scholarly journals Karstic Landscapes Are Foci of Species Diversity in the World’s Third-Largest Vertebrate Genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 (Reptilia: Squamata; Gekkonidae)

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Lee Grismer ◽  
Perry L. Wood ◽  
Nikolay A. Poyarkov ◽  
Minh D. Le ◽  
Suranjan Karunarathna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Habitat Preference ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Mapping Analysis ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Management And Conservation ◽  
Character Mapping

Karstic landscapes are immense reservoirs of biodiversity and range-restricted endemism. Nowhere is this more evident than in the world’s third-largest vertebrate genus Cyrtodactylus (Gekkonidae) which contains well over 300 species. A stochastic character mapping analysis of 10 different habitat preferences across a phylogeny containing 345 described and undescribed species recovered a karst habitat preference occurring in 25.0% of the species, whereas that of the other eight specific habitat preferences occurred in only 0.2–11.0% of the species. The tenth category—general habitat preference—occurred in 38.7% of the species and was the ancestral habitat preference for Cyrtodactylus and the ultimate origin of all other habitat preferences. This study echoes the results of a previous study illustrating that karstic landscapes are generators of species diversity within Cyrtodactylus and not simply “imperiled arks of biodiversity” serving as refugia for relics. Unfortunately, the immense financial returns of mineral extraction to developing nations largely outweighs concerns for biodiversity conservation, leaving approximately 99% of karstic landscapes with no legal protection. This study continues to underscore the urgent need for their appropriate management and conservation. Additionally, this analysis supports the monophyly of the recently proposed 31 species groups and adds one additional species group.

scholarly journals Phylogeny and evolution of habitat preference in Goniurosaurus (Squamata: Eublepharidae) and their correlation with karst and granite-stream-adapted ecomorphologies in species groups from Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 335-352
Author(s):  
L. Lee Grismer ◽  
Hai Ngoc Ngo ◽  
Shuo Qi ◽  
Ying-Yong Wang ◽  
Minh Duc Le ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Preference ◽  
Adaptive Response ◽  
Habitat Partitioning ◽  
Ancestral Condition ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
Mapping Analysis ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Phylogeny And Evolution ◽  
Body Shapes ◽  
Character Mapping

Abstract Maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) analyses using two mitochondrial (16S and cyt b) and two nuclear (CMOS and RAG1) genes and 103 specimens recovered the first phylogenies of all 23 extant species of Goniurosaurus. The analyses strongly supported the recognition of four monophyletic species groups with identical inter-specific relationships within the kuroiwae, lichtenfelderi, and yingdeensis groups but discordant topologies at some nodes within the luii group. Both analyses recovered a polyphyletic G. luii with respect to G. kadoorieorum, and owing to the lack of diagnostic characters in the latter, it is considered a junior synonym of G. luii. A stochastic character mapping analysis of karst versus non-karst habitat preference suggested that karstic landscapes may have played a major role in the evolution and diversification of Goniurosaurus. A karst habitat preference is marginally supported as the most probable ancestral condition for Goniurosaurus as well as for the kuroiwae, luii, and yingdeensis groups. However, a non-karst habitat preference is marginally supported as the most probable ancestral condition for the lichtenfelderi group. Multivariate and univariate ecomorphological analyses of the karst-adapted G. catbaensis, G. huuliensis, and G. luii of the luii group and the granite-stream-adapted G. lichtenfelderii of the lichtenfelderi group demonstrated that their markedly statistically different body shapes may be an adaptive response that contributes to habitat partitioning in areas of northern Vietnam where they are nearly sympatric.

A revision of the endemic South African long-jawed ground spider genus Drassodella Hewitt, 1916 (Araneae: Gallieniellidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4582 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
ZINGISILE MBO ◽  
CHARLES R. HADDAD
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Species ◽  
South African ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Southern Half ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
First Time

The genus Drassodella Hewitt, 1916 is one of four Afrotropical genera of Gallieniellidae, and is presently represented by seven species, all endemic to South Africa. The type material of six of the described species was studied and they are redescribed from both sexes: D. melana Tucker, 1923, D. quinquelabecula Tucker, 1923, D. salisburyi Hewitt, 1916, D. septemmaculata (Strand, 1909), D. tenebrosa Lawrence, 1938 and D. vasivulva Tucker, 1923. Of these, the males of D. melana, D. tenebrosa and D. vasivulva are described for the first time. Recent field work yielded additional females of D. purcelli Tucker, 1923 from the vicinity of the type locality, and this sex is redescribed; the male remains unknown. A further 12 new species are recognized: D. amatola sp. nov. (♀ ♂), D. aurostriata sp. nov. (♀ ♂), D. baviaans sp. nov. (♂), D. flava sp. nov. (♀ ♂), D. guttata sp. nov. (♀ ♂), D. lotzi sp. nov. (♀), D. maculata sp. nov. (♀), D. montana sp. nov. (♀ ♂), D. tolkieni sp. nov. (♀ ♂), D. trilineata sp. nov. (♀), D. transversa sp. nov. (♀ ♂) and D. venda sp. nov. (♀ ♂). Based on the genitalic structures, there appear to be two distinct species groups. The D. melana species group, which includes D. melana, D. tenebrosa and eight new species mainly distributed in eastern and northern South Africa, is characterised by very conservative genitalic morphology in both sexes. The D. salisburyi species group, with considerable variation in the structure of the copulatory organs and distributed in the southern half of South Africa, includes the remaining nine species, of which four are new. Although D. tenebrosa represents an intermediate between the two groups, with palpal morphology more typical of the D. melana species group and epigynal morphology typical of the D. salisburyi group, it is placed in the former species group based on its distribution in eastern South Africa. The biology, habitat preferences and biogeography of Drassodella are briefly discussed. 

Faunal study of velvet ants (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) and their activity pat-terns and habitat preference at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Nye County, Nevada, USA

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3587 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
NICOLE F. BOEHME ◽  
DAVID A. TANNER ◽  
KEVIN A. WILLIAMS ◽  
JAMES P. PITTS
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Preference ◽  
Sand Dune ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Niche Partitioning ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Species Group ◽  
National Wildlife Refuge ◽  
Wildlife Refuge ◽  
The Status ◽  
Ash Meadows

The diversity of velvet ants at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (AMNWR) is investigated along with seasonal flight time and habitat preference for each species. Of the 45 (SD ± 2) species expected to occur at AMNWR via first order jackknife estimator, 42 species were found to occur based on 8843 specimens. Variation in flight times between specieswere minor and revealed a unique pattern of niche partitioning in only one species, Dasymutilla arenivaga Mickel. Habitat preferences were observed for seven species at AMNWR. Dasymutilla arenivaga, Odontophotopsis melicausa (Blake), and Sphaeropthalma orestes (Fox) were found to be more abundant in sand dune habitats than in non-sand dune habitats. While four other species, Odontophotopsis mamata Schuster, O. microdonta Ferguson, O. serca Viereck, and Sphaeropthalma mendica (Blake), were found to be more abundant in non-sand dune habitats. The diversity of velvet ants found at AMNWR was compared to the diversity of velvet ants found at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) located approximately 25 mile northeast of Ash Meadows. This comparison identified six velvet ant species that occurred at the NTS, but were not found at AMNWR.  The status of Photopsis nana Ashmead 1896 is reinstanted. New synonymy is proposed for Photopsis nana Ashmead 1896 (=Mutilla acontius Fox, 1899, syn. nov.). Diagnoses and a key are provided for the velvet ants of AMNWR. The hitherto unknown female of Sphaeropthalma megagnathos Schuster is described, and an updated key to the females is provided for S. imperialis species-group. Lectotypes are designated for twelve species.

Regeneration Success and Plant Species Diversity of Allegheny Hardwood Stands After Roundup Application and Shelterwood Cutting

1994 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 109-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen B. Horsley
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Plant Species Diversity ◽  
Herbaceous Species ◽  
Species Groups

Abstract The presence of desirable regeneration and plant species diversity was studied in five Allegheny hardwood stands before and for 7 yr after application of Roundup herbicide and shelterwood cutting to remove interfering understories of hayscented and New York fern, striped maple, and beech and to establish desirable hardwood regeneration. In each of five 20 ac stands, 10 ac were sprayed with 1 lb ai (active ingredient)/ac of Roundup in August 1979; the remaining 10 ac were unsprayed. The entire 20 ac stand received a shelterwood seed cut the following winter. On treated plots, fern was reduced from 57% stocking before treatment to 7% 1 yr after treatment; striped maple and beech stocking was reduced by 16% during the same time. By the fourth year after treatment, regeneration stocking of desirable hardwood species had doubled on treated plots but remained unchanged on untreated control plots. Species diversity was measured by species richness, three diversity indices--Berger-Parker, Margalef and Shannon, and index-free diversity ordering. Neither the herbicide treatment nor the shelterwood seed cut had a statistically significant effect on species richness of either woody species or herbaceous species groups. Nor was there a significant effect of treatments on woody species diversity as measured by the three diversity indices. Index-free diversity ordering showed. (1) a trend toward increase in less common species on Roundup-treated areas, and (2) the diversity of herbaceous species groups was higher in all 7 yr after treatment with Roundup. Values of the three diversity indices were higher for herbaceous species on Roundup-treated subplots for 2 to 7 yr after treatment. Much of this increase resulted from germination of seed bank grasses, sedges, and Rubus spp. With the qualification that long-term and current browsing by deer has impoverished the flora of the Allegheny hardwood forest, diminishing potential treatment effects, the study demonstrated that Roundup treatment aided desirable regeneration establishment, did not have a negative impact on woody species or herbaceous species group diversity, and may have increased diversity of herbaceous species. North. J. Appl. For. 11(4): 109-116.

scholarly journals Pholcus maxian sp. nov., the fifth endemic spider species of Pholcus phungiformes species-group (Araneae: Pholcidae) at the border between Jilin, China and North Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Lu ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
Qiaoqiao He
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Distribution Pattern ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
North Korea ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Spider Species ◽  
One New Species

The distribution pattern of Pholcus phungiformes species-group indicates that, in Jilin and Heilongjiang, China and North Korea, additional species diversity remains undiscovered. Pholcus maxian sp. nov., one new species of P. phungiformes species-group, is described, based on material collected from the borderline between Jilin, China and North Korea. It represents the fifth endemic species of this species-group and the genus Pholcus from this region.

A revision of Eastern Palaearctic Anthobium Leach, 1819 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae: Anthophagini). III. Consanguineum, crassum and reflexum groups, and an additional species of the fusculum group

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4688 (4) ◽  
pp. 451-482
Author(s):  
ALEXEY V. SHAVRIN ◽  
ALEŠ SMETANA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Palaearctic Species ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Central Nepal ◽  
Middle Asia ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Three New Species ◽  
First Time

Three new species-group are established for eastern Palaearctic species of the genus Anthobium Leach, 1819: the consanguineum-group containing A. consanguineum Shavrin & Smetana, sp.n. (China: Yunnan: Gaoligong Shan, Diancang Shan) and A. jaegeri Shavrin & Smetana, sp.n. (Central Nepal: Kali Gandaki Valley); the crassum-group containing A. crassum Shavrin & Smetana, sp.n. (China: Yunnan: Xue Shan, Haba Shan), A. crenulatum Shavrin & Smetana, sp.n. (China: Yunnan: Diancang Shan), A. explanatum Shavrin & Smetana, sp.n. (China: Sichuan: Gongga Shan), and A. farkaci Shavrin & Smetana, sp.n. (China: Sichuan, Sabde); the reflexum-group containing A. reflexum (Reitter, 1891) (Middle Asia), A.deplanatum Shavrin & Smetana, sp.n. (China: Sichuan: Erlang Shan), A. gaoligongshanense Shavrin & Smetana, sp.n. (China: Yunnan: Gaoligong Shan), and A. kashmiricum (Cameron, 1941) (India: Kashmir). The species groups are defined, briefly discussed, and a key to the species included in each group is given. A lectotype is designated for Lathrimaeum reflexum Reitter, 1891. The subgenus Prionothorax Luze, 1905 is synonymized with the nominal subgenus of Anthobium. An additional species of the fusculum group is described: A. transversale Shavrin & Smetana, sp.n. (China: Sichuan: Gongga Shan). The species of each species-group are (re-)described, illustrated, and their geographical distributions are mapped. Anthobium reflexum is recorded from Kyrgyzstan for the first time. 

Assessment of the order Rhodymeniales (Rhodophyta) from British Columbia using an integrative taxonomic approach reveals overlooked and cryptic species diversity

Botany ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 359-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gina V. Filloramo ◽  
Gary W. Saunders
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Dna Sequence ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Dna Sequence Data ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Taxonomic Approach ◽  
Genetic Species

Molecular-assisted alpha taxonomy using COI-5P and rbcL-3P was employed to reassess species diversity for the Rhodymeniales (Rhodophyta) in British Columbia. A total of 563 collections from British Columbia were resolved as 16 genetic species groups, whereas 13 were previously reported. Collections attributed to Botryocladia pseudodichotoma from British Columbia were resolved as distinct from collections of that species from California (type locality) and were assigned to Botryocladia hawkesii sp. nov. DNA sequence data also resolved an additional species of Fryeella. Although two species of Gloiocladia were recognized, genetic analyses resolved three: G. fryeana, G. laciniata, and Gloiocladia vigneaultii sp. nov. Data also resolved Gloiocladia media comb. nov. from California. For the genus Rhodymenia, where two species were expected, DNA sequence data resolved four. Both R. californica and R. pacifica were confirmed in British Columbia, whereas some collections field-identified as R. californica were genetically distinct and assigned to the novel species, Rhodymenia bamfieldensis sp. nov. Some collections initially identified as R. pacifica were assigned to the resurrected species R. rhizoides. Anatomical development for the monospecific genus Minium was also reassessed owing to that taxon’s assignment to the Fryeellaceae. Our investigation clarified the number of rhodymenialean species in British Columbia and resolved taxonomic and distributional uncertainties associated with some of these taxa.

Review of species of the genus Cercyon of Russia and adjacent regions. VI. Subgenus Cercyon, the C.shinanensis group (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 258-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.K. Ryndevich ◽  
H. Hoshina ◽  
A.A. Prokin
Keyword(s):  
Russian Far East ◽  
Far East ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Palaearctic Species ◽  
Diagnostic Features ◽  
Kunashir Island ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
The Russian Far East

The Cercyon shinanensis species group with two included species is erected within the nominotypical subgenus of Cercyon Leach, 1817. This group is compared with other Palaearctic species groups of Cercyon s. str. The little-known C. shinanensis Nakane, 1965 from Japan (Honshu) is redescribed and its diagnostic features are given. Cercyon sundukovi sp. nov. is described from the Russian Far East (Kunashir Island).

Discovery of New Genera Challenges the Subtribal Classification of Tok-Tok Beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Sepidiini)

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia M Gearner ◽  
Marcin J Kamiński ◽  
Kojun Kanda ◽  
Kali Swichtenberg ◽  
Aaron D Smith
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Phylogenetic Placement ◽  
Darkling Beetles ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Inference Methods ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Coleoptera Tenebrionidae

Abstract Sepidiini is a speciose tribe of desert-inhabiting darkling beetles, which contains a number of poorly defined taxonomic groups and is in need of revision at all taxonomic levels. In this study, two previously unrecognized lineages were discovered, based on morphological traits, among the extremely speciose genera Psammodes Kirby, 1819 (164 species and subspecies) and Ocnodes Fåhraeus, 1870 (144 species and subspecies), namely the Psammodes spinosus species-group and Ocnodes humeralis species-group. In order to test their phylogenetic placement, a phylogeny of the tribe was reconstructed based on analyses of DNA sequences from six nonoverlapping genetic loci (CAD, wg, COI JP, COI BC, COII, and 28S) using Bayesian and maximum likelihood inference methods. The aforementioned, morphologically defined, species-groups were recovered as distinct and well-supported lineages within Molurina + Phanerotomeina and are interpreted as independent genera, respectively, Tibiocnodes Gearner & Kamiński gen. nov. and Tuberocnodes Gearner & Kamiński gen. nov. A new species, Tuberocnodes synhimboides Gearner & Kamiński sp. nov., is also described. Furthermore, as the recovered phylogenetic placement of Tibiocnodes and Tuberocnodes undermines the monophyly of Molurina and Phanerotomeina, an analysis of the available diagnostic characters for those subtribes is also performed. As a consequence, Phanerotomeina is considered as a synonym of the newly redefined Molurina sens. nov. Finally, spectrograms of vibrations produced by substrate tapping of two Molurina species, Toktokkus vialis (Burchell, 1822) and T. synhimboides, are presented.

Beyond Wallace: a new lineage of Chrysorthenches (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea: Glyphipterigidae) reveals a journey tracking its host-plants, Podocarpus (Pinopsida: Podocarpaceae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 190 (2) ◽  
pp. 709-736
Author(s):  
Jae-Cheon Sohn ◽  
Shigeki Kobayashi ◽  
Yutaka Yoshiyasu
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Likelihood ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Geological History ◽  
Dna Barcodes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Maximum Likelihood Phylogeny

Abstract A northward trans-Wallacean radiation is demonstrated for Chrysorthenches, a member of the Orthenches group. Here we review Chrysorthenches and allied genera resulting in a generic transfer of Diathryptica callibrya to Chrysorthenches and two new congeners: C. muraseaeSohn & Kobayashisp. nov. from Japan and C. smaragdinaSohnsp. nov. from Thailand. We review morphological characters of Chrysorthenches and allied genera, and find polyphyly of Diathryptica and the association of the Orthenches-group with Glyphipterigidae. These findings were supported in a maximum likelihood phylogeny of DNA barcodes from ten yponomeutoids. We analysed 30 morphological characters for 12 species of Chrysorthenches, plus one outgroup, via a cladistic approach. The resulting cladogram redefined two pre-existing Chrysorthenches species-groups and identified one novel lineage: the C. callibrya species-group. We review the host associations between Chrysorthenches and Podocarpaceae, based on mapping the working phylogenies. Our review suggests that ancestral Chrysorthenches colonized Podocarpus and later shifted to other podocarp genera. Biogeographical patterns of Chrysorthenches show that they evolved long after the Podocarpaceae radiation. Disjunctive trans-Wallacean distribution of the C. callibrya species-group is possibly related to the tracking of their host-plants and the complicated geological history of the island-arc system connecting Australia and East Asia.

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