Assessment of biological diversity of underground anthropic habitats in cultural landscapes

Subterranean habitats of anthropic origin (e.g. tunnels, mines, rupestrian settlements) have similar characteristics natural voids, such as caves. These been shown to provide for wildlife and harbor high species richness. In particular, underground shelters both cultural importance. However, their assessment assumes the value significant whilst importance is often ignored. Despite contribution subterranean biodiversity, few studies investigated invertebrate fauna these habitats. We studied communities structure composition environmental factors that affect them using transects, following light intensity in shelters, surrounding surface habitats, settlement Alunis-Bozioru, from Buzau County, Romania. The diversity was at community-level species-level (for Collembola, Diplopoda, Araneae, Opiliones Coleoptera). results showed an overlap taxa assemblages between most abundant were among: Araneae Achaearanea tepidariorum , Tegenaria sp., Lepthyphantes leprosus Pardosa sp.; Diplopoda Cylindroiulus boleti Lacinius dentiger . harbored a diverse community dominated by associated with dark main affecting humidity vegetation cover Overall, our indicated could substitute might play important role conservation biodiversity context increasing human pressures on ecosystems.