Assessing copepod (Crustacea: Copepoda) species richness at different spatial scales in northwestern Romanian caves

Meleg, Ioana N.; Fiers, Frank; Moldovan, Oana Teodora

doi:10.3897/subtbiol.9.2513

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…It may be this heterogeneity makes possible the high β-diversity of epikarst habitats (see above). Meleg et al (2011a) and Pipan et al (2006b) report similar analyses for epikarst communities in Romania and USA, respectively. Using pH, temperature, conductivity, and precipitation are predictor variables, Meleg et al (2011a) produced correspondence plots for the entire epikarst community, including amphipods, isopods, ostracods, and copepods, the latter being the dominant taxa as number of species and individuals.…”

Section: Peştera Doboş 3 Total 11mentioning

confidence: 58%

“…) recognized that the small number of individuals occurring in pools • 68 percent (16.33 species) of total species richness was among cave (a component of β-diversity). Meleg et al (2011aMeleg et al ( , 2011b report between 3 and 6 epikarst copepod species per cave in drips and drip pools in Romania (Table 6) and a total of 11 species among their five study caves, lower numbers than those recorded for the Slovenian caves. The best estimate of total species richness was 16 species for the five Romanian caves (Meleg et al 2011a).…”

Section: History Of Biological Studies Of Epikarstmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Meleg et al (2011aMeleg et al ( , 2011b report between 3 and 6 epikarst copepod species per cave in drips and drip pools in Romania (Table 6) and a total of 11 species among their five study caves, lower numbers than those recorded for the Slovenian caves. The best estimate of total species richness was 16 species for the five Romanian caves (Meleg et al 2011a). Based on this limited evidence, it seems likely that Slovenia and perhaps the Dinaric karst in general is a hotspot for epikarst copepod species, as it is for other subterranean aquatic groups (Sket 1999).…”

Section: History Of Biological Studies Of Epikarstmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moldovan, and her colleagues initiated an intensive study of Romanian caves in the mid 2000's, emphasizing community structure and diversity (Meleg et al, 2011a(Meleg et al, , 2011b, as well as effects of habitat fragmentation and quality (Moldovan et al, 2011). During the same time period, colleagues (2007, 2010) integrated epikarst into models of organic carbon flux in caves, and provided the first measurements of dissolved organic carbon.…”

Section: International Journal Of Speleology 42 (3) 215-223 Tampamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The estimated total includes observed and unobserved species, using Chao 1 estimate in EstimateS. Data from Meleg et al (2011a). high concentrations of NO 3 -.…”

Section: Peştera Doboş 3 Total 11mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Forty years of epikarst: what biology have we learned?

Pipan¹,

Culver²

2013

IJS

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Epikarst is not only an important component of the hydrogeology of karst and an active site of speleogenesis, it is habitat for a number of species adapted to subterranean life. Water in epikarst, with a residence time of days to months, is a highly heterogeneous habitat, and the animals are primarily sampled from continuously sampling dripping water or collecting from residual drip pools. While the subterranean fauna of cracks and crevices has been known for over 100 years, it is only in the past several decades that epikarst has been recognized as a distinct habitat, with reproducing populations of stygobionts. Dissolved organic carbon in epikarst drip water is a primary and sometimes the only source of organic matter for underlying caves, especially if there are not sinking streams that enter the cave. Typical concentrations of organic carbon are 1 mg L-1. The fauna of epikarst is dominated by copepods, but other groups, including some terrestrial taxa, are important in some areas. Most of the diversity is β-diversity (between drips and between caves). In Slovenia, an average of nearly 9 stygobiotic copepod species were found per cave. In studies in Romania and Slovenia, a number of factors have been found to be important in determining species distribution, including ceiling thickness, habitat connectivity and habitat size. In addition to eye and pigment loss, epikarst copepod species may show a number of specializations for life in epikarst, including adaptations to avoid displacement by water flow. Several geoscientists and biologists have challenged the uniqueness and importance of epikarst, but on balance the concept is valid and useful. Fruitful future research directions include development of better sampling techniques, studies to explain differences among nearby epikarst communities, phylogeographic studies, and assessing the possible role of copepods as tracers of vadose water

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Section: Peştera Doboş 3 Total 11mentioning

confidence: 58%

Section: History Of Biological Studies Of Epikarstmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: History Of Biological Studies Of Epikarstmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: International Journal Of Speleology 42 (3) 215-223 Tampamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The estimated total includes observed and unobserved species, using Chao 1 estimate in EstimateS. Data from Meleg et al (2011a). high concentrations of NO 3 -.…”

Section: Peştera Doboş 3 Total 11mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations