Phylogeography, speciation, and cryptic diversity in Pseudosinella cave springtails (Entomobryomorpha: Entomobryidae) of the interior low plateau and Appalachian valley & Ridge karst regions

Caves offer a unique opportunity to study the ecology and evolution of life in extreme environments. Many different groups of invertebrates have evolved similar adaptations to living in habitats that lack light and generally have limited energy resources. However, the same processes that drive diversification in subterranean fauna can also obscure true levels of biodiversity. Traditional taxonomy of most subterranean organisms has relied heavily on morphology. However, several molecular studies in recent years have uncovered high levels of cryptic diversity in some subterranean organisms. More widely distributed species that were delimited using morphology are comprised of multiple, genetically distinct lineages. However, many subterranean species remain to be genetically studied. In this project, I examine the potential for cryptic speciation in three cave springtails of the genus Pseudosinella (P. christianseni, P. hirsuta, and P. spinosa) that are broadly distributed in the Interior Low Plateau and Appalachian Valley & Ridge karst regions of the eastern United States. I integrate morphological and genomic approaches to determine true levels of species and genetic diversity and investigate factors that shape genetic structure and species distributions. The project will assist in conservation efforts of this overlooked invertebrate group and expand on our knowledge of the factors that drive cryptic speciation of subterranean invertebrates.