The hypogean invertebrate fauna of Georgia (Caucasus)

Barjadze, Shalva; Asanidze, Zezva; Gavashelishvili, Alexander; Soto-Adames, Felipe N.

doi:10.1080/09397140.2018.1549789

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The diversity and endemism of the stygobiotic fauna of the mountainous regions of the Caucasus and the Crimean Peninsula in the south, especially their southern slopes, as well as the Carpathian Mountains in the west of the studied region, are very well known, and many endemic species have been described from there (see above; Table 2) [82][83][84][85][86]. In the past, the abovementioned mountainous regions were interconnected with the Middle East, representing a West Asian transition region for subterranean/stygobiotic animals [86][87][88][89] within the boundaries of Paratethys [57,58].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights on the Existence of Ancient Glacial Refugee in the Northern Black/Azov Sea Lowland, with the Description of the First Stygobiotic Microcrustacean Species of the Genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 from the Mouth of the Don River

Marín

Palatov

2023

Diversity

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A new species of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Niphargidae), co-existing with other stygobiotic amphipods, Diasynurella kiwi Marin and Palatov, 2023 and Pontonyx donensis (Martynov, 1919) (Crangonyctidae), is described from a small spring on a shore of Kiziterinka River in Rostov-on-Don City in the mouth of the Don River. Two of the three species in the studied spring, D. kiwi and the discovered Niphargus, belong to microcrustaceans not exceeding the total body size of 3 mm. The new species, Niphargus rostovi sp. nov., represents one of the smallest species within the genus and is mostly related to the Greek Niphargus karkabounasi Ntakis, Anastasiadou, Zakšek and Fišer, 2015, which is also not reaching the body size of 3 mm. One more related undescribed species is found on the Crete Island by the molecular genetic data. These species represent a separate phylogenetic lineage within the “carpathicus” species complex, which diverged from the congeners in the Late Miocene for more than 10 Mya. At the same time, the speciation within the ingroup started about 5–6 Mya, obviously correlating with the drainage of the Euxinian basin of the Eastern Paratethys, connecting the lower Don and southern Greece areas. Niphargus potamophilus Birštein, 1954 is also first recorded from the mouth of the Belbek River in the Crimean Peninsula, closing the known area from the Kuban River delta to Rostov-on-Don area and further along the western coast of the Black Sea to Bulgaria. Analysis of the recent records of long-time lineages of endemic/subterranean/stygobiotic animals unable to disperse for long distances assumed that glacial refugium existed at the mouth of the Don River, along with the South Caucasus (Colchis) and the southern Caspian (Hyrcania), where many species have survived several periods of glaciation since the late Miocene.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insights on the Existence of Ancient Glacial Refugee in the Northern Black/Azov Sea Lowland, with the Description of the First Stygobiotic Microcrustacean Species of the Genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 from the Mouth of the Don River

Marín

Palatov

2023

Diversity

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“…It shows that western Georgia, including Abkhazia and Ajaria -which are shown separately (Figs 9,10) to more clearly depict the localities/distributions and thus to avoid an "overcrowded" picture -supports the richest and most diverse fauna . This is also the area where all 14 presumed troglobionts are found in Georgia, all confined to karst caves (Barjadze et al 2019). Abkhazia, northwestern Georgia, is the richest subregion both in epigean and troglobitic Diplopoda (Figs 7-9), hosting, among others, Heterocaucaseuma deprofundum Antić & Makarov, 2018. This species is the world's deepest record of a millipede, found at 60-1980 m below the surface in the Krubera-Voronja and Sarma caves, Arabika Massif, Abkhazia (Fig.…”

Section: Main Relevant Referencesmentioning

confidence: 95%

Diversity and distribution of the millipedes (Diplopoda) of Georgia, Caucasus

Kokhia¹,

Golovatch²

2020

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The diplopod fauna of Georgia, Transcaucasia, is very rich given the country’s relatively small territory; it presently comprises 103 species from 44 genera, 12 families, and 7 orders. Most of the Diplopoda known from Georgia (86 species, or 83%) demonstrate Caucasian distribution patterns, 36 and 46 species, as well as 8 and 9 genera being endemic or subendemic to the country, respectively. A single Holarctic family, Anthroleucosomatidae (order Chordeumatida), contains 44 Caucasian species and 20 genera, of which 27 species and 14 genera are endemic or subendemic to Georgia. Likewise, all species from the orders Polyzoniida, Siphonocryptida, Glomerida and Chordeumatida, as well as most species of Julida and Polydesmida are native, also endemic or subendemic to the Caucasus, but the genera and families they represent are widely distributed at least across the Euro-Mediterranean Realm. Most of the presumed troglobionts in the Caucasus appear to be confined to western Georgia’s karst caves (14 species, 5 genera). Within Georgia, the fauna of the western part (= Colchis) is particularly rich and diverse, while that of the central and eastern parts of the country grows increasingly depauperate inland following the gradual climatic aridisation from west (Black Sea coast) to east (Armenia and Azerbaijan). The vertical distribution of the Diplopoda in Georgia, as well as the Caucasus generally, shows the bulk of the fauna restricted to forested lowland to mountain biomes or their remnants. Only very few Chordeumatida and Julus species seem to occur solely in the subalpine to alpine environments and thus may provisionally be considered as high-montane elements. Ongoing and future research on the millipedes of the Caucasus, especially in cave and montane environments, will undoubtedly allow for many more novelties and details of the diversity and distribution of Georgia’s Diplopoda to be revealed or refined.

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“…Intensive investigation of the cave-dwelling springtails from the Caucasus Mountains began in the 1970s. Nineteen troglobitic taxa were described from Georgian caves, two species from Azerbaijani caves and a single one from North Ossetia (Babenko, 1987;Barjadze et al, 2015Barjadze et al, , 2019Djanaschvili, 1971;Vargovitsh, 2012Vargovitsh, , 2013Vargovitsh, , 2017Vargovitsh, , 2019. Information about cave-recorded Collembola from Georgia is provided in Barjadze et al (2015), while for the Caucasian cave species, it is given in Turbanov et al (2016).…”

Section: His Toric Al Backg Roundmentioning

confidence: 99%

A synthesis on troglobitic springtails in Europe

Fiera

Arbea²,

Vargovitsh

et al. 2021

J Zool Syst Evol Res

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This paper provides an overview on troglobitic springtails found in European caves, including a checklist at species level. The paper also reviews what is currently known about Collembola, which occur in caves of the most important mountain ranges in Europe. Only troglobitic species were included since many troglophiles were of uncertain ecological status. A total of 338 troglobitic species of Collembola is recorded from European caves, distributed across 12 families. Spain and France appear to host the highest richness of species, including endemics. From a biogeographic perspective, troglobitic species are unevenly distributed in Europe, especially in the most important mountain ranges, like the Alps, the Carpathians, the Pyrenees, the Caucasus, and other European mountains. Troglobitic springtails are far more abundant in temperate zones than in the tropics. Despite this, several genera of Collembola appear to be well represented, while some are poorly represented (or lacking) in European caves. Many advances in knowledge of subterranean springtails have been made, particularly in the description of new species. However, there are still major gaps in the knowledge of the biology, environmental requirements, and impacts on subterranean fauna. This paper highlights the need for further research and provides baseline data for such efforts.

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The hypogean invertebrate fauna of Georgia (Caucasus)

Cited by 13 publications

References 19 publications

Insights on the Existence of Ancient Glacial Refugee in the Northern Black/Azov Sea Lowland, with the Description of the First Stygobiotic Microcrustacean Species of the Genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 from the Mouth of the Don River

Insights on the Existence of Ancient Glacial Refugee in the Northern Black/Azov Sea Lowland, with the Description of the First Stygobiotic Microcrustacean Species of the Genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 from the Mouth of the Don River

Diversity and distribution of the millipedes (Diplopoda) of Georgia, Caucasus

A synthesis on troglobitic springtails in Europe

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