Evolution of subterranean ground beetles in the West Palearctic

洞穴动物早期令进化论者着迷，洞穴中的分离和隔离导致物种形成的水平与岛国生态系统中的物种形成水平相当。洞穴物种通常具有共同的特征，如无眼、附肢延长、色素脱失，或者--在许多昆虫中--无毛。这种高度修饰的形态往往掩盖了系统发育上的亲缘关系。因此，仅仅基于形态特征是不可能阐明地下生物多样性的进化历史和物种形成机制的。我们使用一组步甲科甲虫(Trechini)来研究地下环境中的物种形成模式和进化，以及由此导致的形态变化。Trechini洞穴甲虫属于世界上最特殊的地下动物群之一，其中包括一些形态上最具变化的轮虫类无脊椎动物。我们现在把重点放在阿尔卑斯山和西欧大陆的其他喀斯特地块上，在那里，这个群体的代表性特别好。我们结合了分子和形态的方法，以便将高度修饰的海燕属放在一个全面的系统发育中，将地下进化与有充分记录的比利牛斯辐射进行比较，并揭示陆地无脊椎动物地下进化的原因和模式。

Cave animals early fascinated evolutionists, and separation and isolation in caves lead to levels of speciation comparable to those in insular ecosystems. Cave species usually share characteristics such as anophthalmy, elongation of appendages, depigmentation or -in many insects- apterism. Such highly modified morphology often masks phylogenetic affinities. Evolutionary history and speciation mechanisms responsible forextant patterns of subterranean biodiversity are therefore impossible to elucidate solely based on morphological characters. We use a group of Carabidae beetles (Trechini) to study speciation patterns and evolution In the subterranean environment, and the morphological modifications resulting from them. Trechini cave beetles belong to one ofthe most speciose radiations of subterranean fauna ofthe world and include some ofthe morphologically most modified troglobitic invertebrates. We now focus on the Alps and other karst massives of continental west Europe, where the group is particularly well represented. We combine molecular and morphological approaches, in order to place the highly modified troglobitic genera of Trechini in a comprehensive phylogeny, compare subterranean evolution with the well documented Pyrenean radiations and enlight causes and modalities of subterranean evolution in terrestrial invertebrates.