Article

Zoogeographical analysis and specificity of subterranean fauna in the territory of the former USSR

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Abstract

The problems of geographical distribution and formation of the subterranean fauna in the territory of the former USSR are discussed. The subterranean fauna consists of not less than 595 animal species and forms. Among them, 195 are considered to be troglobionts. Zoogeographic characteristics of speleobionts in the northern (Central Russia, the Urals, Siberia) and southern (the Crimea, the Caucasus, Transcarpathian region, the Dnestr River Basin, Central Asia, and the southern Far East) latitudinal zones are given. Within these zones, speleobionts differ in origin and distribution. On the whole, the speleofauna of southern regions is richer and more diverse than that in southern regions. The reasons for these differences are history of developing the subterranean fauna and alterations in climatic conditions in the late Pliocene. Speleofaunas of different zones are compared with those in much-studied karst-speleological regions of Europe.

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... Due to the lack of direct sampling, the studies are difficult to design (Pipan & Culver 2005). More general studies include those on faunistic information in particular cave systems of North America, Europe and Australia (Malard & Gibert 1997, Culver et al. 1994, Culver & Sket 2000, Pesce et al. 2004, Jefferson et al. 2004, global studies of karstic areas (Proudlove 2001, Culver & Holsinger 1992, Sket 1999, Know & Culver 2001, Graenning et al. 2003, Schneider & Culver 2004, Apostolov & Pandourski 2004, studies of whole regions , Moldovan 2002, Humphreys 2002, countries , Kniss 2004, Negrea & Boitan 2001 and even the world (Deharveng & Bedos 2000, Gibert et Deharveng 2002, Sket et al. 2004a) with data on the epikarst and other sectors of the karstic system (sources, subterranean rivers, etc.). ...
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