Molecular diversity of Diplura in southern High Appalachian leaf litter

Abstract

The fauna of Diplura, the two-pronged bristletails (Hexapoda), of the southern Appalachians has received little focused systematic attention. Existing literature suggests the fauna to comprise around a dozen species. Based on a broader DNA barcode-based survey of high elevation litter arthropods in the region, we suggest the fauna to be much richer, with automated species delimitation methods hypothesising as many as 35 species, most highly restricted to single or closely proximate localities. Such a result should not be very surprising for such small, flightless arthropods, although it remains to be seen if other markers or morphology support such high diversity. The region still remains sparsely sampled for these more cryptic elements of the arthropod fauna and much larger numbers of species undoubtedly remain to be discovered.