Diversity

10 pages, 2474 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Species of Enicospilus Stephens, 1835 (Ichneumonidae, Ophioninae), from Southern Mexico, Parasitic on Zanola verago Cramer, 1777 (Lepidoptera, Apatelodidae), Feeding on Piper neesianum C. DC. (Piperaceae)

by Diego Fernando Campos-Moreno, Edgard Palacio, Luis Alberto Lara-Pérez, James B. Whitfield, Carmen Pozo and Lee A. Dyer

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070466 - 3 Jul 2025

Abstract

Plant–herbivore–parasitoid systems are poorly studied in the tropics. Enicospilus carmenae Campos and Palacio sp. nov. are described, originating from southern Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula and establishing a new tri-trophic interaction. This species is a koinobiont larval endoparasitoid of the American silkworm moth [...] Read more.

Plant–herbivore–parasitoid systems are poorly studied in the tropics. Enicospilus carmenae Campos and Palacio sp. nov. are described, originating from southern Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula and establishing a new tri-trophic interaction. This species is a koinobiont larval endoparasitoid of the American silkworm moth caterpillar Zanola verago (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Apatelodidae) feeding on the shrub Piper neesianum C.DC. (Piperaceae) in a semi-evergreen forest. The host plant P. neesianum had no herbivore records to date, and a single collection event yielded the rearing of a new species of Enicospilus (Ichneumonidae, Ophioninae). Morphological, molecular (COI), biological, ecological, and geographical data are integrated to delineate the new species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Animal Diversity)

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13 pages, 3735 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Genus Tegonotus Nalepa (Acariformes: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae): Description of a New Species and Key to Valid Species

by Eid Muhammad Khan, Jawwad Hassan Mirza, Muhammad Kamran and Fahad Jaber Alatawi

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070465 - 2 Jul 2025

Abstract

The genus Tegonotus Nalepa (Acariformes: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae) is recorded for the first time from Saudi Arabia with the description of a new species, T. saudiensis sp. nov., collected from the inner fronds of Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecaceae), described and illustrated based on females. [...] Read more.

The genus Tegonotus Nalepa (Acariformes: Eriophyidae: Phyllocoptinae) is recorded for the first time from Saudi Arabia with the description of a new species, T. saudiensis sp. nov., collected from the inner fronds of Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecaceae), described and illustrated based on females. The individuals of the new species were vagrant on the abaxial leaf surface, causing no apparent damage to the host plant. The taxonomic status of the genus and its species was thoroughly assessed through the literature-based analysis of morphological characters. Consequently, the diagnosis of the genus Tegonotus is updated, and a key to 47 valid species is provided. Eight Tegonotus species are suggested to be transferred to three different genera within the tribe. A brief discussion on the taxonomic status of these species is provided. The position of scapular tubercles and setae (sc), and shape of the dorsal pedipalp genu seta (d), were found to be significant for the generic designation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology, and Conservation of Mites)

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24 pages, 2803 KiB

Open AccessReview

Mammal Fauna Changes in Baltic Countries During Last Three Decades

by Linas Balčiauskas, Valdis Pilāts and Uudo Timm

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070464 - 1 Jul 2025

Abstract

We examined three decades of changes in the mammal fauna of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in the context of climate variability, land use transformation, and anthropogenic pressures. We compiled distributional, abundance, and status data from publications, atlases, official game statistics, and long-term monitoring [...] Read more.

We examined three decades of changes in the mammal fauna of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in the context of climate variability, land use transformation, and anthropogenic pressures. We compiled distributional, abundance, and status data from publications, atlases, official game statistics, and long-term monitoring programs, and we evaluated trends using compound annual growth rates or temporal indices. Our review identified losses such as regional extinctions of garden dormice and European mink, declines in small insectivores (e.g., pond bats and shrews) and herbivores (e.g., Microtus voles), and the contraction of boreal specialists (e.g., Siberian flying squirrels). However, we also identified gains, including increases in ungulate numbers (e.g., roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, moose, and wild boars before African swine fewer outbreak) and the recovery of large carnivores (e.g., wolves and lynxes). Invasions by non-native species (e.g., American mink, raccoon dog, and raccoon) and episodic disturbances, such as African swine fever and the “anthropause” caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, have further reshaped community composition. The drivers encompass climatic warming, post-socialist forest succession, intensified hunting management, and rewilding policies, with dispersal capacity mediating the responses of species. Our results underscore the dual legacy of historical land use and contemporary climate forcing in structuring the fauna dynamics of Baltic mammal communities in the face of declining specialists and invasive taxa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2025)

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19 pages, 3788 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Updated List of Oklahoma Tiger Beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) with Notes on Their Distribution and Conservation Status

by Alexander J. Harman and W. Wyatt Hoback

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070463 - 1 Jul 2025

Abstract

Tiger beetles are a family of predatory beetles characterized by their large eyes, long legs, and often bright colors. While popular with researchers, insect collectors, and photographers, the distribution of species in Oklahoma remains relatively understudied. Recently, three species were added to the [...] Read more.

Tiger beetles are a family of predatory beetles characterized by their large eyes, long legs, and often bright colors. While popular with researchers, insect collectors, and photographers, the distribution of species in Oklahoma remains relatively understudied. Recently, three species were added to the state list, bringing the total to 39 species, the third highest in the United States. Knowledge of a species’ distribution is often characterized at the county level in the United States, with Oklahoma having 77 counties. Using collection records and community science submissions, we increased the number of documented county records 68%, from 461 to 776. In addition to reporting the county-level distributions for each species in the state, we discuss the utility of community science platforms for documenting species distribution records. We also present habitats that are utilized by these species, the subspecific taxonomy of populations in Oklahoma, and how anthropogenic changes are differentially affecting species distributions. Substantial range expansions for many southern species into the state suggest potential for tiger beetles to serve as indicators of warming temperatures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biodiversity Conservation)

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12 pages, 1060 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity of the Soil Bacterial Community of Abandoned Jujube Land in the Loess Area of Northern Shaanxi in Different Years

by Ning Ai, Menghuan Zou, Xuejiao Yu and Jie Gao

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 462; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070462 - 30 Jun 2025

Abstract

This research aimed to study changes in the diversity of the soil bacterial community in a jujube forest with different years of abandonment. To this end, we took the mountain jujube forest with different abandoned years (1 a, 3 a, 6a and 20 [...] Read more.

This research aimed to study changes in the diversity of the soil bacterial community in a jujube forest with different years of abandonment. To this end, we took the mountain jujube forest with different abandoned years (1 a, 3 a, 6a and 20 a) in the Qijiashan jujube experimental demonstration base in Yanchuan County as the research object; we used Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the changes in the soil bacterial community structure and reveal the key environmental drivers of bacterial community variation in the abandoned jujube forest in the study area. The results showed the following findings: (1) Phylum Actinomycetota (34%), Proteobacteria (29%), and Acidobacteriota (13%) were the dominant phyla of the soil bacterial community in the abandoned jujube forest. (2) Abandonment altered the composition of soil bacteria at the OTU level in jujube plantations. (3) There are differences in the soil bacterial community structure across different periods of abandonment in the jujube forest. (4) Soil water content is the main factor affecting the bacterial community structure of the abandoned jujube forest. There are differences in the soil water content of abandoned woodlands, which affects the community structure of soil microorganisms. Full article

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23 pages, 2295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling Wolf, Canis lupus, Recolonization Dynamics to Plan Conservation Actions Ahead: Will the “Big Bad Wolves” Howl Again in Slavonia, Croatia?

by Matko Bišćan, Dušan Jelić, Ivana Maguire and Alessandro Massolo

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070461 - 28 Jun 2025

Abstract

A century ago, wolves ranged throughout Croatia but were eradicated from Slavonia—a region that could serve as a crucial corridor connecting the Carpathian and Dinaric–Balkan wolf populations. Such a corridor would promote genetic exchange and help maintain ecosystem stability. Recent wolf sightings in [...] Read more.

A century ago, wolves ranged throughout Croatia but were eradicated from Slavonia—a region that could serve as a crucial corridor connecting the Carpathian and Dinaric–Balkan wolf populations. Such a corridor would promote genetic exchange and help maintain ecosystem stability. Recent wolf sightings in Slavonia indicate that natural recolonization may be possible. Understanding how this process unfolds under different management scenarios is essential for minimizing conflicts and supporting successful recolonization. In this study, we modeled wolf population dynamics in Slavonia and surrounding areas using 11 scenarios, grouped into three categories: adverse events, increased carrying capacity, and population supplementation. These scenarios encompassed various management strategies, including a baseline scenario and others designed to address system uncertainties. Our results show that scenarios involving corridor construction and wolf translocation have the lowest probability of extinction. In contrast, adverse events carry a high risk of extinction, and simply expanding suitable habitats is not enough to ensure population viability. These findings underscore the importance of integrated conservation strategies that combine habitat corridors, population management, and conflict mitigation. Long-term planning is critical, as differences in outcomes become more pronounced over time. Connectivity with stable neighboring populations is vital for the long-term survival of wolves in the region. Future research should investigate whether protected areas alone are sufficient to sustain wolves as apex predators or if large-scale ecosystem restoration—including trophic rewilding—is necessary for successful recolonization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife in Natural and Altered Environments)

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21 pages, 3667 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Temporal Niche Partitioning as a Coexistence Mechanism Between China’s Endemic Elliot’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti) and Its Predator, the Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)

by Pengchen Zhou, Yalan Xu, Chenbo Huang, Hui Li, Xinyu Cui, Ying Fu, Bin Wang and Xiaoyang Mo

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070460 - 28 Jun 2025

Abstract

Understanding predator-prey coexistence mechanisms is essential for conserving endemic species in montane ecosystems. Galliformes serve as critical ecological indicator species, yet their populations are declining globally due to habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic pressures. Elliot’s pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti, Swinhoe, 1872), a Galliformes [...] Read more.

Understanding predator-prey coexistence mechanisms is essential for conserving endemic species in montane ecosystems. Galliformes serve as critical ecological indicator species, yet their populations are declining globally due to habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic pressures. Elliot’s pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti, Swinhoe, 1872), a Galliformes species endemic to China, is primarily distributed south of the Yangtze River. However, its coexistence mechanisms with sympatric predators remain undocumented. Here, using six years (2019–2024) of camera-trap data from 90 stations in Jiemuxi National Nature Reserve, Hunan Province, Southwest China, we employed a MaxEnt model and kernel density estimation to investigate spatiotemporal coexistence mechanisms between Elliot’s pheasant and its primary predator, the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis, Kerr, 1792). Across 36,946 camera-days, we obtained 227 independent detections of Elliot’s pheasant and 82 of the leopard cat. Spatial niche analysis revealed high overlap (Schoener’s D = 0.769; Hellinger’s I = 0.952). Both species exhibit similar preferences for main environmental variables. Conversely, significant temporal niche segregation occurred: Elliot’s pheasant displayed diurnal bimodal activity, whereas the leopard cat was strictly nocturnal, resulting in low overlap (Δ₄ = 0.379, p < 0.01). Critically, during Elliot’s pheasant’s breeding season, increased temporal overlap with the leopard cat (Δ₁ = 0.479, p < 0.01) suggested that reproductive behaviors elevate predation risk. Our findings demonstrate that temporal niche partitioning serves as the primary coexistence mechanism, while spatial niche overlap and behavioral adaptations under predation pressure drive dynamic predator-prey interactions. This provides a scientific foundation for targeted conservation strategies and predator management of these threatened Galliformes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology, Distribution, and Conservation of Endangered Birds)

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16 pages, 2622 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Variability and Population Structure of Camelus from Kazakhstan Inferred from 17 STR Markers

by Gulfairuz Shaltenbay, Daniya Ualiyeva, Tilek Kapassuly, Altynay Kozhakhmet, Zarina Orazymbetova, Temirlan Kulboldin, Kanagat Yergali, Makpal Amandykova, Bakhytzhan Bekmanov and Kairat Dossybayev

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070459 - 28 Jun 2025

Abstract

Camels have been essential to human survival and development across the arid Central Asian steppes, particularly in Kazakhstan, where the breeding of one-humped and two-humped camels is a longstanding tradition supporting the nomadic lifestyle. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity and [...] Read more.

Camels have been essential to human survival and development across the arid Central Asian steppes, particularly in Kazakhstan, where the breeding of one-humped and two-humped camels is a longstanding tradition supporting the nomadic lifestyle. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of these camels across their distribution range in Kazakhstan. Blood samples from 100 individuals were collected from five locations, Almaty (ALA), Atyrau (ATR), Shymkent (SHK), Kyzylorda (KZL), and Taraz (TRZ), and genotyped using 17 microsatellite markers. All loci were polymorphic, with a mean observed heterozygosity of 0.707 in C. dromedarius and 0.643 in C. bactrianus. The highest expected heterozygosity (He = 0.939) was observed at VOLP67 in C. bactrianus and at VOLP03 in C. dromedarius. Genetic differentiation was low (FST = 0.021), indicating a weak population structure between the two species with substantial gene flow (Nm = 19.972). The hybrid analysis identified 31% hybrids, including F1, F2, and backcrosses, with the highest frequencies in KZL and TRZ, moderate frequencies in ATR, and lowest frequencies in SHK and ALA. These patterns, consistent with STRUCTURE clustering, reflect widespread but regionally variable hybridization. The phylogenetic analysis revealed three clades, separating Bactrian camels (ALA), dromedaries (SHK), and a hybrid group (ATR, KZL, and TRZ). These findings enhance our understanding of the genetic diversity of Kazakhstan’s camels and support effective conservation, breeding strategies, and genotyping applications in camel husbandry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Diversity, Distribution and Conservation of Domestic Animals and Wild Animal)

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Graphical abstract

14 pages, 1640 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecological Drivers and Community Perceptions: Conservation Challenges for the Critically Endangered Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) in Jalthal Forest, Eastern Nepal

by Kamala Limbu, Asmit Subba, Nishan Limbu, Laxman Khanal and Randall C. Kyes

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070458 - 28 Jun 2025

Abstract

The elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), a Critically Endangered (CR) species, faces numerous threats across its range. Yet, the ecological and anthropogenic factors affecting its conservation in fragmented habitats remain poorly understood. This study integrated field surveys and community questionnaires to assess [...] Read more.

The elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), a Critically Endangered (CR) species, faces numerous threats across its range. Yet, the ecological and anthropogenic factors affecting its conservation in fragmented habitats remain poorly understood. This study integrated field surveys and community questionnaires to assess the distribution drivers and local perceptions, such as attitudes, knowledge, conservation practices, and perceived threats, in the Jalthal Forest, one of the last remnants of suitable habitat for the elongated tortoise in eastern Nepal. Using ArcMap, we established 138 randomly selected grids (500 m × 500 m) to evaluate the environmental covariates of tortoise occurrence and anthropogenic pressures. Generalized linear models revealed that tortoise occurrence was negatively associated with dense ground cover (β = −3.50, p = 0.017) and human disturbance (β = −8.11, p = 0.019). Surveys of local residents from community forest user groups (n = 236 respondents) indicated strong local support for tortoise conservation (69% willing to protect the species). Despite this, the respondents identified persistent threats, including hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicine (74%), habitat degradation (65%), and forest fires. While 60% of the respondents recognized the threatened species status, significant knowledge gaps regarding that status and ongoing illegal exploitation persisted. These findings underscore the need for targeted habitat management, reduced anthropogenic pressures, and community-led initiatives to align local attitudes with conservation actions. This study provides critical baseline data for conserving the elongated tortoise in human-modified landscapes and emphasizes the necessity of integrated ecological and socio-cultural strategies for its long-term survival. Full article

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22 pages, 1525 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Land Use and Water Level Fluctuations on Phytoplankton in Mediterranean Reservoirs in Cyprus

by Polina Polykarpou, Natassa Stefanidou, Matina Katsiapi, Maria Moustaka-Gouni, Savvas Genitsaris, Gerald Dörflinger, Athena Economou-Amilli and Dionysios E. Raitsos

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070457 - 28 Jun 2025

Abstract

Land use composition, water level fluctuations (WLFs), and biogeographical factors are recognized as key drivers of phytoplankton dynamics in reservoir ecosystems. This two-year study presents the first assessment of the combined effects of catchment land use, WLFs, and geographical distance on phytoplankton biomass [...] Read more.

Land use composition, water level fluctuations (WLFs), and biogeographical factors are recognized as key drivers of phytoplankton dynamics in reservoir ecosystems. This two-year study presents the first assessment of the combined effects of catchment land use, WLFs, and geographical distance on phytoplankton biomass and community composition across twelve Mediterranean reservoirs in Cyprus, which serve primarily for drinking water supply and irrigation. The results show that higher phytoplankton biomass was recorded in reservoirs whose catchments had >30% coverage by developed land (urban and agricultural), suggesting that increased anthropogenic pressures may lead to nutrient enrichment and elevated productivity. However, despite elevated biomass, no consistent spatial patterns were observed in phytoplankton community composition. The geographical distance between reservoirs had only a minor effect on species distribution, implying that other factors—such as water residence time or hydrological variability—play a more prominent role in shaping community structure. Phytoplankton biomass maxima were most often recorded during periods of elevated water levels and were typically dominated by Chlorophyta, Dinoflagellata, Bacillariophyta, and Charophyta. The pronounced temporal variability in species composition across all reservoirs points to a highly dynamic system, where environmental fluctuations strongly influence community assembly. This study provides the first comprehensive data on phytoplankton in Cyprus reservoirs, highlighting the importance of land use and hydrological regulation for water quality management in similar settings. Importantly, this baseline dataset can support the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) by contributing to the definition of ecological status classes, establishing reference conditions, and guiding future monitoring and assessment efforts. Expanding such datasets through coordinated, basin-wide monitoring initiatives is essential to improve our understanding of phytoplankton dynamics and their role in ecosystem functioning under the pressures of climate change and intensified land use in this Mediterranean “hot spot”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Freshwater Biodiversity)

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43 pages, 22657 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Holocene Flora, Vegetation and Land-Use Changes on Dingle Peninsula, Ireland, as Reflected in Pollen Analytical, Archaeological and Historical Records

by Michael O’Connell and Steffen Wolters

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070456 - 27 Jun 2025

Abstract

Palaeoecological investigations connected with extensive pre-bog, stone walls, and field systems at Kilmore, Dingle peninsula, Ireland, are presented. The main pollen profile, KLM I, spans the last 4000 years. When the record opened, pine (Pinus sylvestris) was already a minor tree, [...] Read more.

Palaeoecological investigations connected with extensive pre-bog, stone walls, and field systems at Kilmore, Dingle peninsula, Ireland, are presented. The main pollen profile, KLM I, spans the last 4000 years. When the record opened, pine (Pinus sylvestris) was already a minor tree, oak (probably Quercus petraea) was the main tall-canopy tree, and birch and alder were dominant locally. Substantial farming is recorded between ca. 1530 and 600 BCE (Bronze Age) when the stone walls were likely constructed. From ca. 560 CE onwards, intensive farming was conducted for much of the time. A largely treeless landscape emerged in the late twelfth century CE. Fine-spatial reconstructions of landscape and vegetation dynamics, including the timing of blanket bog initiation, are made. Post-glacial change in the western Dingle peninsula, based on published Holocene lake profiles and drawing on the new information presented here, is discussed. Reported are (a) fossil spores of the filmy ferns Hymenophyllum tunbrigense, H. wilsonii, and Trichomanes speciosum; (b) the first fossil pollen record for Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree) in the Dingle peninsula (540 CE); and (c) the first published records for Fagopyrum fossil pollen in Ireland, indicating that buckwheat was grown at Kilmore in the late eighteenth/early nineteenth centuries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Succession and Vegetation Dynamics)

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10 pages, 950 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Temperature on Allelopathic Interactions Between Copepods (Copepoda) and Rotifers (Rotifera)

by Ana Nayeli López-Rocha, S. S. S. Sarma and S. Nandini

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070455 - 27 Jun 2025

Abstract

The role of abiotic factors in the allelopathic interactions between copepods and rotifers is poorly documented. Temperature has a marked effect on the metabolism of zooplankton. Therefore, the release of allelochemicals by copepods and the response of rotifers to them may change as [...] Read more.

The role of abiotic factors in the allelopathic interactions between copepods and rotifers is poorly documented. Temperature has a marked effect on the metabolism of zooplankton. Therefore, the release of allelochemicals by copepods and the response of rotifers to them may change as temperatures increase. Here, we tested the effect of two temperatures (20 and 25 °C) on the population growth of Brachionus havanaensis cultured on a conditioned medium (CM) of Arctodiaptomus dorsalis and Eucyclops sp. The CM was obtained daily, separately, for the males and females of both copepod species at a density of 0.1 ind. mL⁻¹ for 24 h prior to experiments. In the controls and CM treatments, higher temperatures had a stimulatory effect on the population growth and the rate of population increase (r) of B. havanaensis. At 25 °C, the CM from the females and males of A. dorsalis caused >30% increase in r, but for the CM from Eucyclops sp., this effect was lower (<21%). At 20 °C, the r in the controls and CM treatments was not significantly different. The morphometry of B. havanaensis varied depending on the treatments. Compared to controls, longer loricae were recorded in the CM of male A. dorsalis at both temperatures. However, in the CM of female calanoids, longer rotifers were observed only at higher temperatures. At 20 °C, the CM from Eucyclops produced smaller loricae. The relationship between the lorica length and width of rotifers showed a linear relation but the slope differed among the treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2025 Feature Papers by Diversity’s Editorial Board Members)

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16 pages, 4667 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Subverting Dominance Hierarchies: Interspecific Submission and Agonistic Interactions Between Golden Jackals and a Red Fox

by Yiannis G. Zevgolis, Christos Kotselis, Babis Giritziotis, Anastasia Lekka and Apostolos Christopoulos

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070454 - 26 Jun 2025

Abstract

Interspecific interactions among sympatric carnivores are critical for understanding patterns of coexistence, competition, and community structure. Among mesocarnivores, dominance hierarchies are typically shaped by differences in body size, social organization, and competitive ability. The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is generally assumed [...] Read more.

Interspecific interactions among sympatric carnivores are critical for understanding patterns of coexistence, competition, and community structure. Among mesocarnivores, dominance hierarchies are typically shaped by differences in body size, social organization, and competitive ability. The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is generally assumed to dominate the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) across shared landscapes, particularly at high-value resources such as carcasses. However, here, we present rare behavioral evidence that challenges this prevailing assumption. Using motion-triggered camera traps deployed at a carcass in Lake Kerkini National Park, Greece, we recorded a sequence of interactions in which a golden jackal displayed clear submissive behavior toward a red fox, including lowered body posture, tail tucking, and conflict avoidance. Subsequent footage revealed two additional agonistic encounters, during which the same red fox successfully displaced two separate jackals, one of which emitted a distress vocalization while retreating. These findings represent the first documented case of interspecific submission by golden jackals toward a red fox and suggest that context-specific factors—such as immediate carcass possession, individual experience, or body condition—may modulate expected dominance outcomes. Our observations underscore the importance of fine-scale behavioral studies in revealing plasticity in interspecific relationships and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of carnivore competition under semi-natural conditions. Full article

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26 pages, 4252 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vertebrate Diversity of the Middle Triassic Xingyi Fauna

by Da-yong Jiang, Andrea Tintori, Min Zhou, Ryosuke Motani, Cheng Ji, Olivier Rieppel, Nicholas C. Fraser, Davide Conedera, Ming-tao Yao, Yi-nuo Wang and Zuo-yu Sun

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070453 - 26 Jun 2025

Abstract

The Xingyi Fauna yields abundant and well-articulated skeletons of Ladinian (Middle Triassic, ab. 240 Ma) marine reptiles, associated with fishes, conodonts, crinoids, ammonoids, bivalves, arthropods, and other fossils including nannofossils and coprolites. It represents a new marine ecosystem fully developed after the end-Permian [...] Read more.

The Xingyi Fauna yields abundant and well-articulated skeletons of Ladinian (Middle Triassic, ab. 240 Ma) marine reptiles, associated with fishes, conodonts, crinoids, ammonoids, bivalves, arthropods, and other fossils including nannofossils and coprolites. It represents a new marine ecosystem fully developed after the end-Permian Mass Extinction, and characterized by the appearance of a diversity of large marine reptiles with large ichthyosaurs as the apex predators. Twenty marine reptile and 17 fish species have been reported. The sequence of the Xingyi Fauna records the transition from a marine ecosystem dominated by air-breathing tetrapods extending across the shallow platform to the deep ocean, as indicated by large marine reptiles with a capability for long-distance cruising into the outer sea. The faunal composition of the Lower Assemblage of the Xingyi Fauna, dominated by small- to medium-sized pachypleurosaurids and nothosaurids, is similar to that of the older Anisian Panxian Fauna and the western Tethyan Monte San Giorgio Fauna, but the faunal composition of the Upper Assemblage, with large ichthyopterygians, pistosauroid sauropterygians, and flying fishes, is similar to that of the younger Carnian Guanling Biota as well as the Raibl and Polzberg Faunas in the Alps and California. Therefore, the Xingyi Fauna can be considered a hub of paleobiogeological exchange connecting the western Tethys and the eastern Pathalassa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Marine Diversity)

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28 pages, 20870 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reproductive Life-History Traits of Two Aggregating Reef-Associated Groupers (Red Hind and Yellowfin Grouper) in Marine Protected Areas of Southern Gulf of Mexico

by Thierry Brulé, Doralice Caballero-Arango, Virginia Nóh-Quiñones, Armin Tuz-Sulub, Enrique Puerto-Novelo, Teresa Colás-Marrufo and Ximena Renán

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070452 - 26 Jun 2025

Abstract

Overexploitation is the main anthropogenic threat to groupers (Epinephelidae) that aggregate to spawn. Fishing negatively affects their reproductive success and indirectly harms fishery economic yield. In the southern Gulf of Mexico, grouper catches, which include thirteen species, are in decline. A lack of [...] Read more.

Overexploitation is the main anthropogenic threat to groupers (Epinephelidae) that aggregate to spawn. Fishing negatively affects their reproductive success and indirectly harms fishery economic yield. In the southern Gulf of Mexico, grouper catches, which include thirteen species, are in decline. A lack of biological information on each exploited species prevents optimising fishery management. Using histological examination of the gonads, the reproductive traits of red hind Epinephelus guttatus and yellowfin grouper Mycteroperca venenosa were studied from January 2008 to October 2009. Collections were made at two reef systems (Alacranes Reef and Bajos del Norte) on the continental shelf of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, where these species form transient spawning aggregations. The results confirmed that previously identified spawning aggregation sites at both reefs constitute productive seasonal and perennial “hotspots” for both groupers; they spawn annually between January and April. Females of these protogynous hermaphroditic species exhibit a reproductive strategy characterised by asynchronous ovarian development organisation and ovulation. Sex ratios and maximum sizes at each reef suggest that populations of both groupers had a good conservation status as of the late 2000s. Both reefs are now marine protected areas, and a discussion is made of the consequent possible benefits to grouper population conservation and sustainability in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spatial and Temporal Studies in Marine Protected Areas: Mexican Chapter)

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23 pages, 8610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Marine Bryozoans from the Northern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica

by Beatriz Antillón-Obando, Jorge Cortés and Jeffrey A. Sibaja-Cordero

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070451 - 26 Jun 2025

Abstract

Although diverse and abundant, the phylum Bryozoa has been the subject of few studies in Costa Rica. Nearly 50 years have passed since Banta and Carson identified, described, and published twenty-four bryozoan species, including scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. To expand the knowledge [...] Read more.

Although diverse and abundant, the phylum Bryozoa has been the subject of few studies in Costa Rica. Nearly 50 years have passed since Banta and Carson identified, described, and published twenty-four bryozoan species, including scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. To expand the knowledge of bryozoan diversity in the region, we sampled shallow coastal waters along the northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica and extracted tissue for DNA barcoding using the mitochondrial COI marker. Photographs of living specimens and SEM images were taken for morphological identification. We identified fifteen individuals belonging to nine bryozoan species from the orders Cyclostomatida and Cheilostomatida. Five of these species represent new records for Costa Rica (Savignyella lafontii, Bugula neritina, Watersipora arcuata, Smittipora levinseni, and Biflustra tenuis), while the remaining four (Disporella sp., Parasmittina crosslandi, Cigclisula sp., and Biflustra sp.) had been previously reported. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Marine Diversity)

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15 pages, 5112 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Temperature on Competition Between Toxic and Non-Toxic Raphidiopsis raciborskii and Cylindrospermopsin Production

by Wei Liu, Xin Tang, Sainan Zhang, Mingting Lei and Lamei Lei

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070450 - 25 Jun 2025

Abstract

Toxic and non-toxic strains of Raphidiopsis raciborskii coexist widely in natural water bodies, with the dominance of toxic strains directly influencing bloom toxicity. This study investigates how temperature affects the relative dominance of toxic R. raciborskii strains and the production of cylindrospermopsin (CYN). [...] Read more.

Toxic and non-toxic strains of Raphidiopsis raciborskii coexist widely in natural water bodies, with the dominance of toxic strains directly influencing bloom toxicity. This study investigates how temperature affects the relative dominance of toxic R. raciborskii strains and the production of cylindrospermopsin (CYN). We conducted monoculture and co-culture experiments in nutrient-rich BG11 medium at three temperatures (16 °C, 24 °C, and 32 °C) using two pairs of strains (CS506/CS510 from Australia and QDH7/N8 from China). The results revealed that the Australian strains failed to grow at 16 °C, while the Chinese strains thrived. In a co-culture experiment, the Australian toxic strain CS506 exhibited the fastest growth at 24 °C, whereas the Chinese toxic strain QDH7 reached similar maximum cell densities across all temperatures but peaked more quickly at 24 °C and 32 °C compared to 16 °C. Regardless of temperature and strain pairs, toxic strains consistently maintained a higher relative abundance than their non-toxic counterparts. Analysis using the rate of competitive displacement (RCD) model indicated that higher temperatures accelerated the displacement of non-toxic strains by toxic ones. Total CYN concentrations in co-cultures increased with temperature, although the cell quota of CYN (Q_CYN) did not vary significantly across temperatures. In co-culture, the CYN production rate during the exponential phase was positively correlated with cell growth rate, but this correlation weakened or reversed in the stationary phase, likely due to changes in nutrient availability. These findings suggest that rising temperatures under eutrophic conditions may enhance the growth and competitive advantage of toxic R. raciborskii strains, thereby exacerbating bloom toxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Freshwater Plankton)

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15 pages, 2174 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flowing Round the World: Water Snakes (Natricidae) Show Habitat-Related Adaptive Radiation After Dispersal to the New World

by Victoria J. Pascolutti and Kevin Arbuckle

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070449 - 24 Jun 2025

Abstract

Adaptive radiations are characterized by increases in rates of lineage and trait evolution, typically due to the opening of new ecological opportunities such as may follow from dispersal to a new region or the evolution of a trait that allows exploitation of new [...] Read more.

Adaptive radiations are characterized by increases in rates of lineage and trait evolution, typically due to the opening of new ecological opportunities such as may follow from dispersal to a new region or the evolution of a trait that allows exploitation of new niches. This results in clades that have accumulated unusually high biological diversity within a relatively short evolutionary timespan and hence the phenomenon has attracted longstanding interest amongst evolutionary biologists. Natricidae is a family of snakes with a primarily Old World distribution but which have colonized the New World on a single occasion. This dispersal event coincides with an increased speciation rate that has led to a species-rich New World clade. Herein, we take a phylogenetic comparative approach to investigate a likely adaptive radiation of New World natricids. We first confirmed previously reported findings of a single origin (providing new ecological opportunity) coinciding with a burst of lineage diversification. We then estimate the rates of evolution for three ecologically important traits (body size and broad categories of diet and habitat) separately for New World and Old World natricids. Of these three traits, our results provide evidence that only transition rates between terrestrial and (semi-)aquatic habitats are higher in the New World clade. Taken together, this supports a scenario of an adaptive radiation in natricids primarily associated with differentiation by habitat as the clade spread across the New World following its arrival there. Considering other adaptive radiations alongside our evidence for Natricidae, we propose the hypothesis that there is a common distinction between spatially constrained ‘island’ adaptive radiations (which often diverge along trophic axes) and continental adaptive radiations, which diverge as the clade spreads across a larger spatial scale and adapts to different habitats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogeography, Ecology and Conservation of Reptiles)

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12 pages, 10091 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hyalosira (Diatomeae: Grammatophoraceae) from Florida Keys, U.S.A., Including Two New Species with Consistent Ornamentation

by Christopher S. Lobban

Diversity 2025, 17(7), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17070448 - 24 Jun 2025

Abstract

Diatoms are the most numerous of algae and scanning electron microscopy continues to reveal ever-increasing diversity. Two new species of Hyalosira from Florida add new characters distinguishing species in this recently redefined genus: H. ornata sp. nov. from Florida Bay has consistent and [...] Read more.

Diatoms are the most numerous of algae and scanning electron microscopy continues to reveal ever-increasing diversity. Two new species of Hyalosira from Florida add new characters distinguishing species in this recently redefined genus: H. ornata sp. nov. from Florida Bay has consistent and elaborate ornamentation on both valves and undulate valve margins; H. sertifera sp. nov., from the Atlantic coast of Key Largo, has a thick, consistent, garland-like ring of cristae on only one valve; the former species has deep septa on all copulae except the valvocopula, the latter shallow septa or none on the copulae. Hyalosira hesperia was also found in the Atlantic sample; this is the first record outside the Mediterranean. The number of species known from SEM is now twelve, including four with septa, a diversity potentially useful in exploring outstanding questions of septum function; a key to these species is appended. Full article

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