Journal Description
Diversity
Diversity
is a peer-reviewed, open access journal on the science of biodiversity from molecules, genes, populations, and species, to ecosystems and is published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubAg, GEOBASE, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Biodiversity Conservation) / CiteScore - Q2 (Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous))
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 17.8 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
2.4 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
2.5 (2022)
Latest Articles
Callovian Marine Reptiles of European Russia
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050290 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Our knowledge of marine reptiles of the Callovian age (Middle Jurassic) is majorly based on the collections from the Oxford Clay Formation of England, which yielded a diverse marine reptile fauna of plesiosaurians, ichthyosaurians, and thalattosuchians. However, outside of Western Europe, marine reptile
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Our knowledge of marine reptiles of the Callovian age (Middle Jurassic) is majorly based on the collections from the Oxford Clay Formation of England, which yielded a diverse marine reptile fauna of plesiosaurians, ichthyosaurians, and thalattosuchians. However, outside of Western Europe, marine reptile remains of this age are poorly known. Here, we survey marine reptiles from the Callovian stage of European Russia. The fossils collected over more than a century from 28 localities are largely represented by isolated bones and teeth, although partial skeletons are also known. In addition to the previously described rhomaleosaurid and metriorhynchids, we identify pliosaurids of the genera Liopleurodon and Simolestes; cryptoclidid plesiosaurians, including Cryptoclidus eurymerus, Muraenosaurus sp., and cf. Tricleidus, and ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurians, including the iconic Ophthalmosaurus icenicus. These findings expand the ranges of several Callovian marine reptile taxa far to the Eastern Europe, and support the exchange of marine reptile faunas between Western and Eastern European seas in the middle to late Callovian. However, some specimens from the lower Callovian of European Russia show differences from typical representatives of the middle Callovian Oxford Clay fauna, possibly representing the earlier stages of evolution of some of these marine reptiles not yet recorded in Western Europe or elsewhere.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Making New Out of the Old: Recent Biological Advances on Mesozoic Marine Reptiles)
Open AccessArticle
Unraveling Functional Diversity Patterns in Hyporheic Zones: A Trait-Based Approach Applied to Copepods from the Rio Gamberale Creek
by
Agostina Tabilio Di Camillo, Francesco Cerasoli, Mattia Di Cicco, Diana Maria Paola Galassi and Tiziana Di Lorenzo
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050289 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Despite the recognized ecological significance of hyporheic zones, biological investigations into their ecology, especially concerning functional diversity, remain limited. This is particularly true for copepod assemblages, abundant in the transitional zone between groundwater and surface waters, requiring more thorough exploration. To bridge this
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Despite the recognized ecological significance of hyporheic zones, biological investigations into their ecology, especially concerning functional diversity, remain limited. This is particularly true for copepod assemblages, abundant in the transitional zone between groundwater and surface waters, requiring more thorough exploration. To bridge this knowledge gap, our study extensively monitored a hyporheic zone within a mountain creek and examined nine functional traits across twelve copepod species found in this environment. Through the application of RLQ and fourth-corner analysis, as well as functional diversity indices including functional richness, evenness, divergence, and dispersion, we aimed to establish links between functional traits and environmental factors. Our findings revealed relationships between environmental features—specifically electrical conductivity, pH, and ammonium concentration—and the trait composition of copepod assemblages, which were influenced by species abundances. Considering the intimate connection between functional traits and ecosystem services, assessing functional diversity within hyporheic zones offers valuable insights into its functionality in terms of services rendered. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing functional diversity in hyporheic zone dynamics to ensure the health and stability of ecotones and, by extension, riverine and groundwater ecosystems.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotones as Diversity Drivers: New Research Perspective from Boundaries and Border Habitats)
Open AccessArticle
Diversity of Freshwater Calanoid Copepods (Crustacea: Copepoda: Calanoida) in North-Eastern China
by
Ruirui Ding, Le Liu, Shusen Shu, Yun Li and Feizhou Chen
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 288; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050288 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
The distribution and diversity of calanoid copepods were investigated using samples collected from 37 lakes in North-eastern (NE) China in 2019. A total of 10 calanoid copepods belonging to eight genera and three families were identified. Among them, Heterocope soldatovi Rylov, 1922 was
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The distribution and diversity of calanoid copepods were investigated using samples collected from 37 lakes in North-eastern (NE) China in 2019. A total of 10 calanoid copepods belonging to eight genera and three families were identified. Among them, Heterocope soldatovi Rylov, 1922 was recorded for the first time in China. Species from the family Centropagidae were more widespread than those from the families Temoridae and Diaptomidae. Sinocalanus doerrii (Brehm, 1909), previously not recorded in NE China, is now widespread alongside Boeckella triarticulata (Thomson G.M., 1883), and the latter species is also prevalent in that region. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that calanoid copepods were significantly correlated with total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen, conductivity, nitrate nitrogen, altitude, and dissolved organic carbon. TP was the most important environmental variable that impacted the distribution of calanoid copepods, including both fresh and saline–alkaline lakes. Integrating historical records, a total of 21 calanoid copepods were distributed in NE China, and we also gave comments on the ecology and distribution of these species.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Freshwater Biodiversity)
Open AccessArticle
A New Species and a New Record of Byssoid Arthoniaceae (Lichenized Ascomycota) from Southern China
by
Lulu Zhang, Junxia Xue and Linlin Liu
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050287 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
This paper illustrates two species in the lichen-forming family Arthoniaceae from southern China, including a new species of Herpothallon, H. fibrosum L.L. Liu & Lu L. Zhang and a new record of Cryptothecia, C. striata G. Thor for China. Herpothallon
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This paper illustrates two species in the lichen-forming family Arthoniaceae from southern China, including a new species of Herpothallon, H. fibrosum L.L. Liu & Lu L. Zhang and a new record of Cryptothecia, C. striata G. Thor for China. Herpothallon fibrosum has fluffy, cylindrical pseudoisidia, like a bundle of fiber, and psoromic acid and confluentic acid are present. Furthermore, the new record of Cryptothecia striata has been identified by morphological, anatomical, chemical, and molecular studies. The systematic position of the two species was clarified by the molecular sequence data from the small subunit of the mitochondrial ribosomal DNA (mtSSU). Detailed taxonomic descriptions, chemical characters, comparisons, and discussion of the characteristics of similar species are provided for the two species; the relationship between Cryptothecia and Herpothallon is also discussed here.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phylogeny, Taxonomy and Ecosystems of Lichens)
Open AccessArticle
Diplostomum cf. vanelli Yamaguti, 1935 (Trematoda: Diplostomidae Poirier, 1886): Morpho-Molecular Data and Life Cycle
by
Anna V. Izrailskaia, Vladimir V. Besprozvannykh and Michael Yu. Shchelkanov
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050286 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
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Furcocercariae, of the trematodes from the family Diplostomidae, were found in freshwater snails—Radix auricularia, which were collected in a reservoir located on Popov Island (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan). The life cycle was experimentally reproduced for the first time,
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Furcocercariae, of the trematodes from the family Diplostomidae, were found in freshwater snails—Radix auricularia, which were collected in a reservoir located on Popov Island (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan). The life cycle was experimentally reproduced for the first time, while morphometric data for the development stages were studied and described for the newly discovered trematode. Moreover, molecular data for nuclear and mitochondrial markers were also obtained. It was determined that the morphometric characteristics of the trematode coincided with the species Diplostomum cf. vanelli, the molecular data analysis validates the species independence. Furthermore, the study highlights the issue of species identification in the Diplostomum genus.
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Open AccessArticle
Exceptional In Situ Preservation of Chondrocranial Elements in a Coniacian Mosasaurid from Colombia
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María Eurídice Páramo-Fonseca, José Alejandro Narváez-Rincón, Cristian David Benavides-Cabra and Christian Felipe Yanez-Leaño
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050285 - 10 May 2024
Abstract
The first record of well-preserved chondrocranial elements in mosasaurids is here described. These elements are preserved in situ in a Coniacian skull found in north-central Colombia, inside a calcareous concretion. Based on a 3D model generated from computed tomography scans, we identified elements
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The first record of well-preserved chondrocranial elements in mosasaurids is here described. These elements are preserved in situ in a Coniacian skull found in north-central Colombia, inside a calcareous concretion. Based on a 3D model generated from computed tomography scans, we identified elements of the nasal and orbitotemporal regions. Our descriptions show that in this specimen, the chondrocranium was reduced, more so than in most lacertilians (including their closest recent relatives, the varanids), but not as severely as in snakes or amphisbaenians (which have an extremely reduced chondrocranium and limbs). The new evidence suggests that the reduction in the chondrocranium in mosasaurids could be related to modification of their limbs when adapting to aquatic environments, but also that in mosasaurids, the olfactory tract was reduced, and the optic muscle insertions occurred mainly in the interorbital septum. The exceptional preservation of the chondrocranial elements in the specimen is facilitated by a gray mineralization covering them. XRD analysis and thin section observations indicated that this mineralization is composed of microcrystalline quartz and calcite. We infer that this material was produced by a partial silicification process promoted by lower pH microenvironments associated with bacterial breakdown of non-biomineralized tissues during early diagenesis.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Making New Out of the Old: Recent Biological Advances on Mesozoic Marine Reptiles)
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Open AccessArticle
One Hundred and Thirty-Five Years of Ornithology in Bulgaria: The Role of the National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in the Development of Ornithology in Bulgaria—Representatives, Collections and Achievements
by
Zlatozar Boev
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 284; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050284 - 10 May 2024
Abstract
For the first time, an attempt has been made to present, chronologically and in a systematized form, the development of ornithological studies at the National Museum of Natural History in Sofia (Bulgaria) from its foundation in the last decades of the 19th century
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For the first time, an attempt has been made to present, chronologically and in a systematized form, the development of ornithological studies at the National Museum of Natural History in Sofia (Bulgaria) from its foundation in the last decades of the 19th century to the present day. This 135-year period (1889–2024) includes the work of 12 curators of the ornithological collections. Their major contributions and most-significant ornithological publications are also presented.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Do We Still Need Natural History Collections?)
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Open AccessArticle
Evaluating the Status of Lost, Found and Sighted Non-Native Pet Bird Species in South Africa
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Tinyiko C. Shivambu, Ndivhuwo Shivambu, Takalani Nelufule, Moleseng C. Moshobane, Nimmi Seoraj-Pillai and Tshifhiwa C. Nangammbi
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050283 - 9 May 2024
Abstract
The global increase in the pet trade and ownership of pet birds has heightened the introduction of emerging invasive vertebrate species. We analyzed online databases of lost, found, and sighted non-native pet bird reports in South Africa to evaluate non-native pet bird statuses,
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The global increase in the pet trade and ownership of pet birds has heightened the introduction of emerging invasive vertebrate species. We analyzed online databases of lost, found, and sighted non-native pet bird reports in South Africa to evaluate non-native pet bird statuses, investigate geographic patterns, assess species trends, and determine the factors associated with lost pet birds. We identified a total of 1467 case reports representing 77 species across nine families from websites (n = 3) and Facebook pages (n = 13). Most reports of lost birds were within large cities, in populated provinces, including Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape. Psittacidae, Psittaculidae, and Cacatuidae were the most dominant families, with African grey (Psittacus erithacus), Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), and Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) among the top species reported as lost. Lower-priced species were commonly reported as lost, and there was no association between the species’ price and the likelihood of being found. In addition, we found a positive relationship between species reported as lost and the number of pet shops, human population size, species size, and docility. There was a sharp increase in lost cases from 2019 onwards; however, males were more frequently lost. Our findings highlight challenges in regulating and monitoring the pet ownership and trade of non-native pet birds and the need to address commonly kept species in conservation efforts. Online resources can be effective tools for passive surveillance of non-native pet bird species, especially potentially invasive ones.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biodiversity Conservation)
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Characterization of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Salassa thespis (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) and Comparison with Other Lepidoptera Species
by
Shengni Tian, Yongqi Zhang, Xiangrong Meng, Yuan Liu, Xin Dong and Cen Qian
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050282 - 9 May 2024
Abstract
There are many species of Lepidoptera, but few complete mitochondrial genomes of Lepidoptera have been included in databases. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Salassa thespis was isolated and characterized. It was 15,302 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs),
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There are many species of Lepidoptera, but few complete mitochondrial genomes of Lepidoptera have been included in databases. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Salassa thespis was isolated and characterized. It was 15,302 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and an A + T-rich region. Among the 13 PCGs, the initiation codon of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) was CGA, and the rest were ATN. The cox1 and cox2 genes had an incomplete stop codon T, while the rest terminated with TAA. Codon usage analysis showed that Phe, Ile, Leu and Asn were the most frequent amino acids, while Trp was the least. Like other Lepidopterans, some conserved motifs were found in the A + T-rich region, including a 17 bp poly-T guided by ATAGA, the AT-rich area and a poly-A element. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree analysis based on 13 PCGs of S. thespis confirmed that it belonged to the Saturniidae family and showed the following relationship: (S. thespis + (Rhodinia fugax + Samia canningi)). The enrichment of mitochondrial DNA provides reference information for the study of the evolution and diversity of Lepidoptera insects.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation of Lepidoptera)
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Open AccessArticle
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure among Arabian Horse Genealogical Lineages in Bulgaria
by
Peter Hristov, Georgi Radoslavov, Ivan Mehandjyiski, Delka Salkova and Georgi Yordanov
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050281 - 9 May 2024
Abstract
The present research aimed to characterize the genetic diversity and relationships among extant Arabian horse sire lines in Bulgaria, using 15 equine microsatellite markers. The evaluation included 537 Arabian horses representing nine sire lines (SAKLAWI I, LATIF, SEANDERICH, IBRAHIM, SHABAB, DJEBEL MOUSA, KUHAILAN
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The present research aimed to characterize the genetic diversity and relationships among extant Arabian horse sire lines in Bulgaria, using 15 equine microsatellite markers. The evaluation included 537 Arabian horses representing nine sire lines (SAKLAWI I, LATIF, SEANDERICH, IBRAHIM, SHABAB, DJEBEL MOUSA, KUHAILAN AFAS, BAIRACTAR, and SARHAN). The obtained results indicated that within these lines, the mean number of alleles ranged from 4.15 in SARHAN to 5.54 in SAKLAWI I and LATIF. The mean expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.54 in the SEANDERICH line to 0.67 in SAKLAWI I. The inbreeding coefficient for the entire Arabian populations was rather low: FIS = −0.109, fluctuating from −0.204 in SHABAB to −0.041 in SAKLAWI I. The mean genetic differentiation, FST, was 0.096, demonstrating that nearly 90% of the total genetic variation was due to genetic differentiation within each population. STRUCTURE analysis indicated a genetic similarity between SHABAB and LATIF, between IBRAHIM and KUHAILAN AFAS, as well as between SAKLAWI I, SEANDERICH, and BAIRACTAR. This study of the genetic diversity of Arabian sire lines in Bulgaria can assist in developing a national strategy for the exclusion of non-purebred animals from breeding programs in order to preserve the genetic profile of the original Arabian lines.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Diversity, Distribution and Conservation of Domestic Animals and Wild Animal)
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Tracing Geographic and Molecular Footprints of Copepod Crustaceans Causing Multifocal Purple Spots Syndrome in the Caribbean Sea Fan Gorgonia ventalina
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Oksana A. Korzhavina, Mikhail A. Nikitin, Bert W. Hoeksema, Maickel Armenteros, James D. Reimer and Viatcheslav N. Ivanenko
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050280 - 9 May 2024
Abstract
The recent rise in ocean temperatures, accompanied by other environmental changes, has notably increased the occurrence and spread of diseases in Octocorallia, many species of which are integral to shallow tropical and subtropical coral reef ecosystems. This study focuses on the understanding of
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The recent rise in ocean temperatures, accompanied by other environmental changes, has notably increased the occurrence and spread of diseases in Octocorallia, many species of which are integral to shallow tropical and subtropical coral reef ecosystems. This study focuses on the understanding of these diseases, which has been largely limited to symptomatic descriptions, with clear etiological factors identified in only a fraction of cases. A key example is the multifocal purple spots syndrome (MFPS) affecting the common Caribbean octocoral sea fan Gorgonia ventalina, linked to the gall-forming copepods of the genus Sphaerippe, a member of the widespread family, Lamippidae. The specialized nature of these copepods as endoparasites in octocorals suggests the potential for the discovery of similar diseases across this host spectrum. Our investigation employed four molecular markers to study disease hotspots in Saint Eustatius, Curaçao, northwest and southwest Cuba, and Bonaire. This led to the discovery of a group of copepod species in these varied Caribbean locations. Importantly, these species are morphologically indistinguishable through traditional methods, challenging established taxonomic approaches. The observed diversity of symbionts, despite the host species’ genetic uniformity, is likely due to variations in larval dispersal mechanisms. Our phylogenetic analyses confirmed that the Lamippidae copepods belong to the order, Poecilostomatoida (Copepoda), and revealed their sister group relationship with the Anchimolgidae, Rhynchomolgidae, and Xarifiidae clades, known for their symbiotic relationships with scleractinian corals. These results add to our understanding of the evolutionary and ecological interactions of copepods and their hosts, and the diseases that they cause, and are important data in a changing climate.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2024 Feature Papers by Diversity’s Editorial Board Members)
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Open AccessArticle
Roseateles agri sp. nov., a New Species Isolated from Fresh Soil in Uiwang, South Korea
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Yelim You and Jaisoo Kim
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050279 - 7 May 2024
Abstract
Two isolates of Roseateles were discovered in soil samples collected from Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. These isolates exhibited rod-shaped morphology and were facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, and tested positive for oxidase and catalase. Designated as strains R3-3T and R3-11, their growth was
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Two isolates of Roseateles were discovered in soil samples collected from Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. These isolates exhibited rod-shaped morphology and were facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, and tested positive for oxidase and catalase. Designated as strains R3-3T and R3-11, their growth was hindered by NaCl concentrations exceeding 0.5%, while their optimal growth conditions were observed at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 30 °C and pH levels between 7.0 and 9.0. Both strains exhibited positive results for the hydrolysis of Tween 80 and DNA, but tested negative for starch, casein, chitin, and gelatin hydrolysis. Additionally, they assimilated L-Arabinose, D-mannitol, and D-Maltose, while exhibiting negative results for the fermentation of D-glucose, esculin ferric citrate, D-mannose, N-acetyl-glucosamine, potassium gluconate, capric acid, adipic acid, trisodium citrate, and phenylacetic acid. The DNA G+C content of strain R3-3T was measured at 67.5 mol%. Comparative analysis revealed that the average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between R3-3T and the Roseateles type strains ranged from 75.14% to 78.30% while the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values ranged from 20.70% to 22.70%. Consequently, based on comprehensive genomic, chemotaxonomic, phenotypic, and phylogenomic evaluations, the isolated strains have been designated as a new species within the genus Roseateles, named Roseateles agri sp. nov. (with type strain R3-3T = KACC 23678T = NBRC 116681T).
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Diversity and Culture Collections Hotspots in 2024)
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Conflict Governance between Protected Areas and Surrounding Communities: Willingness and Behaviors of Communities—Empirical Evidence from Tanzania
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Li Ma, Jiayang Wu, Han Zhang, Alex Lobora, Yilei Hou and Yali Wen
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 278; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050278 - 6 May 2024
Abstract
Under the dual pressures of climate change and human activities, the restrictions imposed by conservation policies, along with the increasing overlap between wildlife protected areas (PAs) and community living areas, have intensified the contradictions and conflicts between PAs and surrounding communities. Effective governance
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Under the dual pressures of climate change and human activities, the restrictions imposed by conservation policies, along with the increasing overlap between wildlife protected areas (PAs) and community living areas, have intensified the contradictions and conflicts between PAs and surrounding communities. Effective governance of such conflicts is particularly crucial to reconciling the contradictions between conservation and development. This study takes the Mikumi–Selous areas in Tanzania, Africa, as a case study. Through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, it explores the current state of conflicts between PAs and communities in the study area and summarizes conflict governance measures. Moreover, this research focuses on identifying various factors that influence the conservation willingness and action of community residents, further validating the relationships between residents’ household characteristics, conservation costs and benefits, conservation cognition, willingness, and behaviors through empirical analysis methods. The results indicate that residents’ conservation cognition significantly positively impacts their conservation willingness and behaviors, while conservation willingness also positively affects their conservation behaviors. Additionally, it was found that conservation costs inhibit residents’ conservation willingness and behaviors. This study primarily explores, from a community governance perspective, the participation willingness and behaviors of core stakeholders in conflict governance, emphasizing the critical role of community involvement in achieving biodiversity conservation and coordinated community development and providing a new perspective for alleviating conservation and development issues.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Dimension of Forest and Wildlife Protection: Second Edition)
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Open AccessCommunication
Benthic Biodiversity by Baited Camera Observations on the Cosmonaut Sea Shelf of East Antarctica
by
Jianfeng Mou, Xuebao He, Kun Liu, Yaqin Huang, Shuyi Zhang, Yongcan Zu, Yanan Liu, Shunan Cao, Musheng Lan, Xing Miao, Heshan Lin and Wenhua Liu
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050277 - 6 May 2024
Abstract
A free-fall baited camera lander was launched for the first time on the Cosmonaut Sea shelf of East Antarctica at a depth of 694 m during the 38th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) in 2022. We identified 31 unique taxa (23 were
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A free-fall baited camera lander was launched for the first time on the Cosmonaut Sea shelf of East Antarctica at a depth of 694 m during the 38th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) in 2022. We identified 31 unique taxa (23 were invertebrates and eight were fish) belonging to eight phyla from 2403 pictures and 40 videos. The Antarctic jonasfish (Notolepis coatsi) was the most frequently observed fish taxa. Ten species of vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) taxa were observed, accounting for 32% of all species. The maximum number (MaxN) of Natatolana meridionalis individuals per image frame was ten, and they were attracted to the bait. The macrobenthic community type were sessile suspension feeders with associated fauna (SSFA), which was shaped by the muddy substrata with scattered rocks. Rocks served as the best habitats for sessile fauna. The study reveals the megafauna community and their habitat by image survey in the Cosmonaut Sea for the first time. It helped us obtain Antarctic biodiversity baselines and monitoring data for future ecosystem health assessment and better protection.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Biogeography of Marine Benthos)
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Open AccessArticle
A Description of the New Hybodont Shark Genus, Columnaodus, from the Burlington and Keokuk Limestones (Carboniferous, Mississippian, Osagean) of Illinois and Iowa, USA
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David Cicimurri, Charles Ciampaglio, Matthew Hoenig, Ryan Shell, Lauren Fuelling, David Peterman, Daniel A. Cline and Stephen Jacquemin
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050276 - 6 May 2024
Abstract
Bonebeds occurring in exposures of the Burlington and Keokuk Limestones (Mississippian/Osagean) along the Iowa and Illinois border (USA) contain an abundant and diverse collection of chondrichthyan remains that includes teeth, spines, denticles, and coprolites. These remains represent cochliodont, hybodont, petalodont, ctenacanthid, symmoriid, and
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Bonebeds occurring in exposures of the Burlington and Keokuk Limestones (Mississippian/Osagean) along the Iowa and Illinois border (USA) contain an abundant and diverse collection of chondrichthyan remains that includes teeth, spines, denticles, and coprolites. These remains represent cochliodont, hybodont, petalodont, ctenacanthid, symmoriid, and acanthodian (stem chondrichthyan) taxa. The thickest of these beds, herein referred to as the Burlington–Keokuk bonebed, occurs at the top of the Burlington Limestone and presents a remarkable opportunity to study the assemblage of mid-continent, Middle Mississippian chondrichthyans. Bulk matrix samples of this bonebed were collected from two quarries (Biggsville Quarry, Biggsville, IL, USA, and Nelson Quarry, Mediapolis, IA, USA) and disaggregated. Among the multitude of previously known taxa, several teeth represented a new genus and species of hybodont shark. Herein, we describe these teeth as Columnaodus witzkei (gen. et sp. nov.), a hybodontiform with dental features comparable to unnamed specimens reported from elsewhere.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Paleoecology, Diversity, Taphonomy, Phylogeny, and Evolution of Paleozoic Fishes)
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Open AccessArticle
Land Use Impact on Water Quality and Phytoplankton Community Structure in Danjiangkou Reservoir
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Yanrong Zhu, Jing Gao, Hongbing Zhao, Shijiang Deng, Mengran Lin, Nenghan Wang, Minxuan Liu, Sheng Hu and Laibo Luo
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050275 - 6 May 2024
Abstract
The composition and intensity of land use significantly influence the aquatic ecological environment, further affecting the physicochemical attributes of the water body, and indirectly modulating the phytoplankton community structure. This study centers around the Danjiangkou Reservoir, investigating the correlation between land use, water
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The composition and intensity of land use significantly influence the aquatic ecological environment, further affecting the physicochemical attributes of the water body, and indirectly modulating the phytoplankton community structure. This study centers around the Danjiangkou Reservoir, investigating the correlation between land use, water environment, and phytoplankton alongside varying intensities of anthropogenic activities, based on the review of land use, phytoplankton, and water quality data of 2021. Firstly, an analysis was conducted over five circular buffer zones generated around sampling points with radii set at 500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m, 2000 m, and 2500 m, wherein the intensity of human activity was categorized into low, medium, and high, in accordance with the human activity intensity level score (HAILS). This study proceeded to explore the correlation between land use and the water environment across different scales, compared phytoplankton density and community structure differences across varied levels of human activity, and analyzed the association between phytoplankton communities in the Danjiangkou Reservoir and environmental variables under various intensities. The findings showed: The land use within the 500 m circular buffer zone has the greatest impact on the water quality of the Danjiangkou Reservoir, especially with the increase in human activities leading to elevated nutrient levels in the water, thereby promoting the growth and reproduction of algae, and increasing the risk of algal blooms. This research scrutinizes the relationship between land use, water environment, and plankton under varying human activity intensities, serving as a foundation for environmental management sectors to make informed decisions and promote the sustainable development of the catchment water environment.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Phytoplankton and Their Associated Microbiomes in the Changing Marine Environment)
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Open AccessArticle
Genetic Evidence for the Presence of Wild-Caught Sturgeons in Commercial Markets in Georgia
by
Tamar Beridze, Shannon L. White, David C. Kazyak, Levan Ninua, Dewayne Fox, Arun Sethuraman, Tamari Edisherashvili, Bianca Roberts, Mikheil Potskhishvili, Michelle Klailova and Cort Anderson
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050274 - 4 May 2024
Abstract
Sturgeons (Family: Acipenseridae) are among the most endangered taxa worldwide. Significant resources have been invested into the conservation of global sturgeon populations, including the development of commercial aquaculture programs. These programs are intended to improve conservation outcomes by reducing the harvest of wild
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Sturgeons (Family: Acipenseridae) are among the most endangered taxa worldwide. Significant resources have been invested into the conservation of global sturgeon populations, including the development of commercial aquaculture programs. These programs are intended to improve conservation outcomes by reducing the harvest of wild populations while still meeting commercial demand for sturgeon products. However, there is growing concern that commercial aquaculture programs may contribute to wild population declines through continued, illegal harvest and the escape and/or release of captive individuals into wild environments. These concerns may be particularly acute in the country of Georgia which, despite its small territory and altered landscape, is a globally significant hotspot for sturgeon diversity. In order to understand the potential threat of captive culture on wild sturgeon populations in Georgia, we used mitochondrial DNA sequencing and microsatellite analyses to identify the species and origin of sturgeons encountered in commercial settings. Microsatellite analyses showed significant differentiation between wild and commercial Russian sturgeon populations and highlighted the potential for wild-caught individuals to be present in coastal markets in Georgia. The analyses of mitochondrial haplotypes also suggested that commercial markets may contain sturgeon species that are not native to the region. Overall, our results suggest that wild sturgeon populations may still be exploited to support captive aquaculture programs and commercial sales.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Ecology, Management and Conservation of Vertebrates)
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Open AccessArticle
Impact of Silver Nanoparticles on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Glomalin-Related Soil Proteins in the Rhizosphere of Maize Seedlings
by
Haiying Zhao, Zhiyuan Liu, Yu Han and Jiling Cao
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050273 - 2 May 2024
Abstract
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Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), an important arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal by-product, plays a key role in preserving or sequestrating soil organic carbon (C). Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have become an emerging contaminant and their impacts on soil ecosystems attract increasing concerns. The dynamics of
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Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), an important arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal by-product, plays a key role in preserving or sequestrating soil organic carbon (C). Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have become an emerging contaminant and their impacts on soil ecosystems attract increasing concerns. The dynamics of AM fungi and GRSP could therefore form the basis for an in-depth exploration of the influences of AgNPs on soil ecosystems. This study investigated the effects of AgNPs on mycorrhizal growth and AM fungal communities, as well as the GRSP contents in maize (Zea mays L.) soils, with a pot experiment. The contributions of GRSP to soil organic C and the correlations of GRSP with soil organic C were also evaluated. The results indicated that AgNPs decreased the mycorrhizal colonization, AM fungal biomass, and diversity indices, and strongly shifted the community composition of AM fungi with a reduction in Acaulosporaceae and an enrichment in Glomeraceae. Additionally, AgNPs also decreased the soil’s easily extractable (EE) GRSP and total (T) GRSP contents, resulting in lower contributions of EE-GRSP-C and T-GRSP-C to the soil organic C. Linkage analyses revealed that AM fungal abundances have positive correlations with EE- and T-GRSP, and EE- and T-GRSP also positively correlated with soil organic C, indicating that the negative effects of AgNPs on AM fungal abundances and communities were extended to AM-fungal-associated C processes. Altogether, our study found that AgNPs decreased the AM fungal abundances shaped AM fungal communities, and reduced the soil GRSP content, which might subsequently be unfavorable for soil C storage.
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Open AccessArticle
Low Genetic and Parasite Diversity of Invasive Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (Centrarchidae) Expanding in Türkiye
by
Yuriy Kvach, Maria Yu. Tkachenko, Daniela Giannetto, Robert Míč, Veronika Bartáková, Sevan Ağdamar, Gülşah Saç, Müfit Özuluğ, Ali Serhan Tarkan and Markéta Ondračková
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050272 - 1 May 2024
Abstract
Multiple factors can facilitate invasion success, with the absence of natural enemies, such as predators and parasites, recognised as conferring a significant advantage on invasive over native species. Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (Centrarchidae) represents one of the most successful freshwater fish invaders in Europe.
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Multiple factors can facilitate invasion success, with the absence of natural enemies, such as predators and parasites, recognised as conferring a significant advantage on invasive over native species. Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (Centrarchidae) represents one of the most successful freshwater fish invaders in Europe. Previous research has highlighted genetic differences between pumpkinseed populations in Türkiye and those in other European regions, attributed to rapid adaptation to new environmental conditions. This study aimed to investigate whether these highly adapted pumpkinseed populations in Türkiye benefit from a potential release from parasites, as proposed by the enemy-release hypothesis. Genetic characterisation of pumpkinseed populations from both European and Asian parts of Türkiye revealed that they share the same cytochrome c oxidase I haplotype as European populations. Microsatellite analysis indicated low genetic diversity, with STRUCTURE analysis confirming the clustering of all Turkish populations, suggesting a common source. Consistent with the low genetic diversity indicative of a small founding population, we observed a limited number of co-introduced parasite species, including the myxozoan Myxobolus dechtiari, the monogenean Onchocleidus dispar, and the digenean Posthodiplostomum centrarchi. Parasite infection by local parasites acquired in Türkiye was rare. Parasite diversity, species richness, and equitability were low, with only nine parasite taxa identified in all four pumpkinseed populations. The most diverse parasite community was found in Değirmenköy Reservoir, located in the European part of Türkiye, where seven parasite taxa were identified. While our study did not uncover genetically distinct pumpkinseed populations in Türkiye, the fish demonstrated resilience against most local parasite species, potentially providing them with an advantage over native species, aligning with the enemy-release hypothesis.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Taxonomy and Systematics of Fish Parasites)
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Open AccessArticle
Age Readings and Assessment in Coastal Batoid Elasmobranchs from Small-Scale Size-Selective Fishery: The Importance of Data Comparability in Multi-Specific Assemblages
by
Umberto Scacco, Fabiana Zanardi, Silvio Kroha, Emanuele Mancini, Francesco Tiralongo and Giuseppe Nascetti
Diversity 2024, 16(5), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050271 - 30 Apr 2024
Abstract
The large variation in vertebral shape and calcification observed among elasmobranch species prevents using a single method for enhancing growth bands and reading age. Further, estimating age and growth parameters can be difficult or impractical when samples are incomplete due to the
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The large variation in vertebral shape and calcification observed among elasmobranch species prevents using a single method for enhancing growth bands and reading age. Further, estimating age and growth parameters can be difficult or impractical when samples are incomplete due to the bycatch of a size-selective fishery. Using a single and rapid method, age readings were obtained on the vertebrae of four batoid species, namely 53 individuals of Dasyatis pastinaca, 51 of Raja asterias, 15 of Torpedo marmorata, and 55 specimens of Torpedo torpedo, from the local small-scale trammel net fishery in the coastal waters (5–20 m depth) of the Central Tyrrhenian Sea during 2019–2021. Based on these data, a statistical routine was developed to obtain multiple estimates of age and growth parameters for incomplete samples due to size-selective fishing. The acceptable agreement between and within readers (intra and inter-reader disagreement < 5%) and the rate of increase in vertebral size with body size (differently ranked across species) demonstrated the consistency of the enhancing method. The parameters estimated by the Von Bertalanffy and Gompertz growth models matched the data available in the Mediterranean Sea for the species studied, with D. pastinaca, T. torpedo, and R. asterias showing the lowest (k = 0.05–0.12), intermediate (k = 0.112–0.19), and highest (k = 0.18–0.23) growth rates, respectively, in line with the life history traits of these species. Overall, the method proved effective both in delineating band pairs in vertebrae of different species and in reliably estimating the age and growth parameters of problematic samples due to size-selective fishing. The proposed method supports the collection of comparable demographic data from other areas where similar multi-specific assemblages are bycatch of size-selective fisheries impacting potential nursery areas and other essential habitats for elasmobranchs.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2024)
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