Statistical Analyses and Identification of Indicators

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Statistical Analyses and Identification of Indicators Protocols for the ASsessment and Conservation of Aquatic Life In the Subsurface Fifth EU Framework Programme Key Action 2: Global Change, Climate and Biodiversity 2.2.3 Assessing and conserving biodiversity Contract n°: n°EVK2-CT-2001-00121 PASCALIS D8 DELIVERABLE for Workpackage 7 : Statistical analyses and identification of indicators Report on a set of biodiversity assessment tools including : - a standard protocol for regional biodiversity assessment - a set of indicators and predictors of groundwater biodiversity October 2004 Edited by Fabio Stoch* With contributions by Florian Malard§, Fabiana Castellarini§, Marie-José Olivier§ Under the supervision of Janine Gibert, Project coordinator * UNIVACQ University of l'Aquila, Italy Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali Via Vetoio, Coppito – I-67100 L'Aquila (Italy) § UMR5023-UCBL/CNRS University Claude Bernard of Lyon1/CNRS, France Laboratoire des Hydrosystèmes fluviaux, UMR/CNRS 5023 Equipe d’Hydrobiologie et Ecologie Souterraines, 43 Bd du 11 Novembre 1918 F- 69622 Villeurbanne cedex (France) TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION : ........................................................................................................................ 4 1 SECTION 1 : OPTIMISATION OF FIELD SAMPLING STRATEGY :.......................................... 6 SUMMARY :................................................................................................................................. 6 1.1 Introduction :.............................................................................................................. 7 1.2 Materials and methods :.............................................................................................. 7 1.3 Results : ...................................................................................................................... 9 1.3.1 General results : ...............................................................................................................................................9 1.3.2 Optimisation of the field sampling strategy for the Walloon Region (Belgium) :.............................13 1.3.3 Optimisation of the field sampling strategy for the Jura Region (France) :........................................18 1.3.4 Optimisation of the field sampling strategy for the Cantabrica Region (Spain) : ..............................22 1.3.5 Optimisation of the field sampling strategy for the Lessinian Region (Italy) : ..................................26 1.3.6 Optimisation of the field sampling strategy for the Krim Region (Slovenia) :...................................30 1.4 Discussion :............................................................................................................... 34 1.5 References :............................................................................................................... 35 1.6 Appendix 1 : Codes of taxa used in the section 1 and 2 analyses :.............................. 36 2 SECTION 2 :BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIPS : ................................. 44 SUMMARY :............................................................................................................................... 44 2.1 Introduction :............................................................................................................ 45 2.2 Materials and methods :............................................................................................ 45 2.2.1 Data sets and statistical methods used in the analysis os species-environment relationships :........45 2.2.2 Data sets and statistical methods used in the analysis of biodiversity patters in habitat units :.......48 2.3 Results and discussion :............................................................................................. 50 2.3.1 Factors driving community structure :.......................................................................................................50 2.3.2 Differential habitat preferences of species :..............................................................................................50 2.3.3 Habitat-specific assemblages of taxa : .......................................................................................................51 2.3.4 Species-environment relationships in the meridional Jura :...................................................................52 2.3.4.1 Factors driving community structure : ............................................................................................52 2.3.4.2 Differential habitat preferences of species :...................................................................................52 2.3.4.3 Habitat-specific assemblages of taxa : ............................................................................................53 2.3.5 Species-environment relationships in the Cantabria Region (Spain):..................................................55 2.3.5.1 Factors driving community structure : ............................................................................................55 2.3.5.2 Differential habitat preferences of species :...................................................................................56 2.3.5.3 Habitat-specific assemblages of taxa : ............................................................................................56 2.3.6 Species-environment relationships in the Krim massif : ........................................................................59 2.3.6.1 Factors driving community structure : ............................................................................................59 2.3.6.2 Differential habitat preferences of species :...................................................................................59 2.3.6.3 Habitat-specific assemblages of taxa : ............................................................................................59 2.3.7 Species-environment relationships in the Lessinian Mountains (Italy):..............................................64 2.3.7.1 Factors driving community structure : ............................................................................................64 2.3.7.2 Differential habitat preferences of species :...................................................................................64 2.3.7.3 Habitat-specific assemblages of taxa : ............................................................................................65 2.3.8 Species-environment relationships in the Walloon karst : .....................................................................68 2.3.8.1 Factors driving community structure : ............................................................................................68 2.3.8.2 Differential habitat preferences of species :...................................................................................68 2.3.8.3 Habitat-specific assemblages of taxa : ............................................................................................69 2.3.9 Species-environment relationships in the Roussillon (France): ............................................................72 2.3.9.1 Factors driving community structure : ............................................................................................72 2.3.9.2 Differential habitat preferences of species :...................................................................................72 1 2.3.9.3 Habitat-specific assemblages of taxa : ............................................................................................72 2.3.10 Discussion of species-environment relationships :.............................................................................76 2.3.11 Factors driving stygobiotic biodiversity trends at a regional scale : ...............................................77 2.3.12 Factors driving stygobiotic biodiversity trends at an European scale :...........................................83 2.4 References:................................................................................................................ 89 3 SECTION 3 : PARTITION OF GROUNDWATER BIODIVERSITY : ......................................... 90 SUMMARY : .............................................................................................................................. 90 3.1 Introduction :............................................................................................................ 91 3.2 Materials and methods :............................................................................................ 91 3.2.1 Data sets :........................................................................................................................................................91 3.2.2 Data analysis : ................................................................................................................................................93 3.3 Results : .................................................................................................................... 94 3.3.1 Variation in species richness of aquifers across spatial levels : ............................................................94 3.3.2 Additive partitioning of total richness :.....................................................................................................95 3.3.3 Variation in species composition across spatial levels :.........................................................................96 3.4 Discussion : .............................................................................................................100
Recommended publications
  • Biological and Landscape Diversity in Slovenia
    MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND SPATIAL PLANNING ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA Biological and Landscape Diversity in Slovenia An overview CBD Ljubljana, 2001 MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SPATIAL PLANNING ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA Published by: Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning - Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia Editors in chief and executive editors: Branka Hlad and Peter Skoberne Technical editor: Darja Jeglič Reviewers of the draft text: Kazimir Tarman Ph.D., Andrej Martinčič Ph.D., Fedor Černe Ph.D. English translation: Andreja Naraks Gordana Beltram Ph.D. (chapter on Invasive Species, ......., comments on the figures), Andrej Golob (chapter on Communication, Education and Public Awareness) Revision of the English text: Alan McConnell-Duff Ian Mitchell (chapter on Communication, Education and Public Awareness) Gordana Beltram Ph.D. Designed and printed by: Littera Picta d.o.o. Photographs were contributed by: Milan Orožen Adamič (2), Matjaž Bedjanič (12), Gordana Beltram (3), Andrej Bibič (2), Janez Božič (1), Robert Bolješič (1), Branka Hlad (15), Andrej Hudoklin (10), Hojka Kraigher (1), Valika Kuštor (1), Bojan Marčeta (1), Ciril Mlinar (3), Marko Simić (91), Peter Skoberne (57), Baldomir Svetličič (1), Martin Šolar (1), Dorotea Verša (1) and Jana Vidic (2). Edition: 700 copies CIP - Kataložni zapis o publikaciji Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica, Ljubljana 502.3(497.4)(082) 574(497.4)(082) BIOLOGICAL and landscape diversity in Slovenia : an overview / (editors in chief Branka Hlad and Peter Skoberne ; English translation Andreja Naraks, Gordana Beltram, Andrej Golob; photographs were contributed by Milan Orožen Adamič... et. al.). - Ljubljana : Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2001 ISBN 961-6324-17-9 I.
    [Show full text]
  • The Coume Ouarnède System, a Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity in Pyrenees (France)
    diversity Article The Coume Ouarnède System, a Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity in Pyrenees (France) Arnaud Faille 1,* and Louis Deharveng 2 1 Department of Entomology, State Museum of Natural History, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany 2 Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), UMR7205, CNRS, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, 75005 Paris, France; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Located in Northern Pyrenees, in the Arbas massif, France, the system of the Coume Ouarnède, also known as Réseau Félix Trombe—Henne Morte, is the longest and the most complex cave system of France. The system, developed in massive Mesozoic limestone, has two distinct resur- gences. Despite relatively limited sampling, its subterranean fauna is rich, composed of a number of local endemics, terrestrial as well as aquatic, including two remarkable relictual species, Arbasus cae- cus (Simon, 1911) and Tritomurus falcifer Cassagnau, 1958. With 38 stygobiotic and troglobiotic species recorded so far, the Coume Ouarnède system is the second richest subterranean hotspot in France and the first one in Pyrenees. This species richness is, however, expected to increase because several taxonomic groups, like Ostracoda, as well as important subterranean habitats, like MSS (“Milieu Souterrain Superficiel”), have not been considered so far in inventories. Similar levels of subterranean biodiversity are expected to occur in less-sampled karsts of central and western Pyrenees. Keywords: troglobionts; stygobionts; cave fauna Citation: Faille, A.; Deharveng, L. The Coume Ouarnède System, a Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity in Pyrenees (France). Diversity 2021, 1. Introduction 13 , 419. https://doi.org/10.3390/ Stretching at the border between France and Spain, the Pyrenees are known as one d13090419 of the subterranean hotspots of the world [1].
    [Show full text]
  • A New Genus and Two New Species of Cave-Dwelling Cyclopoids (Crustacea, Copepoda) from the Epikarst Zone of Thailand and Up-To-D
    European Journal of Taxonomy 431: 1–30 ISSN 2118-9773 https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2018.431 www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu 2018 · Boonyanusith C. et al. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Research article urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F64382BD-0597-4383-A597-81226EEE77A1 A new genus and two new species of cave-dwelling cyclopoids (Crustacea, Copepoda) from the epikarst zone of Thailand and up-to-date keys to genera and subgenera of the Bryocyclops and Microcyclops groups Chaichat BOONYANUSITH 1, La-orsri SANOAMUANG 2 & Anton BRANCELJ 3,* 1 School of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, 30000, Thailand. 2 Applied Taxonomic Research Centre, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand. 2 Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, 44150, Thailand. 3 National Institute of Biology,Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. 3 School of Environmental Sciences, University of Nova Gorica, Vipavska c. 13, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia. * Corresponding author: [email protected] 1 Email: [email protected] 2 Email: [email protected] 1 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:5290B3B5-D3B3-4CF2-AF3B-DCEAEAE7B51D 2 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:F0CBCDC7-64C8-476D-83A1-4F7DB7D9E14F 3 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:CE8F02CA-A0CC-4769-95D9-DCB1BA25948D Abstract. Two obligate cave-dwelling species of cyclopoid copepods (Copepoda, Cyclopoida) were discovered inside caves in central Thailand. Siamcyclops cavernicolus gen. et sp. nov. was recognised as a member of a new genus. It resembles Bryocyclops jankowskajae Monchenko, 1972 from Uzbekistan (part of the former USSR). It differs from it by (1) lack of pointed triangular prominences on the intercoxal sclerite of the fourth swimming leg, (2) mandibular palp with three setae, (3) spine and setal formulae of swimming legs 3.3.3.2 and 5.5.5.5, respectively, and (4) specifi c shape of spermatophore.
    [Show full text]
  • Spatial Distribution of Stygobitic Crustacean Harpacticoids at The
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Spatial distribution of stygobitic crustacean harpacticoids at the boundaries of groundwater habitat types in Europe Mattia Iannella 1, Barbara Fiasca 1, Tiziana Di Lorenzo 2, Maurizio Biondi 1, Mattia Di Cicco 1 & Diana M. P. Galassi 1* The distribution patterns of stygobitic crustacean harpacticoids at the boundaries of three diferent groundwater habitat types in Europe were analysed through a GIS proximity analysis and ftted to exponential models. The results showed that the highest frequency of occurrences was recorded in aquifers in consolidated rocks, followed by the aquifers in unconsolidated sediments and, fnally, by the practically non-aquiferous rocks. The majority of the stygobitic harpacticoid species were not able to disperse across the boundaries between two adjacent habitats, with 66% of the species occurring in a single habitat type. The species were not evenly distributed, and 35–69% of them occurred from 2 to 6 km to the boundaries, depending on the adjacent habitat types. The distribution patterns were shaped by features extrinsic to the species, such as the hydrogeological properties of the aquifers, and by species’ intrinsic characteristics such as the preference for a given habitat type and dispersal abilities. Most boundaries between adjacent habitat types resulted to be “breaches”, that is transmissive borders for stygobitic harpacticoids, while others were “impermeable walls”, that is absorptive borders. Our results suggest that conservation measures of groundwater harpacticoids should consider how species are distributed within the diferent groundwater habitat types and at their boundaries to ensure the preservation of species metapopulations within habitat patches and beyond them. Te groundwater environment hosts a suite of species that complete their whole life cycle in the darkness.
    [Show full text]
  • (Peracarida: Isopoda) Inferred from 18S Rdna and 16S Rdna Genes
    76 (1): 1 – 30 14.5.2018 © Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, 2018. Relationships of the Sphaeromatidae genera (Peracarida: Isopoda) inferred from 18S rDNA and 16S rDNA genes Regina Wetzer *, 1, Niel L. Bruce 2 & Marcos Pérez-Losada 3, 4, 5 1 Research and Collections, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007 USA; Regina Wetzer * [[email protected]] — 2 Museum of Tropical Queensland, 70–102 Flinders Street, Townsville, 4810 Australia; Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; Niel L. Bruce [[email protected]] — 3 Computation Biology Institute, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Ashburn, VA 20148, USA; Marcos Pérez-Losada [mlosada @gwu.edu] — 4 CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal — 5 Department of Invertebrate Zoology, US National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA — * Corresponding author Accepted 13.x.2017. Published online at www.senckenberg.de/arthropod-systematics on 30.iv.2018. Editors in charge: Stefan Richter & Klaus-Dieter Klass Abstract. The Sphaeromatidae has 100 genera and close to 700 species with a worldwide distribution. Most are abundant primarily in shallow (< 200 m) marine communities, but extend to 1.400 m, and are occasionally present in permanent freshwater habitats. They play an important role as prey for epibenthic fishes and are commensals and scavengers. Sphaeromatids’ impressive exploitation of diverse habitats, in combination with diversity in female life history strategies and elaborate male combat structures, has resulted in extraordinary levels of homoplasy.
    [Show full text]
  • Folia Malacologica
    FOLIA Folia Malacol. 23(4): 263–271 MALACOLOGICA ISSN 1506-7629 The Association of Polish Malacologists Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe Poznań, December 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.12657/folmal.023.022 TANOUSIA ZRMANJAE (BRUSINA, 1866) (CAENOGASTROPODA: TRUNCATELLOIDEA: HYDROBIIDAE): A LIVING FOSSIL Luboš BERAN1, SEBASTIAN HOFMAN2, ANDRZEJ FALNIOWSKI3* 1Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, Regional Office Kokořínsko – Máchův kraj Protected Landscape Area Administration, Česká 149, CZ 276 01 Mělník, Czech Republic 2Department of Comparative Anatomy, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30- 387 Cracow, Poland 3Department of Malacology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Cracow, Poland (e-mail: [email protected]) * corresponding author ABSTRACT: A living population of Tanousia zrmanjae (Brusina, 1866) was found in the mid section of the Zrmanja River in Croatia. The species, found only in the freshwater part of the river, had been regarded as possibly extinct. A few collected specimens were used for this study. Morphological data confirm the previous descriptions and drawings while molecular data place Tanousia within the family Hydrobiidae, subfamily Sadlerianinae Szarowska, 2006. Two different sister-clade relationships were inferred from two molecular markers. Fossil Tanousia, represented probably by several species, are known from interglacial deposits of the late Early Pleistocene to the early Middle Pleistocene
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Predation in the Diet of Niphargus (Amphipoda: Niphargidae)
    Fišer et al. The role of predation in the diet of Niphargus (Amphipoda: Niphargidae) Cene Fišer, Žana Kovačec, Mateja Pustovrh, and Peter Trontelj Oddelek za biologijo, Biotehniška fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani, Večna pot 111, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Emails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]; [email protected] Key Words: Niphargus balcanicus, Niphargus timavi, Dinaric Karst, Vjetrenica, feeding, foraging. Niphargus (Amphipoda: Niphargidae) is the largest genus of freshwater amphipods1, with over 300 described species. Recently, it was identified as important for addressing ecological and evolutionary questions2. Nevertheless, the exploration of these issues critically depends on understanding the biology of individual species, which is mostly unknown. For instance, utilization of food sources has rarely been studied. Laboratory observations3,4 acknowledged a broad spectrum of foraging behaviors in N. virei Chevreux 1896 and N. fontanus Bate 1859, ranging from limnivory, detritivory, predation on oligochaetes and arthropods, feeding on decayed leaves and carrion, and fish flakes. Sket5 briefly mentioned how N. krameri Schellenberg 1935 fed on dead conspecifics. Finally, Mathieu et al. speculated that adult N. rhenorhodanesis Schellenberg 1937 could prey upon their own conspecifics6. Here we report on dietary data of two species from the Dinarc Karst. In 2001, we held several individuals of the troglobiotic Niphargus balcanicus Absolon 1927 in an aquarium. Unlike many other amphipods, this large (about 30 mm) species retains an upright position during activity (swimming, walking on ground) and rest. The animals were kept in the speleological laboratory in permanent darkness at 8 ºC. After a few days, we dropped a live isopod Asellus aquaticus (about 10 mm long) into the tank.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparison of Some Epigean and Troglobiotic Animals Regarding Their Metabolism Intensity
    International Journal of Speleology 48 (2) 133-144 Tampa, FL (USA) May 2019 Available online at scholarcommons.usf.edu/ijs International Journal of Speleology Off icial Journal of Union Internationale de Spéléologie Comparison of some epigean and troglobiotic animals regarding their metabolism intensity. Examination of a classical assertion Tatjana Simčič1* and Boris Sket2 1Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research, National Institute of Biology, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia 2Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Abstract: This study determines oxygen consumption (R), electron transport system (ETS) activity and R/ETS ratio in two pairs of epigean and hypogean crustacean species or subspecies. To date, metabolic characteristics among the phylogenetic distant epigean and hypogean species (i.e., species of different genera) or the epigean and hypogean populations of the same species have been studied due to little opportunity to compare closely related epigean and hypogean species. To fill this gap, we studied the epigean Niphargus zagrebensis and its troglobiotic relative Niphargus stygius, and the epigean subspecies Asellus aquaticus carniolicus in comparison to the troglobiotic subspecies Asellus aquaticus cavernicolus. We tested the previous findings of different metabolic rates obtained on less-appropriate pairs of species and provide additional information on thermal characteristics of metabolic enzymes in both species or subspecies types. Measurements were done at four temperatures. The values of studied traits, i.e., oxygen consumption, ETS activity, and ratio R/ETS, did not differ significantly between species or subspecies of the same genus from epigean and hypogean habitats, but they responded differently to temperature changes.
    [Show full text]
  • Unbekannte 14.Book
    Heldia Band 5 Heft 1/2 S. 7-18, Taf. 2-5, 6a München, Juli 2003 ISSN 0176-2621 Unbekannte westeuropäische Prosobranchia, 14.1) Neue und alte Grundwasserschnecken aus Frankreich (Gastropoda: Moitessieridae et Hydrobiidae). Vo n HANS D. BOETERS, & GERHARD FALKNER, München, München und Paris. Mit Tafel 2-5 und 6a. Vorbemerkung. Die kontinuierlichen Forschungen von BOETERS im Rhône-Einzugsgebiet haben zwar bereits ein ein- drucksvolles Bild einer außerordentlich diversen Grundwasserfauna ergeben (BOETERS & MÜLLER 1992); diese Kontur einer Synthese war aber nur möglich durch die thematisch bedingte Ausblendung zahlreicher problematischer und unbearbeiteter Funde, die eine noch größere Diversität vermuten ließen. Inzwischen sind durch die Arbeitsgruppe um H. GIRARDI, Montfavet bei Avignon, weitere bemerkenswerte Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Grundwasserschnecken des unteren Rhône-Gebiets ge- leistet worden. Auch Genistfunde von H. KOBIALKA und neuere Aufsammlungen in der Réserve Natu- relle des Gorges de l’Ardèche durch eine Arbeitsgruppe des Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle Paris (G. und M. FALKNER, O. GARGOMINY, B. FONTAINE, M. KLEIN) haben gezeigt, daß der Artenreich- tum bei weitem noch nicht erschöpfend erkannt ist. Die laufenden Arbeiten des europäischen Projekts PASCALIS (Protocols for the ASsessment and Conservation of Aquatic Life In the Subsurface), in deren Rahmen von der Équipe d’Hydrobiologie et Écologie souterraines der Universität Lyon I eine möglichst vollständige Erfassung der unterirdischen Lebensräume Frankreichs und eine realistische Abschätzung der Biodiversität geplant sind, lassen die Verfügbarmachung der bereits als neu erkannten Arten vordringlich erscheinen. Wenn die Besonder- heiten, die eine Benennung rechtfertigen, abgesichert sind, ist es wichtig, solche Taxa möglichst umge- hend mit einem Namen zu versehen und damit zu operablen Einheiten zu machen, auch wenn es eigentlich wünschenswert wäre, weiteres, vor allem lebend gesammeltes Material für eine präzisere Beschreibung und Abgrenzung zur Verfügung zu haben.
    [Show full text]
  • Caenogastropoda: Hydrobiidae) in the Caucasus
    Folia Malacol. 25(4): 237–247 https://doi.org/10.12657/folmal.025.025 AGRAFIA SZAROWSKA ET FALNIOWSKI, 2011 (CAENOGASTROPODA: HYDROBIIDAE) IN THE CAUCASUS JOZEF GREGO1, SEBASTIAN HOFMAN2, LEVAN MUMLADZE3, ANDRZEJ FALNIOWSKI4* 1Horná Mičiná 219, 97401 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia 2Department of Comparative Anatomy, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland 3Institute of Zoology Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia 4Department of Malacology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland (e-mail: [email protected]) *corresponding author ABSTRACT: Freshwater gastropods of the Caucasus are poorly known. A few minute Belgrandiella-like gastropods were found in three springs in Georgia. Molecular markers: mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear histone (H3) were used to infer their phylogenetic relationships. The phylogenetic trees placed them most closely to Agrafia from continental Greece. The p-distances indicated that two species occurred in the three localities. Two specimens from Andros Island (Greece) were also assigned to the genus Agrafia. The p-distances between the four taxa, most probably each representing a distinct species, were within the range of 0.026–0.043 for H3, and 0.089–0.118 for COI. KEY WORDS: spring snail, DNA, Georgia, Andros, phylogeny INTRODUCTION The freshwater gastropods of Georgia, as well as Graziana Radoman, 1975, Pontobelgrandiella Radoman, those of all the Caucasus, are still poorly studied; this 1973, and Alzoniella Giusti et Bodon, 1984. They are concerns especially the minute representatives of the morphologically distinguishable but only slightly Truncatelloidea. About ten species inhabiting karst different, and molecularly represent not closely re- springs and caves have been found so far (SHADIN lated lineages.
    [Show full text]
  • Fifty Years of Cave Arthropod Sampling: Techniques and Best Practices J
    International Journal of Speleology 48 (1) 33-48 Tampa, FL (USA) January 2019 Available online at scholarcommons.usf.edu/ijs International Journal of Speleology Off icial Journal of Union Internationale de Spéléologie Fifty years of cave arthropod sampling: techniques and best practices J. Judson Wynne1*, Francis G. Howarth2, Stefan Sommer1, and Brett G. Dickson3 1Department of Biological Sciences, Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research, Northern Arizona University, Box 5640, Flagstaff, Arizona 86011, USA 2Department of Natural Sciences, Bernice P. Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, Hawaii, 96817, USA 3Conservation Science Partners, 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA 96161 and Lab of Landscape Ecology and Conservation Biology, Landscape Conservation Initiative, Northern Arizona University, Box 5694, Flagstaff, Arizona 86011, USA Abstract: Ever-increasing human pressures on cave biodiversity have amplified the need for systematic, repeatable, and intensive surveys of cave-dwelling arthropods to formulate evidence-based management decisions. We examined 110 papers (from 1967 to 2018) to: (i) understand how cave-dwelling invertebrates have been sampled; (ii) provide a summary of techniques most commonly applied and appropriateness of these techniques, and; (iii) make recommendations for sampling design improvement. Of the studies reviewed, over half (56) were biological inventories, 43 ecologically focused, seven were techniques papers, and four were conservation studies. Nearly one-half (48) of the papers applied systematic techniques. Few papers (24) provided enough information to repeat the study; of these, only 11 studies included cave maps. Most studies (56) used two or more techniques for sampling cave-dwelling invertebrates. Ten studies conducted ≥10 site visits per cave. The use of quantitative techniques was applied in 43 of the studies assessed.
    [Show full text]
  • European Red List of Non-Marine Molluscs Annabelle Cuttelod, Mary Seddon and Eike Neubert
    European Red List of Non-marine Molluscs Annabelle Cuttelod, Mary Seddon and Eike Neubert European Red List of Non-marine Molluscs Annabelle Cuttelod, Mary Seddon and Eike Neubert IUCN Global Species Programme IUCN Regional Office for Europe IUCN Species Survival Commission Published by the European Commission. This publication has been prepared by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and the Natural History of Bern, Switzerland. The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN, the Natural History Museum of Bern or the European Union concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN, the Natural History Museum of Bern or the European Commission. Citation: Cuttelod, A., Seddon, M. and Neubert, E. 2011. European Red List of Non-marine Molluscs. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. Design & Layout by: Tasamim Design - www.tasamim.net Printed by: The Colchester Print Group, United Kingdom Picture credits on cover page: The rare “Hélice catalorzu” Tacheocampylaea acropachia acropachia is endemic to the southern half of Corsica and is considered as Endangered. Its populations are very scattered and poor in individuals. This picture was taken in the Forêt de Muracciole in Central Corsica, an occurrence which was known since the end of the 19th century, but was completely destroyed by a heavy man-made forest fire in 2000.
    [Show full text]