Over the last 40 years, hypogenic karst/caves have become well known and hypogene speleogenesis has been used to explain the formation of some of the largest subterranean maze caves. These hypogenic systems involve confined aquifers with upwards flow, responsible for their karstification. Such spaces begun and could be remain isolated from the surface and the contiguous subterranean habitats, including the shallow ones. We studied the invertebrate fauna and the geology/speleogenesis of two recently opened caves from Eastern Iberian Peninsula, which clearly showed features of hypogenic origin. Their scarce faunistic composition, formed by non cave-adapted fauna, is similar to other hypogenic caves from Europe and North America, suggesting that there are restrictions for faunal colonization of the hypogenic subterranean ecosystems. We propose differentiating the hypogenic from the epigenic subterranean ecosystem based on the fact that the first one lacks fauna during its genesis. This new scenario may have consequences in the regional biodiversity patterns of troglobiont species.

Reference:
Sendra A., Garay P., Ortuño V.M., Gilgado J.D., Teruel S. & Reboleira A.S.P.S. (2014). Hypogenic versus epigenic subterranean ecosystem: lessons from eastern Iberian Peninsula. International Journal of Speleology, 43(3): 253-264. http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.43.3.2 

Group photo in the Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros

Lectures in a cave

The Department of Biology of the University of Aveiro has organized a Biospeleology Workshop for Biology students.
This activity has had the support of the Núcleo de Espeleologia da Universidade de Aveiro, Carsoscópio - Centro de Ciência Viva do Alviela and Parque Natural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros do Instituto de Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas.

ABSTRACT
Two new species of the genus Cylindroiulus Verhoeff, 1894, C. julesvernei and C. oromii, are described from the subterranean ecosystem of Madeira Island, Portugal. Species are illustrated with photographs and diagrammatic drawings. The new species belong to the Cylindroiulus madeirae-group, an insular species swarm distributed in the archipelagos of Madeira and the Canary Islands. We discuss the differences between the new species and their relatives and present information on the subterranean environment of Madeira. An updated overview of the subterranean biodiversity of millipedes in Macaronesia is also provided.

Reference:
Reboleira A.S.P.S. & Enghoff H. (2014). Insular species swarm goes underground: new troglobiont Cylindroiulus millipedes from Madeira (Diplopoda, Julidae). Zootaxa, 3785(3): 481-489.

ABSTRACT
A new genus Sireuma is described to accommodate a new species, S. nobile, from a cave in Portugal. The unique features of the male gonopods and the absence of a postvulvar organ support the creation of a new genus. The new species is illustrated with scanning electron micrographs and diagrammatic drawings. Differences vis-à-vis its relatives are discussed, and information on the environment in which the new species was found is also provided.

Reference:
Reboleira A.S.P.S. & Enghoff H. (2014). Sireuma, a new genus of subterranean millipedes from the Iberian Peninsula (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Opisthocheiridae). Zootaxa, 3785(1): 79-86. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3785.1.6 

Lusitanipus alternans and Borreviulisoma barrocalense

ABSTRACT
Millipedes play an important role in the decomposition of organic matter in the subterranean environment. Despite the existence of several cave-adapted species of millipedes in adjacent geographic areas, their study has been largely ignored in Portugal.
Over the last decade, intense fieldwork in caves of the mainland and the island of Madeira has provided new data about the distribution and diversity of millipedes. A review of millipedes from caves of Portugal is presented, listing fourteen species belonging to eight families, among which six species are considered troglobionts. The distribution of millipedes in caves of Portugal is discussed and compared with the troglobiont biodiversity in the overall Iberian Peninsula and the Macaronesian archipelagos.


Reference:
Reboleira A.S.P.S. & Enghoff H. (2014). Millipedes (Diplopoda) from caves of Portugal. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, 76(1): 20-25. http://dx.doi.org/10.4311/2013LSC0113