Journal Article

Topographic depressions provide potential microrefugia for ground-dwelling arthropods

Tölgyesi, Csaba, Torma, Attila, Gallé, Róbert, Maák, István Elek, Hornung, Elisabeth, Lőrinczi, Gábor, Hábenczyus, Alida Anna, Frei, Kata, Császár, Péter, Gallé-Szpisjak, Nikolett, Bátori, Zoltán, Nagy, Dávid D.

2022

Overview

Species can survive periods of unfavorable conditions in small areas that are protected from climate-related disturbances, such as increasing temperature and severe drought. These areas are known as “microrefugia” and are increasingly recognized by conservationists. Although some studies suggest that the in situ survival of invertebrate species may be mediated by topographically complex environments, there is little information about the main environmental factors that drive species distributions within such areas. Here, we investigate the spatial patterns and species trait composition (moisture preference, body size, dispersal capacity, and feeding habit) of five groups of ground-dwelling arthropods—spiders, woodlice, ants, ground beetles, and rove beetles—in topographic depressions (i.e., “solution dolines” or “solution sinkholes”) and on the surrounding plateau within a forested karst landscape and analyze the microhabitat conditions that affect these arthropod assemblages. We found that dolines have the capacity to maintain characteristic arthropod assemblages—including species that may be particularly vulnerable to climate change (e.g., species associated with moist habitats)—and thus, they may contribute to the landscape-scale biodiversity of karst landscapes. We also found that doline bottoms have the potential to maintain permanently moist conditions not only in spring and autumn but also during drier periods of the year. This ability of dolines may indicate the presence of potential hydrologic microrefugia. Furthermore, dolines displayed specific sets of species traits (e.g., more small-bodied spiders, more carnivorous ground beetles, and more rove beetles with high dispersal capacity occurred in dolines than on the plateau), highlighting that they may facilitate the persistence of some species and traits that are purged from the surrounding landscape. Future studies may reveal the long-term ecological consequences of different climatic and anthropogenic factors on the distribution and functional traits of arthropod taxa within microrefugia and on the refugial capacity of these safe havens under a warming climate.

• Publisher: University of California Press, Journals & Digital Publishing Division
• Subject: Anthropogenic factors / Arthropoda / Arthropods / Beetles / Biodiversity / Body size / Carabidae / Climate change / Dispersion / Drought / Ecological effects / Environmental factors / Flowers & plants / Geologic depressions / Geomorphology / Global warming / Habitats / Hydrology / Karst / Landscape / Microenvironments / Microhabitats / Moisture effects / Sinkholes / Species / Spiders / Staphylinidae / Topography