Diversity and Evolution within the Amphipoda

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 5915

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork Enterprise Centre, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, Ireland
Interests: amphipoda; taxonomy; phylogeny; diversity; biogeography; evolution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Amphipoda reach their highest diversity in the marine environment but are also highly diverse in freshwater and terrestrial environments. Although taxonomic studies of amphipods have a long history, much is still to be learned about their cryptic diversity and the evolutionary history of population distributions over geographic ranges. Studies have revealed that in many cases, amphipod species considered widely distributed are in fact species complexes. The diversity, endemism and evolution of amphipods have become increasingly studied in recent years, with emphasis on palaeodistributions, vicariance and dispersal.

This Special Issue aims to highlight advances in the knowledge of the diversity, distribution patterns and evolution of species complexes in marine, freshwater and terrestrial amphipods. We encourage the submission of manuscripts addressing any aspects of the distribution patterns, endemism and evolutionary history of amphipods using morphological and/or molecular methods.

Prof. Dr. Alan Myers
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • marine, freshwater and terrestrial Amphipoda
  • cryptic diversity
  • distribution patterns
  • endemism
  • evolution
  • dispersal
  • vicariance
  • morphological character state interpretation
  • DNA analysis

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 3033 KiB  
Article
Congruent and Hierarchical Intra-Lake Subdivisions from Nuclear and Mitochondrial Data of a Lake Baikal Shoreline Amphipod
by Risto Väinölä, Tytti Kontula, Kazuo Mashiko and Ravil M. Kamaltynov
Diversity 2024, 16(11), 706; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16110706 - 20 Nov 2024
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Abstract
A central goal of molecular studies on ancient lake faunas is to resolve the origin and phylogeny of their strikingly diverse endemic species flocks. Another equally intriguing goal is to understand the integrity of individual morphologically diagnosed species, which should help to perceive [...] Read more.
A central goal of molecular studies on ancient lake faunas is to resolve the origin and phylogeny of their strikingly diverse endemic species flocks. Another equally intriguing goal is to understand the integrity of individual morphologically diagnosed species, which should help to perceive the nature and speed of the speciation process, and the true biological species diversity. In the uniquely diverse Lake Baikal amphipod crustaceans, molecular data from shallow-water species have often disclosed their cryptic subdivision into geographically segregated genetic lineages, but the evidence so far is mainly based on mitochondrial DNA. We now present a lake-wide parallel survey of both mitochondrial and multilocus nuclear genetic structuring in the common shoreline amphipod Eulimnogammarus verrucosus, known to comprise three deep, parapatric mtDNA lineages. Allele frequencies of seven nuclear allozyme loci divide the data into three main groups whose distributions exactly match the distributions of the main mitochondrial lineages S, W, and E and involve a further division of the W cluster into two subgroups. The inter-group differences involve one to four diagnostic loci and additional group-specific alleles. The transition zones are either abrupt (1 km), occur over a long segment of uninhabitable shoreline, or may be gradual with non-coincident clinal change at different loci. Mitochondrial variation is hierarchically structured, each main lineage further subdivided into 2–4 parapatric sublineages or phylogroups, and patterns of further local segregation are seen in some of them. Despite the recurring observations of cryptic diversity in Baikalian amphipods, the geographical subdivisions and clade depths do not match in different taxa, defying a common explanation for the diversification in environmental history. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Evolution within the Amphipoda)
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16 pages, 835 KiB  
Article
Diversity and Distribution of Australian Stygobiont and Other Groundwater-Associated Amphipods (Crustacea: Malacostraca: Peracarida)
by Rachael A. King, Steven J. B. Cooper, Benjamin Schwartz, Remko Leijs, Danielle N. Stringer, William F. Humphreys, Jake Thornhill and Michelle T. Guzik
Diversity 2024, 16(10), 650; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16100650 - 21 Oct 2024
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Abstract
Numerous and diverse groundwater habitats suitable for sustaining aquatic invertebrate communities exist across Australia. These habitats include enclosed subterranean aquifer systems, fractured rock, alluvial aquifers, perched aquifers, artesian springs, and spring-fed seeps and marshes. Crustaceans are a dominant member of these groundwater-associated invertebrate [...] Read more.
Numerous and diverse groundwater habitats suitable for sustaining aquatic invertebrate communities exist across Australia. These habitats include enclosed subterranean aquifer systems, fractured rock, alluvial aquifers, perched aquifers, artesian springs, and spring-fed seeps and marshes. Crustaceans are a dominant member of these groundwater-associated invertebrate communities, and amphipods, both stygobiont and associated epigean species, are particularly diverse yet are still relatively poorly known. We review both the diversity and distributions of Australian amphipods associated with groundwater habitats, describing hotspots of diversity, providing notes on the unique Australian habitats, and examining the extraordinary species diversity and endemism of the Australian species. Our review highlights the significance of Australian groundwater ecosystems, their associated biodiversity, and the importance in considering these ecosystems in groundwater conservation management plans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Evolution within the Amphipoda)
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31 pages, 5654 KiB  
Article
The Radiation of Landhoppers (Crustacea, Amphipoda) in New Zealand
by Olivier J.-P. Ball, Alan A. Myers, Stephen R. Pohe and Lara D. Shepherd
Diversity 2024, 16(10), 632; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16100632 - 10 Oct 2024
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Abstract
A synopsis of current knowledge of the diversity of the New Zealand landhopper fauna is provided. A combination of morphological and molecular analysis was employed on material from across New Zealand. Thirteen new endemic genera soon to be formally described have been discovered, [...] Read more.
A synopsis of current knowledge of the diversity of the New Zealand landhopper fauna is provided. A combination of morphological and molecular analysis was employed on material from across New Zealand. Thirteen new endemic genera soon to be formally described have been discovered, including four belonging to the widespread families Talitridae and Arcitalitridae. These are families that had not been previously reported from New Zealand. We document the existence of at least 48 new provisional native species. This number far exceeds the 28 species currently described. Some described species are now shown to be species complexes, and a few of these are very diverse with numerous cryptic species. Six changes to the existing taxonomy are proposed. Dallwitzia simularis (Hurley, 1957) is transferred from Makawidae Myers & Lowry, 2020 to Talitridae Rafinesque, 1815; Kellyduncania hauturu (Duncan, 1994) is reinstated as a member of Dana Lowry, 2011; Kellyduncania (Lowry & Myers, 2019) is relegated to a synonym of Dana Lowry, 2011; Kanikania Duncan, 1994 is transferred from Makawidae Myers & Lowry, 2020 to Arcitalitridae Myers & Lowry, 2020; Parorchestia longicornis is transferred to Kanikania Duncan, 1994; Waematau kaitaia (Duncan, 1994) is transferred to Kohuroa Lowry, Myers & Nakano, 2019; and Waematau unuwhao (Duncan, 1994) is transferred to Omaiorchestia Lowry & Myers, 2019. This reduces the number of described New Zealand genera from 17 to 16. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Evolution within the Amphipoda)
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13 pages, 5475 KiB  
Article
Taxonomic Exploration of Rare Amphipods: A New Genus and Two New Species (Amphipoda, Iphimedioidea, Laphystiopsidae) Described from Seamounts in the Western Pacific
by Yanrong Wang, Zhongli Sha and Xianqiu Ren
Diversity 2024, 16(9), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16090564 - 10 Sep 2024
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Abstract
During two expeditions to the seamounts in the Yap-Caroline area of the Western Pacific, a new genus, Phoxirostus gen. nov., in the family Laphystiopsidae Stebbing, 1899, is erected for two new species, P. longicarpus sp. nov. (type species) and P. yapensis sp. nov. [...] Read more.
During two expeditions to the seamounts in the Yap-Caroline area of the Western Pacific, a new genus, Phoxirostus gen. nov., in the family Laphystiopsidae Stebbing, 1899, is erected for two new species, P. longicarpus sp. nov. (type species) and P. yapensis sp. nov. The new genus can be distinguished from the other three laphystiopsid genera by the acute rostrum not overreaching the distal end of the first peduncular article of antenna 1, the outer plate of maxilla 1 bearing 10–11 spines, and the elongated carpus of pereopods 3–7 being distinctly longer than half the length of the propodus. Phoxirostus longicarpus sp. nov. differs from P. yapensis sp. nov. by the shape of the eyes and coxa 4, the presence of posterodistal protrusions on pleonite 1, and the number of posterodistal protrusions on pleonite 2. Generic analysis of one mitochondrial (COI) and one nuclear (H3) gene using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference clarified the phylogenetic position of the Laphystiopsidae within the superfamily Iphimedioidea Boeck, 1871. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Evolution within the Amphipoda)
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15 pages, 1924 KiB  
Article
Variations in the Characters of Platorchestia pacifica and Demaorchestia joi (Amphipoda, Talitridae, Talitrinae) with Revised Diagnoses Based on Specimens from Japan
by Hiroshi Morino
Diversity 2024, 16(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16010031 - 2 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1410
Abstract
Seventy-three male specimens of “Platorchestia platensis” from Japan were inspected on 13 morphological characters. Most characters revealed high variation. The coxa and propodus of gnathopod 2 and the carpus of pereopod 7 indicated that the specimens comprised two species: Platorchestia pacifica [...] Read more.
Seventy-three male specimens of “Platorchestia platensis” from Japan were inspected on 13 morphological characters. Most characters revealed high variation. The coxa and propodus of gnathopod 2 and the carpus of pereopod 7 indicated that the specimens comprised two species: Platorchestia pacifica Miyamoto and Morino, 2004 and Demaorchestia joi (Stock and Biernbaum, 1994) sensu lato. Both species were rediagnosed. Demaorchestia hatakejima Lowry and Myers, 2022 was synonymized to P. pacifica. A key to allied species in Platorchestia and Demaorchestia from Japan and the surrounding countries was given. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Evolution within the Amphipoda)
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Review

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16 pages, 1934 KiB  
Review
Phenotype Variation in Niphargus (Amphipoda: Niphargidae): Possible Explanations and Open Challenges
by Cene Fišer and Ester Premate
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070375 - 28 Jun 2024
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Abstract
Understanding phenotype variation is among the central topics in biology. We revise and reanalyze studies of the amphipod genus Niphargus to confront two potential mechanisms driving its phenotype variation, namely, cladogenesis and adaptive evolution. We found evidence for both mechanisms. Reanalysis of a [...] Read more.
Understanding phenotype variation is among the central topics in biology. We revise and reanalyze studies of the amphipod genus Niphargus to confront two potential mechanisms driving its phenotype variation, namely, cladogenesis and adaptive evolution. We found evidence for both mechanisms. Reanalysis of a subset of traits using molecular phylogeny showed moderate phylogenetic signal, consistent with the hypothesis that overall phylogenetic variation increases with phylogeny. The phylogenetic signal in Niphargus traits seems to be stronger at the tips of the phylogeny than at basal splits. Indirect evidence suggests that much of the phenotype variation can be attributed to adaptive evolution. Both lines of evidence are consistent with the hypothesis that Niphargus evolved in several adaptive radiations, where theory predicts that most of the phenotype variation evolves early, when ecological niches are vacant. As the niches fill up, the rate of phenotype variation slows down and becomes associated with cladogenetic events. This hypothesis can explain the high level of trait-convergence and unresolved taxonomy above the species level. The main caveats to these hypotheses comprise lack of experimental evidence for trait function and nonquantified heritable component of trait variation. Promising venues towards better understanding of phenotypic variation include studies of ontogenetic variation, functional interactions between traits, and genome–phenotype associations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Evolution within the Amphipoda)
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