Local- versus broad-scale environmental drivers of continental ß-diversity patterns in subterranean spider communities across Europe.

Macroecologists seek to identify drivers of community turnover (ß-diversity) through broad spatial scales. However, the influence of local habitat features in driving broad-scale ß-diversity patterns remains largely untested, owing to the objective challenges of associating local-scale variables to continental-framed datasets. We examined the relative contribution of local- versus broad-scale drivers of continental ß-diversity patterns, using a uniquely suited dataset of cave-dwelling spider communities across Europe (35-70° latitude). Generalized dissimilarity modelling showed that geographical distance, mean annual temperature and size of the karst area in which caves occurred drove most of ß-diversity, with differential contributions of each factor according to the level of subterranean specialization. Highly specialized communities were mostly influenced by geographical distance, while less specialized communities were mostly driven by mean annual temperature. Conversely, local-scale habitat features turned out to be meaningless predictors of community change, which emphasizes the idea of caves as the human accessible fraction of the extended network of fissures that more properly represents the elective habitat of the subterranean fauna. To the extent that the effect of local features turned to be inconspicuous, caves emerge as experimental model systems in which to study broad biological patterns without the confounding effect of local habitat features.

Nesticus dimensis new species, a new troglobitic spider from Turkey (Araneae, Nesticidae), with comments on its phylogenetic relationships.

A new troglobitic spider species, Nesticus dimensis n. sp. (felmale male), inhabiting the Dim Cave of Alanya (Antalya Prov., Turkey) is diagnosed and described. The new species belongs to the Eastern Mediterranean Nesticus Group, which includes N. eremita and N. speluncarum as the most common and widespread species along with N. arenstorffi and N. henderickxi. Evolutionary relationships of the taxa belonging to this group of species are discussed on the basis of morphological and molecular data (using cox1, rrnL and H3 gene sequence data).

On the identity of Pardosa consimilis Nosek, 1905 with a first description of the male and notes on two related species (Araneae: Lycosidae).

More than a hundred years after its description in 1905, the wolf spider Pardosa consimilis Nosek, 1905 was known solely from the original description of a single female, the holotype. In the last decade there were reports of the species from Bulgaria. Several reports followed with possible records of the yet-unknown males but they were not described; these came from four countries at least: North Macedonia, Georgia, Albania and most recently from Iran. Pardosa consimilis belongs to the monticola group and can be assigned to separate albatula-complex. The aim of this article is to provide a description for the male of Pardosa consimilis for the first time and to redescribe the female, in comparison with its closest congeners P. albatula (Roewer, 1951) and P. blanda (C. L. Koch, 1833).

New taxonomic and faunistic data on the genus Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826 (Araneae: Zodariidae) in the Balkans, with the descriptions of two new species.

Two new species, Zodarion emilijae sp. n. () from North Macedonia and Z. weissi sp. n. () from Bulgaria are described and illustrated, and new taxonomic and faunistic data for six species, namely Z. blagoevi Bosmans, 2009, Z. epirense Brignoli, 1984, Z. konradi Bosmans, 2009, Z. rubidum Simon, 1914, Z. scutatum Wunderlich, 1980 and Z. zorba Bosmans, 2009 are presented. Five species are removed from the Bulgarian, the Greek or the North Macedonian checklists as doubtful, erroneous or definitely incorrectly identified records: Zodarion epirense Brignoli, 1984, Z. evvoia Bosmans, 2009, Z. germanicum (C. L. Koch, 1837), Z. graecum (C. L. Koch, 1843) and Z. italicum (Canestrini, 1868).

Fifty spider species new to the Bulgarian fauna, with a review of some dubious species (Arachnida: Araneae).

This study is a part of an ongoing comprehensive inventory of Bulgarian spiders. A total of fifty spider species belonging to thirteen families are reported for the first time from Bulgaria. Four species are rejected from the Bulgarian spider checklist due to misidentification: Callilepis concolor Simon, 1914, Centromerus capucinus (Simon, 1884), Hoplopholcus labyrinthi (Kulczynski, 1903) and Mansuphantes prope fragilis (Thorell, 1875). Another four species (Drassodes villosus (Thorell, 1856), Entelecara flavipes (Blackwall, 1834), Lepthyphantes notabilis Kulczynski, 1887 and Singa semiatra L. Koch, 1867) are rejected after a new interpretation of the locations. Six species were omitted from the list of Bulgarian spiders as obviously doubtful records (Dysdera nicaeensis Thorell, 1873, Haplodrassus rufipes (Lucas, 1846), Harpactea hispana (Simon, 1882), Macaroeris cata (Blackwall, 1867), Nomisia celerrima (Simon, 1914) and Tenuiphantes monachus (Simon, 1884)). A new synonymy is proposed for Cyclosa strandjae Drensky, 1915 (= Cyclosa sierrae Simon, 1870 syn. nov.). In addition, new images with essential taxonomic value are provided for twenty-five species to facilitate their identification or to illustrate their intraspecific variability. To ensure correct identification, DNA barcoding was additionally used in some species.

Description of Harpactea popovi sp. n. from Bulgaria with further taxonomic notes on related species (Araneae, Dysderidae).

Harpactea popovi sp. n. is described and illustrated based on males. It was collected in beech forest habitats (Fagus orientalis) in Strandzha Mountain, Southeastern Bulgaria. The new species belongs to the Harpactea rubicunda species group as defined by Deeleman-Reinhold (1993) and is closely related to H. ice Komnenov Chatzaki, 2016 and H. sturanyi (Nosek, 1905). The following synonymies were established: H. camenarum Brignoli, 1977 = H. sturanyi (Nosek, 1905) syn. n., H. lyciae Brignoli, 1978 = H. sturanyi (Nosek, 1905) syn. n. New illustrations and photographs for the discussed species are also presented.

Continental data on cave-dwelling spider communities across Europe (Arachnida: Araneae).

BACKGROUND: Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) are widespread in subterranean ecosystems worldwide and represent an important component of subterranean trophic webs. Yet, global-scale diversity patterns of subterranean spiders are still mostly unknown. In the frame of the CAWEB project, a European joint network of cave arachnologists, we collected data on cave-dwelling spider communities across Europe in order to explore their continental diversity patterns. Two main datasets were compiled: one listing all subterranean spider species recorded in numerous subterranean localities across Europe and another with high resolution data about the subterranean habitat in which they were collected. From these two datasets, we further generated a third dataset with individual geo-referenced occurrence records for all these species. NEW INFORMATION: Data from 475 geo-referenced subterranean localities (caves, mines and other artificial subterranean sites, interstitial habitats) are herein made available. For each subterranean locality, information about the composition of the spider community is provided, along with local geomorphological and habitat features. Altogether, these communities account for > 300 unique taxonomic entities and 2,091 unique geo-referenced occurrence records, that are made available via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (Mammola and Cardoso 2019). This dataset is unique in that it covers both a large geographic extent (from 35° south to 67° north) and contains high-resolution local data on geomorphological and habitat features. Given that this kind of high-resolution data are rarely associated with broad-scale datasets used in macroecology, this dataset has high potential for helping researchers in tackling a range of biogeographical and macroecological questions, not necessarily uniquely related to arachnology or subterranean biology.

A new spider species, Heser stoevi sp. nov., from Turkmenistan (Araneae: Gnaphosidae).

BACKGROUND: The genus Heser (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) belongs to the Zelotes group, and is currently known to comprise 10 species distributed in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. The type species is Heser malefactor Tuneva, 2004 from Kazakhstan. NEW INFORMATION: A new spider species, Heser stoevi sp. nov. (male and female) found in Koytendag Mountains, southeastern Turkmenistan is described and illustrated. It is morphologically close to H. aradensis (Levy, 1998) from Israel but can be readily distinguished by the longer embolus, the smaller and flattened conductor, the lack of retrolateral tibial apophysis, all this coupled with very distinctive female copulatory organs. The new species was found under stones in arid grassland habitats.

A new Agraecina spider species from the Balkan Peninsula (FYR Macedonia) (Araneae: Liocranidae).

        Specimens were collected using pitfall traps. Coloration is described from alcohol-preserved specimens. Specimens were examined and measured using a Wild M5A stereomicroscope. Further details were studied and measured under an Olympus BX41 compound microscope. All drawings were made using a drawing apparatus attached to a Leica stereomicroscope. Male palps and female genitalia were examined and illustrated after they were dissected from the spiders' bodies. Photos were taken with an Olympus C7070 wide zoom digital camera mounted on an Olympus SZX12 stereomicroscope. The images were montaged using Helicon Focus image stacking software. Measurements of the legs are taken from the dorsal side. Total length of the body includes the chelicerae. All measurements were taken in mm. Abbreviations used in text include: AME, anterior median eyes; ALE, anterior lateral eyes; EM, embolus; MA, median apophysis; CD, copulatory duct; ST, spermatheca; fe, femur; pa, patella; ti, tibia; mt, metatarsus; p, prolateral; d, dorsal; r, retrolateral; v, ventral. Type specimens are deposited in the National Museum of Natural History (NMNHS), Sofia, Bulgaria.

Faunistic diversity of spiders (Araneae) in Galichitsa mountain (FYR Macedonia).

A total of 294 species from 31 families have been found in Galichitsa Mt. Of them, 85 species are new to the mountain, while 20 are also new to the fauna of FYR of Macedonia. According to their current distribution the established species can be assigned to 17 zoogeographical categories, grouped into 5 complexes (Cosmopolitan, Holarctic, European, Mediterranean, Endemics of Balkans). Dominant are Holarctic species (66.0%) followed by European (16.5%) and Mediterranean (9.3%). The endemics (6.2%) and Southeast European species (1.7%) emphasize the local character of this fauna, but its low percentage suggests an important process of colonization.