Terrestrial isopods associated with shallow underground of forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia)
The shallow underground of forested scree slopes represents a little-studied subterranean biotope. In this paper, species diversity and depth distribution of terrestrial isopod communities studied in the depth profile (5–95 cm from the surface) of eight forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathia...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2018-12-01
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| Series: | ZooKeys |
| Online Access: | https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/24113/ |
| _version_ | 1818336585432694784 |
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| author | Ján Rudy Michal Rendoš Peter Ľuptáčik Andrej Mock |
| author_facet | Ján Rudy Michal Rendoš Peter Ľuptáčik Andrej Mock |
| author_sort | Ján Rudy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The shallow underground of forested scree slopes represents a little-studied subterranean biotope. In this paper, species diversity and depth distribution of terrestrial isopod communities studied in the depth profile (5–95 cm from the surface) of eight forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) is discussed. The southern edge of the Western Carpathians where the study sites are located represents the northernmost limit of distribution of obligate subterranean fauna in Europe. The sites differ from each other in type of bedrock, forest composition, slope aspect, and altitude. To sample isopods, a set of three subterranean pitfall traps consisting of a plastic cylinder (Ø 110 mm) and ten plastic cups was buried in each studied scree slope. In total, 252 isopods belonging to eleven species were sampled (1–5 species per site). Of the species found, the blind and depigmented Mesoniscus graniger was the sole species closely associated with deeper parts of the depth profile and was present in most of the sites studied. Another ten species were represented by a small number of individuals and their occurrence deeper in the scree slope profile was rather accidental. A comparison between winter and summer periods indicates apparent differences in seasonal activities of isopods. Ethylene glycol seems to be more appropriate fixative solution for trapping isopods than formaldehyde. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T14:41:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d833b78a2d2e4dcb884efe86534df7ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1313-2989 1313-2970 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T14:41:40Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | ZooKeys |
| spelling | doaj.art-d833b78a2d2e4dcb884efe86534df7ca2022-12-21T23:41:37ZengPensoft PublishersZooKeys1313-29891313-29702018-12-0180132333510.3897/zookeys.801.2411324113Terrestrial isopods associated with shallow underground of forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia)Ján Rudy0Michal Rendoš1Peter Ľuptáčik2Andrej Mock3Pavol Jozef Šafárik UniversityUniversity of PrešovPavol Jozef Šafárik UniversityPavol Jozef Šafárik UniversityThe shallow underground of forested scree slopes represents a little-studied subterranean biotope. In this paper, species diversity and depth distribution of terrestrial isopod communities studied in the depth profile (5–95 cm from the surface) of eight forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) is discussed. The southern edge of the Western Carpathians where the study sites are located represents the northernmost limit of distribution of obligate subterranean fauna in Europe. The sites differ from each other in type of bedrock, forest composition, slope aspect, and altitude. To sample isopods, a set of three subterranean pitfall traps consisting of a plastic cylinder (Ø 110 mm) and ten plastic cups was buried in each studied scree slope. In total, 252 isopods belonging to eleven species were sampled (1–5 species per site). Of the species found, the blind and depigmented Mesoniscus graniger was the sole species closely associated with deeper parts of the depth profile and was present in most of the sites studied. Another ten species were represented by a small number of individuals and their occurrence deeper in the scree slope profile was rather accidental. A comparison between winter and summer periods indicates apparent differences in seasonal activities of isopods. Ethylene glycol seems to be more appropriate fixative solution for trapping isopods than formaldehyde.https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/24113/ |
| spellingShingle | Ján Rudy Michal Rendoš Peter Ľuptáčik Andrej Mock Terrestrial isopods associated with shallow underground of forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) ZooKeys |
| title | Terrestrial isopods associated with shallow underground of forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) |
| title_full | Terrestrial isopods associated with shallow underground of forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) |
| title_fullStr | Terrestrial isopods associated with shallow underground of forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Terrestrial isopods associated with shallow underground of forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) |
| title_short | Terrestrial isopods associated with shallow underground of forested scree slopes in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) |
| title_sort | terrestrial isopods associated with shallow underground of forested scree slopes in the western carpathians slovakia |
| url | https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/24113/ |
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