Observations on the habitat and feeding behaviour of the hypogean genus Eukoenenia (Palpigradi, Eukoeneniidae) in the Western Italian Alps
The order Palpigradi includes species characterized by millimetric size and a characteristic flagellum with bristles at the end of the opisthosoma. They represent one of the less well-known and obscure arachnid orders. In this paper, observations were made on the ecology and feeding behavior of spec...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Subterranean Biology |
| Online Access: | https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/75784/download/pdf/ |
| _version_ | 1797720650844995584 |
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| author | Valentina Balestra Enrico Lana Stefano Vanin |
| author_facet | Valentina Balestra Enrico Lana Stefano Vanin |
| author_sort | Valentina Balestra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The order Palpigradi includes species characterized by millimetric size and a characteristic flagellum with bristles at the end of the opisthosoma. They represent one of the less well-known and obscure arachnid orders. In this paper, observations were made on the ecology and feeding behavior of species belonging to the genus Eukoenenia Börner, 1901, from the Western Italian Alps. Direct observations and photographic documentation of 141 individuals in their cave habitat, allowed the recording of data on the physical and trophic conditions such as the presence/absence of trophic resources, temperature and relative humidity, of the underground environment in which they were found. Results showed that the species of this taxon are not as rare as previously reported and that their presence is mainly influenced by temperature, relative humidity, trophic resources and the presence of two speleothems: rimstone dams and rafts. The combination of our observations as well as data previously published highlights that the taxon can have predatory and saprophagous feeding behavior depending on the availability of the food resources. This work represents the starting point for a further investigation of the taxon. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:22:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c41516036f554515bc96d8d9ed442b5f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1314-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:22:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Subterranean Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c41516036f554515bc96d8d9ed442b5f2023-09-02T14:25:41ZengPensoft PublishersSubterranean Biology1314-26152022-01-0142234110.3897/subtbiol.42.7578475784Observations on the habitat and feeding behaviour of the hypogean genus Eukoenenia (Palpigradi, Eukoeneniidae) in the Western Italian AlpsValentina Balestra0Enrico Lana1Stefano Vanin2S.O. Bossea C.A.I – Underground Karst Laboratory of Bossea caveS.O. Bossea C.A.I – Underground Karst Laboratory of Bossea caveNational Research Council, Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impact and Sustainability in the Marine EnvironmentThe order Palpigradi includes species characterized by millimetric size and a characteristic flagellum with bristles at the end of the opisthosoma. They represent one of the less well-known and obscure arachnid orders. In this paper, observations were made on the ecology and feeding behavior of species belonging to the genus Eukoenenia Börner, 1901, from the Western Italian Alps. Direct observations and photographic documentation of 141 individuals in their cave habitat, allowed the recording of data on the physical and trophic conditions such as the presence/absence of trophic resources, temperature and relative humidity, of the underground environment in which they were found. Results showed that the species of this taxon are not as rare as previously reported and that their presence is mainly influenced by temperature, relative humidity, trophic resources and the presence of two speleothems: rimstone dams and rafts. The combination of our observations as well as data previously published highlights that the taxon can have predatory and saprophagous feeding behavior depending on the availability of the food resources. This work represents the starting point for a further investigation of the taxon.https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/75784/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Valentina Balestra Enrico Lana Stefano Vanin Observations on the habitat and feeding behaviour of the hypogean genus Eukoenenia (Palpigradi, Eukoeneniidae) in the Western Italian Alps Subterranean Biology |
| title | Observations on the habitat and feeding behaviour of the hypogean genus Eukoenenia (Palpigradi, Eukoeneniidae) in the Western Italian Alps |
| title_full | Observations on the habitat and feeding behaviour of the hypogean genus Eukoenenia (Palpigradi, Eukoeneniidae) in the Western Italian Alps |
| title_fullStr | Observations on the habitat and feeding behaviour of the hypogean genus Eukoenenia (Palpigradi, Eukoeneniidae) in the Western Italian Alps |
| title_full_unstemmed | Observations on the habitat and feeding behaviour of the hypogean genus Eukoenenia (Palpigradi, Eukoeneniidae) in the Western Italian Alps |
| title_short | Observations on the habitat and feeding behaviour of the hypogean genus Eukoenenia (Palpigradi, Eukoeneniidae) in the Western Italian Alps |
| title_sort | observations on the habitat and feeding behaviour of the hypogean genus eukoenenia palpigradi eukoeneniidae in the western italian alps |
| url | https://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/75784/download/pdf/ |
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