DNA barcoding and genomics reveal Perizoma barrassoi Zahm, Cieslak & Hausmann, 2006 as new for the fauna of Central Europe (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae)

Perizoma barrassoi Zahm, Cieslak & Hausmann, 2006, previously considered a central Italian endemic, shows a much wider distribution with additional records from the Alps and the Pyrenees, in partial sympatry with its sister species, Perizoma incultaria (Herrich-Schäffer, 1848) which is widespread in the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians and Dinaric mountains. The disruptive genetic patterns of both species involve the COI barcode gene as well as nuclear genomic data and are confirmed by correlated differential features in male and female genitalia. To fix nomenclatural stability a neotype is designated for P. incultaria.

Small glaciers in the Dinaric Mountains after eight years of observation: On the verge of extinction?

This study presents results from regular observation of permanent and summer-persisting firn-ice bodies in the highest parts of the Dinaric Alps. The sizes of six small glaciers and two snow patches on the Prokletije Massif (in Albania) and the Durmitor Massif (in Montenegro) were measured from 2011 to 2018. In recent years, specific cycles of interannual behavior have been observed: a year of considerable snow accumulation (a »recharge« phase), followed by two to four years of gradual decrease (a »wastage« phase). At present, the small glaciers studied exist in unbalanced conditions, which in the long term may lead to their degradation. Progressive warming makes short-term cycle minimums increasingly severe. Their retreat after the summer of 2017 was probably the most pronounced since the Little Ice Age, and small glaciers are on the verge of extinction.

First Insights into the Population Genetic Structure and Heterozygosity–Fitness Relationship in Roe Deer Inhabiting the Area between the Alps and Dinaric Mountains

Across its pan-European distribution, the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) faces a wide diversity of environmental and climatic conditions; therefore, several factors, including intrinsic ones, shape life-history traits and cause significant variability in parameters of fitness. By utilizing microsatellite variations in 214 roe deer females collected throughout Slovenia, Central Europe, we determined the genetic variability and population structure of this species in the contact zone between the Alps and the Dinaric Mountains, i.e., over a wider area where data on the genetic outlook for this—the most common and widespread European wild ungulate—have been completely lacking so far. Throughout the country, we found moderate microsatellite diversity (Ho = 0.57–0.65) in relation to the observed heterozygosity reported for other roe deer populations in Europe. Spatial differences in genetic diversity of the species in Slovenia can be explained by population history linked to varying approaches to population management and/or different connectivity among subpopulations in topographically differentiated habitats. A country-wide pattern of genetic structure is clearly defined by separation of the populations into three groups present in the following regions: (i) Southern sub-Mediterranean and Karst regions, (ii) Central Slovenia, and (iii) the Sub-Pannonian Region in the north-east. This is also confirmed by evidencing a moderate isolation by distance, especially by separating southern samples (coastal Slovenia) from others. Levels of genetic differentiation vary among populations, which can be explained by the effect of natural geographical barriers or the presence of anthropogenic barriers such as urban areas and highways. In the subset of 172 yearling females, we analyzed the influence of genetic advantage (individual heterozygosity) and other genetic data (reflected in the structuring of the population) on body mass and reproductive ability. We found evidence that genetic factors influence the body mass of roe deer yearling females (explaining altogether 18.8% of body mass variance), and the level of individual heterozygosity alone also positively affected body mass, which is in accordance with the theory that heterozygosity is commonly positively correlated with fitness in wild populations. However, we did not uncover any effect of heterozygosity on two parameters of reproductive ability (fertility and potential reproductive outcome), indicating that several other factors, especially environmental ones, have a predominant effect on the parameters of fitness in roe deer.

Syntaxonomic problem of Illyrian (Dinaric) fir-beech ­forests (Abieti-Fagetum dinaricum (illyricum) s. lat.) / Sintaksonomski problem ilirskih (dinarskih) jelovo-­bukovih gozdov (Abieti-Fagetum dinaricum (illyricum) s. lat.)

For the analysis of the syntaxonomic problem of Illyrian fir-beech forests (Abieti-Fagetum dinaricum (illyricum) s. lat.), we selected the most important authors or researchers of these forests in the Dinaric mountains of the Central Balkan Peninsula and Slovenia. These authors are Blečić, Fukarek, Glavač, I. Horvat, Pelcer, Puncer, Stefanović and Tregubov. The analysis revealed floristic and ecological similarities and differences of Illyrian fir-beech forests. They can be classified into a single association Rhamno fallaci-Fagetum. Key words: Abieti-Fagetum s. lat. = Rhamno fallaci-Fagetum nom. nov., phytocoenology, Dinaric mountains, Balkan peninsular, Slovenia. Izvleček Za analizo sintaksonomskega problema ilirskih jelovo-bukovih gozdov (Abieti-Fagetum dinaricum (Ilyricum) s. lat.) smo izbrali najpomembnejše avtorje oz. raziskovalce teh gozdov v dinarskem gorstvu osrednjega Balkanskega polotoka in Slovenije. Ti avtorji so Blečić, Fukarek, Glavač, I. Horvat, Pelcer, Puncer, Stefanović in Tregubov. Analiza je pokazala floristične in ekološke podobnosti in različnosti ilirskih jelovo-bukovih gozdov. Mogoče jih je uvrstiti v enotno združbo Rhamno fallaci-Fagetum. Ključne besede: Abieti-Fagetum s. lat. = Rhamno fallaci-Fagetum nom. nov., fitocenologija, Dinaridi, Balkanski polotok, Slovenija

Variability of needle morpho-anatomy of natural Pinus heldreichii populations from Scardo-Pindic mountains

Eight morpho-anatomical properties of two-year-old needles of Pinus heldreichii (Bosnian pine) from the Scardo-Pindic mountain massif in Serbia (Kosovo, Mt. Osljak) and North Macedonia (Mt. Galicica) were investigated. All measured characteristics, except for needle length, were inspected on mid-needle cross-section. Cross-sections were obtained with razorblade, while measurements were performed with Leica-Gallen III light microscope. The mean values of the analyzed characters were as follows: 5.91 cm (needle length), 1.35 mm (needle width), 0.85 mm (needle thickness), 25.05 ?m (cuticle + epidermis thickness), 69.90 ?m (height of hypodermal cells), 21.76 ?m (resin duct diameter), 3.4 (number of hypodermis layers), and 3.6 (number of resin ducts). P. heldreichii needles also had 2-5 hypodermis layers and 0-12 resin ducts. The highest variation was in the number of resin ducts (CV=27%). In comparison with previously investigated needles from the Dinaric mountains, P. heldreichii needles from the Scardo-Pindic massif were shorter and had a thicker layer of hypodermis. PCA and CA visualize partial segregation of P. heldreichii populations between the two mountain massifs.

Unraveling the evolutionary history of the cave-dwelling Dysderidae in the Dinarides

Because of their size, abundance and active predatory lifestyle, spiders of the family Dysderidae are among the most conspicuous creatures in the Dinaric caves. Historically, the interest for this group dates back to 1847, to the description of the first cave spider in the world, Stalita taenaria, and peaks in the middle of 20th century with the works of Joseph Kratochvíl and Christa L. Deeleman-Reinhold among others. However, after all these years, an explicit phylogenetic hypothesis about the family relationships is still missing and the taxonomy of some genera is a matter of debate. Dinaric cave representatives belong to two subfamilies: Rhodinae, with 13 species from five genera (Rhode, Stalita, Parastalita, Mesostalita and Stalitella) and Harpacteinae, with eight species from two genera (Folkia and Stalagtia). All species are considered troglobiotic and are Dinaric endemics, with Harpacteine restricted to the south part of the Dinaric Mountains and Rhodinae (with few exceptions) to the north part. Here, we present the results of a mutli-locus phylogenetic analysis of the family combining mitochondrial and nuclear genes of the focal group along with representatives of the other dysderid genera. Our data reveal a more complex taxonomic structure than currently recognized, with several instances of paraphyly, and uncover some overlooked diversity at the species level.

Radiation and ancestral range reconstruction of the cave beetle genus Anthroherpon (Coleoptera, Leiodidae, Leptodirini)

The genus Anthroherpon Reitter, 1889 is the most species-rich genus of the exclusively subterranean subtribe Anthroherponina. It comprises 26 species and 55 subspecies distributed in the Dinaric mountains which are known to be a world biodiversity hotspot for subterranean fauna. Most species are short-range endemics and more than half of the species are known only from a single cave, but the genus as a whole has a wide range. This study provides a comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the Anthroherpon radiation, using a dated molecular tree as a framework for understanding the diversification of the genus and reconstructing its ancestral range. We reconstructed the phylogeny of Anthroherpon using Bayesian analysis of six loci, both mitochondrial and nuclear, and we inferred the ancestral range of the genus using BioGeoBEARS. Our main findings show that Anthroherpon is monophyletic and started to diverge approximately in the Early Miocene (ca. 22 MYA). The genus has diversified entirely underground. Our results show that troglobitic lineages like Anthroherpon can disperse and diversify underground over a large geographic area during long periods of time. Biogeographic reconstruction of the ancestral range shows the origin of the genus in the area comprising three high mountains in western Montenegro: Dobreljica, Moračke planine, and Orjen. From this area the presumed ancestor dispersed to the other parts of its present range.