engleski

Explosive evolution of pseudoscorpions in Croatia

Dinaric Karst is a global biodiversity hotspot containing a plethora of endemic taxa that evolved in this glacial refugium of the southeastern Europe. Phylogenetic approaches revealed deep genetic divergences between species and populations in many lineages that occur in these karst habitats. This genetic diversity is mostly caused by a complex palaeographic history, habitat heterogeneity and extraordinary climatic variation. Pseudoscorpions are one of the most diverse arachnid lineages in Croatia with 144 described species. Genera Neobisium and Chthonius are especially diverse. Many species have been described from Dinaric Karst in the last 30 years. The present state of taxonomy is highly problematic because many species descriptions are poor, type specimens lost or part of private collections, and type localities are often vague. We morphologically examined 2197 specimens mostly collected in collaboration with Croatian Biospeleological Society and sequenced two genes, COI for 502 specimens and 28S for 96 specimens. Our results show correlation between morphological variability and genetic diversity within pseudoscorpion species in the Dinaric Karst and form the baseline for a sound taxonomic framework needed for studies that focus on biogeography or evolutionary patterning. Preliminary COI barcoding data (part of the project DNA barcoding of Croatian faunal biodiversity, funded by Croatian Science Foundation) indicate a high level of intraspecific variability and the presence of several cryptic and/or undescribed species and one undescribed genus (family Chernetidae). The results so far highlight the need for testing the validity of species described from the Dinaric Karst using a multi-gene phylogenetic approach and specimens from type localities. Furthermore, it is necessary to identify hotspots of subterranean biodiversity at the genetic level, thereby facilitating the protection of endemic pseudoscorpion species and their subterranean habitats.

Biodiversity hotspot ; pseudoscorpions ; Dinaric Karst

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