Diversity

11 pages, 4990 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

New Data on the Poorly Known Jurassic Record of the Turtle Hylaeochelys (Thalassochelydia), Based on New Finds from Portugal

by Adán Pérez-García, Bruno Camilo and Francisco Ortega

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020167 - 25 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2936

Abstract

Hylaeochelys is the only thalassochelydian turtle identified in the Cretaceous record. A single Lower Cretaceous species is known, Hylaeochelys belli, identified in United Kingdom and Germany and defined in the first half of the 19th century. Less than a decade ago, the [...] Read more.

Hylaeochelys is the only thalassochelydian turtle identified in the Cretaceous record. A single Lower Cretaceous species is known, Hylaeochelys belli, identified in United Kingdom and Germany and defined in the first half of the 19th century. Less than a decade ago, the presence of Hylaeochelys in the Upper Jurassic was recognized through the find of a single partial shell from West-Central Portugal. It was attributed to a new species, Hylaeochelys kappa. Until now, no other Hylaeochelys specimen was known for either the Iberian Peninsula or the Jurassic record. Two new specimens attributable to Hylaeochelys, from two different Upper Jurassic outcrops of west-central Portugal, are presented here. Its systematic attribution is analyzed. Consequently, knowledge about the anatomy and intraspecific variability of Hylaeochelys kappa is increased. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology and Evolutionary History of Reptiles)

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24 pages, 2908 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

An Overview of Marine Non-Indigenous Species Found in Three Contrasting Biogeographic Metropolitan French Regions: Insights on Distribution, Origins and Pathways of Introduction

by Cécile Massé, Frédérique Viard, Suzie Humbert, Elvire Antajan, Isabelle Auby, Guy Bachelet, Guillaume Bernard, Vincent M. P. Bouchet, Thomas Burel, Jean-Claude Dauvin, Alice Delegrange, Sandrine Derrien-Courtel, Gabin Droual, Benoit Gouillieux, Philippe Goulletquer, Laurent Guérin, Anne-Laure Janson, Jérôme Jourde, Céline Labrune, Nicolas Lavesque, Jean-Charles Leclerc, Michel Le Duff, Vincent Le Garrec, Pierre Noël, Antoine Nowaczyk, Christine Pergent-Martini, Jean-Philippe Pezy, Aurore Raoux, Virginie Raybaud, Sandrine Ruitton, Pierre-Guy Sauriau, Nicolas Spilmont, Delphine Thibault, Dorothée Vincent and Amelia Curd Show full author list Hide full author list

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020161 - 23 Jan 2023

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4185

Abstract

Biological invasions are one of the main global threats to biodiversity in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems worldwide, requiring effective inventorying and monitoring programs. Here, we present an updated list of non-indigenous species in French marine and transitional waters. Focused on eukaryote pluricellular [...] Read more.

Biological invasions are one of the main global threats to biodiversity in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems worldwide, requiring effective inventorying and monitoring programs. Here, we present an updated list of non-indigenous species in French marine and transitional waters. Focused on eukaryote pluricellular species found throughout the three metropolitan French marine regions (Western Mediterranean Sea, Bay of Biscay and the Northern Seas), a total of 342 non-indigenous, including 42 cryptogenic, species are listed as having been introduced since the 13th century. The majority of the species originated from the temperate Northern Pacific. They mainly arrived through both ballast and hull fouling and also are associated with shellfish farming activities. Most of them have been introduced since the 1970s, a time when maritime and aquaculture trade intensified. Despite important human-aided opportunities for species transfer between the three marine regions (for instance, via recreational boating or aquaculture transfers), only a third of these NIS are common to all regions, as expected due to their environmental specificities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Marine Non-Indigenous Species in Europe by 2020, and Predictions through Modelling and Horizon Scanning for 2050)

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22 pages, 1913 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

An Eudromaeosaurian Theropod from Lo Hueco (Upper Cretaceous. Central Spain)

by Elisabete Malafaia, Fernando Escaso, Rodolfo A. Coria and Francisco Ortega

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020141 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5188

Abstract

The Lo Hueco fossil site (Cuenca, Spain) is one of the most relevant localities for the study of Late Cretaceous continental vertebrate faunas from Europe. The fossil record of theropod dinosaurs from this locality is represented by scarce isolated postcranial materials that were [...] Read more.

The Lo Hueco fossil site (Cuenca, Spain) is one of the most relevant localities for the study of Late Cretaceous continental vertebrate faunas from Europe. The fossil record of theropod dinosaurs from this locality is represented by scarce isolated postcranial materials that were preliminarily attributed to abelisaurids and to a possible giant bird, in addition to a large assemblage of isolated teeth that were related to different maniraptoran clades. Here, we describe an isolated partial left tibia articulated with the proximal tarsals and discuss their taxonomic affinities. A review of the European fossil record of Late Cretaceous theropods was performed to analyze possible changes in the faunistical composition during this period. The specimen from Lo Hueco exhibits some characters that have been interpreted as apomorphies for maniraptoran coelurosaurs and a combination of features compatible with deinonychosaurians. Within this clade, the specimen is more favorably comparable with velociraptorine dromaeosaurids and is tentatively interpreted as a member of this group. This specimen is one of the few non-dental specimens of dromaeosaurids described thus far from the Upper Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula and contributes to a better understanding of the composition and evolutionary history of the European theropod fauna during the last stages of the Mesozoic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Reptiles and Associated Faunal Record)

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15 pages, 2501 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Quantifying the Potential Water Filtration Capacity of a Constructed Shellfish Reef in a Temperate Hypereutrophic Estuary

by Alan Cottingham, Andrew Bossie, Fiona Valesini, James R. Tweedley and Eve Galimany

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010113 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2350

Abstract

Shellfish reefs have been lost from bays and estuaries globally, including in the Swan-Canning Estuary in Western Australia. As part of a national program to restore the ecosystem services that such reefs once provided and return this habitat from near extinction, the mussel [...] Read more.

Shellfish reefs have been lost from bays and estuaries globally, including in the Swan-Canning Estuary in Western Australia. As part of a national program to restore the ecosystem services that such reefs once provided and return this habitat from near extinction, the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis was selected for a large-scale shellfish reef construction project in this estuary. To assess the potential filtration capacity of the reef, estuary seston quality, mussel feeding behavior, and valve gape activity were quantified in the laboratory and field during winter and summer. In general, estuary water contained high total particulate concentrations (7.9–8.7 mg L⁻¹). Standard clearance rates were greater in winter (1.9 L h⁻¹; 17 °C) than in summer (1.3 L h⁻¹; 25 °C), the latter producing extremely low absorption efficiencies (37%). Mussel valves remained open ~97% and ~50% of the time in winter and summer, respectively. They often displayed erratic behavior in summer, possibly due to elevated temperatures and the toxic microalgae Alexandrium spp. Despite numerous stressors, the reef, at capacity, was estimated to filter 35% of the total volume of the estuary over winter, incorporating 42.7 t of organic matter into mussel tissue. The reefs would thus make a substantial contribution to improving estuary water quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Marine Benthic Communities)

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18 pages, 4726 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Exploring Old Data with New Tricks: Long-Term Monitoring Indicates Spatial and Temporal Changes in Populations of Sympatric Prairie Grouse in the Nebraska Sandhills

by Danielle J. Berger, Jeffrey J. Lusk, Larkin A. Powell and John P. Carroll

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010114 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2518

Abstract

The contiguous grasslands of the Sandhills region in Nebraska, USA, provide habitat for two sympatric, grassland-obligate species of grouse, the greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) and the plains sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi). Collectively referred to as prairie grouse, [...] Read more.

The contiguous grasslands of the Sandhills region in Nebraska, USA, provide habitat for two sympatric, grassland-obligate species of grouse, the greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) and the plains sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi). Collectively referred to as prairie grouse, these birds are monitored and managed jointly by wildlife practitioners who face the novel challenge of conserving historically allopatric species in shared range. We reconstructed region-wide and route-specific prairie grouse population trends in the Sandhills, using a 63-year timeseries of breeding ground counts aggregated from old reports and paper archives. Our objective was to repurpose historical data collected for harvest management to address questions pertinent to the conservation of prairie grouse, species whose populations have declined precipitously throughout their respective ranges. Because we cannot change the sampling protocol of historical data to answer new questions, we applied 3 different methods of data analysis—traditional regional mean counts used to adjust harvest regulations, spatially implicit, site-specific counts, and spatially explicit trends. Prairie-chicken populations have increased since the 1950s, whereas sharp-tailed grouse populations have remained stable or slightly declined. However, each species exhibited unique shifts in abundance and distribution over time, and regional indices masked important aspects of population change. Our findings indicate that legacy data have the capacity to tell new stories apart from the questions they were collected to answer. By integrating concepts from landscape ecology—a discipline that emerged decades after the collection of our count data began—we demonstrate the potential of historical data to address questions of modern-day conservation concern, using prairie grouse as a case study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Recent Advances and New Challenges)

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10 pages, 899 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Macro-moth (Lepidoptera) Diversity of a Newly Shaped Ecological Corridor and the Surrounding Forest Area in the Western Italian Alps

by Irene Piccini, Marta Depetris, Federica Paradiso, Francesca Cochis, Michela Audisio, Patrick Artioli, Stefania Smargiassi, Marco Bonifacino, Davide Giuliano, Sara La Cava, Giuseppe Rijllo, Simona Bonelli and Stefano Scalercio

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010095 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2796

Abstract

In addition to the compilation of biodiversity inventories, checklists, especially if combined with abundance data, are important tools to understand species distribution, habitat use, and community composition over time. Their importance is even higher when ecological indicator taxa are considered, as in the [...] Read more.

In addition to the compilation of biodiversity inventories, checklists, especially if combined with abundance data, are important tools to understand species distribution, habitat use, and community composition over time. Their importance is even higher when ecological indicator taxa are considered, as in the case of moths. In this work, we investigated macro-moth diversity in a forest area (30 ha) in the Western Italian Alps, recently subjected to intense management activities. Indeed, an ecological corridor, which includes 10 clearings, has been shaped thanks to forest compensation related to the construction site of the Turin–Lyon High-Speed Railway. Here, we identified 17 patches (9 clearings and 8 forests), and we conducted moth surveys using UV–LED light traps. A total of 15,614 individuals belonging to 442 species were collected in 2020 and 2021. Two and fifteen species are new records for Piedmont and for Susa Valley, respectively. In addition to the faunistic interest of the data, this study—using a standardized method—provides geo-referenced occurrences, species-richness, and abundance values useful to compile a baseline dataset for future comparisons. Indeed, the replicable and easy shareable method allows us to make comparisons with other research and thus assess the impact of environmental changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoological Checklists: From Natural History Museums to Ecosystems)

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12 pages, 1288 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Population Subdivision in the Gopher Frog (Rana capito) across the Fragmented Longleaf Pine-Wiregrass Savanna of the Southeastern USA

by Thomas J. Devitt, Kevin M. Enge, Anna L. Farmer, Peter Beerli, Stephen C. Richter, Jeffrey G. Hall and Stacey L. Lance

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010093 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2425

Abstract

Delineating genetically distinct population segments of threatened species and quantifying population connectivity are important steps in developing effective conservation and management strategies aimed at preventing extinction. The gopher frog (Rana capito) is a xeric-adapted, pond-breeding species endemic to the Gulf and [...] Read more.

Delineating genetically distinct population segments of threatened species and quantifying population connectivity are important steps in developing effective conservation and management strategies aimed at preventing extinction. The gopher frog (Rana capito) is a xeric-adapted, pond-breeding species endemic to the Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains of the southeastern United States. This species has experienced extensive habitat loss and fragmentation in the formerly widespread longleaf pine-wiregrass savanna where it lives, resulting in individual abundance declines and population extinctions throughout its range. We used individual-based clustering methods along with Bayesian inference of historical migration based on almost 1500 multilocus microsatellite genotypes to examine genetic structure in this taxon. Clustering analyses identified panhandle and peninsular populations in Florida as distinct genetic clusters separated by the Aucilla River, consistent with the division between the Coastal Plain and peninsular mitochondrial lineages, respectively. Analysis of historical migration indicated an east–west population divergence event followed by immigration to the east. Together, our results indicate that the genetically distinct Coastal Plain and peninsular Florida lineages should be considered separately for conservation and management purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Amphibian Ecology in Geographically Isolated Wetlands)

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18 pages, 7299 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Big Five: Species Distribution Models from Citizen Science Data as Tool for Preserving the Largest Protected Saproxylic Beetles in Italy

by Lara Redolfi De Zan, Sarah Rossi de Gasperis, Vincenzo Andriani, Marco Bardiani, Alessandro Campanaro, Silvia Gisondi, Sönke Hardersen, Emanuela Maurizi, Fabio Mosconi, Gianluca Nardi, Livia Zapponi, Pasquale Rombolà and Federico Romiti

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010096 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3254

Abstract

Background. Volunteers’ participation in scientific research has increased in recent decades. Citizen science (CS) data have been used in quantitative ecology to analyse species ranges by means of species distribution models. We investigated the Italian distribution of five large saproxylic beetles (big [...] Read more.

Background. Volunteers’ participation in scientific research has increased in recent decades. Citizen science (CS) data have been used in quantitative ecology to analyse species ranges by means of species distribution models. We investigated the Italian distribution of five large saproxylic beetles (big five), to describe their niche space, paramount areas for their conservation, and conservation gaps. Methods. CS data from two projects, climate and environmental variables were used to produce Habitat suitability (HS) maps for each species and averaged HS maps. The big five’s conservation status was assessed interpolating HS maps with the distribution of protected areas, concomitantly identifying conservation gaps. Results. The pre-alpine and Apennines arcs, north-eastern Sicily and eastern Sardinia, were identified as conservation’s hotspots. Ranking HS levels from minimum to optimal, the extent of conservation gaps decreases as environmental suitability for the big five increases. Conclusions. For the first time in Italy, CS data have been used to investigate niche space of the largest protected saproxylic beetles and analyse the distribution of their suitable habitat. The resulting HS raster maps and vector layers, reporting HS value in all Italian protected areas (n° 3771), were provided and discussed, reporting an application example for conservation purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Italy: Past and Future Perspectives)

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22 pages, 2537 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Phased Approach to Increase Human Tolerance in Elephant Corridors to Link Protected Areas in Southern Mozambique

by Michelle D. Henley, Robin M. Cook, Anka Bedetti, Jessica Wilmot, Adine Roode, Carlos L. Pereira, João Almeida and António Alverca

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010085 - 9 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4770

Abstract

Pathfinding elephants are moving through human dominated landscapes, often across international boundaries, thereby playing a vital role in connecting protected areas. Their movements are a call to action to not only understand their spatial requirements but to urgently work towards innovative ways to [...] Read more.

Pathfinding elephants are moving through human dominated landscapes, often across international boundaries, thereby playing a vital role in connecting protected areas. Their movements are a call to action to not only understand their spatial requirements but to urgently work towards innovative ways to make people’s livelihoods compatible with conservation outcomes so that coexistence and connected landscapes can prevail. We discuss the first three phases of a long-term strategy to conserve elephant corridors whilst incorporating the socio-economic needs of the people that share the landscape with them. We present a comprehensive satellite-tracking history of elephants across two transfrontier conservation areas (TFCA), represented by Great Limpopo- and Lubombo TFCAs and involving four countries (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eswatini) to flag where linking corridors exist. We use innovative cafeteria-style experiments to understand which elephant-unpalatable plants would offer lucrative alternative income streams to farmers living in human–elephant-conflict hotspots. The most suitable unpalatable plants are chosen based not only on whether they are unpalatable to elephants, but also on their life history traits and growth prerequisites. We consider a combination of potential economic values (food, essential oil, medicinal and bee fodder value) to ensure that selected plants would accommodate changing economic markets. Lastly, we highlight the importance of combining food security measures with ensuring people’s safety by means of deploying rapid-response units. By implementing these three phases as part of a longer-term strategy, we draw closer to ensuring the protection of bioregions to achieve biodiversity objectives at a landscape scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Elephants: Moving from Conflict to Coexistence with People)

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14 pages, 2223 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Mind the Gaps: Taxonomic, Geographic and Temporal Data of Marine Invertebrate Databases from Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe

by Marta Bento, Henrique Niza, Alexandra Cartaxana, Salomão Bandeira, José Paula and Alexandra Marçal Correia

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010070 - 5 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3393

Abstract

One of the best ways to share and disseminate biodiversity information is through the digitization of data and making it available via online databases. The rapid growth of publicly available biodiversity data is not without problems which may decrease the utility of online [...] Read more.

One of the best ways to share and disseminate biodiversity information is through the digitization of data and making it available via online databases. The rapid growth of publicly available biodiversity data is not without problems which may decrease the utility of online databases. In this study we analyze taxonomic, geographic and temporal data gaps, and bias related to existing data on selected marine invertebrate occurrences along the coastline of two African countries, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe. The final marine invertebrate dataset comprises of 19.910 occurrences, but 32% of the original dataset occurrences were excluded due to data gaps. Most marine invertebrates in Mozambique were collected in seagrasses, whereas in São Tomé and Príncipe they were mostly collected offshore. The dataset has a temporal coverage from 1816 to 2019, with most occurrences collected in the last two decades. This study provides baseline information relevant to a better understanding of marine invertebrate biodiversity data gaps and bias in these habitats along the coasts of these countries. The information can be further applied to complete marine invertebrate data gaps contributing to design informed sampling strategies and advancing refined datasets that can be used in management and conservation plans in both countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping Marine Biodiversity Knowledge Gaps Using Open Data)

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24 pages, 2816 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Lungfish and the Long Defeat

by Anne Kemp

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010063 - 4 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3371

Abstract

Australia has an excellent fossil record of lungfish that begins in the Devonian and includes many species in Tertiary and Quaternary deposits. The extant Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri, occurs in Pliocene deposits, but is now restricted to a handful of coastal rivers [...] Read more.

Australia has an excellent fossil record of lungfish that begins in the Devonian and includes many species in Tertiary and Quaternary deposits. The extant Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri, occurs in Pliocene deposits, but is now restricted to a handful of coastal rivers in Queensland. Some of the fossil taxa, belonging to species related to N. forsteri, are represented by only a few specimens, but others include large numbers of tooth plates. The existence of these taxa, even if they are represented by only a few specimens, indicates that lungfish were present in lakes and rivers in central and northern Australia in the past, and that the potential habitats for these fish were more extensive then than they are now. Many of the fossil populations died out because Australia became more arid, and the remaining species became isolated in large river systems in the north and east of the continent. However, the cause of extinction of some fossil populations was not always related to increasing aridity. Several fossil populations were apparently living in poor conditions. They stopped spawning and adding new members to the population. The remaining individuals showed advanced age and many diseases before the population disappeared. This can be observed in the present day, and one population in an isolated reservoir is already extinct. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution and Diversity of Fishes in Deep Time)

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17 pages, 4401 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Low Bioerosion Rates on Inshore Turbid Reefs of Western Australia

by Shannon Dee, Thomas DeCarlo, Ivan Lozić, Jake Nilsen and Nicola K. Browne

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010062 - 4 Jan 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2918

Abstract

Bioerosion on inshore reefs is expected to increase with global climate change reducing reef stability and accretionary potential. Most studies investigating bioerosion have focused on external grazers, such as parrotfish and urchins, whose biomass is more easily measured. Yet, cryptic endolithic bioeroders such [...] Read more.

Bioerosion on inshore reefs is expected to increase with global climate change reducing reef stability and accretionary potential. Most studies investigating bioerosion have focused on external grazers, such as parrotfish and urchins, whose biomass is more easily measured. Yet, cryptic endolithic bioeroders such as macroboring (worms, sponges and bivalves) and microboring taxa (fungus and algae) have the potential to be the dominant source of reef erosion, especially among inshore reef systems exposed to increased nutrient supply. We measured bioerosion rates of bioeroder functional groups (microborers, macroborers, and grazers), and their response to environmental parameters (temperature, light, turbidity, chlorophyll a), as well as habitat variables (coral cover, turfing algae, macroalgae) across two inshore turbid reefs of north Western Australia. Total bioerosion rates were low (0.163 ± 0.012 kg m⁻² year⁻¹) likely due to low light and nutrient levels. Macroborers were the dominant source of bioerosion and were positively correlated with turfing algae cover, highlighting the role of turf-grazing fish on endolithic bioerosion rates. Overall low bioerosion rates suggest that despite the reduced coral cover and carbonate production, these reefs may still maintain positive reef accretion rates, at least under current environmental conditions. However, an improved understanding of relationships between environmental drivers, habitat and grazing pressure with bioeroding communities is needed to improve predictions of reef carbonate loss with future climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marginal Reef Systems: Resilience in A Rapidly Changing World)

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17 pages, 3930 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Solemys Skull from the Late Cretaceous of Southern France

by Haiyan Tong, Eric Buffetaut, Patrick Méchin, Annie Méchin-Salessy and Julien Claude

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010058 - 3 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2947

Abstract

The first skull of Solemys (Testudines: Helochlydridae) is reported from the Late Cretaceous (Rognacian) Bastide Neuve locality, Fox Amphoux, Var, France. It is assigned to Solemys gaudryi (Matheron, 1869) on the basis of associated shell elements. Our study provides new insights regarding the [...] Read more.

The first skull of Solemys (Testudines: Helochlydridae) is reported from the Late Cretaceous (Rognacian) Bastide Neuve locality, Fox Amphoux, Var, France. It is assigned to Solemys gaudryi (Matheron, 1869) on the basis of associated shell elements. Our study provides new insights regarding the skull morphology of the family Helochelydridae and suggests that Helochelydra from England and Naomichelys from North America appear to be closer to each other than to Solemys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Diversity)

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23 pages, 6858 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Mediterranean Matters: Revision of the Family Onchidorididae (Mollusca, Nudibranchia) with the Description of a New Genus and a New Species

by Giulia Furfaro, Egidio Trainito, Marco Fantin, Marcella D’Elia, Enric Madrenas and Paolo Mariottini

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010038 - 29 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2718

Abstract

The Mediterranean Sea hosts a great Nudibranchia diversity and has proved to be particularly intriguing in the case of the family Onchidorididae, a group of dorid nudibranchs that lately increased its diversity with the addition of one recently described Mediterranean species. The Onchidorididae [...] Read more.

The Mediterranean Sea hosts a great Nudibranchia diversity and has proved to be particularly intriguing in the case of the family Onchidorididae, a group of dorid nudibranchs that lately increased its diversity with the addition of one recently described Mediterranean species. The Onchidorididae family has a troubled systematic history to date, characterized by uncertainties and genera that are considered valid or not, according to the different authors. This confused taxonomy reflects the lack of a broad and comprehensive view on the phylogenetic relationships occurring between Onchidorididae members, an incorrect interpretation of the diagnostic morphological characters, and a poor knowledge of important biological aspects characterizing the different genera included in the family. To shed some light on the systematics of Onchidorididae, an integrative taxonomic revision was carried out involving morphological, ecological, and molecular analyses on an updated dataset. Mediterranean specimens and species were added to the dataset of the already known Onchidorididae and a new species from the Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) is described here. Furthermore, historical controversies are clarified due to the discovery of new important synapomorphies useful to define genera belonging to the Onchidorididae family and to describe a new genus. Finally, the taxonomic status of all the known Onchidorididae species is investigated and discussed, filling the gap of knowledge on neglected species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematics and Evolution of Gastropods)

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60 pages, 25670 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Ant Genus Cardiocondyla (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): The Species Groups with Oriental and Australasian Origin

by Bernhard Seifert

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010025 - 23 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4157

Abstract

The world-wide fauna of the genus Cardiocondyla is assessed to have 79 currently recognized species and is subdivided into 14 informal species groups plus three monotypical clades. It is argued that the phylogenetic placement of Cardiocondyla next to the genus Ocymyrmex Emery, 1886 [...] Read more.

The world-wide fauna of the genus Cardiocondyla is assessed to have 79 currently recognized species and is subdivided into 14 informal species groups plus three monotypical clades. It is argued that the phylogenetic placement of Cardiocondyla next to the genus Ocymyrmex Emery, 1886 as proposed by Blaimer et al. (2018) is doubtful. The main body of the paper is a species-level taxonomic revision of those six species groups and the one monotypical clade which have their centers of origin in the Oriental and Australasian regions. The fauna of this area comprises 26 species eleven of which are described as new: Cardiocondyla schulzi n.sp., C. argentea n.sp., C. semiargentea n.sp., C. argyrotricha n.sp., C. latifrons n.sp., C. micropila n.sp., C. allonivalis n.sp., C. excavata n.sp., C. goroka n.sp., C. subspina n.sp. and C. sulcata n.sp. Recognized as junior synonyms were: Cardiocondyla tsukuyomi Terayama, 1999 and C. breviscapus Seifert, 2003 of C. minutior Forel, 1899 and C. brevispinosa (Donisthorpe, 1948) of C. paradoxa Emery, 1897. Each confirmed species is characterized by verbal descriptions, 18 numerically recorded phenotypic characters, z-stack images in three viewing positions, the key, a differential diagnosis and, if available, a brief life history. Exploratory and hypothesis-driven data analyses of phenotypic characters support the separation of the cryptic species Cardiocondyla minutior Forel, 1899, C. goa Seifert, 2003 and C. tjibodana Karavajev, 1935, two of which have dispersed as tramp species to the New World. Missing development of postzygotic isolation due to very strong prezygotic barriers is indicated in the closely related species Cardiocondyla latifrons n.sp. and C. micropila n.sp. which produce fertile hybrids in laboratory rearings but apparently do not hybridize in a natural context even if nesting in close neighborhood. The strong prezygotic isolation is supposed to be generated by the prevalence of intranidal mating and the difficulty for a mated heterospecific gyne to become accepted in a foreign colony. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Systematics and Evolution of Hymenoptera)

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27 pages, 7105 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Orchids of Wetland Vegetation in the Central Balkans

by Vladan Djordjević, Svetlana Aćić, Eva Kabaš, Predrag Lazarević, Spyros Tsiftsis and Dmitar Lakušić

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010026 - 23 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3563

Abstract

Wetland ecosystems are important habitats for the growth and survival of numerous terrestrial orchids in Europe. This study reviews the current knowledge on the orchids of wetland vegetation in the Central Balkans. The orchid flora was analyzed from taxonomic, phytogeographical, ecological and conservation [...] Read more.

Wetland ecosystems are important habitats for the growth and survival of numerous terrestrial orchids in Europe. This study reviews the current knowledge on the orchids of wetland vegetation in the Central Balkans. The orchid flora was analyzed from taxonomic, phytogeographical, ecological and conservation aspects. The most important taxa include the two Balkan endemics (Dactylorhiza cordigera subsp. bosniaca and D. kalopissi subsp. macedonica) and the three subendemics of the Balkans and the Carpathians (Dactylorhiza cordigera subsp. cordigera, D. maculata subsp. transsilvanica and Gymnadenia frivaldii), as well as a considerable number of Central European, Eurasian and boreal orchid representatives. Several orchid taxa occurring in the wet meadows and fens of the Central Balkans have a southern limit of their distribution in this part of Europe, suggesting that wetlands are important refuges for them. In total, 33 orchid taxa were recorded in plant communities from five classes, 10 orders and 17 alliances. Most orchid taxa grow in the following wetland vegetation types: wet meadows (class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, order Molinietalia caeruleae, alliances Molinion caeruleae, Deschampsion cespitosae and Calthion palustris); fens (class Scheuchzerio palustris-Caricetea fuscae, order Caricetalia fuscae, alliance Caricion fuscae); tall-herb vegetation along mountain streams and springs (class Mulgedio-Aconitetea); marshes and herb-land vegetation of freshwater or brackish water bodies (class Phragmito-Magnocaricetea). This study highlights the importance of serpentine and silicate wetland vegetation types as important habitats for the survival of terrestrial orchids. In addition, detailed taxonomic, ecological and chorological studies of the wetland orchids of the Central Balkans need to be carried out in order to establish a successful plan for their conservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Inland Wetlands: Important Roles in Mitigation of Human Impacts)

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50 pages, 2174 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Status and Trends in the Rate of Introduction of Marine Non-Indigenous Species in European Seas

by Argyro Zenetos, Konstantinos Tsiamis, Marika Galanidi, Natacha Carvalho, Cátia Bartilotti, João Canning-Clode, Luca Castriota, Paula Chainho, Robert Comas-González, Ana C. Costa, Branko Dragičević, Jakov Dulčić, Marco Faasse, Ann-Britt Florin, Arjan Gittenberger, Hans Jakobsen, Anders Jelmert, Francis Kerckhof, Maiju Lehtiniemi, Silvia Livi, Kim Lundgreen, Vesna Macic, Cécile Massé, Borut Mavrič, Rahmat Naddafi, Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Slavica Petovic, Lydia Png-Gonzalez, Aina Carbonell Quetglas, Romeu S. Ribeiro, Tiago Cidade, Sander Smolders, Peter A. U. Stæhr, Frederique Viard and Okko Outinen Show full author list Hide full author list

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1077; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121077 - 6 Dec 2022

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 6028

Abstract

Invasive alien species are a major worldwide driver of biodiversity change. The current study lists verified records of non-indigenous species (NIS) in European marine waters until 2020, with the purpose of establishing a baseline, assessing trends, and discussing appropriate threshold values for good [...] Read more.

Invasive alien species are a major worldwide driver of biodiversity change. The current study lists verified records of non-indigenous species (NIS) in European marine waters until 2020, with the purpose of establishing a baseline, assessing trends, and discussing appropriate threshold values for good environmental status (GES) according to the relevant European legislation. All NIS records were verified by national experts and trends are presented in six-year assessment periods from 1970 to 2020 according to the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Altogether, 874 NIS have been introduced to European marine waters until 2020 with the Mediterranean Sea and North-East Atlantic Ocean hosting most of the introductions. Overall, the number of new introductions has steadily increased since 2000. The annual rate of new introductions reached 21 new NIS in European seas within the last six-year assessment period (2012–2017). This increase is likely due to increased human activities and research efforts that have intensified during the early 21st century within European Seas. As Europe seas are not environmentally, nor geographically homogenous, the setting of threshold values for assessing GES requires regional expertise. Further, once management measures are operational, pathway-specific threshold values would enable assessing the effectiveness of such measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Marine Non-Indigenous Species in Europe by 2020, and Predictions through Modelling and Horizon Scanning for 2050)

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31 pages, 9483 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Detailed Description and Morphological Assessment of Sepia typica (Steenstrup, 1875) (Cephalopoda: Sepiidae)

by Robin W. Leslie, Anthony J. Richardson and Marek R. Lipiński

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1073; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121073 - 5 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2259

Abstract

A detailed systematic account of Sepia (Hemisepius) typica, an endemic southern African species of cuttlefish, is presented. An analysis of morphological data (morphometric and meristic characters) suggests that S. typica is a single well-established species without morphs or subspecies. It is, however, [...] Read more.

A detailed systematic account of Sepia (Hemisepius) typica, an endemic southern African species of cuttlefish, is presented. An analysis of morphological data (morphometric and meristic characters) suggests that S. typica is a single well-established species without morphs or subspecies. It is, however, highly variable, perhaps more so than other small sepiids from the region, and there are slight, but significant indications of population structure. Therefore, molecular biological studies based upon a large sample could help investigate broad genetic patterns in what morphologically appears to be a single highly variable species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Taxonomy, Biology and Evolution of Cephalopods)

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22 pages, 2505 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Climate Change Is Driving Shifts in Dragonfly Species Richness across Europe via Differential Dynamics of Taxonomic and Biogeographic Groups

by Kent Olsen, Jens-Christian Svenning and Henrik Balslev

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1066; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121066 - 3 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3167

Abstract

Understanding how changes in species richness pattern correlate with range changes in different taxonomic and biogeographic groups is important for conservation because it allows for generalizations about which species are at greatest risk. Here, we assessed whether changes in species richness patterns result [...] Read more.

Understanding how changes in species richness pattern correlate with range changes in different taxonomic and biogeographic groups is important for conservation because it allows for generalizations about which species are at greatest risk. Here, we assessed whether changes in species richness patterns result from generalized range shifts across taxonomic and biogeographic groups or from changes in specific subsets of species. Using data from 1988 and from 2010, we studied changes in distributional range of European dragonfly species, using outline distribution maps for all dragonflies combined and separately for taxonomic suborders (Zygoptera and Anisoptera) and biogeographic groups (Boreo-alpine, Eurasian, Mediterranean, and Tropical). The results demonstrated differing range dynamics for Zygoptera and Anisoptera, with Anisoptera driving local turnover in species richness to a greater extent than Zygoptera. The distributional range of Tropical and Mediterranean species had expanded to a much greater extent than that of Eurasian and Boreo-alpine species. Large-scale changes in species richness arose from several divergent, group-specific processes. Overall, local diversity especially declined in parts of southern and south-eastern Europe, reflecting local losses in multiple species rather than major range contractions among Mediterranean or Eurasian species. In fact, among the biogeographic groups, overall range declines were most prominent among Boreo-alpine species, highlighting the particular threat from climate change to this group. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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15 pages, 4442 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

New Fossils of Stegosaurs from the Upper Jurassic of the Eastern Iberian Peninsula (Spain)

by Sergio Sánchez-Fenollosa, Maite Suñer and Alberto Cobos

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1047; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121047 - 29 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3828

Abstract

The eastern Iberian Peninsula is one of the places with most stegosaur fossils in all of Europe. In the present study, we describe new remains from six different fossil sites from the Upper Jurassic of the Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Kimmeridgian–Tithonian). The remains [...] Read more.

The eastern Iberian Peninsula is one of the places with most stegosaur fossils in all of Europe. In the present study, we describe new remains from six different fossil sites from the Upper Jurassic of the Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Kimmeridgian–Tithonian). The remains comprise: a left humerus from CT-61 (El Castellar, Teruel), a dermal spine from Puntal de la Magdalena (Alpuente, Valencia), two caudal neural arches and five caudal vertebrae from Cañada París (Alpuente, Valencia), two caudal centra from Alpuente (Valencia) and four caudal vertebrae from Barrihonda-El Humero (Riodeva, Teruel). The left humerus (CT-61-1) and dermal spine (MPA D-110) are referred to Stegosauria indet. The caudal vertebrae from Alpuente (Cañada París specimen, MPA-653 and MPA D-1086) are referred to cf. Dacentrurus sp. Finally, the caudal vertebrae from Riodeva (Barrihonda-El Humero specimen) are referred to Dacentrurus armatus and assigned to a previously known caudal series from this site. The presence of abundant localities with stegosaurian remains reaffirms the important role of stegosaur dinosaurs in Late Jurassic coastal ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Reptiles and Associated Faunal Record)

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42 pages, 10504 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A New Large †Pachycormiform (Teleosteomorpha: †Pachycormiformes) from the Lower Jurassic of Germany, with Affinities to the Suspension-Feeding Clade, and Comments on the Gastrointestinal Anatomy of Pachycormid Fishes

by Samuel L. A. Cooper, Sam Giles, Holly Young and Erin E. Maxwell

Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1026; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121026 - 24 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3743

Abstract

Pachycormiformes is a diverse clade of stem-teleost actinopterygian fishes with a stratigraphic range from the Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) to Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian). The Toarcian Posidonienschiefer Formation in SW Germany records the earliest occurrence of †Pachycormiformes in the fossil record, offering unique and crucial [...] Read more.

Pachycormiformes is a diverse clade of stem-teleost actinopterygian fishes with a stratigraphic range from the Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) to Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian). The Toarcian Posidonienschiefer Formation in SW Germany records the earliest occurrence of †Pachycormiformes in the fossil record, offering unique and crucial insight into the clade’s origins and early adaptive radiation in the Early Jurassic. However, Early Jurassic taxa remain poorly studied with the taxonomic diversity and stratigraphic/geographic distributions insufficiently defined, thus masking the early part of this evolutionary radiation. Here, we report a new genus and species of pachycormid fish from the Posidonienschiefer Formation identified by phylogenetic analysis as falling in an intermediate position between Saurostomus and Ohmdenia at the base of the suspension-feeding clade. The new taxon shows a unique suite of cranial and postcranial characters. Several synapomorphies of the suspension-feeding clade, notably, the morphology of the hyomandibula, elongation of the skull, and reduced squamation are shared with the new taxon. The intestinal tract is exceptionally preserved, providing one of the most complete examples of pachycormid gastric anatomy. A comparison of the gastrointestinal anatomy of the new genus with other pachycormiforms indicates extensive taxonomic variation within the clade, in the configuration of both the midgut and spiral valve, potentially related to trophic divergence. The results highlight an underestimated high diversity and the rapid acquisition of trophic specializations in Pachycormiformes much earlier in the clade’s evolution than previously considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution and Diversity of Fishes in Deep Time)

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18 pages, 1958 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Does Temporal and Spatial Diet Alteration Lead to Successful Adaptation of the Eastern Imperial Eagle, a Top Predator?

by Dimitar Demerdzhiev, Zlatozar Boev, Dobromir Dobrev, Nedko Nedyalkov and Tseno Petrov

Diversity 2022, 14(11), 1000; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14111000 - 19 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1723

Abstract

Predator–prey interactions may be linked to different temporal or spatial patterns, including dynamics in prey populations. Therefore, understanding the adaptive capacity and how top predators respond to shifts in prey abundance and availability is crucial for their conservation. In this study, we investigated [...] Read more.

Predator–prey interactions may be linked to different temporal or spatial patterns, including dynamics in prey populations. Therefore, understanding the adaptive capacity and how top predators respond to shifts in prey abundance and availability is crucial for their conservation. In this study, we investigated the diet pattern of the endangered Eastern Imperial Eagle facing long-term and large-scale changes. We studied the abundance variation of its profitable prey, sousliks, and how it reflected on eagle population trajectories in a regional and temporal context. We found a significant diet alteration expressed in large decrease of brown hare (β² = −0.83), poultry (β² = −0.81), gulls (β² = −0.71), and water birds (β² = −0.57), and an obvious increase of northern white-breasted hedgehog (β² = 0.61) and doves (β² = 0.60). Raptors and owls raised their participation (β² = 0.44), but white stork and different reptiles supplied more biomass. Abundance of European souslik decreased through the studied periods (adjusted R² = 0.25, p < 0.001) which accounted for the lower proportion of this prey in the eagle’s diet. Nevertheless, the eagle population successfully adapted and significantly increased (β² = 0.97) in most of the distribution area. The trophic strategy used by this top predator related to opportunistic foraging represents an ecological advantage that allows the species to adapt to different habitats and guarantees its future. The observed prolonged diet alteration could result in a significant negative attitude among different groups such as hunters, pigeon fanciers, and poultry keepers towards eagles. Therefore, enhanced communication with key stakeholders is needed. Conservation efforts should be focused also on the preservation of the species’ main foraging habitats and the restoration of damaged ones so as to maintain the good conditions of both primary food source and subsequent prey. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation and Ecology of Raptors)

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20 pages, 9851 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Inland Cladocera and Copepoda Fauna in Greece

by Georgia Stamou, Polyxeni Kourkoutmani and Evangelia Michaloudi

Diversity 2022, 14(11), 997; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14110997 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2240

Abstract

Greece is situated in the East Mediterranean region and in the Balkan peninsula, i.e., a European biodiversity hotspot with high endemism in subterranean and freshwater fauna, highlighting the need to understand its biodiversity. A literature search was undertaken to present a checklist of [...] Read more.

Greece is situated in the East Mediterranean region and in the Balkan peninsula, i.e., a European biodiversity hotspot with high endemism in subterranean and freshwater fauna, highlighting the need to understand its biodiversity. A literature search was undertaken to present a checklist of cladocerans and copepods based on a compilation of published and current data, from 1892 up to 2022 from inland surfaces and subterranean water bodies from different regions of Greece. For Cladocera, 80 species were recorded (9 families with 35 genera). The most diverse families were Chydoridae (20 genera with 33 species) and Daphniidae (5 genera with 27 species). For copepoda, 134 taxa were recorded, in surface water bodies (12 families with 34 genera), subterranean water bodies (7 families with 27 genera), and parasitic copepods (3 families with 3 genera). The most diverse families in surface waters were Cyclopidae (15 genera with 41 taxa) and Diaptomidae (5 genera with 17 species), while those in subterranean waters were Cyclopidae (11 genera with 35 taxa) and Canthocamptidae (6 genera with 17 taxa). More species are expected to be discovered after sampling understudied regions, especially islands, as well as water bodies such as temporary pools, swamps, ditches, puddles, and the littoral parts of lakes, while molecular studies are needed to clarify various cases of complex taxonomy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Freshwater Biodiversity)

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22 pages, 12617 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effect of Polytomy on the Parameter Estimation and Goodness of Fit of Phylogenetic Linear Regression Models for Trait Evolution

by Dwueng-Chwuan Jhwueng and Feng-Chi Liu

Diversity 2022, 14(11), 942; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14110942 - 2 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3622

Abstract

Phylogenetic regression models for trait evolution incorporate phylogenetic trees for the analysis of comparative data, in order to study trait relationships among a group of related species. However, as such trees are estimated, it is unlikely that there will be no errors when [...] Read more.

Phylogenetic regression models for trait evolution incorporate phylogenetic trees for the analysis of comparative data, in order to study trait relationships among a group of related species. However, as such trees are estimated, it is unlikely that there will be no errors when describing the relationships among species. In particular, for polytomy trees, where the relationships within a particular clade of species are more/less certainly determined (hard/soft polytomy, respectively), results of comparative analyses obtained from models based on those phylogenetic trees may also be affected. In this study, through extensive simulations, the performances of several popular Gaussian process-based regression models (Brownian motion, BM; Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process, OU; early burst, EB), as well as branch-stretching models (Pagel’s

λ, δ, κ

), were evaluated by assessing their fit and parameter estimation performance when soft polytomies are presented on either the root or a clade with insufficient phylogenetic information. Comparisons of the models are conducted by either assessing the accuracy of the estimator of regression and model parameters, or using a measure of fit (AIC,

r^{2}

, and mean square error). It is found that, although polytomy does not significantly impact the fit and parameter estimate within a specified model, distinguishable differences and effects may be observed among trees and models. In particular, Pagel

λ

model and the OU model yield more accurate estimates and provide better fitting effects than the other models (BM, EB,

δ

,

κ

). While correcting phylogeny is an essential step prior to analysis, users may also consider using more appropriate models when encountering the polytomy issue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling the Ecology and Evolution of Biodiversity)

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18 pages, 3681 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

New Deep-Sea Molluscan Records from Mallorca Channel Seamounts (North-Western Mediterranean)

by Elena Marco-Herrero, Montserrat Ramón, Sergio Ramírez-Amaro, Olga Sánchez-Guillamón, Francesc Ordines, Carmina López-Rodríguez, María Teresa Farriols, Juan Tomás Vázquez and Enric Massutí

Diversity 2022, 14(11), 928; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14110928 - 29 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2866

Abstract

Seamounts are globally important and essential ecosystems for supporting and maintaining marine biodiversity. In the Mallorca Channel, three prominent seamounts are present: Ausias March, Ses Olives and Emile Baudot. Currently, this area is being evaluated for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network. For [...] Read more.

Seamounts are globally important and essential ecosystems for supporting and maintaining marine biodiversity. In the Mallorca Channel, three prominent seamounts are present: Ausias March, Ses Olives and Emile Baudot. Currently, this area is being evaluated for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network. For this objective three surveys were conducted in the seamounts of the Mallorca Channel during July 2018 and July 2020. Samples of macro-invertebrates obtained in the deep sea revealed a rich fauna of Mollusca (68 species belonging to 40 families). New Mollusca occurrences included: four species of Gastropoda: Colus jeffreysianus, Cantrainea peloritana, Fusiturris similis, Gymnobela abyssorum, and seven species of Bivalvia: Pododesmus squama, Allogramma formosa, Asperarca nodulosa, Cetomya neaeroides, Spondylus gussonii, Haliris granulata and Policordia gemma. Where possible, the identification of these species was confirmed using the DNA barcoding method (sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I). This study contributes towards filling the gap in knowledge of deep-sea mollusc fauna of the north-western Mediterranean. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Marine Benthic Communities)

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20 pages, 4754 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Osteichthyan Fishes from the uppermost Norian (Triassic) of the Fuchsberg near Seinstedt, Lower Saxony (Germany)

by Hans-Peter Schultze, Gloria Arratia, Norbert Hauschke and Volker Wilde

Diversity 2022, 14(11), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14110901 - 25 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2695

Abstract

Fishes from the uppermost Norian Fuchsberg Quarry near Seinstedt are represented by two taxa that we interpret as a teleosteomorph (complete specimens) and actinistian (scales). Seinstedtia parva gen. et sp. nov. is described; although it was proposed as a possible semionotiform, this study [...] Read more.

Fishes from the uppermost Norian Fuchsberg Quarry near Seinstedt are represented by two taxa that we interpret as a teleosteomorph (complete specimens) and actinistian (scales). Seinstedtia parva gen. et sp. nov. is described; although it was proposed as a possible semionotiform, this study reveals that Seinstedtia possesses a combination of teleosteomorph features, for instance: characteristic pholidophoriform-shaped cranial roof; fusion of skull roof bones; three dorso-posterior infraorbitals, including an enlarged infraorbital 3; one suborbital bone; movable premaxilla; and characteristic-shaped preopercle. In parallel, Seinstedtia possesses a head gently curved anteriorly, with lower jaw protruding slightly in front of upper jaw; supraorbital 1 forming most of antero-dorsal margin of circumorbital ring; one supramaxilla; three extrascapulae; cleithrum with short and broad lower arm; and enlarged clavicle. This character combination places Seinstedtia as a teleosteomorph, family incertae sedis. This fish (total length ca. 50 mm) and some pholidophorids (ca. 70 mm or less; Parapholidophorus nybelini and Pholidoctenus serianus) represent the known smallest teleosteomorphs that inhabited Europe during the Norian. The isolated scales are elasmoid of amioid type ornamented with the elongated ridges of actinistians. This diversity of teleosteomorphs and actinistians in Fuchsberg Quarry during the Triassic indicates a connection to a marine environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution and Diversity of Fishes in Deep Time)

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8 pages, 1160 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Genetic Assessment of Remnant Sub-Populations of Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus Linnaeus, 1758) in the Upper Danube

by Thomas Friedrich, Dietmar Lieckfeldt and Arne Ludwig

Diversity 2022, 14(10), 893; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100893 - 21 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2817

Abstract

While the potamodromous sterlet was common in the past throughout the Upper Danube in Germany and Austria, it nearly vanished in the second half of the 20th century. Until recently, only one small and isolated reproductive sub-population is known from the German–Austrian border. [...] Read more.

While the potamodromous sterlet was common in the past throughout the Upper Danube in Germany and Austria, it nearly vanished in the second half of the 20th century. Until recently, only one small and isolated reproductive sub-population is known from the German–Austrian border. However, isolated remnants in another section downstream of Vienna, near the Austrian–Slovakian border, were discovered in 2014. An assessment of the population size is one of the most important prerequisites for conservation management. This study aims to assess the population sizes at both sites, using genetic pedigrees and comparison to mark–recapture data. A total of 193 samples collected from these populations between 2011 and 2021 have been investigated. In addition, 59 samples from captive stocks, 38 wild fish from downstream, and 247 genetic profiles from previous studies were used for comparison. Results show close relationships and intermittent reproduction on one site. Estimated populations based upon genetic pedigree are very small, and are consistent with mark–recapture results. Small population sizes of remnant populations have only limited, sporadic reproduction, as well as continual losses to outmigration support conservation actions for sturgeons in the Upper Danube, including the restoration of functional migration corridors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Genetics of Sturgeons)

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19 pages, 393 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Restoration of Geographically Isolated Wetlands: An Amphibian-Centric Review of Methods and Effectiveness

by Angela K. Burrow and Stacey Lance

Diversity 2022, 14(10), 879; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100879 - 18 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2859

Abstract

Geographically isolated wetlands provide a critical habitat for pond-breeding amphibians, a taxa of broad conservation concern. Global wetland loss and degradation has made restoration essential for amphibian conservation. Restoration goals typically include recovering the wetlands’ physiochemical, hydrological, and ecological functions. However, for pond-breeding [...] Read more.

Geographically isolated wetlands provide a critical habitat for pond-breeding amphibians, a taxa of broad conservation concern. Global wetland loss and degradation has made restoration essential for amphibian conservation. Restoration goals typically include recovering the wetlands’ physiochemical, hydrological, and ecological functions. However, for pond-breeding amphibians, successful restoration should also result in sustained populations, which is difficult to assess and infrequently reported. In this paper, we review the available evidence that restoration of geographically isolated wetlands promotes pond-breeding amphibian occupancy and population persistence. We provide an overview of restoration practices addressing hydrology, vegetation, and ecological processes within these unique environments and across spatial scales. We then summarize the evidence, and discuss the limitations, for evaluating successful restoration within the context of amphibian conservation across these categories. Finally, we provide recommendations for researchers and practitioners to leverage prior successes and establish systematic data collection and dissemination. Moving restoration of wetlands for amphibian conservation forward will require more robust data collection and reporting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Amphibian Ecology in Geographically Isolated Wetlands)

16 pages, 4375 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

OTU Delimitation with Earthworm DNA Barcodes: A Comparison of Methods

by Arnaud Goulpeau, Benoit Penel, Marie-Eugénie Maggia, Daniel Fernández Marchán, Dirk Steinke, Mickaël Hedde and Thibaud Decaëns

Diversity 2022, 14(10), 866; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100866 - 13 Oct 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2553

Abstract

Although DNA barcodes-based operational taxonomic units (OTUs) are increasingly used in earthworm research, the relative efficiency of the different methods available to delimit them has not yet been tested on a comprehensive dataset. For this study, we used three datasets containing 651, 2304 [...] Read more.

Although DNA barcodes-based operational taxonomic units (OTUs) are increasingly used in earthworm research, the relative efficiency of the different methods available to delimit them has not yet been tested on a comprehensive dataset. For this study, we used three datasets containing 651, 2304 and 4773 COI barcodes of earthworms from French Guiana, respectively, to compare five of these methods: two phylogenetic methods—namely Poisson Tree Processes (PTP) and General Mixed Yule Coalescence (GMYC)—and three distance matrix methods—namely Refined Single Linkage (RESL, used for assigning Barcode Index Numbers in the Barcode of Life Data systems), Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), and Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP). We found that phylogenetic approaches are less suitable for delineating OTUs from DNA barcodes in earthworms, especially for large sets of sequences. The computation times are unreasonable, they often fail to converge, and they also show a strong tendency to oversplit species. Among distance-based methods, RESL also has a clear tendency to oversplitting, while ABGD and ASAP are less prone to mismatches and have short computation times. ASAP requires less a priori knowledge for model parameterisation than AGBD, provides efficient graphical outputs, and has a much lower tendency to generate mismatches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Earthworms)

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15 pages, 15891 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The First-Named Fossil Ostrich: A Revision of Struthio asiaticus, from the Siwaliks of India

by Eric Buffetaut

Diversity 2022, 14(10), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100860 - 11 Oct 2022

Viewed by 3290

Abstract

The first fossil ostrich to have been named, by Milne-Edwards in 1869–1871, was Struthio asiaticus, a taxon based on a specimen collected by Colonel Colvin in the Siwaliks of India, consisting of associated postcranial elements (vertebrae, forelimb elements, a fragmentary tarsometatarsus and [...] Read more.

The first fossil ostrich to have been named, by Milne-Edwards in 1869–1871, was Struthio asiaticus, a taxon based on a specimen collected by Colonel Colvin in the Siwaliks of India, consisting of associated postcranial elements (vertebrae, forelimb elements, a fragmentary tarsometatarsus and first phalanx of the third toe). Although it was described as least twice in some detail in the 19th century, the specimen has since then been interpreted in conflicting ways. A revision of the type material and its history shows that it came in all likelihood from the Siwaliks of present-day India, not Pakistan. The exact locality is unknown and the stratigraphic position of the specimen is uncertain (the frequent attribution to the Dhok Pathan Formation is not based on solid evidence). Contrary to what has sometimes been claimed, Struthio asiaticus was neither a small nor an especially large ostrich. It was apparently comparable in size with the modern S. camelus, but had slightly more robust cervical vertebrae and carpal bones. It seems to have been relatively short-toed. Because of the incompleteness of the material and uncertainties about its geological age, it is difficult to assess the place of Struthio asiaticus in the evolutionary history of the ostriches. Reports of Struthio asiaticus from Africa and north-eastern Asia are based on misinterpretations and should be discarded. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Phylogeny and Evolution)

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16 pages, 6219 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Population Density and Abundance of the Northernmost Population of Cordulegaster heros (Anisoptera: Cordulegastridae) in Europe (Czech Republic) with Notes on Its Biogeographical Range

by Otakar Holuša and Kateřina Holušová

Diversity 2022, 14(10), 854; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100854 - 9 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1579

Abstract

Cordulegaster heros is a Balkan species with a disjunctive area extending into Central Europe. The population in the Chřiby Mts. in the southeastern Czech Republic is the northernmost population, and this population was intensively studied from 2010 to 2021 to establish basic data [...] Read more.

Cordulegaster heros is a Balkan species with a disjunctive area extending into Central Europe. The population in the Chřiby Mts. in the southeastern Czech Republic is the northernmost population, and this population was intensively studied from 2010 to 2021 to establish basic data on its abundance. In the territory, the geomorphological characteristics of streams, characteristics of sediment in streams, habitat, emergence time, and period of flight were recorded, and population viability was evaluated. Larvae were recorded in 10 small forest streams (altitude of 235–426 m a.s.l.), with an average minimum width of 51.9 cm, an average maximum width of 177.7 cm, an average minimum depth of 6.5 cm, an average maximum depth (in pools) of 21 cm, and an average stream gradient of 1.9 grades. The sediments in each stream exhibited a grain size distribution with an average fraction less than 0.05 mm represented by 6.3%, a fraction of 0.05–0.1 mm represented by 21.1%, a fraction of 0.1–2 mm represented by 52.1%, a fraction of 2–5 mm represented by 12.1%, a fraction of 5–20 mm represented by 8%, and a fraction of 20+ mm represented by 0.3%. The larval abundance was 0.1–6.7 larvae per 1 m² of suitable sediment. The emergence period was recorded from 28 May to 1 July. The emergence site was categorized as larvae-dominated plant leave (57% of cases), plant stalks (21%), and tree trunks (17%). Exuviae occurred at an average of 154 cm at horizontal distance from the shore and an average vertical height of 77 cm above the ground. The average total distance of larval movement was 205 cm. The flight period in 2021 was recorded from 15 June to 11 August with peak flight activity noted in the third week of June. The northernmost population of C. heros was evaluated as viable and stable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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12 pages, 6343 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Characterisation of Macroinvertebrate Communities in Maritsa River (South Bulgaria)—Relation to Different Environmental Factors and Ecological Status Assessment

by Emilia Varadinova, Lidia Sakelarieva, Jiyoung Park, Miroslav Ivanov and Violeta Tyufekchieva

Diversity 2022, 14(10), 833; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100833 - 4 Oct 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1951

Abstract

A survey of the macrozoobenthos communities in the Maritsa River (South Bulgaria) was carried out in the summer of 2021. Benthic samples were collected and physicochemical parameters (water temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and nutrients) were measured at 15 sites located on the [...] Read more.

A survey of the macrozoobenthos communities in the Maritsa River (South Bulgaria) was carried out in the summer of 2021. Benthic samples were collected and physicochemical parameters (water temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and nutrients) were measured at 15 sites located on the main river and its tributary system. The studied sites belonged to different river types and characterised the diversity of the ecological conditions—from unaffected to anthropogenically influenced river stretches. In addition, data from a study conducted in the summer of 2020 were used to analyse species–factor interactions in the river ecosystems and to assess the bio-indicative potential of the aquatic invertebrates. The dynamics of the taxonomic composition and abundance of the macrozoobenthos were analysed in relation to environmental factors. The physicochemical conditions of the water environment changed during the period of high water, which led to a reduction in the composition of the macrozoobenthos. Plecoptera and Trichoptera decreased in richness and abundance downstream and under human impacts. Ephemeroptera and Chironomidae were permanently present along the whole river. Oligochaeta increased in the lower river reaches and at sites with a greater amount of organic matter. The ecological status determined by the macrozoobenthos varied from high (site 1) to good, moderate and bad (site 13) at the studied sites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Research in Bulgaria)

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19 pages, 3183 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Freshwater Fish Biodiversity in a Large Mediterranean Basin (Guadalquivir River, S Spain): Patterns, Threats, Status and Conservation

by Pedro Sáez-Gómez and José Prenda

Diversity 2022, 14(10), 831; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100831 - 3 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2759

Abstract

The Guadalquivir River Basin is one of the largest in the Iberian Peninsula and has a remarkable freshwater biodiversity. Although many studies on hydrological regimes or water quality have been conducted in this basin the biodiversity of freshwater fish, as well as their [...] Read more.

The Guadalquivir River Basin is one of the largest in the Iberian Peninsula and has a remarkable freshwater biodiversity. Although many studies on hydrological regimes or water quality have been conducted in this basin the biodiversity of freshwater fish, as well as their distribution and conservation status, has never been globally addressed as in other Iberian basins. In this context, we synthesized information on freshwater fish using field procedures and a bibliographic search. Fish distribution patterns at different spatial scales and general environmental conditions were analyzed as well as the conservation status of the fish community. We documented the presence of 40 species (20 native and 20 exotic) in the basin during the 20th century until today. However, we only captured 18 species during the field sampling, with a prevalence for any native species of less than 23% (except Luciobarbus sclateri). The highest species richness was found in mid reaches, while the lower reaches had very low diversity values. Around 50% of species are threatened; according to the IUCN, several species are declining at an alarming rate and others are probably extinct and/or their current status is unknown. Human disturbances during the last few decades have caused serious changes in fish distribution and consequently to their conservation status. Hydrological alterations, intensive agriculture and introduced species are probably the principal reasons for Guadalquivir’s ichthyofauna imperilment. Our study indicates an urgent and real need to identify important areas for fish conservation to guarantee a minimum fish biodiversity conservation over the long term, as well as effective strategies for fish recovery where it still is possible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Biogeography of Freshwater Fish)

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10 pages, 872 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Herbaceous Understory Plant Community in the Context of the Overstory: An Overlooked Component of Tropical Diversity

by Ramón Perea, John W. Schroeder and Rodolfo Dirzo

Diversity 2022, 14(10), 800; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14100800 - 26 Sep 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2359

Abstract

Lowland tropical rainforests harbor the most diverse plant communities in the world, but the herbaceous plants of the understory are often overlooked. To address this knowledge gap, we asked to what extent the understory herbaceous community contributes to the species richness and phylogenetic [...] Read more.

Lowland tropical rainforests harbor the most diverse plant communities in the world, but the herbaceous plants of the understory are often overlooked. To address this knowledge gap, we asked to what extent the understory herbaceous community contributes to the species richness and phylogenetic diversity of plant communities by surveying a neotropical rainforest at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. We used Gentry transects to characterize the woody overstory community, and line-intercepts within the same transects to survey understory herbs and subshrubs. We also used published phylogenies to calculate community phylogenetic diversity with and without the understory stratum. We found that the understory contained a diverse (23 species, or 22.1% of all species surveyed) and phylogenetically distinct plant community dominated by aroids (13 species) and ferns (4 species). Inclusion of the understory stratum increased total species richness by 28.4% but increased phylogenetic diversity by 41.4%. Additionally, in contrast to temperate forests, the understory plant community was much less diverse than the overstory, which contained 81 species > 1 cm dbh (77.9% of all species surveyed). This survey adds to the hitherto small body of literature comparing understory and overstory strata in tropical rainforests and reveals previously overlooked patterns of floristic diversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Diversity)

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22 pages, 4112 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Brachiopod Fauna from the Deep Mediterranean Sea: Distribution Patterns and Ecological Preferences

by Margherita Toma, Francesco Enrichetti, Giorgio Bavestrello, Simonepietro Canese, Alessandro Cau, Franco Andaloro, Michela Angiolillo, Silvestro Greco and Marzia Bo

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 753; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090753 - 12 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2445

Abstract

Compared to their fossil counterparts, living brachiopods are investigated far less often, due to their occurrence in remote environments such as dark caves or deep environments. Due to the scarcity of studies targeting in situ brachiopods’ populations, large-scale information on their distribution and [...] Read more.

Compared to their fossil counterparts, living brachiopods are investigated far less often, due to their occurrence in remote environments such as dark caves or deep environments. Due to the scarcity of studies targeting in situ brachiopods’ populations, large-scale information on their distribution and ecological preferences is still lacking, especially on hardgrounds. The extensive employment of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), however, has opened up the chance to better explore this taxon’s diversity and ecology in the mesophotic and bathyal zones. The analysis of over 600 h of video footage collected from 624 sites, from 40 m to 1825 m, located along the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian coasts of Italy and the Sicily Channel, allowed for a large-scale investigation. The four identified species, Novocrania anomala, Gryphus vitreus, Megerlia truncata and Terebratulina retusa, emerged as common macrofaunal components of the explored habitats, especially between 150 m and 250 m, with high occurrences in the northern areas, especially on offshore seamounts. All species can form dense aggregations of individuals, with M. truncata showing the densest populations on steep rocky terraces (up to 773 individuals m⁻²). Except for G. vitreus, the only species also recorded on soft bottoms, the others were found exclusively on hardgrounds, with N. anomala showing a peculiar ability to exploit anthropogenic substrates such as terracotta amphorae. No stable species-specific associations were noted, even if numerous species were frequently observed together. Although brachiopods do not show the conspicuous tridimensionality of large filter-feeders, their substrate occupancy and their role in pelagic–benthic processes support their importance in deep-sea Mediterranean ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Mediterranean Sea Ecosystems)

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17 pages, 15150 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Characterization of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Accessions with Variable Drought Tolerance through Simple Sequence Repeat Markers and Phenotypic Traits

by Sonto Silindile Mkhabela, Hussein Shimelis, Abe Shegro Gerrano, Jacob Mashilo and Admire Shayanowako

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 747; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090747 - 11 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3053

Abstract

Genetic diversity analysis of crop genetic resources is a prerequisite for parental selection with suitable and complementary profiles for breeding. The objectives of this study were to determine genetic diversity present among okra accessions using simple sequence repeat (SSR) and complementary phenotypic markers [...] Read more.

Genetic diversity analysis of crop genetic resources is a prerequisite for parental selection with suitable and complementary profiles for breeding. The objectives of this study were to determine genetic diversity present among okra accessions using simple sequence repeat (SSR) and complementary phenotypic markers and to select genetically divergent and superior parental accessions for pre-breeding. Twenty-six preliminarily selected okra accessions were assessed using nine highly polymorphic SSR markers and phenotyped under drought-stressed (DS) and non-stressed (NS) environmental conditions using a 13 × 2 alpha lattice design with two replications. Data were collected on the following eleven phenotypic traits: plant height (PH), days to 50% maturity (DTM), fresh pod length (FPL), dry pod weight (DPW), dry pod length (DPL), number of pods per plant (NPPP), pod yield per plant (PYPP), total above-ground biomass (AGB), harvest index (HI), root weight (RW), and root to shoot ratio (RSR). The SSR markers revealed an expected mean heterozygosity value of 0.54, indicating moderate genetic diversity among the tested okra accessions. Cluster analysis based on phenotypic and SSR markers differentiated the accessions into three distinct genetic groups. Wide phenotypic variation was observed for PH, FPL, NPPP, and PYPP under NS and DS conditions. PYPP was positively and significantly correlated with FPL (r = 0.81), ABG (r = 0.69), and HI (r = 0.67) under DS conditions, and FPL (r = 0.83) and AGB (r = 0.60) under NS conditions. Genetically complementary accessions such as LS04, LS05, LS06, LS07, LS08, LS10, LS11, LS15, LS18, LS23, LS24, and LS26 were identified for their high yield potential and related yield-improving traits under DS conditions. The identified accessions are recommended as parents for hybridization and selection programs to improve the yield potential of okra under drought-stressed environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology, Evolution and Diversity of Plants)

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23 pages, 4444 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

What Do the First 597 Global Fungal Red List Assessments Tell Us about the Threat Status of Fungi?

by Gregory M. Mueller, Kelmer Martins Cunha, Tom W. May, Jessica L. Allen, James R. S. Westrip, Cátia Canteiro, Diogo Henrique Costa-Rezende, Elisandro Ricardo Drechsler-Santos, Aída M. Vasco-Palacios, Antony Martyn Ainsworth, Genivaldo Alves-Silva, Frank Bungartz, Amanda Chandler, Susana C. Gonçalves, Irmgard Krisai-Greilhuber, Reda Iršėnaitė, John Bjarne Jordal, Thiago Kosmann, James Lendemer, Richard Troy McMullin, Armin Mešić, Viviana Motato-Vásquez, Yoshihito Ohmura, Rikke Reese Næsborg, Claudia Perini, Irja Saar, Diego Simijaca, Rebecca Yahr and Anders Dahlberg Show full author list Hide full author list

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 736; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090736 - 7 Sep 2022

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 10851

Abstract

Fungal species are not immune to the threats facing animals and plants and are thus also prone to extinction. Yet, until 2015, fungi were nearly absent on the IUCN Red List. Recent efforts to identify fungal species under threat have significantly increased the [...] Read more.

Fungal species are not immune to the threats facing animals and plants and are thus also prone to extinction. Yet, until 2015, fungi were nearly absent on the IUCN Red List. Recent efforts to identify fungal species under threat have significantly increased the number of published fungal assessments. The 597 species of fungi published in the 2022-1 IUCN Red List update (21 July 2022) are the basis for the first global review of the extinction risk of fungi and the threats they face. Nearly 50% of the assessed species are threatened, with 10% NT and 9% DD. For regions with a larger number of assessments (i.e., Europe, North America, and South America), subanalyses are provided. Data for lichenized and nonlichenized fungi are also summarized separately. Habitat loss/degradation followed by climate change, invasive species, and pollution are the primary identified threats. Bias in the data is discussed along with knowledge gaps. Suggested actions to address these gaps are provided along with a discussion of the use of assessments to facilitate on-the-ground conservation efforts. A research agenda for conservation mycology to assist in the assessment process and implementation of effective species/habitat management is presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessments, Planning and Action for Conservation of Species and Ecosystems at Multiple Spatial Scales)

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30 pages, 1870 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Photoautotrophic Euendoliths and Their Complex Ecological Effects in Marine Bioengineered Ecosystems

by Alexia M. Dievart, Christopher D. McQuaid, Gerardo I. Zardi, Katy R. Nicastro and Pierre W. Froneman

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090737 - 7 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3132

Abstract

Photoautotrophic euendolithic microorganisms are ubiquitous where there are calcium carbonate substrates to bore into and sufficient light to sustain photosynthesis. The most diverse and abundant modern euendolithic communities can be found in the marine environment. Euendoliths, as microorganisms infesting inanimate substrates, were first [...] Read more.

Photoautotrophic euendolithic microorganisms are ubiquitous where there are calcium carbonate substrates to bore into and sufficient light to sustain photosynthesis. The most diverse and abundant modern euendolithic communities can be found in the marine environment. Euendoliths, as microorganisms infesting inanimate substrates, were first thought to be ecologically irrelevant. Over the past three decades, numerous studies have subsequently shown that euendoliths can colonize living marine calcifying organisms, such as coral skeletons and bivalve shells, causing both sub-lethal and lethal damage. Moreover, under suitable environmental conditions, their presence can have surprising benefits for the host. Thus, infestation by photoautotrophic euendoliths has significant consequences for calcifying organisms that are of particular importance in the case of ecosystems underpinned by calcifying ecosystem engineers. In this review, we address the nature and diversity of marine euendoliths, as revealed recently through genetic techniques, their bioerosive mechanisms, how environmental conditions influence their incidence in marine ecosystems and their potential as bioindicators, how they affect live calcifiers, and the potential future of euendolithic infestation in the context of global climate change and ocean acidification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Marine Diversity)

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14 pages, 2953 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Genome Insight and Description of Previously Uncultured N₂-Fixing Bacterium Rhizobium terricola sp. nov., Isolated from Forest Rhizospheric Soil by Using Modified Culture Method

by Ram Hari Dahal, Dhiraj Kumar Chaudhary, Jungmin Kim, Dong-Uk Kim and Jaisoo Kim

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090733 - 6 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2111

Abstract

A bacterial strain S-51^T was isolated from rhizospheric forest soil at Kyonggi University during the study of previously uncultured bacterium. The phylogenetic analysis was based on 16S rRNA gene sequences that indicated that strain S-51^T belonged to the genus Rhizobium within [...] Read more.

A bacterial strain S-51^T was isolated from rhizospheric forest soil at Kyonggi University during the study of previously uncultured bacterium. The phylogenetic analysis was based on 16S rRNA gene sequences that indicated that strain S-51^T belonged to the genus Rhizobium within the family Rhizobiaceae. The closest members of strain S-51^T were Rhizobium naphthalenivorans TSY03b^T (98.2% sequence similarity) and Rhizobium selenitireducens ATCC BAA-1503^T (98.1%). The sequence similarities of other members were <97.7%. The sole respiratory quinone was Q-10 and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, and unidentified glycolipid. The principal fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C_18:1ω7c and/or C_18:1ω6c), cyclo-C_19:0ω8c, and C_18:0. The DNA G+C content was 63.1 mol%. The genome was 4930044 bp long and contained N₂-fixing genes, such as fixF, ntrC, and ptsN, in addition to respiratory nitrate reductase genes, such as narC, narG, narH, narI, and narJ. The average nucleotide identity (ANIu), average amino acid identity (AAI), and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) relatedness between strain S-51^T and phylogenetically related species were ≤82.6, ≤83.6 and ≤25.3%, respectively, much lower than the species delineation thresholds. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic study, strain S-51^T represents a new species in the genus Rhizobium, for which the name Rhizobium terricola is proposed. The type strain is S-51^T (=KACC 19117^T = KEMB 9005-539^T = NBRC 112711^T). Full article

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17 pages, 1554 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Phylogenetic Reconstruction of the Rainforest Lineage Fontainea Heckel (Euphorbiaceae) Based on Chloroplast DNA Sequences and Reduced-Representation SNP Markers

by Aaron J. Brunton, Robert W. Lamont, Gabriel C. Conroy, Samantha Yap, Maurizio Rossetto, Alyce Taylor-Brown, Laurent Maggia, Paul W. Reddell and Steven M. Ogbourne

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 725; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090725 - 1 Sep 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3178

Abstract

Fontainea is a plant genus with nine recognised species that occur across the tropical and subtropical rainforests of Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. One of these species is cultivated commercially as the source of a cancer therapeutic, and several other [...] Read more.

Fontainea is a plant genus with nine recognised species that occur across the tropical and subtropical rainforests of Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. One of these species is cultivated commercially as the source of a cancer therapeutic, and several other species are under threat of extinction. Despite this, the phylogenetic relationships of the genus have not been explored. Our study assessed the phylogeny of seven Fontainea taxa from the Australian and Pacific Island complex using chloroplast DNA sequence data and reduced-representation genome sequencing. Maximum-likelihood and consensus network trees were used to infer the topology of phylogenetic relationships between species, which highlighted three distinct lineages and a number of sister species. Our results indicated that the geographically disjunct species Fontainea venosa and F. pancheri formed a sister group at the earliest position of divergence for the genus. The data also revealed that the vulnerable Fontainea australis and the critically endangered F. oraria form a sister subclade with evidence of some shared plastid genotypes. Generally, our phylogenetic reconstruction supports the modern taxonomical nomenclature. However, we suggest further accessions across several species may support improved genetic distinctions between the sister groups of Fontainea within the genus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Phylogeny and Evolution)

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14 pages, 1245 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Niche Breadth Predicts Geographical Range Size and Northern Range Shift in European Dragonfly Species (Odonata)

by Kent Olsen, Jens-Christian Svenning and Henrik Balslev

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 719; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090719 - 30 Aug 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2597

Abstract

We studied how range sizes and shifts in species ranges depend on niche breadth in European dragonflies. We measured range sizes and shifts over a 22-year period (1988–2010) and grouped species into those reproducing in permanent running (perennial lotic) water, permanent standing (perennial [...] Read more.

We studied how range sizes and shifts in species ranges depend on niche breadth in European dragonflies. We measured range sizes and shifts over a 22-year period (1988–2010) and grouped species into those reproducing in permanent running (perennial lotic) water, permanent standing (perennial lentic) water, and temporary (running or standing) water. Running water species are more specialized and have narrower niches with a more fixed niche position than standing water species. Temporary water species are more generalist and have broader niches without a fixed niche position as clear as permanent water species because they may utilize both temporary and permanent habitats. Running water species have smaller ranges, and some of them have contracted their ranges more than species reproducing in standing or temporary waters; that is, they are especially at risk of habitat loss and climate change because of the joint effects of their narrow niches and small range sizes. Temporary water species track climate changes better than permanent water species. This suggests that ecological specialization may cause contemporary range shifts to lag behind changes in climate and resources. Furthermore, it indicates that recent changes in climate and human land use cause biotic homogenization, where specialists are outperformed and replaced by generalists. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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16 pages, 2026 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Host Species and Captivity Distinguish the Microbiome Compositions of a Diverse Zoo-Resident Non-Human Primate Population

by Maya O. Wills, Robin R. Shields-Cutler, Emily Brunmeier, Madison Weissenborn, Tami Murphy, Dan Knights, Timothy J. Johnson and Jonathan B. Clayton

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 715; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090715 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2420

Abstract

Vast numbers of microorganisms inhabit the mammalian gastrointestinal tract in a complex community referred to as the gut microbiome. An individual’s microbiome may be impacted by genetics, diet, and various environmental factors, and has been associated with many health states and diseases, though [...] Read more.

Vast numbers of microorganisms inhabit the mammalian gastrointestinal tract in a complex community referred to as the gut microbiome. An individual’s microbiome may be impacted by genetics, diet, and various environmental factors, and has been associated with many health states and diseases, though specific explanations are lacking. While these communities are well-studied in human populations, non-human primates (NHPs), in particular zoo-resident or captive NHPs, offer distinct advantages to increasing our understanding of factors that influence gut microbiome composition. Here, we characterize the gut microbiome composition of a phylogenetically diverse cohort of NHPs residing in the same urban zoo. We show that despite overlapping and controlled environmental contexts, gut microbiomes are still distinguished between NHP host species. However, when comparing the zoo cohort to wild NHPs, we show that captivity status strongly distinguishes zoo-resident NHPs from their wild counterparts, regardless of host phylogeny. Microbial orders unique to captive NHPs include taxa commonly present in human gut microbiomes. Together, these results demonstrate that differences between NHP species are strongly associated with gut microbiome composition and diversity, suggesting that species-specific approaches should be considered when investigating environmental factors’ influence on gut microbiome composition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Primate Microbiome Diversity and Its Impacts on Host Health, Ecology, and Evolution)

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12 pages, 1831 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Species Distribution Modeling Reveals Recent Shifts in Suitable Habitat for Six North American Cypripedium spp. (Orchidaceae)

by Patrick A. Smallwood and Dorset W. Trapnell

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090694 - 23 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2174

Abstract

Accelerating climate change is expected to cause range shifts of numerous taxa worldwide. While climatic projections and predicted consequences typically focus on the future (2050 or later), a measurable change in climatic conditions has occurred over recent decades. We investigate whether recent climate [...] Read more.

Accelerating climate change is expected to cause range shifts of numerous taxa worldwide. While climatic projections and predicted consequences typically focus on the future (2050 or later), a measurable change in climatic conditions has occurred over recent decades. We investigate whether recent climate change has caused measurable shifts in suitable habitat for six North American species in the highly threatened genus Cypripedium (Orchidaceae). We constructed species distribution models using a maximum entropy approach from species occurrence records, 19 bioclimatic variables, land cover data, and soil data for two decadal time intervals (1980–1989 and 2010–2019). Models were compared between time intervals to assess shifts in locality, size, fragmentation, and mean elevation of suitable habitat. For all six congeners, the centroids of suitable habitat shifted between time intervals, although the directionality varied. There was, however, consistency among species within geographic regions. Consistent with our expectations, the optimal habitat for most species shifted to a higher elevation and for western species it shifted northwards. However, the habitat for one northwestern species shifted southwards and the habitat for eastern species converged on the Great Lakes region from different directions. This work illustrates the somewhat idiosyncratic responses of congeneric species to changing climatic conditions and how the geographic region occupied by a species may be more important for predicting shifts in habitat than is the response of a closely related taxon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution and Diversity of Orchids)

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11 pages, 2038 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Spread of the Japanese Beetle in a European Human-Dominated Landscape: High Anthropization Favors Colonization of Popillia japonica

by Francesca Della Rocca and Pietro Milanesi

Diversity 2022, 14(8), 658; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080658 - 15 Aug 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2591

Abstract

The impact of invasive species is not limited to the loss of biodiversity; it also represents significant threats to agriculture on a global scale. The Japanese beetle Popillia japonica (native to Japan but an invasive agricultural pest in North America) recently occurred in [...] Read more.

The impact of invasive species is not limited to the loss of biodiversity; it also represents significant threats to agriculture on a global scale. The Japanese beetle Popillia japonica (native to Japan but an invasive agricultural pest in North America) recently occurred in the Po plain (Italy), one of the most cultivated areas in southern Europe. Thus, our aims were to identify (i) the main landscape predictors related to the occurrence of the Japanese beetle and (ii) the areas of potential invasion of the Japanese beetle in the two Northern Italian regions in which this invasive species currently occurs, Piedmont and Lombardy. Specifically, we combined Japanese beetle occurrences available in the citizen science online platform iNaturalist with high-resolution landscape predictors in an ensemble approach and averaged the results of Bayesian generalized linear and additive models developed with the integrated nested Laplace approximation (with stochastic partial differential equation). We found that the occurrence of the Japanese beetle was negatively related to the percentage of broadleaf forests and pastures, while it was positively related to sparse and dense human settlements as well as intensive crops. Moreover, the occurrence of the Japanese beetle increased in relation to the percentage of rice fields until a peak at around 50%. The Japanese beetle was likely to occur in 32.49% of our study area, corresponding to 16,000.02 km², mainly located in the Po plain, low hills, and mountain valleys. We stress that the Japanese beetle is a high-risk invasive species in human-dominated landscapes. Thus, we strongly recommend that local administrations quickly enact pest management in order to reduce further spread. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Impacts of Biological Invasions on European Biodiversity)

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9 pages, 1694 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Anopheles maculipennis Complex in The Netherlands: First Record of Anopheles daciae (Diptera: Culicidae)

by A. Ibáñez-Justicia, Nathalie Smitz, Rody Blom, Ann Vanderheyden, Frans Jacobs, Kenny Meganck, Sophie Gombeer, Thierry Backeljau, Constantianus J. M. Koenraadt, J. S. Griep, Marc De Meyer and Arjan Stroo

Diversity 2022, 14(8), 636; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080636 - 10 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2696

Abstract

Despite their past importance as vectors of indigenous malaria, the species composition and spatial distribution of the members of the Anopheles maculipennis complex have been studied to a limited extent in the Netherlands. Therefore, this investigation focuses on the distribution of the members [...] Read more.

Despite their past importance as vectors of indigenous malaria, the species composition and spatial distribution of the members of the Anopheles maculipennis complex have been studied to a limited extent in the Netherlands. Therefore, this investigation focuses on the distribution of the members of this complex in the Netherlands, including Anopheles daciae, which has recently been found in countries bordering the Netherlands. In the framework of a national mosquito surveillance between 2010 and 2021, a total of 541 specimens of An. maculipennis s.l. were analyzed from 161 locations covering the entire territory. In addition, 89 specimens were analyzed from overwintering sites during the winter of 2020/2021. All individual mosquitoes were identified to species-level using Sanger sequencing of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2. To characterize the habitat of An. maculipennis s.l. in the Netherlands, land cover use data was extracted in a 1 km buffer area around each finding location. For populations collected in summers between 2010 and 2021, the most frequent species was An. messeae, present in 88.19% of the locations, followed by An. maculipennis s.s. (11.80%), An. atroparvus (3.72%) and An. daciae (3.72%). Anopheles daciae was found in the southern inland areas of the country. Furthermore, An. messeae and An. daciae occurred in sympatry at overwintering sites. This study provides relevant information on the occurrence of species of the Anopheles maculipennis complex in the Netherlands, contributing to a better estimation of the risk of mosquito-borne disease in the country. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Distribution and Phylogeny of Vector Insects)

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9 pages, 1788 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Islands as Time Capsules for Genetic Diversity Conservation: The Case of the Giglio Island Mouflon

by Mario Barbato, Marco Masseti, Monica Pirastru, Nicolò Columbano, Monica Scali, Rita Vignani and Paolo Mereu

Diversity 2022, 14(8), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080609 - 28 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4876

Abstract

The use of multidisciplinary approaches of investigation including biological, biogeographical, historical, morphological, and genetic analysis, can be useful in identifying and preserving biodiversity. The present study focuses on the characterisation and conservation of a mouflon population (Ovis gmelini musimon) from the [...] Read more.

The use of multidisciplinary approaches of investigation including biological, biogeographical, historical, morphological, and genetic analysis, can be useful in identifying and preserving biodiversity. The present study focuses on the characterisation and conservation of a mouflon population (Ovis gmelini musimon) from the Mediterranean island of Giglio. Here we provide the first molecular data on the Giglio population and compare it with mouflons from Sardinia, Elba, and Corsica using both nuclear and mitochondrial markers. Our results suggest that the Giglio mouflon harbours genetic variability likely of Sardinian origin but not represented in the current Sardinian mouflon diversity. Although not presenting the typical characteristics of an invasive alien species, the Giglio mouflon is being subjected to eradication through culling or trapping and surgical sterilization. The molecular evidence we report highlights that such actions are causing the irremediable loss of ancestral genetic variants of the genus Ovis. Finally, we highlight how a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to aid the conservation and management of the anthropochorous populations of Mediterranean mammals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Diversity in Ungulate Populations)

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30 pages, 13101 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Molecular and Morphological Analyses Support Different Taxonomic Units for Asian and Australo-Pacific Forms of Ischnura aurora (Odonata, Coenagrionidae)

by M. Olalla Lorenzo-Carballa, Iago Sanmartín-Villar and Adolfo Cordero-Rivera

Diversity 2022, 14(8), 606; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080606 - 28 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2920

Abstract

Despite the great technological progress that has aided taxonomical identification, taxonomical issues remain for certain species found in remote and/or understudied geographical areas. The damselfly species Ischnura aurora has been the subject of a long-standing taxonomical debate, focused mainly on the existence of [...] Read more.

Despite the great technological progress that has aided taxonomical identification, taxonomical issues remain for certain species found in remote and/or understudied geographical areas. The damselfly species Ischnura aurora has been the subject of a long-standing taxonomical debate, focused mainly on the existence of morphological and behavioural differences between Asian and Australo-Pacific forms of this species that could justify their placement into two different species. Here, we carried out a comparative morphological analysis of specimens currently identified as I. rubilio from India and I. aurora from Asia and Oceania, combined with the analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data, both developed by us and available in public repositories. Our results split the Asian and Australo-Pacific forms of I. aurora into two well-differentiated taxonomic units and, hence, different (albeit closely related) species, and support the specific status of I. rubilio. The results of our genetic analyses suggest the existence of a third (and even fourth) taxonomic unit, stressing the need to revise all available material belonging to the different I. aurora subspecies that have been described. Finally, we have identified several questionable DNA sequences currently available in public repositories, upon which previous conclusions about the phylogenetic position of I. rubilio are based. Our study stresses the importance of being able to link available DNA sequence data with voucher specimens as well as to carry out a careful examination of DNA sequence data prior to their inclusion in taxonomical studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Odonata)

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14 pages, 3072 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Diversity in Morphometric, Pomological, and Fruit-Quality Traits of Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) Traditional Varieties: Implications for Landrace Differentiation at Regional Scale

by Boris Basile, Alessandro Mataffo, Marcello Forlani and Giandomenico Corrado

Diversity 2022, 14(8), 608; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080608 - 28 Jul 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1879

Abstract

Traditional crop varieties are receiving increasing attention in sustainable agriculture, conservation genetics, and plant science because they offer significant and largely unexplored diversity. The DNA profiling of landraces is being applied to numerous crops, yet a detailed knowledge of morphological diversity is often [...] Read more.

Traditional crop varieties are receiving increasing attention in sustainable agriculture, conservation genetics, and plant science because they offer significant and largely unexplored diversity. The DNA profiling of landraces is being applied to numerous crops, yet a detailed knowledge of morphological diversity is often needed to increase the efficiency of both the conservation and exploitation of local germplasm. In this work, morphological, pomological, and fruit-quality traits (16 qualitative and 16 quantitative) were collected from 44 traditional apricot landraces cultivated in Campania, the Italian region with the highest number of traditional varieties. The aim was to assess varietal diversity and to highlight possible trends and phenotypes that may have driven the morphological differentiation. All traits were polymorphic, and each variety had a distinctive phenotype. The qualitative and quantitative traits provided different classifications of the varieties. Nonetheless, the Factorial Analysis of Mixed data indicated that, for both categories of variables, the fruit traits were the most influential for landrace classification. Interestingly, some easily discernible color phenotypes of the fruits mostly contributed to the discrimination of the analyzed apricot germplasm. We conclude that these specific, commercially relevant features of the fruit were important drivers of the differentiation of the cultivated apricot material at regional scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Germplasm Genetic Integrity)

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17 pages, 2513 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceConcept Paper

Open Access to the Digital Biodiversity Database: A Comprehensive Functional Model of the Natural History Collections

by Bogdan Jackowiak, Marcin Lawenda, Maciej M. Nowak, Paweł Wolniewicz, Jerzy Błoszyk, Michał Urbaniak, Piotr Szkudlarz, Damian Jędrasiak, Justyna Wiland-Szymańska, Rafał Bajaczyk and Norbert Meyer

Diversity 2022, 14(8), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080596 - 27 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3333

Abstract

The Natural History Collections of Adam Mickiewicz University (AMUNATCOLL) in Poznań contain over 2.2 million specimens. Until recently, access to the collections was limited to specialists and was challenging because of the analogue data files. Therefore, this paper presents a new approach to [...] Read more.

The Natural History Collections of Adam Mickiewicz University (AMUNATCOLL) in Poznań contain over 2.2 million specimens. Until recently, access to the collections was limited to specialists and was challenging because of the analogue data files. Therefore, this paper presents a new approach to data sharing called the Scientific, Educational, Public, and Practical Use (SEPP) Model. Since the stakeholder group is broad, the SEPP Model assumes the following key points: full open access to the digitized collections, the structure of metadata in accordance with certain standards, and a versatile tool set for data mining or statistical and spatial analysis. The SEPP Model was implemented in the AMUNATCOLL IT system, which consists of a web portal equipped with a wide set of explorative functionalities tailored to different user groups: scientists, students, officials, and nature enthusiasts. An integral part of the system is a mobile application designed for field surveys, enabling users to conduct studies comparing their own field data and AMUNATCOLL data. The AMUNATCOLL IT database contains digital data on specimens, biological samples, bibliographic sources, and multimedia nature documents. The metadata structure was developed in accordance with ABCD 2.06 and Darwin Core standards. Full article

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10 pages, 960 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Predator Diversity Does Not Contribute to Increased Prey Risk: Evidence from a Mesocosm Study

by Pierre William Froneman

Diversity 2022, 14(8), 584; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080584 - 22 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1621

Abstract

Predation plays an important organisational role in structuring aquatic communities. Predator diversity can, however, lead to emergent effects in which the outcomes of predator–prey interactions are modified. The importance of predator diversity in regulating predator–prey interactions was investigated during a 9-day mesocosm study [...] Read more.

Predation plays an important organisational role in structuring aquatic communities. Predator diversity can, however, lead to emergent effects in which the outcomes of predator–prey interactions are modified. The importance of predator diversity in regulating predator–prey interactions was investigated during a 9-day mesocosm study conducted in the middle reach of a temporarily open/closed, temperate, southern African estuary. The zooplankton community, comprising almost exclusively (>95% of total counts) calanoid and cyclopoid copepods of the genera Pseudodiaptomus, Paracartia and Oithona, was subject to three different juvenile fish predator treatments at natural densities: 1. predation by Gilchristella aestuaria, (Gilchrist, 1913; SL 15.3 ± 2.4 mm); 2. predation by Myxus capensis (Valenciennes, 1836; SL 12.8 ± 3.7 mm); and 3. a combination of the two predators. The presence of the predators contributed to a significant decline in the total zooplankton abundances, with a concurrent increase in total chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations, consistent with the expectations of a trophic cascade (ANCOVA; p < 0.05 in all cases). There were no significant differences in the total Chl-a concentration or total zooplankton abundances between the different predator treatments, suggesting that the increase in predator diversity did not contribute to increased prey risk or to the strength of the trophic cascade. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Marine Diversity)

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