Epikarst Drives Speciation in Stygobiotic Harpacticoid
Copepods: An Integrative Taxonomic Study of Elaphoidella in the
Western Carpathians with Description of a New Species

J 2026

Epikarst Drives Speciation in Stygobiotic Harpacticoid Copepods: An Integrative Taxonomic Study of Elaphoidella in the Western Carpathians with Description of a New Species

RENDOS, Michal; Dana KLÍMOVÁ HŘÍVOVÁ; Andrea DESIDERATO; Dagmar HAVIAROVA; Michal GRABOWSKI et al.

Základní údaje

Originální název

Epikarst Drives Speciation in Stygobiotic Harpacticoid Copepods: An Integrative Taxonomic Study of Elaphoidella in the Western Carpathians with Description of a New Species

Autoři

RENDOS, Michal; Dana KLÍMOVÁ HŘÍVOVÁ; Andrea DESIDERATO; Dagmar HAVIAROVA; Michal GRABOWSKI a Maciej KARPOWICZ

Vydání

ZOOLOGICA SCRIPTA, WILEY, 2026, 0300-3256

Další údaje

Jazyk

angličtina

Typ výsledku

Článek v odborném periodiku

Obor

10613 Zoology

Stát vydavatele

Spojené státy

Utajení

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Odkazy

URL

Impakt faktor

Impact factor: 2.000 v roce 2024

Označené pro přenos do RIV

Ano

Organizační jednotka

Přírodovědecká fakulta

Klíčová slova anglicky

genetic differentiation; groundwater ecosystems; morphological divergence; karst aquifers; subterranean crustaceans

Štítky

14314020, rivok

Příznaky

Mezinárodní význam, Recenzováno

Změněno: 26. 1. 2026 14:44, Mgr. Marie Novosadová Šípková, DiS.

Anotace

V originále

This study examines cryptic diversity and speciation processes within stygobiotic harpacticoid copepods of the genus Elaphoidella, which inhabit the epikarst of the Dem & auml;nov & aacute; Valley Karst in Slovakia. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, we employed molecular phylogenetic analyses of COI and 28S rRNA gene fragments, molecular species delimitation methods, and traditional taxonomy to describe a new species, Elaphoidella droppai sp. n. Genetic data revealed significant divergence between E. droppai sp. n. and E. phreatica, which was supported by distinct clustering in phylogenetic trees. Molecular species delimitation methods consistently identified E. droppai sp. n. as a separate evolutionary unit. Despite sharing the same swimming leg pattern, notable morphological differences were observed, particularly in the P5, the furca, and the row of spines on the anal segment. The highly reduced female P5 represents a unique feature within Elaphoidella. Further analysis of the genital segments of females in both species revealed significant differences in segment dimensions and genital pore structure, suggesting reproductive isolation. These findings demonstrate that karstic vadose zones, particularly the epikarst, can act as a driver of speciation in subterranean fauna and a reservoir of hidden biodiversity. This integrative taxonomic study not only expands the known diversity of Elaphoidella in the Carpathian region but also underscores the importance of integrating genetic and morphological data for species discovery and understanding evolutionary processes in isolated subterranean habitats.

Citovat

RENDOS, Michal; Dana KLÍMOVÁ HŘÍVOVÁ; Andrea DESIDERATO; Dagmar HAVIAROVA; Michal GRABOWSKI a Maciej KARPOWICZ. Epikarst Drives Speciation in Stygobiotic Harpacticoid Copepods: An Integrative Taxonomic Study of Elaphoidella in the Western Carpathians with Description of a New Species. ZOOLOGICA SCRIPTA. WILEY, 2026, roč. 55, č. 1, s. 153-165. ISSN 0300-3256. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.70018.

@article{2549543,
   author = {Rendos, Michal and Klímová Hřívová, Dana and Desiderato, Andrea and Haviarova, Dagmar and Grabowski, Michal and Karpowicz, Maciej},
   article_number = {1},
   doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.70018},
   keywords = {genetic differentiation; groundwater ecosystems; morphological divergence; karst aquifers; subterranean crustaceans},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0300-3256},
   journal = {ZOOLOGICA SCRIPTA},
   title = {Epikarst Drives Speciation in Stygobiotic Harpacticoid Copepods: An Integrative Taxonomic Study of Elaphoidella in the Western Carpathians with Description of a New Species},
   url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.70018Digital%20Object%20Identifier%20(DOI)},
   volume = {55},
   year = {2026}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2549543
AU  - Rendos, Michal - Klímová Hřívová, Dana - Desiderato, Andrea - Haviarova, Dagmar - Grabowski, Michal - Karpowicz, Maciej
PY  - 2026
TI  - Epikarst Drives Speciation in Stygobiotic Harpacticoid Copepods: An Integrative Taxonomic Study of Elaphoidella in the Western Carpathians with Description of a New Species
JF  - ZOOLOGICA SCRIPTA
VL  - 55
IS  - 1
SP  - 153-165
EP  - 153-165
PB  - WILEY
SN  - 03003256
KW  - genetic differentiation
KW  - groundwater ecosystems
KW  - morphological divergence
KW  - karst aquifers
KW  - subterranean crustaceans
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.70018Digital%20Object%20Identifier%20(DOI)
N2  - This study examines cryptic diversity and speciation processes within stygobiotic harpacticoid copepods of the genus Elaphoidella, which inhabit the epikarst of the Dem & auml;nov & aacute; Valley Karst in Slovakia. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, we employed molecular phylogenetic analyses of COI and 28S rRNA gene fragments, molecular species delimitation methods, and traditional taxonomy to describe a new species, Elaphoidella droppai sp. n. Genetic data revealed significant divergence between E. droppai sp. n. and E. phreatica, which was supported by distinct clustering in phylogenetic trees. Molecular species delimitation methods consistently identified E. droppai sp. n. as a separate evolutionary unit. Despite sharing the same swimming leg pattern, notable morphological differences were observed, particularly in the P5, the furca, and the row of spines on the anal segment. The highly reduced female P5 represents a unique feature within Elaphoidella. Further analysis of the genital segments of females in both species revealed significant differences in segment dimensions and genital pore structure, suggesting reproductive isolation. These findings demonstrate that karstic vadose zones, particularly the epikarst, can act as a driver of speciation in subterranean fauna and a reservoir of hidden biodiversity. This integrative taxonomic study not only expands the known diversity of Elaphoidella in the Carpathian region but also underscores the importance of integrating genetic and morphological data for species discovery and understanding evolutionary processes in isolated subterranean habitats.
ER  -

RENDOS, Michal; Dana KLÍMOVÁ HŘÍVOVÁ; Andrea DESIDERATO; Dagmar HAVIAROVA; Michal GRABOWSKI a Maciej KARPOWICZ. Epikarst Drives Speciation in Stygobiotic Harpacticoid Copepods: An Integrative Taxonomic Study of Elaphoidella in the Western Carpathians with Description of a New Species. \textit{ZOOLOGICA SCRIPTA}. WILEY, 2026, roč.~55, č.~1, s.~153-165. ISSN~0300-3256. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.70018.

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