Abstract
The genus Plagigeyeria Tomlin, 1930 is one of the most typical elements representing the stygobiont fauna in the southern Dinaric Alps. In the current study I present the territory of Hercegovina (and its adjacent regions of Bjelašnica and the Dalmatian coast containing transboundary aquifers) as one of the two main biodiversity hotspots for distribution of the genus. It is comparable with the species radiation of Plagigeyeria in the Kotor Bay–Skadar Lake Basin area. My study of the karst springs and caves revealed, besides the presently known species, twelve new Plagigeyeria taxa detected in so-far uninvestigated karstic aquifers: Plagigeyeria erossi sp. nov., P. ljutaensis sp. nov., P. konjicensis sp. nov., P. pseudocostellina sp. nov., P. reischuetzorum sp. nov., P. olsavskyi sp. nov., P. listicaensis sp. nov., P. ozimeci sp. nov., P. jakabi sp. nov., P. angyaldorkae sp. nov., P. vriosticaensis sp. nov. and P. lewarnei sp. nov. Closer shell morphology investigation supported by the protoconch morphology revealed a presence of another genus within the former Plagigeyeria complex. The following taxa are transferred herein to Travunijana Glöer & Grego, 2019: Plagigeyeria robusta Schütt, 1959, P. robusta asculpta Schütt, 1972, P. ovalis Kuščer, 1933, P. edlaueri Schütt, 1961, P. klemmi Schütt, 1961, P. nitida Schütt, 1963, P. angelovi Schütt, 1972 and P. tribunicae Schütt, 1963, plus a new species, Travunijana gloeri sp. nov., is described for the genus. Distribution maps of both genera, Plagigeyeria and Travunijana, over the karst aquifers of Hercegovina and adjacent regions are presented with respect to the hydrogeological separation of the known spring karst conduits and aquifers.
Highlights
The Dinaric Alps mountain range with 60 000 square kilometres of karst and its whole length of 645 km frames the eastern Adriatic coast of the Western Balkan Peninsula
The lower part of the Neretva valley is typical of aquifers based on large alluvial gravel deposits, here forming a remarkable hyporheic zone of the karstic Neretva Delta and containing several lakes along the concentrated spring zones of Hutovo (Svitavsko) Blato, Deranjsko Jezero near Svitava, Peračko Blato and Baćinska Jezera near Ploče in Croatia
Distribution The distribution of Plagigeyeria in the studied area represents a hotspot within the Neretva and South Bosnia River drainage basins ranging from Ilidža near Sarajevo southwards to Mostar, Tihaljina and Trebinje (Fig. 18)
Summary
The Dinaric Alps (or Dinarides) mountain range with 60 000 square kilometres of karst and its whole length of 645 km frames the eastern Adriatic coast of the Western Balkan Peninsula. The numerous geomorphologically closed basins named “Karst Poljes” are hydrogeologically characterised by occasional flooding by European Journal of Taxonomy 691: 1–56 (2020) Their own springs (vrelo or vrilo) and estavelles, and with their own swallow-hole (ponor) system draining each basin (Bonacci 2014; Stumberger et al 2014). The largest subterranean hydrological aquifers of the Dinarides are more or less well defined (Stevanović et al 2014; Milanović 2018) This same hydrological scenario typical for the Dinarides can be found in the historical western part of the region of Hercegovina (currently within the country of Bosnia and Hercegovina) (Fig. 1), where the numerous karst conduits are drained by the spectacular canyon and basin of the Neretva River, and its tributaries of the Trebižat, Bregava, Rama, Radobolja, Lištica, Ljuta, Buna and Bunica Rivers and by a small, though variable, part of the Trebišnjica River Basin. Mollusca had been a subject of intensive research especially during the last decade (Beran et al 2014, 2016; Bilandžija et al 2013; Boeters et al 2013; Cindrić & Slapnik 2012; Glöer & Pešić 2014; Glöer & Grego 2015; Glöer et al 2015; Grego et al 2018; Pešić & Glöer 2012, 2013a, 2013b; Reischütz et al 2013, 2014. 2016; Rysiewska et al 2017)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
