Hypogastruridae (Collembola: Hexapoda) from the Republic of Moldova

Moldovan fauna of hypogastrurid Collembola currently contains 30 species belonging to nine genera, of which two genera and five species are new records. The list of all species with their localities, distribution and life forms is also included.


I. INTRODUCTION
The first checklist of Collembola from the Republic of Moldova published by BUªMA-CHIU (2010) included 25 species (without data on localities, for example) from seven genera of the family Hypogastruridae.However, the first data on hypogastrurid species appeared in the doctoral thesis of STEGÃRESCU in 1967.Species Hypogastrura purpurescens (LUBBOCK, 1867) and Orogastrura parva (GISIN, 1949) from the vineyards were

List of localities and studied habitats
The Iagorlâc (Yagorlyk) Scientific Reserve (Fig. 1) was created in1988 for the purpose of protecting the water and terrestrial ecosystems in the River Dniester basin.The high value of the Iagorlâc Reserve is due to the presence of a wide variety of rare and endangered species of plants, constituting a unique phytocoenosis, located on the calcareous slopes of the left bank of Iagorlâc River and some other streams.The terrestrial ecosystems are represented by steppe communities, meadows, forests and wetlands.
Chiºinãu Dendrarium Park (urban park, Fig. 2), was founded as a continuation of the Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences.At present, the area of the park amounts to 83 ha.There are sectors with elements of forest vegetation from Moldova, including collections of seeds of vegetables, oilseeds, and Rosaceae.The conifer plant collection includes more than 50 taxa from different floristic regions of the world.
Talmaza and Leuntea, localities which belong to the forest tract Talmaza Wetland (Fig. 3) are situated at Lower Dniester River.The area is a part of a forest-steppe region with a floodplain and a forest belt dominated by oak (Quercus pubescens).
Chiºcãreni locality, an agricultural field (Fig. 4) about 4 ha in size, is situated on the shore of Platina Lake, and covered with winter oil rape (Brassica napus).
Rudi, a part of the Rudi-Arioneºti Landscape Reserve (Fig. 6) with an area of 855 ha, is situated in the Northern part of Moldova.It includes a large area covered with a natural mixed forest, with a predominance of oak (Quercus robur) and the presence of hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) on calcareous slopes on the bank of Dniester River, constituting a specific environment for rare and relict plants and animals.

New species for Moldovan fauna
Ceratophysella sigillata (UZEL, 1891) Ivancea, deciduous forest, 6 ex., 10.01.2014, leg.G. BUªMACHIU.UZEL (1891) described the species from the litter and surface of snow in Bohemia.STACH (1949), found numerous specimens (collected in January 1923) also on snow in West Ukraine.According to STACH (1949): "C.sigillata (UZEL) seems to be a winter ani-Hypogastruridae from the Republic of Moldova mal which appears in winter-time on snow, sometimes in great numbers as well as in lowland and in mountains".THIBAUD et al. (2004) cited the species as mostly occurring in mountain areas.In Ukraine, according to KAPRUS ' et al. (2006), rare specimens appeared in the litter of riparian forest as well as in meadow soils.RUSEK, 1964Rudi, forest, moss, 2 ex., 07.06.2012, leg.G. BUªMACHIU.The species was described from Central Slovakia -Krupinská Vrchovina, in a beech forest.According to THIBAUD et al. (2004), the species inhabits mainly litter in European mountain forests.In Ukraine, this silvicolous species is rare, yet it was found also in moss and under bark (KAPRUS' et al. 2006).

Mesogastrura ojcoviensis
The species was described from the cave in Ojców National Park by STACH (1949) who recognised it "as a relict species from ancient times, probably the warm Pliocene period".According to THIBAUD et al. (2004), M. ojcoviensis occurs in guano from caves of several countries in Europe (from Spain to Georgia), in the nests of rodents (France), and has been found in an abandoned garden in Portugal by GAMA (1964) in the moss and in the soil of flowerpots in a greenhouse.The species occurs in the cave of Meridional Carpathians (IONESCU 1922).It is rather rare in the caves of Piatra Craiului National Park in Romania, found on guano patches covered with mould (POPA & GRUIA 2006), and in the old tree hollows in Poland (SKAR¯YÑSKI & SMOLIS 2005).Until now, the species has not been found in Ukrainian fauna.
The species was described from humus and litter in Albania, but today its distribution includes Spain, Portugal, Poland and Russia.This silvicolous species was found in G. BUªMACHIU, W.M. WEINER Ukraine, mostly in litter of Carpathian region of upper Dniester River (KAPRUS' et al. 2006), and according to BABENKO et al. (1994), in some localities in Caucasus.

Rare species for Moldovan fauna
The distribution and ecology of the most interesting and rare species from the family Hypogastruridae in the fauna of the Republic of Moldova are commented below.(CGREN, 1904) This species occurs in open habitats and forests (THIBAUD et al. 2004).According to MARTYNOVA (1964), it appears during winter in compost.In Ukraine, the species was found in soil, litter and moss of mountain and lowland forests, riparian habitats and nests of small mammals (KAPRUS' et al. 2006).

Ceratophysella granulata STACH, 1949
The species was found in litter in coniferous and deciduous forests (FJELLBERG 1998), and in moss, litter and nests of rodents in Ukraine (KAPRUS' et al. 2006).

Hypogastrura socialis (UZEL, 1891).
Massive occurrence and migration was observed usually on snow (THIBAUD et al. 2004).The species is recognised as "a winter species", however juveniles are known to occur in summer (MARTYNOVA 1964).
The species was mentioned for the first time by STEGÃRESCU (1967), who based her study on samples from the soil of Moldovan vineyards.This is the second record of this species in the Republic of Moldova.In both cases, the specimens were collected in the cold period of the year.

IV. CONCLUSION
Despite a large spectrum of well studied habitats, only 30 species from the family Hypogastruridae have been found so far in the Republic of Moldova, and in accordance with the present taxonomy, they belong to nine genera, of which two genera and five species are new records for the fauna of the Republic of Moldova.The genus Ceratophysella includes 9 species, Hypogastrura and Xenylla include seven species of each.Only two species of the genus Willemia were found, and the genera Choreutinula, Orogastrura, Schoettella, Mesogastrura and Microgastrura are represented only by one species each.Most of the species have preference to humid silvicolous ecosystems and are active in winter-time.The most common species from the family Hypogastruridae, identified in various habitats such as forests, agricultural fields, pasture and meadows, are Ceratophysella engadinensis (GISIN, 1949) and Hypogastrura manubrialis (TULLBERG, 1869).Different types of forests and riparian habitats in the Republic of Moldova host Ceratophysella succinea GISIN, 1949 andSchoettella ununguiculata (TULLBERG, 1869).
Hypogastruridae from the Republic of Moldova

Table 1
The list of Hypogastruridae from the Republic of Moldova (*dubious record, see introduction).Records new to Moldova are marked in bold.