Karst Dolines Research Articles

Springs of the Arabian Desert: Hydrogeology and Hydrochemistry of Abu Jir Springs, Central Iraq

The Arabian Desert is characterised by very low rainfall and high evaporation, yet over 210 springs are on its northeastern edge in central Iraq along the Abu Jir lineament, which represents the western depositional margin of a foreland basin infilled by the floodplain sediments of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; there is little evidence of faulting. The springs discharge from gently east-dipping Paleocene–Eocene limestones, either where groundwater flowpaths intersect the ground surface or where groundwater flow is forced to the surface by confining aquitards. Calculated annual recharge to the aquifer system across the Arabian Desert plateau (130–500 million m3) is significant, largely due to rapid infiltration through karst dolines, such that karst porosity is the primary enabler of groundwater recharge. The recharge is enough to maintain flow at the Abu Jir springs, but active management of groundwater extraction for agriculture is required for their long-term sustainability. The hydrochemistry of the springs is determined by evaporation, rainfall composition (high SO4 concentrations are due to the dissolution of wind-blown gypsum in rainfall), and plant uptake of Ca and K (despite the sparse vegetation). Limestone dissolution has relatively little impact; many of the springs are undersaturated with respect to calcite and lack tufa/travertine deposits. The springs at Hit-Kubaysa contain tar and high levels of H2S that probably seeped upwards along subvertical faults from underlying oil reservoirs; this is the only location along the Abu Jir lineament where deep-seated faults penetrate to the surface. The presence of hydrocarbons reduces the Hit-Kubaysa spring water and converts the dissolved SO4 to H2S.

Karst landforms as microrefugia for soil Collembola: Open versus forested dolines

Enclosed surficial karst dolines are geomorphologically diverse habitats with the potential to strongly shape community structure and the distribution of functional groups of organisms. Forest habitats in karst landscapes are characterized by lower soil temperatures and microclimatic fluctuations compared to open habitats; therefore, they may provide favorable conditions for cold-adapted/psychrophilic species, which are highly vulnerable to climate warming. We compared the diversity and structure of soil Collembola communities at sites along microclimatic gradients in open and forested karst dolines. The effect of topography and related environmental conditions on the distribution of ecological groups of soil Collembola was analyzed, and the function of the dolines as potential climate refugia for psychrophilic arthropods was assessed. The karst dolines revealed significant habitat heterogeneity, including warm plateaus and S-facing slopes and colder and wetter bottoms and N-facing slopes. The inner sites of the dolines had an overall higher abundance and species richness compared to the plateau sites. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination revealed a clear delimitation of Collembola communities in terms of warmer and cooler sites in the open dolines, while the forested dolines did not reveal such a clear pattern. The studied dolines showed a potential to serve as microrefugia in the context of global climate change. Dolines could support the long-term persistence of at least some species such as cold-adapted species. Karst dolines in the temperate zone play a key role in maintaining biodiversity; therefore, they should be central in biodiversity conservation programs.

First record of the rare boreo-alpine moss Herzogiella striatella (Brid.) Z. Iwats. in the Western Balkans

The rare boreo-alpine moss Herzogiella striatella was found on Mt Snježnik (W Croatia) in 2015 and constitutes the first national record. Two populations were recorded inside an old and hardly accessible spruce forest on steep boulders (Lonicero caerulae-Piceetum) along the Frankopanski Put hiking path. The markedly cool and humid microclimate ensured by small karst dolines within the forest shapes the specific bryophyte species composition with the elements of snowbed and timberline pine krummholz vegetation and the domination of boreal and arctic taxa. Due to its pronounced isolation from other European populations, the species is certainly of relict origin in Croatian Dinaric Alps.

Karst Dolines Support Highly Diversified Soil Collembola Communities—Possible Refugia in a Warming Climate?

Karst dolines, as geomorphologically diverse natural landforms, usually exhibit more or less steep microclimatic gradients that provide a mosaic of diverse microhabitat conditions, resulting in a high diversity of soil biota with numerous rare endemic and/or relict species occupying these habitats. In this study, we investigated the spatial patterns of Collembola abundance, species richness, community structure and distribution of functional groups at topographically and microclimatically different sites across three open (unforested) karst dolines in a north-south direction in the Slovak Karst, Slovakia. We also assessed the refugial capacity of dolines for collembolan communities. The Friedman ANOVA test confirmed the significant differences in soil mean temperatures between the sites of all the dolines selected. The diverse soil microclimatic conditions within the dolines supported higher Collembola diversity (species numbers, diversity indices) compared with sites on the karst plateau and showed a potential to facilitate the persistence of some species that are absent or very rare in the surrounding landscape. In dolines with circular morphology and comparable size, the topography and soil microclimate had a stronger effect on community composition and structure than soil organic carbon. Shallow solution dolines provided microhabitats for various functional groups of soil Collembola in relation to the microclimatic character of the individual sites. It was observed that such landforms can also function as microclimatic refugia for cold-adapted species through the accumulation of colder air and the buffering of the local microclimate against the ambient mesoclimate, thus underlying the necessity of adequate attention in terms of the conservation of the karst natural phenomena.

Base-level poljes in the Sivas gypsum karst, Türkiye

The Sivas Basin, Central Anatolia, includes one of the most outstanding gypsum karst terrains in the world, covering an area of 2140 km2. The karst landscapes are developed on late Eocene gypsum deposits. The fact that the polje shapes that are commonly seen in the limestone karst terrain also seen in the Sivas gypsum karst area further increases the importance of this area in terms of geomorphology. This study is focused on the explanation of the morphometric properties and formation mechanism of poljes around the Kızılırmak River in the Sivas gypsum karst area. The geomorphological evolution of the Sivas gypsum karst area was controlled by the Kızılırmak River drainage system formed in the Early Pliocene. Polygonal doline karst is common on the High Karst Plateau (or erosional-denudational surface) formed during this evolution process, while subsidence dolines, hanging valleys, and poljes are common on the Low Karst Plateau. A total of 14 poljes, most of which are drained underground, and a corrosion plain were identified around the Kızılırmak River in the Low Karst Plateau. The boundaries of some of the poljes, the area of the largest of which is 6.3 km2, and hence their strike is controlled by faults. These poljes are base-level poljes, which bases are approximately at the river level and developed in the water table fluctuation zone. In addition to the structural lines in the formation of the poljes, the beginning of a blind valley-like karstification process, especially in the lower parts of the hanging valleys, mostly as a result of the collapse doline formation (showing the estevalle feature), changes in the water table level in the epiphreatic zone, and in addition to the precipitation, the aggressive river floodwaters that invaded the polje floor were effective. Due to the rapid dissolution of gypsum, the development of polje must have been affected by the incision and deposition periods of the river. The Tödürge Lake depression most probably has been shaped by collapse dolines.

Soil organic carbon stock capacity in karst dolines under different land uses

The soil organic carbon (SOC) was determined in soils of enclosed karst depressions (dolines) (NW Dinaric Mts.) to define their potential for organic carbon sequestration. SOC was measured in the forest, succession (scrubland), and grassland plots at the bottom of dolines at four depths (0–40 cm) and for 40 cm soil layer SOC stock was calculated. We demonstrated that the prevailing fine soil fractions, the C/N ratio and soil thickness play a positive role in the storage capacity of SOC in dolines regardless land use type. Grasslands have the lowest SOC storage capacity (106 t/ha/40 cm), while the highest SOC storage capacity is in succession plots (130 t/ha/40 cm). The last are covered by shrub communities dominated by Prunus spinosa, forming dense communities, and are typical of abandoned croplands or meadows that have been impacted by high levels of nutrients during cultivation phase. At this stage, there is no additional nutrient input in studied plots, which lowers the nutrient content and increases the C/N ratio. C/N ratio is the highest in the forest, where SOC stock capacity is 116 t/ha/40 cm. Given the trend towards the abandonment of agricultural land at Kras Plateau (SW Slovenia), we can expect more overgrowth of dolines, and thus an increase in carbon stocks and stabilization of organic carbon in forest soils. In contrary, we noticed the alarming decrease in grasslands and increase in urban land. The SOC storage in 2020 was for 12,538 t/ha/40 cm lower than in 2002. Although grasslands showed the lowest SOC storage, their contribution to total SOC storage in dolines is very important. Since there is a lack of studies on carbon stocks in doline soils, our research is of great importance and a novelty and gives an important background for further research on SOC stock in karst landscapes worldwide.

Microclimate and habitat heterogeneity as important drivers of soil Collembola in a karst collapse doline in the temperate zone

AbstractChanges in well‐delimited Collembola communities along a steep microclimatic gradient at the entrance of Silická ľadnica Ice Cave, Slovakia, were investigated after 10 years (2007, 2017). We focused on the occurrence of psychrophilic and endemic species occupying this unique karst collapse doline and their response to climatic singularities in the given years as well as the increasing trend in regional air temperature. The soil temperature means at sites across the doline slope corresponded with climatic trends in the periods 2006–2007 and 2016–2017. Significantly lower average soil temperatures but significantly higher mean abundances, species richness, and diversity indices of the collembolan communities were recorded at sites during the second study period, which was characterized by more favorable soil microclimatic conditions (temperature and moisture content) compared to the first period. The dominance structure and community composition of the studied assemblages appeared to be relatively constant after 10 years, indicating stable collembolan communities, especially at cold sites at the bottom of the doline. Redundancy ordination analysis documented a clear delimitation of the communities in relation to the soil temperature, pH, and C:N ratio in both periods. Long‐term (30‐year) regional climatic data showed an increasing trend of annual air temperature means and precipitation. However, an increase in the number and abundance of xerothermophilous species and a decline in psychrophilic species (mostly endemic) along the gradient as a potential response of the increasing regional temperature were not observed, suggesting the high resilience of these communities. Microclimate and habitat heterogeneity are probably major drivers of soil Collembola communities along the steep microclimatic gradient of a karst collapse doline, which was observed by the repeated sampling after 10 years. Karst dolines as potentially important local sources of ɑ‐diversity will likely become increasingly indispensable refugia for local biodiversity under ongoing global warming, thus deserving reliable conservation.

Application of GIS in the process of identification and tourist valorization of doline karst landscapes and terrains in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Soluble rocks where karst and genetically related types of relief are represented characterize over 50% of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The karst of Bosnia and Herzegovina is characterized by various shapes, while a great number of different terrains make the "locus typus" of karst in the world. The main tourist motives include numerous caves, springs, mountain peaks and cliffs, canyons and gorges, rivers with travertine waterfalls, and karst fields. Independently or as part of a larger whole, some of these motives represent protected areas, they make the most crucial tourist motives and are the most visited tourist destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Doline karst is a widespread karst landscape phenomenon in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but there are only a few sites that are known to the overall population. Through the use of GIS, this study identifies the areas of doline karst in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it explains the ways how sinkholes and doline karstlands are formed and identifies the fundamental factors contributing to their development, but it also highlights the possibilities for making the doline karst a part of the future local tourist offer.

Data for the geoecology of solution karst dolines, with particular attention to climatic, soil and biogenic environment

In this study the changes in the nighttime heat load in Carpathian Basin cities during the 21st century were examined. To quantify the heat load, the tropical night climate index was used. The MUKLIMO_3 local scale climate model was used to describe the urban processes and the land use classes were defined by the local climate zones. The expected change was examined over three periods: the 1981–2010 was taken as reference period using the Carpatclim database and the 2021–2050 and 2071–2100 future periods using EURO-CORDEX regional model simulation data for two scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). To combine the detailed spatial resolution and the long time series, a downscaling method was applied. Our results show that spectacular changes could be in the number of tropical nights during the 21st century and the increasing effect of the urban landform is obvious. In the near future, a slight increase can be expected in the number of tropical nights, which magnitude varies from city to city and there is no major difference between the scenarios. However, at the end of the century the results of the two scenarios differ: the values can be 15-25 nights in case of RCP4.5 and 30-50 nights in case of RCP8.5. The results show that dwellers could be exposed to high heat load in the future, as the combined effect of climate change and urban climate, thus developing various mitigation and adaptation strategies is crucial.

Data for the geoecology of solution karst dolines, with particular attention to climatic, soil and biogenic environment

In this study the changes in the nighttime heat load in Carpathian Basin cities during the 21st century were examined. To quantify the heat load, the tropical night climate index was used. The MUKLIMO_3 local scale climate model was used to describe the urban processes and the land use classes were defined by the local climate zones. The expected change was examined over three periods: the 1981–2010 was taken as reference period using the Carpatclim database and the 2021–2050 and 2071–2100 future periods using EURO-CORDEX regional model simulation data for two scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). To combine the detailed spatial resolution and the long time series, a downscaling method was applied. Our results show that spectacular changes could be in the number of tropical nights during the 21st century and the increasing effect of the urban landform is obvious. In the near future, a slight increase can be expected in the number of tropical nights, which magnitude varies from city to city and there is no major difference between the scenarios. However, at the end of the century the results of the two scenarios differ: the values can be 15-25 nights in case of RCP4.5 and 30-50 nights in case of RCP8.5. The results show that dwellers could be exposed to high heat load in the future, as the combined effect of climate change and urban climate, thus developing various mitigation and adaptation strategies is crucial.

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and multi-SIR profiles of soil microbial communities from a karst doline at Aggtelek National Park, Hungary

Soils play an important role in the ecosystem of karstic landscapes both as a buffer zone and as a source of acidity to belowground water. Although the microbiota of karstic soils is known to have a great effect on karstification processes, the activity and composition of these communities are largely unknown. This study gives a comparative analysis of soil microbial profiles from different parts of a doline located at Aggtelek, Hungary. The aim was to reveal the relationships between the vegetation type and genetic fingerprints and substrate utilisation (multi-SIR) profiles of the soil microbiota. Soil samples were collected in early and late springs along a transect in a doline covered with different types of vegetation. Genetic fingerprints of bacterial communities were examined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) based on the 16S rRNA gene, along with multi-SIR profiles of the microbial communities measured by the MicroResp method using 15 different carbon sources. Genetic fingerprinting indicated that vegetation cover had a strong effect on the composition of soil bacterial communities. Procrustean analysis showed only a weak connection between DGGE and multi-SIR profiles, probably due to the high functional redundancy of the communities. Seasonality had a significant effect on substrate usage, which can be an important factor to consider in future studies.

Distribution pattern of Gunung Sewu karst doline water utilization: a case study of doline in Semanu and Ponjong Sub Subdistrict, Gunungkidul Regency)

Gunungkidul Regency is part of the Gunung Sewu karst mega system, which has diverse morphology. The karst landscape has its uniqueness to the geohydrological system, which makes it difficult for people to use underground water. Consequently, people are more likely to use surface water. The presence of surface water is significant for the community to meet their water needs. Doline is one of the surface water resources in the karst region, which plays an essential role in meeting the water needs of the surrounding community. Semanu and Ponjong Sub Subdistricts in Gunungkidul Regency have surface water resources in the form of the doline. The purpose of this study is to determine the distribution pattern of doline water utilization based on altitude, slope, and characteristics of the doline. The variables used are doline location, land use, elevation, slope, and doline morphometry. Data were obtained from relevant agencies and field surveys. The approach method used was the spatial pattern to analyze the distribution pattern of doline water utilization. The types of doline water utilization in the research area consists of agricultural irrigation use and for domestic needs. Doline distribution in the study area has a clustering pattern. The water utilization pattern for agricultural irrigation tends to be towards the west and south of the doline. The water utilization for domestic and community consumption has a random pattern. Doline morphometry does not affect the variation of doline water utilization patterns. Meanwhile, the altitude and slope at the doline location result in a variety of the doline water utilization in the study area. The higher the doline location and the bigger the slope, then the more various usage of doline water will be.

The effects of intensive logging on the capacity of karst dolines to provide potential microrefugia for cool-adapted plants

Dolines are local depressions of karst surfaces. They can be considered potential microrefugia for various species. We investigated the species composition and vegetation pattern of two medium-sized dolines in Hungary before and 10 years after logging, and analysed how different species groups (oak forest species, beech and ravine forest species and disturbance-tolerant species) were affected. The cover and number of oak forest species and disturbance-tolerant species increased, while the cover and number of beech and ravine forest species decreased within dolines due to logging. Therefore, their species composition and vegetation pattern have changed substantially, and dolines have partially lost their capacity to act as safe havens for plant species adapted to cooler conditions.

Holocene glaciation in the mountains of Bulgaria

This study presents a review on Holocene glacial traces in Bulgaria. Pleistocene glaciation in this territory was spread over a number of mountains above 2000 m a. s. l., while in the later time, it was restricted only to the highest areas of the two highest mountains, Pirin and Rila. Two major phases can be distinguished on the basis of field evidence—a Little Ice Age (LIA) phase, and a present-day phase. Features of present-day glaciation are only found in the Pirin Mountains, in the highest parts of Northern Pirin which are built of carbonate rocks (marble). The two glacierets in these mountains, which are now the southernmost glacial masses in Europe, occupy only c. 1.5 ha. Several permanent snow patches are also found to fill the bottoms of high altitude karst dolines in the same area, contributing to a total of 3.5 ha of firn and ice, which have not completely melted for several centuries. The post-LIA climatic warming, which has progressed with an increased pace for the last 3 decades, reduced the glaciated area in the highest mountains of Bulgaria by 58%. However, glacierets and snow patches in Bulgaria have appeared to be more stable when compared to most other locations with similar topographic setting in Southeastern Europe.

A New GIS-Based Model for Karst Dolines Mapping Using LiDAR; Application of a Multidepth Threshold Approach in the Yucatan Karst, Mexico

Dolines are important features strongly influencing the outcomes of groundwater vulnerability maps, subsidence risk and land use studies. Their relationship with subsurface features like epikarst, stresses the importance of doline mapping for environmental and hydrological management strategies. Current methodologies to map dolines from elevation models apply morphometric attributes on depressions, including a depth threshold, to filter depressed areas and to define dolines. However, the use of a single threshold tends to overlook dolines located in already depressed areas. In this work a new geographic information systems (GIS)-based methodology is proposed to identify karst depressions within digital elevation models, applying a multidepth threshold approach. The method statistically classifies depression intervals to identify dolines at variable depths. The method was tested in the Yucatan karst, displaying a final accuracy of 63% after testing different parameters. The results are affected by false positives due to the impossibility of verifying by imagery 190 possible dolines in areas of dense vegetation. Nevertheless, out of 655 estimated dolines, 464 match those located by imagery giving sensitivity and precision values of 85% and 71%, respectively. Comparing this methodology against single threshold outcomes, improvement is evident in doline mapping. Notwithstanding, its application and performance with lower and higher resolution elevation models must be investigated.

Karst dolines provide diverse microhabitats for different functional groups in multiple phyla

Fine-scale topographic complexity creates important microclimates that can facilitate species to grow outside their main distributional range and increase biodiversity locally. Enclosed depressions in karst landscapes (‘dolines’) are topographically complex environments which produce microclimates that are drier and warmer (equator-facing slopes) and cooler and moister (pole-facing slopes and depression bottoms) than the surrounding climate. We show that the distribution patterns of functional groups for organisms in two different phyla, Arthropoda (ants) and Tracheophyta (vascular plants), mirror this variation of microclimate. We found that north-facing slopes and bottoms of solution dolines in northern Hungary provided key habitats for ant and plant species associated with cooler and/or moister conditions. Contrarily, south-facing slopes of dolines provided key habitats for species associated with warmer and/or drier conditions. Species occurring on the surrounding plateau were associated with intermediate conditions. We conclude that karst dolines provide a diversity of microclimatic habitats that may facilitate the persistence of taxa with diverse environmental preferences, indicating these dolines to be potential safe havens for multiple phyla under local and global climate oscillations.

Floristic and microclimatic features of the Sovljak doline (Mt. Velika Kapela, Croatia)

The relation between floristic composition, microclimate and geomorphology of a large-sized karst doline was analysed in the area of the Sovljak doline located on the Mt. Velika Kapela. Habitat conditions in various parts of the doline, due to its morphology, were described in this work. Geomorphological observations, microclimatic measurements (including air temperature, relative humidity and dew point temperature data) and flora inventory were carried out. Ellenberg’s indicator values, life forms, chorological and taxonomical analyses were performed, as well as the analysis of habitat similarity. The doline slopes (northern and southern) appeared to offer different habitat conditions than its bottom, due to their morphological and microclimatic differences, which resulted in high taxa variability along short distances in the doline. Furthermore, the presence of temperature inversion promoted the development of the vegetation inversion, which is common in such large dolines.

Holocene foraminiferal and geochemical records in the coastal karst dolines of Cres Island, Croatia

Numerous karst dolines have been formed along the Croatian coast and many have been submerged during the Late Glacial and Holocene sea level rise. The coastal area of Cres Island in the Northern Adriatic is a typical example of this geomorphological setting, where transitional forms from subaerial to submerged dolines are present. Once dolines are formed they can accumulate soil, water and sediments due to their morphology. Sediments are an especially valuable source of environmental data. This paper presents the results of the study of foraminiferal assemblages and sediment geochemistry, supplemented with grain-size and mineralogical data, from the marine ponds developed in the karst dolines on Cres Island. Obtained data is correlated with the sediment core record from submerged dolines in the present-day embayments along the coastal zone of Cres Island. In total, 3 sediment cores were collected in the marine ponds Marinska, Arcij and Podbrajde, while 2 longer sediment cores have been extracted from the Jaz and Sonte embayments. The Marinska, Arcij and Podbrajde marine ponds have distinct geochemical and mineralogical sediment compositions, with monospecific foraminiferal assemblages and generally differ from each other. The common characteristics are their high N and P concentrations and the algal origin of organic matter. Agglutinated foraminiferal taxa (Haplophragmoides canariensis and Trochammina inflata), typical for intertidal environments, are abundant in the brackish-water Marinska pond, while stress-tolerant species Ammonia tepida has been identified in the Arcij marine pond. Environmental conditions in the Podbrajde marine pond did not facilitate the development of a rich foraminiferal fauna. Results from the present-day marine ponds enabled recognition of similar environments in the sediment cores collected in the Jaz and Sonte embayments that were progressively inundated during the Holocene sea level rise. A palaeo-marine pond existed in the Sonte embayment until 6610 cal BP, when the sea flooded the investigated area. A marine pond in the Jaz embayment was formed at 711 cal BP. Low-diversity foraminiferal assemblages in these palaeo-ponds are similar to those recognized in the present-day Arcij marine pond on Cres Island. However, differences in the geochemical composition of palaeo-marine ponds, in comparison to the present-day ponds, exist. They might be attributed to climate variability over time and variations in the geological setting of each environment. High Mo concentrations and abundant organic matter content are the main sediment characteristics of the recognized palaeo-marine ponds in the Jaz and Sonte embayments.

Large- and small-scale environmental factors drive distributions of cool-adapted plants in karstic microrefugia.

Dolines are small- to large-sized bowl-shaped depressions of karst surfaces. They may constitute important microrefugia, as thermal inversion often maintains cooler conditions within them. This study aimed to identify the effects of large- (macroclimate) and small-scale (slope aspect and vegetation type) environmental factors on cool-adapted plants in karst dolines of East-Central Europe. We also evaluated the potential of these dolines to be microrefugia that mitigate the effects of climate change on cool-adapted plants in both forest and grassland ecosystems. We compared surveys of plant species composition that were made between 2007 and 2015 in 21 dolines distributed across four mountain ranges (sites) in Hungary and Romania. We examined the effects of environmental factors on the distribution and number of cool-adapted plants on three scales: (1) regional (all sites); (2) within sites and; (3) within dolines. Generalized linear models and non-parametric tests were used for the analyses. Macroclimate, vegetation type and aspect were all significant predictors of the diversity of cool-adapted plants. More cool-adapted plants were recorded in the coolest site, with only few found in the warmest site. At the warmest site, the distribution of cool-adapted plants was restricted to the deepest parts of dolines. Within sites of intermediate temperature and humidity, the effect of vegetation type and aspect on the diversity of cool-adapted plants was often significant, with more taxa being found in grasslands (versus forests) and on north-facing slopes (versus south-facing slopes). There is large variation in the number and spatial distribution of cool-adapted plants in karst dolines, which is related to large- and small-scale environmental factors. Both macro- and microrefugia are therefore likely to play important roles in facilitating the persistence of cool-adapted plants under global warming.

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

Folsomia manolachei Bagnall, 1939 (Collembola), is a widespread and common European species. However, it may represent a complex of species also associated with the climatically more extreme environments of the karst landforms. Three species of the genus Folsomia, distributed in the Slovak Karst region (Central Europe), namely three different populations of F. manolachei, and one population of F. penicula and F. candida, were analysed using a partial sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI barcoding section). The DNA barcoding suggested the existence of cryptic diversity in populations of the eurytopic species Folsomia manolachei. The cold-adapted population of ‘F. manolachei’ was abundant in primary soil on stony debris near the permanent floor ice (yearly air temperature ~0°C) in the collapsed karst doline of the Silická ľadnica Ice Cave. It showed a genetic differentiation supported by intra- and interspecific distances that ranged from 0.0% to 1.4% and from 19.2% to 24.0%, respectively. Analysis using Taxon DNA showed a large barcoding gap between intra- and interspecific COI sequences. Genetic differentiation suggests a scenario of cryptic speciation in the population of ‘F. manolachei’ occupying harsh soils near the floor ice. A survival test showed the different responses of ‘F. manolachei’ and other populations to low temperature. Within a temperature range from −3 to −10°C, the ‘F. manolachei’ population from Silická ľadnica was the most cold-resistant, showing a lethal dose LD50 of −7.8°C. The two forest populations of F. manolachei had LD50 −6.1°C and −6.0°C, respectively; the most cold-sensitive F. penicula showed an LD50 of −5.4°C. The survival of the tested springtails significantly decreased with temperature (p < 0.0001). The lethal temperature and the shape of the survival–temperature curves were different in different populations. The impact of population was significant at p < 0.0001, and the interaction between population and temperature at p < 0.039 was significant as well. Crypticity vs. phenotypic plasticity in Folsomia manolachei populations is discussed in terms of DNA barcoding and the cold tolerance data provided by this study.