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To reduce the population of the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera: Culicidae), a mosquito control campaign was organized by five Slovenian municipalities in 2020. The campaign focused on the application of Aquatain AMFTM in public water containers. The main objective of our study was to test the efficacy of the agent by directly testing the water drains for mosquito larvae and monitoring the density of the mosquito population. The drains were inspected before and after the application of the product from May to September. A water sample was taken from the drains using a dipper. For mosquito monitoring, the number of mosquito eggs and adult mosquitoes was counted from June to October. Up to two weeks after the application of the product, we observed the lethal effect of Aquatain on mosquito larvae, pupae and adult mosquitoes. After rainfall, the product was washed away and the live mosquitoes were sampled in the inspected water drains. The average number of eggs collected per site was twice as high in the area without mosquito control as in the threated locations. Nevertheless, we assessed the mosquito control campaign as partially successful, as mosquito abundance was still high in the locations with mosquito control. However, we believe that this is a good starting point and that mosquito control should be continued in the future together with the citizen education campaign.

Saproxylic beetles are a diverse and predominant functional group that depend on dead or dying wood. We studied a population of two saproxylic longhorn beetles Rosalia alpina and Morimus asper funereus in a system of 12 potentially suitable habitat patches in a forest reserve in Triglav National Park, Slovenia. For each species we determined demographic parameters, dispersal, and microhabitat preference. We marked 68 individuals of M. a. funereus, 27 individuals of R. alpina. The best-fitting MARK model for M. a. funereus suggested the presence of two groups with different capture probabilities, probably a larger group of non-territorial males and females with lower capture probability, and a smaller group (1–13% of the population) of territorial males with higher capture probability. The total population size was estimated to be about 208 individuals (95% confidence interval 118–462) of M. a. funereus. For R. alpina, estimation of population size was not possible due to scarce recaptures. We detected several short-distance movements (maximum 34 m) for M. a. funereus and rare but longer movements for R. alpina (maximum 457 m). A preference for dead (preferred by R. alpina) or decaying (preferred by M. a. funereus) beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) with large diameters was observed for both species. Implications for insect conservation: Forest reserves with negligible human impact and an abundance of old, intact trees are important for the successful life cycle of both species studied, even more so when both competing species occur together.

We investigated the presence and ecology of Chirocephalus croaticus (Steuer, 1899) during three successive seasons (spring and autumn 2018, spring 2019) at Lake Petelinje (SW Slovenia). Although the presence (duration, abundance) of this fairy shrimp strongly differs among different seasons and both years, we showed that in a season with favourable conditions (spring 2018) its abundance increases rapidly at the end of the season as the shrimps persist in small pools until the water dries out. The species may appear again during the autumn, however, its abundance and persistence seem to be much lower and shorter than during the spring, respectively. Nevertheless, persistence and abundance may also differ strongly among the two successive spring seasons (less shrimps found during the shorter season of 2019 than in 2018). Larvae appear first, and are most abundant at the beginning of the season, and are followed by adult males (protandry) and females, which become most abundant at the end of the season. Also, larvae seem to be more abundant on exposed bottom (gravel path), while adults are much more abundant in the shelter of a submerged meadow. Ovigerous females had 9-37 cysts (fertilized eggs) in their brood pouch, and the position of differently developed eggs changed during the season; the presence of females without eggs during mid- and at the end of season indicates the production of thin-shelled summer, and thick-shelled winter cysts, respectively. In contrast with the water decrease that is in strongly negative association with the abundance of the fairy shrimps (lake size — abundance: , ), no other environmental parameters were highly associated () with species abundance. Although the local population (one of only two currently known) seems to be in good condition, appropriate conservation action should be taken to prevent the decrease of this population in the future.

In a local community of closely related species exploiting the same food source its abundance as a strong selective pressure directs the ecological niche partitioning that can be mirrored in different life-history traits. In dung beetles (Scarabaeoidea) that feed on patchy and timely limited excrements of large vertebrates, competition is mirrored in their specific adaptations in behaviour and morphology. In a local community from Slovenia, we sought for a morphological variation of 36 morphological traits in 28 dung beetle species belonging to two families (Scarabaeidae, Geotrupidae) that can be linked to their evolutionary background (family, subfamily, tribe, species) and their life style (i.e. nesting behaviour: rollers, dwellers, tunnelers). We showed that morphological traits specific for each ecomorphological group reflect the functional adaptations to their life strategies of nesting behaviour, but also phylogenetic (family, subfamily) membership. The unique combinations of evolutionary background and same life styles within/among different phylogenetic lineages (families, subfamilies, tribes) revealed the morphological traits that are a result of different evolutionary scenarios (convergences/divergences between members of different/same phylogenetic lineage with same/different life nesting behaviour). At least four (Aphodiinae – dwellers, Geotrupinae – tunnelers, Scarabaeinae – tunnelers, Scarabaeinae – rollers) ecomorphological groups were recognised from a local community, but an existence of a possible fifth group represented by Coprimorphus scrutator of Aphodiinae indicates that the ecomorphological differentiation exists also at a smaller scale. Finally, by the quantification of gaps in morphological space between the pairs of defined ecomorphological groups we showed that the guild membership overrides the family/subfamily membership in a light of ecomorphological adaptations to specific nesting behaviours.

Maintenance of traditional cultural landscapes largely depends on traditional agricultural practices, which are nowadays in decline as a result of increasingly intensive and mechanised land use. Losing traditional practices may result in impoverishing of picturesque mosaic landscape and biodiversity. This research focuses on land-use changes in two time periods (2002–2008; 2013–2016) and effects of changes reflecting on populations of critically endangered butterfly. False Ringlet, Coenonympha oedippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), is a habitat specialist, which in Slovenia inhabits two geographically distinct contrasting habitats – dry meadows in south-western and wetlands in central Slovenia. We compared nine environmental parameters to assess environmental differences, which shape species habitat; seven parameters significantly differ among the four geographical regions and five among the two habitat types. Four parameters significantly differ (i.e. at least in two regions) when tested for homogeneity, while in dry habitat type all (except slope) were significant and none in wet habitat. Changes in land use in two studied periods lit up two processes: transformation of meadows into agricultural land and overgrowing of the meadows, both processes affecting species severely. We believe that maintaining of traditional landscapes in future could serve as a good conservation practice for this endangered species.

The new troglobiotic shrimp Ficticaris serbica, gen. nov., sp. nov., Atyidae, was found in northern part of the Balkan Peninsula within a vast territory between the Dinaric Karst (on the north-western part of the Balkan Peninsula) and the Caucasus, a disjunct gap of Troglocaris distribution. No other epigean or hypogean decapod shrimps were known from the area. A combined morphological and molecular data were used for its description from the only locality in central Eastern Serbia (Vrelo Krupaja). This new cave shrimp species with a short unarmed rostrum lacks eye or body pigmentation, and can be easily distinguished from any other atyid genus and species by a combination of unique morphological characters, among which (1) the concave posterior margin of the telson, (2) maxilliped I exopodite with no trace of a flagellum, (3) maxilliped III and (4) all pereopods without exopodites, are the most striking. The taxonomic status of the genus within the family Atyidae together with the unique taxonomical traits in Ficticaris are discussed. Among these traits, the telson that has been neglected until now, has shown some taxonomically important characters within Atyidae.

We investigated morphological variation and sexual dimorphism in two species of syntopic cave crickets (Troglophilus neglectus and T. cavicola) from Northern Balkans. T. cavicola is able to penetrate deeper in caves and stays there for longer periods than T. neglectus. Yet, it has not exhibited clearly stronger constructive (body size, elongation of appendages, increased spinulation) or reductive (eye reduction) traits than T. neglectus. Moreover, contrary to expectation, there is no clear association between more prolonged staying in a stable cave environment and overall lower morphological variability in T. cavicola. Only some of its morphological traits actually showed less while other showed more variation than in T. neglectus. While T. cavicola males are larger than females, there is no such difference in T. neglectus. This may help males of T. cavicola being more competitive towards overall larger T. neglectus. With the exception of the body size, overall sexual dimorphism was better expressed in larger T. neglectus. The morphospaces occupied by males and females overlap more strongly in T. cavicola than in T. neglectus, indicating that ecological niches of both sexes are better separated in the latter species.

The Slovenian False Ringlet Coenonympha oedippus populations are under serious threat, as in the last two decades have witnessed a sharp decline in population distribution and size due to destruction, fragmentation and/or habitat quality degradation through intensive agriculture, abandonment of use and urbanization. We investigated the genetic diversity and structure of C. oedippus from the entire range of the species in Slovenia. Our results showed that the genetic variation in the Slovenian C. oedippus populations agrees with the geographical structure and the ecotypes previously determined by morphological and ecological data. We confirmed the existence of four genetically divergent and spatially non-overlapping geographical groups (Istria, Karst, Gorica, Ljubljansko barje) and two ecotypes ("wet" and "dry"). Despite small sample sizes due to critically threatened species, the results indicated significant nuclear and mitochondrial genetic diversity within the spatial groups. By gaining new insights into the evolutionary history of the C. oedippus population, we have recommended to consider the Slovenian population as one Evolutionary Significant Unit, and four spatial populations as Management Units for conservation purposes.

Five decades ago, a landmark paper in Science titled The Cave Environment heralded caves as ideal natural experimental laboratories in which to develop and address general questions in geology, ecology, biogeography, and evolutionary biology. Although the 'caves as laboratory' paradigm has since been advocated by subterranean biologists, there are few examples of studies that successfully translated their results into general principles. The contemporary era of big data, modelling tools, and revolutionary advances in genetics and (meta)genomics provides an opportunity to revisit unresolved questions and challenges, as well as examine promising new avenues of research in subterranean biology. Accordingly, we have developed a roadmap to guide future research endeavours in subterranean biology by adapting a well-established methodology of 'horizon scanning' to identify the highest priority research questions across six subject areas. Based on the expert opinion of 30 scientists from around the globe with complementary expertise and of different academic ages, we assembled an initial list of 258 fundamental questions concentrating on macroecology and microbial ecology, adaptation, evolution, and conservation. Subsequently, through online surveys, 130 subterranean biologists with various backgrounds assisted us in reducing our list to 50 top-priority questions. These research questions are broad in scope and ready to be addressed in the next decade. We believe this exercise will stimulate research towards a deeper understanding of subterranean biology and foster hypothesis-driven studies likely to resonate broadly from the traditional boundaries of this field. S.M acknowledge support by the CAWEB project “Testing macroecological theory using simplified systems”, funded by the European Commission through Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) individual fellowships (Grant no. 882221). I.R.A. was supported by Portuguese funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the Norma Transitória – DL57/2016/ CP1375/CT0003. D.E. was supported by IFREMER and by the CERES “Climate change and European Aquatic Resources” project funded by European Commission through Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant no. 678193). C.F., Z.F., and M.Z. were supported by the Slovenian Research Agency (program P1-0184, project N1-0069). J.E.K. was funded by NSF awards DEB1754231 and IOS1933428, and EDGE award 1923372. F.M. was supported by the French National Research Agency projects CONVERGENOMICS (ANR-15-CE32-0005) and EUR H2O’Lyon (ANR-17-EURE-0018). A.M. was supported by the ANCAVE project “Anchialine caves to understand evolutionary processes”, funded by the European Commission through Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) individual fellowships (Grant no. 745530). P.A.V.B. was supported by the project AZORESBIOPORTAL – PORBIOTA (ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000072), financed by FEDER in 85% and by Azorean Public funds by 15% through Operational Program Azores 2020. A.S.P.S.R. was supported by VILLUM FONDEN (Grant no. 15471) and by a Carlsbergfondet grant (CF19-0609). T.G.P. was supported by Vale S.A. and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) for individual fellowship (RDP 00092-18). T.P. was supported by the Karst Research Programme P6-0119, LifeWatch ERIC, RI-SI LifeWatch, and EU H2020 project eLTER. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Salinity is a limiting factor for many invertebrates, especially for Odonata which are typically associated with freshwater ecosystems. In Europe, 15 Odonata species inhabit brackish wetlands and only few detailed data on their tolerance towards salinity are available. We investigated Odonata fauna in 11 sampling stations situated in three estuarine areas (northern Adriatic coastline) which differed in salinity conditions (freshwater- polyhaline habitats) in order to assess affinity of Odonata species to brackish habitats and to describe their distribution pattern in coastal wetlands. Adults, exuviae (the remains of the exoskeleton after the last larval instar), and the main chemical and physical water parameters were sampled every 2 weeks for 1 year in each station. In total, 25 species were detected and 56% of them were able to complete their life cycle in brackish water environments. Our results showed that freshwater and oligohaline ponds were the most favorable for dragonflies, with an overall higher species richness. There was a high species turnover along the salinity gradient, with a strong differentiation among the communities along the gradient. Considering the exuviae, we observed a high specificity with respect to the habitat conditions (seven species exclusive of freshwater sites and six of oligohaline ones, respectively). Among the adults, four species were found exclusively in freshwater habitats and no species seemed to be strictly connected with oligohaline habitats. Coastal wetlands are composed by a mosaic of different habitats especially when freshwater and seawater are close together, supporting many Odonata species with different tolerance toward salinity conditions. They also provide useful insights for conservation and management actions.

We studied a population of the regionally endangered marsh fritillary butterfly Euphydryas aurinia inhabiting a system of loosely connected dry calcareous grasslands in sub-Mediterranean Slovenia. Our goal was to set the basis for a long-term monitoring of this butterfly in four meadows using mark-release-recapture (MRR). We determined its demographic parameters, dispersal, behaviour and utilization of nectar plants in different quality patches. Total population size was estimated to be approximately 347 males (95% confidence interval: 262-432) and 326 females (95% confidence interval: 250-402), with an unbiased sex ratio. The average lifespans were 6.3 and 8.6 days, respectively. Daily population sizes followed a parabola with marked protandry. Both sexes were relatively highly mobile with both occasionally moving over half a kilometre. The spatial distribution of animals seemed to be associated with patch size, host plant densities and nectar sources, resulting in much higher population densities in the largest patch. Adult behaviour differed between the sexes, with females resting more and flying less than males. Behaviour also changed during daytime and with the progression of the season. Adults were confirmed to be opportunistic feeders, since as many as ten nectar sources were detected. We conclude that demographic parameters differ greatly among regions and habitats, thus conservation aims should be planned accordingly. Although the population studied is apparently in good condition, there are threats that may hamper the long-term persistence of the species in this area: succession, intensification of mowing and overgrazing.

At the southern limit of its range the endangered butterfly Coenonympha oedippus inhabits grasslands (wet, dry) that differ significantly in the abundance of its larval hostplants (wet > dry) and mean annual air temperature (wet < dry). We determined the difference in the wing morphology of individuals in the two contrasting habitats to test whether and how traits associated with wing size, shape and eye like spots vary in the sexes and two ecotypes. We show that sexual dimorphism follows the same (wing size and shape, number of eyespots on forewing) or different (relative area of eyespots on hindwings) patterns in the two contrasting habitats. Irrespective of ecotype, females had larger, longer and narrower wings, and more forewing eyespots than males. Sexual dimorphism in the relative area of eyespots on hindwing was female-biased in the wet, but male-biased in the dry ecotype. Ecotype dimorphism in wing size and the relative area of eyespots on the hindwing is best explained by mean annual air temperature and abundance of host-plants. While ecotype dimorphism in wing size did not differ between sexes, neither in direction (wet > dry) or in degree, in the two sexes the relative area of eyespots on hindwing had opposite patterns (males: dry > wet; females: wet > dry) and was more pronounced in males than in females. The differences in wing shape between ecotypes were detected only in the hindwings of males, with more rounded apex in the dry than in the wet ecotype. We discuss the life-history traits, behavioural strategies and selection mechanisms, which largely account for the sex- and ecotype-specific variation in wing morphology.

We studied seasonal abundance, vertical distribution and life history traits of the Mediterranean mud shrimp (Upogebia pusilla) in the mediolittoral zone in Slovenia. At two localities (Strunjan and Lazaret), quantitative samples from three plots (1 m2 each) at (0 cm), below (-50 cm) and above (+50 cm) mean water level were taken once every two months, in alternation. A set of parameters was also recorded, including vegetation cover, sediment type, air and sea temperature, pH, salinity and oxygen levels. Highest abundance was recorded during the warm period of the year, with peak abundance in June 2012 (21 % of total sample). Lowest plots were always occupied with the highest densities of mud shrimps. Males dominated during the winter while ovigerous females reached the peak in June (>40 % of all animals). In June at least 2/3 of females were ovigerous. Estimated mean incubation period was 31 days. We determined four periods in relation to the species’ reproductive activity. Early reproductive period (April) was characterised by emergence of first ovigerous females, while main reproductive period (May–July) was characterised by peak of reproduction. In post-reproductive (August–October), and non-reproductive (November–March) periods, no ovigerous females or newly hatched offspring were recorded., Istraživali smo sezonsku zastupljenost, vertikalnu raspodjelu i povijesne životne osobitosti Mediteranskog karlića (Upogebia pusilla) u Sloveniji. Na dva lokaliteta (Strunjan i Lazaret) izmjenično su uzeti jednom u dva mjeseca kvantitativni uzorci sa tri parcele (svaki 1 m2 ) na (0 cm), ispod (-50 cm) i iznad (+50 cm) srednje razine vode. Također je zabilježen skup parametara, uključujući vegetacijsku pokrivenost, vrstu sedimenta, temperaturu zraka i mora, pH, salinitet i razinukisika. Najveća zastupljenost zabilježena je tijekom toplog razdoblja godine i to u lipnju 2012 godine (21% ukupnog uzorka). Najviša gustoća karlića bila je zabilježena na najnižim parcelama. Mužjaci su prevladavali tijekom zime dok je najveći broj ovigerih ženki zabilježen u lipnju (>40% svih životinja, ili 2/3 svih ženki u lipnju). Procjenjeni srednji inkubacijski period bio je 31 dan. Utvrdili smo četiri razdoblja u vezi sa reproduktivnom aktivnosti ove vrste. Rano razdoblje reprodukcije bilo je obilježeno pojavom prvih ovigerih ženki u travnju, dok je za vrhunac reprodukcije obilježen reproduktivni period travanj-srpanj. U post-reproduktivnom (kolovoz-listopad) i ne-reproduktivnom periodu (studeni-ožujak) nisu bile zabilježene ovigere ženke ili juvenilne životinje.

In this study we assessed microhabitat and host plant preferences of Aporia crataegi (Linne 1758) larvae in the field. The study was conducted in the submediterranean part of Slovenia, at the edge of the limestone region Kraski rob, where this species is widespread. The larvae were most abundant on blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L.) and the common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.), and infrequent on the rosehip (Rosa sp.) and rock cherry (Prunus mahaleb L.). Smaller shrubs with greater exposure to sun appeared to be preferred and larvae constructed their nests on outer branches of plants. The thermophilic nature of larvae was evident by the low and sheltered position of the nests, although in P. spinosa, which is more thermophilic than C. monogyna, they were positioned somewhat higher. As the nests and larvae occur mostly on plants growing in warmer microhabitats, larvae that had overwintered can take advantage of the quicker development of buds and leaves in early spring. The rocky ground below and around the occupied plants was often covered with grass, suggesting the need for cooler and warmer microclimate during hot summers and cold winters with strong winds, respectively. Densities of larvae and nests were positively but non-significantly correlated to density of host plants; however, in later successional stages, where host plants are most abundant, open and sunny microhabitats that can provide opportunities for larvae to warm up are lacking. The revival of the traditional management practices with extensive grazing with late and only occasional mowing may slow down the overgrowing process, leaving spiny host plants abundant and in close proximity to the nectaring sources for the adults.

We studied the demography, movement, behaviour and choice of nectar plants by adults of Aporia crataegi. This study was done in a dense network of different types of habitats (total size of study area 16.26 ha) from open landscape to shrubland, the latter being a result of abandonment of traditional agricultural practices such as extensive mowing and grazing. Total population size was estimated to be approximately 1700 and 2700 for females and males, respectively. Median and maximum distances moved by males were 134 and 3493 m, and by females 138 and 3165 m, respectively. The average lifespan was ca. 7.1 and 7.5 days, with maximum recorded lifespans of 21 and 17 days for males and females, respectively. The greater capture probability recorded for males indicates their high activity, as they spend most of their time in flight patrolling and searching for mates. A parabolic recruitment curve and protandry were also recorded. Both sexes are highly mobile. The spatial distribution of both sexes was roughly similar. The adult behaviour differed in different habitats, with more time spent feeding and resting when nectar plants were plentiful and more time spent flying when they were rare. Although adults utilized nine nectar sources, only two were recorded in over 80% of all the feeding occasions. In order to re-establish open grassland with some shrubland, traditional and mosaic management of the landscape should be revived at least to some extent.

We studied species composition and seasonal co-existence of coprophagous Scarabaeoidea from two study sites in karst meadows in sub-Mediterranean Slovenia. Each site consisted of three habitat patches with different impact of grazing (S1, the active part of the pasture; S2, the overgrown part of the pasture, mainly spiny shrubs; S3, a meadow with some overgrown patches of shrubs outside the fenced pasture). Four pitfall trapping events per month were conducted from March until November to test for temporal, spatial and habitat-related segregation of species. Primary results show a high level of temporal segregation of species within and between the guilds (Aphodiidae – dwellers, Geotrupidae – tunnelers, Scarabaeidae – tunnelers, Scarabaeidae – rollers). Temporal segregation of monthly samples was evident between Aphodiidae – dwellers (most active at the beginning and end of the season, with a month of complete inactivity during hot summer) and Scarabaeidae – tunnelers (present all the time, but with least species and specimens at the beginning and end of season). Intra-guild competition was most prominent for Aphodiidae – dwellers and Geotrupidae – tunnelers, where species show high rate of temporal avoidance to minimize interspecies competition for the same food source. Finally, geographical (site-related) and habitat-related (S1, S2, S3) differences were found in species composition, species richness and abundance, however for the latter two parameters only at habitat level (more species at S1, but higher abundances at S2 and S3). The results imply that the pronounced temporal and spatial segregation facilitate higher biodiversity in space and time, and allow more species to co-exist at the same sites over time.

La importancia de los pastizales seminaturales y la ganadería en el mantenimiento de las comunidades de coleópteros coprófagos (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) en las zonas submediterráneas de Eslovenia Estudiamos la riqueza y la estructura de la comunidad de escarabeoideos coprófagos en dos pastizales (Hrastovlje y Zazid) en la zona submediterránea de Eslovenia. En cada pastizal, analizamos tres fragmentos caracterizados por diferentes grados de pastoreo (S1, la zona activa de pastoreo; S2, la zona de crecimiento del pasto, principalmente arbustos espinosos; y S3, una pradera con algunos fragmentos arbustivos con crecimiento fuera del pastizal vallado). Los resultados principales fueron los siguientes: (1) se muestrearon 29 especies que correspondían aproximadamente a tres cuartas partes de las especies previsiblemente presentes en los dos sitios de estudio; (2) la riqueza y la abundancia de especies en Zazid fueron parecidas en los tres fragmentos; y (3) la riqueza y la abundancia de especies en Hrastovlje (en total y los residentes y los cavadores por separado) fueron más elevadas en S2. En Hrastovlje, los residentes fueron más abundantes en S1. Como se constató que ambos fragmentos de hábitat influían positivamente en la comunidad de coleópteros coprófagos, recomendamos mantener un territorio en mosaico gestionado de forma tradicional., We studied the richness and structure of the coprophagous Scarabaeoidea community in two pastures (Hrastovlje and Zazid) in sub–Mediterranean Slovenia. In each pasture, we examined three habitat patches characterised by different levels of grazing (S1, the active part of the pasture; S2, the overgrown part of the pasture, mainly spiny shrubs; S3, a meadow with some overgrown patches of shrubs outside the fenced pasture). The main results were as follows: (1) 29 species were sampled, corresponding to about three quarters of the species presumably present at the two study sites; (2) species richness and abundance in Zazid are were similar in all three patches; (3) the species richness and abundance in Hrastovlje (in total, and separately for dwellers and tunnelers) were highest in S2. In Hrastovlje, dwellers were most abundant in S1. As the two different habitat patches were shown to positively influence the dung beetle community, we recommend maintaining a traditionally–managed mosaic landscape.

Estimating population size of the cave shrimp Troglocaris anophthalmus (Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea) using mark–release–recapture data.— Population size estimates are lacking for many small cave–dwelling aquatic invertebrates that are vulnerable to groundwater contamination from anthropogenic activities. Here we estimated the population size of freshwater shrimp Troglocaris anophthalmus sontica (Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea) based on mark–release–recapture techniques. The subspecies was investigated in Vipavska jama (Vipava cave), Slovenia, with estimates of sex ratio and age distribution. A high abundance of shrimps was found even after considering the lower limit of the confidence intervals. However, we found no evidence of differences in shrimp abundances between summer and winter. The population was dominated by females. Ease of capture and abundant population numbers indicate that these cave shrimps may be useful as a bioindicator in cave ecosystems.

The turbulent and intricate geology of the Mediterranean region has been responsible for connections, redirections, and interruptions of freshwater systems that have been instrumental in the speciation and distribution of many organisms, including freshwater shrimps. There are 50 species and subspecies currently reported from the freshwater systems of the broader Mediterranean region that belong to 11 genera and three families. Three of these are exotic species that have been introduced to the region’s ecosystems from elsewhere. The majority of species of Mediterranean freshwater shrimps belong to the Atyidae, followed by the Palaemonidae, and the Typhlocarididae, and most species have a very restricted distributional range. Among the three Mediterranean Peninsulas, the Balkan Peninsula fosters the highest biodiversity and is the species hotspot within the region. Subterranean (hypogean) and surface (epigean) habitats of the broader Mediterranean region are equally dwelled by shrimps. Currently 14 native species of freshwater shrimps are assessed by the IUCN Red List as threatened with extinction from increased freshwater ecosystem degradation which underlines the urgent need for conservation action.

Three Dinaric subgenera of cave shrimps from the genus Troglocaris s. l.: T. sg. Troglocaris Dormitzer, 1853 (=Troglocaris s. str.), T. sg. Spelaeocaris Matjasic, 1956 and T. sg. TroglocaridellaBabic, 1922 comprise 12 currently known species and phylogenetic lineages. On the basis of the results of previous molecular studies and the extensive morphometric analysis, appropriateness of several former and the existence of some new metric descriptors are examined by multivariate statistical methods. In discriminant function analyses (DFA), all subgenera are distinctly separated even when only sexually non-dimorphic characters are used. Since considerable number of these characters is acknowledged, a joined analysis of both sexes is proven to be appropriate for the identification of the subgenera. Characters for the species recognition of Spelaeocaris and Troglocaridella females are provided. In the subgenus Troglocaris s. str., molecularly recognized phylogroups are separated by DFA despite the expressed clinal variation. Also, minimum spanning tree (MST) demonstrates the existence of considerable morphological differences. The amounts of morphological difference (indicated by the length of the MST lines) and genetic difference are concordant i.e. morphological differences among the subgenera exceed the ones within the subgenera. Zusammenfassung Drei dinarische Untergattungen der Hohlengarnelen aus der Gattung Troglocaris s. l.: T. sg. Troglocaris Dormitzer, 1853 (=Troglocaris s. str.), T. sg. Spelaeocaris Matjasic, 1956 und T. sg. TroglocaridellaBabic, 1922, bestehend aus 12 Arten und phylogenetischen Linien. Die molekulare Analyse von fruheren Studien war die Grundlage fur unsere morphometrischen Untersuchungen. Eine umfangreiche morphometrische Analyse zeigt die Angemessenheit der fruheren und die Existenz der neuen morphometrischen Merkmale. Bei der Diskriminanzanalyse wurden die sexuell dimorphen morphometrischen Merkmale nicht berucksichtigt. Weil eine Reihe von sexuell nicht dimorphen morphometrischen Merkmalen gefunden wurde, ist eine gemeinsame Analyse beider Geschlechter geeignet fur die Identifizierung der Untergattungen. Merkmale fur die Identifizierung der Arten von der Untergattungen Spelaeocaris und Troglocaridella werden diskutiert. Trotz der graduellen Variation ist es uns gelungen, Phylogruppen von Troglocaris s. str. zu erkennen. Der minimale Stammbaum (MST) bestatigt die Existenz von erheblichen morphologischen Unterschieden. Die Betrage der morphologischen Unterschiede (angedeutet durch die Lange der MST-Linien) und genetische Unterschiede sind ubereinstimmend: Morphologische Unterschiede zwischen den Untergattungen sind groser als innerhalb der Untergattungen.

Asellus aquaticus is one of the most common and well-studied freshwater macroinvertebrates in Europe, but its current taxonomic description is inadequate. Therefore, a neotype is designated and described to allow a comparison with a newly described and illustrated species, Asellus kosswigi sp. n. While several troglomorphic Asellus species are known from Japan, this is the first subterranean species of the genus in Europe. It is morphologically, as well as genetically, distinct from all other, local, surface and subterranean populations. Its species status is confirmed by its syntopic occurrence with Asellus aquaticus without any sign of gene flow.

We implemented a detailed morphometry and multivariate statistics to establish a general, large-scale racial differentiation in Asellus aquaticus (L.) sensu Racovitza. We ascertained that in surface populations a set of 11 morphometric characters might equivalently be represented by the pleopod respiratory area size alone. The analyses resulted in a distinct distribution pattern, with the large respiratory area populations disposed mainly along the Dinaric karst between southern Slovenia and western Macedonia and surrounded by the medium respiratory area morph, spatially irregularly substituted by the small area morph. This pattern is in contradiction with the distribution pattern of molecularly defined clades (as shown by Verovnik et al. 2005). We could find no ecological, hydrographical or paleogeographical explanations for such distribution pattern either. The only hypothetical explanation would be a preservation of the large respiratory area as a plesiomorphic character in the comparatively sheltered karst habitats, while throughout the easier accessible parts of the species range it was replaced by the ‘modern’ smaller area size. While a diminution of the respiratory area functionally means an increased sclerotization – hardening of pleopod IV–V exopodites, endopodites of pleopods III–V remain less sclerotized, probably respiratory and osmoregulatory functional. Zusammenfassung Die globale Rassendifferenzierung von Asellus aquaticus (L.) sensu Racovitza wurde anhand eingehender Morphometrie und multivariater Statistik untersucht. Es stellte sich heraus, dass der gesamte Satz von 11 morphometrischen Merkmalen allein durch das Merkmal ‘Flachengrose der Pleopoden-Respirationsflache’ ersetzt werden kann. Die Analysen ergaben ein deutliches Muster, in dem Populationen mit grosen Respirationsflachen uberwiegend im Dinarischen Karst zwischen Sud-Slowenien und West-Makedonien verbreitet sind, von Morphen mit mittelgrosen Respirationsflachen umgeben werden, welche wiederum raumlich zerstreut von Morphen mit kleinen Respirationsflachen ersetzt werden. Dieses Muster widerspricht der Verbreitung von molekular-systematisch ermittelten Gruppen (Verovnik et al. 2005). Wir konnten keine okologische, hydrographische oder palaogeographische Erklarung dafur finden. Die einzige hypothetische Erklarung konnte eine Erhaltung der grosen Respirationsflachen als eines plesiomorphen Merkmals in vergleichsweise isolierten Karstgebieten sein, wahrend sie in leichter besiedelbaren Gebieten von den ‘modernen’ kleineren Respirationsflachen ersetzt wurden. Es muss betont werden, dass eine Verkleinerung der Respirations-Area mit der Sklerotisierung der Exopoditen an den Pleopoden IV-V verbunden ist, wahrend die Endopoditen der Pleopoden III-V ihre geringe Sklerotisierung beibehalten und somit wahrscheinlich atmungs- und osmoregulatorisch aktiv bleiben.

Karst meadows belonging to the class Festuco-Brometea are regarded as species-rich habitats of national and European importance. Biodiversity in these areas is relatively high, but unlike most other semi-natural habitat types, it is highly influenced and facilitated by human activities. In the present study we document the presence and estimate abundance of butterfly species from three sampling plots in Kraški rob (SW Slovenia): two dry karst meadows and one pasture, which also includes an overgrown area. Over 16-day sampling occasions in May and June 2012, 63 species (including species complexes) were recorded. Nearly all of the species were recorded from dry karst meadows (60 ssp., 95%), while pasture (34 spp., 54%) and the overgrown site (28 spp., 44%) were less diverse. The abundance of butterflies was the lowest on the overgrown area. Although both grazing and overgrowth result in a decline in the number and abundance of species, we believe that traditional land use positively affects butterfly diversity, as it maintains open grasslands, a habitat that is preferred by most butterfly species to the later phases of succession. We therefore recommend the maintenance of a mosaic landscape structure, as it supports a wide range of butterfly fauna., Krške livade razreda Festuco-Brometea su vrstama bogata staništa od nacionalne i europske važnosti. Bioraznolikost na tim područjima je relativno visoka, no u suprotnosti s nekim drugim poluprirodnim staništima, njihova bioraznolikost je pod velikim utjecajem ljudske aktivnosti. U ovom istraživanju smo zabilježili prisutnost i procijenili brojnost danjih leptira na tri uzorkovane plohe na Kraškom rubu (jugozapadna Slovenija): dvije krške livade i jednom pašnjaku koji je uključivao i zarasla područja. Tijekom 16-dnevnog terenskog istraživanja u svibnju i lipnju 2012., zabilježili smo 63 vrste leptira (uključujući i komplekse vrsta). Gotovo sve vrste su bile zabilježene na suhim krškim livadama (60 vrsta, 95%), dok je na pašnjaku (34 vrste, 54%) i na zaraslom području (28 vrsta, 44%) raznolikost bila manja. Brojnost leptira je bila najmanja na zaraslim površinama. Iako i zaraštanje i ispaša imaju za posljedicu opadanje u broju vrsta i brojnosti, smatramo da tradicionalno korištenje zemlje pozitivno utječe na raznolikost leptira. Razlog za to je prije svega sprječavanje zaraštanja livada, koje leptiri preferiraju više od staništa u kasnijim fazama sukcesije. Zato predlažemo održavanje mozaične strukture krajolika, jer će na taj način on biti primjeren za veći broj vrsta leptira.

Within the Dinaric genus Troglocaris cave shrimps from the subgenus Troglocaris s. str. (Dormitzer, 1853) (Crustacea:Decapoda: Atyidae), have the widest distribution area. The recent molecular analyses have revealed significant, crypticdiversity in the subgenus. The aim of the subsequent detailed morphometric analyses was the provision of the appropriatediagnosable characters for the discovered lineages, i.e. taking care of their taxonomical visibility. We herein designate aneotype and provide a detailed description for the polytipic type species of the genus T. (T.) anophthalmus (Kollar, 1848), toenable its morphological distinction from the erroneously described T. (T.) planinensis Birstejn, 1948. Considering acombination of morphological, geographical and molecular data, we describe four new subspecies: T. (T.) a. ocellata ssp. nov., T. (T.) a. periadriatica ssp. nov., T. (T.) a. legovici ssp. nov. and T. (T.) a. sontica ssp. nov., apart from the extant T. (T.) a. intermedia Babic, 1922. Due to a considerable morphological variability and no easily observable diagnostic morphological characters, the GenBank accession numbers for the COI gene are added in all mentioned taxa.

Jugovic, Jure, Prevorčnik, Simona, Aljančič, Gregor, Sket, Boris (2010): The atyid shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae) rostrum: phylogeny versus adaptation, taxonomy versus trophic ecology. Journal of Natural History 44 (41-42): 2509-2533, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2010.502258, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2010.502258

In most Atyidae species, male pleopods I–II are specifically shaped in adults. In some species, the same holds true for male pereopods III–V. Due to the age and sex-dependent morphology of these structures, which are presumably used during mating, certain taxonomic mistakes in species diagnoses and identifications have occurred in the past. We studied the morphological development of these appendages in males of the cave shrimp Troglocaris (Troglocaris) planinensis Birstejn, 1948 (= W-Slo phylogroup by Zaksek et al. 2009). In addition, we examined the ontogeny of these structures in males and females from other phylogroups of the subgenus Troglocaris Dormitzer, as well as in the subgenera Spelaeocaris Matjasic, 1956 and Troglocaridella Babic, 1922. Multivariate Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) on males from the subgenus Troglocaris, confirmed the division of late ontogenetic development into sequential phases. The results indicate that in atyids (1) only mature specimens should be considered when searching for reliable morphological differences between closely related species, (2) pleopods and pereopods show diverse differentiation between taxa, preventing the reliable ascertainment of maturity at all times, (3) body size is often not a reliable indicator of maturity, (4) generally, only very rich samples ensure the presence of the fully mature males that are needed for adequate morphological studies.