Paving the Way for Standardized and Comparable Subterranean Biodiversity Studies

By

Culver, David C., 1944-
Trontelj, Peter
Zagmajster, Maja
Pipan, Tanja

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2013

Original Publication

Subterranean Biology

Volume

10

Pages

43-50

Subjects

Biodiversity , species richness , Stygobionts , troglobionts

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.10.4759

 

Abstract

A series of potential pitfalls (fallacies) in estimating subterranean biodiversity are outlined: (1) provincialism—treating different regions differently, especially with respect to new discoveries and undescribed species; (2) equality of described and undescribed species—ignoring the possibility that undescribed species are not really new species; (3) isotropy—assuming all cave regions of similar size have equally rich faunas; (4) scale invariance—ignoring the affect of area on species richness; and (5) misuse of expert opinion—the over-reliance on experts estimates often without comparable estimates for all areas. Some standard procedures are suggested for subterranean biodiversity studies, and the value of such studies is emphasized.