Gastropoda from Subterranean Habitats in Greece1
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ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Veröffentlichungen des Naturkundemuseums Erfurt (in Folge VERNATE) Jahr/Year: 2012 Band/Volume: 31 Autor(en)/Author(s): Subai Peter, Arndt Erik Artikel/Article: Gastropoda from subterranean habitats in Greece 213-224 VERNATE 31/2012 S. 213-224 Gastropoda from subterranean habitats in Greece1 ERIK ARNDT & PETER SUBAI Summary schiedenen Untersuchungsflächen der Jahre 2007-2011 aus. Es wurden 21 Schneckenarten (aus neun Familien) The Mediterranean mountains are known for an ex- nachgewiesen. Die größte Zahl der Arten konzentriert tended fissure network in boulders and rocks below the sich auf die Familien Oxychilidae und Zonitidae, deren soil layer, the so-called superficial subterranean habi- Vertreter vermutlich überwiegend unterirdisch leben. tat or MSS. This habitat is used by many invertebrate Auf der anderen Seite wurden jedoch auch weit ver- animal species. Traps were used in Greek mountains breitete, oberflächenaktive Arten wiePoiretia compres- in order to examine the subterranean fauna. The traps sa, Pomatias elegans und Lindholmiola lens in Anzahl were placed in depths between 10 and 60 cm depend- gefangen, die sich während der trockenwarmen Jahres- ing on the structural characteristics of the rock depos- zeit in das Spaltensystem zurückziehen. Auch drei Ar- its. The present contribution provides trap results of ten von Helicidae wurden nachgewiesen, darunter eine snails (Gastropoda) from 47 different sites during the unbeschriebene Josephinella-Art. Von dieser Art waren years 2007-2011. Representatives of 21 gastropod spe- zuvor nur leere, ältere Schalen bekannt. Alle Arten be- cies (nine families) were recorded. Most species and sitzen mittelgroße oder große Gehäuse. Das Fehlen von most specimens belong to the families Oxychilidae and kleinen Arten in den Fallen lässt vermuten, dass diese Zonitidae suggesting that many of them have a hypo- Fallenmethode für den Nachweis von Mikromollusken gean way of life. On the other side, widespread surface nicht geeignet ist. active species such as Poiretia compressa, Pomatias el- egans and Lindholmiola lens were recorded in numbers Key words: Subterranean habitat, MSS, Gastropoda, suggesting that these species retreat to the MSS during Greece the dry and hot season. Three species of Helicidae were also recorded including an undescribed representative Introduction of the genus Josephinella. Only empty and eroded shells of the latter were previously known. All of the In the Mediterranean region a comparably high propor- species are of large or medium size indicating that this tion of insects and other invertebrate species use subter- trap method probably is not suitable for catching sub- ranean habitats. Firstly many species retreat from the terranean micromolluscs. soil surface to deeper layers in the underground during the dry and hot period of summer. Secondly the Medi- Zusammenfassung terranean region is known for its high density of (karst) caves and its pronounced fissure network existing in Die Gebirge in der mediterranen Region sind für ihr mountain rocks. The latter is termed “superficial sub- ausgedehntes Netzwerk an Rissen und Spalten in Fel- terranean habitat” and was introduced in the literature sen und Geröll bekannt. Dieser Lebensraum wird als under its French abbreviation MSS (Milieu Souterrain MSS (Milieu Souterrain Superficiel) bezeichnet. Zahl- Superficiel; seeJ UBERTHIE et al. 1980, 1981). The MSS reiche Wirbellose nutzen dieses Spaltensystem als Le- is a subterranean or hypogean habitat in the strict sense bensraum. Mit Hilfe von Fallen wurde die Fauna dieses of the word in contrast to the endogean or edaphic soil Lebensraums in Gebirgen Griechenlands untersucht. substrate (GIACHINO & VAILATI 2010, Fig. 1). Abhängig von den strukturellen Eigenschaften der Fel- sablagerungen wurden die Fallen 10 bis 60 cm tief in den Untergrund eingebracht. Die hier vorgelegte Arbeit 1 Results of the program “Research Missions in the Mediterranean Basin” sponsored by the World Biodiversity Association onlus. XXXI. con- wertet die Gehäuseschnecken (Gastropoda) von 47 ver- tribution. 213 Fig. 1. Schematic figure of natural MSS (right side) and often visible anthropogenous destruction of this habitat due to road construction (left side). The “layer of detritus” below the forest soil represents the examined subterranean habitat (source of figure:G IACHINO & VAILATI 2010). While the fauna of caves is more or less well-known accumulated. Also slopes along roads were used for the today, examination of MSS started only a few decades examination. The traps were placed at depths between ago and the subterranean fissure network is the last bi- 10 and 60 cm depending on the structural characteris- otic frontier in European biodiversity research. Many if tics of the rock deposits. After placement of the traps, not most species of animal groups adapted to the life in the hole was filled with the original substrate so that the the MSS are believed to be still undescribed. E.g. sev- trap entrance was in contact with the fissure network eral genera of carabid and cholevid beetles or Diplop- of the surrounding habitat (see GIACHINO & VAILATI oda belong to these groups. So it is not surprising that 2010 for a detailed description of the trap placements). GIACHINO & VAILATI (2011) described 27 new species A total of 5-10 traps were placed at each site with a of the carabid subtribe Anillina, increasing the number distance of 2-10 metres between the single traps. The of known Anillina species in Greece by 180%. traps consisted of 150 ml glass jars with an opening di- Pier Mauro Giachino and Dante Vailati investigated the ameter of 50 mm filled with 20 mm supersatured NaCl subterranean fauna systematically in Greek mountains solution. Each trap contained a 60 mm long tube of 15 using special traps placed within the MSS. It is aim of mm diameter containing fermented cheese as bait for this paper to present the first results of recorded snails carabid and cholevid beetles. (Gastropoda) from these MSS traps. The traps were recovered after one or two whole years. Af- ter this long period the shells of most species were still in Materials and methods excellent condition while the soft body started to macerate. The material was collected in mountain areas usually characterized by fresh and humid environmental con- Material from 49 different sites (collected between 2007 ditions, often mountain slopes with northern exposure, and 2011, see Figure 2) was examined. All of these sites sometimes at the base of rock walls where clastic debris are located in mountains between 500 and 1580 m. 214 Fig. 2. Map of the examined 47 Greek sample sites. Gastropoda from subterranean habitats in Greece1 1 Results of the program “Research Missions in the Mediterranean Basin” sponsored by the World Biodiversity Association onlus. XXXI. contribution. List of examined sites with a short description of the sub- WSW road slope in a Quercus forest on schistose terranean habitat (for practical reasons the old Greek pre- substrate with black humus and red gravel. fectures and the new administrative regions are given): 3: West Macedonia, nomos Kastoriá, Oros Vitsi near A. Andónios, 1320 m, N 40°39’04.3’’ E 21°20’17.4’’, 1: West Macedonia, nomos Flórina, Oros Vitsi near 18.VI.2007/17.VI.2008. MSS on a northern road Drosopigi, 1260 m, N 40°39’15.3’’ E 21°24’59.2’’, slope in a Quercus forest on schistose and breaked 19.VI.2007/17.VI.2008. MSS at a SE slope of a substrate with gravel and hazel-black clay. small valley in a Fagus forest on schistose sub- 4: West Macedonia, nomos Kastoriá, Oros Vitsi near strate with black humus. Oxiá, 1580 m, N 40°37’11.5’’ E 21°22’15.0’’, 2: West Macedonia, nomos Kastoriá, Oros Vitsi 18.VI.2007/17.VI.2008. Habitat in a small valley near A. Andónios, 1300 m, N 40°38’17.1’’ E (N-S direction) in a Fagus forest on schistose sub- 21°19’00.7’’, 18.VI.2007/17.VI.2008. MSS at a strate with black humus. 215 5: West Macedonia, nomos Kastoriá, Oros Vório WSW slope of the Kremasta valley, in Abies forest Kotíli, 1325 m, N 40°21’10.8’’ E 21°01’92.9’’, on limestone substrate with black humus and hazel 17.VI.2007/16.VI.2008. MSS at a NW road slope clay. in a Fagus-Abies forest on schistose substrate. 15: Thessaly, nomos Kardítsa, Oros Tripitsa, Karva- 6: West Macedonia, nomos Kastoriá, Oros Vório near sarás, 1035 m, N 39°14’51.9’’ E 21°40’27.3’’, Kotíli, 1520 m, N 40°20’27.2’’ E 20°59’49.9’’, 13.VI.2008/12.VI.2010. MSS on a NW slope in 17.VI.2007/16.VI.2008 and 16.VI.2008/14. a small valley with stream. Abies forest on lime- VI.2010. MSS at an ENE road slope in a Pinus- stone substrate with black humus. Abies-Fagus forest on flysch substrate with black 16: Thessaly, nomos Kardítsa, Oros Voutsikaki, Ae- humus and clay. tofolia, 1510 m, N 39°16’22.4’’ E 21°40’00.6’’, 7: West Macedonia, nomos Kastoriá, Oros Vório near 13.VI.2008/12.VI.2010. MSS at an ESE slope in Pefkófito, 1130 m, N 40°20’55.7’’ E 20°56’20.0’’, Abies forest with black humus under limestone 16.VI.2008. MSS at the NW slope of a valley in a scree. Fagus-Pinus forest on flysch substrate with deep, 17: Thessaly, nomos Kardítsa, Oros Voutsikaki, Mega black humus. Revma, 1125 m, N 39°15’16.6’’ E 21°40’00.0’’, 8: Epirus, nomos Thesprotía, Oros Soulíou near Agía 13.VI.2008/12.VI.2010. MSS at a W mountain Kiriakí, 770 m, N 39°29’32.7’’ E 20°35’12.0’’, slope, with gravel and hazel-red clay under lime- 20.VI.2007/21.VI.2008.