During 2010–2012 the diversity and distribution patterns of Collembola were surveyed in 28 karst and pseudokarst caves of the Western Carpathians, Slovakia. In total 90 species were recorded, 18 of which were closely associated with caves (eutroglophiles), obligate cave forms (troglobionts) were represented by 13 species assigned to the genera Pseudosinella (5), Deuteraphorura (3), Megalothorax (2), Protaphorura (1), Pygmarrhopalites (1) and Neelus (1). Cave entrance elevation, internal air temperature and geographic location played an important role in the distribution of cave Collembola. Species diversity was positively correlated with internal air temperature and negatively with cave elevation and latitude. Non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMS), cluster and indicator value (IndVal) analyses showed that communities of cave Collembola display a clear geographic pattern in the Western Carpathians. The Slovak and Aggtelek Karst and adjacent areas in the south‐eastern part of the Western Carpathians have higher species diversity and number of troglobionts in contrast with karst areas of the central part that have only a few obligate cave forms. Northern karst areas are obviously less diverse and troglomorphic taxa are absent there. The study supports the idea that southern and central karst units of the Western Carpathians might represent important glacial refugia for subterranean fauna.

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Trophic interactions of cave arthropods have been understudied. We used molecular methods (NGS) to decipher the food web in the subterranean ecosystem of the Ardovská Cave (Western Carpathians, Slovakia). We collected five arthropod predators of the species Parasitus loricatus (gamasid mites), Eukoenenia spelaea (palpigrades), Quedius mesomelinus (beetles), and Porrhomma profundum and Centromerus cavernarum (both spiders) and prey belonging to several orders. Various arthropod orders were exploited as prey, and trophic interactions differed among the predators. Linear models were used to compare absolute and relative prey body sizes among the predators. Quedius exploited relatively small prey, while Eukoenenia and Parasitus fed on relatively large prey. Exploitation of eggs or cadavers is discussed. In contrast to previous studies, Eukoenenia was found to be carnivorous. A high proportion of intraguild predation was found in all predators. Intraspecific consumption (most likely cannibalism) was detected only in mites and beetles. Using Pianka’s index, the highest trophic niche overlaps were found between Porrhomma and Parasitus and between Centromerus and Eukoenenia, while the lowest niche overlap was found between Parasitus and Quedius. Contrary to what we expected, the high availability of Diptera and Isopoda as a potential prey in the studied system was not corroborated. Our work demonstrates that intraguild diet plays an important role in predators occupying subterranean ecosystems.

Two species of the genus Deuteraphorura Absolon, 1901 from the Western Carpathian caves (Central Europe) are redescribed, namely D. kratochvili (Nosek, 1963) and D. schoenviszkyi (Loksa, 1967). Both species are characterized by the absence of pseudocelli on thoracic tergum I, presence of male ventral organ on abdominal terga II-III and 3 pseudocelli on hind margin of head. D. kratochvili is redescribed based on specimens from the type locality (Demänovská Cave System) and its intraspecific variability in morphological traits is discussed. Redescription of D. schoenviszkyi (Loksa, 1967) is based on specimens from the Slovak and Aggtelek Karst, the karst area where the type locality is situated. Both species are restricted to subterranean environment, thus classified as obligate cave forms (troglobionts). An identification key to Deuteraphorura species, characterized by absence of pseudocelli on thoracic segment I, is provided.

Abstract:The activity of enzymes associated with digestion can reflect food availability and feeding preferences of invertebrates in a particular habitat. Caves are mostly nutrient-poor habitats lacking primary production. In the present study the enzymatic activity of cellulases, trehalases and chitinases was measured in eight collembolan species differently associated with the cave environment: the troglobionts (obligate cave species) Pseudacherontides spelaeus and Protaphorura janosik; the eutroglophiles Ceratophysella denticulata, Folsomia candida and Heteromurus nitidus; the subtroglophiles Hypogastrura aequepilosa and Orthonychiurus rectopapillatus; and the trogloxene (not associated with caves) Megaphorura arctica.Qualitative enzymatic patterns and quantitative differences in species activity were considered in terms of the taxonomic, feeding and ecological classifications of Collembola. Activity of the tested enzymes was confirmed in all species. Cellulolytic and chitinolytic activity seemed to play a crucial role for the discrimination of guilds within all categories. An increasing trend of chitinolytic activity was observed in Collembola associated with the subterranean environment and deeper soil layers, while cellulolytic activity decreased towards more adapted cave forms. Variability in enzymatic activity in cave-dwelling species indicated food specialization across sub-and eutroglophiles and troglobionts, respectively. The results of this study point out that enzymatic activity varies between groups of the cave fauna with different degrees of association to subterranean habitats (cave guilds).

An integrative approach employing molecular, morphological and geographical data were applied to species delimitation among Deuteraphorura congeners occupying caves of the Western Carpathian Mts. A new species of Deuteraphorura from the Western Carpathians is described. D. muranensis sp. nov. belongs among species with 4 pso at the hind margin of the head and possesses highly troglomorphic features. It is conspicuous with its distinctly elongated claws and long, hair-like body chaetae. The status of the new species was confirmed by DNA barcoding based on the mitochondrial COI marker. Populations of D. kratochvili (Nosek, 1963), the most widespread species, were studied in detail. Both ABGD and PTP analyses brought results congruent with geography, i.e. the molecular and geographic distance of the populations were positively correlated. However, some molecular separation based on pairwise distance and the number of substitutions was indicated within two of the studied populations. Despite the indistinct morphological differences, the tested populations were well isolated both geographically and genetically, which indicates that each studied population may represent a cryptic species. The troglomorphy of cave Collembola at the northernmost border of the distribution of cave-adapted species in the Europe is discussed. It is clear that the level of troglomorphy is closely associated with conditions of the microhabitat occupied by the individual subterranean species. The results of our study enhance the importance of the Western Carpathians regarding the diversity pattern of obligate cave species in Europe.

The new species Protaphorura borinensis sp. nov. from a cave of the Western Carpathians, Central Europe, is described. It belongs to congeners with ~40 vesicles in PAO and three pseudocelli at the base of antennae and the hind margin of head. P. borinensis sp. nov. has coarse granulation of cuticle on head, and specific distribution of "s" chaetae on abdominal terga and chaetotaxy of ventral tube. Critical comments to the Palaearctic representatives of the genus Protaphorura and an identification key to 85 species are provided.

A new species of Protaphorura Absolon, 1901 (Collembola, Onychiuridae), P. cykini sp.nov., is described from a cold karst cave in the Irkutsk region, Siberia, Russia. It is an obligate cave species with the largest body size (4.3-5.6 mm) of all congeners. The species is further characteristic by the pseudocellar formula as 3(2)2/022/33343, high number of vesicles in postantennal organ (65-71) and subapical organite protected with two papillae. A partial sequence of cytochrome oxidase I (COI DNA barcoding marker) gene is used to verify the taxonomic status of the new species and the barcode sequence is compared with other congeners available in GenBank database. Distribution and diversity of cave Collembola of Siberia is discussed.