01693nas a2200241 4500008004100000022002500041245009200066210006900158260001500227300001000242490000700252520092200259653002001181653003101201653003001232100002901262700002101291700002201312700002201334700002101356700002601377856004801403 2020 eng d a1768-1448, 1314-261500aThe Wynberg Cave System, the most important site for cave fauna in South Africa at risk0 aWynberg Cave System the most important site for cave fauna in So c16/11/2020 a73-810 v363 a

The Wynberg Cave System, located on the Cape Peninsula, represents one of the most significant sites of cave fauna in southern Africa. However, the continuous increase in cave visitation is severely impacting the system as evidenced by graffiti, the trampling and destruction of cave habitats and even a reduction in the sizes of bat colonies. In October 2019, the Wynberg Cave System was visited by a group of scientist, who discovered unregistered troglomorphic species. This, subsequently increased the number of troglobites occurring in the system to 19, which likely means that this system has the potential to become the first hotspot of subterranean biodiversity in Africa. Protecting the Wynberg Cave System is therefore of great importance. Here, we propose short and long-term strategies that include educating local communities on the importance of conserving caves and installing gated entrances.

10aCave protection10aInvertebrates conservation10aSubterranean biodiversity1 aFerreira, Rodrigo, Lopes1 aGiribet, Gonzalo1 aPreez, Gerhard, D1 aVentouras, Oresti1 aJanion, Charlene1 aSilva, Marconi, Souza uhttps://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/60162/02387nas a2200265 4500008004100000022002500041245015700066210006900223260001500292300001000307490000700317520151200324653002201836653001901858653002601877653002501903653002901928100002401957700001701981700002201998700001702020700001902037700001702056856004802073 2021 eng d a1314-2615, 1768-144800aDon’t forget the vertical dimension: assessment of distributional dynamics of cave-dwelling invertebrates in both ground and parietal microhabitats0 aDon t forget the vertical dimension assessment of distributional c14/10/2021 a43-630 v403 a

Biological studies on factors shaping underground communities are poor, especially those considering simultaneously organisms with different degrees of adaptation to cave life. In this study, we assessed the annual dynamics and use of both horizontal and vertical microhabitats of a whole community with the aim of understanding whether cave-dwelling organisms have a similar distribution among vertical and ground-level microhabitats and to find out which microhabitat features influence such distribution. We monthly assessed from 2017 to 2018, by direct observation combined with quadrat sampling method on the ground and transects on the walls, richness and abundance of 62 cave-dwelling species in a cave of Northern Italy. Environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature, relative humidity and mineralogical composition of the substrates were measured during each monitoring session, influencing the dynamics of the whole community and revealing significant differences between ground and wall microhabitats. A gradient of variation of the species assemblages occurred from the entrance toward inner areas, however, evidence that the dynamics of the walls are very different from those occurring at the ground independent from the distance from the surface are shown. Biodiversity indices highlighted sampling area diversity and a discrete total cave fauna biodiversity with the highest values found near the entrance and the lowest in the inner part of the cave.

10acave biodiversity10acave community10aenvironmental drivers10asubterranean biology10asubterranean environment1 aBalestra, Valentina1 aLana, Enrico1 aCarbone, Cristina1 aDe Waele, Jo1 aManenti, Raoul1 aGalli, Loris uhttps://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/71805/01381nas a2200217 4500008004100000022001400041245015700055210006900212260001500281300001000296490000700306520067200313653001300985653001300998653001601011653002201027653001901049100002301068700002401091856004801115 2020 eng d a1768-144800aPseudonannolene canastra sp. nov. (Diplopoda, Spirostreptida) – a new troglobitic millipede from the southwestern state of Minas Gerais, Brazil0 aiPseudonannolene canastrai sp nov Diplopoda Spirostreptida a new c26/06/2020 a33-470 v353 a

Pseudonannolene is a neotropical genus of millipedes distributed in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia. Generally, species of Pseudonannolene are considered troglophilic, i.e., they can establish a source population in both subterranean and superficial habitats. Among the 60 species known, 49 are found in Brazil; out of these, 25 occur in caves but only three are considered troglobitic (source population exclusively subterranean). This study aims to describe the fourth troglobitic species of Pseudonannolene from Brazil, and the first one from the region of Serra da Canastra, in the southeastern part of Brazil.

10adiplopod10ahypogean10aNeotropical10aSerra da Canastra10atroglomorphism1 aGallo, Jéssica, S1 aBichuette, Maria, E uhttps://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/51183/01302nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245009000055210006900145260001500214300001000229490000700239520063800246653001000884653001400894653001700908653001100925653002300936653001600959100002700975700002201002856004801024 2020 eng d a1768-144800aTerrestrial invertebrate fauna of Polish caves – a summary of 100 years of research0 aTerrestrial invertebrate fauna of Polish caves a summary of 100  c13/02/2020 a45-690 v333 a

The year 2018 is particularly important in the history of zoological research in Poland. A hundred years ago, Kazimierz Demel published the first work concerning the terrestrial cave fauna of caves in the Ojców area. In this paper we present the extent of research on the terrestrial invertebrate fauna of Polish caves in the last 100 years. All accessible research papers that have been published during this period were analysed. Based on published literature, 593 species of terrestrial invertebrate were recorded in Polish caves. Additionally, detailed list of species of individual taxonomic groups was provided.

10acaves10achecklist10ainvertebrate10aPoland10asubterranean fauna10aterrestrial1 aKocot-Zalewska, Joanna1 aDomagała, Paweł uhttps://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/48805/02375nas a2200217 4500008004100000022001600041245016600057210006900223260001500292300001000307490000700317520160900324653001501933653001501948653002001963653002401983100002502007700003402032700002802066856006302094 2020 eng d a1768–144800aInvertebrates diversity in mountain Neotropical quartzite caves: which factors can influence the composition, richness, and distribution of the cave communities?0 aInvertebrates diversity in mountain Neotropical quartzite caves  c13/02/2020 a23-430 v333 a

Twenty caves located in a high altitudinal quartzite area in Brazil were examined for invertebrate richness and composition and in terms of environmental factors that determine community structure. We evaluate how distance, altitude, cave extension, environmental stability, number and size of cave entrances and stream presence can act on species composition and richness. The caves presented a high richness of troglophilic (463 spp.) and troglobitic species (6 spp.) in relation to other siliciclastic caves around the world. The average richness was 39.55 species per cave (sd = 21.87), the quantitative similarity among caves was 41% and turnover was βrepl. = 0.769. Araneae (20% of the sampled species), Diptera (18%) and Coleoptera (14%) were the dominant orders regarding species richness. Only twenty percent of the caves were placed out of the confidence interval of the average taxonomic distinctness (∆+); however, the ∆+ decreased with the increase of environmental stability. Cave extension and stream presence were the main factors determining the variation of species composition among caves. Cave extension also influenced species richness variations. Furthermore, the total richness and richness of troglobitic species increased with cave extension. The threats to these habitats further revealed that the fauna is at risk due to tourism, trampling and natural soil erosion that can promote microhabitat alterations. Therefore, quartzite caves also require special attention regarding conservation actions in order to keep their natural biological dynamics.

10aCave fauna10aNeotropics10aquartzite rocks10atroglobitic species1 aSouza-Silva, Marconi1 aMoretti-Iniesta, Luiz, Felipe1 aLopes-Ferreira, Rodrigo uhttps://subtbiol.pensoft.net/article/46444/element/8/36815