ABSTRACT:The relationship between temperature variability inside Scarisoara Ice Cave (NW Romania) and large-scale atmospheric circulation and sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies is investigated. A composite analysis reveals that high (low) temperatures inside the cave are associated with high (low) air temperature over a large area that covers central and Eastern Europe. Coherent large-scale patterns are identified in the field of SST anomalies. The corresponding atmospheric circulation patterns favour relatively warm (cold) air advection towards the cave region during high (low) temperatures inside the cave. A correlation analysis reveals that the atmospheric circulation patterns associated with cave temperature variability is mainly the result of the East Atlantic-Western Russia (r = −0.38) teleconnection pattern. Our results have strong implications for the interpretation of climate variability in the region as recorded by the ice block within the Scarisoara Ice Cave, which is more than 3000 years old.

Mesopholeuon Moldovan, Racoviţă & Dunay, subgen. nov. is described for Pholeuon comani Ieniştea, 1955 known from the central part of the Apuseni Mountains (Transylvania, Romania). The subgenus is characterized mainly by distinct shape of the body and the aedeagus. Pholeuon comani is redescribed. A key to subgenera of Pholeuon is provided. Present-day distribution of Pholeuon is described and palaeogeographic conditions are discussed to reconstruct the history of the cave fauna in north-western Romania, a remote area in the distribution of subterranean Cholevinae in Europe.