Diversity

14 pages, 3397 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Habitat Suitability Assessment of Black-Necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) in the Zoige Grassland Wetland Ecological Function Zone on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau

by Junjun Bai, Peng Hou, Diandian Jin, Jun Zhai, Yutiao Ma and Jiajun Zhao

Diversity 2022, 14(7), 579; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14070579 - 20 Jul 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2784

Abstract

Habitat suitability assessment is critical for wildlife population conservation and management planning. The MaxEnt model is widely used in species habitat suitability modeling. In order to investigate the habitat status of the black-necked crane in the Zoige grassland wetland ecological function area, this [...] Read more.

Habitat suitability assessment is critical for wildlife population conservation and management planning. The MaxEnt model is widely used in species habitat suitability modeling. In order to investigate the habitat status of the black-necked crane in the Zoige grassland wetland ecological function area, this study evaluated the habitat suitability of the black-necked crane using the MaxEnt model with 152 occurrence records and 13 environmental variables. Based on the Akaike information criterion corrected for the small sample size, the best optimal parameter combination (feature class LQPHT, regularization multiplier 3.0) was selected. The results show that the Maxent model had good accuracy with an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.895. Distance to roads, average summer precipitation, distance to lakes, and altitude are the dominant environmental variables affecting the potential distribution of black-necked cranes, with the contribution rates of 31.6%, 29.8%, 14.3%, and 8.2%, respectively. The suitable habitat area of black-necked cranes is mainly distributed in and around the Zoige Wetland National Nature Reserve, accounting for 46.49% of the Zoige Grassland Wetland National Key Ecological Function Zone. The potential distribution area has a tendency to spread to Hongyuan County in the south of the functional zone, and the unsuitable habitat is mainly distributed in the high-altitude area in the southwest of the functional zone. This study recommends focusing on the distribution area of black-necked cranes around Zoige Wetland National Nature Reserve and Hongyuan County to improve conservation strategies and strengthen protection efforts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecosystem Observation, Simulation and Assessment)

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34 pages, 14698 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Prioritizing Plants around the Cross-Border Area of Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia: Integrated Conservation Actions and Sustainable Exploitation Potential

by Nikos Krigas, Eleftherios Karapatzak, Marina Panagiotidou, Virginia Sarropoulou, Ioulietta Samartza, Antonis Karydas, Christos K. Damianidis, Boris Najdovski, Aco Teofilovski, Dejan Mandzukovski, Viktorija Brndevska Stipanović, Katerina Papanastasi, Pantelitsa D. Kapagianni, Dimitrios Fotakis, Katerina Grigoriadou, Georgios Tsoktouridis, Vlatko Andonovski and Eleni Maloupa

Diversity 2022, 14(7), 570; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14070570 - 16 Jul 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3278

Abstract

Plants know no political borders and some of them are restricted to small geographical territories of different countries in which they are endemic. In this study, we prioritized plants (PPs) of the cross-border area of Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia that [...] Read more.

Plants know no political borders and some of them are restricted to small geographical territories of different countries in which they are endemic. In this study, we prioritized plants (PPs) of the cross-border area of Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia that are already threatened or nearly so (PPA), those which occur exclusively on either side of borderline and/or nearby countries (PPB), or those which are uncommon and rare in this region (PPC) with the aim to document in-situ the species-specific risks-threats; offer ex-situ conservation for them as a back-up solution for future re-introductions and sustainable exploitation; and raise public awareness and alertness about the importance of local biodiversity. In the framework of the project Conse-pp, 20 botanical expeditions were performed in 75 selected areas to collect samples and suitable propagation material from 130 PPs (147 accession numbers), also recording all types of threats-identified in-situ for each of them. No ex-situ conservation was detected for 40 PPs worldwide while for another 12 PPs only limited attempts have been made to date. The fully documented PPs are currently maintained under ex- situ conservation and acclimatization in the Balkan Botanic Garden of Kroussia (BBGK). In total, 156 propagation trials (sexual or asexual) have been made for these PPs to develop species-specific propagation protocols. Consequently, the production of new plant stocks raised ex-situ was achieved (n = 3254 individuals; first-time ex-situ conservation for 40 taxa), and this has enabled the establishment of three awareness-raising sites with PPs: (i) 1000 plants of 70 PPs in the newly designed Kardia Botanical Park in Thermi (Greece); (ii) 850 plants of 104 PPs in the phytodiversity awareness spot in BBGK and 130 individual PPs in the Garden of Environmental Awareness; and (iii) 42 plants of 14 PP taxa delivered to the botanic garden of Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. This project outlines the necessity of the development of common plant conservation strategies for threatened plants in cross-border areas of neighboring countries and presents an integrated approach allowing for sustainable development and future in-situ protection measures and actions in the studied cross-border area. Full article

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

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8 pages, 761 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Nematode Assemblages Development Twenty-One Years after the Introduction of Meadow Soil into Bare Post Mining Spoil Heap

by Petra Benetková, Ladislav Háněl and Jan Frouz

Diversity 2022, 14(7), 567; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14070567 - 14 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1653

Abstract

The revitalisation of soil fauna in post-mining soils is one of the ways in which we can slow down biodiversity loss. To investigate the effect of a meadow soil transplanted directly into the spoil substrate on the colonisation of a spoil heap, we [...] Read more.

The revitalisation of soil fauna in post-mining soils is one of the ways in which we can slow down biodiversity loss. To investigate the effect of a meadow soil transplanted directly into the spoil substrate on the colonisation of a spoil heap, we used nematodes as a tool for an assessment of success in soil fauna recolonisation. Three blocks of meadow topsoil (10 × 3 × 0.4 m) were dug out and transported as intact as possible into a bare substrate of spoil heaps near Sokolov (Czech Republic). The soil samples were taken at the beginning of the experiment (1997) and then, after 19 years (2016), were transported into blocks (B) in their surroundings in a 2 m distance (I) and, finally, 30 m from the transported blocks as a control (C), to compare and assess the complexity of soil food web. Nematode total abundances were highest in B plots and lowest in the nearby I plots at the beginning, whereas later, their abundances were highest in I plots and lowest in the control (C) plots. However, due to the high variability, abundances were statistically insignificant. The trophic composition of I plots became similar to the composition in B plots in the late phase; however, the high occurrence of predators in C plots showed a running succession even after 19 years. Our results together with previous works from the same experiment support the findings that the level of soil development has a larger impact on recolonisation by soil fauna than the migration barrier itself. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Ecosystem Restoration after Disturbances)

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23 pages, 3694 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Which Are the Best Site and Stand Conditions for Silver Fir (Abies alba Mill.) Located in the Carpathian Mountains?

by Lucian Dinca, Mirabela Marin, Vlad Radu, Gabriel Murariu, Romana Drasovean, Romica Cretu, Lucian Georgescu and Voichița Timiș-Gânsac

Diversity 2022, 14(7), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14070547 - 7 Jul 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2888

Abstract

Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is one of the most valuable and productive tree species across European mountains, that accomplish multiple economic, protective and ecologic functions. Alongside spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), silver fir is [...] Read more.

Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is one of the most valuable and productive tree species across European mountains, that accomplish multiple economic, protective and ecologic functions. Alongside spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), silver fir is a characteristic species for the Romanian Carpathians. Although silver fir tree is recommended for the diversification of forests in order to increase the resistance to climate change, it is very sensitive to climatic excesses, especially those that proceed rapidly. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate both the environmental conditions and stand characteristics of fir from five mountain ranges of the Romanian Carpathians. The study is based on data recorded over a period of 10 years (1990–2000). As such, a total of 77,251 stands that occupy 211,954 hectares have been investigated in regard to silver fir behaviour. MATLAB scripts were used for analysing consistent data volumes as well as the impact of eight factors on the silver fir productivity (altitude, field aspect, field slope, soil type, participation percentage, road distance, structure and consistency). Our analysis has revealed that higher silver fir productivity is found at altitudes of up to 1200 m, on mid and upper slopes, on NW field aspects, on eutric cambisols and dystric cambisols, with a 10–20% participation in stand composition and in relatively-even aged stands with a full consistency. This study offers valuable insights for forest managers that require comprehensive information in adopting effective strategies to enhance forest resilience under climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation)

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20 pages, 824 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

It Is a Wild World in the City: Urban Wildlife Conservation and Communication in the Age of COVID-19

by Ioana A. Coman, Caitlyn E. Cooper-Norris, Scott Longing and Gad Perry

Diversity 2022, 14(7), 539; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14070539 - 4 Jul 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7287

Abstract

Most ecosystems are increasingly being degraded and reduced by human activities at the local and global scales. In contrast, urban environments are expanding as increasing portions of humanity move into cities. Despite the common perception among biologists that urban areas are biological deserts, [...] Read more.

Most ecosystems are increasingly being degraded and reduced by human activities at the local and global scales. In contrast, urban environments are expanding as increasing portions of humanity move into cities. Despite the common perception among biologists that urban areas are biological deserts, cities offer habitat for many non-human species, but their ecology and conservation remain poorly studied. In this review, we first provide an update on the current state of knowledge on urban wildlife, then briefly examine the indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban wildlife and add four components not previously included in comprehensive reviews. (1) We show that by reducing human activity, COVID-19 has temporarily enhanced urban habitat quality for some species and diminished it for others. (2) Thoughtful horticulture can contribute to urban wildlife by providing complex habitat structures that benefit biodiversity while enhancing human wellbeing. (3) Recent literature on urban invertebrate biodiversity has grown, though is still focused on pollinators. (4) Finally, employing insights from the discipline of communication can enhance the success of urban biodiversity conservation among both biologists and the public. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Wildlife Conflict across Landscapes)

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9 pages, 3899 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

MolMarker: A Simple Tool for DNA Fingerprinting Studies and Polymorphic Information Content Calculation

by Gizella Jahnke, József Smidla and Peter Poczai

Diversity 2022, 14(6), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14060497 - 19 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3485

Abstract

Molecular markers and mapping are used to analyze an organism’s genes. They allow the selection of target genetic areas based on marker genotype (and not trait phenotype), facilitate the study of genetic variability and diversity, create linkage maps, and follow individuals or lines [...] Read more.

Molecular markers and mapping are used to analyze an organism’s genes. They allow the selection of target genetic areas based on marker genotype (and not trait phenotype), facilitate the study of genetic variability and diversity, create linkage maps, and follow individuals or lines carrying certain genes. They may be used to select parental genotypes, remove linkage drag in back-crossing, and choose difficult-to-measure characteristics. Due to a lack of genetic variety in crops, the gene pools of wild crop relatives for future agricultural production have been examined. The invention of RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) for linkage mapping allowed for the creation of other traditional approaches such as RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) and AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism). Accordingly, the need to describe the polymorphic information content (PIC) of the ideal marker has been raised. Marker selection reliability depends on the marker’s relationship to the genomic area of interest. Although informativeness must be estimated for genetic study design, there are no readily available tools. Earlier, PICcalc was developed to calculate heterozygosity (H) and PIC to simplify molecular investigations. These two values were corrected for dominant and co-dominant markers (binary and allelic data) to determine polymorphism quality. Due to the popularity of PICcalc web, we developed a downloadable version called MolMarker with extra functionality to reduce server maintenance. Full article

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6 pages, 972 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceCommunication

Distribution and Molecular Diversity of Paranoplocephala kalelai (Tenora, Haukisalmi & Henttonen, 1985) Tenora, Murai & Vaucher, 1986 in Voles (Rodentia: Myodes) in Eurasia

by Anton Krivopalov, Pavel Vlasenko, Sergey Abramov, Lyudmila Akimova, Alina Barkhatova, Nikolai Dokuchaev, Anton Gromov, Sergey Konyaev, Natalia Lopatina, Egor Vlasov and Eugeny Zakharov

Diversity 2022, 14(6), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14060472 - 12 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2073

Abstract

Cestodes Paranoplocephala kalelai, which parasitizes in the small intestine of Myodes voles and is distributed in northern Fennoscandia, was found in six habitats in the Asian part of Russia and eastern Kazakhstan, which indicates a wider distribution of P. kalelai on the [...] Read more.

Cestodes Paranoplocephala kalelai, which parasitizes in the small intestine of Myodes voles and is distributed in northern Fennoscandia, was found in six habitats in the Asian part of Russia and eastern Kazakhstan, which indicates a wider distribution of P. kalelai on the continent. Analysis of mtDNA showed that P. kalelai is characterized by significant molecular variability in Eurasia. This study complements the data on the distribution of P. kalelai and provides the first molecular data from the territory of Russia and Kazakhstan. The sequence variability of two mitochondrial genes cox1 and nad1 of P. kalelai was studied in two species of voles: gray red-backed Myodes rufocanus and northern red-backed vole Myodes rutilus. Five haplotype groups in the cox1 and nad1 gene networks were identified, and the existence of two mtDNA lines in P. kalelai outside northern Fennoscandia was confirmed. The geographical distribution of the identified haplotypes suggests that the foothills of the Altai-Sayan mountains and southern West Siberia may serve as a refugium for P. kalelai during repeated glaciations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phylogeny and Phylogeography of the Holarctic)

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18 pages, 4888 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Human–Wildlife Conflicts across Landscapes—General Applicability vs. Case Specificity

by Thomas Göttert and Nicole Starik

Diversity 2022, 14(5), 380; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14050380 - 11 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6183

Abstract

Here, we address the question of if/to what extent human–wildlife conflict (HWC) can be reduced or mitigated by supra-regional or even global approaches, or whether case- and region-specific strategies are necessary. First, we try to shift the perspective from humans towards wildlife and [...] Read more.

Here, we address the question of if/to what extent human–wildlife conflict (HWC) can be reduced or mitigated by supra-regional or even global approaches, or whether case- and region-specific strategies are necessary. First, we try to shift the perspective from humans towards wildlife and regard modern era (near) extinctions of selected wildlife species as an ultimate expression of HWC. We then reflect on the legitimacy of ecosystem comparisons beyond the borders of biogeographical regions—an important prerequisite for global approaches. In the following, we present two case scenarios that exemplarily illustrate the topic from different perspectives: carnivore–livestock conflicts (classical view, human perspective) and wind turbine-induced mortality of bats (wildlife perspective, rarely regarded as a form of HWC). On this basis, we try to develop a framework that enables a global approach, while adequately considering case- and region-specificity. We think that a globally valid and generally approachable dimension can be defined, as long as there is a natural link: in the present case the established monophyly of the orders Carnivora and Chiroptera, i.e., representatives descending from common ancestors, thus sharing common ecological features. This natural relationship among all representatives of a systematic group (specification of the “wildlife” concept) is key for the development of an overarching strategy that can be adjusted to a specific case. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Wildlife Conflict across Landscapes)

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28 pages, 688 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Fundamental Concepts, Knowledge Gaps and Key Concerns Relating to Welfare and Survival of Stranded Cetaceans

by Rebecca M. Boys, Ngaio J. Beausoleil, Matthew D. M. Pawley, Katherine E. Littlewood, Emma L. Betty and Karen A. Stockin

Diversity 2022, 14(5), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14050338 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4918

Abstract

Wildlife management can influence animal welfare and survival, although both are often not explicitly integrated into decision making. This study explores fundamental concepts and key concerns relating to the welfare and survival of stranded cetaceans. Using the Delphi method, the opinions of an [...] Read more.

Wildlife management can influence animal welfare and survival, although both are often not explicitly integrated into decision making. This study explores fundamental concepts and key concerns relating to the welfare and survival of stranded cetaceans. Using the Delphi method, the opinions of an international, interdisciplinary expert panel were gathered, regarding the characterisation of stranded cetacean welfare and survival likelihood, knowledge gaps and key concerns. Experts suggest that stranded cetacean welfare should be characterised based on interrelated aspects of animals’ biological function, behaviour, and mental state and the impacts of human interventions. The characterisation of survival likelihood should reflect aspects of stranded animals’ biological functioning and behaviour as well as a 6-month post-re-floating survival marker. Post-release monitoring was the major knowledge gap for survival. Welfare knowledge gaps related to diagnosing internal injuries, interpreting behavioural and physiological parameters, and euthanasia decision making. Twelve concerns were highlighted for both welfare and survival likelihood, including difficulty breathing and organ compression, skin damage and physical traumas, separation from conspecifics, and suffering and stress due to stranding and human intervention. These findings indicate inextricable links between perceptions of welfare state and the likely survival of stranded cetaceans and demonstrate a need to integrate welfare science alongside conservation biology to achieve effective, ethical management at strandings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Welfare)

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27 pages, 7511 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Salamander Demography at Isolated Wetlands within Mature and Regenerating Forests

by Don R. Church, Larissa L. Bailey, Henry M. Wilbur, James H. Green and Lex Hiby

Diversity 2022, 14(5), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14050309 - 19 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3648

Abstract

Geographically isolated wetland and surrounding landscape features affect the ecology and life history of amphibian species. We used multistate mark recapture methods and data from over 30,000 captures of adult Ambystoma opacum to explore how survival, breeding, and movement probabilities differed among wetlands [...] Read more.

Geographically isolated wetland and surrounding landscape features affect the ecology and life history of amphibian species. We used multistate mark recapture methods and data from over 30,000 captures of adult Ambystoma opacum to explore how survival, breeding, and movement probabilities differed among wetlands surrounded by regenerating 20-year-old clearcuts and mature 100-year-old forest stands. Survival varied among ponds and years but did not differ between regenerating and mature forest habitats. Both sexes at all ponds incurred dramatic mortality during the non-breeding season of a drought year (2001–2002). Females that skipped one or more breeding opportunities had higher breeding probabilities the following year than did successive breeders. Females exiting into regenerating forests had lower breeding probabilities at two of the three ponds. Breeding salamanders tended to make local movements from regenerating to mature forests, particularly when exiting the pond basin. Landscape movements between ponds were generally low, with few individuals moving from mature to regenerating forest habitats. We conclude that clearcuts continue to negatively impact some demographic parameters of salamanders 20 years post-cutting, but other environmental factors may mitigate these effects, and that populations are probably capable of complete recovery, particularly if some mature forest is retained. Full article

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

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33 pages, 7269 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

DNA Barcoding of Fresh and Historical Collections of Lichen-Forming Basidiomycetes in the Genera Cora and Corella (Agaricales: Hygrophoraceae): A Success Story?

by Manuela Dal Forno, James D. Lawrey, Bibiana Moncada, Frank Bungartz, Martin Grube, Eric Schuettpelz and Robert Lücking

Diversity 2022, 14(4), 284; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14040284 - 10 Apr 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5696

Abstract

Lichens collected worldwide for centuries have resulted in millions of specimens deposited in herbaria that offer the potential to assess species boundaries, phenotypic diversification, ecology, and distribution. The application of molecular approaches to historical collections has been limited due to DNA fragmentation, but [...] Read more.

Lichens collected worldwide for centuries have resulted in millions of specimens deposited in herbaria that offer the potential to assess species boundaries, phenotypic diversification, ecology, and distribution. The application of molecular approaches to historical collections has been limited due to DNA fragmentation, but high-throughput sequencing offers an opportunity to overcome this barrier. Here, we combined a large dataset of ITS sequences from recently collected material and historical collections, obtained through Sanger, 454, or Illumina Sequencing, to test the performance of ITS barcoding in two genera of lichenized Basidiomycota: Cora and Corella. We attempted to generate new sequence data for 62 fresh specimens (from 2016) and 274 historical collections (collected between 1888 and 1998), for a final dataset of 1325 sequences. We compared various quantitative approaches to delimit species (GMYC, bPTP, ASAP, ABGD) and tested the resolution and accuracy of the ITS fungal barcoding marker by comparison with a six-marker dataset. Finally, we quantitatively compared phylogenetic and phenotypic species delimitation for 87 selected Cora species that have been formally described. Our HTS approach successfully generated ITS sequences for 76% of the historical collections, and our results show that an integrative approach is the gold-standard for understanding diversity in this group. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant DNA Barcodes, Community Ecology, and Species Interactions)

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15 pages, 2809 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Diversity of Periphytic Chironomidae on Different Substrate Types in a Floodplain Aquatic Ecosystem

by Dubravka Čerba, Miran Koh, Barbara Vlaičević, Ivana Turković Čakalić, Djuradj Milošević and Milica Stojković Piperac

Diversity 2022, 14(4), 264; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14040264 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2574

Abstract

Different types of water bodies in lowland river floodplains represent vital biodiversity havens and encompass diverse microhabitats, which are essential for structuring different macroinvertebrate communities. Chironomidae larvae (Diptera) are an inseparable part of these communities, with their high richness and abundance. In three [...] Read more.

Different types of water bodies in lowland river floodplains represent vital biodiversity havens and encompass diverse microhabitats, which are essential for structuring different macroinvertebrate communities. Chironomidae larvae (Diptera) are an inseparable part of these communities, with their high richness and abundance. In three water body types within the Danube floodplain Kopački Rit in Croatia, over the course of four sampling campaigns, we recorded 51 chironomid taxa in periphyton on macrophytes, twigs, and glass slides. The most diverse were chironomid communities on macrophytes, whilst month-old periphyton on twigs supported the least taxa. Cricotopus gr. sylvestris, Dicrotendipes lobiger, Dicrotendipes spp., Endochironomus albipennis, Glyptotendipes pallens agg., Polypedilum sordens and Polypedilum spp. were present in all studied microhabitats. The type of substrate is a very important factor influencing Chironomidae diversity and abundance, which was evident in the presence and dominance of Corynoneura gr. scutellata and Monopelopia tenuicalcar in the dense macrophyte canopy epiphyton. Finding pristine floodplains such as Kopački Rit can be very challenging, as such areas are increasingly altered by human activities. Studies of resident species and the extent to which changes in the parent river influence floodplain communities are important for the protection and restoration of the floodplains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Insects: Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Challenges)

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15 pages, 2374 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Diversity and Distribution of the Inland Water Decapods of Sicily (Crustacea, Malacostraca)

by Luca Vecchioni, Francesco Paolo Faraone, Fabio Stoch, Marco Arculeo and Federico Marrone

Diversity 2022, 14(4), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14040246 - 27 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2655

Abstract

The current knowledge of Sicilian inland water decapod malacostracans is scarce and an updated synopsis on species distribution is lacking. Therefore, we reviewed the checklist and recent distribution of Sicilian inland water decapods based on published and unpublished records and novel observations with [...] Read more.

The current knowledge of Sicilian inland water decapod malacostracans is scarce and an updated synopsis on species distribution is lacking. Therefore, we reviewed the checklist and recent distribution of Sicilian inland water decapods based on published and unpublished records and novel observations with the aim of providing an exhaustive repository, also to be used as a sound baseline for future surveys. Overall, five native decapod species occur in the study area, i.e., the atyid shrimp Atyaephyra desmarestii, the palaemonid shrimps Palaemon adspersus, P. antennarius, and P. elegans, and the freshwater crab Potamon fluviatile, and their current local distributions are described. In addition, three alien species were recorded: the common yabby Cherax destructor and the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii, strictly linked to inland waters, and the Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus, a mainly marine species that can also colonise the lower stretches of rivers and coastal brackish waters. The collected data suggest the existence of a partial segregation of native versus non-native species, with the latter currently confined to coastal water bodies and the lower stretches of rivers. Moreover, the exclusively freshwater caridean A. desmarestii and P. antennarius show a parapatric distribution in the study area, which may suggest the existence of mutual exclusion phenomena. The results obtained raise some concerns about the effects of alien species on the native biota, and dedicated monitoring and management strategies should be implemented in order to better understand and mitigate their impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2022)

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15 pages, 8027 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The First Deep-Sea Stylasterid (Hydrozoa, Stylasteridae) of the Red Sea

by Davide Maggioni, Tullia I. Terraneo, Giovanni Chimienti, Fabio Marchese, Daniela Pica, Stephen D. Cairns, Ameer A. Eweida, Mattie Rodrigue, Sam J. Purkis and Francesca Benzoni

Diversity 2022, 14(4), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14040241 - 25 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3929

Abstract

The Stylasteridae, commonly known as lace corals, is a family of colonial calcifying hydrozoans mostly inhabiting deep waters. Stylasterids show a cosmopolitan distribution but, in some areas, they are characterized by low species diversity, such as in the Red Sea, where only a [...] Read more.

The Stylasteridae, commonly known as lace corals, is a family of colonial calcifying hydrozoans mostly inhabiting deep waters. Stylasterids show a cosmopolitan distribution but, in some areas, they are characterized by low species diversity, such as in the Red Sea, where only a shallow-water species has been reported so far. With this work, we provide the first evidence of a deep-sea stylasterid inhabiting the NEOM region in the northern Saudi Arabian Red Sea, at depths ranging between 166 and 492 m. Morphological examinations revealed that this species was previously unknown and belonging to the genus Stylaster. We, therefore, describe Stylaster tritoni sp. nov., representing the first record of the genus in the Red Sea. Lastly, the phylogenetic position of the species within the Stylasteridae was evaluated, revealing a close relationship with shallow-water Indo-Pacific and Western Atlantic Stylaster species and confirming the polyphyletic nature of the genus Stylaster. Full article

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

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17 pages, 375 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Using DNA Metabarcoding to Identify Floral Visitation by Pollinators

by Abigail Lowe, Laura Jones, Lucy Witter, Simon Creer and Natasha de Vere

Diversity 2022, 14(4), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14040236 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5663

Abstract

The identification of floral visitation by pollinators provides an opportunity to improve our understanding of the fine-scale ecological interactions between plants and pollinators, contributing to biodiversity conservation and promoting ecosystem health. In this review, we outline the various methods which can be used [...] Read more.

The identification of floral visitation by pollinators provides an opportunity to improve our understanding of the fine-scale ecological interactions between plants and pollinators, contributing to biodiversity conservation and promoting ecosystem health. In this review, we outline the various methods which can be used to identify floral visitation, including plant-focused and insect-focused methods. We reviewed the literature covering the ways in which DNA metabarcoding has been used to answer ecological questions relating to plant use by pollinators and discuss the findings of this research. We present detailed methodological considerations for each step of the metabarcoding workflow, from sampling through to amplification, and finally bioinformatic analysis. Detailed guidance is provided to researchers for utilisation of these techniques, emphasising the importance of standardisation of methods and improving the reliability of results. Future opportunities and directions of using molecular methods to analyse plant–pollinator interactions are then discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant DNA Barcodes, Community Ecology, and Species Interactions)

10 pages, 499 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Efficiency of DNA Barcoding in the Identification of Afromontane Forest Tree Species

by David Kenfack, Iveren Abiem and Hazel Chapman

Diversity 2022, 14(4), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14040233 - 23 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3756

Abstract

The identification of flowering plants using DNA barcoding proposed in last decades has slowly gained ground in Africa, where it has been successfully used to elucidate the systematics and ecology of several plant groups, and to understand their evolutionary history. Existing inferences on [...] Read more.

The identification of flowering plants using DNA barcoding proposed in last decades has slowly gained ground in Africa, where it has been successfully used to elucidate the systematics and ecology of several plant groups, and to understand their evolutionary history. Existing inferences on the effectiveness of DNA barcoding to identify African trees are mostly based on lowland forests, whereas adjacent montane forests significantly differ from the latter floristically and structurally. Here, we tested the efficiency of chloroplast DNA barcodes (rbcLa, matK, and trnH-psbA) to identify Afromontane Forest tree species in a 20.28 ha permanent plot in Ngel Nyaki, Taraba state, Nigeria. We collected, identified, and vouchered 274 individuals with diameter at breast height ≥ 1 cm belonging to 101 morphospecies, 92 genera, and 48 families. rbcLa and matK used alone or in combination performed better than in lowland forests, with the best species discrimination obtained with the two-locus combination of matK + rbcLa. The intragenic spacer trnH-psbA was too variable to align and could not be tested using the genetic distance method employed. Classic DNA barcode can be a powerful tool to identify Afromontane tree species, mainly due to the non-prevalence in these communities of species—rich genera (low species-to-genus ratio) that constitute the biggest challenge of DNA barcoding of flowering plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant DNA Barcodes, Community Ecology, and Species Interactions)

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5 pages, 237 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Data Release: DNA Barcodes of Plant Species Collected for the Global Genome Initiative for Gardens (GGI-Gardens) II

by Morgan R. Gostel, Mónica M. Carlsen, Amanda Devine, Katharine B. Barker, Jonathan A. Coddington and Julia Steier

Diversity 2022, 14(4), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14040234 - 23 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2535

Abstract

The Global Genome Initiative for Gardens (GGI-Gardens) is an international partnership of botanic gardens and arboreta that aims to preserve and understand the genomic diversity of plants on Earth. GGI-Gardens has organized a collection program focused on the living collections that partner institutions [...] Read more.

The Global Genome Initiative for Gardens (GGI-Gardens) is an international partnership of botanic gardens and arboreta that aims to preserve and understand the genomic diversity of plants on Earth. GGI-Gardens has organized a collection program focused on the living collections that partner institutions and supports the preservation of herbarium and genomic vouchers. Collections made through GGI-Gardens are deposited in recognized herbaria and Global Genome Biodiversity Network-partnered biorepositories worldwide, meaning that they are made available to the public. With support from its parent organization, the Global Genome Initiative (GGI), plant DNA barcode sequencing is performed using tissues collected through this partnership that represent taxa without barcode sequences in GenBank. This is the second data release published by GGI-Gardens and constitutes 2722 barcode sequences from 174 families and 702 genera of land plants. All DNA barcodes generated in this study are now available through the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) and GenBank. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant DNA Barcodes, Community Ecology, and Species Interactions)

23 pages, 8595 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Impact of Invasive Weeds on the Diversity and Dissimilarity of Bird Communities in Forested Areas

by Emilia Grzędzicka

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 229; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030229 - 20 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3168

Abstract

Caucasian hogweeds, mainly the Sosnowsky’s hogweed Heracleum sosnowskyi and the giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum, create one of the most problematic plant invasions in the world. Due to their large size (weeds reaching 4–5 meters in height), they seem to be herbaceous plants [...] Read more.

Caucasian hogweeds, mainly the Sosnowsky’s hogweed Heracleum sosnowskyi and the giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum, create one of the most problematic plant invasions in the world. Due to their large size (weeds reaching 4–5 meters in height), they seem to be herbaceous plants that can threaten birds living in forest stands. This research quantified the structure and diversity of the forest birds’ community in forests with varying areas of invasive hogweeds located in south-eastern Poland. Changes in the accompanying non-forest birds’ community were also assessed. The study addressed the following questions: 1. How does the invaded area correlate with the abundance of forest birds? 2. How do communities and species respond to invaded vegetation? 3. How do the invading plants affect the various types of diversity of forest and non-forest birds? It turned out that both surveyed bird communities had a lower alpha diversity in invaded sites. Only forest birds, not able to change their location easily, formed a unique community (i.e., had a higher beta diversity) near invaders. Forest birds showed unchanged functional diversity based on the relative bird abundance and their connection, or lack of it, with the forest development phases. The effect of hogweeds on the abundance of forest birds was more negative in severely invaded areas with anthropogenic habitats. Non-forest birds showed higher species loss near the invasion, constant beta diversity and decreased functional diversity. This study is important as the forest is a climax community in the temperate zone, and unused open areas become spontaneously overgrown with young forests. Weeds disseminating after crop abandonment can highly and commonly affect forest and non-forest bird communities co-occurring in this type of overgrowing area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Birds in Temperate and Tropical Forests)

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28 pages, 70752 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Island–to–Island Vicariance, Founder–Events and within–Area Speciation: The Biogeographic History of the Antillattus Clade (Salticidae: Euophryini)

by Franklyn Cala-Riquelme, Patrick Wiencek, Eduardo Florez-Daza, Greta J. Binford and Ingi Agnarsson

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 224; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030224 - 18 Mar 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3868

Abstract

The Caribbean Archipelago is a biodiversity hotspot that plays a key role in developing our understanding of how dispersal ability affects species formation. In island systems, species with intermediate dispersal abilities tend to exhibit greater diversity, as may be the case for many [...] Read more.

The Caribbean Archipelago is a biodiversity hotspot that plays a key role in developing our understanding of how dispersal ability affects species formation. In island systems, species with intermediate dispersal abilities tend to exhibit greater diversity, as may be the case for many of the salticid lineages of the insular Caribbean. Here, we use molecular phylogenetic analyses to infer patterns of relationships and biogeographic history of the Caribbean endemic Antillattus clade (Antillattus, Truncattus, and Petemethis). We test if the timing of origin of the Antillatus clade in the Greater Antilles is congruent with GAARlandia and infer patterns of diversification within the Antillattus clade among Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. Specifically, we evaluate the relative roles of dispersal over land connections, and overwater dispersal events in diversification within the Greater Antilles. Time tree analysis and model-based inference of ancestral ranges estimated the ancestor of the Antillattus clade to be c. 25 Mya, and the best model suggests dispersal via GAARlandia from northern South America to Hispaniola. Hispaniola seems to be the nucleus from which ancestral populations dispersed into Cuba and Puerto Rico via land connections prior to the opening of the Mona Passage and the Windward Passage. Divergences between taxa of the Antillattus clade from Cuban, Hispaniolan, and Puerto Rican populations appear to have originated by vicariance, founder-events and within-island speciation, while multiple dispersal events (founder-events) between Cuba and Hispaniola during the Middle Miocene and the Late Miocene best explain diversity patterns in the genera Antillattus and Truncattus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phylogenomic, Biogeographic, and Evolutionary Research Trends in Arachnology)

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14 pages, 2272 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Gradients in the Diversity of Plants and Large Herbivores Revealed with DNA Barcoding in a Semi-Arid African Savanna

by Patrick T. Freeman, Robert O. Ang’ila, Duncan Kimuyu, Paul M. Musili, David Kenfack, Peter Lokeny Etelej, Molly Magid, Brian A. Gill and Tyler R. Kartzinel

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030219 - 17 Mar 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4111

Abstract

Do hotspots of plant biodiversity translate into hotspots in the abundance and diversity of large mammalian herbivores? A common expectation in community ecology is that the diversity of plants and animals should be positively correlated in space, as with the latitudinal diversity gradient [...] Read more.

Do hotspots of plant biodiversity translate into hotspots in the abundance and diversity of large mammalian herbivores? A common expectation in community ecology is that the diversity of plants and animals should be positively correlated in space, as with the latitudinal diversity gradient and the geographic mosaic of biodiversity. Whether this pattern ‘scales down’ to landscape-level linkages between the diversity of plants or the activities of highly mobile megafauna has received less attention. We investigated spatial associations between plants and large herbivores by integrating data from a plant-DNA-barcode phylogeny, camera traps, and a comprehensive map of woody plants across the 1.2-km² Mpala Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) plot, Kenya. Plant and large herbivore communities were strongly associated with an underlying soil gradient, but the richness of large herbivore species was negatively correlated with the richness of woody plants. Results suggest thickets and steep terrain create associational refuges for plants by deterring megaherbivores from browsing on otherwise palatable species. Recent work using dietary DNA metabarcoding has demonstrated that large herbivores often directly control populations of the plant species they prefer to eat, and our results reinforce the important role of megaherbivores in shaping vegetation across landscapes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant DNA Barcodes, Community Ecology, and Species Interactions)

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21 pages, 8245 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Molecular Phylogenetics and Comparative Examination of Voucher Museums Reveal Two New Species of Gymnophthalmid Lizards (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae) from the Peruvian Andes, with Comments on Proctoporus guentheri (Boettger, 1891)

by Luis Mamani, Roxana Cruz, Sergio Mallqui and Alessandro Catenazzi

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030215 - 14 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5424

Abstract

The genus Proctoporus comprises cursorial and semifossorial lizards that inhabit the Andes of Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. The taxonomy is complex, and many undescribed species and geographic gaps remain to be addressed. In this study, we use molecular phylogenetics and examine voucher museums [...] Read more.

The genus Proctoporus comprises cursorial and semifossorial lizards that inhabit the Andes of Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. The taxonomy is complex, and many undescribed species and geographic gaps remain to be addressed. In this study, we use molecular phylogenetics and examine voucher museums to describe two new species of gymnophthalmid lizards from the montane forests of Cusco, on the eastern slopes of the Andes of Peru. We inferred phylogenetic relationships from concatenated sequences of four mitochondrial (12S, 16S, ND4, and Cytb) and one nuclear (c-mos) gene fragments, using a Maximum Likelihood approach and Bayesian Inference. We also examined and compared meristic traits of the specimens deposited in herpetological collections in Peru and Bolivia. Our molecular phylogeny had strong support for the monophyly of the subfamily Cercosaurinae, low support for the genus Proctoporus, and revealed two new taxa of Proctoporus. The two new species, which we name P. katerynae sp. nov. and P. optimus sp. nov., are characterized as having two rows of pregular scales and three anterior infralabials. Furthermore, we re-identified specimens assigned to P. laudahnae as P. guentheri, and we comment on the taxonomy of P. guentheri. Finally, we discuss how global climate change and human-caused habitat loss may threaten P. katerynae sp. nov. and P. optimus sp. nov. by the mechanism known as “Escalator to extinction”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Animal Diversity)

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23 pages, 1052 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Expanding Role of DNA Barcodes: Indispensable Tools for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation

by Morgan R. Gostel and W. John Kress

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030213 - 13 Mar 2022

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 11573

Abstract

DNA barcoding has transformed the fields of ecology, evolution, and conservation by providing a rapid and effective tool for species identification. The growth of DNA barcodes as a resource for biologists has followed advances in computational and sequencing technology that have enabled high-throughput [...] Read more.

DNA barcoding has transformed the fields of ecology, evolution, and conservation by providing a rapid and effective tool for species identification. The growth of DNA barcodes as a resource for biologists has followed advances in computational and sequencing technology that have enabled high-throughput barcoding applications. The global DNA barcode database is expanding to represent the diversity of species on Earth thanks to efforts by international consortia and expanding biological collections. Today, DNA barcoding is instrumental in advancing our understanding of how species evolve, how they interact, and how we can slow down their extirpation and extinction. This review focuses on current applications of DNA barcode sequences to address fundamental lines of research, as well as new and expanding applications of which DNA barcoding will play a central role. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant DNA Barcodes, Community Ecology, and Species Interactions)

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8 pages, 1912 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Host Range of the Coral-Associated Worm Snail Petaloconchus sp. (Gastropoda: Vermetidae), a Newly Discovered Cryptogenic Pest Species in the Southern Caribbean

by Bert W. Hoeksema, Charlotte E. Harper, Sean J. Langdon-Down, Roel J. van der Schoot, Annabel Smith-Moorhouse, Roselle Spaargaren and Rosalie F. Timmerman

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030196 - 7 Mar 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4009

Abstract

The presence of associated endofauna can have an impact on the health of corals. During fieldwork on the southern Caribbean island of Curaçao in 2021, the presence of an unknown coral-dwelling worm snail was discovered, which appeared to cause damage to its hosts. [...] Read more.

The presence of associated endofauna can have an impact on the health of corals. During fieldwork on the southern Caribbean island of Curaçao in 2021, the presence of an unknown coral-dwelling worm snail was discovered, which appeared to cause damage to its hosts. A study of photo archives revealed that the species was already present during earlier surveys at Curaçao since 2014 and also in the southern Caribbean island of Bonaire in 2019. It was not found in St. Eustatius, an island in the eastern Caribbean, during an expedition in 2015. The vermetid snail was preliminarily identified as Petaloconchus sp. Its habitat choice resembles that of P. keenae, a West Pacific coral symbiont. The Caribbean species was observed in 21 host coral species, more than reported for any other vermetid. Because Petaloconchus sp. is a habitat generalist, it is possible that it was introduced from an area with another host-coral fauna. The unknown vermetid is considered to be cryptogenic until future studies reveal its actual identity and its native range. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Coral-Associated Fauna II)

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27 pages, 6157 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Biodiversity of Nematode Communities Associated with Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Southern Morocco and Their Contribution as Soil Health Bioindicators

by Salah-Eddine Laasli, Fouad Mokrini, Rachid Lahlali, Tadesse Wuletaw, Timothy Paulitz and Abdelfattah A. Dababat

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030194 - 7 Mar 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4899

Abstract

Soil nematodes are major soil organisms known to reduce wheat production worldwide. However, they are a crucial part of soil biodiversity. Due to the limited data available regarding nematode biodiversity associated with cereal crops in Morocco, a survey was conducted in 2019 across [...] Read more.

Soil nematodes are major soil organisms known to reduce wheat production worldwide. However, they are a crucial part of soil biodiversity. Due to the limited data available regarding nematode biodiversity associated with cereal crops in Morocco, a survey was conducted in 2019 across 80 wheat fields. Thirty-three nematode taxa were obtained with different trophic groups: 11 bacterivores (i.e., Rhabditis and Cephalobus spp.), 11 herbivores (i.e., Pratylenchus and Heterodera spp.), 6 fungivores (i.e., Ditylenchus and Aphelenchoides spp.), 4 omnivores (i.e., Dorylaimus and Aporcelaimus spp.) and one predator (Mononchus spp.). For each locality, the diversity of nematode communities was assessed through multiple diversity indices. Three areas (Ait Melloul, Oulad Dahou, and Sidi Boushab) were more diversified and had pronounced nematode occurrence. Moreover, few localities (e.g., Ait Amira and Lqliaa) were shown to be disturbed. Our study underlined that several nematode taxa were significantly correlated with edaphic and climatic/geographic properties. On the other hand, the spatial and parsimony analyses revealed that plant feeders were most associated with bacterial feeders in disturbed soils. This work revealed that the soil nematodes associated with wheat crops are diverse and can serve as an important tool for soil biomonitoring at a large scale. Full article

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14 pages, 1579 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Assessment of ITS1, ITS2, 5′-ETS, and trnL-F DNA Barcodes for Metabarcoding of Poaceae Pollen

by Denis O. Omelchenko, Anastasia A. Krinitsina, Artem S. Kasianov, Anna S. Speranskaya, Olga V. Chesnokova, Svetlana V. Polevova and Elena E. Severova

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030191 - 5 Mar 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4667

Abstract

Grass pollen is one of the major causes of allergy. Aerobiological monitoring is a necessary element of the complex of anti-allergic measures, but the similar pollen morphology of Poaceae species makes it challenging to discriminate species in airborne pollen mixes, which impairs the [...] Read more.

Grass pollen is one of the major causes of allergy. Aerobiological monitoring is a necessary element of the complex of anti-allergic measures, but the similar pollen morphology of Poaceae species makes it challenging to discriminate species in airborne pollen mixes, which impairs the quality of aerobiological monitoring. One of the solutions to this problem is the metabarcoding approach employing DNA barcodes for taxonomical identification of species in a mix by high-throughput sequencing of the pollen DNA. A diverse set of 14 grass species of different genera were selected to create a local reference database of nuclear ITS1, ITS2, 5′-ETS, and plastome trnL-F DNA barcodes. Sequences for the database were Sanger sequenced from live field and herbarium specimens and collected from GenBank. New Poaceae-specific primers for 5′-ETS were designed and tested to obtain a 5′-ETS region less than 600 bp long, suitable for high-throughput sequencing. The DNA extraction method for single-species pollen samples and mixes was optimized to increase the yield for amplification and sequencing of pollen DNA. Barcode sequences were analyzed and compared by the barcoding gap and intra- and interspecific distances. Their capability to correctly identify grass pollen was tested on artificial pollen mixes of various complexity. Metabarcoding analysis of the artificial pollen mixes showed that nuclear DNA barcodes ITS1, ITS2, and 5′-ETS proved to be more efficient than the plastome barcode in both amplification from pollen DNA and identification of grass species. Although the metabarcoding results were qualitatively congruent with the actual composition of the pollen mixes in most cases, the quantitative results based on read-counts did not match the actual ratio of pollen grains in the mixes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant DNA Barcodes, Community Ecology, and Species Interactions)

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16 pages, 2927 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Diversity Patterns and Assemblage Structure of Non-Biting Midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) in Urban Waterbodies

by Nataša Popović, Nikola Marinković, Dubravka Čerba, Maja Raković, Jelena Đuknić and Momir Paunović

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030187 - 4 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2563

Abstract

Urban waters are often neglected in biodiversity research; nonetheless, the number of aquatic microhabitats present in a city and the surrounding urban area is impressive. Twenty-two waterbodies in the Belgrade functional urban area (FUA) were investigated for faunistic and diversity patterns and to [...] Read more.

Urban waters are often neglected in biodiversity research; nonetheless, the number of aquatic microhabitats present in a city and the surrounding urban area is impressive. Twenty-two waterbodies in the Belgrade functional urban area (FUA) were investigated for faunistic and diversity patterns and to assess the effects of environmental factors on the differentiation of Chironomidae assemblages. A total of 66 chironomid taxa within four subfamilies was identified. Water quality at the studied sites, expressed by the water pollution index (WPI), varied significantly. K-means clustering gave four homogenous groups of chironomid assemblages, which showed clear preferences to specific habitat conditions and tolerance to anthropogenic pressures. These groups had high values of alpha and beta diversity components. The main component of beta diversity was species turnover. Waterbody type, water temperature, pH, nutrients and overall pollution were the most important factors influencing the distribution and composition of chironomid assemblages, which revealed clear preferences of each assemblage type to the category of waterbody type and tolerances to environmental pressures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Insects: Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Challenges)

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22 pages, 10331 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Distribution and Ecology of Decapod Crustaceans in Mediterranean Marine Caves: A Review

by Carlo Nike Bianchi, Vasilis Gerovasileiou, Carla Morri and Carlo Froglia

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030176 - 27 Feb 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5100

Abstract

Decapod crustaceans are important components of the fauna of marine caves worldwide, yet information on their ecology is still scarce. Mediterranean marine caves are perhaps the best known of the world and may offer paradigms to the students of marine cave decapods from [...] Read more.

Decapod crustaceans are important components of the fauna of marine caves worldwide, yet information on their ecology is still scarce. Mediterranean marine caves are perhaps the best known of the world and may offer paradigms to the students of marine cave decapods from other geographic regions. This review summarizes and updates the existing knowledge about the decapod fauna of Mediterranean marine caves on the basis of a dataset of 76 species from 133 caves in 13 Mediterranean countries. Most species were found occasionally, while 15 species were comparatively frequent (found in at least seven caves). They comprise cryptobiotic and bathyphilic species that only secondarily colonize caves (secondary stygobiosis). Little is known about the population biology of cave decapods, and quantitative data are virtually lacking. The knowledge on Mediterranean marine cave decapods is far from being complete. Future research should focus on filling regional gaps and on the decapod ecological role: getting out at night to feed and resting in caves during daytime, decapods may import organic matter to the cave ecosystem. Some decapod species occurring in caves are protected by law. Ecological interest and the need for conservation initiatives combine to claim for intensifying research on the decapod fauna of the Mediterranean Sea caves. Full article

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

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20 pages, 2382 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Riparian Buffers as a Critical Landscape Feature: Insights for Riverscape Conservation and Policy Renovations

by Michael P. Graziano, Amanda K. Deguire and Thilina D. Surasinghe

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030172 - 27 Feb 2022

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 9716

Abstract

Riparian zones are critical for functional integrity of riverscapes and conservation of riverscape biodiversity. The synergism of intermediate flood-induced disturbances, moist microclimates, constant nutrient influx, high productivity, and resource heterogeneity make riparian zones disproportionately rich in biodiversity. Riparian vegetation intercepts surface-runoff, filters pollutants, [...] Read more.

Riparian zones are critical for functional integrity of riverscapes and conservation of riverscape biodiversity. The synergism of intermediate flood-induced disturbances, moist microclimates, constant nutrient influx, high productivity, and resource heterogeneity make riparian zones disproportionately rich in biodiversity. Riparian vegetation intercepts surface-runoff, filters pollutants, and supplies woody debris as well as coarse particulate organic matter (e.g., leaf litter) to the stream channel. Riparian zones provide critical habitat and climatic refugia for wildlife. Numerous conservation applications have been implemented for riparian-buffer conservation. Although fixed-width buffers have been widely applied as a conservation measure, the effectiveness of these fixed buffer widths is debatable. As an alternative to fixed-width buffers, we suggest adoption of variable buffer widths, which include multiple tiers that vary in habitat structure and ecological function, with each tier subjected to variable management interventions and land-use restrictions. The riparian-buffer design we proposed can be delineated throughout the watershed, harmonizes with the riverscape concept, thus, a prudent approach to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem functions at variable spatial extents. We posit remodeling existing conservation policies to include riparian buffers into a broader conservation framework as a keystone structure of the riverscape. Watershed-scale riparian conservation is compatible with landscape-scale conservation of fluvial systems, freshwater protected-area networks, and aligns with enhancing environmental resilience to global change. Sustainable multiple-use strategies can be retrofitted into watershed-scale buffer reservations and may harmonize socio-economic goals with those of biodiversity conservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2021 Feature Papers by Diversity’s Editorial Board Members)

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17 pages, 7713 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Assessment of Grassland Ecosystem Service Value in Response to Climate Change in China

by Yuqing Xu, Fengjin Xiao and Yaoming Liao

Diversity 2022, 14(3), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14030160 - 24 Feb 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3078

Abstract

The assessment of ecosystem services provides an intuitive source of information on the benefits humans derive from ecosystems. The equivalent factor method was applied to calculate the ecosystem service value (ESV) in combination with net primary productivity (NPP) calculated by the process-based Carnegie–Ames–Stanford [...] Read more.

The assessment of ecosystem services provides an intuitive source of information on the benefits humans derive from ecosystems. The equivalent factor method was applied to calculate the ecosystem service value (ESV) in combination with net primary productivity (NPP) calculated by the process-based Carnegie–Ames–Stanford approach (CASA) model. This study evaluated grassland ESV and its spatial evolution characteristics in China from 2001 to 2020 and revealed the impact of climate factors. For 2001–2020, the annual grassland ESV ranged from 1.17 × 10¹² to 1.51 × 10¹² yuan (renminbi, China yuan—the same below; $0.15 × 10¹²–$0.20 × 10¹², US dollar), with an average of 1.37 × 10¹² yuan ($0.18 × 10¹²). The spatial pattern of ESV per unit area of grassland was notably characterized by an increase from northwest to southeast. However, the value of grassland ecosystem services was relatively large (exceeding 10 × 10⁶ yuan; $1.30 × 10⁶) in northern and western provinces and was the lowest (less than 0.2 × 10⁶ yuan; $0.03 × 10⁶) in eastern and southern provinces. In the last 20 years, grassland ESV has increased in most areas of China and has decreased only in some western and northern areas. Compared with the first 10 years, the average ESV of grassland in most areas increased in the last 10 years, usually by less than 20%. However, it decreased in the western and northern parts of China, mainly concentrated in the alpine meadow and alpine grassland of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and the grassland around the Yili region of Xinjiang. Precipitation was the main regulating factor of grassland ESV and had a positive impact in 79% grassland areas, especially in northern China. Evapotranspiration and sunshine hours exhibited a marginal impact on ESV, but temperature and relative humidity had no significant effect. Overall, this study contributes to exploring the spatiotemporal patterns of grassland ecosystem service value and the impact of climate factors in China, thereby providing reliable guidance for grassland ecosystem management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecosystem Observation, Simulation and Assessment)

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12 pages, 1818 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Patterns of Herbivory in Neotropical Forest Katydids as Revealed by DNA Barcoding of Digestive Tract Contents

by Christine M. Palmer, Nicole L. Wershoven, Sharon J. Martinson, Hannah M. ter Hofstede, W. John Kress and Laurel B. Symes

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020152 - 21 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3711

Abstract

Many well-studied animal species use conspicuous, repetitive signals that attract both mates and predators. Orthopterans (crickets, katydids, and grasshoppers) are renowned for their acoustic signals. In Neotropical forests, however, many katydid species produce extremely short signals, totaling only a few seconds of sound [...] Read more.

Many well-studied animal species use conspicuous, repetitive signals that attract both mates and predators. Orthopterans (crickets, katydids, and grasshoppers) are renowned for their acoustic signals. In Neotropical forests, however, many katydid species produce extremely short signals, totaling only a few seconds of sound per night, likely in response to predation by acoustically orienting predators. The rare signals of these katydid species raises the question of how they find conspecific mates in a structurally complex rainforest. While acoustic mechanisms, such as duetting, likely facilitate mate finding, we test the hypothesis that mate finding is further facilitated by colocalization on particular host plant species. DNA barcoding allows us to identify recently consumed plants from katydid stomach contents. We use DNA barcoding to test the prediction that katydids of the same species will have closely related plant species in their stomach. We do not find evidence for dietary specialization. Instead, katydids consumed a wide mix of plants within and across the flowering plants (27 species in 22 genera, 16 families, and 12 orders) with particular representation in the orders Fabales and Laurales. Some evidence indicates that katydids may gather on plants during a narrow window of rapid leaf out, but additional investigations are required to determine whether katydid mate finding is facilitated by gathering at transient food resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant DNA Barcodes, Community Ecology, and Species Interactions)

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13 pages, 1659 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Mesocarnivore Distribution along Gradients of Anthropogenic Disturbance in Mediterranean Landscapes

by Ignasi Torre, Tomàs Pulido, Marc Vilella and Mario Díaz

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020133 - 14 Feb 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3364

Abstract

Wildfires are important sources of landscape change in Mediterranean environments, creating large patches of low-growth natural habitats (i.e., scrublands) inside protected areas, whereas woodland patches remain mostly near well protected human settlements. Landscape patterns resulting from these gradients influence habitat suitability for mesocarnivores [...] Read more.

Wildfires are important sources of landscape change in Mediterranean environments, creating large patches of low-growth natural habitats (i.e., scrublands) inside protected areas, whereas woodland patches remain mostly near well protected human settlements. Landscape patterns resulting from these gradients influence habitat suitability for mesocarnivores regarding food and shelter. In winter and summer 2019, we sampled 16 independent line-transects with four camera traps each (64 cameras overall), covering the main habitats of the study area (woodlands, scrublands, and crops). Cameras were baited to compensate for the low detectability of target species, and mesocarnivore contacts were analysed by means of GLMMs and occupancy models. Our results showed a positive and stronger association of wild species with woodland habitats, despite the low proportion of habitat available, higher presence of competitors (other mesocarnivores), and potential predators (human pets, i.e., dogs), and low natural prey availability than in scrubland (i.e., small mammals). However, mesocarnivores will find protection against predators and resting sites in forests as well as other food opportunities in crops and urban areas, despite the possible interference with humans and their pets. Potential cascading effects linked to ecological roles of Mediterranean mesocarnivores on the succession of Mediterranean landscapes would imply longer-term effects of human disturbance on landscape trends. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2022)

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12 pages, 1826 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Three New Species of Absidia (Mucoromycota) from China Based on Phylogeny, Morphology and Physiology

by Heng Zhao, Yong Nie, Tongkai Zong, Yucheng Dai and Xiaoyong Liu

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 132; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020132 - 13 Feb 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3955

Abstract

Species of Absidia are distributed widely in the environment, while their diversity is insufficiently studied. Three new species, A. frigida, A. gemella and A. longissima, are proposed herein from Xinjiang and Yunnan in China based on phylogenetic, morphological and physiological evidence. [...] Read more.

Species of Absidia are distributed widely in the environment, while their diversity is insufficiently studied. Three new species, A. frigida, A. gemella and A. longissima, are proposed herein from Xinjiang and Yunnan in China based on phylogenetic, morphological and physiological evidence. According to maximum likelihood (ML), maximum parsimony (MP) and Bayesian inference (BI) analyses, the phylogenetical results suggest that A. frigida, A. gemella and A. longissima are closely related to A. psychrophilia, A. turgida and A. zonata and A. koreana, respectively, based on ITS and LSU rDNA sequences. Absidia frigida is characterized by a lower growth temperature, which does not grow above 24 °C. It differs from A. psychrophilia by sporangiophores, sporangia, columellae, collars and projections. Absidia gemella is distinguished from A. turgida by hypha, sporangiospores, sporangia, projections and sporangiophores. Absidia longissima is discriminated from A. zonata and A. koreana by sporangiophores, columellae and collars. The three new species are described and illustrated in this article. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Evolution of Fungi)

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5 pages, 1730 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceInteresting Images

Seahorse Predation by Octopuses in the Caribbean and the West Pacific

by Ellen Muller, David Harasti and Bert W. Hoeksema

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020125 - 10 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4527

Abstract

There is much documentation about seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) being threatened by habitat degradation and overfishing, but relatively few published studies mention their natural predators. The present study documents three cases in which seahorses are being caught by octopuses. In one case, the [...] Read more.

There is much documentation about seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) being threatened by habitat degradation and overfishing, but relatively few published studies mention their natural predators. The present study documents three cases in which seahorses are being caught by octopuses. In one case, the seahorse was partly consumed. These observations made at Bonaire (Caribbean Netherlands) and New South Wales (Australia) suggest that predation on seahorses by octopuses may be more widespread and common than previously thought. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Interesting Images from the Sea)

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26 pages, 3641 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Single-Island Endemism despite Repeated Dispersal in Caribbean Micrathena (Araneae: Araneidae): An Updated Phylogeographic Analysis

by Lily Shapiro, Greta J. Binford and Ingi Agnarsson

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020128 - 10 Feb 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3835

Abstract

Island biogeographers have long sought to elucidate the mechanisms behind biodiversity genesis. The Caribbean presents a unique stage on which to analyze the diversification process, due to the geologic diversity among the islands and the rich biotic diversity with high levels of island [...] Read more.

Island biogeographers have long sought to elucidate the mechanisms behind biodiversity genesis. The Caribbean presents a unique stage on which to analyze the diversification process, due to the geologic diversity among the islands and the rich biotic diversity with high levels of island endemism. The colonization of such islands may reflect geologic heterogeneity through vicariant processes and/ or involve long-distance overwater dispersal. Here, we explore the phylogeography of the Caribbean and proximal mainland spiny orbweavers (Micrathena, Araneae), an American spider lineage that is the most diverse in the tropics and is found throughout the Caribbean. We specifically test whether the vicariant colonization via the contested GAARlandia landbridge (putatively emergent 33–35 mya), long-distance dispersal (LDD), or both processes best explain the modern Micrathena distribution. We reconstruct the phylogeny and test biogeographic hypotheses using a ‘target gene approach’ with three molecular markers (CO1, ITS-2, and 16S rRNA). Phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly of the genus but reject the monophyly of Caribbean Micrathena. Biogeographical analyses support five independent colonizations of the region via multiple overwater dispersal events, primarily from North/Central America, although the genus is South American in origin. There is no evidence for dispersal to the Greater Antilles during the timespan of GAARlandia. Our phylogeny implies greater species richness in the Caribbean than previously known, with two putative species of M. forcipata that are each single-island endemics, as well as deep divergences between the Mexican and Floridian M. sagittata. Micrathena is an unusual lineage among arachnids, having colonized the Caribbean multiple times via overwater dispersal after the submergence of GAARlandia. On the other hand, single-island endemism and undiscovered diversity are nearly universal among all but the most dispersal-prone arachnid groups in the Caribbean. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phylogenomic, Biogeographic, and Evolutionary Research Trends in Arachnology)

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44 pages, 726 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Purely Australian Essential Oils Past and Present: Chemical Diversity, Authenticity, Bioactivity, and Commercial Value

by Nicholas John Sadgrove

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020124 - 9 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5269

Abstract

In this comprehensive commentary, Australian essential oils and their components are listed and discussed in the context of their value to industry and aesthetics. The historic and cultural significance of endemic essential oils is explained. Several promising candidates are identified that have commercial [...] Read more.

In this comprehensive commentary, Australian essential oils and their components are listed and discussed in the context of their value to industry and aesthetics. The historic and cultural significance of endemic essential oils is explained. Several promising candidates are identified that have commercial potential and will enter the marketplace in the not-too-distant future. This text elaborates on the current progress in research, and explains the up-to-date view of ‘bioactive,’ with reference to insect repellence, antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory activity, and potential toxicity. The concept of chemotypes and chemophenetics is explained in detail to justify why chemically variable species in Australia require standardisation practices to ensure reproducibility of their derived natural products: standardisation practice includes cultivar development and authentication protocols. Thereafter, some of the more significant essential oils are defined and some background information provided. This review concludes with a comprehensive table of aromatic species that were studied by Joseph Brophy over the last 30 years, thereby providing the most comprehensive overview available, on the chemistry of Australian essential oil yielding species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2021 Feature Papers by Diversity’s Editorial Board Members)

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14 pages, 6008 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Seasonal and Interannual Dynamics of Pelagic Rotifers in a Tropical, Saline, Deep Lake

by Rocío Fernández, Javier Alcocer, Alfonso Lugo, Luis A. Oseguera and Sandra Guadarrama-Hernández

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020113 - 5 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1983

Abstract

This is the first long-term study (monthly samples at two 4-year intervals: 1998 to 2001 and 2013 to 2016) on rotifers in a saline, deep lake. The pelagic rotifer assemblage of Lake Alchichica is simple and comprised by two species, both new and [...] Read more.

This is the first long-term study (monthly samples at two 4-year intervals: 1998 to 2001 and 2013 to 2016) on rotifers in a saline, deep lake. The pelagic rotifer assemblage of Lake Alchichica is simple and comprised by two species, both new and most likely endemic: Brachionus sp. Mexico (related to B. plicatilis) and Hexarthra sp. (related to H. jenkinae). Similar low species richness and composition are found in other saline lakes associated with salinity. Rotifers in Lake Alchichica were an irregular component of the zooplankton community. Rotifers’ overall abundance (471 ± 1211 ind m⁻²) and biomass (24 ± 63 mg DW m⁻²) were low; Brachionus sp. Mexico and Hexarthra sp. contributed similarly to the annual mean abundance (54% and 46%, respectively) and biomass (53% and 47%, respectively). Abundance and biomass were tightly coupled, but there was no regular pattern in their seasonal dynamics. When co-existing, Brachionus sp. Mexico showed a higher abundance than Hexarthra sp. The dominant (≈80%) phytoplankton biomass in Lake Alchichica, the large (35–63 µm) diatom Cyclotella alchichicana, is inedible for rotifers, thus rotifers most probably relied only on nanophytoplankton (≤20 µm). Seasonal and interannual differences in rotifers seem related to food availability (oligotrophy) and probably to biotic interactions (e.g., competition). Rotifer abundance and biomass values in 1998–2001 went down to 12.5% in 2013–2016. Climate change and stochastics events leading to pulses of the rotifers’ food, and biotic interactions seem to be the most plausible explanation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Rotifers)

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25 pages, 8398 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

Vegetation Ecology of Debris-Covered Glaciers (DCGs)—Site Conditions, Vegetation Patterns and Implications for DCGs Serving as Quaternary Cold- and Warm-Stage Plant Refugia

by Thomas Fickert, Donald Friend, Bruce Molnia, Friederike Grüninger and Michael Richter

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020114 - 5 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3486

Abstract

Scientific interest in debris-covered glaciers (DCGs) significantly increased during the last two decades, primarily from an abiotic perspective, but also regarding their distinctive ecology. An increasing body of evidence shows that, given a minimum of debris thickness and sufficient substrate stability, DCGs host [...] Read more.

Scientific interest in debris-covered glaciers (DCGs) significantly increased during the last two decades, primarily from an abiotic perspective, but also regarding their distinctive ecology. An increasing body of evidence shows that, given a minimum of debris thickness and sufficient substrate stability, DCGs host surprisingly diverse plant assemblages, both floristically and structurally, despite being obviously cold and in parts also highly mobile habitats. As a function of site conditions, floristic composition and vegetation structure, DCGs represent a mosaic of environments, including subnival pioneer communities, glacier foreland early- to late-successional stages, morainal locations, and locally, even forest sites. On shallow supraglacial debris layers, cryophilous alpine/subnival taxa can grow considerably below their common elevational niche due to the cooler temperatures within the root horizon caused by the underlying ice. In contrast, a greater debris thickness allows even thermophilous plant species of lower elevations to grow on glacier surfaces. Employing the principle of uniformitarianism, DCGs are assumed to have been important and previously undocumented refugia for plants during repeated Quaternary cold and warm cycles. This review and recent study summarize the current knowledge on the vegetation ecology of DCGs and evaluates their potential function as plant habitat under ongoing climate warming. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2021 Feature Papers by Diversity’s Editorial Board Members)

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23 pages, 1817 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Strong Philopatry, Isolation by Distance, and Local Habitat Have Promoted Genetic Structure in Heermann’s Gull

by Misael Daniel Mancilla-Morales, Enriqueta Velarde, Andres Aguilar, Araceli Contreras-Rodríguez, Exequiel Ezcurra, Jesús A. Rosas-Rodríguez, José G. Soñanez-Organis and Enrico A. Ruiz

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020108 - 2 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4327

Abstract

Philopatry can promote genetic differentiation among populations but remains undescribed in many seabirds. Hence, we explored such associations in Heermann’s Gull. Philopatry was observed monitoring 998 gulls in Rasa Island, while genetic differences were examined in the Cardonosa, Rasa, and Isabel islands using [...] Read more.

Philopatry can promote genetic differentiation among populations but remains undescribed in many seabirds. Hence, we explored such associations in Heermann’s Gull. Philopatry was observed monitoring 998 gulls in Rasa Island, while genetic differences were examined in the Cardonosa, Rasa, and Isabel islands using the cytochrome b of 296 gulls. Adults returned repeatedly to its natal valley or to a very close distance from it under different modelled hypotheses. Likewise, the interaction between sex and distance indicated significant male-biased philopatry. Besides, low to high genetic differentiation was observed between the Rasa and Cardonosa islands (Φ_ST = 0–0.22) (both in the Midriff Islands Region), but higher genetic differentiation against Isabel Island (Φ_ST > 0.25) (in the Mexican Province region). Consistently, genetic structure among regions was observed using different approaches (AMOVA: Φ_CT = 0.49; SAMOVA: F_CT = 0.49; and BAPS: K = 2). Similarly, a pattern of isolation by distance (rM = 0.82, p = 0.03), agrees with lower estimates of scaled migration rates between regions than among islands of the same region. Overall, it is suggested that the genetic structure found in Heermann’s Gull has been promoted by physical and behavioral barriers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biodiversity Conservation)

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69 pages, 5932 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Evolution and Fossil Record of Palaeognathous Birds (Neornithes: Palaeognathae)

by Klara Widrig and Daniel J. Field

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020105 - 1 Feb 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 14610

Abstract

The extant diversity of the avian clade Palaeognathae is composed of the iconic flightless ratites (ostriches, rheas, kiwi, emus, and cassowaries), and the volant tinamous of Central and South America. Palaeognaths were once considered a classic illustration of diversification driven by Gondwanan vicariance, [...] Read more.

The extant diversity of the avian clade Palaeognathae is composed of the iconic flightless ratites (ostriches, rheas, kiwi, emus, and cassowaries), and the volant tinamous of Central and South America. Palaeognaths were once considered a classic illustration of diversification driven by Gondwanan vicariance, but this paradigm has been rejected in light of molecular phylogenetic and divergence time results from the last two decades that indicate that palaeognaths underwent multiple relatively recent transitions to flightlessness and large body size, reinvigorating research into their evolutionary origins and historical biogeography. This revised perspective on palaeognath macroevolution has highlighted lingering gaps in our understanding of how, when, and where extant palaeognath diversity arose. Towards resolving those questions, we aim to comprehensively review the known fossil record of palaeognath skeletal remains, and to summarize the current state of knowledge of their evolutionary history. Total clade palaeognaths appear to be one of a small handful of crown bird lineages that crossed the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary, but gaps in their Paleogene fossil record and a lack of Cretaceous fossils preclude a detailed understanding of their multiple transitions to flightlessness and large body size, and recognizable members of extant subclades generally do not appear until the Neogene. Despite these knowledge gaps, we combine what is known from the fossil record of palaeognaths with plausible divergence time estimates, suggesting a relatively rapid pace of diversification and phenotypic evolution in the early Cenozoic. In line with some recent authors, we surmise that the most recent common ancestor of palaeognaths was likely a relatively small-bodied, ground-feeding bird, features that may have facilitated total-clade palaeognath survivorship through the K-Pg mass extinction, and which may bear on the ecological habits of the ancestral crown bird. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution and Palaeobiology of Flightless Birds)

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13 pages, 1012 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Genetic Differentiation among Subspecies of Banksia nivea (Proteaceae) Associated with Expansion and Habitat Specialization

by Jane Sampson and Margaret Byrne

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020098 - 30 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2935

Abstract

Subspecies are traditionally defined using phenotypic differences associated with different geographical areas. Yet patterns of morphological and genetic variation may not coincide and thereby fail to reflect species’ evolutionary history. The division of the shrub Banksia nivea Labill. into one widespread (B. [...] Read more.

Subspecies are traditionally defined using phenotypic differences associated with different geographical areas. Yet patterns of morphological and genetic variation may not coincide and thereby fail to reflect species’ evolutionary history. The division of the shrub Banksia nivea Labill. into one widespread (B. nivea subsp. nivea) and two geographically localized subspecies (B. nivea subsp. uliginosa (A.S. George) A.R. Mast & K.R. Thiele and B. nivea subsp. Morangup (M. Pieroni 94/2)) in south-west Australia has been based mainly on variation in leaf shape and pistil length, although flowering time and habitat differences are also evident, and subsp. uliginosa occurs on a different substrate. To assess the genetic divergence of B. nivea subspecies, we genotyped representatives from each subspecies for nuclear microsatellite and non-coding chloroplast sequence variation. We used distance and parsimony-based methods to assess genetic relatedness. Patterns were consistent with the existing taxonomy of subsp. nivea and uliginosa but not subsp. Morangup. Phylogenetic analyses revealed evidence for a more recent divergence of subsp. uliginosa associated with expansion from dryer sandy soils into the winter-wet ironstone soils in the southwest of Western Australia, consistent with progressive long-term climatic drying. Nuclear microsatellites showed low to moderate diversity, high population differentiation overall, and genetic structuring of subspecies in different biogeographical areas. We propose this pattern reflects the predicted impact of a patchy distribution, small populations, and restrictions to gene flow driven by both distance and biogeographic differences in subspecies’ habitats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Genetics for Management of Threatened Plant and Animal Species)

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12 pages, 1560 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

COI Metabarcoding Provides Insights into the Highly Diverse Diet of a Generalist Salamander, Salamandra salamandra (Caudata: Salamandridae)

by Adam J. D. Marques, Vanessa A. Mata and Guillermo Velo-Antón

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020089 - 28 Jan 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4205

Abstract

DNA metabarcoding has proven to be an accessible, cost-effective, and non-invasive tool for dietary analysis of predators in situ. Although DNA metabarcoding provides numerous benefits in characterizing diet—such as detecting prey animals that are difficult to visually identify—this method has seen limited application [...] Read more.

DNA metabarcoding has proven to be an accessible, cost-effective, and non-invasive tool for dietary analysis of predators in situ. Although DNA metabarcoding provides numerous benefits in characterizing diet—such as detecting prey animals that are difficult to visually identify—this method has seen limited application in amphibian species. Here, we used DNA metabarcoding to characterize the diet of fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) (Linnaeus, 1758) in three distinct regions across the northwestern Iberian Peninsula. To test the efficiency of COI-based metabarcoding in determining salamanders’ diet diversity, we compared our COI-based results with results from traditional diet studies from neighboring and distant populations, as well as with recent findings obtained in a DNA metabarcoding study using 18S. Two COI primers were used in combination to investigate the potential impact of primer bias in prey detection. Our COI metabarcoding approach increased taxonomic resolution and supported a generalist diet in S. salamandra. Between primers, there were no significant differences in the diversity and richness of prey detected. We observed differences in the prevalence of prey identified between sampling regions both in our study and in other studies of S. salamandra diet. This COI metabarcoding study provides recommendations and resources for subsequent research using DNA metabarcoding to study amphibian diets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Ecological Role of Salamanders as Predators and Prey)

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14 pages, 23970 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Diversification in the Comoros: Review of the Laccophilus alluaudi Species Group with the Description of Four New Species (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

by Johannes Bergsten and Olof Biström

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020081 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3359

Abstract

The Laccophilus alluaudi species group is an interesting case of an endemic species radiation of Madagascar and the Comoros. To date, a single species, Laccophilus tigrinus Guignot, 1959 (Anjouan), is known from the Comoro Islands, with eight other species known from Madagascar. Here [...] Read more.

The Laccophilus alluaudi species group is an interesting case of an endemic species radiation of Madagascar and the Comoros. To date, a single species, Laccophilus tigrinus Guignot, 1959 (Anjouan), is known from the Comoro Islands, with eight other species known from Madagascar. Here we review the Laccophilus alluaudi species group from the Comoro Islands based on partly new material. We recognize five species, out of which four are here described as new: L. mohelicus n. sp. (Mohéli), L. denticulatus n. sp. (Grande Comore), L. michaelbalkei n. sp. (Mayotte) and L. mayottei n. sp. (Mayotte). Based on morphology of male genitalia, we hypothesize that the five species form a monophyletic group and originated from a single colonization event from Madagascar. If confirmed, this would constitute one of the few examples of intra-archipelago diversification in the Comoros. The knowledge of species limits in relation to their distribution in the Comoros archipelago is also urgently needed in the face of rapid habitat degradation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Insects: Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Challenges)

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23 pages, 1740 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Conservation and Phylogeography of Plants: From the Mediterranean to the Rest of the World

by Javier Bobo-Pinilla, Esteban Salmerón-Sánchez, Antonio J. Mendoza-Fernández, Juan F. Mota and Julio Peñas

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020078 - 24 Jan 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5546

Abstract

During the last decades, phylogeography has transformed the ways to analyze and understand plant diversity and biogeography. The repeated and increasingly detailed articles made from DNA data with phylogeographical procedures and algorithms have revolutionized biodiversity research, particularly on biodiversity conservation. This paper presents [...] Read more.

During the last decades, phylogeography has transformed the ways to analyze and understand plant diversity and biogeography. The repeated and increasingly detailed articles made from DNA data with phylogeographical procedures and algorithms have revolutionized biodiversity research, particularly on biodiversity conservation. This paper presents a systematic literature review of the different ways in which phylogeography has been applied to plants in Mediterranean-type ecosystems (MTEs), especially to rare, threatened, and endemic plants. Studies ranged from basic research to how phylogeography is actually contributing to management conservation of Mediterranean plants. Finally, new and future phylogeography perspectives with integrative scientific arguments and conceptual bases applied to plant conservation biology are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation and Phylogeography of Threatened and Endemic Plants)

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11 pages, 1854 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of Fuscheriides baugilensis sp. nov. (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Haptorida) from South Korea

by Seok Won Jang, Atef Omar, Seung Won Nam and Jae-Ho Jung

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020070 - 21 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2777

Abstract

The morphology and molecular phylogeny of a new haptorid ciliate, Fuscheriides baugilensis sp. nov., discovered in a temporary pond in South Korea, were investigated. The new species is characterized by its small body size (30–55 × 15–20 μm in vivo), oblong to rod-shaped [...] Read more.

The morphology and molecular phylogeny of a new haptorid ciliate, Fuscheriides baugilensis sp. nov., discovered in a temporary pond in South Korea, were investigated. The new species is characterized by its small body size (30–55 × 15–20 μm in vivo), oblong to rod-shaped extrusomes in the oral bulge and cytoplasm, 14–16 somatic kineties, two dorsal brush rows, and single subapical ciliary condensation. The phylogenetic analyses based on the 18S rRNA gene sequences show that the family Fuscheriidae is paraphyletic and the species belong to the genera Fuscheriides and Pseudofuscheria cluster together in the same subclade, while Fuscheria is in a different subclade, suggesting that the subapical ciliary condensation characterizing the two former genera has a higher taxonomic value than the shape of extrusomes for genera separation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Collection of Experts’ Researches on Aquatic Life (CEREAL))

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14 pages, 1393 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Defining Management Units for Wild Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus from Nine River Basins in Ghana

by Gifty Anane-Taabeah Attu, Emmanuel A. Frimpong and Eric M. Hallerman

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020073 - 21 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3098

Abstract

Despite the global importance of the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, especially to aquaculture, knowledge of genetic variability within native populations is still limited. While several studies have assessed genetic differentiation across the major drainage basins of Africa, relatively little effort has focused [...] Read more.

Despite the global importance of the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, especially to aquaculture, knowledge of genetic variability within native populations is still limited. While several studies have assessed genetic differentiation across the major drainage basins of Africa, relatively little effort has focused on characterizing genetic differentiation at finer scales. We assessed genetic variation in O. niloticus within and among nine drainage basins in Ghana using nuclear microsatellite DNA markers as the basis for identifying potential units of conservation among wild populations. We screened 312 wild individuals using eight nuclear microsatellite DNA markers. We found moderate genetic diversity within and differentiation among all wild populations studied, with strong signals of recent demographic bottlenecks in several populations. Genetic structure among 11 populations suggested the presence of up to ten management units (MUs). In particular, the Black Volta and the Tano–Asuhyea populations, which were the most genetically distinct and geographically isolated and may be most at risk of loss of genetic diversity over time, may well represent evolutionary significant units. Therefore, at the minimum, the Black Volta and Tano–Asuhyea populations should be prioritized for conservation actions to sustain them over the long-term. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ancient and Modern DNA for Diversity and Evolution of Animal and Plant Species)

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20 pages, 9173 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Improved Chironomid Barcode Database Enhances Identification of Water Mite Dietary Content

by Adrian A. Vasquez, Brittany L. Bonnici, Safia Haniya Yusuf, Janiel I. Cruz, Patrick L. Hudson and Jeffrey L. Ram

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020065 - 19 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3204

Abstract

Chironomids are one of the most biodiverse and abundant members of freshwater ecosystems. They are a food source for many organisms, including fish and water mites. The accurate identification of chironomids is essential for many applications in ecological research, including determining which chironomid [...] Read more.

Chironomids are one of the most biodiverse and abundant members of freshwater ecosystems. They are a food source for many organisms, including fish and water mites. The accurate identification of chironomids is essential for many applications in ecological research, including determining which chironomid species are present in the diets of diverse predators. Larval and adult chironomids from diverse habitats, including lakes, rivers, inland gardens, coastal vegetation, and nearshore habitats of the Great Lakes, were collected from 2012 to 2019. After morphological identification of chironomids, DNA was extracted and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) barcodes were PCR amplified and sequenced. Here we describe an analysis of biodiverse adult and larval chironomids in the Great Lakes region of North America based on new collections to improve chironomid identification by curating a chironomid DNA barcode database, thereby expanding the diversity and taxonomic specificity of DNA reference libraries for the Chironomidae family. In addition to reporting many novel chironomid DNA barcodes, we demonstrate here the use of this chironomid COI barcode database to improve the identification of DNA barcodes of prey in the liquefied diets of water mites. The species identifications of the COI barcodes of chironomids ingested by Lebertia davidcooki and L. quinquemaculosa are more diverse for L. davidcooki and include Parachironomus abortivus, Cryptochironomus ponderosus. Parachironomus tenuicaudatus, Glyptotendipes senilis, Dicrotendipes modestus, Chironomus riparius, Chironomus entis/plumosus, Chironomus maturus, Chironomus crassicaudatus, Endochironomus subtendens, Cricotopus sylvestris, Cricotopus festivellus, Orthocladius obumbratus, Tanypus punctipennis, Rheotanytarsus exiguus gr., and Paratanytarsus nr. bituberculatus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Organisms Research with DNA Barcodes)

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16 pages, 2889 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

New Iguanodon bernissartensis Axial Bones (Dinosauria, Ornithopoda) from the Early Cretaceous of Morella, Spain

by José Miguel Gasulla, Fernando Escaso, Iván Narváez, José Luis Sanz and Francisco Ortega

Diversity 2022, 14(2), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020063 - 18 Jan 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6350

Abstract

Iguanodon bernissartensis is the most frequently and widely cited styracosternan ornithopod in Western Europe during the Early Cretaceous, although some of these assignments likely need to be revised to establish the true distribution of the taxon. Here, we describe a new specimen of [...] Read more.

Iguanodon bernissartensis is the most frequently and widely cited styracosternan ornithopod in Western Europe during the Early Cretaceous, although some of these assignments likely need to be revised to establish the true distribution of the taxon. Here, we describe a new specimen of I. bernissartensis from the upper Barremian of the Iberian Peninsula. Based on the unique combination of shared characters, the new specimen from the Arcillas de Morella Formation at Morella locality (Castellón, Spain) can be confidently referred to Iguanodon bernissartensis. These characters include parallel-sided anterior and posterior margins of the dorsal and the caudal neural spines as well as the presence of a ventral keel in the posterior dorsal centra and a broad ventral sulcus in the midline of the central surface of the most posterior sacral vertebrae. This new evidence of Iguanodon bernissartensis reinforces the knowledge about styracosternan ornithopods as the most frequently recorded dinosaur group in the Arcillas de Morella Formation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Palaeoecological Analysis and Diversity of Turtles and Other Reptiles)

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15 pages, 23519 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Morphostructural Characterization of the Heterogeneous Rhodolith Bed at the Marine Protected Area “Capo Carbonara” (Italy) and Hydrodynamics

by Valentina A. Bracchi, Sarah Caronni, Agostino N. Meroni, Esteban Gottfried Burguett, Fabrizio Atzori, Nicoletta Cadoni, Fabio Marchese and Daniela Basso

Diversity 2022, 14(1), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14010051 - 13 Jan 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2319

Abstract

Mediterranean rhodolith beds are priority marine benthic habitats for the European Community, because of their relevance as biodiversity hotspots and their role in the carbonate budget. Presently, Mediterranean rhodolith beds typically occur within the range of 30–75 m of water depth, generally located [...] Read more.

Mediterranean rhodolith beds are priority marine benthic habitats for the European Community, because of their relevance as biodiversity hotspots and their role in the carbonate budget. Presently, Mediterranean rhodolith beds typically occur within the range of 30–75 m of water depth, generally located around islands and capes, on flat or gently sloping areas. In the framework of a collaboration between the University of Milano-Bicocca and the Marine Protected Area “Capo Carbonara” (Sardinia, Italy), video explorations and sampling collections in three selected sites revealed the occurrence of a well developed and heterogeneous rhodolith bed. This bed covers an area >41 km² around the cape, with live coverage ranging between 6.50 and 55.25%. Rhodoliths showed interesting morphostructural differences. They are small compact pralines at the Serpentara Island, associated with gravelly sand, or bigger boxwork at the Santa Caterina shoal associated with sand, whereas branches are reported mostly in the Is Piscadeddus shoal, associated with muddy sand. Both in the Santa Caterina shoal and the Serpentara Island, rhodoliths generally show a spheroidal shape, associated with a mean value of currents of 4.3 and 7.3 cm/s, respectively, up to a maximum of 17.7 cm/s at Serpentara, whereas in the Is Piscadeddus shoal rhodolith shape is variable and current velocity is significantly lower. The different hydrodynamic regime, with a constant current directed SW, which deviates around the cape towards E, is responsible for such morphostructural heterogeneity, with the site of the Serpentara Island being the most exposed to a constant unidirectional and strong current. We can associate current velocity with specific rhodolith morphotypes. The morphostructural definition of the heterogeneity of rhodoliths across large beds must be considered for appropriate management policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structure and Biodiversity of Rhodolith Seabeds)

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16 pages, 5630 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Unrecognized Ant Megadiversity in Monsoonal Australia: Diversity and Its Distribution in the Hyperdiverse Monomorium nigrius Forel Group

by Alan N. Andersen, François Brassard and Benjamin D. Hoffmann

Diversity 2022, 14(1), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14010046 - 11 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3384

Abstract

We document diversity and its distribution within the hyperdiverse Monomorium nigrius Forel group of the Australian monsoonal tropics, an unrecognized global centre of ant diversity. The group includes a single described species, but several distinct morphotypes each with multiple clearly recognizable taxa are [...] Read more.

We document diversity and its distribution within the hyperdiverse Monomorium nigrius Forel group of the Australian monsoonal tropics, an unrecognized global centre of ant diversity. The group includes a single described species, but several distinct morphotypes each with multiple clearly recognizable taxa are known. Our analysis is based on 401 CO1-sequenced specimens collected from throughout the Australian mainland but primarily in the monsoonal north and particularly from four bioregions: the Top End (northern third) of the Northern Territory (NT), the Sturt Plateau region of central NT, the Kimberley region of far northern Western Australia, and far North Queensland. Clade structure in the CO1 tree is highly congruent with the general morphotypes, although most morphotypes occur in multiple clades and are therefore shown as polyphyletic. We recognize 97 species among our sequenced specimens, and this is generally consistent (if not somewhat conservative) with PTP analyses of CO1 clustering. Species turnover is extremely high both within and among bioregions in monsoonal Australia, and the monsoonal fauna is highly distinct from that in southern Australia. We estimate that the M. nigrius group contains well over 200 species in monsoonal Australia, and 300 species overall. Our study provides further evidence that monsoonal Australia should be recognized as a global centre of ant diversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2021 Feature Papers by Diversity’s Editorial Board Members)

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8 pages, 602 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceCommunication

Underwater Photogrammetry Captures the Initial Recovery of a Coral Reef at Lalo Atoll

by Atsuko Fukunaga, Kailey H. Pascoe, Ashley R. Pugh, Randall K. Kosaki and John H. R. Burns

Diversity 2022, 14(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14010039 - 8 Jan 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2553

Abstract

Recovery of coral reefs after physical damage sustained from storm events can be affected by various factors. Here, we examined the initial recovery of a coral reef at the southern end of uninhabited Lalo Atoll of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument after its complete [...] Read more.

Recovery of coral reefs after physical damage sustained from storm events can be affected by various factors. Here, we examined the initial recovery of a coral reef at the southern end of uninhabited Lalo Atoll of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument after its complete destruction by Hurricane Walaka in 2018. While the site was still mostly (98%) covered by a mixture of rubble and sand, surveys utilizing underwater photogrammetry allowed for detailed quantitative assessments of benthic cover and confirmed colonization of coral (Pocillopora meandrina and Porites lobata), macroalgae and sponges. The proportion of sand in the rubble–sand mixture also decreased from the level observed in 2019. Visual fish surveys confirmed the presence of 35 reef fish species, a large increase from no reef fish in 2019, despite the low biotic benthic cover. Overall, the colonization of benthic organisms and the return of reef fish, which is potentially supported by the benthos and cryptofauna in the rubble bed, offer positive signs of reef recovery. The photogrammetric surveys in the present study captured the subtle changes in the benthic cover and provided us with a procedure to continue monitoring the succession of the site. Continuous monitoring of the site should reveal whether the reef returns to the original state of Acropora coral dominance or progresses towards a coral assemblage with a different composition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technological Innovation to Support Reef Research and Conservation)

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