Evolution of subterranean ground beetles in the West Palearctic

洞穴动物很早就吸引了进化论者，洞穴中的分离和隔离导致了与岛屿生态系统相当的物种形成水平。穴居物种通常有一些共同的特征，如眼盲、附属物伸长、色素脱色或——许多昆虫——翅虫。这种高度修饰的形态常常掩盖了系统发育上的亲缘关系。因此，地下生物多样性的进化历史和物种形成机制是不可能仅仅根据形态特征来阐明的。本文以一种甲虫（Trechini）为研究对象，研究了其在地下环境中的物种形成模式和演化过程，以及由此引起的形态变化。穴居甲虫属于世界上地下动物群中种类最多的一种，包括一些形态上最改变的穴居无脊椎动物。我们现在关注的是阿尔卑斯山脉和西欧大陆的其他喀斯特地貌，在那里，这个群体的代表性特别强。我们结合分子和形态学方法，将高度修饰的Trechini穴居属置于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山脉辐射进行比较，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.