Aktivnost i kretanje puževa vrste Zospeum isselianum Pollonera 1886 (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Carychiidae) u špilji u Kamniško-Savinjskim Alpama (Slovenija)

The objective of this work was to make periodic observations of hypogean Zospeum isselianum Pollonera 1886 snails on a sample rock surface in the Jama pod Mokrico cave in the Kamniške-Savinjske Alps and monitor the distance the snails moved over a given period of time. Between April 30 and August 1, 1997, the movement of the snails was recorded thirteen times. The air temperature in the cave was between 6.0 °C and 10.2 °C, and the relative humidity was between 97% and 100%. The snails moved over distances of from 1 to 15 cm per week. The average distance was 0.7 cm per day. The snails generally crept around the places they were initially found.Cilj rada bio je obaviti periodička opažanja hipogejskih puževa Zospeum isselianum Pollonera 1886 na površini stijene u špilji Jama pod Mokrico u Kamniško-Savinjskim Alpama i monitoring udaljenosti koju su puževi prešli tijekom zadanog vremena. Između 30. travnja i 1. kolovoza 1997. pomicanja puževa bila su mjerena 13 puta. Temperatura zraka kretala se između 6.0 °C i 10.2 °C, a relativna vlaga između 97% i 100%. Puževi su se tjedno pomicali od 1 do 15 cm. Prosječna udaljenost bila je 0.7 cm dnevno. Puževi su uglavnom puzali oko mjesta na kojima su prvotno i pronađeni

Dvije nove vrste slatkovodnih puževa (Gastropoda: Truncatelloidea) iz špilje Rudnica VI u Hrvatskoj

Two new subterranean freshwater gastropod species from the superfamily Truncatelloidea were found during a field trip in the cave Rudnica VI located in central Croatia, near the town of Ogulin. They have been described based on their conchological characteristics and therefore only preliminary assigned to Plagigeyeria and Paladilhiopsis genera. These two species represent a new addition to the already unique freshwater fauna of Rudnica VI.Tijekom terenskog istraživanja u špilji Rudnica VI, smještenoj u središnjoj Hrvatskoj blizu grada Ogulina, pronađene su dvije nove vrste slatkovodnih puževa iz natporodice Truncatelloidea. Opisane su na temelju njihovih kućica i stoga tek preliminarno svrstane u rodove Plagigeyeria i Paladilhiopsis. Ove dvije vrste predstavljaju novi dodatak već sada jedinstvenoj slatkovodnoj fauni špilje Rudnica VI

Cepaea hortensis (O. F. Müller, 1774) (Mollusca: Gastropoda) u Hrvatskoj?

Based on characteristics provided by the genital organs, the presence of the species Cepaea hortensis (O. F. Müller, 1774), reported from Croatia from a single site in the literature, is refuted. According to our current knowledge this species should be deleted from the terrestrial snail fauna of Croatia.Na osnovu determinacije po spolnim organima negirano je postojanje vrste Cepaea hortensis na jednom jedinom literaturnom nalazištu u Hrvatskoj, te je zaključeno da prema sadašnjim spoznajama vrstu treba brisati iz faune kopnenih puževa Hrvatske

Rasprostranjenost troglobiontnih puževa iz roda Zospeum na području krša Hrvatske

Rod Zospeum uključuje troglobiontne kopnene puževe. Naseljavaju podzemna staništa središnjih Pirineja, Južnih Alpa i Dinarskog krša od nekoliko metara nadmorske visine do nadmorske visine od 2000 metara. Znanje o ekologiji Zospeuma je vrlo oskudno. Poznato je da žive u špiljama i pukotinama i da se vjerojatno hrane detritusom koji se nalazi u ilovači i špiljskom sedimentu. U špiljama se javljaju na zidovima, na tlu pored lokva ili na organskim tvarima (trulo drvo). Taksonomija roda je temeljena prvenstveno na konhološkim karakteristikama. Njihova je anatomija djelomično ispitana. Prvi zapis o nalazima Zospeuma u Hrvatskoj objavio je proslavljeni malaholog Spiridon Brusina, na temelju materijala prikupljenog sredinom 19. stoljeća. Ovaj je ujedno bio i prvi zapis o puževima troglobiontima u Hrvatskoj. Z. Isselianum je općenito raširena vrsta u sjeverozapadnom dijelu Hrvatska. Njegov nalaz u Cerjanskoj špilji kod Varaždina pokazuje da su njegova staništa nalaze u središnjem dijelu zemlje. Znatan broj novih nalaza nedavno je dodan brojnim lokalitetima u kojima su Bole i Velkovrh pronašli ovu vrstu. Z. likanum je endemska vrsta u Hrvatskoj. Dugo je to bilo poznato samo iz špilja u okolici Gračaca (BOLE 1974). Novi staništa u blizini Rakovice i Ogulina proširila su područje širenja prema sjeveru, sve do granice sa Slovenijom. Primjerci ove vrste nigdje se ne pojavljuje u velikom broju. U bivšoj Jugoslaviji, Bole, Kuščer i Velkovrh pronašli su vrstu Z. amoenum u špiljama na otoku Krku, blizu Gospića, Sinja, rijeke Cetine, na otoku Braču, Biokovu, iznad Popovog polja, sjeverno od Omble, blizu Zavale i u špiljama u blizini Cetinja u Crnoj Gori. Nova staništa samo su potvrdila njegovo područje širenja, koje pokriva četiri međusobno prilično udaljena područja. Vrsta Z. kusceri u Hrvatskoj naseljavaju područje koje pokriva sjeveroistočni dio Istre i Gorskog kotara. U najnovijim istraživanjima, pronađeno je i na otoku Cresu, prvom otočnom nalazištu ove vrste. Vrsta Z. subobesum česta je u špiljama u okolici Ogulina, gdje je i špilja Tounjčica, njezino tipsko stanište. Na temelju samo jedne kućice vrsta je utvrđena i u Lukinoj jami te u Vrelu kod Fužina, koja se nalaze jugozapadno i jugoistočno od Ogulina. Z. spelaeum schmidti naseljava cijelu Istru iako su pojedina staništa prilično udaljena jedno od drugoga. Vrsta Z. pretneri usko je endemska u kontekstu faune Hrvatske. Znana je samo iz Donje Cerovačke špilje (Lok. Tip.), Gornja Cerovačka špilja kod Gračaca, Pelinska špilja kod Mogorića i Slovačka jama na Velebitu. U posljednjih trideset godina vrste Zospeum otkrivene su u novoistraženim speleološkim objektima, uglavnom neistraženog krškog područja u središnjim Dinaridima. Područja širenja pojedinih vrsta preklapaju se u nekim speleološkim objektima i različite vrste mogu se naći prilično često zajedno

Nalazi dviju nemorskih vrsta puževa novih za Hrvatsku (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

Literature data regarding the presence/absence of the land snail Discus rotundatus (O. F. Müller, 1774) in Croatia are discussed, occasioned by its finding on the island of Rab. A second species found on Rab, the freshwater snail Helisoma duryi (Wetherby, 1879), is recorded in this paper for the first time in Croatia.S obzirom na nalaz kopnenog puža Discus rotundatus (O. F. Müller, 1774) na otoku Rabu raspravljeni su literaturni podaci o njegovu postojanju/nepostojanju u Hrvatskoj. Također na otoku Rabu nađen je po prvi puta u Hrvatskoj slatkovodni puž Helisoma duryi (Wetherby, 1879)

Evolution of microgastropods (Ellobioidea, Carychiidae): integrating taxonomic, phylogenetic and evolutionary hypotheses

BACKGROUND: Current biodiversity patterns are considered largely the result of past climatic and tectonic changes. In an integrative approach, we combine taxonomic and phylogenetic hypotheses to analyze temporal and geographic diversification of epigean (Carychium) and subterranean (Zospeum) evolutionary lineages in Carychiidae (Eupulmonata, Ellobioidea). We explicitly test three hypotheses: 1) morphospecies encompass unrecognized evolutionary lineages, 2) limited dispersal results in a close genetic relationship of geographical proximally distributed taxa and 3) major climatic and tectonic events had an impact on lineage diversification within Carychiidae. RESULTS: Initial morphospecies assignments were investigated by different molecular delimitation approaches (threshold, ABGD, GMYC and SP). Despite a conservative delimitation strategy, carychiid morphospecies comprise a great number of unrecognized evolutionary lineages. We attribute this phenomenon to historic underestimation of morphological stasis and phenotypic variability amongst lineages. The first molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for the Carychiidae (based on COI, 16S and H3) reveals Carychium and Zospeum to be reciprocally monophyletic. Geographical proximally distributed lineages are often closely related. The temporal diversification of Carychiidae is best described by a constant rate model of diversification. The evolution of Carychiidae is characterized by relatively few (long distance) colonization events. We find support for an Asian origin of Carychium. Zospeum may have arrived in Europe before extant members of Carychium. Distantly related Carychium clades inhabit a wide spectrum of the available bioclimatic niche and demonstrate considerable niche overlap. CONCLUSIONS: Carychiid taxonomy is in dire need of revision. An inferred wide distribution and variable phenotype suggest underestimated diversity in Zospeum. Several Carychium morphospecies are results of past taxonomic lumping. By collecting populations at their type locality, molecular investigations are able to link historic morphospecies assignments to their respective evolutionary lineage. We propose that rare founder populations initially colonized a continent or cave system. Subsequent passive dispersal into adjacent areas led to in situ pan-continental or mountain range diversifications. Major environmental changes did not influence carychiid diversification. However, certain molecular delimitation methods indicated a recent decrease in diversification rate. We attribute this decrease to protracted speciation

Groping through the black box of variability: An integrative taxonomic and nomenclatural re-evaluation of Zospeum isselianum Pollonera, 1887 and allied species using new imaging technology (Nano-CT, SEM), conchological, histological and molecular data (Ellobioidea, Carychiidae).

The minute troglobitic species, Zospeum isselianum Pollonera, 1887 (Eupulmonata: Ellobioidea, Carychiidae) is widely distributed within its Southern Alpine-Dinaric range. Its broad distribution and highly variable shell has caused this species to be historically lumped into its current taxonomic state of ambiguity. In an integrative taxonomic approach, phenotypic and genotypic data are synthesized to assess the intraspecific variability recently inferred for this taxon. We collected 16 Zospeum specimens in the Slovenian Alpine Arc encompassing the type locality for Z. isselianum. The material comprises five morphologically recognized (sub)species. The species are re-evaluated using SEM, X-ray nanotomography (nano-CT), conchological, histological and molecular data. Four well-defined lineages are present, which can be attributed to i) Z. isselianum s.str. from its new type locality (Turjeva jama), ii) a highly morphologically variable lineage that so far cannot be attributed to a single morphospecies, iii) Z. kupitzense A. Stummer, 1984 (raised to species rank) and iv) a lineage comprising the two subspecies Z. alpestre alpestre (Freyer, 1855) and Z. alpestre bolei Slapnik, 1991 plus Z. isselianum individuals. The latter is treated as a single taxon Z. alpestre. After considering the severely degraded syntype material of Zospeum isselianum, we provide a taxonomic re-description and propose aneotype for this species. Furthermore, new diagnostic information is revealed regarding the columella of Zospeum isselianum and allied species. Detailed anatomical study reveals new structural aspects of Zospeum morphology and provides groundwork for future investigations

The conservation status of the world's freshwater molluscs

With the biodiversity crisis continuing unchecked, we need to establish levels and drivers of extinction risk, and reassessments over time, to effectively allocate conservation resources and track progress towards global conservation targets. Given that threat appears particularly high in freshwaters, we assessed the extinction risk of 1428 randomly selected freshwater molluscs using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, as part of the Sampled Red List Index project. We show that close to one-third of species in our sample are estimated to be threatened with extinction, with highest levels of threat in the Nearctic, Palearctic and Australasia and among gastropods. Threat levels were higher in lotic than lentic systems. Pollution (chemical and physical) and the modification of natural systems (e.g. through damming and water abstraction) were the most frequently reported threats to freshwater molluscs, with some regional variation. Given that we found little spatial congruence between species richness patterns of freshwater molluscs and other freshwater taxa, apart from crayfish, new additional conservation priority areas emerged from our study. We discuss the implications of our findings for freshwater mollusc conservation, the adequacy of a sampled approach and important next steps to estimate trends in freshwater mollusc extinction risk over time

New genetic data reveals a new species of Zospeum in Bosnia (Gastropoda, Ellobioidea, Carychiinae)

Recent integrative investigations of the terrestrial ellobiid genus, Zospeum, have revealed significant findings concerning its Alpine-Dinaric evolution and taxonomy. Due to the expected discrepancy between the useful, but limited, 1970s’ classification system based on shell data and the results of recent genetic analyses in the latest investigation, a revision of the entire radiation was undertaken, and a new classification system was devised by the present authors in an earlier paper. Concurrent to this work, molecular sequences from two Austrian caves were published independently of our revision by another research group. By incorporating these genetic data within our phylogenetic framework here, we show that the Austrian individuals are genetically most similar to Zospeum amoenum and consequently, classify them within that species. We additionally reveal two new genetic lineages from the largely under-sampled southern extension of Zospeum’s known distributional range. The first lineage, deriving from the region of Dubrovnik, Croatia, is a potential candidate for genetically clarifying Zospeum troglobalcanicum. The second lineage derives from the municipality of Tomislavgrad, Bosnia-Herzegovina and is herein, described a new species: Zospeum simplex Inäbnit, Jochum & Neubert, sp. nov

Material Analysis of the Remains of a Wooden Chest from the 4th Century and a Proposal for Its Reconstruction

A stone chest found in 1971 near one of the largest early Christian basilicas in Northern Dalmatia (Croatia) contained brass tiles decorated with various biblical scenes. An archaeological study confirmed the thesis that the fragments of brass tiles are most likely the remains of a wooden chest made in the 4th century AD, and that this is one of the best preserved archaeological finds of its kind in the world as one of the biblical scenes shows Mary, together with a record of her name (Maria). Based on the preserved brass tiles, a reconstruction of the wooden chest was made in 1973 with tiles glued onto a plastic frame. Subsequent studies have shown that such a reconstruction was not adequate, as some of the brass tiles were destroyed (disintegrated), and they were not connected properly into a whole that could represent the original. For the new reconstruction of this archaeological object it was necessary to carry out a material analysis, including the chemical composition of the brass tiles, as well as to find a solvent for the glue which could be used to remove the brass tiles from the plastic framework without any additional destruction. Based on extensive investigations and material analyses including the following techniques (SEM, EDX, FTIR, DSC), the starting points for the restoration process of the wooden chest with brass tiles were set, as well as the proposal for the appearance of the new chest