Extreme genetic diversity among springtails (Collembola) in subterranean calcretes of arid Australia

Diversity and dispersal of aquatic invertebrate species from surface and groundwater: Development and application of microsatellite markers for the detection of hydrological exchange processes

Groundwater is one of our most important resources, however groundwater ecosystems are among the most understudied habitats of the planet earth. Studies on groundwater organisms are hampered by the difficult accessibility of species, the lack of morphological differentiation and the limitation for laboratory cultures. One important approach to overcome these shortcomings is to provide sensitive genetic methods to unravel patterns of biodiversity, population structure and gene flow in natural populations. In this study we present five sets of microsatellite markers developed for the isopods Asellus aquaticus and Proasellus slavus, the cyclopoides Paracyclops fimbriatus and Acanthocyclops sensitivus and the harpacticoide Bryocamptus echinatus (Crustacea). Two of these species were subjected to detailed population genetic analyses: We studied 501 specimens of Asellus aquaticus from four different regions in Northern Germany using nine microsatellite markers and 70 specimens of Bryocamptus echinatus using nine microsatellite markers from three different sampling sites in South-Western Germany. Our results show that genetic diversity is high (A. aquaticus: 10 to 20 and B. echinatus: 4 to 18 alleles per locus) among populations of aquatic invertebrates, populations are highly differentiated (F_ST > 0.2) and genetic differentiation was associated with geographic patterns. Applications of molecular genetic methods and their use for the detection of hydrological exchange processes relevant for drinking water suppliers are demonstrated and discussed.

A rich fauna of subterranean short-range endemic Anillini (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae) from semi-arid regions of Western Australia

Globally, the great majority of Anillini species are endogean, adapted to live in the interstices of soil and leaf litter, while the extremely low vagility of these minute ground beetles gives rise to numerous shortrange endemic species. Until recently the Australian Anillini fauna was known only from leaf litter in rain forests and eucalypt forests in the wetter, forested regions of eastern and south eastern Australia, as well as Lord Howe and Norfolk islands. The first hypogean Anillini in Australia (17 species in six genera) were described in 2016 from mineral exploration drill holes in iron-ore bearing rocks of the Pilbara region in Western Australia, representing the first finding of the tribe deep underground in a semi-arid climate region. A further eight new genera and 20 new species are described herein, mostly from the Pilbara region as well as the semi-arid Kimberley and Goldfields regions; all were collected in mineral exploration drill holes. The following new genera are described: Erwinanillus gen. nov., Gregorydytes gen. nov., Pilbaraphanus gen. nov., Neoillaphanus gen. nov., Kimberleytyphlus gen. nov., Gilesdytes gen. nov., Pilbaradytes gen. nov., and Bylibaraphanus gen. nov. The following new species are described: Erwinanillus baehri sp. nov.; Gracilanillus hirsutus sp. nov., G. pannawonicanus sp. nov.; Gregorydytes ophthalmianus sp. nov.; Pilbaraphanus chichesterianus sp. nov., P. bilybarianus sp. nov.; Magnanillus firetalianus sp. nov., M. sabae sp. nov., M. salomonis sp. nov., M. regalis sp. nov., M. serenitatis sp. nov.; Neoillaphanus callawanus sp. nov.; Kimberleytyphlus carrboydianus sp. nov.; Austranillus jinayrianus sp. nov.; Gilesdytes pardooanus sp. nov., G. ethelianus sp. nov.; Pilbaradytes abydosianus sp. nov., P. webberianus sp. nov.; Bylibaraphanus cundalinianus sp. nov.; and Angustanillus armatus sp. nov. Identification keys are provided for all Australian anilline genera, and Western Australian species. All the described species are known from a single locality and qualify as short-range endemics. The Anillini are recognised as a significant and diverse element making up part of Western Australia's remarkable subterranean fauna, and whose conservation may potentially be impacted by mining developments.