Isotomidae, Schaffer, 1896

Antipova, M. D. & Babenko, A. B., 2022, An annotated checklist of the springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) recorded from the foothill and mountain parts of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, North Caucasus, Russia, Russian Entomological Journal 31 (4), pp. 331-345 : 337-339

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.15298/rusentj.31.4.01

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F034B6E-FFBC-357E-D934-F8A83B70FB95

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Isotomidae
status

 

Family Isotomidae View in CoL

Anurophorus alpinus Potapov et Stebaeva, 1990 View in CoL . A montane species described from the nature reserve (Tsey Gorge). It is widely distributed in the North Caucasus, often reaching high densities. There are also records available from Dagestan and the Swiss Alps [ Potapov, 1997]. In the nature reserve, it tends to occur in the moss-lichen cover on rocks and moraines, often being dominant [ Kuchiev, 1984, referred to as A. laricis Nicolet, 1842 View in CoL ; Kuchiev, 2006].

* A. palearcticus Potapov, 1997 View in CoL . A boreal species distributed in the northern and eastern parts of European Russia, all of Siberia up to the Far East and Mongolia. In the Caucasus, the species is known from Kabardino-Balkaria [ Potapov, 2001] and the environs of Sochi [ Scherbina, 2020]. In the North Ossetian Nature Reserve it has been found for the first time (Tsey Gorge) and collected from the moss-lichen cover of moraine stones, where it usually prevailed in abundance over A. alpinus View in CoL .

Ballistura sp. In our material, there are only two specimens of the genus, both collected on an almost bare rocky surface, one freed from ice only 4 years earlier. An exact identification of these specimens is difficult. Among the known European congeners, it is seems to be the closest to B. albertinae Ellis, 1976 View in CoL by a similar structure of the furca, but it is easily distinguishable by the absence of a tooth on the claw. Kuchiev (1984) seems to have referred to this particular form as Proisotoma sp. , as one of the dominants in plant communities on the rocks of the eastern slopes of Kalper Peak (3500 m a.s.l.).

** Desoria sp. aff. duodecimoculata Denis, 1927. Most likely, this is a new species belonging to the alpine nivaliscomplex [see Potapov, 2001], which is common in the European highlands. The identity is possible to establish only upon a complete revision of the European congeners of this complex. In the nature reserve, it has been encountered exclusively inside a bare ground at the edge of Tsey Glacier This seems to be a member of a unique glacial complex of springtails inhabiting exclusively areas in the affinity to glaciers. It is probable that Isotoma nivalis (Carl, 1910) , listed by Kuchiev [2006] as an inhabitant of high mountains of the nature reserve, is actually a representative of this species.

** D. fennica (Reuter, 1895) View in CoL . A hygrophilous species with a wide Palaearctic distribution. This is the first record of this species from North Ossetia (vicinity of Fazikau, close to Dargavs collected by O.L. Makarova) .

** D. grisea (Lubbock 1870) . A member of the genus widespread throughout Europe, usually associated with decaying plant material of both natural and anthropogenic origin. It has not been recorded from North Ossetia before. In our collections from the Tsey Gorge , there is only one specimen of this species, collected in a maple forest .

** Desoria nivea (Schäffer, 1896) . A European species collected under the bark and in the litter of the upper part of Tsey Gorge. The specimens found were identical to the summer form of the real D. nivea . Yet it is distinguished by the presence of a weak diffuse pigment throughout the body (even in juveniles) and the absence of any pronounced facets along with maintaining the colour of the ocelli. Nevertheless, M. Potapov (personal communication) confirmed the species identity of these individuals as representing the true D. nivea , which morphs, as it turns out, can be eyeless indeed.

Desoria cf. tolya Fjellberg, 2007 View in CoL . The presence of this northern European species in such a southern region definitely requires confirmation. Unfortunately, our material contains only a single juvenile specimen. The record of Isotoma violacea View in CoL ( D. violacea View in CoL at present) from the pine-birch forests of Tsey Gorge (1750 m a.s.l.) [ Kuchiev, 2006] supposedly belongs to this species. There is also evidence on the presence of the other congeners in the republic [ Kremenitsa, 2002; Kuchiev, 2006, sub Isotoma olivacea Tullb. View in CoL ]. The species identity of these records remains unknown.

Folsomia alpina Kseneman, 1936 View in CoL . A European alpine species common in the highland forests of the Caucasus, Carpathians and Alps. It was recorded from the alpine belt of the nature reserve at altitudes over 3000 m [ Kuchiev, 2006], where rarely reached high density levels. We have found one specimen each on a lateral moraine of the Skazsky Glacier at an altitude of ~ 2400 m s.a.l. and at the meadow overgrowing stage in the Tsey foreland at an altitude of 2300 m s.a.l.

F. inoculata Stach, 1947 View in CoL . A widespread montane species distributed almost throughout the Palaearctic and the Pacific coast of North America [ Potapov et al., 2018]. In the North Ossetian Nature Reserve, this species is quite common [ Kuchiev, 2006]. Kuznetsova et al. [2019] record- ed it from a pine forest near the village of Nar. In our material, the species was abundant in a beech forest at an altitude of 1865 m a.s.l.

F. litsteri Bagnall, 1939 View in CoL . A European species mainly confined to forest litter [ Potapov, 2001, referred to as F. lawrencei Rusek, 1984 View in CoL ]. In the European part of Russia, it is common in anthropogenic landscapes, probably introduced [ Kuznetsova, 1995, sub F. lawrencei Rusek, 1984 View in CoL ]. In the nature reserve, it was earlier recorded from pine forests [ Kuznetsova et al., 2019]. In the Tsey Gorge, we have encountered the species in a birch forest (2240 m a.s.l.), a mixed pine forest and a blueberry pine forest (2070–2205 m a.s.l.), especially abundant in a beech forest at 1865 m a.s.l.

* F. manolachei Bagnall, 1939 View in CoL . An eurytopic species. In our collections, it has been found in two places: at the shrub stage of overgrowing in the Tsey foreland and in a young mixed forest with rich herbs (2295 m and 2250 m a.s.l., respectively).

F. penicula Bagnall, 1939 View in CoL . A mesophilic forest species from the spinosa View in CoL -group, distributed almost throughout Europe, known also from North America [ Potapov, 2001]. Abundant in mountain rendzinas of the Carpathians [ Rusek 1993, 1996]. In the eastern Alps, it was recorded only from subalpine coniferous woods [Kopezski, Meyer, 1996]. In the Caucasus, including North Ossetia was first listed by Stach [1947] and [ Kuchiev, 2006], sub F. multiseta (Stach, 1945) View in CoL , also found in a pine forest near the village of Nar [ Kuznetsova et al., 2019].

F. ksenemani Stach, 1947 View in CoL . Another representative of the spinosa View in CoL -group. Due to unclear distinguishing features largely depending on age, in the fauna of the Caucasus the species has usually appeared under the name F. pseudodiplophthalma Stach, 1947 View in CoL [ Dobrolyubova, 1984a; Kuznetsova et al., 2019]. At present, these two species considered synonyms [Poinsot, 1972; Potapov, 2001]. In the nature reserve, the species was recorded by Kuchiev [1984, 2006, in the latter paper referred to as F. diplophthalma View in CoL and perhaps F. spinosa View in CoL as well] and later also from the vicinity of the village of Nar [ Kuznetsova et al., 2019]. Based on our material, F. ksenemani View in CoL is common in the belt of pine forests of the Tsey Gorge. In the foreland, it appears first in a forb shrub community (a 14- year old surface since the glacier’s retreat).

F. quadrioculata (Tullberg, 1871) View in CoL . A Holarctic polyzonal species characterized by the absence of obvious habitat preferences. It was recorded from the republic earlier [ Kuchiev, 1984, 2006; Kuznetsova et al., 2019]. Based on our material, it occurs in a wide range of habitats in the Tsey Gorge, often together with F. manolachei View in CoL , in fairly large abundance.

Folsomides parvulus Stach, 1922 View in CoL . A xerophilic and psammophilic cosmopolitan of soils in open habitats. In North Ossetia, it was recorded from a pasture located east of Alagir [ Kremenitsa, 2002]. Our data confirm the xerophile status of this species, because we have found it in two rather dry areas: the herbaceous and shrubby stage of overgrowth of the postglacial surface.

Hemisotoma orientalis ( Stach, 1947) View in CoL . A xerothermic species. In North Ossetia, it was known from the collections of A.M. Kremenitsa (as a species of the genus Cryptopygus View in CoL ) in a pasture located east of Alagir [ Kremenitsa, 2002] .

H. pontica ( Stach, 1947) View in CoL . A xerothermic and ruderal species distributed in the Palaearctic. It was recorded by the same author on the same sampling plot [ Kremenitsa, 2002].

H. thermophila (Axelson, 1900) View in CoL . A thermophilic and nitrophilic cosmopolitan [ Potapov, 2001]. It was recorded from North Ossetia as a species of the genus Cryptopygus View in CoL [ Kremenitsa, 2002]. In our material from the Tsey Gorge, it has been found in a pine forest with admixture of birch and rhododendron at 2205 m a.s.l.

Hydroisotoma schaefferi (Krausbauer, 1898) View in CoL . A neuston species common in Europe and South America. From the Caucasus ( Georgia), it was first recorded by Stach [1947], while from North Ossetia by Potapov [2001], the latter record originate from the outskirts of Alagir. According to Kuchiev [2006], the species is widespread on the northern macro slope of the Caucasus from valley alder forests to mid-mountain pine woodlands.

Isotoma viridis Bourlet, 1839 View in CoL . One of the most common and polytopic species in the Holarctic. In the nature reserve, it was first found on Mount Kalper at an altitude of 3500– 3800 m a.s.l. [ Kuchiev, 1984, 2006]. It was also recorded as a subdominant on a perennial pasture near Alagir [ Kremenitsa, 2002]. In the Tsey Gorge, we have found it in forests of different ages (areas 34–96 years after the glacier’s retreat), 2200–2250 m a.s.l.

Isotomiella minor (Schäffer, 1896) View in CoL . The species has been recorded all over the world, but most likely it occurs only in the temperate zone of the Holarctic [ Potapov, 2001]. In the nature reserve it is quite abundant [ Kuchiev, 2006; Kuznetsova et al., 2019]. Based on our material, in the Tsey Gorge the species is mainly confined to forest communities, where it is often dominant. Along the successional series, this species has appeared in a developed birch forest (2244 m a.s.l.), where it immediately reached high density. Farther down the slope, the species retained high density, occasionally yielding only to Parisotoma notabilis View in CoL .

Isotomodella alticola (Bagnall, 1949) View in CoL . A predominantly northern Palaearctic species, the southern records of which, including North Ossetia [ Kremenitsa, 2002, referred to as Pseudanurophorus cf. inoculatus View in CoL ] clearly require clarification .

Isotomodes productus (Axelson, 1906) View in CoL . A cosmopolitan species of dry open spaces, usually not reaching high abundance levels [ Potapov, 2001], even though in North Ossetia it was recorded as a subdominant from pastures near Alagir [ Kremenitsa, 2002].

** Isotomurus sp. No species of this genus have previously been recorded from the republic. Obviously, this is due to the poor knowledge of hydromorphic habitats of the region. Unfortunately, our material from the Tsey Gorge contains only one immature individual and its identification is impossible. The most notable feature of this individual is elongated claws (especially on the first and second pairs of legs). Several undetermined individuals were also recorded from the vicinity of Verkhny Fiagdon (collection of O.L. Makarova).

Pachyotoma caucasica ( Stach, 1947) View in CoL . The species was described from Transcaucasia ( Georgia), but it is also known from the Alps ( Italy) [ Dallai, 1970]. From North Ossetia, it was recorded by Potapov [2001], possibly based on the collections of I.T. Kuchiev from Mount Kalper [1984, referred to as Proisotoma sp. ].

** P. crassicauda (Tullberg, 1871) . Several juvenile specimens have been found in our material from the Tsey Gorge (a birch forest in the upper part of the forest belt, near a temporary stream, 2244 m a.s.l.).

Parisotoma notabilis (Schäffer, 1896) View in CoL . The species is considered cosmopolitan. It seems to occur almost everywhere in the republic [ Kuchiev, 1984, 2006, Kremenitsa, 2002, Kuznetsova et al., 2019]. Based on our material, P. notabilis View in CoL colonizes the Tsey foreland at the shrub stage, quickly reaching high abundance levels and becoming a dominant in the forest belt.

Parisotoma sp. An undetermined species of the genus, found in the collections of Kuznetsova et al. [2019] from a pine forest of the Tsey Gorge. It is characterized by the presence of 1+1 large ocelli, 3+3 postlabial setae, VT with 2+2 lateral setae, and the absence of setae on the lower subcoxa of the first pair of legs. Unfortunately, there is only one immature individual in this material.

** Proisotoma minima Absolon, 1901 . A widespread Holarctic species. The available South American records require confirmation. The species usually lives under bark and is rare in the forest litter. This is the first record from North Ossetia: only a few individuals in a mature forest of the Tsey Gorge.

P. minuta (Tullberg, 1871) . A thermophilic ruderal cosmopolitan, common in composts. In North Ossetia, it was recorded from near Alagir [ Kremenitsa, 2002]. In the Tsey foreland, it has been found in a birch forest (2244 m a.s.l.) and in a lower maple forest (1984 m a.s.l.) .

Pseudanurophorus binoculatus Kseneman, 1934 . A Holarctic boreo-montane species. In the nature reserve, it was recorded from a pine forest in the vicinity of Nar [ Kuznetsova et al., 2019]. This is a species quite common in coniferous and deciduous communities of the forest belt of Tsey Gorge.

Pseudisotoma sensibilis (Tullberg, 1876) View in CoL . According to Potapov [2001], P. sensibilis auct . is a complex of closely related species. In the currently accepted broad interpretation, the species occurs almost throughout the Holarctic, including North Ossetia [ Stach, 1947; Kuchiev, 2006]. In the Tsey Gorge, several specimens of this “species” have also been found, but the exact identification requires revision of the entire genus.

Tetracanthella caucasica ( Stach, 1947) View in CoL . A high-mountainous Caucasian endemic described from the foots of Karaugom and Bezenghi-glaciers [ Stach, 1947] as a subspecies of T. afurcata Handschin, 1919 View in CoL . It occurs mainly in the central and eastern parts of the North Caucasus, often reaching high abundance levels [ Potapov, 2001]. The species was also recorded from the region of Mount Kazbeg ( Georgia) [ Kováč, 1993] and from the Republic of Dagestan [ Potapov, Kuchiev, 1993]. Regarding North Ossetia, this species is quite common in the highlands, including the nature reserve [ Kuchiev, 1982, 1984, sub T. afurcata View in CoL ; Potapov, Kuchiev, 1993; Kuchiev, 2006]. In the Tsey Gorge, we have found it only in one of the 12 surveyed plots: the shrub stage of overgrowing of the Tsey foreland (2295 m a.s.l.).

T. osetica Potapov et Kuchiev, 1993 View in CoL . An endemic Caucasian species described from the North Ossetian Nature Reserve [ Kuchiev, 2006] and still known only from two locations of the republic: Mount Karyukhokh (Skalisty Mountain Range) and Mount Stolovaya (Gerchoch Gorge). According to Kuchiev [2006], another closely related species of the genus, T. arctica Cassagnau View in CoL , occurs in the nature reserve (Nikolaev peak, 3700 m a.s.l.). The real species identity of this record needs clarification.

Uzelia setifera Absolon, 1901 View in CoL . The species is distributed throughout Europe, mainly in the mountains.There are records from Crimea and the North Caucasus [ Potapov, 2001], including the nature reserve [ Kuchiev, 2006]. In the Tsey Gorge, we have found only one individual in a maple forest located near the Medik River.

Vertagopus cinereus Nicolet, 1842 View in CoL . A mostly European species, but many “old” records need to be confirmed due to new descriptions of some related species (in particular, V. pseudocinereus Fjellberg, 1973 View in CoL and V. haagvari Fjellberg, 1996 View in CoL ). In the fauna of North Ossetia, V. cinereus View in CoL was listed by Stach [1947], but its presence in the region has only recently been confirmed [ Lafooraki et al., 2020]. It seems to occur throughout the Caucasus, being a typical inhabitant of spaces under barks and lichens.

** V. haagvari Fjellberg, 1996 View in CoL . Supposedly a widespread species often occurring together with the previous one. In North Ossetia and in the Caucasus in general, it has not been recorded yet. In the Tsey Gorge , we have revealed it in a pine forest with admixture of birch (2200 m a.s.l.), as well as in a lower beech forest (1865 m a.s.l.).

** Vertagopus sp. Obviously, a new species characterized by weakly developed clavate setae on the tibiotarsi, which brings it similar to species of the genus Desoria View in CoL . In a recent review of the genus from the Caucasus [ Lafooraki et al., 2020], similar forms have already been observed in the region. These forms seem to be related to high-mountain European species of the genus. In Kuznetsova et al. [2019], this form was listed as Desoria sp. from a pine forest surrounding the village Nar. In our material from the Tsey Gorge, we have found the same form, which turned out to be quite common in forest communities of different ages.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Collembola

Order

Entomobryomorpha

Family

Isotomidae

Loc

Isotomidae

Antipova, M. D. & Babenko, A. B. 2022
2022
Loc

Desoria cf. tolya

Fjellberg 2007
2007
Loc

A. palearcticus

Potapov 1997
1997
Loc

V. haagvari

Fjellberg 1996
1996
Loc

V. haagvari

Fjellberg 1996
1996
Loc

T. osetica

Potapov et Kuchiev 1993
1993
Loc

Anurophorus alpinus

Potapov et Stebaeva 1990
1990
Loc

A. alpinus

Potapov et Stebaeva 1990
1990
Loc

F. lawrencei

Rusek 1984
1984
Loc

F. lawrencei

Rusek 1984
1984
Loc

B. albertinae

Ellis 1976
1976
Loc

V. pseudocinereus

Fjellberg 1973
1973
Loc

Pseudanurophorus cf. inoculatus

Bödvarsson 1957
1957
Loc

F. inoculata

Stach 1947
1947
Loc

F. ksenemani

Stach 1947
1947
Loc

F. pseudodiplophthalma

Stach 1947
1947
Loc

F. ksenemani

Stach 1947
1947
Loc

F. litsteri

Bagnall 1939
1939
Loc

F. manolachei

Bagnall 1939
1939
Loc

F. penicula

Bagnall 1939
1939
Loc

F. manolachei

Bagnall 1939
1939
Loc

Folsomia alpina

Kseneman 1936
1936
Loc

Folsomides parvulus

Stach 1922
1922
Loc

T. afurcata

Handschin 1919
1919
Loc

T. afurcata

Handschin 1919
1919
Loc

Cryptopygus

Willem, V 1901
1901
Loc

Cryptopygus

Willem, V 1901
1901
Loc

Uzelia setifera

Absolon 1901
1901
Loc

A. laricis

Nicolet 1842
1842
Loc

Vertagopus cinereus

Nicolet 1842
1842
Loc

V. cinereus

Nicolet 1842
1842
Loc

Desoria

Agassiz M & Nicolet H in Desor E 1841
1841
Loc

Isotoma viridis

Bourlet 1839
1839
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