Recent advances in Collembola systematics

The study reviews recent advances in Collembola systematics. First, the knowledge on Collembola biodiversity is analysed in a historical perspective. Since a century, there is a fast and regular pace in species descriptions, with no sign of slow down. Second, new approaches and new tools, which are re-shaping current Collembola systematics are listed and summarised. They include the development of ontogenetic approaches, attempts to homologise morpho-chaetotaxic patterns across taxa and to elaborate unified nomenclature, the irruption of molecular tools, and the generalisation of cladistic approaches to address evolutionary problems. Important new characters have been discovered. Antennal. chaetotaxy, leg chaetotaxy, dorsal chaetotaxy, S-chaetae patterns on tergites, and mouthparts have gained a prominent place in current Collembola taxonomy because of their high discriminating power. On this background and from extensive biological surveys in new areas of the world, significant results were obtained during the last three decades in terms of taxonomical discoveries, sibling species discrimination and species clusters, changes in taxonomical hierarchy, evolutionary history of the order and phylogeny of several groups. Remaining and newly emerging problems are discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.