Macroecologists seek to identify drivers of community turnover ( β -diversity) through broad spatial scales. However, the influence of local habitat features in driving broad-scale β -diversity patterns remains largely untested, owing to the objective challenges of associating local-scale variables to continental-framed datasets. We examined the relative contribution of local- versus broad-scale drivers of continental β -diversity patterns, using a uniquely suited dataset of cave-dwelling spider communities across Europe (35–70° latitude). Generalized dissimilarity modelling showed that geographical distance, mean annual temperature and size of the karst area in which caves occurred drove most of β -diversity, with differential contributions of each factor according to the level of subterranean specialization. Highly specialized communities were mostly influenced by geographical distance, while less specialized communities were mostly driven by mean annual temperature. Conversely, local-scale habitat features turned out to be meaningless predictors of community change, which emphasizes the idea of caves as the human accessible fraction of the extended network of fissures that more properly represents the elective habitat of the subterranean fauna. To the extent that the effect of local features turned to be inconspicuous, caves emerge as experimental model systems in which to study broad biological patterns without the confounding effect of local habitat features.

The centipede genus Strigamia Gray (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Linotaeniidae) is revised with regards to morphological diagnosis, composition in known species, taxonomic nomenclature, major characters differentiating species, and geographical distribution. Published information has been integrated and reinterpreted after direct examination of more than half of the known species. The genus Strigamia is distinguished from similar genera (Agathothus Bollman, Araucania Chamberlin, Damothus Chamberlin, Zantaenia Chamberlin) mainly by the conspicuous basal denticle of the forcipular tarsungulum, the paired ventral pore areas on the posterior part of trunk segments, and the remarkably swollen ultimate pair of legs in adult males. At least 32 distinct species are known and another 12 are recognized provisionally, whereas 21 names are rejected as synonyms. Of all other nominal species that have been referred to Strigamia or its synonyms in the past, 16 are shown not to actually belong to Strigamia and another 4 remain uncertain as to their generic assignment. Species of Strigamia differ mainly in the shape of the forcipular tarsungulum and denticle, average number of legs (overall range from 31 to 83 pairs, possibly to 91), aspect of pleuropretergite and shape of metasternite of the ultimate leg-bearing segment, and the arrangement of coxal pores. Strigamia as a whole inhabits the most part of the temperate Holarctic, but reaches southwards to the Indochinese region. The following new synonymies are introduced:

Lithobius franciscorum sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on specimens from the Kazakh part of the Altai Moun-tains. The new species is characterized principally by the group of club-like setae situated on the males’ last femora, afeature unique in the whole genus. According to this character, the species appears to be closely related to the group ofspecies with similar setae on the males’ last tibiae, while the female of the new species resembles Lithobius nordenskioldiiStuxberg, 1876, with which it is compared. Keys to the Central Asian Monotarsobius Verhoeff, 1905 species’ males andfemales are presented as well. Three nomina nova are introduced, Lithobius farzalievae nom. nov. for Lithobius minimusFarzalieva, 2006, Lithobius dobrorukai nom. nov. for Lithobius mongolicus Dobroruka, 1960 and Lithobius insolens nom. nov. for Lithobius insolitus Farzalieva, 2006.

Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) are widespread in subterranean ecosystems worldwide and represent an important component of subterranean trophic webs. Yet, global-scale diversity patterns of subterranean spiders are still mostly unknown. In the frame of the CAWEB project, a European joint network of cave arachnologists, we collected data on cave-dwelling spider communities across Europe in order to explore their continental diversity patterns. Two main datasets were compiled: one listing all subterranean spider species recorded in numerous subterranean localities across Europe and another with high resolution data about the subterranean habitat in which they were collected. From these two datasets, we further generated a third dataset with individual geo-referenced occurrence records for all these species. Data from 475 geo-referenced subterranean localities (caves, mines and other artificial subterranean sites, interstitial habitats) are herein made available. For each subterranean locality, information about the composition of the spider community is provided, along with local geomorphological and habitat features. Altogether, these communities account for > 300 unique taxonomic entities and 2,091 unique geo-referenced occurrence records, that are made available via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (Mammola and Cardoso 2019). This dataset is unique in that it covers both a large geographic extent (from 35° south to 67° north) and contains high-resolution local data on geomorphological and habitat features. Given that this kind of high-resolution data are rarely associated with broad-scale datasets used in macroecology, this dataset has high potential for helping researchers in tackling a range of biogeographical and macroecological questions, not necessarily uniquely related to arachnology or subterranean biology.

Soil moisture is one of the most important factors affecting soil biota. In arid and semi-arid ecosystems, soil mesofauna is adapted to temporary drought events, but, until now, we have had a limited understanding of the impacts of the different magnitudes and frequencies of drought predicted to occur according to future climate change scenarios. The present study focuses on how springtails and mites respond to simulated repeated drought events of different magnitudes in a field experiment in a Hungarian semi-arid sand steppe. Changes in soil arthropod activities were monitored with soil trapping over two years in a sandy soil. In the first year (2014), we applied an extreme drought pretreatment, and in the consecutive year, we applied less devastating treatments (severe drought, moderate drought, water addition) to these sites. In the first year, the extreme drought pretreatment tended to have a negative effect (either significantly or not significantly) on the capture of all Collembola groups, whereas all mite groups increased in activity density. However, in the consecutive year, between the extreme drought and control treatments, we only detected differences in soil microbial biomass. In the cases of severe drought, moderate drought and water addition, we did not find considerable changes across the microarthropods, except in the case of epedaphic Collembola. In the cases of the water addition and drought treatments, the duration and timing of the manipulation seemed to be more important for soil mesofauna than their severity (i.e., the level of soil moisture decrease). We suggest that in these extreme habitats, soil mesofauna are able to survive extreme conditions, and their populations recover rapidly, but they may not be able to cope with very long drought periods.