Diversity and distributional pattern of soil microarthropods (Protura) across a transitional zone in Ukraine

Abstract

The biodiversity of transitional zones is unique, due to mixing and co-occurrence of biotic elements. Despite this, our basic knowledge on distributional patterns of soil microarthropods in areas where biogeographic regions overlap is insufficient. We studied the biogeographic patterns of Protura across three natural landforms in Ukraine within the Transcarpathia (Transcarpathian Lowland, Transcarpathian foothills, and Volcanic Ukrainian Carpathian), which are influenced by adjacent biogeographic areas (mainly Alpine and Pannonian). We hypothesised that these overlaps have brought about an increase in Protura diversity, due to inclusion of faunal elements from diverse origins and differing in geographical histories. Distinct differences in the species composition of Protura were found among lowland, foothill, and mountain sites within Transcarpathia. Mountain sites mainly have Protura species with a wide continental distribution, while species of the foothills mainly stem from the Pannonian biogeographic region. The highest number of proturan endemics was associated with the Transcarpathian foothills. We conclude that the Transcarpathian region can be defined as a biogeographical transition zone for soil microarthopods, exemplified by Protura, and that foothill sites such as the volcanic-tectonic mountain Chorna Hora is a local hotspot of diversity and endemism, representing the most valuable parts of Transcarpathia with respect to diversity and endemism.

A key for the determination of European species of Eosentomon Berlese, 1909 (Protura, Eosentomata, Eosentomidae)

“…The collection of E. carpaticum in the lowlands of the Transcarpathian region is consistent with an earlier report that this species has a wide ecological plasticity and environmental distribution pattern, and can predominate in Protura communities outside of mountain habitats in azonal habitats, such as floodplain forests (Sterzyńska et al 2012). A similar situation exists with E. enigmaticum , which was collected in the Ukrainian and Slovakian Carpathians (Shrubovych and Sterzynska 2015, unpublished data) and has been considered an Eastern-Carpathian endemic (Shrubovych and Sterzynska 2017); however, in Poland this species was found outside of mountainous habitats.…”

Ecology of Italian Protura

“…Even though we have few collections made at higher elevations (none over 2000 m in the Alpine plane) we have observed the association between geographical range amplitude and elevation reached by Protura species on mountains in Italy, which has also been noticed by Shrubovych and Sterzyńska (2017) in the Ukraine. It seems likely that Protura occurring at higher elevations can tolerate a wider range of climatic conditions (according to the Rapoport's altitudinal rule) and so they also have generally wider distributions.…”

The geographic distribution of Protura (Arthropoda: Hexapoda): a review

“…In a contemporary paper on a similar fauna, the northeastern Palearctic Protura, Shrubovych (2014) hypothesized northeastern Asia as the main center of origin of Holarctic species with Beringia acting as a land-bridge for faunal interchanges between North America and Eurasia. Shrubovych & Sterzyńska (2017) studied proturans of the Transcarpathian region and documented its high species richness and percentage of endemics. They stressed the importance of this area as biogeographical transition zone for soil microarthropods across Mediterranean, Pannonian, Alpine and Continental ecoregions.…”