Centipede assemblages (Chilopoda) in high-altitude landforms of the Central-Eastern Italian Alps: diversity and abundanc
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Centipede assemblages (Chilopoda) in high‑altitude landforms of the Central‑Eastern Italian Alps: diversity and abundance Mauro Gobbi1 · Marco Caccianiga2 · Chiara Compostella3 · Marzio Zapparoli4 Received: 15 May 2020 / Accepted: 20 August 2020 © Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei 2020
Abstract Centipedes (Chilopoda) are widespread and abundant predators in several kind of habitats, from forests to caves. Very few quantitative data are currently available for alpine habitats, specifically those located at high-altitudes. In this paper, we analysed data on centipedes collected by pitfall traps on different high-altitude landforms of the Central-Eastern Italian Alps, specifically on rock glaciers, debris-covered glaciers, glacier forelands, stable slopes, and scree slopes. We investigated the species richness and abundance (activity density) of individuals in each landform and the relationships between species occurrence and environmental variables in the investigated landforms. The obtained results highlighted non-significant differences in species richness between the landforms, but significant differences in individual abundance and species distribution. Soil organic matter, soil gravel percentage and altitude resulted the main variables affecting the species distribution; a clear preference for landforms located near the treeline was highlighted. Lithobius lucifugus resulted the dominant and most common species as well as the only species able to colonise debris-covered glaciers. Keywords Chilopods · Debris-covered glaciers · Mountains · Organic matter · Rock glaciers · Scree slopes
1 Introduction Centipedes (Chilopoda) are a group of terrestrial arthropods, mostly nocturnal, chiefly predators of small invertebrates. Epigean or edaphic, also present in caves and in the subterranean environment in general, they occur from sea level up to 4000 m, colonizing a wide range of habitats (see Lewis 1981; Minelli and Iovane 1987; Voigtländer 2005; Zapparoli and Minelli 2007; Minelli 2011). Approximately 3300 species are recognized to date (Bonato et al. 2016), near 490
* Mauro Gobbi [email protected] 1
Section of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, MUSEScience Museum, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, 38122 Trento, Italy
2
Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, Italy
3
Department of Earth Sciences “A. Desio”, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 34, 20133 Milan, Italy
4
Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro‑Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), Tuscia University, Via San Camillo de Lellis Snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
of which occur in Europe (Enghoff 2014) and about 160 in Italy (Zapparoli and Minelli 2007). Generally, centipedes exhibit a wide geographic distribution, although species with a narrow or restricted range are also known; level of endemism is, however, moderate (Zapparoli and Minelli 2007). Although the knowledge on taxonomy, geographic distribution and habitat preferences of some species is still incomplete, they are regarded as useful bio
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