The Racovitzan impediment and the hidden biodiversity of unexplored environments

Ficetola, Gentile Francesco; Canedoli, Claudia; Stoch, Fabio

doi:10.1111/cobi.13179

Cited by 93 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 16 publications

(21 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The high interest in subterranean environments and its biota is often related to the peculiar study-cases offered to taxonomists, ecologists, and evolutionary biologists [6]. Indeed, subterranean environments have represented (and still represent) a source of unknown and bizarre organisms that help understanding adaptation and evolution in extreme environments [7][8][9]. The appearance of troglomorphic characters (e.g., reduction in pigmentation, anophthalmia, and elongation of appendages) is related to the peculiar ecological conditions of subterranean environments, which are very different from those found in any surface ones [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are the Neglected Tipuloidea Crane Flies (Diptera) an Important Component for Subterranean Environments?

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Usually, biospeleological studies focus on cave-specialist taxa showing strong adaptation to the subterranean environment, as their unusual morphological and ecological features represent intriguing case studies. On the other hand, species occurring in subterranean environments but without marked adaptations have been generally overlooked, probably because they are thought to be accidental and not very important for the ecosystem. Particularly exemplificative is the case of Tipuloidea crane flies (Diptera), which although abundant, are rarely considered in biospeleological studies. Here, by analyzing the crane fly occupancy, we observed that individuals occur within the shallowest areas of subterranean environments throughout the year, with a peak of presence during hot season. Crane flies occupy dark and warm areas close to the connection with surface and with smoother walls. Furthermore, we observed that the presence of crane flies is positively related to the abundance and the richness of cave predators, highlighting their importance for the sustainment of the local community. With this study we aim to stimulate future researches on these important, but still neglected cave species.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are the Neglected Tipuloidea Crane Flies (Diptera) an Important Component for Subterranean Environments?

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Secondly, given that a vast portion of the subterranean domain is not directly accessible, it is not always possible to achieve a holistic perception of the study system ('Racovitzan impediment' sensu Ficetola et al 2018b). In other words, it is not possible to account for the interactions that inevitably exit between the cave, the network of fissures and the surface environments with which they interact (Romero 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Finding answers in the dark: caves as models in ecology fifty years after Poulson and White

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The use of semi-isolated habitats such as oceanic islands, lakes and mountain summits as model systems has played a crucial role in the development of evolutionary and ecological theory. Soon after the discovery of life in caves, different pioneering authors similarly recognized the great potential of these peculiar habitats as biological model systems. In their 1969 paper in Science, 'The cave environment', Poulson and White discussed how caves can be used as natural laboratories in which to study the underlying principles governing the dynamics of more complex environments. Together with other seminal syntheses published at the time, this work contributed to establishing the conceptual foundation for expanding the scope and relevance of cave-based studies. Fifty years after, the aim of this review is to show why and how caves and other subterranean habitats can be used as eco-evolutionary laboratories. Recent advances and directions in different areas are provided, encompassing community ecology, trophicwebs and ecological networks, conservation biology, macroecology and climate change biology. Special emphasis is given to discuss how caves are only part of the extended network of fissures and cracks that permeate most substrates and, thus, their ecological role as habitat islands is critically discussed. Numerous studies have quantified the relative contribution of abiotic, biotic and historical factors in driving species distributions and community turnovers in space and time, from local to regional scales. Conversely, knowledge of macroecological patterns of subterranean organisms at a global scale remains largely elusive, due to major geographical and taxonomical biases. Also, knowledge regarding subterranean trophic webs and the effect of anthropogenic climate change on deep subterranean ecosystems is still limited. In these research fields, the extensive use of novel molecular and statistical tools may hold promise for quickly producing relevant information not accessible hitherto.

show abstract

“…To acquire data for conservation purposes of the vast majority of invertebrates is extremely difficult, if not impossible, due to impediments such as (1) invertebrates and the high relevance of their ecological services are largely ignored by the public (social problem); (2) politicians and stakeholders are not informed about the problems of invertebrate conservation (political problem); (3) basic research and funding on invertebrates is insufficient (scientific problem); (4) most species remain unknown (Linnaean shortfall); (5) their distributions as described are poorly understood or unknown (Wallacean shortfall); (6) the number of populations and their variation in time and space is unknown (Prestonian shortfall); and (7) lifestyles and sensitivity to environmental changes are mostly unknown (Hutchinsonian shortfall) [102]. Recently the "Racovitzan shortfall" [103] has been added to explain the limits to collecting and discovering GW species. For these reasons, the development of international research programs for the less known invertebrate biodiversity is extremely important.…”

Section: Freshwater Habitat Type Biodiversity and Ecological Featuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics, Main Impacts, and Stewardship of Natural and Artificial Freshwater Environments: Consequences for Biodiversity Conservation

Cantonati

Poikāne

Pringle

et al. 2020

Water

135

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this overview (introductory article to a special issue including 14 papers), we consider all main types of natural and artificial inland freshwater habitas (fwh). For each type, we identify the main biodiversity patterns and ecological features, human impacts on the system and environmental issues, and discuss ways to use this information to improve stewardship. Examples of selected key biodiversity/ecological features (habitat type): narrow endemics, sensitive (groundwater and GDEs); crenobionts, LIHRes (springs); unidirectional flow, nutrient spiraling (streams); naturally turbid, floodplains, large-bodied species (large rivers); depth-variation in benthic communities (lakes); endemism and diversity (ancient lakes); threatened, sensitive species (oxbow lakes, SWE); diverse, reduced littoral (reservoirs); cold-adapted species (Boreal and Arctic fwh); endemism, depauperate (Antarctic fwh); flood pulse, intermittent wetlands, biggest river basins (tropical fwh); variable hydrologic regime—periods of drying, flash floods (arid-climate fwh). Selected impacts: eutrophication and other pollution, hydrologic modifications, overexploitation, habitat destruction, invasive species, salinization. Climate change is a threat multiplier, and it is important to quantify resistance, resilience, and recovery to assess the strategic role of the different types of freshwater ecosystems and their value for biodiversity conservation. Effective conservation solutions are dependent on an understanding of connectivity between different freshwater ecosystems (including related terrestrial, coastal and marine systems).

show abstract

The Racovitzan impediment and the hidden biodiversity of unexplored environments

Abstract: Article impact statement: Biodiversity of unexplored and unmapped environments cannot be conserved until they have been described, mapped, and analyzed.

Cited by 93 publications

References 16 publications

Are the Neglected Tipuloidea Crane Flies (Diptera) an Important Component for Subterranean Environments?

Are the Neglected Tipuloidea Crane Flies (Diptera) an Important Component for Subterranean Environments?

Finding answers in the dark: caves as models in ecology fifty years after Poulson and White

Characteristics, Main Impacts, and Stewardship of Natural and Artificial Freshwater Environments: Consequences for Biodiversity Conservation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About