Systematics and biogeography of the subgenus Heteromurus (Verhoeffiella) (Collembola: Entomobryidae) in the Dinaric KarstLukić, Marko (Avtor) Zagmajster, Maja (Mentor) Deharveng, Louis (Komentor) chaetotaxytroglomorphytroglobiontscryptic diversitydisjunct distributionCollembolaPleistoceneMessinian salinity crisisDinaric KarstWe explored evolutionary pathways and diversification in subterranean environments using the collembolan cave genus Verhoeffiella (formerly a subgenus of Heteromurus) as a study model. We conducted thorough morphological analyses of Verhoeffiella, tested the monophyly of the genus, explored its relationship with putative surface relative Heteromurus nitidus, and its temporal patterns of molecular diversification. The basis of the study were 411 individuals collected from 105 sites, throughout the Verhoeffiella distributional range (Iberian Peninsula, the Alps, Dinarides). We have set up a morphological framework for describing species of Verhoeffiella and found new taxonomically relevant diagnostic characters. Based on our work, the number of described species rose from 9 to 14 species. Molecular phylogeny showed that the genera Verhoeffiella and Heteromurus form a clade nested within Heteromurinae. Within the clade, both Verhoeffiella and Heteromurus were not monophyletic, implicating the need for taxonomic re-arrangements at the generic level of Heteromurinae. Molecular species delimitation methods disclosed remarkable diversification of Verhoeffiella within Dinarides, where a complex geographical pattern of five Verhoeffiella lineages resulted in a high number of co‐occurring molecular operational taxonomic units. Divergence time estimation showed two boosts of diversification, one linked to the Messinian salinity crisis and the other to Pleistocene climatic oscillations. The discovery of extensive subterranean diversification of Verhoeffiella and its closely related epigean relative Heteromurus nitidus makes Verhoeffiella a model of utmost interest within the subterranean fauna of temperate areas, where the phylogenetic origin of most troglobiotic taxa remain poorly known.20202020-05-13 07:15:08Doktorsko delo/naloga116070sl