Latest Articles from Subterranean Biology Latest 6 Articles from Subterranean Biology https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 14:57:34 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Subterranean Biology https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/ First blind daddy long-legs spiders from Australia and Réunion (Araneae, Pholcidae) https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/105798/ Subterranean Biology 46: 1-19

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.46.105798

Authors: Bernhard A. Huber, Guanliang Meng, Huon L. Clark, Grégory Cazanove

Abstract: Daddy long-legs spiders are common inhabitants of tropical and subtropical caves around the globe. Numerous species have evolved troglomorphisms, including the loss of body pigments and eyes. Here we describe the first troglomorphic pholcids from Australia and Réunion. Belisana coblynau Huber & Clark, sp. nov. was extracted from mining boreholes in the arid West Australian Pilbara region. It represents a genus that is widespread in tropical forests of South and Southeast Asia, reaching the tropical north and east of Australia. Belisana coblynau is thus presumably a relict whose epigean ancestor lived in the area before the aridification of Australia starting in the early Cenozoic. Buitinga ifrit Huber & Cazanove, sp. nov. was collected in Grotte de La Tortue on Réunion, one of the oldest lava tubes on the island (~300,000 years). Congeneric species are known from East Africa, and the genus does not seem to have reached Madagascar. Since Pholcidae do not balloon, the now extinct epigean ancestor of Buitinga ifrit probably reached the island by highly accidental means (such as rafts or storms).

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Research Article Mon, 24 Jul 2023 13:38:23 +0300
Two new species of Nitocrella (Crustacea, Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from groundwaters of northwestern Australia expand the geographic range of the genus in a global hotspot of subterranean biodiversity https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/10389/ Subterranean Biology 20: 51-76

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.20.10389

Authors: Danny Tang, Stefan Eberhard

Abstract: In Australia, the Ameiridae is the most diverse harpacticoid family in groundwater, with 35 species hitherto reported. In this study, we describe two new species belonging to the “vasconica”-group of the ameirid genus Nitocrella based on specimens collected from groundwaters near mine sites in the Pilbara and Great Sandy Desert regions of northwestern Australia. Nitocrella knotti sp. n. can be distinguished from related taxa by having two setae on the antennal exopod, four armature elements on the distal endopodal segment of leg 2, four armature elements on the distal endopodal segment of leg 3, three armature elements on the distal endopodal segment of leg 4, and three setae on the basoendopodal lobe of leg 5. Nitocrella karanovici sp. n. differs from its congeners by having a short outer spine and long inner seta on the distal endopodal segment of leg 2, three armature elements on the distal endopodal segment of leg 3, and four setae on the basoendopodal lobe of leg 5 in the female. This study is of biogeographic interest in providing the first documentation of the genus Nitocrella from the Pilbara and Great Sandy Desert regions. Both new species of Nitocrella are recorded from restricted localities and appear to be short-range endemics, thus making them potentially vulnerable to environmental changes and threatening processes such as mining. The distribution range of N. karanovici sp. n. coincides with the centre of diversity of the Ethel Gorge aquifer stygobiont community, a globally significant hotspot which is listed as endangered.

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Research Article Thu, 10 Nov 2016 10:02:15 +0200
Biodiversity and biogeography of groundwater invertebrates in Queensland, Australia https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/7542/ Subterranean Biology 17: 55-76

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.17.7542

Authors: Katharine Glanville, Cameron Schulz, Moya Tomlinson, Don Butler

Abstract: Groundwater systems, traditionally considered lifeless conduits of water (Hancock and Boulton 2008, Schulz et al. 2013), are now known to provide critical habitat for a diverse range of fauna collectively called stygofauna. Stygofauna communities can have significant conservation value as exemplified by relatively high levels of endemism and biodiversity. Despite this the biogeography and taxonomic diversity of stygofauna communities largely remains undocumented. This paper describes the development and interrogation of a state-wide database of 755 samples from 582 sites, and reviews the current knowledge of stygofauna biodiversity and biogeography across Queensland (north-eastern Australia). Queensland is known to host 24 described families of stygofauna with stygofauna composition broadly consistent with other regions around the world. However Queensland assemblages tend to be unusually rich in both oligochaetes (16% cf. 2%) and syncarids (12% cf. 4%). Associations between stygofauna taxonomic richness and key environmental variables were consistent with many general assumptions of habitat suitability. However there were also notable exceptions, including stygofauna records from: groundwater 60 meters below ground level; groundwater with electrical conductivity above 50,000 μS/cm, and; both highly acidic (pH 3.5) and alkaline (pH 10.3) environments. These exceptions clearly demonstrate that strict adherence to general assumptions about habitat suitability when planning sampling activities may mask the true diversity of groundwater ecosystems.

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Research Article Tue, 15 Mar 2016 14:01:08 +0200
Troglofauna in the vadose zone: comparison of scraping and trapping results and sampling adequacy https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/1318/ Subterranean Biology 13: 17-34

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.13.6991

Authors: Stuart Halse, G.B. Pearson

Abstract: Most sampling of troglofauna occurs in caves but troglofauna species are widespread across the vadose zone in Western Australia in iron ore deposits and calcretes. Other than in karstic calcrete, the subterranean spaces in the Western Australian vadose zone are small and often of similar size to the troglofauna inhabiting them. Here we describe how troglofauna can be sampled in the vadose zone using a technique called scraping, in which a haul net is dropped down a hole drilled for geological exploration. We analysed of the results of 10,895 sampling events in which both the scraping and trapping techniques were used. In the Pilbara region of Western Australia, where most of the fieldwork occurred, scraping collected approximately three-quarters more troglofaunal animals than trapping and more than twice as many troglofauna species per sample. Most orders of troglofauna were collected in greater numbers by scraping than trapping. However, the yields from both troglofauna sampling techniques are low and, even when the results of both techniques are combined to constitute a single unit of sample effort, the currently prescribed effort for environmental impact assessment will document only about half the species present at a site. It is suggested that a larger number of samples should be collected.

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Research Article Fri, 7 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0200
Three new hyporheic water mite species from Australia (Acari: Hydrachnidia) https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/1301/ Subterranean Biology 10: 37-42

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.10.2988

Authors: Harry Smit

Abstract: Three new hyporheic water mite species are described from Australia, viz. Wandesia minuta, Partidomomonia elongata and Mellamunda tasmanica. With the description of these three species, some 50 hyporheic water mites species are known from Australia. In this paper the first Partidomomonia species for Tasmania is described, the third Wandesia species for Australia as well as the second species of the genus Mellamunda.

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Research Article Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0200
Tasmanian Trechinae and Psydrinae (Coleoptera, Carabidae): a taxonomic and biogeographic synthesis, with description of new species and evaluation of the impact of Quaternary climate changes on evolution of the subterranean fauna(3) https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/1295/ Subterranean Biology 9: 1-72

DOI: 10.3897/subtbiol.9.2516

Authors: Stefan Eberhard, Pier Mauro Giachino

Abstract: This paper provides taxonomic, distributional and ecological data for 59 species in 17 genera of Trechinae and Psydrinae from Tasmania, and describes 18 new species in six existing genera (Pterocyrtus, Tasmanorites, Sloanella, Trechistus, Goedetrechus, Tasmanotrechus) collected from caves, forest and montane habitats: Pterocyrtus grayi sp. nov., P. meridionalis sp. nov., Tasmanorites beatricis sp. nov., T. daccordii sp. nov., T. lynceorum sp. nov., T. microphthalmus sp. nov., Sloanella gordoni sp. nov., Trechistus gordoni sp. nov., Goedetrechus minutus sp. nov., G. rolani sp. nov., G. florentinus sp. nov., G. damperi sp. nov., Tasmanotrechus gordoni sp. nov., T. alticola sp. nov., T. montisfieldi sp. nov., T. osbornianus sp. nov., T. moorei sp. nov., T. rolani sp. nov. Forty-one (41) previously described species have been re-examined and illustrated with supplementary descriptions. New collection records combined with the published literature revealed 196 records of 83 species in 21 genera, collected from 41 localities (including 11 karst areas). Regional-scale survey coverage has been patchy and three biogeographic regions stand out as poorly surveyed: Flinders, South East, and Northern Midlands. Local-scale survey efforts have been intensive at just a few localities, the richest being 18 species recorded at Cradle Mountain. Seventeen (17) described species of Zolini and Trechini are troglobites with distribution ranges restricted to individual karst areas. Some karst areas and caves harbour multiple congeneric species which differ in their degree of troglomorphic specialization suggesting heterochronic colonisations, possibly linked to multiple Quaternary glacial / inter-glacial cycles. Palaeo-climatic and palaeo-vegetation evidence is examined to test the ‘Climatic Relict Hypothesis’ as a mechanism driving evolution of the subterranean fauna. It is proposed that present-day troglobitic Trechinae in Tasmania are derived from troglophilic progenitors that colonised subterranean habitats from adjacent forest ground litter habitats during Pleistocene inter-glacial periods, while retreat of forests during glacial periods isolated subterranean populations from surface populations facilitating troglogenesis. It is predicted that future collecting efforts will reveal many additional new subteranean species, including in non-karstic Shallow Subterranean Habitats (SSH).

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Research Article Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0200