Diversity

14 pages, 7223 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microclimatic Growth Rates of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans under Current and Future Climates: A Very High Spatial Resolution SDM for Bsal and Salamandra salamandra (Linnaeus, 1758) within Forest Habitats of the European Hotspot Area

by Felix Deiß, Philipp Ginal and Dennis Rödder

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080510 - 22 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1372

Abstract

Chytridiomycosis is one of the greatest threats to the diversity of amphibians worldwide. Caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), it plays a decisive role in species declines. Bsal is particularly harmful to the European fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), causing [...] Read more.

Chytridiomycosis is one of the greatest threats to the diversity of amphibians worldwide. Caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), it plays a decisive role in species declines. Bsal is particularly harmful to the European fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), causing ulcerations, anorexia and ataxia, which ultimately lead to death. While most studies have focused on the geographic expansion of the pathogen, there is little high-resolution information available. Therefore, we chose a three-step approach in this study: We (I) used a mechanistic distribution model to project the microclimatic growth rate of Bsal within its invasive range on a spatially very high resolution (25 m). We (II) used a correlative distribution model to predict the potential distribution of S. salamandra and (III) applied n-dimensional hypervolumes to quantify the realized microclimatic niches of both species and examine their overlaps. We estimated future trends based on comparisons among three climate scenarios, the current microclimatic conditions and a +2 °C and +4 °C global mean temperature scenario. We demonstrated that Bsal finds suitable growth conditions everywhere within our study area, thus putting S. salamandra at high risk. However, climate change could lead to less suitable thermal conditions for Bsal, possibly providing a loophole for S. salamandra. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of GIScience and Remote Sensing in Biodiversity Conservation)

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20 pages, 21445 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using Deep Learning to Classify Environmental Sounds in the Habitat of Western Black-Crested Gibbons

by Ruiqi Hu, Kunrong Hu, Leiguang Wang, Zhenhua Guan, Xiaotao Zhou, Ning Wang and Longjia Ye

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080509 - 22 Aug 2024

Viewed by 732

Abstract

The western black-crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor) is a rare and endangered primate that inhabits southern China and northern Vietnam, and has become a key conservation target due to its distinctive call and highly endangered status, making its identification and monitoring particularly [...] Read more.

The western black-crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor) is a rare and endangered primate that inhabits southern China and northern Vietnam, and has become a key conservation target due to its distinctive call and highly endangered status, making its identification and monitoring particularly urgent. Identifying calls of the western black-crested gibbon using passive acoustic monitoring data is a crucial method for studying and analyzing these gibbons; however, traditional call recognition models often overlook the temporal information in audio features and fail to adapt to channel-feature weights. To address these issues, we propose an innovative deep learning model, VBSNet, designed to recognize and classify a variety of biological calls, including those of endangered western black-crested gibbons and certain bird species. The model incorporates the image feature extraction capability of the VGG16 convolutional network, the sequence modeling capability of bi-directional LSTM, and the feature selection capability of the SE attention module, realizing the multimodal fusion of image, sequence and attention information. In the constructed dataset, the VBSNet model achieved the best performance in the evaluation metrics of accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score, realizing an accuracy of 98.35%, demonstrating high accuracy and generalization ability. This study provides an effective deep learning method in the field of automated bioacoustic monitoring, which is of great theoretical and practical significance for supporting wildlife conservation and maintaining biodiversity. Full article

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37 pages, 40371 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Middle Miocene (Langhian and Lower Serravallian/Badenian) Scallops (Bivalvia: Pectinidae) from the Precious Collections of the Croatian Natural History Museum

by Marija Bošnjak, Oleg Mandic and Jasenka Sremac

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 508; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080508 - 21 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1458

Abstract

The Croatian Natural History Museum (CNHM) houses rich fossil collections from the Neogene deposits of Northern Croatia, comprising numerous scallops (Bivalvia: Pectinidae). During the Middle Miocene (Badenian = Langhian and early Serravallian), this region was located at the southwestern margin of the Central [...] Read more.

The Croatian Natural History Museum (CNHM) houses rich fossil collections from the Neogene deposits of Northern Croatia, comprising numerous scallops (Bivalvia: Pectinidae). During the Middle Miocene (Badenian = Langhian and early Serravallian), this region was located at the southwestern margin of the Central Paratethys. The value of the CNHM’s historical collections has been presented through taxonomic revisions and biostratigraphic, paleoenvironmental and paleogeographic study. Methods included the cross-checking of specimens from museum boxes with all available published data, systematic revision of scallops, recording the abundance of each taxon, defining the preservation state of the specimens, measuring the morphometric elements and taking photographs of each specimen. After the conducted revision of 624 specimens, the number of registered taxa in the collections was reduced from 52 to 33, and their stratigraphic distribution has been updated. The species Lissochlamys excisa (Bronn, 1831) has been recorded for the first time at the southwestern part of the Central Paratethys. The southernmost Badenian record of Delectopecten vitreus (Gmelin, 1791) known so far has been described. Six types of pectinid habitats have been distinguished, based on the provided paleontological and lithological data, also estimating the scallops’ abundance in each of them. Bioerosion and encrustation traces on scallops’ shells represent an additional contribution to paleoecological studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Do We Still Need Natural History Collections?)

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27 pages, 3024 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Automated ISSR Fingerprinting Is a Cost-Effective Way to Assess Genetic Diversity and Taxonomic Differentiation—A Case Study on the Encephalartos eugene-maraisii Species Complex

by Deanne Murphy, Nigel Paul Barker and Arnold Frisby

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080507 - 20 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1634

Abstract

Recent technological advancements in conservation genetics and genomics have resulted in diverse tools for aiding the conservation of species. The precision and resolution of high throughput sequencing technologies provide valuable insights to aid conservation decisions, but these technologies are often financially unfeasible or [...] Read more.

Recent technological advancements in conservation genetics and genomics have resulted in diverse tools for aiding the conservation of species. The precision and resolution of high throughput sequencing technologies provide valuable insights to aid conservation decisions, but these technologies are often financially unfeasible or unavailable in resource constrained countries. Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers, when combined with sensitive automated detection systems, provide a simple, cheap means to investigate genetic diversity and discriminate closely related species. Here, we apply this technology to assess genetic diversity and taxonomic delimitation in the Encephalartos eugene-maraisii species complex, a highly threatened, taxonomically dubious group of cycads in South Africa. Our analyses support the taxonomic singularity of E. dyerianus, E. dolomiticus and E. eugene-maraisii. Relationships between E. nubimontanus and E. cupidus remain uncertain. E. middelburgensis samples showed no clustering but had poor amplification success. This study demonstrates the suitability of automated ISSR fingerprinting as a method for plant conservation studies, especially in resource-constrained countries, and we make recommendations as to how this methodology can be effectively implemented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2024 Feature Papers by Diversity’s Editorial Board Members)

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24 pages, 2147 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Interaction between Climate Change and Biodiversity Can Be Assessed from a Material Cycle Perspective

by Ah-Young Kim, Who-Seung Lee and Yowhan Son

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080506 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 2072

Abstract

This study focused on understanding biodiversity variability in response to climate change as an environmental stressor from a carbon cycle perspective. As the frequency and magnitude of environmental stresses are expected to increase due to rising carbon concentrations, these changes may affect the [...] Read more.

This study focused on understanding biodiversity variability in response to climate change as an environmental stressor from a carbon cycle perspective. As the frequency and magnitude of environmental stresses are expected to increase due to rising carbon concentrations, these changes may affect the variability in biodiversity. However, several studies have argued that conventional methods for biodiversity assessment, primarily based on arithmetic indices utilized in national policies, are inadequate for accurately assessing these interactions among species, abiotic changes, and material cycling. Here, we indicate that environmental stressors that occur at various scales and domains, from macroscopic to microscopic, and their effects on ecosystems are multi-dimensional. Furthermore, environmental stresses not only affect organisms inhabiting these ecosystems but these organisms, in return, influence the carbon cycle through life history changes resulting from these stresses. The results of our review suggest that these processes are sequentially interconnected, forming self-reinforcing feedback loops. Ultimately, an integrated approach is necessary to understand biodiversity variability in complex and open ecosystems. This approach should be capable of comprehending changes in the overall flow by considering ecosystem characteristics. Full article

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17 pages, 10100 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inocybaceae (Basidiomycota) in Ectomycorrhizal Symbiosis with Halimium (Cistaceae), and the Description of Two New Species of Inocybe from Sardinia (Italy)

by Massimo Sanna, Alberto Mua, Marco Casula and Andrea C. Rinaldi

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 505; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080505 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1243

Abstract

Halimium, Cistaceae, is a genus of shrubs restricted to the western part of the Mediterranean basin, where it thrives in diverse habitats. Despite this ecological adaptability, little attention has been devoted to understanding the mycorrhizal biology of Halimium. Through the [...] Read more.

Halimium, Cistaceae, is a genus of shrubs restricted to the western part of the Mediterranean basin, where it thrives in diverse habitats. Despite this ecological adaptability, little attention has been devoted to understanding the mycorrhizal biology of Halimium. Through the examination of both sporocarps and ectomycorrhizal root tip collections, together with a thorough study of data previously reported in the relevant literature, we revealed a rich diversity of ectomycorrhizal mycobiota associated with Halimium spp. In this study, we describe the noteworthy diversity of the basidiomycetous family Inocybaceae in Halimium stands. Some 17 species of Inocybe and Pseudosperma are currently reported as linked to Halimium spp., mostly on the basis of sporocarp occurrence in the proximity of the potential host plant. Of these species, over 40% (7 of 17) come from our own study based on observations in pure Halimium stands in southwestern Sardinia, Italy. We also describe two new species of Inocybe, I. halimiphila sp. nov. and Inocybe rupribes sp. nov., that were collected under Halimium and demonstrated to establish ectomycorrhizal symbiosis with the shrub. We discuss the main morphological and ecological characteristics that distinguish the new species, unveiling their evolutionary relationships by inferring a phylogeny based on multiple loci. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogeography and Macroecology Hotspots in 2024)

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13 pages, 2518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microhabitat Structure Affects Ground-Dwelling Beetle Communities More than Temperature along an Urbanization Gradient

by Valentin Cabon, Yann Laurent, Romain Georges, Hervé Quénol, Vincent Dubreuil and Benjamin Bergerot

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080504 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 859

Abstract

Urbanization profoundly alters environmental conditions for organisms, particularly through the urban heat island (UHI) effect, which elevates temperatures in city centers. This study examines the influence of urban environmental variables on rove and ground beetle communities. We sampled 36 grasslands in Rennes (northwestern [...] Read more.

Urbanization profoundly alters environmental conditions for organisms, particularly through the urban heat island (UHI) effect, which elevates temperatures in city centers. This study examines the influence of urban environmental variables on rove and ground beetle communities. We sampled 36 grasslands in Rennes (northwestern France), yielding 3317 and 505 staphylinid and carabid adult individuals, respectively, belonging to 121 and 60 species, respectively. Staphylinid and carabid communities are not primarily affected by temperature-related variables. Staphylinids, often overlooked in urban ecology, showed species composition variation to be influenced by habitat and temperature, whereas their functional diversity was positively correlated with herbaceous vegetation height only. In contrast, carabid communities exhibited no significant relationship with the tested environmental variables. This study underscores the taxon-dependent nature of ectotherm’s responses to thermal environments. Although a further investigation into species-specific traits, and particularly dispersal capacities in staphylinids, is needed to advance our understanding of urbanization’s impact, our results indicate that functional diversity in staphylinid assemblages can be favored by locally reducing the mowing frequency or increasing the cutting height within urban green spaces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biodiversity Conservation)

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5 pages, 26946 KiB

Open AccessInteresting Images

Recolonization of Intertidal Mussels in Nova Scotia (Canada) after Their Mass Disappearance Following the Severe 2023 Winter Cold Snap

by Ricardo A. Scrosati and Nicole M. Cameron

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 503; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080503 - 19 Aug 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 870

Abstract

In February 2023, a severe cold snap took place in Atlantic Canada and was followed by the mass loss of mussels at mid-to-high intertidal elevations on the southeastern Nova Scotia coast. This loss was concerning because mussels sustain upper trophic levels in coastal [...] Read more.

In February 2023, a severe cold snap took place in Atlantic Canada and was followed by the mass loss of mussels at mid-to-high intertidal elevations on the southeastern Nova Scotia coast. This loss was concerning because mussels sustain upper trophic levels in coastal food webs and because mussel stands enhance local biodiversity by sheltering many small invertebrate species. Using photographs taken in the second summer after that cold snap (July 2024), this article provides visual evidence of active ongoing recolonization of intertidal mussels on this coast, including the incipient formation of new stands. These are encouraging signs of ecological resilience. Reaching historical values of abundance will likely depend on the future occurrence of weather extremes, which are becoming more frequent with the ongoing climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Marine Diversity)

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5 pages, 181 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Ecology and Biogeography of Marine Benthos

by Renato Mamede

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 502; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080502 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1208

Abstract

The ocean floor, which spans approximately 71% of the Earth’s surface, stretches from sunlit shallow waters to the profound depths of ocean trenches around 11,000 m deep, encompassing regions from the polar ice to tropical seas [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Biogeography of Marine Benthos)

27 pages, 3928 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plant Communities of the Tern Sanctuary on the Matsu Islands as a Breeding Habitat for Seabirds

by Wei Wang, Chun-Min Wang, Yi-Chiao Ho, Kuan-Chen Tang, Min-Chun Liao, Hui-Wen Lin and Hsy-Yu Tzeng

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080501 - 15 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1612

Abstract

The Matsu Islands Tern Refuge comprises eight reefs located at a relay station on the East Asian bird migration route, and it attracts many transiting, wintering, or breeding birds to inhabit and live on the reefs every year. In order to understand the [...] Read more.

The Matsu Islands Tern Refuge comprises eight reefs located at a relay station on the East Asian bird migration route, and it attracts many transiting, wintering, or breeding birds to inhabit and live on the reefs every year. In order to understand the compositions of plant communities as a breeding habitat for seabirds, we investigated the plant communities of the eight reefs. A total of 130 plots of 10 × 10 square meters were established, from which we found 107 species of plants in 102 genera and 51 families. Among this, we found one critically endangered (CR) species, four vulnerable (VU) species, and three near-threatened (NT) species. The result of two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and indicator value (IndVal) showed 130 samples were divided into 11 vegetation types; most of the vegetation types had significant indicator species. We also use the two-way to present the plot of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) by vegetation types and reefs. Moreover, this result reveals that these samples were more clearly cluster divided by islands. Our results reveal that the compositions and characteristics of plant communities were related clearly to the environmental factors for each reef in the Matsu Islands Tern Refuge. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that species composition of vegetation yielded high correlation with soil property, especially with soil pH. In addition, we found that the traces of bird activity is relevant to the characteristics and structures of plant communities. We found that the plant communities comprising low-grass shrubs would provide relatively soft nesting materials and sheltering effects for eggs or hatchlings for terns. Compared to low-grass shrubs, the traits of high-grass shrubs would not be beneficial to nest for breeding of terns on the ground, and no nested trace was found in these plant communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Diversity on Islands)

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15 pages, 2720 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Population Density Estimation Methods for Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)

by Gergely Tóth and Krisztián Katona

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080500 - 15 Aug 2024

Viewed by 827

Abstract

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) populations have been increasing in Europe in the last decades. Without reliable methods, game managers frequently underestimate the population size, leading to underharvesting. The aim of this research was to identify the most suitable method for roe [...] Read more.

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) populations have been increasing in Europe in the last decades. Without reliable methods, game managers frequently underestimate the population size, leading to underharvesting. The aim of this research was to identify the most suitable method for roe deer density estimation in lowland, sparsely forested, high-visibility flat areas in Hungary. The census data of the total counting in the daytime strip transect and the night spotlight strip transect, as the total counting of the sample areas with a thermal camera from observation points within 0–250 m and 0–500 m ranges, were compared in seven hunting areas. It was revealed that using the thermal camera within 0–250 m and the spotlight method in the same range gave the statistically highest population density values. There was no significant difference between the two methods. The smallest mean was revealed in the case of the daytime strip transect data. The thermal imaging method gave significantly lower values for the greater distance (250–500 m) than for the range of spotlighting (250 m). The night spotlight strip transect method and the counting from observation points with a thermal camera, both to 250 m, provided the highest values; thus, they are recommended to determine the roe deer population density in open flat areas. They require the same amount of human resources and time, but due to the high cost of the thermal camera, the spotlight is also perfectly suited for widespread use by hunting companies. The results supported the underestimation of roe deer populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Animal Diversity)

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18 pages, 3284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationships between Plant Community Stability and Diversity across Different Grassland Types and Their Association with Environmental Factors in the Habahe Forest Area, Xinjiang

by Guoyan Zeng, Mao Ye, Miaomiao Li, Weilong Chen, Qingzhi He, Xiaoting Pan, Xi Zhang, Jing Che, Jiaorong Qian and Yexin Lv

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 499; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080499 - 15 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 814

Abstract

Plant community stability and diversity play crucial roles in maintaining the stable performance of grassland ecosystem functions. In this study, we selected 55 representative grassland community sample plots in the Habahe Forest region of the Altai Mountains, Xinjiang. We examined the number of [...] Read more.

Plant community stability and diversity play crucial roles in maintaining the stable performance of grassland ecosystem functions. In this study, we selected 55 representative grassland community sample plots in the Habahe Forest region of the Altai Mountains, Xinjiang. We examined the number of species, the number of individuals, and the cover of each species in the sample plots. Additionally, we determined the aboveground biomass of grassland communities, the stability of M. Godron communities, and plant diversity (using the Margalef index, Simpson index, Shannon–Wiener index, and Alatalo evenness index) in the sample plots. We analyzed community stability, plant diversity, and the correlation between community stability, plant diversity, and environmental factors (such as longitude, latitude, altitude, slope, humus thickness, soil thickness, air temperature, precipitation, and soil moisture). The results show that the plant coverage and height of different grassland types in the Habahe Forest area decrease from mountain meadow to desert steppe. The aboveground biomass and species diversity of meadows are significantly higher than those of steppes. The stability of different grassland types is as follows: montane steppe > montane meadow steppe > mountain meadow > desert steppe. The species richness of the four grassland types is positively correlated with community stability, while evenness is negatively correlated with community stability. Dominance in montane steppe and montane meadow steppe is significantly positively correlated with community stability, whereas diversity in desert steppe and montane steppe is significantly negatively correlated with community stability. Precipitation and soil moisture are the main factors affecting species diversity and stability in the Habahe Forest area. Soil nutrients and slope can also impact community stability by affecting species diversity. In summary, the ecological management of grasslands in the Habahe Forest area should consider climate, soil, and terrain factors, and different management measures should be selected to adapt to different grassland types. Full article

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32 pages, 10494 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing Species Diversity in Rocky Intertidal Communities over Multiple Spatial Scales among Understudied Eastern Pacific Ecoregions

by Lynn Wilbur, Frithjof C. Küpper and Vasilis Louca

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080498 - 14 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2022

Abstract

Many gaps in our theoretical understanding of the variations in the diversity and structure of intertidal communities exist for the Eastern Pacific. In order to fill some of these gaps, we censused intertidal communities and compared patterns of diversity on multiple spatial scales [...] Read more.

Many gaps in our theoretical understanding of the variations in the diversity and structure of intertidal communities exist for the Eastern Pacific. In order to fill some of these gaps, we censused intertidal communities and compared patterns of diversity on multiple spatial scales using several measures in alpha (α) and beta (β) diversities at twenty-one sites in a cold temperate, a warm temperate and a tropical Eastern Pacific ecoregion that were unique in terms of research effort and each with distinct geographic features. Diversity and richness on all spatial scales were compared using area curves, Hill numbers, ordination and cluster analyses, and the Hutcheson’s t-test with post hoc PERMANOVA, which revealed significant differences in diversity within and among ecoregions. Functional group and species richness and abundance were found to be highest in the cold and warm temperate ecoregions, and the functional group richness was second highest in the tropical Guayaquil ecoregion. The Bray–Curtis similarity method proved useful for determining patterns of small-scale intertidal zonation, while the Sorensen–Dice method suggested high indices of similarity in the functional group and subclass structures among all ecoregions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management—2nd Edition)

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19 pages, 2350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Land Use on the Community Structure of Aquatic Invertebrate in Subtropical Streams

by Isabel Cristina Bohn, Joaquim Olinto Branco, Vivian de Mello Cionek, Vinícius Soares Correa da Costa, Aurea Luiza Lemes da Silva and Eduardo Augusto Werneck Ribeiro

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080497 - 14 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1455

Abstract

Streams constitute the water supply of the watersheds and provide the transfer of energy along the course of water, ensuring water biodiversity. Due to the different uses of the earth, the benthic community is being suppressed. The objective of this study is to [...] Read more.

Streams constitute the water supply of the watersheds and provide the transfer of energy along the course of water, ensuring water biodiversity. Due to the different uses of the earth, the benthic community is being suppressed. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of changes in land use on the abundance, richness, and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in subtropical streams, considering the physical and chemical variables of streams seasonally. In total, 144 samples were collected between February 2022 and November 2023 at 12 sites distributed in a watershed in southern Brazil, four sites for each land use. Herein, 83.520 individuals were identified, comprising 67 taxa. There was a decrease in richness along the forested–rural–urban gradient and a greater abundance in the urban environment, without the significant influence of seasonality. We conclude that the diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate in the streams is influenced not only by environmental variables but also by the spatial distribution between streams. The proximity of the streams generates a similarity in dominance. This study contributed to understanding the relationships of the environment with the benthic community and considering the spatial distribution among the streams sampled in future investigations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Freshwater Biodiversity)

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12 pages, 1589 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Patterns of Species Richness and Its Endemism of Beetles in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region of China

by Yuxian Niu and Guodong Ren

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 496; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080496 - 14 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 544

Abstract

The Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region lies between the Mongolia-Xinjiang Zoogeographic Region and the Central China Zoogeographic Region in China, harboring relatively rich biodiversity. This study specifically examined the species diversity, richness and endemic areas of beetles in this area. By analyzing 5965 detailed distribution records [...] Read more.

The Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region lies between the Mongolia-Xinjiang Zoogeographic Region and the Central China Zoogeographic Region in China, harboring relatively rich biodiversity. This study specifically examined the species diversity, richness and endemic areas of beetles in this area. By analyzing 5965 detailed distribution records of 2047 beetle species in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, the species richness maps were created with a grid size of 0.5°. Additionally, two methods, parsimony analysis of endemism (PAE) and endemicity analysis (EA) were applied to detect areas of endemism (AOEs) with different grid sizes (0.1°, 0.25° and 0.5°), resulting in the identification of three AOEs in the southern mountainous areas of the Taihang Mountains, Yanshan Mountains, and Xiaowutai Mountains. It also verified that AOEs are consistent with the hypothesis that endemic areas are predominantly located in mountain ranges, as proposed by previous related studies. These findings highlight the importance of complex topography and stable climate in shaping AOEs and conserving biodiversity. Full article

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20 pages, 2440 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biodiversity Assessment of a Mississippi River Backwater Complex Using eDNA Metabarcoding

by Eric J. Ludwig, Veronica M. Lee, Leah K. Berkman, Aaron D. Geheber and David D. Duvernell

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080495 - 14 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1492

Abstract

The backwater lowland habitats of large rivers, like the Mississippi River in North America, present complex and often inaccessible environments for traditional capture-based fish biodiversity sampling. Our knowledge of the assemblages of the fishes that occupy such habitats is often incomplete, and this [...] Read more.

The backwater lowland habitats of large rivers, like the Mississippi River in North America, present complex and often inaccessible environments for traditional capture-based fish biodiversity sampling. Our knowledge of the assemblages of the fishes that occupy such habitats is often incomplete, and this can compromise management efforts. We employed environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding methods to sample a Mississippi River bottom wetland system to assess the ichthyofaunal diversity and the assemblage structure across habitat types, and we compared our results with capture-based survey records for the same habitats. We collected water samples in the spring and fall of 2022 from slough, ditch, shallow lake, and bayou habitats that varied in depth, vegetation, seasonal variability, and connectivity to the Mississippi River channel. We detected a diverse array of fish species that included 51 taxa. Nearly all the species previously documented in the habitats were detected using eDNA metabarcoding, and we increased the number of documented species by more than a third. Most of the species were ubiquitous across the range of habitats, but there was also a substantial assemblage structure, with some species exhibiting clear habitat specificity. Fall sampling was limited to the deeper bayou habitats where seasonal variation between the spring and fall was minimal. eDNA metabarcode sampling was demonstrated to be effective at detecting invasive species as well as uncommon species, which included several species of conservation concern. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications on Environmental DNA in Aquatic Ecology and Biodiversity)

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9 pages, 10561 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mitochondrial Genome Diversity of Schistura McClelland, 1838 (Teleostei, Nemacheilidae)

by Xiaohuang Peng, Baohong Xu, Changjun Chen, Tiaoyi Xiao and Jianming Su

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080494 - 13 Aug 2024

Viewed by 847

Abstract

The inconsistency between traditional morphological taxonomy and molecular phylogenetic data is a major issue that puzzles the study of fish classification and evolution. Although mitochondrial genes are commonly used in phylogenetic analyses to compare fish species, the mitochondrial evolution and diversity of Schistura [...] Read more.

The inconsistency between traditional morphological taxonomy and molecular phylogenetic data is a major issue that puzzles the study of fish classification and evolution. Although mitochondrial genes are commonly used in phylogenetic analyses to compare fish species, the mitochondrial evolution and diversity of Schistura are still not well understood. To better understand the evolution of Schistura, we sequenced the mitochondrial genome of Schistura fasciolata and compared it with other species of Schistura. A 16,588 bp circular mitochondrial genome of S. fasciolata was obtained and it contains 13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNA, and two ribosomal RNA genes, and a non-coding control region. The gene arrangement in the mitochondrial genomes of all Schistura species was consistent. However, we also found that S. fasciolata was not monophyletic. Although mitochondrial genes can be effectively used for Schistura species identification, they may not be suitable for inferring the evolutionary process of Schistura species. These results provide support for the use of mitochondrial genes in identifying Schistura species, and also serve as a warning against mistakenly using them to evaluate the evolution process of Schistura species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biodiversity Conservation)

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17 pages, 3879 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Genus and Species of Marine Symbiotic Shrimp (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from New Caledonia

by Zdeněk Ďuriš and Karolína Fišarová

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080493 - 13 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1081

Abstract

A single specimen of a new genus and species of marine palaemonid shrimp was collected from the outer slope of the barrier reef of Koumac, northwest New Caledonia. The new shrimp is remarkable due to its unique series of diagnostic characters, i.e., the [...] Read more.

A single specimen of a new genus and species of marine palaemonid shrimp was collected from the outer slope of the barrier reef of Koumac, northwest New Caledonia. The new shrimp is remarkable due to its unique series of diagnostic characters, i.e., the presence of compressed supraorbital teeth, a well-developed orbital cavity, closely set antennal and hepatic teeth on the carapace, swollen eyestalks, fully reduced endites on the maxilla, an anteriorly produced lobe on the fourth thoracic sternite, relatively small second chelipeds, and strongly biunguiculate ambulatory dactyli. This specimen occupies an isolated phylogenetic position among the symbiotic palaemonid shrimp analyzed, only demonstrating a feeble morphological inclination towards the “gnathophyllid” section of these. However, neither the main diagnostic characters nor genetic data allow for further clarification of a closer relationship between this new shrimp and any currently known palaemonid genus as of yet. The new genus and species is described in this report, and its phylogenetic position is discussed based on molecular and morphological characters. Full article

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16 pages, 15119 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Skin Anatomy, Bone Histology and Taphonomy of a Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) Ichthyosaur (Reptilia: Ichthyopterygia) from Luxembourg, with Implications for Paleobiology

by Ida Bonnevier Wallstedt, Peter Sjövall, Ben Thuy, Randolph G. De La Garza, Mats E. Eriksson and Johan Lindgren

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 492; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080492 - 12 Aug 2024

Viewed by 2523

Abstract

A partial ichthyosaur skeleton from the Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) bituminous shales of the ‘Schistes Carton’ unit of southern Luxembourg is described and illustrated. In addition, associated remnant soft tissues are analyzed using a combination of imaging and molecular techniques. The fossil (MNHNL TV344) [...] Read more.

A partial ichthyosaur skeleton from the Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) bituminous shales of the ‘Schistes Carton’ unit of southern Luxembourg is described and illustrated. In addition, associated remnant soft tissues are analyzed using a combination of imaging and molecular techniques. The fossil (MNHNL TV344) comprises scattered appendicular elements, together with a consecutive series of semi-articulated vertebrae surrounded by extensive soft-tissue remains. We conclude that TV344 represents a skeletally immature individual (possibly of the genus Stenopterygius) and that the soft parts primarily consist of fossilized skin, including the epidermis (with embedded melanophore pigment cells and melanosome organelles) and dermis. Ground sections of dorsal ribs display cortical microstructures reminiscent of lines of arrested growth (LAGs), providing an opportunity for a tentative age determination of the animal at the time of death (>3 years). It is further inferred that the exceptional preservation of TV344 was facilitated by seafloor dysoxia/anoxia with periodical intervals of oxygenation, which triggered phosphatization and the subsequent formation of a carbonate concretion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Making New Out of the Old: Recent Biological Advances on Mesozoic Marine Reptiles)

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12 pages, 2477 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ground Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Assemblages in Hazelnut Groves in Calabria (Southern Italy)

by Marco Pezzi, Domenico Bonelli, Francesco Carlomagno, Erica Di Biase, Federica Fumo, Federica Mendicino, Cristina Munari and Teresa Bonacci

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080491 - 11 Aug 2024

Viewed by 980

Abstract

Carabidae, or carabids, commonly known as “ground beetles”, are found in numerous natural and cultivated habitats and are recognized for their beneficial role in controlling phytophagous pests in various temperate agroecosystems. However, the crop type and agricultural practices used in management areas significantly [...] Read more.

Carabidae, or carabids, commonly known as “ground beetles”, are found in numerous natural and cultivated habitats and are recognized for their beneficial role in controlling phytophagous pests in various temperate agroecosystems. However, the crop type and agricultural practices used in management areas significantly affect the structure of the carabid communities. The aim of this study was to investigate the abundance and diversity of ground beetles in hazelnut agroecosystems characterized by different agricultural methods in Calabria, Southern Italy. The carabids were collected from 2017 to 2018 in three hazelnut groves referred to in this study as AZ1, AZ2 and AZ3. Carabids were sampled using pitfall traps inspected every two weeks over a period of 24 months. A total of 4665 specimens belonging to 48 taxa were collected within the sampled sites. Many taxa were found to be widely distributed across the three selected hazelnut groves. Among these, Calathus spp., Harpalus dimidiatus (P. Rossi, 1790), Nebria spp., Platyderus neapolitanus jannonei (Binaghi in Magistretti, 1955), Poecilus cupreus (Linnaeus, 1758), Pterostichus melas italicus (Dejean, 1828), and Syntomus obscuroguttatus (Duftschmid, 1812) were the most abundant ones associated with all sampled areas. Concerning trophic preference, among the collected taxa, the most abundant ones were zoophagous and zoospermophagous. Additionally, taxa uncommon in agroecosystems but with ecological relevance, such as Carabus lefebvrei lefebvrei Dejean, 1826, Carabus preslii neumeyeri Schaum, 1856, and Carabus rossii Dejean, 1826, were also collected. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Mediterranean Soil Arthropods Diversity)

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17 pages, 2849 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synergistic Threats to Wild Fauna in Ecuador: Using a Novel Data Source to Estimate the Impacts of Trafficking and Human–Wildlife Conflict

by Ricardo Villalba-Briones, Patricia Mendoza, Daniel Garces, Eliana Belen Molineros, Juan S. Monros and Sam Shanee

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 490; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080490 - 11 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1453

Abstract

Wildlife trafficking and human–wildlife conflict are major causes of species decline. The illegal nature of wildlife trafficking makes it hard, and sometimes dangerous, to study. ‘Mansión Mascota’ is a veterinary clinic in Guayaquil, Ecuador, which, through agreement with the Ecuadorian Ministry of the [...] Read more.

Wildlife trafficking and human–wildlife conflict are major causes of species decline. The illegal nature of wildlife trafficking makes it hard, and sometimes dangerous, to study. ‘Mansión Mascota’ is a veterinary clinic in Guayaquil, Ecuador, which, through agreement with the Ecuadorian Ministry of the Environment, receives confiscated wildlife for treatment. Mansión Mascota also receives injured and abandoned wildlife brought in by the authorities and the public. Between January 2018 and September 2022, the clinic received 3212 wild animals from ≥171 taxa, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Through the classification of records based on reported use, native distribution, and evidence of capture/pet keeping, we were able to classify 1127 animals of 68 species as subject to wildlife trafficking. Turtles were the most abundant group (69%). The majority of turtles (91%) and primates (80%) were of Amazonian origin, whereas 90% of psittacines and 97% of carnivores had potential coastal origins. Threatened and conservation-dependent species were common in the traffic. Furthermore, ≥955 animals of 106 species were brought to the clinic due to anthropogenic wildlife conflict. Trafficking, combined with the high number of injured animals, highlights the synergistic threats facing wildlife in Ecuador. Full article

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

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20 pages, 5428 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multivariate Analysis Techniques and Tolerance Indices for Detecting Bread Wheat Genotypes of Drought Tolerance

by Ibrahim Al-Ashkar

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 489; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080489 - 10 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1530

Abstract

Drought stress is one of the biggest hardships in wheat cultivation because of the strong negative relationship between water deficit and crop yields owing to a lower grain weight, a shorter grain-filling period, a slower grain-filling rate, and reduced grain quality. Genotype–environment interaction [...] Read more.

Drought stress is one of the biggest hardships in wheat cultivation because of the strong negative relationship between water deficit and crop yields owing to a lower grain weight, a shorter grain-filling period, a slower grain-filling rate, and reduced grain quality. Genotype–environment interaction (GEN:ENV) generates hardships in selecting wheat genotypes and ideotypes due to biased genetic estimates. Diverse strategies have been proposed to respond to the urgent need for concurrent improvements in yield performance and stability. This study’s purpose was to appraise genetic variation and GEN:ENV effects on yield and yield components to discover drought-stress-tolerant genotypes and ideotypes. This study evaluated 20 genotypes in three consecutive seasons under non-stressful and drought-stress conditions in a total of six ENVs. The broad-sense heritability ranged from 0.54 to 0.82 based on expected mean squares and ranged from 0.60 to 0.90 based on plot mean, but in the other three ways, it was usually greater than 0.90. The high values of (

σ_{gen : e n v}^{2}

) revealed the effect that broad-sense heritability has on the expression of traits. G01, G03, G06, G07, G08, G10, G12, G13, G16, G17, and G18 were stable genotypes for grain yield (GY), according to additive main effects and a multiplicative interaction biplot for the six ENVs. Based on scores in the weighted average of absolute scores biplot (WAASB), G02, G04, G05, G08, G10, and G18 were selected as stable and high-performance for GY, and they were all selected as the best genotype groups using the WAASB-GY superiority index. From the results obtained from principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering and from the tolerance discrimination indices, G02, G04, G05, G18, and G19 are genotypes that produce a suitable yield under non-stressful and drought-stress conditions. In essence, combining approaches that take into consideration stability and high performance can contribute significantly to enhancing the reliability of recommendations for novel wheat genotypes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Diversity and Plant Breeding)

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11 pages, 4586 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Phylogeny and Historical Biogeography of Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae) Corroborates the Mid-Miocene Origins of Neotropical Savannas

by Rafael Felipe de Almeida, Augusto Francener, Maria Candida Henrique Mamede and Cássio van den Berg

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080488 - 10 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1152

Abstract

We present a dated and calibrated molecular phylogeny for one of the most characteristic genera of Neotropical savannas, Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae), based on the ETS, ITS, and psbA-trnH markers. We sampled 33 species of Byrsonima and four species of the outgroups Blepharandra, Diacidia, [...] Read more.

We present a dated and calibrated molecular phylogeny for one of the most characteristic genera of Neotropical savannas, Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae), based on the ETS, ITS, and psbA-trnH markers. We sampled 33 species of Byrsonima and four species of the outgroups Blepharandra, Diacidia, and Pterandra to test the monophyly of the infrageneric classification of the genus. Bayesian inference (BI) analysis was performed for the combined molecular dataset. Seven morphological characters were optimized on the obtained tree. Calibration points derived from a published chronogram for Malpighiaceae were used alongside a relaxed, uncorrelated molecular clock on Beast 1.8.4. Ancestral range reconstructions focusing on four main Neotropical biomes (Cerrado, Atlantic rainforest, Amazon rainforest, and Caatinga dry forests) were performed on BioGeoBEARS. Our phylogenetic results corroborated the monophyly of Byrsonima, but all of its subgenera and sections were polyphyletic, with all morphological characters circumscribing these infrageneric ranks being highly homoplastic. The most recent common ancestor of Byrsonima was widespread in South American biomes at 11.41 Ma, posteriorly diversifying in the Amazon rainforests up to 7.72 Ma, when it started massively diversifying in Neotropical savannas. A few re-colonization events from savannas to rain or dry forests occurred from 2.95–0.53 Ma. These results corroborate the mid-Miocene origins of Neotropical savannas, and future studies should aim to sample Mesoamerican species of Byrsonima. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2024)

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36 pages, 16048 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Recent Environmental History, Attempted Restoration and Future Prospects of a Challenged Lobelia Pond in Northeastern Belgium

by Luc Denys, Jo Packet, An Leyssen and Floris Vanderhaeghe

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 487; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080487 - 9 Aug 2024

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Abstract

Softwater ponds with Lobelia dortmanna (EU habitat type 3110) represent the rarest aquatic habitat in Belgium. As in many other European countries, its unfavourable conservation status necessitates restoration according to the EU Habitats Directive, which is compromised by a range of pressures and [...] Read more.

Softwater ponds with Lobelia dortmanna (EU habitat type 3110) represent the rarest aquatic habitat in Belgium. As in many other European countries, its unfavourable conservation status necessitates restoration according to the EU Habitats Directive, which is compromised by a range of pressures and faces increasing social–economic opposition. To explore appropriate goals and remaining obstacles for its ecological rehabilitation, we investigated the environmental history of a pond, formerly renowned for the occurrence of this habitat. We complemented monitoring data with information inferred from diatoms analysed from old samples, herbarium specimens and surface sediments, vegetation records, physical–chemical analyses and additional observations. This indicated almost circumneutral, slightly buffered and nutrient-poor conditions for the first decades of the 20th century. Deposition of atmospheric pollutants caused gradual acidification from the early 1940s, intensifying into mineral-acidic conditions by the 1970s. More recently, a period of alkalinisation and eutrophication followed despite some restoration efforts. We discuss these changes in the contexts of general setting, external pressures and internal processes. Reflecting upon the prospects for restoring the pond’s emblematic biodiversity, management implications for this and other softwater sites dealing with similar problems are discussed. A new combination in the diatom genus Iconella is proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plant Diversity, Conservation, and Restoration)

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11 pages, 1542 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Monitoring of European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) Population in the Slovak Danubian Lowland

by Francesco Vizzarri, Jaroslav Slamecka, Tomas Sladecek, Rastislav Jurcik, Lubomir Ondruska and Peter Schultz

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080486 - 9 Aug 2024

Viewed by 855

Abstract

In many European countries over the last few decades, arable fields dominate agricultural landscapes, leading to very intensive land-use practices. This seems to be the main cause of population declines for numerous farmland species, including the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, [...] Read more.

In many European countries over the last few decades, arable fields dominate agricultural landscapes, leading to very intensive land-use practices. This seems to be the main cause of population declines for numerous farmland species, including the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778). The Research Institute for Animal Production (National Agricultural and Food Centre—NPPC, Luzianky, Slovakia) has been engaged in a long monitoring project (a project currently running), collecting certain indicators of brown hare population dynamics during hunting season from 1987 to 2023 in the Slovak Danubian Lowland. In the same macro-area (Čiližská Radvaň and Lehnice), a study was conducted on the influence of permanent semi-natural vegetation in relation to recruitment, population density and production. The entire monitored period was aggregated into 5-year intervals (for a total of seven time intervals), with the aim of analyzing the brown hare population dynamics. Spring hare density in the Danubian Lowland is currently 20.8 hares/km², with harvests of 4.6 hares/km². During the monitoring period, bag animals have been examined following the regular hunting operations for the purpose of age determination (weight of eye lenses), sex ratio and productivity. There was a large positive effect of set-aside with special mixtures created for hares in large-scale farmed agrarian landscapes on brown hare density, bag and recruitment. In-model hunting grounds with such set-asides increased the spring stock by 25%, bag by 100% and recruitment by 20%. This study reveals that the management of European brown hare is not sustainable in the Slovak Danubian Lowland, and the population is decreasing. This is proven through the decline in harvest brown hares and by population dynamic parameters. Our data suggest that improvements in the habitat quality of arable landscapes by the adoption of permanent semi-natural vegetation may be more effective in the increase in the brown hare population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Land-Use Change, Rural Practices and Animal Diversity)

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13 pages, 1465 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seasonal Phenotypic Variation in the Aeolian Wall Lizard, Podarcis raffonei, of the Capo Grosso (Vulcano) Population

by Benedetta Gambioli, Daniele Macale and Leonardo Vignoli

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 485; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080485 - 9 Aug 2024

Viewed by 704

Abstract

In recent decades, studies on animal coloration have expanded significantly, from understanding color production and perception mechanisms to exploring the selective pressures driving these patterns. Conservation biology has begun leveraging these studies to develop effective strategies, gauge public support for conservation projects, select [...] Read more.

In recent decades, studies on animal coloration have expanded significantly, from understanding color production and perception mechanisms to exploring the selective pressures driving these patterns. Conservation biology has begun leveraging these studies to develop effective strategies, gauge public support for conservation projects, select flagship species, and determine reproductive pairs and optimal rearing and release conditions for captive breeding. Critically endangered Aeolian wall lizards (Podarcis raffonei) were housed at the Fondazione Bioparco di Roma for a pilot captive breeding project following alarming hypotheses of rising numbers of “green” hybrids (P. raffonei × P. siculus) in one of the four surviving populations. Through a quantitative analysis of visible dorsal color in captive and natural populations, we aim to determine whether P. raffonei is characterized by seasonal variation in its dorsal coloration and if color is influenced by sex and ontogenesis. Our findings show that P. raffonei’s dorsal pigmentation varies between seasons. In spring, the size and age of the animals does not seem to affect any color component, while the sexes always differ in their hue, with males having consistently more yellow-green dorsa. Between-year analyses, including measurements from the wild population, indicate that yearly variation is not limited to the captive population but also occurs in nature. We caution against identifying potential hybrids based solely on phenotypic traits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biodiversity Conservation)

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12 pages, 1838 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity Begets Diversity: Structural Heterogeneity Determines Fine-Scale Epiphyte Community Structure in a Temperate Rainforest

by Kaela M. Hamilton and Carrie L. Woods

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080484 - 9 Aug 2024

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Abstract

A foundational concept in ecology is the positive relationship between habitat heterogeneity and species diversity. Epiphytes demonstrate microhabitat specialization to particular areas within a tree; thus, epiphyte communities are potentially influenced by the structural heterogeneity of host trees. We evaluated the relationship between [...] Read more.

A foundational concept in ecology is the positive relationship between habitat heterogeneity and species diversity. Epiphytes demonstrate microhabitat specialization to particular areas within a tree; thus, epiphyte communities are potentially influenced by the structural heterogeneity of host trees. We evaluated the relationship between structural features of Acer macrophyllum and epiphyte distributions and abundance in a temperate rainforest in Washington, USA. Epiphytes and structural features of three Acer macrophyllum trees were systematically surveyed using the point-intercept method from the base to the crown and on three branches for each tree. Rarefied species richness increased with structural richness. Species richness along the trunk differed significantly among types of structural features (i.e., broken branches, burls, holes, rivets, branches, and trunks); broken branches had the highest species richness and branches had the lowest, followed by trunks. Rarefied species richness increased with height and peaked at 12 m, but the relationship between structural diversity and height was not significant. The species that occurred on branches were different to those that occurred on trunks, and species composition varied significantly among trunk features. The high structural diversity in northern temperate rainforest trees influenced the fine-scale distribution of nonvascular epiphytes and may explain their coexistence in tree crowns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Diversity Hotspots in the 2020s)

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19 pages, 2156 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Genetic Structure and Phylogeographic Patterns of the Copepod Genus Eurytemora in Europe

by Céleste Mouth, Flavien Ferreira, Natalia Sukhikh, Elisa Bou, Anaëlle Bernard, Michèle Tackx, Fréderic Azémar, Patrick Meire, Tom Maris and Luc Legal

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080483 - 8 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1499

Abstract

The genus Eurytemora is a diverse group of copepods found in coastal, estuarine, brackish, and freshwater environments. The main research has focused on Eurytemora affinis (Poppe, 1880) and revealed it to be a species complex. Eurytemora velox (Liljeborg, 1853) has only recently been [...] Read more.

The genus Eurytemora is a diverse group of copepods found in coastal, estuarine, brackish, and freshwater environments. The main research has focused on Eurytemora affinis (Poppe, 1880) and revealed it to be a species complex. Eurytemora velox (Liljeborg, 1853) has only recently been characterized in the Scheldt estuary but never within a global phylogenetic context. This study integrated nearly all European Eurytemora species sequences available, along with original ones from the Scheldt. A total of 351 sequences were analyzed using one mitochondrial gene (CO1) and one nuclear gene (nITS), with sequencing performed specifically on the CO1 gene. Phylogenetic reconstructions were performed using the Maximum Likelihood method, along with haplowebs and genetic diversity indices. A significant subdivision between six European species was observed. The monophyletic clade status of the E. affinis complex was confirmed alongside the existence of three geographically isolated lineages of the E. affinis species, the East Atlantic, the North Sea/English Channel, and the Baltic lineages, each exhibiting pronounced genetic differentiation. The population of E. velox from the Urals differs significantly from the European ones. These results provide both an overview of the genetic structure of the genus in geographic Europe as well as new insights on E. velox. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2024 Feature Papers by Diversity’s Editorial Board Members)

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14 pages, 3282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Assessment of Shell Structural, Mechanical, and Elemental Properties in Adult Acorn Barnacles

by Jazmine Shaw, Yeram Kang, Callie Triano, Corin J. Hoppe, Nick Aldred, Rebecca A. Metzler and Gary H. Dickinson

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080482 - 8 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1154

Abstract

Balanomorph (acorn) barnacles are found throughout the world’s coastal oceans, and their success is dependent on a hard, mineralized, outer shell. Although macro-scale morphology of barnacle shells has been studied extensively, relatively little is known about shell properties at the micron-scale and if [...] Read more.

Balanomorph (acorn) barnacles are found throughout the world’s coastal oceans, and their success is dependent on a hard, mineralized, outer shell. Although macro-scale morphology of barnacle shells has been studied extensively, relatively little is known about shell properties at the micron-scale and if such properties vary among species. We assessed shell structure, mechanics, and composition in seven species of balanomorph barnacles from five genera. Three species, Amphibalanus amphitrite, Amphibalanus improvisus, and Austrominius modestus, were laboratory-reared, enabling direct comparison of shell properties of barnacles grown under the same conditions for the same duration. Four other species, Semibalanus balanoides, Amphibalanus eburneus, Chthamalus stellatus, and Tetraclita rubescens, were field-collected. At the macro- and meso-scales, shell properties varied markedly among species, with differences in the number of shell plates, the presence of canals within the plates, mineralization of the base, and shell plate thickness. At the micron-scale, however, structure was remarkably similar among species. Plates of all species were constructed of irregular micron-scale crystallites, with a broad range of crystallite dimensions observed within the same shell. Similarly, micromechanical properties did not vary among species, regardless of testing orientation. Calcium carbonate was identified as calcite in all species assessed with no other mineral phases present, and calcium content did not vary among species. Hence, despite variation in the overall macro- and meso-scale morphology of barnacles, all appear to be built using the same, evolutionarily conserved, mineralization pathway. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2024)

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12 pages, 3036 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Translation Elongation Factor 1-Alpha Sequencing Provides Reliable Tool for Identification of Fusarium graminearum Species Complex Members

by Emre Yörük and Tapani Yli-Mattila

Diversity 2024, 16(8), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16080481 - 8 Aug 2024

Viewed by 913

Abstract

The Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) is a worldwide phytopathogenic fungus of small grain cereals. Genetics and bioinformatics tools have been providing an efficient strategy for identifying FGSC. However, the potential reliability of tef1−α sequencing in FGSC members has not been well investigated. [...] Read more.

The Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) is a worldwide phytopathogenic fungus of small grain cereals. Genetics and bioinformatics tools have been providing an efficient strategy for identifying FGSC. However, the potential reliability of tef1−α sequencing in FGSC members has not been well investigated. In this study, the tef1−α sequencing data of 246 FGSC members, one F. culmorum, and one F. solani isolate were subjected to distance-, character-, and PCA-based phylogenetic analysis. Linux terminals and the R programming language were used in phylogenetic analysis. The Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) and maximum likelihood methods produced relatively more homogenous F. graminearum sensu stricto (Fgss) and F. asiaticum isolates. Fgss and F. asiaticum isolates co-clustered in two separate sub-divisions in the ML and UPGMA methods, with significant differences in the Chi2 test (p < 0.05). PCA profiling revealed a low level of variation in FGSC members, with 99–99.5% percentages in axis 1. An increased number of taxa and isolates would be tested for tef1−α in future studies. To our knowledge, this is also the first study to combine phylogenetic methods with PCA tests for comprehensive characterization of FGSC members. Full article

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