Naslov
Karstification as a major trigger for diversification in pseudoscorpions in Dinaric Karst

Autori
Hlebec, Dora

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Skup
22nd International Congress of Arachnology

Mjesto i datum
Montevideo, Urugvaj, 05.03.2023. - 11.03.2023

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Dinaric Karst, pseudoscorpions, taxonomy, systematics

Sažetak
Western Balkans’s Dinaric Karst is one of the major biodiversity hotspots, containing a plethora ofendemic taxa in both surface and subterranean habitats. Pseudoscorpions are one of the most abundant and diverse invertebrate lineages in both environs, but evolutionary processes leading to high diversification rates remain unknown. Moreover, the present state of their taxonomy is highly problematic because type specimens are either lost or deposited in private collections, thereby slowing down, or even completely preventing taxonomic work. We examined 2208 specimens collected from 435 localities in the Dinaric Karst and generated molecular data including two gene fragments: mitochondrial COI for 499 specimens, and nuclear 28S for 96 divergent haplotypes within the megadiverse families Chthoniidae and Neobisiidae to reveal patterns of genetic diversity ; construct the first evolutionary trees of Croatian pseudoscorpions ; and test the monophyly of endemic species and genera described from the Dinaric Karst. Several species delimitation methods were used to examine concordance between sequence clustering and traditional taxonomy. Preliminary data indicate incipient speciation supported with low optimal thresholds (OTs), overlooked cryptic diversity and the presence of undescribed species, while occurrence in karstic microhabitats promotes speciation and endemism in families Chthoniidae and Neobisiidae, but not in Chernetidae that appears less speciose than the former. Our study forms the baseline for in-depth taxonomic studies that focus on biogeography and evolutionary patterning for taxa from the Dinaric Karst.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

POVEZANOST RADA