Maka Murvanidze

New records for the Georgian springtail fauna (Collembola)

LARKIN, L.L., J.L. NEFF & B. B. SIMPSoN (2006): Phylogeny of the Callandrena subgenus of Andrena (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data: Polyphyly and convergent evolution. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution 38: 330-343. MICHENER, C. D. (1944): Comparative external morphology, phylogeny, and a classification of the bees (Hymenoptera). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 82: 15l-326. WARNCKE, K. (1965): Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Bienengattung Andrena Fabricius in Griechenland. Beitriige zur Entomologi e 15: 27 -76. WARNCKE, K. (1966a): Ergebnisse der Albanien-Expedition 1961 des Deutschen Entomologischen Institutes. 50. Beitrag. Hymenoptera: Apidae II. (Genus Andrena Fabricius). Beitriige zur Entomolog ie l6 :389-405. WARNCKE, K. (1966b): Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Bienengattung Andrena F. in der Tiirkei (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). Mitteilungen der Miinchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft 55 244-273. WARNCKE, K. ( 1969a): Bienen der Gattung Andrena F. aus der Tiirkei und dem Balkan (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Andrenidae). Bulletin des Recherches agronomiques de Gembloux 4:302-305. WARNCKE, K. (1969b): A contribution to the knowledge of the genus Andrena (Apoidea) in Israel. Israel Journal of Entomology 4: 377 -408. WARNCKE, K. (1974): Die Sandbienen der Tiirkei (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Andrena), Teil A. Mitteilungen der Miinchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft 64: 8l-116. WARNCKE, K. (1975): Die Sandbienen der Ttirkei (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Andrena), Teil B. Mitteilungen der Miinchner Entomologischen Gesellschaft 65: 29-102.

Redescription of Belba paracorynopus Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1962 (Acarina: Oribatida: Damaeidae) from Georgia

Abstract Belba paracorynopus Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1962 is redescribed on the basis of new material collected in Georgia and damaged paratypes of Bulanova-Zachvatkina. The species belongs to the Belba corynopus group and differs from other species of the group by the size and form of notogastral setae, formation of the prodorsum and detailed chaetotaxy of legs. Variability of certain traits and differences to the original description and material are discussed, as well as the relation to other species of this group. The finding in Georgia extends the known area of distribution from Far East and China to the west.

Patterns of oribatid mite species diversity: testing the effects of elevation, area and sampling effort

Elevational gradients in species diversity and species area relationships are two well established patterns that are not mutually exclusive in space and time. Elevation and area are both considered as good proxies to detect and characterize the patterns of species diversity distribution. However, such studies are hampered by the incomplete biodiversity data available for ecologists, which may affect the pattern perceptions. Using the large dataset of oribatid mite communities sampled in Georgia, we tested the effects of altitude and area on species distribution using various approaches, while explicitly considering the biases from sampling effort. Our results showed that elevation and area are strongly correlated (with increasing absolute elevation, land area decreases) and both have strong linear effects on species diversity distribution when studied separately. Approaches based on multiple regression and direct removal of co-varied factors, indicated that the effect of area can actually override the effect of elevation in describing the oribatid species diversity distribution along with elevation. On the other hand, the bias of sampling proved significant in perception of elevational species richness pattern with less effect on elevational species area relationship. We suggest that the sampling alone may be responsible for patterns observed and thus should be considered in ecological studies when eligible.