engleski

Molecular phylogeny of the subterranean genus Verhoeffiella (Collembola, Entomobryidae)

Subterranean genus Verhoeffiella occurs in five discontiguous karstic regions throughout Europe: Dinarides, Jakupica in North Macedonia, South-eastern Calcareous Alps, Southern Catalonia and Cordillera Cantabrica. This disjunct distribution challenges the monophyly of the genus and questions the scenarios of its origin and colonization. In the molecular phylogenetic framework we tested the monophyly of Verhoeffiella and explored its relationship with the surface and presumably related genus Heteromurus. Further, using species delimitation methods and time divergence estimation, we explored hidden diversity and temporal diversification of the genus. Our results show that both genera, Verhoeffiella and Heteromurus, are paraphyletic, while species delimitation methods revealed overlooked diversity and increased molecular divergence. We identified 79 MOTUs of Verhoeffiella in Dinarides, which is seven times more than the number of nominal species. In addition, we identified more than 30 MOTUs of troglophilic species Heteromurus nitidus. When placed on the time scale, events triggering the diversification were linked to the Messinian Salinity Crisis and Pleistocene climatic shifts. The combination of this extensive subterranean diversification and close evolutionary links with epigean relatives makes Verhoeffiella an exceptional case within the subterranean fauna of Dinarides.

cave Collembola ; Dinarides ; molecular phylogeny

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