scholarly journals Megadiversity in the Ant Genus Melophorus: The M. rufoniger Heterick, Castalanelli and Shattuck Species Group in the Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 386
Author(s):  
Alan N. Andersen ◽  
Benjamin D. Hoffmann ◽  
Stefanie K. Oberprieler
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Differentiation ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Distributional Analysis ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Sympatric Distribution ◽  
Total Species ◽  
Eleven Species

This study contributes to an understanding of megadiversity in the arid-adapted ant genus Melophorus by presenting an integrated genetic, morphological and distributional analysis of diversity within the M. rufoniger group in the 400,000 km2 Top End (northern region) of Australia’s Northern Territory. An earlier study of the Top End’s ant fauna lists eleven species from the M. rufoniger group, but a recent revision of Melophorus described the taxon as a single species occurring throughout most of the Australian mainland. CO1 sequences were obtained for 120 Top End specimens of the M. rufoniger group, along with a specimen from just outside the Top End. We recognize a total of 30 species among the sequenced specimens from the Top End, based on marked CO1 divergence (mean > 9%) in association with morphological differentiation and/or sympatric distribution. The sequenced specimen from just outside the Top End represents an additional species. Our unpublished CO1 data from other specimens from elsewhere in monsoonal Australia indicate that all but two of the 30 sequenced Top End species are endemic to the region, and that such diversity and endemism are similar in both the Kimberley region of far northern Western Australia and in North Queensland. The total number of species in the M. rufoniger group is potentially more than the 93 total species of Melophorus recognized in the recent revision. It has previously been estimated that Melophorus contains at least 1000 species, but our findings suggest that this is a conservative estimate.

The mollissima-subgroup of the genus Fannia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Fanniidae), with descriptions of seven new species

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Zhang ◽  
Rong-Rong Wang ◽  
Ming-Fu Wang
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Species Group ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Original Diagnosis ◽  
Glacial Periods ◽  
Eleven Species

AbstractThe mollissima-subgroup of Pont (1965) belongs to the Fannia serena species-group of Chillcott (1961) in the genus Fannia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (family Fanniidae). A review of the F. mollissima-subgroup, previously known from eleven species, is enlarged to include seven additional species: F. albisquama Wang & Zhang, sp. n., F. biseta Wang & Zhang, sp. n., F. doxonglaensis Wang & Zhang, sp. n., F. mainling Wang & Zhang, sp. n., F. multiseta Wang & Zhang, sp. n., F. nigribasicosta Wang & Zhang, sp. n., and F. tibetana Wang & Zhang, sp. n. A key to the known species of the F. mollissima-subgroup is given. To facilitate comparison of the species, the original diagnosis of the F. mollissima-subgroup has been expanded. The biogeography of the subgroup is discussed, including its origin and evolutionary history, the effect of the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, and the effect of glacial periods during the Quaternary.

Syntaxonomic changes in the plant cover of meadow steppe in the «Mikhailovskaya Tselina» reserve (Sumy Region, Ukraine)

2006 ◽  
pp. 43-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. N. Lysenko ◽  
I. A. Korotchenko
Keyword(s):  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Meadow Steppe ◽  
Total Species

Changes in the set of syntaxa have been traced for the plant cover of the «Mikhaylovskaya Tselina» meadow-steppe (an isolated part of the Ukrainian Steppe Nature Reserve, Sumy Region, Ukraine) with the help of the Braun-Blanquet approach. The area vegetation syntaxa prodromus includes 2 classes, 2 rders, 3 alliances, 9 associations, and 6 subasso­ciations, 2 of the latter described anew. The plant cover is highly dynamic and undergoes expressed meso­phytization, especially within the area where strict protection has been maintained since 1961. Amplitudes of the principal ecological factors and also peculiarities of their shift under exogenic regulation are determined with the help of the method of synecological phyto­indication (i. e. not single species but total species sets of communities serve as indicators). The essential transformations of the reserve meadow steppes are probably caused by the «insular» character of the reserve, its small size, also by the poorness of the set of natural grazers and hence the inadequacy of regulation by means of mowing.

scholarly journals Sampling a biodiversity hotspot: the orchid-bee fauna (Hymenoptera: Apidae) of Tarapoto, northeastern Peru, the richest and most diverse site of the Neotropics

2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (3 suppl 1) ◽  
pp. s33-s44 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Nemésio ◽  
C Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
Diversity Index ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Single Site ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Orchid Bees ◽  
Orchid Bee ◽  
Wiener Diversity Index ◽  
First Time

The orchid-bee fauna of the region of Tarapoto, northeastern Peru, was surveyed using seventeen different scents as baits to attract orchid-bee males. Six hundred and fifty-nine males belonging to 41 species were actively collected with insect nets during 120 hours in late July and early August, 2012. Euglossa dressleriMoure, 1968, Euglossa laurensiBembé, 2008, and Euglossa maculilabrisMoure, 1968, three species belonging to the Euglossa cybelia species-group, are here reported for Peru for the first time. Previous sporadic and unpublished samplings in the area recorded eleven additional species. With 53 species, the region of Tarapoto can be considered the richest single site in the Neotropics for orchid bees. Diversity, estimated with the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′ = 3.02), was also the highest ever recorded for orchid bees.

scholarly journals First year of the new Arctic AWIPEV-COSYNA cabled Underwater Observatory in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Fischer ◽  
Max Schwanitz ◽  
Reiner Loth ◽  
Uwe Posner ◽  
Markus Brand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Power ◽  
Single Species ◽  
First Year ◽  
Total Abundance ◽  
Digital Sampling ◽  
Scientific Analysis ◽  
Data Density ◽  
Species Abundances ◽  
Sampling Procedures ◽  
Total Species

Abstract. A combined year round assessment of selected oceanographic data and a macrobiotic community assessment was performed from October 2013 to November 2014 in the littoral zone of the polar fjord systems Kongsfjorden on the west coast of Svalbard (Norway). A state of the art remote controlled cabled underwater observatory technology was used for daily vertical profiles of temperature, salinity and turbidity together with a stereo-optical assessment of the macrobiotic community, including fish. The results reveal a distinct seasonal cycle in total species abundances with a significantly higher total abundance and species richness during the polar winter when no light is available under water compared to the summer months when 24-h light is available. During the winter months, a temporally highly segmented community was observed with respect to species occurrence with single species dominating the winter community for restricted times. In contrast, the summer community showed an overall lower total abundance, as well as a significantly lower number of species. The study clearly demonstrates the high potential of cable connected remote controlled digital sampling devices, especially in remote areas, such as the polar fjord systems, with harsh environmental conditions and limited accessibility. A smart combination of such new digital “sampling” methods with classic sampling procedures can provide a possibility to significantly extend the sampling time and frequency especially in remote and difficult to access areas. This can help to provide a sufficient data density and therefore statistical power for a sound scientific analysis without increasing the invasive sampling pressure in ecologically sensitive environments.

Uropodina species from Vietnam (Acari: Mesostigmata)

Zootaxa ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2807 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
JENŐ KONTSCHÁN ◽  
JOSEF STARÝ
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Natural History ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Natural History Museum ◽  
Soil Biology ◽  
History Museum ◽  
Soil Mites ◽  
Asian Species ◽  
Hungarian Natural History Museum ◽  
Eleven Species

Sixteen species of Uropodina were found in samples of soil mites from Vietnam, in the Institute of Soil Biology of the Biology Centre AS CR (Èesk Budìjovice, Czech Republic) and the Soil Zoology Collections of the Hungarian Natural History Museum (Budapest, Hungary). Five of them are known species — Angulobaloghia vietnamensis (Kontschán, 2008), Metagynella vietnamensis Hiramatsu, 1981, Uroobovella similitakensis Hirschmann, 1981, Uroobovella topali Hirschmann, 1981, and Uropoda hirschmanni Hiramatsu, 1977. Eleven species are described as new — Trachytes vietnamensis sp. nov., Dinychus serratus sp. nov., Trichouropoda aspera sp. nov., Uroobovella oviformis sp. nov., Uroobovella multisetosa sp. nov., Paradinychus pilosus sp. nov., Phymatodiscus kuni sp. nov., Uropoda setata sp. nov., Uropoda lichenicola sp. nov., Angulobaloghia scrobia sp. nov. and Depressorotunda (Depressorotunda) alveolata sp. nov. The genus Paradinychus is resurrected and three species are moved into this genus, as P. sumatrensis (Vitzthum, 1921) comb. nov. and P. fistulata (Hiramatsu, 1982) comb. nov. Keys to the species of the genus Paradinychus, to the Asian species of Trachytes and to the Uropoda spiculata species group are given.

Comparative morphology and species-groups of the oribatid mite genus Scapheremaeus (Acari: Oribatida: Cymbaeremaeidae), with new species from South Australia

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2213 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
MATTHEW J. COLLOFF
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Oribatid Mite ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Comparative Morphology ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Semi Arid

The morphology of the genus Scapheremaeus Berlese, 1910 is reviewed and characters of taxonomic utility delineated. Based on the morphological review, some 13 species-groups are outlined based on major morphotypes. There are two main categories: i) species that have a complete circumdorsal scissure with plicate microsculpture on the circumnotogastral plate and strongly contrasting microsculpture (foveolae, ridges or tubercles) on the centrodorsal plate (plicate species-groups), and ii) species with the circumdorsal scissure complete, incomplete or absent but with little or no contrast in microsculpture between the central and lateral regions: typically both regions foveolate or reticulate (non- plicate species-groups). A catalogue of world species of Scapheremaeus is provided. Scapheremaeus petrophagus (Banks, 1906) is not a Scapheremaeus but belongs to an undetermined genus in the Ameronothroidea. Cymbaeremaeus cyclops Oudemans, 1915 is recombined to Scapheremaeus. Five new species are described (S. angusi sp. nov., S. cheloniella sp. nov., S. ewani sp. nov., S. lambieae sp. nov., and S. pulleni sp. nov.) from soil and litter habitats in semi-arid Mallee eucalypt vegetation at Bookmark Biosphere Reserve, South Australia. These are the first members of the genus Scapheremaeus to be described from Australia, though undescribed species have been recorded previously. All the new species are morphologically closely-related and belong to a single species-group: Carinatus.

The Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Lightning Strikes and Their Relationship with Vegetation Type, Elevation, and Fire Scars in the Northern Territory

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1161-1173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Musa Kilinc ◽  
Jason Beringer
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Southern Region ◽  
Transitional Period ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Coastal Regions ◽  
Fire Scars ◽  
Lightning Strikes

Abstract In this paper the authors explore the spatial and temporal patterns of lightning strikes in northern Australia for the first time. In particular, the possible relationships between lightning strikes and elevation, vegetation type, and fire scars (burned areas) are examined. Lightning data provided by the Bureau of Meteorology were analyzed for a 6-yr period (1998–2003) over the northern, southern, and coastal regions of the Northern Territory (NT) through the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to determine the spatial and temporal characteristics of lightning strikes. It was determined that the highest densities of lightning strikes occurred during the monsoon transitional period (dry to wet) and during the active monsoon periods, when atmospheric moisture is highest. For the period of this study, lightning was far more prevalent over the northern region (1.21 strikes per km2 yr−1) than over the southern (0.58 strikes per km2 yr−1) and coastal regions (0.71 strikes per km2 yr−1). Differences in vegetation cover were suggested to influence the lightning distribution over the northern region of the NT, but no relationship was found in the southern region. Lightning strikes in the southern region showed a positive relationship with elevations above 800 m, but no relationship was found in the northern region, which could be due to the low-lying topography of the area. A comparison of lightning densities between burned and unburned areas showed high variability; however, the authors suggest that, under ideal atmospheric conditions, large-scale fire scars (>500 m) could produce lightning strikes triggered by either enhanced free convection or mesoscale circulations.

scholarly journals A review of fungus gnats in the tribe Exechiini (Diptera, Mycetophilidae) from the J. W. Zetterstedt collection at the Museum of Zoology in Lund, Sweden

Zootaxa ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 856 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSTEIN KJÆRANDSEN
Keyword(s):  
Junior Synonym ◽  
Modern Literature ◽  
Type Material ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
New Synonyms ◽  
Nomen Dubium ◽  
Fungus Gnats ◽  
First Time ◽  
Eleven Species

The collections of fungus gnats by Johan Wilhelm Zetterstedt (1785–1874), lodged in the Museum of Zoology in Lund, Sweden, are examined for all species belonging in the tribe Exechiini Edwards. The majority of the material was collected in Fennoscandia, mainly in Sweden, in the first half of the 19 th century. Altogether 37 species of the tribe Exechiini could be safely identified. Three additional species are strongly indicated to be present in the collections, but could not be identified with certainty, viz. Allodia (Brachycampta) alternans (Zetterstedt, 1838), Cordyla murina Winnertz, 1863 and Stigmatomeria crassicornis (Stannius, 1831). Some of Zetterstedt's types have been erroneously synonymized and misinterpreted in modern literature. Hence, illustrations of terminalia are presented for all recognizable Exechiini types described by Zetterstedt. In order to preserve nomenclatural stability a lectotype is selected for Brevicornu griseolum (Zetterstedt, 1852) sensu auctore nec Edwards, and a neotype is selected for Allodia (Brachycampta) alternans (Zetterstedt, 1838). Two species names are reinstated, viz. Brevicornu canescens (Zetterstedt, 1852) sp. restit. stat. n. and Notolopha brachycera (Zetterstedt, 1838) sp. restit. stat. n. Two new synonyms are established, viz. Notolopha brachycera (Zetterstedt, 1838) = Allodiopsis (Notol- opha) tuomikoskii Zaitzev & Maximova, 2000 syn. n., and Brevicornu griseolum (Zetterstedt,1852) = Brevicornu boreale (Lundström, 1914) syn. n. All type specimens of Brevicornu fusculum (Zetterstedt, 1838) have lost their abdomens. No material of Exechia parvula (Zetterstedt, 1852) or Cordyla canescens Zetterstedt, 1852 could be located in the collections. Although the type material of Exechia parvula probably is lost, the name is still valid as a junior synonym for Mycetophila nana Staeger, 1840 since Mycetophila nana Staeger, 1840 is a junior primary homonym of Mycetophila nana Macquart, 1826. Cordyla canescens has been made a junior synonym for Stigmatomeria crassicornis (Stannius, 1831). The identity of Brevicornu fusculum is highly uncertain and the name must remain as a nomen dubium. Eleven species are reinstated or correctly reported from Sweden for the first time: Allodia (Allodia) tuomikoskii Hackman, 1971, Allodia (Allodia) zaitzevi Kurina, 1998, Allodiopsis rustica (Edwards, 1941), Brevicornu canescens (Zetterstedt, 1852), Brevicornu nigrofuscum (Lundström, 1909), Exechiopsis (Xenexechia) crucigera (Lundström, 1909), Pseudexechia aurivernica Chandler, 1978, Notolopha brachycera (Zetterstedt, 1852) Synplasta gracilis (Winnertz, 1863), Tarnania dziedzickii (Edwards, 1941), and Tarnania nemoralis (Edwards, 1941).

scholarly journals A new synonym for Zelia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera, Tachinidae), the genus Opsozelia Townsend, 1919, with the description of three new species

ZooKeys ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 880 ◽  
pp. 113-133
Author(s):  
Rodrigo de Vilhena Perez Dios ◽  
Marcelo Domingos de Santis
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Additional Material ◽  
New Synonym ◽  
Three New Species

The monotypic tachinid genus Opsozelia Townsend, 1919 (Diptera: Tachinidae) is synonymized with ZeliaRobineau-Desvoidy 1830, syn. nov. The single species of Opsozelia, O. discalis Townsend, 1919, is redescribed as Zelia discalis, comb. nov., based on examination of the holotype from Guyana and additional material from Suriname, Brazil and Paraguay. Three new species of Zelia similar to Z. discalis are described from Brazil: Z. magnasp. nov., Z. guimaraesisp. nov. and Z. formosasp. nov. These four species are treated informally as the Zelia discalis species group. An identification key to the species of this species group is provided based on male specimens. Descriptions and illustrations are provided for the male terminalia of all species and for the female terminalia of one species, Z. guimaraesi.

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