ABSTRACT
In light of recent alarming trends in human population growth, climate change, and other environmental modifications, a “Warning to humanity” manifesto was published in BioScience in 2017. This call reiterated most of the ideas originally expressed by the Union of Concerned Scientists in 1992, including the fear that we are “pushing Earth's ecosystems beyond their capacities to support the web of life.” As subterranean biologists, we take this opportunity to emphasize the global importance and the conservation challenges associated with subterranean ecosystems. They likely represent the most widespread nonmarine environments on Earth, but specialized subterranean organisms remain among the least documented and studied. Largely overlooked in conservation policies, subterranean habitats play a critical role in the function of the web of life and provide important ecosystem services. We highlight the main threats to subterranean ecosystems and propose a set of effective actions to protect this globally important natural heritage.

Reference: Mammola S., Cardoso P., Culver D.C., Deharveng L., Ferreira R.L., Fišer C., Galassi D.P.M., Griebler C., Halse S., Humphreys W.F., Isaia M., Malard F., Martinez A., Moldovan O.T., Niemiller M.L., Pavlek M., Reboleira A.S.P.S., Souza-Silva M., Teeling E.C., Wynne J.J., Zagmajster M. (2019). Scientists’ warning on the conservation of subterranean ecosystems. BioScience. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biz064

ABSTRACT
Bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiinae) are highly specialized bloodsucking bat ectoparasites. Some of the ectoparasitic bat flies are themselves parasitized with an ectoparasitic fungus of the genus Arthrorhynchus (Laboulbeniales). Ascospores of the fungus attach to the cuticle of a bat fly and develop a haustorium that penetrates the host cuticle. This interaction defines the fungus as a hyperparasite. Both the fly and the fungus are obligate parasites and this peculiar case of hyperparasitism has remained largely unstudied. We studied the prevalence of Laboulbeniales, genus Arthrorhynchus, in natural populations of bat flies infesting the bat species Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis bechsteinii, My. blythii, My. daubentonii, My. escalerai and My. myotis in Portuguese caves. Laboulbeniales were found infecting 10 of the 428 screened bat flies (2.3%) in natural populations, with fewer infections in winter. Images obtained with transmission electron microscopy show the fungal haustorium within the bat fly host tissue, from where it extracts nutrition.

Reference: Jensen K.M., Rodrigues, L., Pape T., Garm, A., Santamaria S. & Reboleira A.S.P.S. (2019). Hyperparasitism in caves: bats, bat flies and ectoparasitic fungus interaction. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 166: 107206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2019.107206

ABSTRACT
Fungal species identities are often based on morphological features, but current molecular phylogenetic and other approaches almost always lead to the discovery of multiple species in single morpho-species. According to the morphological species concept, the ant-parasitic fungus Rickia wasmannii (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniales) is a single species with pan-European distribution and a wide host range. Since its description, it has been reported from ten species of Myrmica (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), of which two belong to the rubra-group and the other eight to the phylogenetically distinct scabrinodis-group. We found evidence for R. wasmannii being a single phylogenetic species using sequence data from two loci. Apparently, the original morphological description (dating back to 1899) represents a single phylogenetic species. Furthermore, the biology and host-parasite interactions of R. wasmannii are not likely to be affected by genetic divergence among different populations of the fungus, implying comparability among studies conducted on members of different ant populations. We found no differences in total thallus number on workers between Myrmica species, but we did observe differences in the pattern of thallus distribution over the body. The locus of infection is the frontal side of the head in Myrmica rubra and M. sabuleti whereas in M. scabrinodis the locus of infection differs between worker ants from Hungary (gaster tergites) and the Netherlands (frontal head). Possible explanations for these observations are differences among host species and among populations of the same species in (i) how ant workers come into contact with the fungus, (ii) grooming efficacy, and (iii) cuticle surface characteristics.

Reference: Haelewaters D., Boer P., Báthori F., Rádai Z., Reboleira A.S.P.S., Tartally A., Da Kesel A., Pfiegler W.P., Nedvéd O. (2019). Studies of Laboulbeniales on Myrmica ants (IV): host-related diversity and thallus distribution patterns of Rickia wasmannii. Parasite, 26: 29. https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2019028

ABSTRACT
As a consequence of the growing global dependence on groundwater resources, environmental risk assessments (ERA) for groundwater are increasingly required and, with that, ecotoxicological studies with groundwater fauna (stygofauna). However, the literature on the ecotoxicological studies with stygobiotic species (i.e. species that complete their life cycle exclusively in groundwater) has not expanded significantly since the first paper published in this field. The limitations regarding the use of stygobiotic species for ecotoxicological testing are clear and consistent across the globe; stygobiotic species are often 1) naturally present in low numbers, 2) difficult to collect, and 3) difficult to culture under laboratory conditions. This paper reviews the methods used in ecotoxicological studies performed with stygobiotic species, and provides ten recommendations for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) for such tests. The recommendations focused on the following 10 points: 1) the taxonomic identification, the life stage/size and gender of the test organisms; 2) collection methodology of the organisms, including collection location, conditions and methods; 3) holding and acclimation conditions in the laboratory; 4) exposure conditions such as test set up and exposure time, number of replicates and densities of organisms in tests and in test vessels; 5) range-finding test set up and schedule; 6) final test design, including details of controls and treatments, and replication options; 7) incubation conditions, specifying temperature, pH and oxygenation levels throughout the test; 8) test duration; 9) observations and endpoints; 10) test validity criteria and compliance. The recommendations were developed for the purpose of supporting future short-term ecotoxicological testing with stygofauna through providing consistency in the protocols. A discussion of the potential implications for groundwater managers and decision-makers committed to ERA for groundwater is included.
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Reference:
Di Lorenzo T., Di Marzio D., Fiasca B., Galassi D., Korbel K., Iepure S., Pereira J., Reboleira A.S.P.S., Schmidt S., Hose G. (2019). Recommendations for ecotoxicity testing with stygobiotic species in the framework of groundwater environmental risk assessment. Science of the Total Environment, 681: 292–304.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.030

ABSTRACT
Jeekelosoma Mauriès, 1985, is upgraded from subgenus status under Eviulisoma Silvestri, 1910 to full genus status. The type species, Jeekelosoma abadi (Mauriès, 1985) is redescribed based on topotypical material from a cave in Morocco. Jeekelosoma heptarachne sp. nov. and J. viginti sp. nov. are described from two further Moroccan caves.

Reference: 
​Enghoff, H. & Reboleira, A.S.P.S. (2019). The genus Jeekelosoma Mauriès, 1985 – Moroccan cave millipedes (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae). European Journal of Taxonomy, 523: 1-16. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2019.523

In the May 2019 Edition of National Geographic you can find six beautiful pages, illustrated with pictures and text of António Luís Campos about our work with subterranean biodiversity. This article features the HiddenRisk project funded by the Villum Foundation.

Postdoc of Subterranean Ecology

A postdoctoral position on Subterranean Ecology is available in the HiddenRisk project, funded by the Villum Foundation and based at the Natural History Museum of Denmark. The project aims at understanding the impact of human activities on subterranean biodiversity. The successful candidate will be required to undertake research in macroecological analysis in subterranean ecosystems, in a cross-disciplinary research project.
 
We seek candidates with a background in experimental and theoretical ecology, and with experience from statistical analysis of standard and "big data" (species distribution modelling, multivariate data analysis, etc.). Overall aim will be to provide information on subterranean species across different taxa and from habitats strategically selected to be representative of different climatic, geographical and impacted conditions. There will be room for developing own side projects within the overall theme of subterranean biology and a great sense of independent thinking and generation of own ideas is expected.

More information: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/?show=149436


Postdoc of Subterranean Biology and Ecotoxicology

A postdoctoral position on Subterranean Biology and Ecotoxicology is available in the HiddenRisk project, funded by the Villum Foundation and based at the Natural History Museum of Denmark. The project aims at understanding the impact of human activities on subterranean biodiversity. The successful candidate will be required to undertake environmental risk assessment in subterranean ecosystems.
 
We seek candidates with a background in experimental and theoretical ecotoxicology, and with practical experience in the evaluation, assessment and statistical analysis of standard and "big data" originating from ecotoxicological experiments and monitoring efforts (concentration-response modeling, multivariate data analysis, etc.). Overall aim will be to define the hazards and quantify the risks environmentally relevant for subterranean ecosystems at a global scale, including climate change effects. There will be room for developing own side projects within the overall theme of subterranean biology and a great sense of independent thinking and generation of own ideas is expected.
 
More information: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/?show=149438


The deadline for applications is 9 May 2019, 23:59 GMT +2.



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ABSTRACT
The whip spider genus Sarax Simon, 1892 is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia and part of the Indo-Malayan region. The genus is recorded from several Indonesian islands, but no species are known from inside the area that comprises the biogeographical region of Wallacea, despite being recorded from both sides of the area. An expedition to survey the biology of caves in Timor-Leste (formerly East-Timor) discovered populations of amblypygids living underground and including a remarkable new species of Sarax, S. timorensis sp. n., the first Amblypygi known from the island of Timor. The new species is here described bears the unique character state of two pairs of lateral eyes, instead of three or none as in all other living species of Amblypygi, and expands the biogeographic range of the genus. New records of amblypygids are given for two caves in Timor-Leste. A detailed description and a discussion of its distribution and the species characters are also provided.

Reference:
Miranda G. & Reboleira A.S.P.S. (2019). Amblypygids of Timor-Leste: first record of the order from the country with description of a remarkable new species of Sarax (Arachnida, Amblypygi, Charinidae). ZooKeys, 820: 1-12. https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/30139

The discovery on the press:
National Geographic (Pt); Público (Pt); SIC (Pt)

ABSTRACT
Iberoporus pluto sp. n., the first stygobiont beetle from Portugal (Dytiscidae, Hydroporinae), is described from a single female from the cave Soprador do Carvalho (Coimbra). The species is highly troglomorphic, depigmented, blind, and with elongated appendages not adapted for swimming. A molecular phylogeny based on a combination of three mitochondrial and two nuclear genes showed the new species to be sister to I. cermenius Castro & Delgado, 2001 from Córdoba (south of Spain), within the subtribe Siettitiina of the tribe Hydroporini. Both species are included in a clade with Siettitia avenionensis Guignot, 1925 (south of France) and Rhithrodytes agnus Foster, 1992 and R. argaensis Fery & Bilton, 1996 (north of Portugal), in turn sister to the rest of species of genus Rhithrodytes Bameul, 1989, in what is here considered the Siettitia group of genera. We resolve the paraphyly of Rhithrodytes by transferring the two Portuguese species to Iberoporus Castro & Delgado, 2001, I. agnus (Foster, 1992), comb. n. and I. argaensis (Fery & Bilton, 1996), comb. n.

Reference: Ribera I, Reboleira ASPS (2019) The first stygobiont species of Coleoptera from Portugal, with a molecular phylogeny of the Siettitiagroup of genera (Dytiscidae, Hydroporinae, Hydroporini, Siettitiina). ZooKeys 813: 21-38. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.813.29765

While attending to the "Preservation of natural history wet collections: feedbacks and future prospects Meeting" at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, I've had the possibility of visiting colleagues, finishing papers, sampling and studying some specimens of the collections.

With Jean-Paul Mauriès and Jean-Jaques Geoffroy in the MNHN Myriapods' collection.