More accurate interpretations are required in order to understand the processes of hydrological movement and hydrochemical variation of water flow in epikarst. A drip VP1 from the Velika Pasica Cave ...(Central Slovenia) was studied during a period which occurred at the end of a long wet, cold winter. The sources of the percolation water in the cave were both from rain water and snowmelt water. The discharge was continuously monitored during study period in one hour intervals. Each hour a water sample from the drip was taken for measurements of pH, electric conductivity and major ions concentrations. Because of the specific climatic condition in the shallow cave, the dilution effect is the dominant mechanism in the hydrochemical processes, determining drip water properties. The effect of CO2 corrosion and prior calcite precipitation (PCP) was weakened with that condition; Mg2+ varied slightly more significantly than Ca2+, which was reflected by the high correlation between Mg2+, Ca2+ and micro-variation of Mg/Ca ratio. The variation of pH followed closely to the changes of other parameters, which is rarely noted in other works.
Paramorariopsis irenae n. sp. is the second species of the genus, which was described for the first time 15 years ago from a small cave in the southern part of Slovenia. The new species is closely ...related to Paramorariopsis anae Brancelj,
1991
. The main differences are found in the ornamentation of caudal rami, abdominal somites and legs P2-P4, while P5 are very similar. It was initially assumed that the genus represented a member of the community inhabiting wet mosses near the cave's entrance. It can now be confirmed that it belongs to a specific community of Copepoda in the epikarst (i.e. part of the unsaturated karst zone). So far two genera are recognised as exclusively epikarstic: Morariopsis Kiefer,
1930
and Paramorariopsis Brancelj,
1991
. Both genera were for a long time considered as monospecific with restricted distribution. Intensive sampling of the epikarst zone in Slovenia and Italy revealed that many genera, previously assumed as "rare", are in fact common, widely distributed, and show a considerable level of specific endemicity. Morphological adaptations of taxa specific for the epikarst are discussed along with detailed discussion on habitat and sampling methods developed for that habitat.
Whether electron transport system (ETS) activity could be used as an estimator of crayfish thermal tolerance has been investigated experimentally. Food consumption rate, respiration rates in the air ...and water, the difference between energy consumption and respiration costs at a given temperature (‘potential growth scope’, PGS), and ETS activity of Orconectes limosus and Pacifastacus leniusculus were determined over a temperature range of 5–30°C. All concerned parameters were found to be temperature dependent. The significant correlation between ETS activity and PGS indicates that they respond similarly to temperature change. The regression analysis of ETS activity as an estimator of thermal tolerance at the mitochondrial level and PGS as an indicator of thermal tolerance at the organismic level showed the shift of optimum temperature ranges of ETS activity to the right for 2° in O. limosus and for 3° in P. leniusculus. Thus, lower estimated temperature optima and temperatures of optimum ranges of PGS compared to ETS activity could indicate higher thermal sensitivity at the organismic level than at a lower level of complexity (i.e. at the mitochondrial level). The response of ETS activity to temperature change, especially at lower and higher temperatures, indicates differences in the characteristics of the ETSs in O. limosus and P. leniusculus. O. limosus is less sensitive to high temperature. The significant correlation between PGS and ETS activity supports our assumption that ETS activity could be used for the rapid estimation of thermal tolerance in crayfish species.
•ETS activity was studied as an estimator of crayfish thermal tolerance.•ETS activity and scope for growth responded similarly to temperature change.•ETS activity in crayfish species responded to temperature change differently.•ETS activity could be used for the estimation of thermal tolerance of crayfish species.
A more accurate interpretation of data is required, in order to understand the processes of hydrological movement and hydrochemical variation of epikarst water flow. A drip, VP1, from the Velika ...Pasica Cave (Central Slovenia) was studied during a period which occurred at the end of a long wet, cold winter. The sources for the percolation water in the cave most probably were rain water and snowmelt water, as inferred from the surface hydrological conditions. The discharge was monitored during the study period in one hour intervals. Each hour a water sample from the drip was taken for measurements of electric conductivity and major ions concentrations. Due to the specific climatic condition within the shallow cave, the amount of discharge was the dominant driving force in the hydrochemical variation. The effect of CO2 corrosion and prior calcite precipitation (PCP) was weakened with this condition; the high correlation between Mg^sup 2+^, Ca^sup 2+^ and micro-variation in the Mg/Ca ratio indicated the weakened PCP.
The Dinarides in the Western Balkans host a globally exceptional subterranean biodiversity, but still areas remain with little or no data on subterranean species. In this work, we present the study ...of subterranean fauna in the upper Neretva River catchment (Eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina), which included the first systematic exploration of the interstitial habitats in the country. During the five-day »Neretva Science Week« in the summer of 2022, we sampled six gravel bars, six springs and one cave. We gathered 268 records (taxon-locality-date) of 116 taxa, with 35 records referring to 27 terrestrial taxa. Nine terrestrial taxa were sampled in a cave, while 19 were found in aquatic samples, mostly from springs. 27 taxa were identified as obligate subterranean (troglobiotic) species, one terrestrial beetle from the cave, and 26 aquatic species, belonging to water mites, snails, and crustaceans. Eight of the aquatic troglobionts present the potential for new species to science. Of the latter, four species were distinguished based on morphology: two species of snails from the families Hydrobiidae and Moitessieriidae, one representative of Ostracoda and one Copepoda. Individuals of the aquatic troglobiotic isopods and amphipods were analysed molecularly, and based on molecular differences, two new species within the genus Proasellus and two within the genus Niphargus were proposed. Further work on all these taxa is needed for the formal descriptions of the new species to science. Despite the short study period, we have shown that the area is rich in endemic groundwater fauna. The hydroelectric power plant constructions planned in the region threaten groundwater communities by altering subterranean habitats and their connectivity. Further studies are needed to properly highlight the great diversity of the subterranean habitats of the Neretva River catchment and its wider region, and to include this knowledge in conservation strategies.
Čeprav je bogastvo podzemne biodiverzitete Dinaridov na zahodnem Balkanu izjemno v svetovnem merilu, tu še vedno najdemo območja z malo ali nič podatki o podzemnih vrstah. V tem delu predstavljamo študijo podzemne favne v zgornjem porečju reke Neretve (vzhodna Bosna in Hercegovina), ki je tudi prva sistematična raziskava intersticialnih habitatov v tej državi. V okviru dogodka »Neretva Science Week« poleti 2022 smo v petih dneh vzorčili šest prodišč, šest izvirov in eno jamo. Zbrali smo 268 podatkov (takson-lokacija-datum) o 116 taksonih, od tega 35 podatkov o 27 kopenskih taksonih. Devet podzemnih taksonov je bilo najdenih v jami, 19 pa v vodnih vzorcih, večinoma iz izvirov. Identificiranih je bilo 27 izključno podzemnih (troglobiotskih) vrst, od tega en kopenski hrošč iz jame in 26 vodnih vrst, ki pripadajo pršicam, polžem in rakom. Osem vodnih troglobiontov predstavlja potencialno nove vrste za znanost. Od slednjih smo morfološko razločili štiri: dve vrsti polžev iz družin Hydrobiidae in Moitessieriidae, eno vrsto dvoklopnikov (Ostracoda) in eno vrsto ceponožcev (Copepoda). Molekularno smo analizirali osebke vodnih troglobiotskih enakonožcev in postranic ter na podlagi molekularnih razlik identificirali dve novi vrsti v rodu Proasellus in dve v rodu Niphargus. Do opisov novih vrst za znanost bodo potrebne dodatne raziskave teh taksonov. Kljub kratkemu obdobju raziskave so smo pokazali, da je območje bogato z endemično podzemno vodno favno. Gradnje hidroelektrarn, ki so načrtovane v regiji, ogrožajo živalstvo podzemnih voda, tako s spreminjanjem podzemnih habitatov kot tudi njihove povezljivosti. Priporočamo nadaljnje študije, ki bodo lahko dodatno potrdile visoko vrstno pestrost podzemnih habitatov v porečju reke Neretve in širši regiji, to znanje pa je treba vključili v varstvene strategije.
Apstrakt. Studija podzemnog biodiverziteta gornjeg toka rijeke Neretve u Bosni i Hercegovini – Iako je bogatstvo podzemnog biodiverziteta Dinarida na zapadnom Balkanu izuzetno na globalnom nivou, još uvijek postoje područja sa malo ili nimalo podataka o podzemnim vrstama. U ovom radu predstavljamo proučavanje podzemne faune u slivu rijeke Neretve (istočni dio Bosne i Hercegovine), koje je uključivalo prvo sistematsko istraživanje intersticijalnih staništa u zemlji. Tokom petodnevne »Sedmice nauke na Neretvi« u ljeto 2022. godine uzorkovali smo: šest lokacija sa šljunkom, šest izvora i jednu pećinu. Prikupili smo 268 zapisa (takson-lokalitet-datum) od 116 taksona, sa 35 zapisa koji se odnose na 27 kopnenih taksona. Devet kopnenih taksona uzorkovano je u pećini, dok je 19 pronađeno u vodenim uzorcima, uglavnom iz izvora. Identificirano je 27 taksona kao obavezne podzemne (troglobiotske) vrste, jedan tvrdokrilac iz pećine i 26 vodenih vrsta, koje pripadaju vodenim grinjama, puževima i rakovima. Osam vodenih troglobionta predstavljaju potencijalne nove vrste za nauku, od kojih, četiri vrste su izdvojene na osnovu morfologije: dvije vrste puževa iz porodica Hydrobiidae i Moitessieriidae, jedan predstavnik Ostracoda i jedan Copepoda. Molekularno su analizirane jedinke vodenih troglobiotičkih izopoda i amfipoda, a na osnovu molekularnih razlika predložene su dvije nove vrste u okviru roda Proasellus i dvije unutar roda Niphargus. Potreban je dalji rad na svim ovim taksonima do formalnih opisa novih vrsta za nauku. Unatoč kratkom periodu istraživanja, pokazali smo da je područje bogato endemskom faunom podzemnih voda. Planirana izgradnja hidroelektrana u regionu ugrožavaju zajednice podzemnih voda mijenjajući podzemna staništa i njihovu povezanost. Potrebna su dalja istraživanja, kako bi se na pravi način istakla velika raznovrsnost podzemnih staništa sliva rijeke Neretve i šireg regiona te da bi se ovo znanje uključilo u strategije očuvanja.
1. A survey of c. 350 remote high altitude and high latitude lakes from 11 different mountain regions was undertaken to explore species distribution across Europe at a scale not previously attempted. ...2. Lakes were sampled for planktonic crustaceans, rotifers, littoral invertebrates and sub-fossil chironomids, diatoms and cladocerans. Each lake was characterised in terms of water chemistry, morphology, catchment attributes and geographical location. 3. Separate twinspan analyses were undertaken on diatom, chironomid, planktonic crustacean, littoral invertebrate and cladoceran (chydorids only) data to classify sites according to taxonomic composition. For most datasets there was a spatial component to the classification with distinct geographical groups emerging - Norway and Scotland, Finland and Central/Eastern Europe. 4. Constrained ordination methods were employed to examine how species responded to a range of environmental factors, which were aggregated into a series of component groups - proximal environment (the chemical, trophic and physical attributes of the lake), catchment characteristics and geographical location. Several key environmental gradients were identified, which explained significant levels of the variance across several of the biological groups including dissolved organic carbon (chironomids, planktonic crustaceans), temperature (chironomids and littoral invertebrates), chloride/sea-salt (littoral invertebrates, diatoms and rotifers), lake morphology (all groups), calcium/pH (diatoms), nitrate (chydorids, littoral invertebrates, rotifers and planktonic crustaceans) and fish (littoral invertebrates). In some cases these statistical relationships are likely to represent direct ecological constraints and, in others, it is probable that the environmental variable is acting as a surrogate for some other attribute or process. 5. Variance partitioning was undertaken to quantify how much of the variation in each biological group could be uniquely attributed to variables representing the proximal environment, catchment characteristics and geographical location. For most groups the location of the lake tends to explain the greatest variation in species composition across the Lake Districts. The proximal environment was also important but, with the exception of diatoms, secondary to location. Therefore, a strong geographical signal emerged from the analyses. Three distinct limno-regions were identified; Nordic (Scotland and Norway), Sub-Arctic (Northern Finland) and Alpine (Pyrenees, the Alps and Eastern Europe ranges). 6. Our results have implications for the development of regionalisation schemes based on biological responses to environmental gradients; (i) lake 'types' based on environmental factors cannot be extrapolated throughout Europe, even within the relatively narrow gradients found in remote mountain lakes, (ii) biotic response to large-scale variations in environmental conditions, such as those that could be expected with climate change, is likely to vary according to regions because of the biogeographical differences among them.
Morphological study of Alona protzi Hartwig, 1900, Alona phreatica Dumont, 1983 and Alona smirnovi Petkovski & Flößner, 1972 reveals close affinities with Alona labrosa Vasiljeva & Smirnov, 1969. We ...separate these four species from the polyphyletic Alona Baird, 1843 (Anomopoda: Chydoridae). United under Phreatalona gen. nov., these taxa share primitive features on the limbs, together with specializations to a rheic life mode. Phreatalona contains some of the only true hyporheic taxa within the Cladocera. Endemism in two ancient lakes (P. smirnovi and P. labrosa) and a preference for river sediments in Europe (P. phreatica and P. protzi) suggest a long isolation from typical littoral/benthic biotopes. We discuss close links with southern vicariant Nicsmirnovius, the position of these (hypo)rheic chydorids within the subfamily and their affinities with Acroperus. We remark an independent evolution of external (habitus, postabdomen) vs. internal (limb) morphology in the protzi-complex. Phreatalona is likely tertiary in origin, evolving from a littoral alonine adapting to rheic and finally hyporheic environments. Baikal endemic P. labrosa is likely the most primitive species of the genus. We discuss adaptations and evolution in the hyporheic and the effect on dispersal and biogeography of Phreatalona.
Abstract
Bathynella natans Vejdovsky, 1882, the first described Bathynellidae species, was found in a well in Prague. Its original description was short and incomplete, and the holotype was already ...damaged in 1899. The lack of type material resulted in the poor description of the type genus of the morphologically very homogeneous family. This troubled beginning is the basis of a taxonomic problem that has led to the assignment of many species in Europe and other continents to the genus Bathynella. As currently understood, the genus is cosmopolitan, with more than 50 species and subspecies, most of them insufficiently described. We analyse the systematic position of the 29 genera and approximately 100 species. This analysis includes genera from Europe, USA and Western Australia, which have been characterized with molecular data (18S and COXI). In most cases, the genetic distances among genera and species are congruent with detected morphological differences. This is the first world molecular phylogenetic reconstruction of Bathynellidae, and it creates a framework for (1) confirming or discarding the cosmopolitan status of the genus Bathynella, (2) clarifying taxonomic uncertainties, (3) adequately describing new species, (4) advancing knowledge of the family’s real diversity and (5) describing the phylogenetic relationships among genera from different continents.
Microcrustacean (Copepoda, Ostracoda) assemblages were investigated at the interface of the vadose and phreatic zones in the alpine karstic aquifer from the Julian Alps in Slovenia (SE Europe). Two ...temporary and one perennial karstic outlets were sampled by filtering the water several times over 2 years. Concurrently, benthos from the mouth of a perennial spring and from an adjacent spring brook were collected. Altogether 24 microcrustacean species were recorded. The spatial and temporal variation in drift densities and species composition was high indicating complex groundwater hydrological pathways being dependent on precipitation regime. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) clearly separated drift samples from temporary springs and other sample groups (drift in perennial spring, spring mouth and spring brook benthos). ANOSIM revealed statistically significant differences between all sample groups (Diacydops zschokkei, Elaphoidella phreatica and Mixtacandona sp. B contributed over 50 % to the observed differences among sample groups. Three species (Nitocrella sp., Speocydops internus, Lessinocamptus pivai), known to be typical epikarst species, were collected only in the drift from one temporary spring (T2). Mao Tau species accumulation curves did not reach asymptote for the drift from temporary springs, but did for the drift from perennial spring, and for the spring mouth and the spring brook benthos. The results on drift composition indicated the variation in the origin of the water discharging at the interface ofvadoze and phreatic zones depending greatly on water level conditions, while the drift densities were higher in the water presumably discharging from phreatic zone (perennial spring and temporary springs during low water levels).
1. Species assemblages of diatoms, rotifers, chydorids, planktonic crustaceans and chironomids were studied in 235 alpine lakes in the Alps, Pyrenees, Tatras (Western Carpathians), Retezat (Southern ...Carpathians) and Rila Mountains (Balkans). 2. For all taxonomic groups we found a hierarchical structure in the community assemblage using distinct scales of lake clustering (number of k-means groups) based on species composition similarity (Hellinger distance). We determined the optimal partition in assemblage types (i.e. number of lake clusters) for each taxonomic group by maximising the sum of the taxon indicative value (IndVal) and performed discriminant analyses, using environmental variables not conditioned by geographical patterns. Relevant environmental variables differed among and within taxonomic groups. Therefore the assemblages respond to a complex environmental mosaic, with the exception of diatom assemblages, which followed an acid-base gradient. 3. The significant environmental variables could be grouped into four general factors: lake size, tropho-dynamic status, acid-base balance and ice-cover duration (i.e., altitudinal gradient). Lake size was significant for the highest number of assemblage types; however, the most significant factor differed among taxonomic groups: acid-base balance for diatoms, lake size for rotifers, ice-cover duration for chydorids and planktonic crustaceans and tropho-dynamic status for chironomids. No single environmental typology accounted for the assemblage structure of all taxonomic groups. 4. However, defining ecological thresholds as values within environmental gradients at which the rate of change in assemblages is accelerated relative to points distant from that threshold, we were able to find specific threshold values for each of the four main general environmental factors identified, which were relevant across several taxonomic groups: 3 ha for lake area; 0.6 mg L⁻¹ for dissolved organic carbon; 190 days for ice-cover duration and 200 μeq L⁻¹ for acid neutralising capacity. Above and below these values ecosystem organisation change substantially. They have direct applications in establishing lake typologies for environmental quality and biodiversity conservation programmes, and in improving predictions about global change impacts.
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