Life history characteristics of a cave isopod (Mesoniscus graniger Friv.)

Deerbák, Dávid; Dányi, László; Hornung, Elisabeth

doi:10.3897/zookeys.801.23391

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(38 reference statements)

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“…We presume that females spend the period of pregnancy deeper in the substrate. The females had a small number of offspring in the marsupium, up to a maximum of 8 mancas, which is slightly more than the 3-5 recorded by Derbák et al (2018). This species formed numerous populations on cave floors in zone D, but at higher elevations, it was found in less abundant assemblages, inhabiting deeper parts of soil sediments in zone B or C. To sample more individuals from these zones, where the substratum appears to be stony, individual sampling from under rocks is needed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…Being among the main troglobiotic species, not only in Slovakia, it gets a lot of scientific attention. The ecology, morphology, anatomy, distribution, and life cycle of this spe-cies has been studied very thoroughly (Gruner & Tabacaru 1963;Gere 1970;Gulička 1985;Šustr et al 2005Košel 2012;Giurginca et al 2015;Smrž et al 2015;Giurginca et al 2016;Derbák et al 2018;Rendoš et al 2019). After many different classifications and multiple occasions of endogean occurrence of this species (Mlejnek & Ducháč 2003), we consider it as a troglophilous terrestrial isopod with the best adaptations to the subterranean environment in Slovakia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The reasons may lie in coincidence, methodological approach, parasitic infections (Moreau & Rigaud 2000) or parthenogenetic reproduction, which is also known from other trichoniscid T. pusillus (Vandel 1960). The dominance of females over males in the assemblages of the cave species M. graniger was documented in the caves of the Western Carpathians (Hungary, Slovakia) already by Derbák et al (2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) in Slovak caves: species diversity and distribution along regional and geographical gradients

Rudy,

Papáč,

Mlejnek

et al. 2021

Acta Carp. Occ.

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The area of Slovakia is rich in karst regions and caves, located in the mountainous relief of the western parts of the Carpathian Mountains -the northernmost distributional limit of the obligate cave terrestrial fauna in Europe. Terrestrial isopod fauna in Slovakia comprises 48 species, a third of which lives exclusively in synanthropic habitats. Caves represent prominent undisturbed refugia preserving relict fauna. Despite the long history of Slovak biospeleology, the knowledge about cave terrestrial isopods is scarce. We used the opportunity to prepare a comprehensive study of isopods in Slovak cave environment. We collected and analyzed the complete bibliography, which begins in the 1930s, although the first collections of isopods in our caves are dated to 1913. We used our own field data and the material of isopods from private collections of cave biologists in Czechia and Slovakia including collections from the estates of two deceased zoologists, J. Gulička and V. Ducháč. We gathered 434 samples collected in 111 caves of various types and elevations (from 210 to 1548 m a.s.l.) and one mine gallery, dated from 1948 to present. 5658specimens of 25 taxa at species level from 10 families were recognized. Another 3 species are documented by published data. Despite these relatively high numbers, the occurrence of isopods in deeper zones of Slovak caves is rare. Only 4 taxa from the present list are considered closely connected to deeper zones in caves and other subterranean habitats: Mesoniscus graniger, Androniscus cf. dentiger, Trichoniscus cf. pygmaeus, and one undetermined blind species of the family Trichoniscidae. Results indicate sparse populations of cave colonizers, except for Mesoniscus graniger. Two surface species, Cylisticus convexus and Hyloniscus riparius, occasionally inhabit the deeper zones of some caves. In contrast, cave entrances are inhabited by various isopods and represent important refugia of biodiversity, especially in a monotonous environment. Several species seem to prefer cave entrances, e.g. Trachelipus difficilis or Orthometopon planum. Abstrakt: Územie Slovenska je bohaté na kras a jaskyne, najmä v hornatom reliéfe Západných Karpát -najsevernejšej distribučnej hranici pravej jaskynnej suchozemskej fauny v Európe. Fauna rovnakonôžok na Slovensku zahŕňa 48 druhov, z ktorých tretina žije výlučne v synantropných biotopoch. Jaskyne predstavujú prominentné nerušené refúgiá uchovávajúce reliktnú faunu. Napriek

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) in Slovak caves: species diversity and distribution along regional and geographical gradients

Rudy,

Papáč,

Mlejnek

et al. 2021

Acta Carp. Occ.

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“…Aquarium air filters or additional aeration were not used because they increased the rate of microbial contamination in preliminary setups. Terrestrial species were kept in containers of various sizes, with a 1,5 cm to 3,5 cm thick layer of plaster at the bottom (Calcium sulphate (� 90%), manufacturer: Toupret, Plaster of Paris) (Fig 3b) moistened with facility water to achieve high humidity [34,47,48]. Animals were kept in incubators set to 10˚C, 12˚C or 15˚C or at room temperature (20-22˚C), to match the temperature of the natural habitat as much as possible.…”

Section: Housingmentioning

confidence: 99%

A practical guide for the husbandry of cave and surface invertebrates as the first step in establishing new model organisms

Lukić,

Jovović,

Bedek

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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While extensive research on traditional model species has significantly advanced the biological sciences, the ongoing search for new model organisms is essential to tackle contemporary challenges such as human diseases or climate change, and fundamental phenomena including adaptation or speciation. Recent methodological advances such as next-generation sequencing, gene editing, and imaging are widely applicable and have simplified the selection of species with specific traits from the wild. However, a critical milestone in this endeavor remains the successful cultivation of selected species. A historically overlooked but increasingly recognized group of non-model organisms are cave dwellers. These unique animals offer invaluable insights into the genetic basis of human diseases like eye degeneration, metabolic and neurological disorders, and basic evolutionary principles and the origin of adaptive phenotypes. However, to take advantage of the beneficial traits of cave-dwelling animals, laboratory cultures must be established—a practice that remains extremely rare except for the cavefish Astyanax mexicanus. For most cave-dwelling organisms, there are no published culturing protocols. In this study, we present the results of our multi-year effort to establish laboratory cultures for a variety of invertebrate groups. We have developed comprehensive protocols for housing, feeding, and husbandry of cave dwellers and their surface relatives. Our recommendations are versatile and can be applied to a wide range of species. Hopefully our efforts will facilitate the establishment of new laboratory animal facilities for cave-dwelling organisms and encourage their greater use in experimental biology.

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“…Synocheta and Microcheta are considered intermediate, predominantly inhabiting highly humid environments, e.g. subterranean habitats (21,23).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenomics supports a single origin of terrestriality in Isopods

Thomas Thorpe

2024

Preprint

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Terrestriality, the adaptation to life on land, is one of the key evolutionary transitions, having occurred numerous times across the tree of life. Within Arthropoda, there have been several independent transitions in hexapods, myriapods, arachnids and isopods. Isopoda is a morphologically diverse order within Crustacea, with species adapted to almost every environment on Earth. The order is divided into 11 suborders with the most speciose, Oniscidea, including terrestrial isopods such as woodlice and sea-slaters. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have challenged traditional isopod morphological taxonomy, suggesting that several well-accepted suborders, including Oniscidea, may be non-monophyletic. This implies that terrestriality may have evolved more than once within Isopoda. Current molecular hypotheses, however, are based on limited sequence data. Here, I collate available transcriptome and genome datasets for 33 isopods and four peracarid crustaceans from public sources, generate assemblies, and use 960 single-copy orthologues to estimate isopod relationships and the timing of divergences with molecular dating. The resulting phylogenetic analyses support monophyly of terrestrial isopods and suggest that conflicting relationships based on nuclear ribosomal sequences may be caused by long-branch attraction. Dating analyses suggest a Carboniferous-Permian origin of isopod terrestriality, much more recently than other terrestrial arthropods.

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Life history characteristics of a cave isopod (Mesoniscus graniger Friv.)

Cited by 5 publications

References 35 publications

Terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) in Slovak caves: species diversity and distribution along regional and geographical gradients

Terrestrial isopods (Oniscidea) in Slovak caves: species diversity and distribution along regional and geographical gradients

A practical guide for the husbandry of cave and surface invertebrates as the first step in establishing new model organisms

Phylogenomics supports a single origin of terrestriality in Isopods

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