Abstract
Romania, by its position in East-Central Europe has a complex geological history, high landscape heterogeneity and variable climatic conditions, ranging from temperate-continental in the northeast to sub-Mediterranean in the southwest. These conditions have created repeated waves of colonisation of groundwater by copepods, which raise particular interest in this group from a biogeographical perspective. The earliest investigations on groundwater copepods, dating back to the beginning of the 19thcentury, have resulted in a wealth of information on the richness of this group, making Romania one of the best studied regions from this perspective in Europe. Groundwater copepods in Romania are currently represented by 107 species and subspecies, of which 60 are harpacticoids (56%) and 47 are cyclopoids (43.9%). Of these, 50.5% are strict stygobites (32.7% harpacticoids and 17.7% cyclopoids). Among stygobite copepods 29 species (35 harpacticoids and 19 cyclopoids) are endemic to the country. Almost 86% of the species are single-site endemics (single cave, or single hyporheic or phreatic site) and the rest are restricted in distribution to a single aquifer or hydrographic basin. The aim of the present checklist represents a significant contribution to the knowledge of groundwater copepods in Romania and provides a sound baseline for future comparative faunal studies focused on the affinities and origins of copepods and the analysis of their biogeographical distribution patterns at regional and continental scales.
Highlights
Crustaceans are the most diversified group of aquatic invertebrates in groundwater, representing more than 65% of the total groundwater species currently known from Europe (Danielopol et al 2000; Deharveng et al 2009; Gibert et al 2009; Iannella et al 2020)
Groundwater copepods in Romania are currently represented by 107 species and subspecies, of which 60 are harpacticoids (56%) and 47 are cyclopoids (43.9%)
The aim of the present checklist represents a significant contribution to the knowledge of groundwater copepods in Romania and provides a sound baseline for future comparative faunal studies focused on the affinities and origins of copepods and the analysis of their biogeographical distribution patterns at regional and continental scales
Summary
Crustaceans are the most diversified group of aquatic invertebrates in groundwater, representing more than 65% of the total groundwater species currently known from Europe (Danielopol et al 2000; Deharveng et al 2009; Gibert et al 2009; Iannella et al 2020). Copepods are highly diversified in groundwaters and commonly subjected to isolation and allopatric speciation and discontinuous distributions because of vicariance in isolated areas or following ancient drainage patterns (Stoch 1995; Galassi 2001; Galassi et al 2009; Gibert et al 2009) They have restricted dispersal capabilities and are limited by the availability of space and the fragmentary nature of groundwater habitats (Galassi 2001; Stoch et al 2009; Stoch and Galassi 2010). An essential factor contributing to the diversity and distribution of copepods in European groundwaters is related to past and present climatic conditions (Galassi 2001; Eme et al 2014)
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