threads, but instead have the radii (the spokes in the web) attaching directly to the cave walls, and that cave spiders, unlike epigean orb spiders, allegedly engage in off-web foraging as well as on-web foraging. Here I review the evidence for these claims and compare these to the behaviour of epigean spiders in the related Metellina genus including preliminary comparative data on both morphology and web characteristics. In addition, I will discuss the potential of using the cave Meta spiders, especially M. menardi and M. bourneti, as model organisms for studying search behaviour, mate finding behaviour and sexual selection, as these spiders show an interesting life cycle with young instars leaving the cave environment to spend an instar in the epigean environment before returning. It is currently not known how spiderlings locate subterranean habitats, how males find female webs or whether the level of sexual selection is lower in the resource-limited subterranean habitat compared to the epigean habitat.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29845
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29845
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29845/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29845/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29861
2018-09-19
aca
Microbial biomass has a key role in immobilization of organic nitrogen in Russão II cave (Goiás, Brazil).
Paula,Caio Cesar
Bichuette,Maria Elina
Seleghim,Mirna Helena
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29861
Trophic gradient (dissolved organic carbon (DOC); total nitrogen (TN)) and carbon and nitrogen of microbial biomass (MBC and MBN) were analyzed in Russão II cave (Brazil - 14º05'05.3"S 46º23'07.1"W). Two areas inside of the cave (Twilght Zone – TZ; Dark Zone –DZ) and one in surface (Epigean – Epg) were sampling. Microbial assimilation was evaluated by microbial quotient (MBC/DOC = qMic) and C/N microbial biomass ratio. Student’s t test was applied to verify significant difference data. There was a significant difference in DOC, TN and MBC in the three areas. The DOC ranged from 74.25 to 165.27 g kg-1, while TN ranged from 0.10 to 0.15 g kg-1. The highest DOC values were observed in Epg followed by TZ and DZ areas, respectively, evidencing a trophic gradient. DZ area showed the highest TN values, probably due to guano accumulation inside the cave. The most abundant element in guano is nitrogen (about 12%). Higher MBC values in Epg (812.63 mg Kg-1) and MBN values in DZ (83.25 mg Kg-1) were observed. However, there was not a significant difference in relation to MBN at the studied areas. The qMic and C/N were lower in DZ area. Vegetation presence all year in Epg influences the yield and quality of litter, thereby contributing to higher MBC levels. Microbial biomass is an important source of organic nitrogen which has been demonstrated by small variation among MBN and TN. qMic reflects the relation between microbial and organic carbon, suggesting a lower immobilization of DOC in microbial biomass and a higher rate of carbon mineralization. A lower immobilization rate of MBC in relation to MBN is also evidenced by the lower C/N. Microbial biomass is an important pool of organic nitrogen considering this lower ratio between C / N biomass and the largest amount of MBN inside the cave.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29861
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29861
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29861/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29861/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29867
2018-09-19
aca
Maternal Genetic Effects in Astyanax Cavefish Development
Jeffery,William
Astyanax mexicanus
cavefish
maternal genetic effects
optic regression
dorsoventralization
dorsoventralventral pattern formation
evolution of development
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29867
The role of maternal factors in the evolution of development is poorly understood. Here we describe the use of reciprocal hybridization between the surface dwelling (surface fish, SF) and cave dwelling (cavefish, CF) morphs of the teleost Astyanax mexicanus to determine investigate the roles of maternal genetic effects in cavefish development. Reciprocal hybridization, a procedure in which F1 hybrids are generated by fertilizing SF eggs with CF sperm (SF X CF hybrids) and CF eggs with SF sperm (CF X SF hybrids), revealed that the CF degenerative eye phenotype showed maternal genetic effects. The eyes of CF X SF hybrids resembled the degenerate eyes of CF in showing ventral reduction of the retina and corresponding displacement of the lens within the optic cup, a smaller lens and eyeball, more lens apoptosis, a smaller cartilaginous sclera, and lens-specific gene expression characteristics compared to SF X CF hybrids, which showed eye and lens gene expression phenotypes resembling SF. In contrast, reciprocal hybridization failed to support any roles for maternal genetic effects in the CF regressive pigmentation phenotype or in CF constructive changes related to enhanced jaw development. The Astyanax orthologs of mMaternal transcripts encoded by some of thethe pou2f1b, runx2b, and axin1 genes, which are key involved in determining ventral embryonic fates, genes involved in zebrafish dorsoventral patterning were increased in unfertilized CF eggs. In contrast, maternal mRNAs encoded by the ß-catenin and syntabulin genes, which control dorsal embryonic fates, were unchangedwith theshowed similar expression levels in unfertilized SF and CF eggs. This study reveals that CF eye degeneration is controlled by changes in maternal factors produced during oogenesis and introduces A. mexicanus as a model system for studying the role of maternal changes in the evolution of development.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29867
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29867
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29867/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29867/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29869
2018-09-19
aca
Limited thermal acclimation capacity in cave beetles
Pallarés,Susana
Ribera,Ignacio
Montes,Aitor
Millán,Andrés
Rizzo,Valeria
Comas,Jordi
Sánchez-Fernández,David
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29869
Thermal tolerance is a key vulnerability factor for species that cannot cope with changing conditions by behavioural adjustments or dispersal, such as subterranean species. Previous studies of thermal tolerance in cave beetles suggest that these species may have lost some of the thermoregulatory mechanisms common in temperate insects, and appear to have a very limited thermal acclimation ability. However, it might be expected that both thermal tolerance and acclimation ability should be related with the degree of specialization to deep subterranean environments, being more limited in highly specialized species. To test this hypothesis, we use an experimental approach to determine the acclimation capacity of cave beetles within the tribe Leptodirini (family Leiodidae) with different degrees of specialization to the deep subterranean environment. For this, we acclimate groups of individuals at
a temperature close to their upper thermal limit (20ºC) or
a control temperature (approximately that of the cave in which they were found) for 2 or 10 days (short- vs. long-term acclimation).
Upper thermal limits (heat coma temperature, HC) are then measured for each individual using a ramping protocol (rate of increase of 1ºC/min) combined with infrared thermography and video recording. Preliminary results in a deep subterranean species (Speonomidius crotchi, with an intermediate degree of specialization) showed no significant effect of acclimation temperature in HC at any of the exposure times. Such reduced thermal plasticity could be also expected for other highly specialized subterranean species. The potential implications of these findings for subterranean biodiversity in a climate change context are discussed.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29869
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29869
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29869/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29869/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29870
2018-09-19
aca
The paleoenvironmental reconstruction using fossil invertebrates of Zăton Lake (south-western Romania)
Moldovan,Oana Teodora
Miko,Ladislav
Kenesz,Marius
Constantin,Silviu
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29870
The Zăton Lake is a closed depressionlocated in the Ponoarele karst area (south-western Romania) formed along a tectonic-erosional window as a NE-SW corridor (250–450 m a.s.l.). In this area Mesozoic sedimentary rocks outcrop, along with the metamorphic basement of the Danubian Domain of the Southern Carpathians. The entire river basin is drained underground through the caves of Zăton (105 m in lenght) and Bulba (5 km long, developed on three levels). Flooding of the lake is temporary, during periods with high precipitation or the spring snow melting. A total of 34 samples were taken from one sedimentary section of the Zăton Lake and the diversity and abundance of fossil mites was assessed at different depths of the sediments. OSL (optical stimulated luminescence) datings and fossil mites’ determination were correlated with sediments geochemistry and rock magnetic properties and record the changes in temperature and vegetation in the area from present day to more than 2000 years ago.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29870
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29870
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29870/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29870/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29874
2018-09-19
aca
Preliminary results from a survey of lava tube caves in the southwest region of the Ka’ū district of the Big Island, Hawai’i
Slay,Michael E.
Porter,Megan
Slay,Christy
Summers Engel,Annette
Hawaii
lava tubes
troglobionts
biological surveys
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29874
The discovery of troglobionts in lava tube caves on the Hawaiian Islands archipelago altered our understanding of how species may evolve and permanently inhabit subterranean environments. To date, 74 troglobionts are reported from the islands with 44 known from the youngest (Big Island). Previous lava tube cave surveys on the Big Island have focused on the wetter, eastern side of the island and in lava tubes at higher elevations. Along with members of Cave Conservancy of Hawai’i, we surveyed 24 lava tube sections on the drier, western side of the Big Island, primarily in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates in the Ka’ū District. Surveys occurred during late November and early December of 2015–2017. Species present in each cave were documented by observation and limited collections of specimens for identification purposes. Significant species were discovered in these caves, representing new locations for rare and limited species previously documented from different regions on the island, and/or new, undescribed species from significant lineages that are federally listed on other islands. The most significant species observed included a reduviid thread-legged bug (Nesidiolestes sp.), a terrestrial amphipod (Spelaeorchestia sp.), a microvellid (Cavaticovelia sp.), and a new cave-adapted planthopper (Oliarus sp.). While identification of the collected specimens is ongoing, documenting these significant species from lava tube caves in Ka’ū District illustrates the need for continued bioinventory work in this area.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29874
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29874
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29874/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29874/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29878
2018-09-19
aca
Ecological and Evolutionary Classification of Subterranean Organisms
Culver,David C
Pipan,Tanja
stygobiont
troglobiont
troglomorph
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29878
Evolutionary processes, including natural selection, neutral mutation, and habitat filtering, act upon morphology and other aspects of their biology, as well as species composition itself, to produce the observed patterns or community structure and morphology. The context for these evolutionary processes (the ecological theater in G.E. Hutchinson’s phrase) are the subterranean habitats. We have a relatively rich vocabulary to describe habitats (e.g., MSS, epikarst, hypotelminorheic) and to describe the closeness of association of a particular species or population with these habitats (e.g. trogloxene, troglophile, and troglobiont). Trajano provides a bridging principle between the ecological theater and the evolutionary play with the concept of source and sink populations. What has been given much less attention is the morphological side, coined by Christiansen, that is the results of the evolutionary play. The word we have available is “troglomorphy”, which has been taken to mean
loss of eyes and pigment,
loss of eyes and pigment as well as increases in extra-optic sensory structures,
any convergent change in any subterranean population.
Only regressive changes are included in the first meaning; both regressive and progressive changes are included in the second; and the third includes autamorphy as well as homoplasy. Typically, it is used for the suite of characters involved, rather than an individual character. We suggest that the term “troglomorphy” be restricted to convergent changes (in the sense of [2] above) in subterranean habitats, and that the phrase “cave-dependent”, also used by Christiansen, be used when considering only caves, and perhaps be joined by phrases such as “MSS-dependent”. Additionally, the phrases ‘cave-dependent”, “MSS-dependent”, etc. be used for individual characters.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29878
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29878
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29878/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29878/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29806
2018-09-26
aca
Biotic distribution within groundwater- is it really unpredictable?
Korbel,Kathryn
Chariton,Anthony
Hose,Grant
Stygofauna eDNA groundwater biomonitoring
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29806
Distribution of biota within groundwater is often patchy, and attributed to the heterogeneity of the aquifer environment. Geology and hydrological connectivity are often the factors that most influence water chemistry and habitat availability thus biota, however phreatophytic trees, other sources of carbon and nutrients may also influence biotic distribution. Critically, limited knowledge on the relative importance of such factors on the distribution of groundwater biota makes it difficult to distinguish natural variation from human impacts on groundwater ecosystems, thus inpact our ability to undertake biomonitoring of ecosystem health.
This study uses complementary field surveys and laboratory studies to unravel the relative influence of water quality, climate, and sediment size on biotic communities. Field surveys combined traditional pumping and net collections with eDNA community profiling (metabarcoding) of 16S rDNA to characterise groundwater microbes in shallow alluvial aquifers within the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia. Laboratory studies examined the influence of sediment size on stygobiotic amphipods, syncarids and copepods.
For stygofauna, sediment size, and thus size of interstitial voids, is a key limiting factor. For microbes, water chemistry influences microbial activity and functional processes, which may in turn influence biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem services provided by groundwater ecosystems.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29806
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29806
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29806/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29806/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29829
2018-09-26
aca
What does sampling tell us about the ecology of troglofauna?
Halse,Stuart
Curran,Michael
Carroll,Tanya
Barnett,Belinda
troglobiont
subterranean fauna
habitat
Western Australia
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29829
Little is known about the ecology of the troglofauna species occurring outside caves – which we term landscape troglofauna – because of the difficulties associated with viewing and sampling the habitats of these species. Some of the important information missing for most landscape species is as basic as the depth and substrate in which they occur. For example, does a particular species occur relatively close to the surface, over a range of depths or is it always found quite deep? Does the species use detritals, bedrock habitats or both? In addition to being important for understanding the structure and resilience of subterranean communities, this information is very useful for determining the likely impact of development projects on troglofauna species and their habitat. Because animals are difficult to collect, species ranges within a development site, and beyond it, are often inferred from the extent of their known habitat. In this talk, we address four issues relevant to the ecology and sampling of troglofauna. First, we examine whether troglofaunal capture rates can be related to season, antecedent rainfall or other factors. Second, we examine the effect on sampling yield of setting multiple troglofauna traps. Third, we examine the depths at which various groups of troglofauna mostly occur and check whether there is a match between depth of occurrence and assignment to troglophile or troglobiont categories. Finally we use results of troglofauna sampling in holes for which we have drill logs to we illustrate how knowledge about species’ substrate types is used in environmental impact assessment. This work is a first step to improving our understanding of habitat preferences of troglofauna in Western Australia and some of the responses of troglofauna to environmental variables. It is hoped the work will lead to the framing of more detailed studies.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29829
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29829
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29829/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29829/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29822
2018-09-26
aca
Comparative acute toxicity of the pharmaceutical compound Diclofenac on groundwater and surface water crustaceans
Castaño Sánchez,Andrea
Pereira,Joana
Gonçalves,Fernando
Reboleira,Ana Sofia P. S.
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29822
Pharmaceutical compounds have been extensively used in medicine and currently detected in trace concentrations (ranging from ng/L to mg/L) in both surface and groundwater bodies worldwide in the last decades. Despite being mostly found in low concentrations, these are persistent compounds that are continuously discharged into aquatic ecosystems. Pharmaceutical compounds are also present in complex mixtures and the actual absence of appropriate wastewater treatment specifically targeting their elimination, renders them emerging contaminants with high risk for surface and groundwater ecosystems. None of these compounds is included in the European Water Framework Directive as a priority substance and comprehensive data are still being built regarding pharmaceuticals toxicity on standard surface aquatic taxa and almost none concerning groundwater-dweller species. However, the current Directive 2008/105/EC has included some antibiotics, steroids, phenolic-antioxidants and the anti-inflammatory diclofenac in the established watch list for monitoring substances regarding water quality policy.
Assessing the toxicity of pharmaceutical compounds in a large spectrum of aquatic environments is needed to assist a realistic environmental risk assessment. Hence, including subterranean species is a priority for establishing conservation measures in groundwater ecosystems. Copepod crustaceans are widely represented in freshwater bodies and dominant in groundwater ecosystems. We have selected the cosmopolitan (freshwater and groundwater) crustacean species Diacyclops crassicaudis crassicaudis Sars, 1863 and the freshwater model species Daphnia magna Müller, 1785 to estimate their response to acute exposures to the pharmaceutical compound diclofenac. Our preliminary results indicate that diclofenac was more toxic to the copepodites C1-C2 than to the neonates of D. magna (half maximal effective concentration: 63 mg/L and 111.3 mg/L at 48 h respectively) (See Suppl. material 1). However, further long-term toxicity testing at more environmentally relevant concentrations and the use of species with similar ecological features and more closely related are required for a better understanding of the potential of pharmaceutical compounds to harm the groundwater biota.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29822
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29822
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29822/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29822/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29966
2018-09-26
aca
Survival, metabolic rates and locomotory activities of a groundwater-obligate copepod species under long-term exposures to tetrachloroethylene
Di Lorenzo,Tiziana
Di Marzio,Walter
Piccini,Leonardo
Messana,Giuseppe
Saenz,Maria
Galassi,Diana
Copepods
tetrachloroethylene
traits
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29966
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are known to potentially cause a severe change in the respiratory metabolism of freshwater species, however the effect of these contaminants on groundwater-obligate species has not been investigated to date. Tetrachloroethylene (TCE) is a VOC frequently found in the groundwater bodies of industrialized areas, even years after a contamination event because TCE degradation takes several decades to occur. Contamination from TCE is considered persistent and difficult to remediate. Its high density favors a gravity-driven vertical infiltration into groundwater bodies. The TCE threshold value is 1.1 μg/L in groundwater bodies of Italy. TCE concentration in many Italian groundwater bodies is widely over this legal limit.
In this study, we investigated the effect of 1.1 μg/L TCE on the survival, oxygen consumption, and locomotory activities of a groundwater-obligate copepod species. The specimens required for the trials were collected in the Antro del Corchia Cave (Tuscany). We measured the individual-based oxygen consumption of this species as a proxy of possible metabolic reactions to long-term (5 days) exposures to TCE at 8.0°C that is the mean annual temperature of groundwater flowing in the cave. To this end, we used a sealed glass microplate equipped with 24-planar oxygen sensor spots with optical isolation glued onto the bottom of 80-μL wells (Loligo Systems, Denmark) integrated with a 24-channel fluorescence-based respirometry system (SDR Sensor Dish Reader, PreSens, Germany). The system allows simultaneous measurement of 20 replicates and 4 controls. Survival and locomotory activity assessments were performed by counting the number of alive individuals and measuring the number of moving animals in 5 mL glass vials each containing 20 individuals. Preliminary results showed a decreasing in oxygen consumption of the organisms exposed to 1.1 μg/L TCE for 5 days at 8°C respect to the control. However, neither survival nor locomotory activities appeared to have been affected by exposure to TCE. See Suppl. material 1.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29966
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29966
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29966/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29966/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29967
2018-09-26
aca
Hyperparasitism in caves: bats, bat flies and ectoparasitic fungus
Jensen,Katrine
Rodrigues,Luísa
Pape,Thomas
Garm,Anders
Santamaria,Sergi
Reboleira,Ana Sofia P. S.
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29967
Bat flies (Nycteribiidae) of the order Diptera are highly specialized bloodsucking ectoparasites living on bats. The life-cycle of the bat flies emphasizes their obligate relationship with their hosts as they spend almost their entire life on bats. Upon mating, the female bat fly carries the larvae internally until the 3rd-instar when it deposits the larvae on the ceiling of the roost occupied by bats. The larvae then form a puparium. After 3-4 weeks the adult bat fly emerges from the puparium and starts searching for a host bat to colonize.
Some of these ectoparasitic bat flies themselves are infected with an ectoparasitic fungus of the genus Arthrorhynchus (Laboulbeniales). Ascospores of the fungi attach themselves to the cuticle of the bat fly and develop a very conspicuous haustorium that penetrates into the soft tissues from where it presumably extract nutrition from the hemolymph of the bat flies. This interaction converts the fungus into a hyperparasite. Both the parasite and hyperparasite are obligates and cannot live separate from their hosts. This peculiar case of hyperparasitism remains highly unknown.
The bat flies were collected in caves of Portugal, in maternity and hibernation bat seasons, and in the autumn migration period. The most common species of cave-dwelling bat species in Portugal is Miniopterus schreibersii, frequently parasitized with Nycteribia schmidlii and Penicillidia conspicua bat flies. We have studied the prevalence of the Laboulbeniales of the genus Arthrorhynchus in natural populations of bat flies. The site and position of the fungus on male and female bat flies unveils the mechanism of fungal transmission among bat flies, indicating that it occurs during mating behavior. This study is the starting point towards the understanding of this unique case of fungus-insect-vertebrate hyperparasitism interaction. See Suppl. material 1.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29967
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29967
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29967/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29967/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29968
2018-09-26
aca
Environmental DNA in subterranean biology update: from “Where?” to “How many?”
Goricki,Spela
Presetnik,Primož
Prosenc-Zmrzljak,Uršula
Blatnik,Matej
Gredar,Tajda
Kogovšek,Blaž
Koit,Oliver
Strah,Sara
Bilandžija,Helena
Jalžić,Branko
Aljančič,Gregor
Košir,Rok
Mayaud,Cyril
Štebih,Dejan
Hudoklin,Andrej
Jeffery,William
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29968
Recent records of Proteus anguinus outside its historically known range (Gorički et al. 2017), discovered through detection of its DNA dissolved in groundwater (environmental DNA or eDNA), mark the beginning of a new era in the study and conservation of cryptic subterranean biodiversity. An upgraded technology, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), initially developed for studies of gene expression, detection of genetically modified organisms and in medical diagnostics, is being tested for improved detection of the much smaller and rare stygobiont, the cave clam Congeria jalzici. In parallel to eDNA assay development for various stygobiotic species of the Dinaric Karst, a groundwater-sample library is being created. The samples will be available for future analysis of their species composition and will also serve as a source of information on any changes in species distribution over time. In another line of eDNA research, the utility of ddPCR for direct quantification of eDNA molecules in groundwater is being explored by using the large, accessible and well-characterized (Zakšek and Trontelj 2017) natural Proteus population in the Planina Cave (Slovenia) as a model. The eDNA methodology may in the future be applied in estimation and monitoring of Proteus population sizes without having to see, mark or otherwise disturb the animals themselves.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29968
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29968
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29968/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29968/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29975
2018-09-26
aca
Unraveling the evolutionary history of the cave-dwelling Dysderidae in the Dinarides
Pavlek,Martina
Arnedo,Miquel A.
Gasparo,Fulvio
Adrian,Silvia
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29975
Because of their size, abundance and active predatory lifestyle, spiders of the family Dysderidae are among the most conspicuous creatures in the Dinaric caves. Historically, the interest for this group dates back to 1847, to the description of the first cave spider in the world, Stalita taenaria, and peaks in the middle of 20th century with the works of Joseph Kratochvíl and Christa L. Deeleman-Reinhold among others. However, after all these years, an explicit phylogenetic hypothesis about the family relationships is still missing and the taxonomy of some genera is a matter of debate. Dinaric cave representatives belong to two subfamilies: Rhodinae, with 13 species from five genera (Rhode, Stalita, Parastalita, Mesostalita and Stalitella) and Harpacteinae, with eight species from two genera (Folkia and Stalagtia). All species are considered troglobiotic and are Dinaric endemics, with Harpacteine restricted to the south part of the Dinaric Mountains and Rhodinae (with few exceptions) to the north part. Here, we present the results of a mutli-locus phylogenetic analysis of the family combining mitochondrial and nuclear genes of the focal group along with representatives of the other dysderid genera. Our data reveal a more complex taxonomic structure than currently recognized, with several instances of paraphyly, and uncover some overlooked diversity at the species level.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29975
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29975
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29975/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29975/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e29976
2018-09-26
aca
1st Croatian Biospeleological expedition - Biokovo 2017
Pavlek,Martina
Sudar,Vedran
Kuharić,Nikolina
Bregović,Petra
Kirin,Alen
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e29976
Biokovo Mountain in Croatia is a Dinaric hotspot of subterranean biodiversity and its area of 196 km 2 is protected as a nature park. Until now, more than 400 caves have been registered here, however, only in about 30% of them biospeleological research has been carried out. It is hypothesized that over 1000 caves exist in highly karstified Biokovo Mt. Biospeleological research of the area started at the beginning of 20th century and deep caves were infrequently explored after the year 1980. Previous research recorded more than 90 troglobiotic species in this area and most of them are endemic. The primary goal of the Expedition was a systematic survey of eight deep caves (depth over 250 m), one of which was never before biospeleologically surveyed. We also surveyed other caves from which material for detailed faunistic analysis was missing. The main part of the expedition took place from 17 th to 25 th June 2017, with 52 participants. Fauna was collected by hand and by pitfall traps with baits, in the total of 26 caves. Five deep caves were completely surveyed (depth up to 710 m), the topographic map was made when missing, and fauna was photographed. Microclimatic conditions were measured and in two caves data loggers were placed. According to preliminary results, around 10 new species for science have been found from following groups: leeches (Hirudinea), spiders (Araneae), harvestmen (Opiliones), woodlice (Isopoda), centipedes (Chilopoda), springtails (Collembola), two-pronged bristletails (Diplura) and beetles (Coleoptera). These results confirm that deep caves of Biokovo Mt are still underexplored and that detailed and systematic research is needed.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e29976
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e29976
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29976/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/29976/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30040
2018-09-26
aca
Contributions to the terrestrial isopods (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) from Brazilian caves
Campos-Filho,Ivanklin
Fernandes,Camile
Bichuette,Maria Elina
Aguiar,José Otávio
Taiti,Stefano
terrestrial isopods
biodiversity
cave environment
Neotropical region
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30040
Terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) comprise more than 3,700 species distributed in almost all types of the terrestrial habitats, including caves. About 300 troglobiotic species are known, mostly in the northern hemisphere. In South America, Brazil has the highest number of recorded caves, approximately 15,000 (7% of the total estimated, ca. 100,000). Currently, 37 species of terrestrial isopods are known from Brazilian caves, 15 of which are considered troglobiotic. A large collection of terrestrial isopods from caves of the Brazilian states of Pará, Sergipe, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Goiás, São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Paraná has been examined. Fifty-three species are recognized in the families Styloniscidae (3 genera, 4 species), Rhyscotidae (1 genus, 1 species), Philosciidae (6 genera, 11 species), Scleropactidae (3 genera, 4 species), Platyarthridae (2 genera, 14 species), Dubioniscidae (2 genera, 12 species), Armadillidae (4 genera, 5 species), Porcellionidae (1 genus, 1 species), and Armadillidiidae (1 genus, 1 species). Eight species can be considered troglobiotic in the genera Xangoniscus (2 spp.) (Styloniscidae), Alboscia (1 spp.), Atlantoscia (1 spp.) and Benthana (1 spp.) (Philosciidae), Amazoniscus (1 spp.) and Microsphaeroniscus (1 spp.) (Scleropactidae), and one new genus with two new species of Platyarthridae. A second species of the genus Pectenoniscus (Styloniscidae), a new genus of a spiny Armadillidae with two new species are described, the poorly known Venezillo congener is re-described, and many species have their recorded distributions extended. The total number of cave-dwelling species in Brazil is still far to be complete. It is very important to increase research on cave biodiversity which is threatened by anthropic actions (e.g., monocultures and mining), and to define conservation strategies according to the current legislation.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30040
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30040
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30040/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30040/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30142
2018-10-02
aca
Caves as a source of new antimicrobial agents: the case study of antibacterial activity from microorganisms inhabiting Cerâmica Cave, Portugal
Gouveia,André
Reboleira,Ana Sofia P. S.
Gonçalves,Fernando
Marques,Sérgio
Cave
bacteria
cross streak method
antimicrobial metabolites
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30142
Antibiotics have been developed for more than 80 years but presently there is an evident decline on their effectiveness due to the development of resistance by pathogens. The arising of multi drug resistant pathogens, has become a serious threat to public health. Microorganisms play a central role in nature as well as in drug discovery with a long track record as important sources of bioactive natural products revealing a wide array of molecules. Although many approaches have been applied to solve this crisis, in the last decades the focus on extreme habitats as gain attention due to peculiar features and due to the presence of unique microbial populations inhabiting these ecosystems. Caves are considered extreme environments, usually oligotrophic, being in general devoid of light, and presenting stable conditions (temperature, humidity) throughout the year.
We present the first analysis of antimicrobial activity of bacteria isolated from Cerâmica Cave, located in the Sicó karst massif, central Portugal. Microorganism acquisition was performed through a variety of physical and chemical treatments: dry-heat, wet-heat, dry-heat plus phenol (1,5%), phenol (1,5%), microwave irradiation, rehydration centrifugation, and no-treatment, along with three media: R2A agar, Actinomycetes isolation agar and Yeast-malt agar. A primary antimicrobial activity screening, through cross streak method, was performed in 28 isolates, using two different incubation periods and different target agents (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas salmonicida, Salmonella typhimurium and Enterococcus faecalis). A total of 7 isolates presented antagonistic activity against B. cereus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, A. salmonicida S. typhimurium and S. aureus. This study proves the ability of cave microorganisms to inhibit both Gram positive and Gram negative pathogenic strains, highlighting the potential of caves microbiome to be one of the answers to solve the current global crisis of multi drug resistant pathogens.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30142
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30142
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30142/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30142/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30109
2018-10-02
aca
Accessing bioactive potential of cave bacterial extracts
Veloso,Telma
Reboleira,Ana Sofia P. S.
Oliveira,Helena
Gonçalves,Fernando
Marques,Sérgio
bacteria
cave
antimicrobial activity
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30109
Recently, there has been an increasing demand for new molecules with bioactivity as a result of the increasing number of multi drug resistant bacteria and also of the need to find treatment for various diseases. Thus, to fill this urging need there has been a great investment in developing new techniques to speed up and increase the possibility of finding new molecules with therapeutic potential. Typically, the first stage of drug discovery process relies on in vitro assays and conventional high-throughput LC-MS-MS approaches. This combined with unique extreme environments, as a source of new molecules, has proved to be a good approach to enlarge natural product drug discovery. Considering the present demand for new bioactive molecules, together with the fact that cave microorganisms are already considered an important, yet largely unexplored source, our study aimed at assessing the bioactive potential of cave bacterial extracts, namely its antimicrobial and antitumoral potential. From six soil samples collected in the Cerâmica cave, at the Sicó karst massif, centre of Portugal, a total of 409 isolates were obtained. After a primary screening with the cross-streak method, 91 isolates showed antagonistic activity against four pathogenic agents (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas salmonicida and Bacillus aquimaris). Afterwards the secondary screening was carried out with the three isolates that presented higher antimicrobial activity. For the secondary screening, cell-free supernatants (CFS) were tested against eight pathogenic agents (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas salmonicida, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebesiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus). The chemical analysis of the CFS is discussed, as well as the results from the in vitro tests with human cell lines to evaluate its effects on cell morphology, viability and proliferation (Suppl. material 1).
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30109
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30109
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30109/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30109/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30237
2018-10-02
aca
Molecular evolution of ‘eye genes’ in blind beetles from the calcrete archipelago of Western Australia: evidence for neutral evolution of phototransduction genes
Langille,Barbara
Bertozzi,Terry
Tierney,Simon
Austin,Andrew
Humphreys,William Frank
Cooper,Steven
Dytiscidae
regressive evolution
eye loss
subterranean beetles
opsin
arrestin
phototransduction
neutral evolution theory
pseudogene
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30237
Neutral evolution theory predicts that genes specific to the development/function of eyes in subterranean animals will evolve under relaxed selection, ultimately becoming pseudogenes. Independently evolved (3-8 million years ago) subterranean beetle (Dytiscidae) species of Western Australia have converged on eye loss, providing a powerful system to explore changes to the genome with respect to troglomorphic characters. Using next generation sequence data, we investigated the molecular evolution of ‘eye genes’ of subterranean beetle species to test if they are evolving neutrally. We used transcriptome data from five beetle species (three subterranean and two surface) to design baits for hybrid enrichment of 60 pigmentation and phototransduction genes from 31 subterranean and surface species. The current talk focuses on the results from the study of 8 photoreceptor genes that showed evidence for a lack of transcription or possible pseudogenisation in stygobitic species when compared to surface species. The mutations found in these genes included multiple insertions or deletions, resulting in frameshifts which led to the introduction of stop codons. Our study provides evidence for the parallel loss of key phototransduction genes, lending support to the neutral theory of regressive evolution.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30237
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30237
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30237/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30237/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30126
2018-10-02
aca
The use of groundwater crustacean communities as indicators for aquifers quality in the semi-arid region of north-central Chile
Iepure,Sanda
Gouin,Nicolas
Bertin,Angeline
Camacho,Ana
González-Ramón,Antonio
de Cisneros Vencelá,Concha
Di Lorenzo,Tiziana
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30126
Chile has large extensions of arid and semi-arid regions throughout the whole country, where the intensive demands and use of water resources, especially groundwater for irrigations and mining activities, increased dramatically over the last decades. The aquifer depletions due to water abstraction for irrigation and nutrient loads, exert major alterations of water quality, groundwater recharge and the natural renewal rate. All these factors diminish the aquifer value for the users and contribute to the degradation of groundwater as environment and habitat for fauna. This intensive use of groundwater resources in Chile brought to significant social and economic benefits, but their inadequate management resulted in negative environmental, legal and socioeconomic consequences. In this study, we aimed at providing a first assessment of environmental alterations of groundwater ecosystems from agricultural watersheds in northern Chile by specifically evaluating the effects of nitrogen and pesticide loads on groundwater communities and identifing the ecosystem service alterations due to agricultural activities. The study has been performed in a glacial aquifer from Coquimbo region; 250 km north of Santiago de Chile, the floodplain of which is dominated by agriculture (fruits tress, vineyards). Due to low regional precipitations (100-240 mm/year) the aquifer is primarily recharged by snowmelt from the Andean chain and surface runoff. The relative groundwater levels, groundwater temperature, chemical analysis of nitrogen and total phosphorus and pesticide concentrations were examined, along with the evaluation of crustacean biodiversity and spatial distribution pattern. Stygofauna taxonomic richness and the presence of stygobites have been related more to groundwater level stability than to chemical water parameters indicating that over-exploitation has a negative impact on habitat suitability for groundwater invertebrates. Groundwater biota assessment is essential in understanding the impact produced by agriculture activities on groundwater as a resource and as ecosystem, a nexus that becomes more and more widely recognized. The rationale and the preliminary results of this study are summarized in the Suppl. material 1.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30126
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30126
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30126/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30126/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30125
2018-10-02
aca
Predictive ecological risk assessment of pesticide mixtures in Mediterranean porous aquifers
Di Lorenzo,Tiziana
Cifoni,Marco
Fiasca,Barbara
Di Cioccio,Alessia
Galassi,Diana
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30125
The ecological risk assessment (ERA) of chemical substances is based on the premise that the protection of the most sensitive taxon safeguards the overall community. Given the severe scarcity of ecotoxicological data concerning groundwater species, we felt urged to consider epigean model species’ sensitivity data to determine the safe pesticide concentrations for obligate groundwater dwelling species. To this end, we performed the ERA of pesticide mixtures occurring in eleven Mediterranean porous aquifers (Abruzzo region; central Italy). The evaluation was based on data collected between 2010 and 2015 by the environmental protection agency of Abruzzo region (ARTA Abruzzo) and included 42 pesticides and 1953 samples. We applied a step-wise procedure:
we used the Measured Environmental Concentration (MEC);
we estimated the Predicted No-Effect Concentration (PNEC) and
we established the ecological risk as Risk Quotient (RQ) based on the ∑MECi/PNECi ratio following a concentration addition model for mixtures’ toxicity.
The PNEC was regarded as the concentration below which a harmful effect will most likely not occur to the groundwater dwelling fauna. The toxicity data used to compute the PNEC values were obtained from the US. EPA ECOTOX database confining the search to epigean crustaceans. Missing toxicity data were estimated by ECOSAR v.1.11. PNEC values were calculated by dividing the lowest short-term L(E)C50 value (that refers to the concentration at which 50% of its maximal effect was observed in test species) by appropriate assessment factors (AF). The AF values were selected according to the difference in the sensitivities of groundwater and epigean crustaceans derived from the available studies. Groundwater crustacean species were generally less sensitive to acute exposure to chemicals than the model species Daphnia magna. However, they were more sensitive than their epigean relatives when the comparisons were made among organisms sharing the same family/order. This result suggests caution when inferring the sensitivity of groundwater species from that of epigean taxa. The ecological risk was scored using a binary ecological classification suggesting that appreciable risk is likely when RQ≥1. Pesticide mixture risks were often driven by a minimum of 2 to 11 compounds in the eleven aquifers of Abruzzo region. However, the risk-drivers (i.e., individual pesticides explaining the largest share of potential effects) differed substantially among the aquifers. The results of this study have been published by Di Lorenzo et al. (2018).
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30125
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30125
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30125/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30125/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30225
2018-10-02
aca
Spatial distribution and population data of cave millipedes, genus Pseudonannolene Silvestri, 1895 (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida) from Brazil
Gallo,Jéssica
Bichuette,Maria Elina
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30225
Millipedes are widely found inside caves, where they are favoured by the darkness and the high humidity. Despite this, no population studies focusing their distribution along environmental gradients have been done so far. This study aimed to estimate the population density and spatial distribution of one troglophilic species of Pseudonannolene from a cave located in southeast Brazil. The data were obtained through the visual census method through bases distributed in different zones and substrates along the cave. The population density varied from 0.07 ind.m-² (9 individuals) at the beginning of the dry season to 0.402 (37 individuals) at the beginning of the rainy season. In relation to zonation and substrate, the largest number of individuals was found in the twilight zone and in the soil and rocky substrates. The number of individuals captured was higher in samplings conducted early and middle rainy season, despite the effect of seasonality was marginally significant. The abundance was low in both environments (hypogean and epigean), corroborating that the low population density is an intrinsic characteristic of the group as a whole. The low population density of Pseudonannolene may be due to: 1) the low calcium content inthe soil and, consequently, in the cave; 2) the effect of guano scarcity in the cave, sincethis is the main trophic resource for these millipedes in the subterranean environment; and 3) the effect of seasonality, as it may be a consequence of the stress caused by theatypical drought of the last two years, so this population would be in recovery.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30225
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30225
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30225/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30225/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30105
2018-10-02
aca
The CAVEheAT project: climate change, thermal niche and conservation of subterranean biodiversity
Sánchez-Fernández,David
Millán,Andrés
Rizzo,Valeria
Comas,Jordi
Lleopard,Enric
Pastor,Josep
Pallarés,Susana
Abellán,Pedro
Spada,Michele
Bilton,David
Ribera,Ignacio
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30105
One of the main challenges in disciplines such as ecology, biogeography, conservation and evolutionary biology is to understand and predict how species will respond to environmental changes, especially within a climate change context. We focus on the deep subterranean environment to minimize uncertainties in predictions, because it is one of the few ecosystems in nature whose environmental conditions are as homogeneous as those in the laboratory and their species cannot accommodate to changing conditions by behavioural plasticity, dispersal or microhabitat use (i.e., their only possibility to cope with climate change is to persist in situ). The hypotheses established for this project are based on the exciting results obtained in some of our previous studies, in which, we found that different subterranean beetle species living under different environmental conditions have identical/similar narrow thermal tolerance ranges, suggesting a lack of evolutionary adjustment to ambient temperature for these species. This could be due to the loss of some of the physiological mechanisms related to thermal tolerance, with a likely high metabolic cost, in a stable environment but with severe resource restrictions. However, the question that remains is to what extent this surprising narrow and homogeneous thermal niche is common for the whole subterranean biodiversity, and how this issue could determine the fate of subterranean biodiversity to climate change. In this project, we are testing for the generality of these exciting previous findings by studying the thermal niche (species acclimation abilities and thermal tolerances) of different lineages of cave beetles with different degrees of specialization to subterranean environments and from different geographical areas (Pyrenees and Cantabrian Mountains) (Suppl. material 1).
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30105
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30105
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30105/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30105/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30282
2018-10-08
aca
Comparison of eDNA and traditional troglofauna sampling methods
Curran,Michael
White,Nicole
Bunce,Michael
Carroll,Tanya
Barnett,Belinda
Halse,Stuart
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30282
Environmental DNA (eDNA) and metabarcoding have recently been combined with the aim of detecting species through the small amounts of DNA animals shed into the environment. The technique has successfully been applied in the biomonitoring of vertebrates and decapods and, in a collaborative project with the Trace and Environmental DNA laboratory, Curtin University, we tested its utility in troglofauna sampling. Traditional troglofauna surveys have low yields and consequently, provide limited information about species’ ranges. The ability to detect more occurrences of a species and better define the species’ range by combining traditional troglofauna sampling and eDNA is very exciting. The study area we used is in the central Pilbara and prior survey of the area had documented a moderate troglofauna community. We collected 147 samples from 74 drill holes that comprised 58 scrapes samples, 75 litter trap samples and 14 water samples. Pairs of scrape and water samples were collected from each drill hole, with one set sent for morphological identification and the second set frozen for metabarcoding. A pair of water samples comprised lowering a bailer down the drill hole, retrieving 1 L of water from the top of the water column (for eDNA) after which stygofauna net haul sampling was undertaken. Trap samples collected 124 troglofauna specimens, scrapes 37 troglofauna and net hauls two species of stygofauna and no troglofauna; troglofaunal groups collected include cockroaches, diptera, bugs, schizomids, millipedes, pseudoscorpions, palpigrads, isopods, beetles, silverfish, pauropods and symphylans. Surface species were abundant in the traps (7,760 specimens) and present in most scrapes (81 specimens); they mostly comprised mites and collembola, with lower numbers of flies and ants. The high diversity of animals collected and inevitable human contamination could be expected to pose significant hurdles to use of eDNA. The preliminary eDNA results are compared with the results of traditional sampling.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30282
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30282
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30282/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30282/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30249
2018-10-08
aca
Population dynamics of two troglobitic Troglorhopalurus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) scorpions from Brazil
Gallão,Jonas
Bichuette,Maria Elina
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30249
Population dynamics studies raise relevant data to understanding ecological aspects and natural history of species as well as better conservation strategies. Using two scorpions species, Troglorhopalurus translucidus Lourenço, Baptista & Giupponi, 2004 and Troglorhopalurus lacrau (Lourenço & Pinto-da-Rocha, 1997) from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia state, Brazil, we estimate populacional parameters through mark and recapture methodology, and Jolly-Seber estimator. In addition, data on both species as sexual ratio, reproductive biology, growth, longevity, feeding habitats, and seasonality were analyzed in the caves and afterwards compared to other scorpion species as well as other arachnids. We captured and marked 82 specimens of T. translucidus and 65 specimens of T. lacrau. Population estimates were 361 ± 199 individuals to T. translucidus and 333 ± 252 to T. lacrau. Population estimates were considered high for the troglobitic scorpions when compared to subterranean arachnids or even with epigean species of scorpions. Both troglobitic scorpions featured remarkable differences in relation to epigean scorpions as higher longevity, longer reproductive period, slower growth. Besides T. translucidus showed marked seasonality with populational variations in rainy seasons in contrast to T. lacrau with populational stability. Suppl. material 1
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30249
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30249
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30249/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30249/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30363
2018-10-09
aca
StygoTracing - First experiences with biological tracers in drinking water extraction areas
van den Berg-Stein,Susanne
Burghardt,Diana
Schwenk,Klaus
Hahn,Hans Jürgen
StygoTracing
biological tracer
groundwater
hydrological interaction
microsatellites
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30363
Although groundwater is a highly fragmented habitat, both faunistic and hydraulic interactions exist between different aquifers and between groundwater and surface water.
For the drinking water suppliers, in particular surface water intrusion into groundwater means an increased risk of contamination. Thus risk assessment is essential for quality assurance in drinking water supply. In this context, several questions arise: 1) Where does the water come from?; 2) Are there any hydraulic shortcuts to surface waters?; 3) Are there any hydrological interactions between different aquifers?; 4) What are the catchment borders?
Invertebrate fauna may display the strength and the direction of hydrological interactions since the dispersal is linked to hydrological pathways. Our hypothesis is: The more intense the hydrogeological interactions the closer the relationship between individuals and populations.
The degree of relationship can be determined using a kind of paternity test for invertebrates. This is a population genetic, microsatellite-based method called StygoTracing. The most important tools of StygoTracing are the primers, which have to be designed for each individual tracer species.
Good tracer species are those, which have a wide distribution and occur with high frequency and are easy to determine. We have chosen three species both stygo- and non-stygobiotic ones. The primers and microsatellite analysis applied proved to be suitable even to distinguish single individuals from each other.
StygoTracing has been successfully tested for water supply systems, but not yet in the field.
Thus seven pilot areas were selected in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Palatinate and Saxony, and sampling was conducted on a total of 186 groundwater, spring and stream sites. Meanwhile, first genetic data are available and initial evaluations reveal plausible correlations on different spatial scales.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30363
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30363
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30363/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30363/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30378
2018-10-09
aca
Distribution of cave-dwelling pseudoscorpions (Arachnida) in Brazil
von Schimonsky,Diego
Bichuette,Maria Elina
biogeographical provinces
cave fauna
Neotropical
Pseudoscorpiones
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30378
Pseudoscorpions are one of the most diverse of the smaller arachnid orders but there is relatively little information about the distribution of these tiny animals, especially in Neotropical caves. Here we map the distribution of the Pseudoscorpiones in Brazilian caves with record of 12 families and 22 genera, total 313 caves from 13 states. Among them, two families (Atemnidae and Geogarypidae) with three genera (Brazilatemnus Muchmore, 1975, Paratemnoides Harvey, 1991 and Geogarypus Chamberlin, 1930) are recorded for the first time in cave habitat as well as other seven genera previously unknown for Brazilian caves (Olpiolum Beier, 1931, Pachyolpium Beier 1931, Tyrannochthonius Chamberlin, 1929, Lagynochthonius Beier, 1951, Neocheiridium Beier 1932, Ideoblothrus Balzan, 1892 and Heterolophus Tömösváry, 1884) but these genera are from families already recorded in this habitat, and have their distributional ranges expanded for all other previously recorded genera. We present these data in maps, considering the biogeographical provinces. For the genus Spelaeochernes Mahnert, 2001, we re-evaluate its Schiner-Racovitza status and propose the troglobite status. Finally, we discuss the ranges of the pseudoscorpion families/genera for Brazilian caves (Suppl. material 1).
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30378
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30378
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30378/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30378/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30389
2018-10-09
aca
Locomotion of Niphargus amphipods from cave lakes and streams
Premate,Ester
Volk,Teja
Copilaş-Ciocianu,Denis
Fišer,Žiga
Jemec,Anita
Delić,Teo
Fišer,Cene
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30389
Locomotion is a complex trait directly linked to different fitness components such as foraging, mate-finding, and escaping from predators. In a food-limited subterranean environment a strong selection for an energetically optimal strategy of locomotion is expected and should lead to different strategies among closely related species adapted to different microhabitats. Due to its taxonomic and ecological diversity, the amphipod genus Niphargus is an ideal model system for studying locomotion strategies of species affiliated with different subterranean aquatic microhabitats. Such species differ from each other morphologically, and we predicted that they also evolved alternative strategies of locomotion. In this study, we examined three species from cave lakes and five species from cave streams or springs. After collection all species were first acclimated in a cave laboratory. Then, we video-recorded behaviour in a rectangular open-field arena of approximately 10 individuals per species. A single individual at a time was recorded under red light for 20 minutes. Videos were used to construct ethograms of distinct locomotor behaviours such as swimming, crawling, and walking. A video-tracking analysis was performed to extract variables like total path covered, time spent moving, average and maximal speed. Individuals were euthanized and measured for several morphological traits likely related to locomotion. Additionally, we measured activities of enzymes acetylcholinesterase and glutathione S-transferase, which are likely related to animals’ locomotor and metabolic activity, respectively. Preliminary analyses suggest that species from lakes and streams differ in locomotor behaviour. Interestingly, variation in locomotor behaviour was larger among lake species, possibly implying that selection for the optimal locomotion strategy is stronger and more uniform in streams than in lakes.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30389
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30389
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30389/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30389/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30399
2018-10-09
aca
Integrating multiple species criteria and species hypotheses in subterranean biology
Malard,Florian
Grison,Philippe
Eme,David
Fišer,Cene
Flot,Jean-François
Konecny-Dupré,Lara
LEFEBURE,Tristan
Stoch,Fabio
Zagmajster,Maja
Douady,Christophe J.
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30399
Decades of debates around the species problem have resulted in the emergence of a unified species concept with multiple criteria to delimit species taxa. Many biologists now agree to consider species as separately evolving segments of metapopulation lineages (i.e. the species concept), and to consider species taxa (i.e. the elementary units used in biodiversity science) as scientific hypotheses of separately evolving entities. In this framework, sets of species hypotheses are generated using different criteria (i.e. morphological distinguishability, genetic isolation) that mirror the properties expressed by species at different times and sequential orders during the extended and heterogeneous process of speciation. This conceptual and methodological advance in taxonomy has several implications for biodiversity science. First, species taxa represent a heterogeneous set of hypotheses whose properties are contingent on the heterogeneous, continuous and extended nature of speciation. Second, species databases need to integrate information on the diverse properties of species by attributing specimens to multiple species hypotheses generated using different delimitation criteria. Third, biodiversity science at large can provide novel insights into biodiversity processes by incorporating multiple species hypotheses into the analysis of biodiversity patterns. Here, we show how these implications have been taken into account by subterranean biologists. First, we briefly review the criteria and methods used to delimit species in subterranean biology and the diverse sets of species hypotheses they generated. Second, we present a new generation of species occurrence databases that integrate different species criteria and hypotheses while fully respecting the scientific rigor of taxonomy. Last, we show how incorporating multiple species hypotheses into macroecological analyses of European groundwater fauna bolsters our understanding of the factors shaping large-scale patterns of species richness and geographic range size.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30399
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30399
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30399/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30399/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30451
2018-10-18
aca
Evaluation of the suitability of sinkhole ponds and springs from two Portuguese karst massifs for amphibian early life stage development
Soares,Joana
Marques,Ana
Gonçalves,Fernando
Reboleira,Ana Sofia P. S.
Marques,Sérgio
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30451
Amphibians in Portugal are commonly found in karst ecosystems. Nonetheless, these ecosystems are threatened by activities such as agricultural and industrial activities and mining, which contaminate both surface water and groundwater. Due to the high permeability of the karst systems, the existence of water on the surface is scarce, with sinkhole ponds and springs representing essential water sources for amphibians, especially for their reproduction. Furthermore, water from springs may reflect the effects of surface contamination on groundwater. Considering the relevance of these water sources, specially to amphibians, which are considered highly sensitive to a widerange of contaminants, our study aimed at assessing the suitability of water from springs and sinkholes from two Portuguese karst massifs, for the development of the early lifestages of Hyla arborea. To achieve this, eggs from H. arborea were exposed to water from seven springs and four sinkholes, from the Estremenho and Sicó karst massifs, anda control (FETAX). The exposure was carried out with five replicates per condition, each with 20 tadpoles, and ended once the 25th Gosner stage was reached. The parameters evaluated were growth, antioxidant enzyme activity (Glutathione STransferases, Glutathione Peroxidase Se-dependent, total-Glutathione Peroxidase and Glutathione Reductase) and lipid peroxidation (LPO). Also, water samples were screened for the presence of six commonly used pesticides (Terbuthylazine, Tebuconazole, Deltamethrin, Dimethomorph, Chlorpyrifos and Glyphosate). The results revealed the presence of glyphosate in three of the sampled water bodies. Concurrently, in one of the sites presenting detectable glyphosate concentrations, tadpoles presented smaller body lengths, and mortality was also observed. In the remaining sites, despite the absence of the screened pesticides, there were some alterations of the biochemical parameters assessed, namely LPO. These results raised some concerns regarding the impact of human activities in surface and groundwater in the Sicó and Estremenho karst massifs.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30451
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30451
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30451/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30451/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30410
2018-10-19
aca
GroundCare - Invertebrates as indicators for untreated water and intrusion of surface water in water supply systems
Siemensmeyer,Tobias
Spengler,Cornelia
Schwenk,Klaus
Hahn,Hans Jurgen
Groundwater
Risk assessment
Fauna
Bioindication
Waterworks
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30410
Functioning, healthy groundwater ecosystems are essential for high quality drinking water, and they minimize costs of processing groundwater for drinking purposes.
GroundCare is a multidisciplinary project, which is led by the Helmholz Institute in Munich, Germany and funded by the BMBF (German federal Ministry of education and Research). The aim is to parametrize and to quantify groundwater ecosystem services as a basis for sustainable water management and water pollution control by biomonitoring. In other words: the development of biological assessment techniques.
Multiple parameters are evaluated (physico-chemical parameters, microbial and fauna community composition, ecotoxicological effects). Invertebrate fauna is investigated at five sites all across Germany. During the project, molecular identification through DNA Barcoding and Metabarcoding of groundwater invertebrates is being implemented and compared to traditional morphological bio-assessment. The subterranean fauna can be used as bio-indicators to validate groundwater conditions, in particular surface water intrusion. For the water suppliers, surface water intrusion means an increased risk of contamination. The discrimination of epigean from stygobiotic fauna is the simple and basic idea of this approach.
A very specific kind of water treatment is used by the water works in Würzburg (Bavaria), one of the fife study sites, which is located directly along the Main river bank. Uncommonly, they use part time river bank filtration if land-side groundwater levels are low. Another possibility is the extraction of Main River water by near-bank wells, followed by intensive water treatment and then the water is infiltrated again.
The question asked was, whether the fauna indicates this specific situation or not. In the area, three types of subsurface waters can be distinguished, which are land-side groundwater, riverbank water and artificially infiltrated Main river water. Representative bores were sampled four times over one year for invertebrates. First results clearly show that the faunal patterns reflect these different hydrological situations.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30410
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30410
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30410/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30410/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30500
2018-10-19
aca
Contribution of range restricted and widespread species to biodiversity patterns in the Western Balkans in Southern Europe
Bregović,Petra
Fišer,Cene
Zagmajster,Maja
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30500
Species richness patterns (SRP) emerge due to overlap in species distributions. They critically depend on two parameters of species ranges: geographic position and size. An important question is which species contribute more to the observed SRP, range restricted or widespread species. Most studies concluded that the widespread species tend to influence SRP more. However, the relative importance of either may strongly depend on the study system. Here we investigated how subterranean species of different range sizes contribute to SRP in the Western Balkans. We studied spatially defined datasets of terrestrial and aquatic troglobionts, represented by beetles (Cholevidae, Carabidae, 425 species) and amphipod crustaceans (Niphargidae, 150 species), respectively. The two groups differ in dispersal capacities, and indeed distribution of their range sizes differed. The proportion of single site species reached 30% in beetles, and 21% in niphargids. Maximum linear extent (MLE) of the range exceeded 200 km in only 1% of beetles, but in nearly 20% of niphargids. SRP of both taxonomic groups only partly overlapped. To assess the contribution of species with different ranges on SRP, we created different subsets and compared their SRPs with full dataset SRP. Subsets were first formed by adding species one-by-one, in ascending and descending order according to range size. We used correlation analysis, with significance assessed using null models generated from randomly generated subsets. In the second analysis, we assigned species info four classes according to range size, and modelled which size class best explains SRP. The results showed certain differences among the two taxonomic groups, which make generalizations difficult. We find it important to evaluate the contribution of species with different ranges to overall SRP, but also to identification of local hotspots.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30500
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30500
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30500/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30500/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30501
2018-10-19
aca
Evaluating different conservation approaches to protection of subterranean fauna in Slovenia
Zagmajster,Maja
Bregović,Petra
Delić,Teo
Fišer,Cene
Fišer,Žiga
Sket,Boris
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30501
Due to increasing human activities with negative impacts on wildlife and natural habitats, it has become necessary to establish conservation policies protecting at least parts of natural diversity. Subterranean fauna presents a challenge for conservation as species with small ranges or single site occurrences are common. In addition to the high level of strict endemism, the concealed lifestyles in habitats that are difficult to access make it challenging to establish the conservation status of subterranean species. Conservation approaches have different practical implications, but they should: i) include a sufficient number of important sites or proportion of species populations, and ii) involve monitoring of target species and habitats to check the effectiveness of conservation efforts.
We evaluated both aspects in two study cases on subterranean fauna from Slovenia, which is known as one of the global biodiversity hotspots in the Western Balkans. In the first case, we investigated to what extent current conservation schemes cover single site species. In the second case, we studied a region in Southern Slovenia and evaluated to what extent the EU legislation, namely EU Habitats directive, has been successfully implemented. In the frame of the latter, Sites of Community Importance were designated also due to the presence of important cave habitats and subterranean species. Our results suggest that the inclusion of important subterranean sites in conservation schemes is considerable. But, the apparent lack of research and monitoring of both subterranean habitats and species hampers the conclusions on effectiveness of different conservation approaches.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30501
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30501
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30501/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30501/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30502
2018-10-19
aca
Hiding deep underground - two new subterranean beetle genera for Slovenia
Delić,Teo
Colla,Andrea
Zagmajster,Maja
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30502
By offsetting the discipline of speleobiology with the discovery of the first subterranean beetle Leptodirus hochenwartii, Slovenia became the country with the longest tradition of speleobiological research. Subterranean beetles have been an undepletable study subject for almost two centuries, giving the impression that not much novelty is expected in beetle fauna. However, recent discoveries of two new beetle genera for Slovenia, one of them even being a new genus for science, have put this view into a new perspective. With the development of caving techniques and growing interest for surveying deep vertical caves, also the intensity of speleobiological studies of these caves gradually increased. So, it was only in 2017, that the first specialized, hygropetric beetle, was found in Slovenia. In Southern part of the country, a sole female specimen from genus Croatodirus (fam. Leiodidae), probably belonging to a new species, was collected from a cave in Mt. Snežnik, at depth of 475 m. Second, in the same year, even more spectacular finding came from the Southern Calcareous Alps. During sampling of a cave on Mt. Raduha, a peculiar and highly troglomorphic Trechinae (fam. Carabidae) was found at depth 450 m, near the cave hygropetric. Thorough morphological examination of a single male collected revealed characters similar to the ones known in the Southern Dinaric Scotoplanetes - genus known to inhabit the cave hygropetric. However, when the newly discovered genus was put into Alpine Trechinae phylogenetic framework, its sister relation with a narrow-endemic genus Aphaenopidius was revealed. Such rare and occasional findings raise questions regarding the completeness of our knowledge on alpha taxonomy and the mechanisms underlying convergent evolution in the subterranean realm.
Poster: Suppl. material 1
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30502
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30502
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30502/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30502/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30509
2018-10-19
aca
Comparison of thermal tolerance in Collembola (Hexapoda) inhabiting soil and subterranean habitats
Raschmanová,Natália
Šustr,Vladimír
Kováč,Ľubomír
Parimuchová,Andrea
Devetter,Miloslav
thermal tolerance
Collembola
soil
subterranean habitats
life forms
body size
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30509
We hypothesized that trogloxenes inhabiting surface habitats, thermally fluctuating environment, would tolerate wide temperature ranges. We expected that the temperature tolerances would diminish over categories trogloxene - subtroglophile - eutroglophile - troglobiont as a result of the degree of adaptation to subterranean environment that is characteristic with thermally stable conditions. We also assumed that body size may play crucial role in tolerance of Collembola to high and low temperature. Eighteen species of all four categories were exposed to one-hour survival laboratory test. The impact of temperature, species and species-temperature interaction on the cold and heat survival was statistically significant. The species heat tolerance significantly increased with increasing cold tolerance. In general, decrease in cold and heat tolerance was shown from trogloxenes, over subtroglophiles and eutroglophiles to troglobionts. Cryptic species Folsomia sp. among trogloxenes and Ceratophysella sigillata, Hypogastrura crassaegranulata among subtroglophiles were highly heat- and also cold-resistant, showing wide ecological plasticity. Subtroglophilous Tetrodontophora bielanensis and Lepidocyrtus violaceus, eutroglophilous Heteromurus nitidus and troglobiont Protaphorura janosik were the most cold-sensitive species, and all troglobionts and eutroglophilous Pygmarrhopalites pygmaeus as the most heat-sensitive species. Species belonging to ecological groups not or less associated to cave environment (trogloxenes and subtroglophiles) showed wider range of temperature tolerance in comparison with more cave adapted species (eutroglophiles and troglobionts), tested by ANOVA. Cold resistance decreased significantly with increasing body length, indicating that body size plays an important role in temperature tolerances of arthropods inhabiting soil and subterranean habitats.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30509
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30509
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30509/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30509/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30489
2018-10-19
aca
Phylogeny of the genus Pseudosinella (Hexapoda, Collembola) from the Western Carpathians caves reveals Miocene diversification
Kováč,Ľubomír
Žurovcová,Martina
Raschmanová,Natália
Parimuchová,Andrea
Jureková,Nikola
Papáč,Vladimír
Collembola
Pseudosinella
molecular phylogeny
subterraean habitat
genetic divergence
Slovakia
Werstern Carpathians
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30489
The observations from the recent period revealed that the Western Carpathians, a part of the Carpathian mountain chain, is the northernmost region in Europe with the occurrence of the obligate cave fauna. The collembolan genus Pseudosinella Schäffer, 1897 is a polyphyletic taxon derived from the genus Lepidocyrtus Bourlet, 1839 from which it differs in reduced number of eyes. It covers about 350 species with predominantly Holarctic distribution of which about 39% are confined to caves. We studied the morphology and molecular traits to identify cave species of the genus Pseudosinella occupying the Western Carpathian caves and clarify their phylogenetic relationships. Based on morphological traits we hypothesized that Pseudosinella aggtelekiensis (Stach, 1929) and P. paclti Rusek, 1961 are descendants of the different phyletic lineages, the former species lacking morphologically related edaphic species. On the other hand, several species related to P. paclti were found in caves, superficial subterranean habitats and in the soil. Molecular phylogeny analysis has shown two distinct groups of cave species following pattern of allopatric distribution. The first group consisted of populations of P. aggtelekienis from the Slovak Karst and an undescribed species from fragmented and isolated karst in eastern Slovakia. In the second group different populations of P. paclti occupying caves of the central karst regions were incorporated together with a new highly troglomorphic species confined to a small karst area. After an approximate estimate of the geological timing of the species isolation (RelTime), the two distinct Pseudosinella lineages separated approx. 9.54 mya followed by subsequent diversification in P. paclti lineage 8.36 mya, and in P. aggtelekiensis lineage 6.99 mya. This study contributed to assumption that the Western Carpathian Mts played an important role as speciation centre of the obligate cave fauna in Europe.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30489
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30489
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30489/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30489/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30452
2018-10-19
aca
Distribution of herpetofauna in caves of Portuguese karst massifs
Marques,Ana
Soares,Joana
Gonçalves,Fernando
Marques,Sérgio
Reboleira,Ana Sofia P. S.
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30452
Amphibians are frequently found exploring subterranean environments. Even though in Europe there are already some reports of amphibians present in subterranean habitats, in Portugal there is a major lack of knowledge of these ecosystems, namely in the karst region. Considering the relevance of amphibians and their current conservational status, it is important to assess their presence in every potential habitat. In order to provide further knowledge over this subject a preliminary survey was carried out in two Portuguese karst massifs, Estremenho and Sicó. A total of 24 caves were surveyed and as result three species (Tarentola mauritanica; Salamandra salamandra and Pleorodeles waltl) were found in Estremenho karst massif, and two species (Triturus marmoratus and Bufo bufo) were observed in Sicó karst massif. Furthermore, evidences were found that P. waltl uses caves for reproduction, which had only been reported once in Spain. This allowed perceiving that herpetofauna species occupy caves of Portuguese karst massifs and are also using them as reproduction sites.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30452
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30452
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30452/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30452/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e30724
2018-10-22
aca
Amphipod Behavioral Adaptations to the Absence of Surface Water
Gilbert,Heather
Adaptation to desiccation
burrowing
Crangonyx shoemakeri
Gammarus minus
Hypotelminorheic
shallow subterranean habitats
Stygobromus
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e30724
In the Mid-Atlantic Piedmont and Coastal Plain the hypotelminorheic habitat—a shallow subterranean habitat typically underlain by a clay layer—is inhabited by many species that are both troglomorphic (reduced or absent eyes and pigment and elaborated appendages) and stygobiotic (limited to subterranean habitats). Among these is the amphipod species Stygobromus tenuis potomacus. Crangonyx shoemakeri, is a stygophile that also occurs in wetlands as well as the hypotelminorheic. A third amphipod is occasionally found in seeps, most commonly those with direct connections to permanent surface streams—Gammarus minus. Little is understood about how species survive the seasonal changes including drastic water fluctuations. To explore this question, a laboratory experiment was conducted to measure the death rates of amphipod species in a clay substrate habitat when open surface water was removed to determine whether the ability to burrow into clay substrates is an important factor in the occurrence of S. tenuis potomacus species and C. shoemakeri in seeps and hypotelminorheic habitats as well as determine if the inability to burrow explains the general absence of Gammarus minus from seeps. Overall, there is a 25 percent increase in mortality for G. minus when subjected to drying, a statistically significant difference (G=8.73, p<.005). On the other hand, there is no apparent statistically significant difference in survival rates between S. tenuis potomacus and C. shoemakeri. This survivability may be attributable to their behaviors. To protect these species, and the endemic and endangered species of amphipod like Stygobromus hayi, it is important to preserve the habitat, including the clay layer. Management strategies should focus on conserving these key habitats, not just the endangered species.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e30724
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e30724
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30724/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/30724/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e32231
2018-12-07
aca
The IUCN-SSC Cave Invertebrate Specialist Group
Deharveng,Louis
Whitten,Tony
Wynne,Judson
Komericki,Ana
Khela,Sonia
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e32231
The Cave Invertebrate Specialist Group, an IUCN Species Survival Commission, is a group of 80 taxonomists, biospeleologists, ecologists, and conservation biologists. Since 2014, our objectives have been to: (1) conserve subterranean habitats, and address one of the largest lacunas in conservation biology – the protection of sensitive cave and subterranean invertebrate populations; (2) conduct IUCN Red List evaluations for imperiled and/or narrow range endemic species; (3) encourage comprehensive baseline biodiversity surveys, in particular to determine the proportion of unknown biodiversity yet to be discovered; and, (4) provide collaborative opportunities with the business sector for conducting Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, Biodiversity Action Plans, and site and species management plans. We will our accomplishments over the past four years including growth of membership, the number of Red List evaluations conducted and the total number of species recognized as a conservation priority.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e32231
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e32231
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/32231/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/32231/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e32232
2018-12-07
aca
Ongoing invertebrate extinctions in a Vietnamese/Cambodian karst biodiversity hotspot
Deharveng,Louis
Lukić,Marko
Judson,Mark
Bedos,Anne
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e32232
The Hon Chong‒Kâmpôt hills form a group of tiny karstic outcrops scattered in the alluvial plain across the southwestern border between Vietnam and Cambodia. This group hosts an exceptional concentration of endemic taxa that have been progressively discovered during the past two decades. Remarkable endemic genera of millipedes, mites, woodlice and beetles, as well as many endemic species of other arthropod groups are known from deep soil and from caves of this karst. Among them, several species remain known from only single caves or sites, despite intensive sampling. These hills are under critical threat from limestone exploitation. Most of them have already been, or are going to be, levelled during the coming years, the plan being to leave only 3 km2 of unquarried limestone in the Vietnamese part of the karst. We describe here the patterns of endemism and the patterns of threats to this karst group, and summarize the attempts that have been made so far to avoid what is turning out to be one of the worst mass extinctions of karst species documented to date.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e32232
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e32232
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/32232/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/32232/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.1.e32377
2018-12-13
aca
What’s the potential for environmental DNA (eDNA) to assess stygofauna and trogolofauna: pilot studies from Western Australia
White,Nicole
Guzik,Michelle
Cooper,Steven
Austin,Andrew
Bunce,Michael
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 1: e32377
Biological organisms living in any environment can expel DNA into their surroundings through fecal matter, mucus, shed skin, gametes, etc. Here we examine the utility of metabarcoding from a variety of environmental DNA (eDNA) substrates collected from the Pilbara region, Western Australia, to assess the feasibility for both stygo- and troglofauna detection. With metabarcoding, we confirm eDNA from both stygo- and troglofauna is detectable via molecules. In addition, our proof-of-concept and validation of using an eDNA approach was confirmed when both traditional morphological and metabarcoding assessments were compared. The metabarcoding results from the eDNA substrates are very encouraging when compared to the results of traditional morphological assessments, although highlighted the need for comprehensive DNA reference databases to be accessible for metabarcoding comparisons in order to obtain species identifications and community assemblage profiles. Furthermore, our results indicate a standardised field sampling collection method is warranted in order to maximise the success of subterranean eDNA detection from environmental substrates. eDNA data collected suggest metabarcoding approaches will become a powerful part of the toolkit to study subterranean fauna.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2018
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.1.e32377
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.1.e32377
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/32377/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/32377/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37207
2019-06-12
aca
Ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) as useful tool indicating the quality of restoration practices in post-industrial areas
Kędzior,Renata
Skalski,Tomasz
Carabidae
recultivation
spontaneous succession
co-occurrence
life traits
dump
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37207
Environmental disturbances, being a consequence of human industrial activity, strongly influence the communities of plants and animals, causing impoverishment of species pool and reduction of the overall biodiversity. Restoration of stable ecological systems in such areas is difficult and depends on many factors, that influence the rate and effectivness of recolonization. The aim of the study was to compare the diversity and life history traits of ground beetle assemblages in recultivated and spontaneously regenerated postindustrial areas as well as reference forests. In addition the carabid co-occurrence pattern as a parameter evaluating the effectiveness of ecosystem restoration was studied. The following carabid life history traits were analysed: body size, dispersal power, food preferences, breeding type, and habitat preferences. During the field study 2036 specimens belonging to 36 Carabidae species were collected. NMDS analysis divided the ground beetle assemblages in relation to ecosystem types. ANOSIM showed significant differences in dissimilarity distances between assemblages from recultivated, spontaneously regenerated and reference areas. The analysis of the structure and life-history traits of ground beetle assemblages also showed significant differences. In recultivated dumps the rate of restoration was very slow and carabid assemblages structure and life history traits maintained the early successional character, revealing significantly higher abundance of herbivorous open-area species with medium body size, high dispersal power, and a spring breeding cycle. Moreover the co-occurrence pattern of ground beetle assemblages showed a random pattern of co-occurrence, as an effect of high extinction rate reflecting high disturbance level. In case of spontaneously regenerated dumps more effective restoration processes was observed. The co-occurrence pattern of ground beetles assemblages showed a non-random pattern (the mean simulated C-score value was significantly lower than the value generated for the empirical data). Such conditions were beneficial for more sensitive carabid species (mainly medium body-sized predators with low dispersal power and an autumn breeding cycle). We conclude that ground beetles could be an useful tool indicating the direction and effectiveness of ecosystem restoration in post-industrial areas. This study indicated that recultivation techniques without proper biological soil regeneration do not guarantee full restoration of ecosystems and provide conditions for species with wide ecological ranges.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37207
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37207
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37207/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37207/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37059
2019-06-12
aca
Evolution in Extremis: The When, How, and Why of Hawaiian Carabid Beetles
Liebherr,James
biogeography
body size
cryptic species
dispersal
sexual selection
speciation
vicariance
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37059
The Hawaiian Archipelago is the most isolated oceanic island system in the World, separated from the nearest source areas by more than 4000 km. Five independent colonization events have resulted in diversification of a native carabid beetle fauna in excess of 400 known species. This diverse assemblage is disharmonic, with the major radiations restricted to the platynine genus Blackburnia Sharp (139 species), the subgenus Nesocidium Sharp of Bembidion Latreille (21 species), and the moriomorphine genus Mecyclothorax Sharp (239 species). Biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary attributes of these three radiations are compared in order to determine factors crucial to carabid beetle diversification in this most-isolated situation. Biogeographical attributes include the age of origin of the constituent radiation, the island likely colonized by its common ancestor, and the biological characteristics, where known, of the colonizing ancestors for each independent radiation. Ecological attributes include the amount of habitat specialization undergone during each radiation, taking into account the primordial habitat colonized and the subsequent pattern of occupation of different habitat types during diversification. Evolutionary attributes include brachyptery, body-size evolution, sexual selection, and the evolution of specialized body conformations. It is shown that ecological specialization—i.e., occupation of a diverse array of ecological zones and microhabitats—in concert with reduced dispersal ability brought on by evolution of brachyptery are positively associated with enhanced levels of diversification. Comparing sympatric island faunas, it is shown that the latter operates synergistically with body size, as the smaller-bodied Mecyclothorax beetles speciate much more rapidly than the larger-bodied Blackburnia on Maui and Hawai῾i Island. Nonetheless, small body size does not gaurantee high diversity, as Bembidion beetles attain body sizes similar to Mecyclothorax beetles. Age of origin of a radiation is a subsidiary criterion for diversification given that the Mecyclothorax radiation commenced only 1.2 Ma, whereas it is hypothesized that Blackburnia have been resident in the Hawaiian archipelago for upwards of 28 Ma. Thus especially for Blackburnia we are constrained in our ability to know all of the evolutionary products of the radiation due to extinction of presumably all or nearly all species that occupied the now-sunken islands northwest of the oldest high island of Kauai. We are fortunate to know of several extinct Blackburnia species discovered in lowland subfossil deposits in Kauai, and these species provide crucial information now regarding future patterns of extinction. Sexual selection can be demonstrated for the Bembidion subgenus Nesocidium, and is a likely explanation for genitalic evolution over parts of the Mecyclothorax radiation, but it is not a phenomenon pervasively associated with increased levels of speciation.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37059
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37059
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37059/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37059/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37064
2019-06-12
aca
Comparative study of biology on ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) - flight ability, feeding habits and fecundity
Shibuya,Sonomi
bioindicator
brachyptery
diet
dissection
flight muscle
gut contents
hind wing
macroptery
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37064
We studied flight ability, feeding habits and fecundity in carabids. Based on these traits, we investigated characteristics of five species of Harpalus, Synuchus and Carabus as bioindicators of changing environments.
Three species of Harpalus, H. griseus, H. eous and H. tridens, showed different degrees of flight ability. We examined the morphology and the length of hind wings, and also investigated by dissection the phenology of flight muscles. The ratio of hind wing to body length (HWBL) was 0.93 in H. tridens, 0.99 in H. eous and 1.02 in H. griseus. The aerial catches ratio to total catches (aerial / aerial+ pitfall traps) of H. tridens was lower (16%) than the other two (72, 76%), and the proportion of individuals with flight muscles of H. tridens (29%) was lower than the other two (71, 77%), indicating H. tridens has lowest flight ability. All three species exhibited flight muscle polymorphism. The hind wings of Synuchus cycloderus were mono-morphic macropterous with 0.75 (HWBL). However, no individuals were caught by aerial traps, and none possessed the flight muscles, indicating this species does not fly. The hind wings of Carabus procerulus were mono-morphic stick-shaped brachyptery without the flight muscle.
Flight is important trait for food searching and dispersal. Gut dissection revealed that three Harpalus species depended mainly on seeds and partly on arthropods. The fact that animal fragments were found more frequently in the guts of H. tridens than the other two indicated a close relationship between flight ability and diet. Through gut dissection, we found S. cycloderus was a generalist predator. It preys not only on larvae but also adults of small arthropods including collembola. The food remains of guts of C. procerulus consisted of amorphous fluid, and cuticles were hardly detected. It suggested that the inside of prey was exclusively consumed by extra-oral digestion rather than chewing.
Fecundity was assessed by gonad dissection through the number of ovarian eggs and their size. S. cycloderus had many eggs with small size, by contrast C. procerulus and three Harpalus species had few-large eggs.
Many studies have shown that ground beetles responded differently to vegetation disturbances. We interpreted these results from their ecological traits. Our previous study of the vegetation disturbance effects on ground beetles demonstrated that C. procerulus declined in number was accompanied with decline in body size. Food shortage induced the reduction in both number and body size of C. procerulus. On the other hand, the number of S. cycloderus significantly increased. Although some of their prey were reduced, as generalist predators, they alternatively consumed other prey that has increased greatly in number. The trait of S. cycloderus with many eggs has also great potential for population explosion. The numbers of H. griseus and H. eous were not affected by the disturbance, while H. tridens decreased. Shortage of prey organisms caused negative effects on H. tridens compared to H. griseus and H. eous which depend more on seeds.
We have been studying ground beetles in Japan, and already have some basic knowledge, such as hind wings, flight ability, feeding habits, reproductive phenology and seasonal activity for 78 key species. Ground beetles are excellent bioindicators. Our bottom up approach by the dissection of ground beetles collected periodically through the year would be essential when we have to face with extreme conditions, such as global warning.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37064
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37064
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37064/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37064/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37073
2019-06-12
aca
Global warNing: what we know and what we should know about carabid beetles in high altitude habitats
Gobbi,Mauro
Carabidae
Climate Change
Glacier retreat
Permafrost
Refugia.
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37073
Models that relate species distributions and climate to predict the future geographical range of species in response to forecast climate change have shown that species living at high altitudes are expected to be particularly affected. Presently, the global trend towards a rapid climate warming represents a major concern for high-altitude carabid beetles, specifically for the populations living in glacialised mountain areas.
Most of the high altitude carabid species are endemic and cold-adapted, have low dispersal abilities and present small and/or isolated populations. These threats are triggering an increase of their extinction risk.
Some researchers have demonstrated both local-scale extinctions and upward shift to higher altitudes. A key point is whether the losses determined by climate change could be mitigated by species’ survival in micro-refugium areas.
Traditionally, the current species distribution in climate-limited ecosystems, like those at high altitude, have been described underlining the role of cold-stage refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum (c. 22000 years BP). On the other hand, no studies addressed the question if the present-day distribution of cold-adapted mountain species is driven by climate conditions occurring during the past and/or current warm periods.
More recently, the potential role of some ice-related mountain landforms as warm-stage refugia was documented. It suggests that these landforms could be able to promote the long-term survival of cold-adapted species when the surrounding habitats become climatically unfavorable, thus more effort should be done to investigate the ecology these kind of harsh habitats.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37073
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37073
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37073/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37073/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37074
2019-06-12
aca
Nebria germari Heer, 1837 – insight about the distribution and ecology of a climate-sensitive species of the Eastern Alps
Valle,Barbara
Ambrosini,Roberto
Caccianiga,Marco
Gobbi,Mauro
Carabidae
Cold-adapted species
Debris-covered glaciers
Dolomites.
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37074
Nebria germari (Coleoptera: Carabidae) is a cold-adapted species currently restricted to high altitude habitats of the Eastern Alps and exhibits fragmented distribution patterns suggesting refugial occurrence. It is a brachypterous species (thus with low dispersal ability) and it has nocturnal forage behaviour (mainly predating springtails and midges).
Since N. germari is an endemic and a climate-sensitive species, we performed a study aimed at describing the past distribution on the Dolomites (Italy), the ecology and the current population dynamic on debris-covered glaciers of this area where it is still abundant.
The past distribution was investigated by reviewing literature and analysing the labels of the specimens preserved in some Museum collections. We found that, until the second half of the last century, the lower altitudinal limit of this species was around 2000 m asl. Specifically, it was abundant in alpine grasslands on carbonate substrata (Carex firma-dominated). Field data collected in the last ten years demonstrated the current extinction in this grassland type of the Southern Alps, with a consequent contraction of the distribution.
Currently, N. germari is still abundant in high altitude, north-faced, scree slopes with macroporal soil structure, in deep underground and on debris-covered glaciers due to its preference for cold temperatures (i.e. terrains with average annual temperature of ca. 0°C).
Preliminary results obtained analysing, through the snow-free period, the larval, sub-adult and adult abundance patterns on debris-covered glaciers suggest that, in this kind of harsh habitat, N. germari is a spring rather than an autumn breeder as was documented in the last century for the populations found in high alpine prairies. In addition, the population size seems to decrease from the snowmelt to the beginning of the snow period and to increase with the percentage of coarse fraction of the terrain. Conversely, no significant relation was found between the population size and the abundance of preys (Collembola) and competitors (Araneae).
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37074
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37074
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37074/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37074/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37076
2019-06-12
aca
Distribution changes of Carabusspecies in Slovenia: historical data analysis
Ratajc,Urška
Kapla,Andrej
Ambrožič,Špela
Vrezec,Al
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37076
In the past few decades, there has been a sharp decline in specialised and rare species of ground beetles (Carabus) throughout Europe. Our aim was to determine the distribution trends of chosen species and their conservation status in Slovenia. Based on historical and recent data over the period from 1850 to 2018, distribution maps for 25 species of genus Carabus have been made. The reduction in distribution area size was used to evaluate the decline of each species in Slovenia and for assigning them to different categories of threat status. Our results show that a significant number of species from genus Carabus are in decline. Open habitat species of ground beetles (C. cancellatus), ground beetles that are dependent on mature, unmanaged forests (C. glabratus, C. croaticus) and species, very sensitive to climate change (C. irregularis) were found to be the most endangered. Currently, only 3 species are on the Red list of threatened species in Slovenia (C. auronitens, C. gigas and C. variolosus nodulosus), and based on our results, at least 10 species of ground beetles should be added to the existing list. Two species of ground beetles, C. kollari and C. montivagus, have already disappeared from Slovenia in the last few decades, therefore intensive ecological studies of the remaining species and immediate effective conservation strategies are essential.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37076
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37076
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37076/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37076/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37128
2019-06-12
aca
Aggregation and sexual attraction in Carabus – a field experiment
Drees,Claudia
Schuett,Wiebke
Yarwood,Elizabeth
Assmann,Thorsten
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37128
Individuals need to find both suitable environmental conditions and mating partners which might be especially difficult for solitary species. Here, we experimentally studied the role of olfactory cues in attracting conspecifics in several forest-dwelling Carabus species. We considered two possible ways of attraction, general aggregation and sexual attraction. In a field experiment we used single male and female beetles as baits in dry pitfall traps and compared the catches of these traps to those in empty ones. Depending on the species, we found suggestive evidence for aggregation behaviour and/or sexual attraction. Our study highlights that olfactory cues play an important role in Carabus but the underlying mechanisms remain to be studied.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37128
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37128
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37128/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37128/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37129
2019-06-12
aca
Long-term trends in carabids over 25 years – community and population level analyses
Drees,Claudia
Boutaud,Estève
Homburg,Katharina
Nolte,Dorothea
Schuett,Wiebke
Zumstein,Pascale
Assmann,Thorsten
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37129
In times of insect decline, long-term data become more and more important. Such data allow insights into long-term trends and an analysis of possible drivers underlying temporal changes of community and population structure. Using data from 25 years of continuous ground beetle trapping in an ancient woodland located in a large nature reserve in Northern Germany, we analysed temporal changes at both community and population level and identified potential underlying drivers. Ground beetle species significantly declined over time but biomass and number of trapped individuals remained constant. As the habitat was kept stable und unchanged in the last 25 years we also study the influence of external drivers such as climatic variables on phenology and population trends of the most-abundant species. We discuss our results in light of the ongoing insect decline and climate change.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37129
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37129
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37129/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37129/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37132
2019-06-12
aca
Trophic level and edge history modulate the depth of edge influence
Magura,Tibor
Tóthmérész,Bela
carabids
dispersal
edge effect
filter function
forest edges
invasion
meta-analysis
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37132
Habitat edges are increasingly important worldwide because of forest fragmentation and the loss of natural habitats. Reduction in habitat area, increased isolation of fragments are considered to be the primary cause of species decline and extinction in fragmented landscapes. Edge effect is a key determinant, since most effects of fragmentation attributed to patch area may be scaled-up edge effect. Moreover, the isolation of patches is basically determined by the filter function (permeability) of edges. The distance that edge effects extend into the adjacent core (interior) habitat (the depth of edge influence, DEI) is a central issue in edge studies, as it fundamentally influences environmental properties, composition and structure of core habitats, all which significantly control species occurrences. Most previous studies on DEI neglected the impact of origin and the processes maintaining edges, although the structural and functional properties of edges determined by their history may modulate the permeability of edges, and consequently DEI. Evaluating available information on ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in forest edges, we show that both species traits and edge history affect DEI on ground beetles. We found that DEI on abundance of herbivore, omnivore and predator ground beetle species is similar in natural edges, and edges maintained by agriculture, while it is generally penetrated over greater distances into the forests across edges repeatedly disturbed by forestry or other anthropogenic interventions than across edges maintained by natural processes. We found extreme edge effect across edges under forestry activities, as DEI on abundance of predator species is penetrated into the forest interiors up to ≤ 300 m. According to our findings DEI is more pronounced for predators and across edges created and maintained by forestry operations, suggesting outstanding sensitivity of higher trophic level organisms to fragmentation caused by forestry activities. Our result suggests that in planning the optimal size and shape of fragments for ecosystem-based forest management, to provide a core zone, a minimum area of 50 ha of circular forest fragments is required for maintaining an intact ground beetle assemblage.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37132
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37132
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37132/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37132/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37134
2019-06-12
aca
Impact of different habitat parameters on carabid beetle assemblages in selected areas of a forest-field landscape in Poland – 10 years of data
Schwerk,Axel
Jojczyk,Agata
Dymitryszyn,Izabela
Carabidae
Landscape
Succession
Forest
post-agricultural area
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37134
Species diversity in a given landscape depends to a high degree on its habitat diversity. However, the specificity of different environmental factors may play a different role and individual habitats may undergo changes in time (succession). Moreover, some large-scale environmental factors may affect the habitats in the same way but differ from year to year. A long-term study was carried out with the aim to study
the impact of selected environmental factors on the carabid assemblages of individual study site over the years and
the impact of selected environmental factors on the carabid assemblages of the set of all study sites in selected years.
In order to deal with this task, the carabid beetles assemblages on different study sites in a forest-field landscape in Poland were collected using pitfall traps over a period of ten years (2009-2018). The sites were a planted pine forest (12 years old in 2009), a planted pine forest (31 years old in 2009), a naturally-regenerated pine stand (about 10 years old in 2009), a naturally-regenerated pine forest (about 67 years old in 2009), an naturally regenerated pine forest with a share of oak, beech and birch (about 82 years old in 2009), two irregularly-mown sites without biomass removal, and a regularly-mown site with biomass removal. With respect to individual study sites the impact of the factors age (year of the study), temperature and rainfall in the year of inventory, and temperature and rainfall in the preceding year was tested. The impact of the factors age (stand age in the respective year), carbon in the organic layer, carbon in the mineral soil and distance from the nearest forest was analyzed for the set of all study sites in the years 2011 and 2015.
Altogether, 9208 individuals belonging to 77 species were collected. Redundancy Analyses (RDA) indicated that on the individual study sites the year of study was generally positively correlated with temperature and negatively with rainfall, indicating increasing temperatures and decreasing amount of rainfall over the years. For study sites in forest stands in most cases the rainfall was a significant factor, especially the rainfall in the year before the inventory. For study sites in open areas both rainfall and temperature showed significant results. Using Canonical Correspondence Analyses (CCA) for analyzing the impact of the factors on carabid assemblages of the full set of study sites in 2011 and 2015, it was shown that age was positively correlated with carbon in the organic layer, but not with carbon in the mineral soil. Significant factors were carbon in the organic layer and distance from the nearest forest.
The results of the study enlarge our knowledge on the impact of different predictable and stochastic environmental factors on the formation of carabid beetle assemblages in rural landscapes.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37134
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37134
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37134/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37134/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37135
2019-06-12
aca
Comparison of carabid assemblages in European bison grazed and non-grazed areas – first results
Schwerk,Axel
Klich,Daniel
Carabidae
Bison bonasus
grazing
biological diversity
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37135
The European bison (Bison bonasus (L.)) is the biggest living wild terrestrial animal in Europe. Because of its grazing feeding type, it has a strong impact on the flora and fauna. In 2017 a study was started with the aim to analyze the impact of European bison grazing on carabid beetle assemblages over the years 2017-2020 in Poland using pitfall traps. The study consists of basically two main experimental parts:
a study on five meadow sites located in Augustowska forest complex (northeastern Poland), and
a study on ten sites (two meadows, eight forests) in two enclosures (southern Poland).
The plots in Augustowska forest complex were studied in 2017, before release of new population (reintroduced in 2018), and will be studied again in 2019 (after two year presence of the new population). The plots in enclosures were studied in 2018.
In the present paper the results from two enclosures will be presented. In the enclosure “Jankowice”, situated in Kobiór forest District (south of Katowice), two meadow sites (one grazed, one non-grazed) and four forest sites (two grazed, two non-grazed) were located. Grazing intensity was about 0.06 individuals per ha. The enclosure “Niepołomice”, situated in Niepołomice Forest District (east of Kraków), had four forest sites (two grazed, two non-grazed). Grazing intensity was about 0.4 individuals per ha.
Altogether, 9615 individuals belonging to 61 species were collected. Correspondence analysis (CA) and Cluster analyses showed that, independently from bison grazing, the meadow sites significantly differed from the forest sites. Regarding the forest sites the enclosures were separated from each other. Bison grazed sites were not separated from non-grazed sites in the enclosure “Jankowice”, but they were separated in the enclosure “Niepołomice”.
Even if habitat type seems to be of major importance, depending on grazing intensity (individuals per ha) bison grazing may have an impact on formation of carabid assemblages, too. However, the preliminary results presented here have to be verified and complemented during the next years of the study.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37135
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37135
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37135/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37135/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37156
2019-06-12
aca
Phylogeny of the supertribe Nebriitae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) based on analyses of molecular sequence data--some surprises.
Kavanaugh,David
Maddison,David R.
Simison,Brian
Schoville,Sean
Schmidt,Joachim
Faille,Arnaud
Nebriitae
Ground beetles
DNA
taxonomy
molecular phylogenetics
evolutionary tree
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37156
To explore phylogenetic relationships among members of the carabid supertribe Nebriitae, we sampled DNA fragments extracted from adults of 244 nebriite species-group taxa, representing about 25% of known species-group taxa and 93% (38 of 41) of the currently accepted nebriite genus-group taxa. Sequence data were recorded for eight gene fragments (a total of 5654 bases) from nuclear ribosomal, mitochondrial, and nuclear protein coding genes. The resulting phylogeny is based on both individual gene and concatenated gene analyses using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian methods, which produced nearly identical results. Most nodes are well supported by both high bootstrap and high posterior probability values, and many of them also by unique (autapomorphic) bases.
Many of the previously recognized genus-group taxa are supported as monophyletic, but others are not. Alternative reclassifications that reflect monophyletic groups are still being considered, based on the molecular analyses along with considerations of ease of group identification and geographical distribution. Of the two alternative reclassifications being considered, one requires the designation of 16 new subgeneric synonymies and the other only nine new subgeneric synonymies plus the recognition of three new subgenera. However, under both schemes, Nippononebria Uéno (along with its subgenus, Vancouveria Kavanaugh) is re-established as a genus separate from Nebria and sister to Leistus Frölich; and Archastes is embedded within a monophyletic genus Nebria and closely related to subgenera Oreonebria Daniel and Orientonebria Shilenkov. Additional details will be reported in the presentation.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37156
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37156
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37156/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37156/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37158
2019-06-12
aca
Conflicts in sperm: how do genitalia coevolve with elaborate sperm?
Gomez,Antonio
Maddison,David R.
post mating sexual selection
evolutionary tradeoffs
ornaments
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37158
Some sperm traits are now recognized as ornaments akin to peacock’s tails evolving under cryptic female choice or weapons in sexual conflicts, but there are still few studies addressing patterns and process in sperm-female evolution. We are studying sperm-female evolution in ground beetles of the genus Dyschirius. Male Dyschirius make groups of sperm, termed conjugates, by pairing sperm to non-cellular rods, or spermatostyles. This pairing creates a conflict for storage space in the female’s reproductive tract between sperm and the spermatostyle, which is incapable of fertilizing eggs. We speculate that the conjugates of some Dyschirius that include large spermatostyles with few sperm are ornaments. We hypothesize that increased spermathecal storage volume is positively correlated with larger spermatostyles and that male genitalic complexity is negatively correlated with elaboration of sperm. We gathered morphological trait data on sperm conjugates and male and female genitalia from several species of Dyschirius. We analyzed these data in a phylogenetic framework using a robust Dyschirius species tree derived from DNA sequence data. We present preliminary results from this ongoing study and solicit feedback from the ECM community.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37158
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37158
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37158/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37158/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37233
2019-06-14
aca
Life-history traits matter for dispersal into semi-open habitat corridors:
Boutaud,Estève
Nolte,Dorothea
Drees,Claudia
Assmann,Thorsten
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37233
Biodiversity face ever-increasing threats from the consequences of various human activities Conservation corridors have long been considered a viable solution to help counteract biodiversity loss. However, corridors simultaneously increase fragmentation for non-target habitats. To overcome this challenge, semi-open habitats, which are a mixture of open and woodland habitats, have been proposed as they may enable simultaneous dispersal of both stenotopic open and woodland species. Despite the fact that they could be used by a great range of species, strong interspecific variability exists with regards to the number of individuals effectively recorded in such environment. Consequently, generalisation about their effectiveness remains difficult. Life-history traits such as body size, hibernation stage, trophic guild, and habitat specialisation could be successfully used to enhance prediction with regards to dispersal success. We used generalized linear modelling to study the relationship of ground beetles species traits and dispersal success into semi-open habitat in two regions of Germany. Our preliminary results indicate that larger species, as well as species overwintering as larvae, tend to be more successful when dispersing into semi-open habitat than smaller species or species overwintering as adult. In addition, species locally abundant are also recorded in higher number. In the light of these results, semi-open corridors do not appear to be the best strategy to increase connectivity for species with small body size or overwintering as adult. For such species, priority should be given to traditional corridors whenever possible. Source habitats need also attention as population size will strongly determine the usefulness of such corridors.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37233
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37233
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37233/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37233/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37075
2019-06-14
aca
Pest and weed seed predation in field defects within oilseed rape crops
González,Ezequiel
Seidl,Miroslav
Štrobl,Martin
Kadlec,Tomáš
Ferrante,Marco
Knapp,Michal
Biological control
Ephemeral habitats
Ground beetles
Non-crop habitats
Oilseed
Sentinel prey
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37075
Non-crop habitats can act as refuge for insects in agricultural landscapes and increase ecosystem services (ESs) in neighboring arable fields. Among the different types of non-crop habitats, field defects are temporary patches where sown plants are poorly developed and other plant species emerge. These defects can be common and large in years with extreme weather conditions. However, their relevance as habitat for beneficial insects and ESs provision is unknown. Here, we quantified two ESs (pest and weed seed predation) in field defects within oilseed rape crops and related ESs levels with the activity-density of ground beetles and temperature. In 10 fields, we used artificial caterpillars made of plasticine and seed cards of two weed species (Taraxacum sp. and Stellaria sp.) to quantify ESs in two sampling periods (spring and summer) and in three habitat types: field defects, standardly grown crop (field interiors) and crop-defect boundaries. Ground beetles were sampled using pitfall traps and classified into feeding guilds and body size classes. Insects and mammals were the main pest predators and predation increased in summer, but did not differ among habitats. Seed predation rates for both species were significantly higher in summer. Predation of Taraxacum seeds was higher at field interiors, whereas predation of Stellaria was significantly higher at field interiors and defects, compared to crop-defect boundaries. Insect predation increased with the activity-density of medium and large carnivorous carabids, whereas seed predation for both weed species was positively related to the activity-density of medium-sized herbivorous carabids. Finally, temperature was negatively linked to predation of artificial caterpillars and seeds of Taraxacum.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37075
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37075
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37075/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37075/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37430
2019-06-18
aca
What are the "characteristic species" of the habitats directive? A new statistics-driven approach connecting species, habitats and key habitat characteristics
Müller-Kroehling,Stefan
Carabidae
EU habitats directive
fauna flora habitat directive
ffh directive
natura 2000
characteristic species
proper assessment of projects of plans
habitat management
article 6
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37430
A new understanding of ”characteristic species“ according to the Habitats Directive is presented, including a suggested definition from a scientific point of view and practical implementation.
The Habitats Directive includes the mandatory evaluation criterion “characteristic species”. Although obligatory, it has largely been neglected and applied inconsistently. Reasons are the undefined character of the term and very different attempts for its interpretation. In several cases, particularly from the field of carabidology, maximum fidelity of the species has been suggested as the best criterion for defining characteristic species. In other words, the species must not occur in any other habitat type, but should be restricted intirely to the habitat it is characteristic for. As a result, for many habitats there are no, or at best very few characteristic species if this definition is strictly applied, and in many cases no characteristic species could be found even in very well-devolped and large-enough sites where the habitat occurs.
Here, a completely different definiton is presented. Exclusive fidelity is decidedly not required, since this criterion aims at defining character species, which by definition serve a different purpose, which is defining a habitat, not characterizing its conservation status. The set of characteristic species of a habitat should be defined based on their statistically confirmed affinity to the habitat and an affinity or fidelity to at least one key habitat factor of the habitat type concerned. Such a key factor could be wetness in the case of wetlands, or peaty soil for bog habitats, or scree for ravines, etc.
The application of characteristic species in practice, like in the mandatory assessment of projects and plans under article 6 of the habitats directive should primarily focus on the effects of the plan or purpose to be assessed. Out of the pool of characteristic species of a given habitat, those species which depend on the relevant key factors of the habitat which are possibly altered by the project or plan to be assessed can be selected and their well-being evaluated or monitored.
In a second application, which is that for management of a site (also under article 6), the degree of completeness of the pool of characteristic species allows the evaluation of the conservation status. Important conclusions as to which key factors might be lacking or are in an insufficient stage can be drawn from the characteristic species missing at a given site. This can be a property related to habitat tradition, size of the habitat, isolation or certain traits of the soil or the stand types to be evaluated, depending on the particular species and their statistically proven requirements.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37430
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37430
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37430/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37430/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37359
2019-06-18
aca
Drivers of diversification in a continental radiation of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Lachnophorini)
Zamorano,Laura S.
Erwin,Terry
Kavanaugh,David
Morphological disparity
adaptive radiation
rates of phenotypic evolution
geometric-morphometric
ecological speciation.
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37359
Understanding the factors responsible for spatial heterogeneity in species diversity is a major challenge in evolutionary biology. The Amazon Basin harbors the highest species richness for a variety of groups, yet whether the Amazon is a cradle or museum of diversity continuous to be an open debate. In this study, we evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of an assemblage of beetles found in seven different habitats within a lowland tropical rainforest in the Ecuadorian Amazon in order to evaluate if the patterns of diversification are consistent with an adaptive radiation or represent the accumulation of species in proportion to time since divergence from a common ancestor. We combined molecular sequence data with morphometric and ecological data to examine the relationship between species diversification and disparity in eco-morphological traits. Phylogenetic analyses identified 8 clades of lachnophorines. A lineage through time analysis revealed a constant rate of divergence. Geometric morphometric analyses based on 46 landmarks revealed significant morphological shape variation among species within clades that correlated with habitat occupancy. Species with a slender pronotum tended to occur in open environments, such as sandy beaches adjacent to water, whereas species with shorter, broader pronotum and elytra inhabited leaf-litter and arboreal habitats. In addition, we found evidence of morphological convergence related to habitat use indicating that Lachnophorini radiation in the Amazon-Basin is accompanied by local ecological adaptation.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37359
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37359
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37359/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37359/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37362
2019-06-18
aca
High molecular diversity in the Carabus variolosus/nodulosus complex
Mossakowski,Dietrich
Hejda,Eadek
Müller-Kroehling,Stefan
Paill,Wolfgang
Prunar,Florin
Rapuzzi,Ivan
Species status
introgressive hybridisation
multiple refuges
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37362
Starting point of this study was the problem considering the status of Carabus variolous and C. nodulosus: French and some German authors classified them as species, most German authors as subspecies and Casale as semispecies.
We performed analyses of mitochondrial genes (COI-5', COI-3', ND5) as well as nuclear ones (ITS2, wingless) and analysed the DNA sequences using Seqotron, CLUSTALX (editing and alignment), MEGA, DNAML, SplitsTree (phylogeny and network), 4SALE (compensatory base changes), and BEAST (coalescence).
We could study specimens from all regions except the western most part of the distribution area (Massif Central and French Jura, France).
The mitochondrial DNA data resulted in a geographic pattern of high diversity within both taxa indicating a series of glacial refuges. In addition, a considerably large area was found were introgressive hybridisation took place in the past - at least two times by nodulosus of different regions into variolosus.
The nuclear DNA data show a clear and constant difference between both taxa.
In consequence, this complex of forms may be characterised as semispecies from an evolutionary viewpoint but taxonomically as one species because of hybridisation and the lack of compensatory bases changes.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37362
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37362
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37362/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37362/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37366
2019-06-18
aca
Phylogeny of carabid beetles based upon DNA sequences (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Maddison,David R.
Will,Kipling
Moore,Wendy
Kanda,Kojun
Gill,Aman
Perez,Sean
Sproul,John
Pflug,James
Boyd,Olivia
Gomez,R. Antonio
Miller,Kelly
Wild,Alexander
Carabidae
transcriptome
hybrid capture
phylogenomic
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37366
I will present results from our phylogenetic study of the family Carabidae, based on DNA sequences of six gene fragments for about 550 carabid species representing about 80 tribes, as well as transcriptomic data and hybrid capture genomic data for a representative sampling of lineages. Many of the morphologically delimited groups are confirmed as monophyletic, as are relationships discovered in previous sequence-based studies (e.g., Brachinini is sister to Harpalinae (sensu Erwin 1985), which combined are sister to Moriomorphini; Pseudomorphini are embedded within Harpalinae, and are related to graphipterines and orthogoniines). But there are also surprising results, such as the unexpected placements of Agonicini, Celaenephes, and Bradycellus. As analyses of the data have not yet been completed, there will be additional discoveries this summer, about which I will report in my talk.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37366
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37366
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37366/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37366/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37400
2019-06-18
aca
How to make a meta-analyst happy – what to report in your studies and how
Saska,Pavel
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37400
Meta-analysis represents an approach of synthesizing many independent data sets, and is useful in situations when abundant literature provides no conclusive evidence. Besides the quality of the research itself, the value of an individual study for meta-analysis depends to the large extent also on the quality of data presentation. The literature based on carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) as the study is enormous, therefore there is a great potential for the use in meta-analyses. In this paper I put together some notes which arose during my work on meta-analysis focused on the effects of field and crop management on populations of carabid beetles inside the crop fields of Europe and America north of Mexico. The aim of this contribution is to provide a set of recommendations which may potentially improve the use of each individual paper in future meta-analyses, and thus increase the impact of the original paper as well as the generality of conclusions drawn from future meta-analyses, hence based on larger sample size.
Be accurate in describing the treatments. For example, “low” and “high intensity of management” is not enough.
Mention also details that are constant across treatments, but may still provide useful information. E.g. “practice usual for the area” is not enough.
Be precise with describing spatio-temporal structure in the study. Provide redundant information so everyone can check if he/she understood well the hierarchy of the experiment and the number of replications associated with each stratum. A scheme may be useful.
Report the grand totals as well as treatment totals for both “abundance” and species richness. Text, tables or supplementary materials is preferred.
If using mean values, always make it clear what is the number of replicates and provide standard errors. But, remember that total or treatment species richness cannot be reconstructed from the mean! Be explicit in stating what the means represent, also in figures. Expressions like “Mean abundance” are not enough.
Provide species lists with the greatest resolution possible. Most journals allow for supplementary materials where this information can be provided.
Remember that data can also be extracted from figures. Provide high resolution and accurate figures. For example, large data points on a line make data extraction difficult.
With little extra effort during the preparation phase, the impact of your paper and the use of your data may considerably increase in the future.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37400
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37400
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37400/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37400/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37401
2019-06-18
aca
No evidence for decline of carabid beetles in European and North-American arable fields; a meta-analysis
Saska,Pavel
Frei,Britta
Makowski,David
Van der Werf,Wopke
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37401
Recent studies have shown dramatic decline in the abundance and diversity of insects over the last decades, including pollinators, lepidopterans, flying insects, parasitoids or epigeal predators, such as carabid and staphylinid beetles. Many of these studies are based on regional data, therefore it is hard to draw a conclusion about the generality of the reported effects across multiple groups and regions. In this paper we focus on testing the hypothesis of insect decline in annual arable crops over a wide geographical range, using meta-analysis of data on carabid beetles as a model group. We extracted pitfall trap catches and observed species richness from 105 independent publications originating from Europe and North America. Data were from a variety of arable annual crops in 22 countries, and spanned a period of 42 years. As sampling effort varied notably across studies, we standardized catches by trapping effort, and explored different options for calculating trapping effort from data. The data over time did not show any evidence of a decline in carabid numbers nor species caught over the 42 years covered by the dataset. A possible explanation for this finding is that carabid beetles living in these habitats are adapted to periodical disturbance by either withstanding these disturbances on site or by periodically re-colonizing fields from adjacent habitats. Although local decreases in carabid populations are documented in the literature as a result of agricultural intensification or landscape simplification, at the broader geographical scale, such a decline is not supported by the data.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37401
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37401
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37401/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37401/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37426
2019-06-18
aca
Carabid beetles in peatlands - what are bog species? Clear definitions of tyrphobiontic and tyrphophilic species as used in the "Bavarian bog species basket"
Müller-Kroehling,Stefan
Carabidae
peatland
bogs
fens
bog forests
tyrphobiontic species
tyrphophilous species
species basket
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37426
Peatland species are endangered because of peat extraction and drenching of peatland in many regions, and thus are of great conservation concern.
Often times, the trait of being "tyrphobiontic" or "tyrphopilous" is defined differently in the literature, yielding ambigous results. Frequently, studies of peatland fauna do not clearly define which species are characteristic of peatlands, instead focussing on other traits like red data book status etc.
The group of peatland specialists should be definied by their affinity to the habitat trait of peaty soil. For many species, further factors are also relevant, like habitat tradition, elevation and regional climate, vegetation types etc., but peaty soil is a common denominator.
The "Bavarian bog species basket" lists all species from different species groups that are bog species, grouping them into three clearly defined categories of peatland affinity. For carabids, a list of all 26 species in that basked is presented, and examples provided how these differ in their affinity to different bog habitats, and to bog habitats overall.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37426
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37426
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37426/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37426/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37427
2019-06-18
aca
Carabid beetles in a regional and a country-wide elevation gradient of Bavarian forests: differences and thoughts on the value of false time series approaches
Müller-Kroehling,Stefan
Jantsch,Matthias
Carabidae
climate change
elevational gradient
false time series
true time series
beech forests
spruce forests.
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37427
We studied the effects of global warming and rising temperatures on the ground beetle fauna of Bavarian beech forests using the space for time approach (false time series), and did so in two projects, at two geographical scales: firstly, a Bavarian-wide gradient of 50 plots in beech forests, and second a regional gradient in the Bavarian Forest in the mountains in eastern Bavaria consisting of 48 plots, which was not restricted to beech forests but also included subalpine spruce forests. For purposes of validation, we used as a backdrop data from 413 additional plots all across Bavaria from a wide range of forest habitats.
We found five species that would be favoured and six species that would be disadvantaged by rising temperatures in beech forests. For another five species the conditions within the gradient studied reach both their minimum and their maximum temperatures. As a consequence of increasing temperatures there will be winners and losers in these forests and the species composition of ground beetle communities will change. Approximately the same number of species is likely to profit as will be affected negatively. However, when considering the “global responsibility species” for Germany, the balance is negative.
It is imporant to note that species may react differently in different habitats and at different regional scales. Some species migtht be more endangered in a local gradient than in a regional gradient, and vice versa, and examples are provided for this. Climate effects proven for a certain habitat must not be the same for other habitats even within the same region if these were not included in the study design. These limitations must be taken into consideration when applying the results of such studies and especially when generalizing them.
The benefits of a true time series compared to the popular "false time serices" provided by an elevational gradient are also highlighted using some examples.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37427
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37427
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37427/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37427/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37429
2019-06-18
aca
Carabid beetles in Short Rotation Coppices (SRC): Comparing the importance of stand age versus plantation age for forest species through a meta study from Central Europe
Müller-Kroehling,Stefan
Hohmann,Georg
Burmeister,Johannes
Helbig,Christiane
Liesebach,Mirko
Müller,Michael
Zehlius,Wolfgang
Lübke-Al Hussein,Marita
Al Hussein,Ismail
Short rotation coppice
SRC
energy forests
biodiversity
ground beetles
Carabidae
meta study
corridors
endangered species
pioneer species
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37429
Because of their monoculture and even-aged plantation character, often highly mechanized harvesting methods and very short rotation cycles for a woody plant crop, the functions of short rotation coppices (SRC) with regard to biodiversity are often thought to be limited. The surprisingly large number studies conducted yielded varying, in some aspects inconclusive results. Most studies and reviews conducted so far concluded that only SRC in the establishment phase after planting are of particular value for biodiversity and nature conservation. In order to achieve a better understanding of biodiversity functions of SRC with the potential to be generalized, we conducted a meta study combining existing ground beetle data from 14 projects with a total of 73 plots from SRC in West Central Europe (Germany) and Czechia.
The results show that SRC not only have benefits for biodiversity by providing endangered pioneer species an ephemeral pioneer habitat (particularly during the establishment phase of the SRC), but also do so at the fringes like their edges and in clearings where trees failed to properly establish. A second function for biodiversity conservation is that of providing strict forest species of limited dispersal ability with habitat corridors, which is the case particularly in older, long-existing SRC. The age of the plantation is much more important for this funtion than the length of the rotation intervals.
The two conservation benefits which SRC can have are completely different, but can complement each other. In multifunctional landscapes which aim to maintain open field biodiversity and cultivate forest biodiversity at the same time, a stronger consideration of SRC need not be a threat but can be a valuable ingredient in the land use mix.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37429
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37429
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37429/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37429/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e37360
2019-06-18
aca
The most remarkable cave-specialized trechine beetles from China
Huang,Sunbin
Faille,Arnaud
Tian,Mingyi
subterranean
cavernicolous
aphaenopsian
ground beetles
Trechini
Giraffaphaenops
Xuedytes
Dongodytes
Sinaphaenops
Pilosaphaenops
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e37360
Limestone areas of China host remarkable radiations of cave animals. The subterranean trechine beetles (Carabidae: Trechini), the most diverse and modified group of subterranean beetles in the world, are extremely diverse in southern China. The first aphaenopsian trechine beetle, Sinaphaenops mirabilissimus Uéno & Wang, 1991 was reported from a limestone cave in Guizhou province. Up to now, 146 species within 48 genera of aphaenopsian trechine have been described in China after almost three decades. Among them, the genera Giraffaphaenops, Xuedytes, Dongodytes, Sinaphaenops and Pilosaphaenops from northwest Guangxi and south Guizhou are the most modified troglobitic trechine beetles known so far in the world. They are remarkable by their morphology combining extremely slender body and elongated appendages. Some of them are diversified or quite widespread, which is not the case of Xuedytes Tian & Huang, 2017, a remarkable monospecific genus known from a single locality so far. In addition to the surveys and collection of specimens, an integrative approach combining the study of systematics, phylogeny, diversification and biogeography patterns of the cave trechine beetles in China is on the way, in order to understand the origin of the remarkable biodiversity and evolutionary success of this group.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e37360
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e37360
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37360/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/37360/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e38374
2019-07-19
aca
Effect of plant protection on assemblages of carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in beetroot crops in four-year rotation
Kosewska,Agnieszka
Nijak,Katarzyna
Nietupski,Mariusz
Kędzior,Renata
ground beetles
sugar beet
pesticide
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e38374
Ground beetles (Col., Carabidae) are common predators in agrocenoses. A number of plant pests occurring on arable fields become their feed. Therefore, they contribute to a natural reduction of the occurrence of pests. In addition, they are well-known bioindicators used, among others to determine the state of the habitats and the impact of human activity on entomofauna. In the fields, the use of chemical plant protection products is a very controversial activity. The aim of the study was to investigate assemblages of ground beetles occupying conventional and organic sugar beetroot crops. Therefore, to determine the impact of the application of pesticides on the assemblages of these useful beetles was made.
The study was conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Winna Góra near Środa Wielkopolska in Poland from May till September of 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. The experiment was carried out in the field with organic crop of sugar beet, and in the crop, for which an integrated plant protection programme was planned. The area of each field was 0.5 ha. Modified Barber traps were used to catch insects. On each of the selected fields 10 pitfalls were set up, which were emptied every 14 days.
Within 4 years of the study a total of 11865 specimens belonging to 52 ground beetle species were recorded. 5582 specimens belonging to 50 species and 6283 specimens belonging to 46 species were caught in the fields under chemical protection and organic, respectively. On a multiannual scale, there were no statistically significant differences in the number of individuals and species of Carabidae on conventional and organic fields. Fluctuation in ground beetles abundance and species richness were observed dependent on the year of study but not of the treatment. Harpalus rufipes was the most represented species in all fields.
The main conclusion is that using chemical plant protection on a multiannual scale does not adversely affect the number and species richness of ground beetles.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e38374
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e38374
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38374/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38374/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e38377
2019-07-19
aca
Responses of boreal ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) to different logging regimes during ten years of secondary succession
Koivula,Matti
Clear cutting
Gap cutting
Retention
Selection cutting
Thinning
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e38377
Many biological responses may develop over long periods of time, and annual community variation should therefore be controlled in ecological research. We sampled carabid beetles over ten years in Norway spruce dominated forests in Southern Finland, harvested using replicated logging treatments of different intensities. We collected carabids in 1995 (prior to logging) and during four post-harvest seasons, 1996-98 and in 2006. The treatments were clear-cutting (no retained trees), modified clear-cutting (retention of three groups of 20-30 trees within one-hectare core) and gap cutting (three 0.16-ha openings within a one-hectare core), and control (mature unharvested forest).
Carabids showed remarkable annual and regional variation at assemblage, ecological-group and species levels, such that was independent of treatments.
The total species richness, and that of open-habitat carabids, were higher in cleared sites of all treatments than in control stands in 1997-1998 but not in 2006, suggesting that the logging response was ephemeral by many species.
The abundances of forest and generalist carabids were little affected by logging. Open-habitat carabids were more abundant in clear-cuts and modified clear-cuts than in gap cuts, which was still detectable in 2006, suggesting a long-term effect.
Open-habitat carabids were less abundant in retention sites of modified clear-cuts and gap cuts than in cleared sites, suggesting that retention attenuates assemblage change.
Carabid assemblages of logged stands did not differ from control stands in 1996 but they did in 1997-1998, suggesting a one-year delay in logging response.
In 2006, logged and control stands hosted relatively similar assemblages which, together with the above results, suggests a partial faunal recovery. We conclude that even modest retention provides long-term support for forest carabids, but also that their full assemblage recovery takes longer than 10 years.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e38377
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e38377
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38377/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38377/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e38376
2019-07-19
aca
Effects of undergrowth removal and edge proximity on ground beetles in urban boreal forests
Koivula,Matti
Carabidae
edge effect
forest management
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e38376
Urban forests are regularly managed for human safety and aesthetic reasons, but they are crucial habitat for many species. Removals of undergrowth occur commonly in these forests, yet the ecological consequences of these operations are poorly understood. We sampled ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) along 20-m edge gradients in Finnish urban forests, in five stands treated 0.5−2.5 years earlier with undergrowth removal and in five untreated stands. We hypothesized that undergrowth removal and edge proximity would benefit opportunistic and open-habitat species, whereas shady-habitat species would be affected negatively.
Diversity and evenness indices, open-habitat species and Carabus nemoralis responded positively, and forest species, Leistus terminatus and Pterostichus oblongopunctatus responded negatively, to the undergrowth removal.
Edge proximity had little effect on carabids.
However, open-habitat carabids were less abundant and less speciose 10−20 m from than right at the edge. We conclude that, while managing urban forests, undergrowth removals should be avoided at sites that host rare or threatened forest-associated species.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e38376
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e38376
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38376/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38376/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e38379
2019-07-22
aca
Toward a better understanding of in-field weed regulation by carabid beetles, and their functional characteristics, in European arable landscapes
Carbonne,Benjamin
Bohan,David
Petit,Sandrine
carabid beetle
weed seed predation
conservation biological control
biodiversity
C-IPM BioAWARE project
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e38379
For future arable agriculture, there is a need for more sustainable methods to manage weeds that are less reliant on herbicides and maintain food production. Control of weeds by natural enemies is an agro-ecological alternative to reduce the use of herbicides. While strong evidence points to carabid beetles exerting a regulatory effect on certain weed species, it is difficult to predict whether a particular assemblage of carabid species or functional groups will drive the function of weed seed predation in field conditions. There are also uncertainties about which key local and landscape-scale factors affect the function of weed seed predation, and the functional characteristics of carabid communities. In this presentation, we report on specific research actions being conducted within the wider C-IPM BioAWARE project that focuses on weed regulation by carabid biodiversity. We first briefly present statistical analyses aimed at identifying key assemblages of carabid taxa delivering high weed seed predation of Viola arvensis seeds during spring. We then present the principles and the implementation of the BioAWARE large-scale European survey currently in place. We explain how this large-scale design will be used to assess: (i) how landscape characteristics and infield trophic resources determine the functional characteristics and the diversity of carabid communities; and, (ii) key carabid assemblages delivering high seed predation of a large range of weeds through the evolution of the seedbank.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e38379
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e38379
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38379/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38379/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e38395
2019-07-22
aca
Mediterranean Ant Nest Beetles (Carabidae: Paussus): Out of Africa and Asia
Moore,Wendy
Robertson,James A.
Nagel,Peter
Di Giulio,Andrea
Ant Nest Beetles
biogeography
Mediterranean
molecular phylogeny
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e38395
Endemic to the Palaeotropic and southern Palaearctic regions, ant nest beetles (Carabidae: Paussus) are specialized predators that depend on ants for their survival. This obligate relationship has driven extreme morphological adaptations that obscured our understanding of Paussus species relationships and subgeneric clades for centuries. Molecular phylogenetics has revealed patterns of relationship with high levels of convergence, and as a general rule, areas of endemism are better predictors of monophyly than overall morphology. For example, the species rich fauna of Madagascar is the product of one dispersal event from Africa approximately 2.6 million years ago, after which Malagasy ant nest beetles undertook one of the fastest species radiations ever documented within animals. With their center of diversity in sub-Saharan Africa, the Paussus fauna of the Mediterranean is relatively depauperate with only seven species described from north of the Sahara. Pre-molecular subgeneric classifications, which were based on overall morphology, suggest that these seven species represent five species group lineages. Here, we use molecular sequence data from five genes and a taxon-sampling strategy aimed at investigating the biogeographic origins of five Mediterranean species. We find that the present-day Mediterranean fauna, unlike that of Madagascar, is the result of five separate dispersal events, four from the Afrotropical Region and one from the Indomalayan Region. Implications of associated host ant shifts are also explored.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e38395
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e38395
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38395/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38395/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e38396
2019-07-22
aca
Molecular Phylogeny and Tribal Classification of Flanged Bombardier Beetles (Carabidae: Paussinae)
Moore,Wendy
Maddison,David R.
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e38396
Members of the carabid subfamily Paussinae are known for their explosive defensive chemistry and their associations with ants, which vary from some species being facultative predators of adult ants to others being obligate predators of ant brood. This association with ants has driven extreme morphological adaptations in some lineages. Approximately 750 species are currently classified into four tribes: Metriini, Ozaenini, Protopaussini and Paussini. Here we use molecular sequence data from five genes (28S ribosomal DNA; 18S ribosomal DNA; wingless; carbamoyl phosphate synthetase domain of the rudimentary gene; and arginine kinase) to reveal patterns of deep divergence and provide a new tribal level classification reflecting evolutionary history. We recognize and describe two new tribes, and the tribe Ozaenini is redefined. Among other traits, members of each tribe has a characteristic shape of the cuticular fold at the posterolateral angle of both elytra, known as the flange of Coanda.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e38396
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e38396
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38396/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38396/download/pdf/
en
10.3897/aca.2.e38425
2019-07-22
aca
Some seed properties affecting seed choice by Poecilus cupreus
Foffová,Hana
Saska,Pavel
Bohan,David
ARPHA Conference Abstracts 2: e38425
Seed predators are an integral part of agrocoenoses where they contribute to the reduction of weed populations. Although they are taking part in biological control of weed seeds, we still do not understand which properties of seeds are responsible for variable attractiveness of different species of seeds to carabids beetles. Seed coat provides a physical barrier and hinders volatiles to be released from the seeds when these are dry. In this work, we focused on seed preferences of Taraxacum officinale and Stellaria media by a ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) species, Poecilus cupreus, which is known as an omnivorous species. The seeds were used in three different states - dry, imbibed and with crushed seed coat, and from two different origins. The seeds were presented simultaneously in an experimental arena. Seed consumption was assessed after 30 minutes, 24 hours and 48 hours of exposure. There was no statistically significant difference between seeds with different origin. The most preferred seeds were T. officinale with damaged seed coat. The total consumption of these seeds was was 0.1 % after 30 minutes, 13.8 % after 1 day and 71.5 % after 48 hours. The seeds of S. media were consumed less. This indicates that the consumption was enhanced by either an increase of volatile compounds from the damaged seeds that attracted the beetles, or from shorter handling time due to reduced physical barrier of the crushed coat.
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/2603-3925
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
CC BY 4.0
Pensoft Publishers
2019
Conference Abstract
text/html
info:doi:10.3897/aca.2.e38425
https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.2.e38425
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38425/
https://aca.pensoft.net/article/38425/download/pdf/
en
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