Vegetation Pattern Modulates Ground Arthropod Diversity in Semi-Arid Mediterranean Steppes.

The ecological functioning of dryland ecosystems is closely related to the spatial pattern of the vegetation, which is typically structured in patches. Ground arthropods mediate key soil functions and ecological processes, yet little is known about the influence of dryland vegetation pattern on their abundance and diversity. Here, we investigate how patch size and cover, and distance between patches relate to the abundance and diversity of meso-and microarthropods in semi-arid steppes.

A new pseudoscorpion genus from western Georgia (Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae: Cornuroncus n. gen.), with a key to all Neobisiinae genera.

A new genus and species of epigean pseudoscorpions belonging to the subfamily Neobisiinae Chamberlin, 1930, is described from western Georgia and its diagnostic characters are illustrated. Cornuroncus n. gen.

A new Antillobisium species (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Bochicidae) from Cuba, with biogeographical and ecological remarks on the genus.

A new troglobitic species of the genus Antillobisium is described from Sancti Spiritus province, Cuba. Antillobisium tomasi n. sp.

New species of Pseudoscorpiones (Arachnida) from tree hollows in a Mediterranean oak forest in Spain.

Pseudoscorpions inhabiting mature Quercus pyrenaica Willd. trees have been surveyed using hollow emergence traps and window traps in Salamanca, Spain. Three new species are described: Neobisium (N.

Revision of the complex in the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands and Macaronesia, with proposed changes to the status of the subgenera (Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae).

A taxonomic revision of the subgenus Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) in the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands and    Macaronesia is presented. New and previously insufficiently studied characteristics are shown to be taxonomically useful, such as the chelal lyrifissures patterns, chaetotaxy and condylar complex. Three taxa previously treated as subgenera of Chthonius are here raised to generic rank: Ephippiochthonius n.

On hypogean Roncocreagris (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae) from Portugal, with descriptions of three new species.

Three new hypogean species of the Iberian genus Roncocreagris Mahnert, 1974 are described from mainland Portugal: R. borgesi sp. nov.

Hypogean pseudoscorpions (Arachnida) from Jaén province (Andalusia, Spain), with descriptions of four new species and a new synonymy.

Four new hypogean species are described from the Jaén province (southern Spain): Chthonius (Ephippiochthonius) espa- nyoli sp. nov., C.