The cold-adapted population ofFolsomia manolachei(Hexapoda, Collembola) from a glaciated karst doline of Central Europe: evidence for a cryptic species?

Research on the Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst reveals evidence suggesting that Folsomia manolachei, a common European springtail, may represent a complex of cryptic species adapted to extreme karst environments. Genetic analysis using mitochondrial COI barcoding identified significant intra- and interspecific genetic differentiation in populations, with the cold-adapted population from Silická ľadnica Ice Cave showing exceptional resilience to low temperatures (LD50 of −7.8°C), outperforming other F. manolachei and related species like F. penicula. The study highlights a potential cryptic speciation event in harsh karst microhabitats, supported by a distinct barcoding gap and survival data. These findings challenge the notion of phenotypic plasticity in F. manolachei, offering insights into its evolutionary adaptation to glaciated karst ecosystems.

Raschmanová, N., Žurovcová, M., Kováč, Ľ., Paučulová, L., Šustr, V., Jarošová, A., & Chundelová, D. (2016). The cold-adapted population ofFolsomia manolachei(Hexapoda, Collembola) from a glaciated karst doline of Central Europe: evidence for a cryptic species? Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 55(1), 19–28. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzs.12150