engleski

Subterranean amphipods in karst and flysh zone of Istria, Croatia

In order to determine diversity of subterranean amphipod fauna of various water bodies in Istria, field studies were conducted from 2000 to 2008. The coastal area is relatively well studied, but we know much less about the subterranean amphipod fauna in the mountain area of Istria. In order to test species diversity of various eyeless amphipod habitats, we have compared the ratios of different distribution types of subterranean crustaceans. The genus Niphargus has an extended distribution, occurs in both geological units (karst and flysh), with the higher species diversity in the karst, rich in endemic taxa. This genus has both epigean and hypogean species, where epigean species seem to prefer intermittent flysh springs and streams. There are also some species, which are specialised to brackish waters, but their number is relatively low. Recently some new stygobiotic species have been described from the epikarst zone of the Southern Istria. New records increase both, the number of taxa with restricted area and the number of widespread taxa. A short bibliography of subterranean amphipod fauna of Istria is also included. Most of the data are scattered in taxonomic works. We provided also the new insights into the biogeographic distribution patterns of Croatian part of Istrian cave, spring and stream dwelling eyeless amphipods.

Niphargus; stygobiotic; epikarst; biogeography

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