The stenoendemic cave-dwelling planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) of the Italian Alps and Apennines: Conservation issues

Manenti, Raoul; Barzaghi, Benedetta; Lana, Enrico; Stocchino, Giacinta Angela; Manconi, Renata; Lunghi, Enrico

doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2018.08.001

Cited by 22 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 52 publications

(64 reference statements)

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“…Dendrocoelum planarians are predators of annelid, crustaceans, and other invertebrates [66,67]; very few studies are available for subterranean species and there is lack of ecological information on factors favoring their abundance and distribution. Only a few cave species with very narrow ranges are currently known in Italy [42]. Dendrocoelum planarians, when fire salamander larvae occur, can be considered as mesopredator; our data suggests however that the effect of fire salamander larvae is similar in planarians, Niphargus, and detritivore Monolistra as well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…In the study area, Monolistra crustaceans include different species that occupy different distinct karst areas; we investigated caves in the range of M. pavani, M. bergomas, and M. julia. Only a limited number of planarians of the genus Dendrocoelum are currently described for Italian caves [42], and during our investigations we have recorded a higher number of localities at which these flatworms occur.…”

Section: Sampling Designmentioning

confidence: 59%

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Do Salamanders Limit the Abundance of Groundwater Invertebrates in Subterranean Habitats?

et al. 2020

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Several species of surface salamanders exploit underground environments; in Europe, one of the most common is the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra). In this study, we investigated if fire salamander larvae occurring in groundwater habitats can affect the abundance of some cave-adapted species. We analyzed the data of abundance of three target taxa (genera Niphargus (Amphipoda; Niphargidae), Monolistra (Isopoda; Sphaeromatidae) and Dendrocoelum (Tricladida; Dedrocoelidae)) collected in 386 surveys performed on 117 sites (pools and distinct subterranean stream sectors), within 17 natural and 24 artificial subterranean habitats, between 2012 and 2019. Generalized linear mixed models were used to assess the relationship between target taxa abundance, fire salamander larvae occurrence, and environmental features. The presence of salamander larvae negatively affected the abundance of all the target taxa. Monolistra abundance was positively related with the distance from the cave entrance of the sites and by their surface. Our study revealed that surface salamanders may have a negative effect on the abundance of cave-adapted animals, and highlited the importance of further investigations on the diet and on the top-down effects of salamanders on the subterranean communities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

Section: Sampling Designmentioning

confidence: 59%

Do Salamanders Limit the Abundance of Groundwater Invertebrates in Subterranean Habitats?

et al. 2020

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“…For many years, organisms that are strongly adapted to subterranean environments have been key models for understanding evolutionary mechanisms (Romero 2011;Culver and Pipan 2014;Manenti et al 2018). Taxa that are usually epigean but show some periods of subterranean activity, or have some populations colonising subterranean habitats, can be particularly important to understand the complex processes occurring during adaptation to these extreme environments (Manenti et al 2011;Lunghi et al 2017).…”

Section: ; Balazsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Switching from mesopredator to apex predator: how do responses vary in amphibians adapted to cave living?

Manenti¹,

Melotto²,

Guillaume³

et al. 2020

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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The effective detection of both prey and predators is pivotal for the survival of mesopredators. However, the condition of being a mesopredator is strongly context dependent. Here we focus on two aquatic caudate species that have colonised caves: the Pyrenean newt (Calotriton asper) and the olm (Proteus anguinus). The former maintains both surface and subterranean populations, while only cave-adapted populations of the latter exist. Both species are apex predators in underground waterbodies, while the Pyrenean newt is a mesopredator in surface waterbodies. Shifting to a higher level of the trophic web through colonising caves may promote the loss of anti-predator response against surface apex predators, and an increase in the ability to detect prey. To test these two non-exclusive hypotheses, we integrated classical behavioural characterisations with a novel approach: the assessment of lateralisation (i.e. preference for one body side exposure). Behavioural experiments were performed using laboratory-reared individuals. We performed 684 trials on 39 Pyrenean newts and eight olms. Under darkness and light conditions, we tested how exposure to different chemical cues (predatory fish, prey and unknown scent) affected individuals’ activity and lateralisation. Both cave and surface Pyrenean newts responded to predator cues, while olms did not. In Pyrenean newts, predator cues reduced the time spent in movement and time spent in lateralisation associated with hunting. Our results show that predator recognition is maintained in a species where recently separated populations inhabit environments lacking of higher predators, while such behaviour tends to be lost in populations with longer history of adaptation. Significance statement Predator recognition can be maintained in animals adapted to predator free habitats, but varies with their history of adaptation. Species that are not at the apex of the food web can become top predators if they colonise subterranean environments. We compared the behavioural responses of the olm, a strictly cave species with a long underground evolutionary history, and of the Pyrenean newt, a facultative cave species that also has stream-dwelling populations. Moreover, we integrated a classical behavioural characterisation, such as movement detection, with a novel approach: the assessment of lateralisation. While olms do not respond to external predators scent, cave-dwelling newts still recognise it. This clearly indicates that predator recognition is still maintained in species that have colonised predator-free environments more recently.

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“…From a geological point of view, several types of subterranean environments exist (e.g., natural and artificial caves, shallow subterranean environments sensu [7], small fissures and interstices, etc.) and each one can host a unique set of organisms, from bacteria and fungi to invertebrate and vertebrate species, that are often geographically restricted and numerically rare [55][56][57]. Improving the knowledge on subterranean communities will allow an increase in the effectiveness of conservation plans towards single cave species as well as the entire ecosystem [56,58,59].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…and each one can host a unique set of organisms, from bacteria and fungi to invertebrate and vertebrate species, that are often geographically restricted and numerically rare [55][56][57]. Improving the knowledge on subterranean communities will allow an increase in the effectiveness of conservation plans towards single cave species as well as the entire ecosystem [56,58,59]. Indeed, conservation plans towards key species will have a cascade of positive effects on the entire ecosystem [60,61].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cave Communities: From the Surface Border to the Deep Darkness

Lunghi

Manenti

2020

Diversity

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The discipline of subterranean biology has provided us incredible information on the diversity, ecology and evolution of species living in different typologies of subterranean habitats. However, a general lack of information on the relationships between cave species still exists, leaving uncertainty regarding the dynamics that hold together cave communities and the roles of specific organisms (from the least to the most adapted species) for the community, as well as the entire ecosystem. This Special Issue aims to stimulate and gather studies which are focusing on cave communities belonging to all different typologies of subterranean habitats, with the overarching goal to corroborate the key role of the subterranean biology in ecological and evolutionary studies.

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The stenoendemic cave-dwelling planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) of the Italian Alps and Apennines: Conservation issues

Cited by 22 publications

References 52 publications

Do Salamanders Limit the Abundance of Groundwater Invertebrates in Subterranean Habitats?

Do Salamanders Limit the Abundance of Groundwater Invertebrates in Subterranean Habitats?

Switching from mesopredator to apex predator: how do responses vary in amphibians adapted to cave living?

Cave Communities: From the Surface Border to the Deep Darkness

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