ABSTRACT
Five new species of the recently created genus Occidenchthonius Zaragoza, 2017 are described from caves of Portugal: Occidenchthonius alandroalensis sp. nov., O. algharbicus sp. nov., O. duecensis sp. nov., O. goncalvesi sp. nov. and O. vachoni sp. nov. The species Occidenchthonius cardosoi (Zaragoza, 2012) and Chthonius ischnocheles (Hermann, 1804) are reported from new localities in different karst units of Portugal. New morphological characters are proposed for use in the Chthoniidae taxonomy. An updated key to the genus Occidenchthonius is given.

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​Reference: Zaragoza, J.A. & Reboleira, A.S.P.S. (2018). Five new hypogean Occidenchthonius (Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae) from Portugal. Journal of Arachnology, 46(1): 81-103. https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-17-031.1

Reference: Henriksen, C.B., Reboleira A.S.P.S., Scharff, N. & Enghoff, H. (2018). First record of a Basidiobolus/Amphoromorpha fungus from a spider. African Journal of Ecology. doi: http://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12430

ABSTRACT
We describe a new anthroleucosomatid millipede, Heterocaucaseuma deprofundum sp. nov., found in the second and third deepest caves of our planet, Krubera-Voronja and Sarma, in Abkhazia, western Caucasus. A brief discussion on its taxonomy and relationships within the Caucaseuma complex and genus Heterocaucaseuma is provided, together with new faunistic records on other three species of Heterocaucaseuma. Notes on the distribution and troglomorphy of the genus Heterocaucaseuma are added. Ecological information and data on the subterranean community of the Krubera-Voronja Cave are updated. We also discuss the vertical distribution of the new species in caves and the presence of an ectoparasitic fungi of the order Laboulbeniales. This new species is currently the world's deepest-occurring millipede, also representing one of the largest known chordeumatidans.
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Reference: Antić, D., Turbanov, I.S. & Reboleira, A.S.P.S. (2018). From the depths: Heterocaucaseuma deprofundum sp. nov., the world's deepest-occurring millipede (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Anthroleucosomatidae) from caves in the western Caucasus. Zootaxa, 4377 (1): 110–124. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4377.1.7

ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to unravel the relative role played by speleogenesis (i.e., the process in which a cave is formed), landscape-scale variables, and geophysical factors in the determination of species richness in caves. Biological inventories from 21 caves located in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula along with partial least square (PLS) regression analysis were used to assess the relative importance of the different explanatory variables. The caves were grouped according to the similarity in their species composition; the effect that spatial distance could have on similarity was also studied using correlation between matrices. The energy and speleogenesis of caves accounted for 44.3% of the variation in species richness. The trophic level of each cave was the most significant factor in PLS regression analysis, and epigenic caves (i.e., those formed by the action of percolating water) had significantly more species than hypogenic ones (i.e., those formed by the action of upward flows in confined aquifers). Dissimilarity among the caves was very high (multiple-site β sim = 0.92). Two main groups of caves were revealed through the cluster analysis, one formed by the western caves and the other by the eastern ones. The significant-but low-correlation found between faunistic dissimilarity and geographical distance (r = .16) disappeared once the caves were split into the two groups. The extreme beta-diversity suggests a very low connection among the caves and/or a very low dispersal capacity of the species. In the region under study, two main factors are intimately related to the richness of terrestrial subterranean species in caves: the amount of organic material (trophic level) and the formation process (genesis). This is the first time that the history of a cave genesis has been quantitatively considered to assess its importance in explaining richness patterns in comparison with other factors more widely recognized.

Reference: Jimenez-Valverde, A., Sendra, A., Garay, P. & Reboleira, A.S.P.S. (2017). Energy and speleogenesis: key determinants of terrestrial species richness in caves. Ecology and Evolution, 7: 10207–10215. http://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3558

ABSTRACT
New records are given for secondary capilliconidia of Basidiobolus from several species of millipedes (Diplopoda) belonging to three different orders. The anamorph ‘Thaxteriola‟ stage of Rhynchomyces is recorded (with doubt) from a Brazilian millipede belonging to the order Spirostreptida. An enigmatic fungus showing characteristics of Coreomycetopsis, Hormiscioideus and Antennopsis is recorded from two species of Danish millipedes of the order Julida. Peculiar structures, tentatively referred to fungi are recorded from several millipede orders where they occur between micro–scutes of the external cuticle.

​Reference: Enghoff H. & Reboleira A.S.P.S. (2017). Diversity of non–Laboulbenialean fungi on millipedes. Studies in Fungi, 2(1): 130–137. http://doi.org/10.5943/sif/2/1/15

Dear Colleagues,
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We invite you to join us at the 24th International Conference on Subterranean Biology, to be held from August 20 to 24, 2018 in the University of Aveiro, Portugal.

The website (http://24icsb.web.ua.pt) has information on the meeting, including the preliminary program, information on housing, registration, and information on submission of abstracts. 

We are adding to the information regularly but we hope you will visit the website soon in order to make your plans for the meeting. Among the highlights we have an open call for pre-conference workshops.

Looking forward to see you in Portugal!

ABSTRACT
We present a checklist of subterranean millipedes from the Iberian Peninsula. Among the 16 orders of millipedes present worldwide, nine are represented in the Iberian Peninsula, of which five have troglobiont species: Polyxenida, Glomerida, Polydesmida, Chordeumatida and Julida. Currently, 75 species of troglobiont millipedes are known from the Iberian Peninsula, although only 68 have been described so far. Most of this diversity occurs in Spain, while only seven species are known from Portugal, two endemic to Gibraltar, and three in the Balearic archipelago. We compiled all of the literature and added our own records of the troglobiont millipedes known in the Iberian Peninsula.

Reference: Reboleira A.S.P.S. & Enghoff H. (2017). Subterranean millipedes (Diplopoda) of the Iberian Peninsula. Zootaxa, 4317(2): 355–369. http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4317.2.10

Participating in the European Environmental Law Forum 2017 at the University of Copenhagen, with a interdisciplinary work from Biodiversity and Law Making in order to adequate the EU Legislation for the sustainable ecological protection of subterranean ecosystems.

Reference: ​Martinez, B. & Reboleira A.S.P.S. (2017). Subterranean Biodiversity – the Endangered Biota Neglected by EU Conservation Legislation. Annual EELF Conference 2017 – Sustainable Management of Natural Resources – Legal Approaches & Instruments. University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Natural History Museum of Denmark Faculty of Science at University of Copenhagen is offering a PhD scholarship in Ecology and Ecotoxicology 01.12.2017 or as soon as possible thereafter.  
 
Project description        
This PhD will be working in collaboration with the advisor and a postdoc on a Villum Foundation funded project, which aims at understanding the impact of human activities on subterranean biodiversity. This work will provide ecotoxicological information on the sensitiveness of subterranean species across different taxa from habitats strategically selected to be representative of different climatic, geographical and impacted conditions. We seek candidates with a background in experimentaland theoretical ecotoxicology, practical experience in the evaluation, assessment and statistical evaluation of standard and "big data" originating from ecotoxicological experiments and monitoring efforts (concentration-response modeling, multivariate data analysis, etc.). Focus of the experimental work is the aquatic and terrestrial subterranean-adapted species, with an emphasis on groundwater-associated crustaceans, therefore some knowledge on crustacean taxonomics is a plus. The successful candidate should expect to spend a significant amount of time in thefield each year and visit external research institutions for a total of a few months throughout the project period. Overall aim will be to define the hazards and risks ofenvironmentally relevant contaminants on subterranean ecosystems at a global scale. However, there is room for developing own side projects within the overall theme of subterranean biology. Thus, a great sense of independent thinking and generation of own ideas is expected. 

Job description 
The position is available for a 3-year period and your key tasks as a PhD student at SCIENCE are: 
Manage and carry through your research project  
Attend PhD courses  
Participate and (co-)organize field work in subterranean ecosystems in different continents  
Participate on congresses/workshops  
Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis  
Teach and disseminate your research  
Stay abroad at an external research institutions for a few months  
Work for the Department (e.g., curation of scientific collections)  
 
Formal requirements  
We seek candidates with an academic background in ecotoxicology, qualifying for enrolment in the 3 year PhD programme. Good English language skills are necessary. As criteria for the assessment of the candidate’s qualifications, emphasis will also be put on publications (if any), grade-point average, relevant work experience in ecotoxicology preferably in subterranean ecosystems, and other professional activities. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience in maintaining cultures of subterranean invertebrate species and performing ecotoxicological assays. 

Terms of employment  
The position is covered by the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff.  
 
Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State.  
 
The starting salary is currently at a minimum DKK 312.879 including annual supplement (+ pension up to DKK 43.219). Negotiation for salary supplement is possible. 
 
Application Procedure 
The application, in English, must be submitted electronically.  
  
The deadline for applications is 12.09.2017, 23:59 GMT +1. Applications received after the deadline for applications will not be considered.  
 
APPLY HERE: jobportal.ku.dk/phd/?show=145731

I am recruiting one PhD student and one postdoc, to work in my research group based in the Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen. I seek independent, highly motivated persons who are interested in studying biodiversity and ecology of subterranean ecosystems, their relation with surface and how they respond to anthropogenic pressures. Please contact me if you are interested.
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