Figure 1 in Terrestrial isopods and myriapods in a forested scree slope: subterranean biodiversity, depth gradient and annual dynamics

Figure 1. Distribution of Isopoda, Diplopoda and Chilopoda along the depth gradient of the scree slope expressed as the total number of individuals trapped in two sampling periods (November 2008–November 2009; November 2009–July 2010).Published as part of Rendoš, Michal, Mock, Andrej & Miklisová, Dana, 2016, Terrestrial isopods and myriapods in a forested scree slope: subterranean biodiversity, depth gradient and annual dynamics, pp. 2129-2142 in Journal of Natural History 50 on page 2134, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2016.1193642, http://zenodo.org/record/399292

Terrestrial isopods and myriapods in a forested scree slope: subterranean biodiversity, depth gradient and annual dynamics

Rendoš, Michal, Mock, Andrej, Miklisová, Dana (2016): Terrestrial isopods and myriapods in a forested scree slope: subterranean biodiversity, depth gradient and annual dynamics. Journal of Natural History 50: 2129-2142, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2016.1193642, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2016.119364

Data from: The importance of naming cryptic species and the conservation of endemic subterranean amphipods

Molecular taxonomy often uncovers cryptic species, reminding us that taxonomic incompleteness is even more severe than previous thought. The importance of cryptic species for conservation is poorly understood. Although some cryptic species may be seriously threatened or otherwise important, they are rarely included in conservation programs as most of them remain undescribed. We analysed the importance of cryptic species in conservation by scrutinizing the South European cryptic complex of the subterranean amphipod Niphargus stygius sensu lato. Using uni- and multilocus delineation methods we show that it consists of 15 parapatric and sympatric species, which we describe using molecular diagnoses. The new species are not mere “taxonomic inflation” as they originate from several distinct branches within the genus and coexist with no evidence of lineage sharing. They are as evolutionarily distinct as average nominal species of the same genus. Ignoring these cryptic species will underestimate the number of subterranean endemics in Slovenia by 12 and in Croatia by four species, although alpha diversity of single caves remains unchanged. The new taxonomy renders national Red Lists largely obsolete, as they list mostly large-ranged species but omit critically endangered single-site endemics. Formal naming of cryptic species is critical for them to be included in conservation policies and faunal listings

Dynamics of collembolan communities inside the forested scree slope

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

Terrestrial isopods associated with shallow underground of forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia)

The shallow underground of forested scree slopes represents a little-studied subterranean biotope. In this paper, species diversity and depth distribution of terrestrial isopod communities studied in the depth profile (5–95 cm from the surface) of eight forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) is discussed. The southern edge of the Western Carpathians where the study sites are located represents the northernmost limit of distribution of obligate subterranean fauna in Europe. The sites differ from each other in type of bedrock, forest composition, slope aspect, and altitude. To sample isopods, a set of three subterranean pitfall traps consisting of a plastic cylinder (Ø 110 mm) and ten plastic cups was buried in each studied scree slope. In total, 252 isopods belonging to eleven species were sampled (1–5 species per site). Of the species found, the blind and depigmented Mesoniscus graniger was the sole species closely associated with deeper parts of the depth profile and was present in most of the sites studied. Another ten species were represented by a small number of individuals and their occurrence deeper in the scree slope profile was rather accidental. A comparison between winter and summer periods indicates apparent differences in seasonal activities of isopods. Ethylene glycol seems to be more appropriate fixative solution for trapping isopods than formaldehyde