Molecular taxonomy often uncovers cryptic species, reminding us that taxonomic incompleteness is even more severe than previous thought. The importance of cryptic species for conservation is poorly understood. Although some cryptic species may be seriously threatened or otherwise important, they are rarely included in conservation programs as most of them remain undescribed. We analysed the importance of cryptic species in conservation by scrutinizing the South European cryptic complex of the subterranean amphipod Niphargus stygius sensu lato. Using uni- and multilocus delineation methods we show that it consists of 15 parapatric and sympatric species, which we describe using molecular diagnoses. The new species are not mere “taxonomic inflation” as they originate from several distinct branches within the genus and coexist with no evidence of lineage sharing. They are as evolutionarily distinct as average nominal species of the same genus. Ignoring these cryptic species will underestimate the number of subterranean endemics in Slovenia by 12 and in Croatia by four species, although alpha diversity of single caves remains unchanged. The new taxonomy renders national Red Lists largely obsolete, as they list mostly large-ranged species but omit critically endangered single-site endemics. Formal naming of cryptic species is critical for them to be included in conservation policies and faunal listings.

Interior spaces of the forested rocky debris (MSS) represent a transition zone between the surface and deep underground spaces and a place of animal adaptation to underground life. They serve as a refuge for relict fauna as well. The study was conducted in the limestone scree slopes in Sivec National Nature Reserve (Čierna Hora Mts, Western Carpathians, elevation about 500 m a. s. l.) covered by linden-maple forest from September 2008 to November 2009. The effort was to define the vertical and seasonal aspects of invertebrates and temperature regime. Invertebrates were collected by using subterranean traps (plastic cups with 4% formaldehyde, inserted into the depths 5-95 cm through a plastic tube), which were checked monthly. Almost 26,000 specimens were trapped. Arthropods highly dominated over gastropods and earthworms. Collembola (67.61%) and Acarina (15.55%) were eudominant. Macrofauna was represented mainly by larvae of Holometabola (7.55%) and adult Diptera (5.11%) and Coleoptera (1.13%). All these groups were captured along the total depth gradient. Coleoptera were studied in more details. Among 11 Coleoptera families, Staphylinidae predominated and were captured at all levels. Rather high species diversity was found: 67 spp. excluding common epigeic fauna. Some species supposed to be subterranean, e.g., Bryaxis frivaldszkyi slovenicus, Duvalius bokori valyianus and Omalium validum. Activity of most invertebrate groups decreased significantly with depth (prevalence of surface fauna), but it was not terminated at 1 m under surface; the same was true for beetles, both in activity and diversity. Conspicuous fact is that a mass of subterranean species were traced also close to the surface (35 cm), i.e., probably it is not necessary to put the traps as deep as in this study. Seasonal climate changes affected the activity of invertebrates which was the highest at the end of spring and the lowest during winter, but it was not completely interrupted. Microclimate was characteristic without major temperature fluctuations on the surface. It was stable deeper along with increasing average annual temperature. High diversity and the occurrence of rare faunistic elements as well as specific habitats of MSS are perspective study objects and they merit care; mature design of the next studies considering the effect of season and depth of traps deposition shall do them more effective and less laborious.

No abstract

New and interesting records of 60 Diptera species in ten families, namely Anisopodidae, Blephariceridae, Campichoetidae, Dixidae, Drosophilidae, Limoniidae, Lonchopteridae, Pediciidae, Psychodidae and Scatopsidae, are presented in this paper based on the specimens collected in Azerbaijan and Georgia. A total of 26 species are recorded for the first time for Transcaucasia, 32 species for Azerbaijan, and 33 species for Georgia. In addition, the first or updated checklists of the above ten families are given for these countries.

Diversity, depth distribution and seasonal activity of isopods and myriapods were studied using subterranean traps buried in a forested limestone scree slope in the Čierna Hora Mts, Western Carpathians, Slovakia, throughout the depth gradient from 5 to 95 cm. A total of five isopod, 13 diplopod and 11 chilopod species were identified. Most edaphic species strongly preferred the uppermost organic soil layers. Among the species captured, some represented rare stenoecous Carpathian endemics, namely the isopod Trichoniscus carpaticus, and diplopods Julus curvicornis and Leptoiulus mariae. Others were subterranean forms, partly adapted to hypogean conditions: the isopod Mesoniscus graniger, and diplopods Mecogonopodium carpathicum and Trachysphaera costata. The annual activity in the vast majority of the species ceased completely in winter, and was gradually relaunched in spring. In evaluating the age structure of two predominant diplopods Polydesmus denticulatus and Mecogonopodium carpathicum, both widespread across the depth gradient, a vertical segregation of early post-embryonic stages was found. While P. denticulatus tended to undergo the early stages of development in the soilfilled topmost levels, the early juvenile stage of M. carpathicum was distributed deep in the scree slope profile.

The paper is dedicated to the memory of jozef šTeffek , the famous Slovak malacozoologist who died suddenly during the implementation of this study. The first series of the samples was determined by him.

The shallow underground of forested scree slopes represents a little-studied subterranean biotope. In this paper, species diversity and depth distribution of terrestrial isopod communities studied in the depth profile (5–95 cm from the surface) of eight forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) is discussed. The southern edge of the Western Carpathians where the study sites are located represents the northernmost limit of distribution of obligate subterranean fauna in Europe. The sites differ from each other in type of bedrock, forest composition, slope aspect, and altitude. To sample isopods, a set of three subterranean pitfall traps consisting of a plastic cylinder (Ø 110 mm) and ten plastic cups was buried in each studied scree slope. In total, 252 isopods belonging to eleven species were sampled (1–5 species per site). Of the species found, the blind and depigmented Mesoniscusgraniger was the sole species closely associated with deeper parts of the depth profile and was present in most of the sites studied. Another ten species were represented by a small number of individuals and their occurrence deeper in the scree slope profile was rather accidental. A comparison between winter and summer periods indicates apparent differences in seasonal activities of isopods. Ethylene glycol seems to be more appropriate fixative solution for trapping isopods than formaldehyde.

A labyrinth of air-filled voids in forested scree slopes represents one of the most common types of terrestrial shallow subterranean habitats in the temperate zone, characterized by relatively strong seasonal fluctuations of temperature and the occurrence of subterranean species of invertebrates. We carried out a year-long study to define the monthly activity dynamics of Collembola communities inhabiting a depth profile (95 cm from the ground surface) of a forested limestone scree in the Western Carpathians, Slovakia. We assessed the response of species sorted into four separate ecological forms, reflecting their affinity to the subterranean environment and to temperature parameters fluctuating over the year. Of the 62 collembolan species identified, 28 were assigned to trogloxenes, 19 to subtroglophiles, 12 to eutroglophiles, and 3 to troglobionts. Fluctuations of activity/numbers during the year were observed in all four ecological forms of Collembola and at all depths. Troglobionts and eutroglophiles, associated predominantly with deeper layers of the scree slope profile, preferred the lower temperature ranges and were typical for the autumn months. Trogloxenes and subtroglophiles were active most of the year near the surface, but specifically during the spring months characterized by higher temperature ranges. The study contributes to the general knowledge of dynamics of invertebrate activity in a forested temperate zone scree slope.