Abstract
Cave-dwelling ground beetles in China represent the most impressive specific diversity and morphological adaptations of the cavernicolous ground beetles in the world, but they have not been systematically examined in quantitative terms. The present study focuses on the application of geometric morphological methods to address the morphological adaptations of the tribe Trechini, the most representative group in China. We have employed a geometric morphometry analysis of the head, pronotum, and elytra of 53 genera of Trechini, including 132 hypogean and 8 epigean species. Our results showed that the overall morphological variation of cave carabids has gradually specialized from an anophthalmic to semi-aphaenopsian to aphaenopsian type. There were extremely significant differences (p < 0.01) among four different adaptive types including aphaenopsian, semi-aphaenopsian, anophthalmic, and surface-dwelling Trechini when their adaptability to a cave environment was used as the basis for grouping. Furthermore, there were differences in the phenotypic tree of the head, pronotum, and elytra, and an integrated morphology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the analysis of the head, pronotum, and elytra of four different adaptive types of ground beetles in order to clarify the morphological adaptations of cavernicolous carabids to the cave environment.
Highlights
ChinaChinaisis very very rich rich in in cave-dwelling cave-dwelling ground ground beetles. beetles
Based on a geometric morphometric approach, the present paper provides, for the first time, an analysis of the head, pronotum, and elytra of four different adaptive types of ground beetles in order to clarify the morphological adaptations of cavernicolous carabids to the cave environment
Most previous studies in this area have focused on changes in the morphology of cave-dwelling ground beetles after their longterm adaptation to cave life [51,52,53]
Summary
Introduction ChinaChinaisis very very rich rich in in cave-dwelling cave-dwelling ground ground beetles. beetles. Chinaisis very very rich rich in in cave-dwelling cave-dwelling ground ground beetles. At. 202 species species of of cave cave carabids carabidsbelonging belongingto to88tribes tribesand and. 71genera generahave havebeen beenrecorded, recorded,among amongwhich whichthe theTreTrechini is the most diverse group including species from genera [1,2]. All of them are chini is the most diverse group including 175 species from 63 genera [1,2]. All of them troglobionts and completely lack eyes, except for four troglophiles with more or less deare troglobionts and completely lack eyes, except for four troglophiles with more or less generated eyes [3].[3]. In In addition to to thethe disappearance degenerated eyes addition disappearanceofoftheir theireyes, eyes,cavernicolous cavernicolouscarabids carabids underwent underwentmorphological morphologicalmodifications modifications during during long-term long-term adaptation adaptation to tothe thesubterranean subterranean environment
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
