scholarly journals Molecular Comparison among Three Antarctic Endemic Springtail Species and Description of the Mitochondrial Genome of Friesea gretae (Hexapoda, Collembola)

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 450
Author(s):  
Antonio Carapelli ◽  
Claudio Cucini ◽  
Pietro Paolo Fanciulli ◽  
Francesco Frati ◽  
Peter Convey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Terrestrial Arthropods ◽  
Victoria Land ◽  
Springtail Species ◽  
The Antarctic

Springtails and mites are the dominant groups of terrestrial arthropods in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems. Their Antarctic diversity includes a limited number of species, which are frequently endemic to specific regions within the continent. Advances in molecular techniques, combined with the re-evaluation of morphological characters and the availability of new samples, have recently led to the identification of a number of new springtail species within previously named, but ill-defined, species entities described in the last century. One such species, the neanurid Friesea grisea, originally described from sub-Antarctic South Georgia, was for many years considered to be the only known springtail with a pan-Antarctic distribution. With the recent availability of new morphological and molecular data, it has now been firmly established that the different representatives previously referred to this taxon from the Antarctic Peninsula and Victoria Land (continental Antarctica) should no longer be considered as representing one and the same species, and three clearly distinct taxa have been recognized: F. antarctica, F. gretae and F. propria. In this study, the relationships among these three species are further explored through the sequencing of the complete mtDNA for F. gretae and the use of complete mitogenomic as well as cytochrome c oxidase I data. The data obtained provide further support that distinct species were originally hidden within the same taxon and that, despite the difficulties in obtaining reliable diagnostic morphological characters, F. gretae is genetically differentiated from F. propria (known to be present in different locations in Northern Victoria Land), as well as from F. antarctica (distributed in the Antarctic Peninsula).

scholarly journals Population structure of Friesea grisea (Collembola, Neanuridae) in the Antarctic Peninsula and Victoria Land: evidence for local genetic differentiation of pre-Pleistocene origin

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 757-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Torricelli ◽  
Francesco Frati ◽  
Peter Convey ◽  
Marco Telford ◽  
Antonio Carapelli
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Structure ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Genetic Structure Of Populations ◽  
Victoria Land ◽  
Springtail Species ◽  
Ancestral Haplotypes ◽  
The Antarctic

AbstractFriesea grisea is the only springtail species currently described from both East (Victoria Land) and West Antarctica (Antarctic Peninsula), although levels of genetic divergence between the two regions suggest the possibility of cryptic species. Determining the genetic structure of populations in the two regions is necessary in order to compare the effects of the different environmental conditions in the two regions, the different evolutionary histories of their inhabitants, and for assessing any influence of latitude in each region on genetic diversity. We analysed sequences of the mitochondrial COX1 and ATP6 genes from a total of 111 individuals for 17 sites (nine on the Antarctic Peninsula and eight in Victoria Land), to assess levels of genetic diversity. Both regions have their own unique sets of haplotypes, differing by about 20% of their nucleotide sequences. A similar number of haplotypes was found in the two regions, and within each we found two groups of populations sharing no haplotypes. In the Antarctic Peninsula, two, presumably ancestral, haplotypes are dominant in frequency. In Victoria Land, the Cape Hallett population showed a distinct set of haplotypes, genetically different from the southernmost populations, suggesting differentiation on pre-Pleistocene timescales.

scholarly journals Identifying appropriate sampling and modelling approaches for analysing distributional patterns of Antarctic terrestrial arthropods along the Victoria Land latitudinal gradient

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 742-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tancredi Caruso ◽  
Ian D. Hogg ◽  
Roberto Bargagli
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Terrestrial Arthropods ◽  
Victoria Land ◽  
Dispersal Capability ◽  
Modelling Techniques

AbstractBiotic communities in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems are relatively simple and often lack higher trophic levels (e.g. predators); thus, it is often assumed that species’ distributions are mainly affected by abiotic factors such as climatic conditions, which change with increasing latitude, altitude and/or distance from the coast. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that factors other than geographical gradients affect the distribution of organisms with low dispersal capability such as the terrestrial arthropods. In Victoria Land (East Antarctica) the distribution of springtail (Collembola) and mite (Acari) species vary at scales that range from a few square centimetres to regional and continental. Different species show different scales of variation that relate to factors such as local geological and glaciological history, and biotic interactions, but only weakly with latitudinal/altitudinal gradients. Here, we review the relevant literature and outline more appropriate sampling designs as well as suitable modelling techniques (e.g. linear mixed models and eigenvector mapping), that will more adequately address and identify the range of factors responsible for the distribution of terrestrial arthropods in Antarctica.

scholarly journals Sub-decadal variations in outlet glacier terminus positions in Victoria Land, Oates Land and George V Land, East Antarctica (1972–2013)

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 468-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M. Lovell ◽  
C.R. Stokes ◽  
S.S.R. Jamieson
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
East Antarctica ◽  
West Antarctica ◽  
Position Change ◽  
Outlet Glacier ◽  
Glacier Terminus ◽  
Victoria Land ◽  
Decadal Scale ◽  
Decadal Variations ◽  
The Antarctic

AbstractRecent work has highlighted the sensitivity of marine-terminating glaciers to decadal-scale changes in the ocean–climate system in parts of East Antarctica. However, compared to Greenland, West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula, little is known about recent glacier change and potential cause(s), with several regions yet to be studied in detail. In this paper, we map the terminus positions of 135 glaciers along the coastline of Victoria Land, Oates Land and George V Land from 1972–2013 at a higher temporal resolution (sub-decadal intervals) than in previous research. These three regions span a range of climatic and oceanic conditions and contain a variety of glacier types. Overall, from 1972–2013, 36% of glaciers advanced, 25% retreated and the remainder showed no discernible change. On sub-decadal timescales, there were no clear trends in glacier terminus position change. However, marine-terminating glaciers experienced larger terminus position changes compared with terrestrial glaciers, and those with an unconstrained floating tongue exhibited the largest variations. We conclude that, unlike in Greenland, West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula, there is no clear glacier retreat in the study area and that most of the variations are more closely linked to glacier size and terminus type.

Aerial dispersal of springtails on the Antarctic Peninsula: implications for local distribution and demography

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.C. Hawes ◽  
M.R. Worland ◽  
P. Convey ◽  
J.S. Bale
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
Potential Mechanism ◽  
Local Distribution ◽  
Aerial Dispersal ◽  
Wind Speeds ◽  
Terrestrial Arthropods ◽  
Marguerite Bay ◽  
Terrestrial Habitats ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Aerial Deposition

Aerial dispersal has been frequently proposed as a potential mechanism by which polar terrestrial arthropods are transported to, and settle the ice free habitats of Antarctica, but to date there has been little substantive evidence in support of this hypothesis. Using water traps we investigated aerial deposition of arthropods on Lagoon Island, Ryder Bay, on the Antarctic Peninsula. Over a period of five weeks, trapping at three different altitudes, we captured a total of nine springtails, Cryptopygus antarcticus, all alive. This is the first study to demonstrate conclusively the survival of wind-borne native arthropods within Antarctica. By scaling the modest trapping area and success against island surface area, it is clear that hundreds, if not thousands, of springtails are regularly relocated by winds between the terrestrial habitats of Marguerite Bay. We use known desiccation rates of C. antarcticus and wind speeds to predict the likelihood of successful dispersal between the principal terrestrial habitats of the larger Marguerite Bay. Implications for local and long-range dispersal are discussed in relation to C. antarcticus and other polar arthropods.

scholarly journals Terrestrial ecosystems of the Antarctic Peninsula and their responses to climate change and anthropogenic impacts

2020 ◽  
pp. 84-97
Author(s):  
R. Bargagli ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Antarctic Peninsula ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Extreme Temperature ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Non Indigenous Species ◽  
Food Web Complexity ◽  
The Antarctic

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are unique natural laboratories where organisms adapted to extreme environmental conditions have evolved in isolation for millions of years. These unique biotic communities on Earth are facing complex climatic and environmental changes. Terrestrial ecosystems in the Antarctic Peninsula Region (APR) have experienced the highest rate of climate warming and, being the most impacted by human activities, are facing the greatest risk of detrimental changes. This review provides an overview of the most recent findings on how biotic communities in terrestrial ecosystems of the Antarctic Peninsula Region (APR) are responding and will likely respond to further environmental changes and direct anthropogenic impacts. Knowledge gained from studies on relatively simple terrestrial ecosystems could be very useful in predicting what may happen in much more complex ecosystems in regions with less extreme temperature changes. The rapid warming of the APR has led to the retreat of glaciers, the loss of snow and permafrost and the increase of ice-free areas, with a consequent enhancement of soil-forming processes, biotic communities, and food web complexity. However, most human activity is concentrated in APR coastal ice-free areas and poses many threats to terrestrial ecosystems such as environmental pollution or disturbances to soilcommunities and wildlife. People who work or visit APR may inadvertently introduce alien organisms and/or spread native species to spatially isolated ice-free areas. The number of introduced non-indigenous species and xenobiotic compounds in the APR is likely to be greater than currently documented, and several biosecurity and monitoring activities are therefore suggested to Antarctic national scientific programs and tourism operators to minimize the risk of irreversible loss of integrity by the unique terrestrial ecosystems of APR.

scholarly journals Beyond the carapace: skull shape variation and morphological systematics of long-nosed armadillos (genus Dasypus)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lionel Hautier ◽  
Guillaume Billet ◽  
Benoit De Thoisy ◽  
Frédéric Delsuc
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Guiana Shield ◽  
Shape Variation ◽  
Skull Morphology ◽  
Geometric Morphometric ◽  
Skull Shape ◽  
Shape And Size

Background. The systematics of long-nosed armadillos (genus Dasypus) has been mainly based on a handful of external morphological characters and classical measurements. Here, we studied the pattern of morphological variation in the skull of long-nosed armadillos species, with a focus on the systematics of the widely distributed nine-banded armadillo (D. novemcinctus). Methods. We present the first exhaustive 3D comparison of the skull morphology within the genus Dasypus, based on µCT-scans. We used geometric morphometric approaches to explore the patterns of the intra- and interspecific morphological variation of the skull with regard to several factors such as taxonomy, geography, allometry, and sexual dimorphism. Results. We show that the shape and size of the skull vary greatly between Dasypus species, with D. pilosus representing a clear outlier compared to other long-nosed armadillos. The study of the cranial intraspecific variation in D. novemcinctus evidences clear links to the geographic distribution and argue in favour of a revision of past taxonomic delimitations. Our detailed morphometric comparisons detected previously overlooked morphotypes of nine-banded armadillo, especially a very distinctive unit circumscribed to the Guiana Shield. Discussion. As our results are congruent with recent molecular data and analyses of the structure of paranasal sinuses, we propose that D. novemcinctus should be regarded either as a polytypic species (with three to four subspecies) or as a complex of several distinct species.

Conflict and congruence between morphological and molecular data: revision of the Merodon constans group (Diptera : Syrphidae)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ante Vujić ◽  
Snežana Radenković ◽  
Laura Likov ◽  
Andrijana Andrić ◽  
Marina Janković ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Markers ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
28S Rrna ◽  
The Status ◽  
Data Revision

We revise the Merodon constans species group of the genus Merodon Meigen, 1803 (Diptera: Syrphidae), provide morphological diagnosesand descriptions, as well as an illustrated key and a discussion on the different taxonomic characters used. In total, 15 species were studied, their geographic distributions are presented on maps, and nine new species are described. Two species are redefined and neotypes are designated, lectotypes are designated for five species, and onespeciesis reinstated as valid. Following a detailed study of type material in different entomological collections, the status of several species is revised and three new synonymies are proposed. The M. constans species group was resolved as being monophyletic within the M. albifrons lineage based on molecular analyses using COI and 28S rRNA gene sequences. Three species morphologically similar to M. constans (Rossi, 1794) but occurring outside its distributional rangewere supported as being valid and distinct species on the basis of molecular data, but they were not distinguishable based on morphological characters. By contrast, continental populations of M. analis Meigen, 1822 could not be separated from Mediterranean M. constans based on differences in COI or 28S rRNA genes. The same molecular markers could not discriminate between two other species pairs. We conclude that these molecular markers only partially resolve species within the M. constans group. Geometric morphometry of wing shape successfully separated M. analis and M. constans, as well as M. spineus Vujić, Šašić Zorić & Likov, sp. nov. in both species and population analyses.

Species delimitation of the praying mantis Hierodula patellifera (Audinet-Serville) based on morphological and molecular characters (Mantodea: Mantidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4951 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-158
Author(s):  
JAEIL SHIM ◽  
HAECHUL PARK ◽  
SEONGHYUN KIM ◽  
HO-JONG JU ◽  
JEONG-HUN SONG
Keyword(s):  
Species Delimitation ◽  
Male Genitalia ◽  
Gene Tree ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Neighbor Joining ◽  
Praying Mantis ◽  
Taxonomic Analysis ◽  
Molecular Characters

An integrative taxonomic analysis of Hierodula patellifera (Audinet-Serville) is presented based on morphological and molecular characters (COI, 28S rDNA). During repeated trips to the Korean peninsula, we collected unusual specimens from Wanju-gun. They were similar to H. patellifera, but can be distinguished by a larger body size, the number and shape of spines on foreleg, and the shape of male genitalia. To examine the phenotypes and delimit H. patellifera from fourteen sampled populations, we used forecoxal spines and male genitalia as key morphological characters, as well as molecular data including gene tree monophyly and genetic divergence data. The molecular analyses (p-distance, neighbor-joining, and parsimony analyses) did not separate the specimens as two distinct species. The diagnostic characters of H. patellifera are illustrated with habitus images. 

A revision of the Trimeresurus puniceus-complex (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae) based on morphological and molecular data

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1293 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
PATRICK DAVID ◽  
GERNOT VOGEL ◽  
S. P. VIJAYAKUMAR ◽  
NICOLAS VIDAL
Keyword(s):  
Species Concept ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Biological Species ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Biological Species Concept ◽  
Phylogenetic Species Concept ◽  
Morphological And Molecular Data ◽  
A New Species

The brown Asian pitvipers of the genus Trimeresurus related to Trimeresurus puniceus (informal Trimeresurus puniceus-complex) are revised on the basis of morphological and molecular analyses. Variation in morphological characters were investigated among 119 specimens from 62 populations of the whole range of the pitvipers currently known as Trimeresurus puniceus (Boie, 1827), Trimeresurus borneensis (Peters, 1872) and Trimeresurus brongersmai Hoge, 1969. Molecular and morphological analyses clearly differentiate two groups of taxa, referrable to the informal Trimeresurus puniceus-group and Trimeresurus borneensis-group, and confirm the distinct specific status of T. puniceus and T. borneensis. Morphological univariate and multivariate analyses differentiate six clusters of populations that are morphologically diagnosable, of which five are here considered to represent independent lineages and one is placed incertae sedis pending the availability of further specimens. These clusters are considered to be distinct species following the Biological Species Concept and the Phylogenetic Species Concept. One of them is described as a new species, Trimeresurus andalasensis spec. nov. (T. borneensis-group), which includes populations from northern Sumatra. Trimeresurus wiroti Trutnau, 1981 is revalidated to accommodate populations from Thailand and West Malaysia. Trimeresurus borneensis is here considered endemic to Borneo. Trimeresurus puniceus is known from Java and from South Sumatra, but the taxonomy of this species in Sumatra is left unresolved. Also left unresolved is the taxonomic position of specimens from western Sumatra and the Mentawai Archipelago, and from the Natuna Islands and Anamba Islands. Although belonging to the T. puniceus-group, they show some differences to other specimens of the group. They are not referred to any taxon pending the collection of additional specimens. Lastly, Trimeresurus brongersmai is confirmed as a valid species from the Mentawai Archipelago. A key to these taxa is provided.

scholarly journals Campanula teutana, a new isophyllous Campanula (Campanulaceae) from the Adriatic region

Phytotaxa ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 162 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandro Bogdanović ◽  
Salvatore Brullo ◽  
Ivana Rešetnik ◽  
Zlatko Satovic ◽  
Zlatko Liber
Keyword(s):  
Balkan Peninsula ◽  
Comparative Morphology ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Sem Analysis ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Floral Characters ◽  
Adriatic Region

The Balkan Peninsula and the amphi-Adriatic region are biodiversity centres with a high number of Campanula species, some of them with restricted and isolated distributions. Among those is the morphologically, karyologically and genetically well-defined linage of isophyllous Campanula species of the garganica clade, taxonomically treated as Campanula ser. Garganicae. In the central Adriatic, on the Island of Vis (Croatia), an isophyllous Campanula was found growing in rocky crevices of calcareous sea cliffs among chasmophytic vegetation with extremely challenging ecological conditions. Based on morphological characters (monopodial growth form, cordate to ovate basal leaves, campanulate corolla, presence of obtuse hairs at the base of filaments, capsule opening by basal pores and brown shiny seeds) the unidentified plant from the Island of Vis falls into ser. Garganicae. To establish the phylogenetic position and relationships of the unknown Campanula among other species of the garganica clade, nuclear ITS and chloroplast trnL-F sequences as well as comparative morphology, karyology and scanning electron microscopy of seeds were used. Due to its campanulate corolla the plants from Vis are morphologically close to C. portenschlagiana from the eastern Adriatic, from which they differ in several quantitative floral characters. The karyological analysis revealed a diploid chromosome number (2n = 34), while SEM analysis showed that seed coat of new taxon has weakly striate testa, thin wavy striped radial walls and slightly marked lumen. Additionally, molecular data show that the Vis taxon is clearly separated as a distinct species from other species of ser. Garganicae. Therefore, it is described and illustrated as a new species, Campanula teutana Bogdanović & Brullo.  Because of the small number of individuals within the single population, C. teutana should be included on the Red List of the vascular flora of Croatia as an endangered species (EN).

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