Biogeographic Zones Research Articles

Benthic transition zones in the Atlantic gateway to a changing Arctic ocean

The biogeographic transition from boreal to Arctic marine communities entails a strong taxonomic and functional turnover. Communities living in these areas are being strongly affected by climate warming with rapid reorganizations and change in ecosystem functioning. We assess the megabenthic species composition and functional character in a transition zone around Svalbard. The relationships between environment, taxonomic composition and functional traits are investigated and discussed regarding the potential impacts of climate warming. The biomass data from 293 taxa, coded with 6 functional traits (29 modalities), from 144 trawl stations, were analyzed by multivariate statistics based on taxonomy, RLQ- and fourth corner analysis, based on environment and traits. We find that boundaries between water masses and depths are associated gradual taxonomic and sharp functional transitions. We document a biogeographic transition zone on the slope northeast of Svalbard where surface deposit feeding crustacean associations meet crawling Arctic echinoderm predators. Further we show a sharp transition at 500 m depth along the shelf of Svalbard where boreal filtrating deep-sea sponges meet a unique upraised large-bodied assemblage of bathyal species on the Yermak Plateau. Global warming will likely cause rapid taxonomic and functional shifts in these transition areas, with filtrating sponges and deposit feeding crustaceans possibly expanding into Arctic communities while large, upright, predators further down the slope. There is a need for both monitoring of the transition areas, and for protecting the most vulnerable deep and arctic fauna on the Yermak Plateau.

Mitonuclear genetic patterns of divergence in the marbled crab, Pachygrapsus marmoratus (Fabricius, 1787) along the Turkish seas

Biogeographical transition zones present good opportunities for studying the effect of the past ice ages on genetic structure of species because secondary contact zones of post-glacial lineages can be formed. In this study, we investigated the population genetic structure of the marbled rock crab, Pachygrapsus marmoratus along the coasts of Turkey. We genotyped 334 individuals from the Black Sea, the Turkish Straits System (TSS), the Aegean, and the Eastern Mediterranean basins. In order to reveal its evolutionary history and its population connectivity, we used mitochondrial CO1 region and five microsatellite loci. CO1 analyzes also included 610 additional samples from Genbank, which covered most of its distribution range. Both microsatellites and mtDNA showed decreased diversity in sampling sites of the TSS and the Black Sea as compared to those along the Aegean and the Levantine coasts. There is an especially strong geographical pattern in distributions of haplotypes in mtDNA, most probably as a result of genetic drift in the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara (SoM). Microsatellite data analyses revealed two genetically distinct clusters of P. marmoratus (clusters C and M). While individuals belonging to cluster C are present in all the sampling locations, those belonging to cluster M are only detected along the Mediterranean coasts including the Aegean and the Levantine basins. These clusters shared similar haplotypes in the Mediterranean. Haplotypes of two sympatric clusters could be similar due to incomplete lineage sorting of ancestral polymorphisms. In order to retrieve the complex demographic history and to investigate evolutionary processes resulting in sympatric clusters in the Aegean Sea and the Levantine basin, mitochondrial markers with faster mutation rates than CO1 and/or SNP data will be useful.

Drivers of Biomass and Biodiversity of Non-Chemosynthetic Benthic Fauna of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic

We examine the main drivers that may elevate biomass and biodiversity of non-chemosynthetic benthic megafauna of the lower bathyal (800-3500m depth) of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean (MAR). Specifically: 1. Primary production in surface waters (10°-48°N) from remote sensing data 2002-2020 over the MAR was not significantly different from abyssal regions to the east and west. We reject the hypothesis that presence of a mid ocean ridge may enhance surface primary production. 2. The quantity of particulate organic matter reaching the sea floor was estimated as a proportion of surface export production scaled by bathymetry. Flux was 1.3 to 3.0 times greater on the MAR as a function of shorter vertical transport distance from the surface than on adjacent abyssal regions. 3. Depth variation effect on species richness. Demersal fishes living between 41° and 60°N showed a maximum of species richness at 2000 m depth and linear increase in regional (Gamma) diversity of 32 species per 1,000 m elevation of the MAR above the abyss. Elevated topography provides niches for species that cannot otherwise survive. 4. Substrate heterogeneity. The MAR >95% covered with soft sediment with frequent hard rocky patches spaced at a mean nearest neighbour distance of <500 m. Over 90% were <1 km apart. Animals are readily able to disperse between such patches increasing biodiversity through the additive effect of soft and hard substrate fauna on the MAR. 5. Presence of a biogeographic overlap zone. The MAR harbours bathyal species known from Western Atlantic and Eastern Atlantic continental slopes with meridional asymmetry resulting in bias toward predominance of Eastern species. The mix of species contributes to increased diversity to the east of the MAR. Multiple factors support increase in biomass and biodiversity on the MAR. Biological data are almost entirely absent from 12° to 33°N, the part of the MAR which may be mined for polymetallic sulphide ore deposits. This study enables some predictions of biomass and biodiversity but there is urgent need for intensive biological sampling across the MAR throughout the proposed mining areas south of the Azores.

Marine endophytes from the Indian coasts: The untapped sources of sustainable anticancer drug discovery

For centuries, the Indian outlook on medicines has had foundations in the exploration of her rich biodiversity. Today, natural product (NP) research delivers an ample chemical space for drug discovery for almost every pathological condition. However, endophytes have emerged as a pandora's box of therapeutic secondary metabolites to resolve ecological, sustainability, and cost concerns. Marine sources of endophytes have garnered attention in the pharmaceutical sector, exemplified by increased FDA-approved marine drugs. With chemotherapy being the most common treatment for cancer patients, the need for novel drugs is steeping high. Endophytes from marine sources present a diverse natural productome for anticancer leads, especially for resistant cancers. For the first time, this review highlights the sustainable biotechnological potential of marine endophytes from the 3000 km long Indian coastline, a biogeographic zone. We also discuss the new cell death mechanisms and targets for marine anticancer drugs, emphasizing endophytes isolated from the Indian coasts. The advances in the NP yield enhancement strategies and possible chemical modifications on the product to reduce the complexity and increase the specificity for higher therapeutic value, followed by the challenges and prospects, are also reviewed.

Qualitative Wood Anatomical Study of Disjunct Species from Contrasting Biogeographical Zones of India

Water availability influences the wood anatomical features especially vessel characteristics in a particular zone. This leads to various adaptive strategies related to wood anatomy, adopted by species for their successful establishment at different environmental conditions. The present study analyzes qualitative features of the vessel element of disjunct species belonging to different biogeographical zones of India and to observe the anatomical changes exhibited by the species. Disjunct taxon shows a peculiar distribution where a taxon is widely separated geographically or their distribution is not continuous. The present study examines the qualitative wood anatomy of twenty one wood samples of five disjunct species selected from various biogeographical zones of India. Standard laboratory procedures were followed to prepare the permanent slides. Vessel characteristics for all the selected samples were examined from these permanent slides as per the terminology list of microscopic features for hardwood identification given by the International Association of Wood Anatomists. The results indicated absence of intraspecific variations between the species occurring at different biogeographical zones. This shows the conservative nature of qualitative wood anatomical features.

Phylogeography of the Chocó Endemic Rainbow Characin (Teleostei: Rhoadsia)

South America's Chocó, part of the North Andean Pacific Slopes–Rio Atrato ecoregion, is a biodiversity hotspot with many disjunct rivers, yet phylogeographic and population genetic studies of the Chocó's aquatic species are scarce. Rhoadsia is a Chocó endemic freshwater fish genus with two recognized species: R. minor from the upper Esmeraldas River drainage and R. altipinna from the lower Guayas River drainage, Ecuador. Little is known about the evolutionary history of Rhoadsia, and due to morphological similarities, the validity of the two nominal species has been questioned. We conducted a phylogeographic study using two mitochondrial genes and 12 microsatellite markers to examine the evolutionary history of Rhoadsia and the validity of its two species. Samples collected in drainages throughout western Ecuador from sea level to 1260 m.a.s.l. were included, as were samples of species in the closely related genera Parastremma and Carlana from Colombia and Central America. Phylogenetic analysis of the mtDNA markers confirmed the reciprocal monophyly of a northern and southern clade, and the presence of mitochondrial haplotypes of both clades in the northern Guayas basin. Structure analysis with the microsatellite markers pointed to introgression at the border between the species ranges as the likely cause of the mixing of mitochondrial haplotypes in the northern Guayas. Bayesian analysis of the microsatellite data revealed the existence of ten populations throughout western Ecuador, divided into three main geographically segregated groups. Group I coincided with the northern distribution of R. minor, while groups II and III seemed to represent geographic subgroups of R. altipinna in the Guayas and southern coastal drainages. Patterns of genetic divergence and diversity support the recognition of multiple evolutionarily significant units within both species and allowed reevaluation of previously reported freshwater biogeographic zones in the Ecuadorian Chocó. This study provides a baseline for future studies examining freshwater biogeographical patterns throughout the Ecuadorian Chocó, as well as a phylogeographic framework to examine the genetic basis of adaptation of morphologically divergent populations of Rhoadsia inhabiting Andean mountain streams in the region.

The impact of empirically unverified taxonomic concepts on ecological assemblage patterns across multiple spatial scales

Accurate ecological assemblage analysis requires that underlying taxonomic divisions reflect biological reality. However, the validity of many taxonomic hypotheses have never been rigorously confronted with replicable data. As a result, these categories might say more about human psychology than biology. We consider here the ways that statistically unchallenged taxonomic concepts can bias observed ecological pattern across multiple spatial scales. We compared assemblage lists for a group of Holarctic land snail species/subspecies hypotheses both before and after empirical confrontation. Of the 124 taxa initially believed to exist, only 105 were validated, with 34 being oversplit, another 15 being incorrectly lumped within 11 taxa and a final 33 having incorrect identification features. This led to considerable scale‐dependent alteration in assemblage patterns across 2528 sites within 42 regions and 9 biogeographic zones: depending upon location up to 90% of sites had revised composition with 10% showing a reduction in richness. Additionally, 6–60% of site pairs had altered turnover. These impacts became larger and more frequent with increasing sample grain and extent: 80–90% of regions and 100% of global biogeographic zones demonstrated altered composition, with 70–80% of regions and 100% of zones having changed richness. Reductions in richness also became more prevalent with increasing scale. Likewise, 80–94% of regional and zone pairs were found to have altered turnover, with increased similarity predominating at small and decreased similarity at large extents. Because these issues appear general and are not limited to land snail taxonomy, it is crucial for macroecologists to consider how unchallenged taxonomic concepts might bias their results. The use of objective and replicable data‐driven validation of all recognized taxonomic concepts is thus an essential foundation for accurate ecological hypothesis testing.

Local adaptation of juvenile giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, from their southern limit in the northern hemisphere explored using reciprocal transplantation

ABSTRACT The Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula (Mexico) is a unique biogeographic transition zone, where many kelp species encounter their southern subtropical limits and have experienced a range contraction in the northern hemisphere. Using reciprocal transplant experiments with giant kelp populations from their southern limit and a northern temperate site on the Baja California peninsula, we hypothesized that juveniles from the southern site would grow longer, have more fronds (an individual stipe with its blades), and have higher photosynthetic efficiency (α) and blade tissue nitrogen, especially under warmer nitrate-limited field conditions experienced in their habitat. At the southern-limit transplant site, local juveniles had more fronds compared with those from the north after 90 days in field conditions (warm waters). At the northern transplant site, blade tissue nitrogen of juveniles from both populations was low after 23 days in field conditions (not significantly different during a warm water period), however, after a further 56 day cooling period and shortly after a strong upwelling event, juveniles from the southern population had greater blade tissue nitrogen concentrations than those from the north, which showed little change. Respiration and a were both greater at higher temperatures in juveniles from the southern population, and this pattern was maintained under warm water field conditions. These physiological differences in conspecific juveniles from different populations may be driven by population-level adaptation to frequently occurring thermal and nutrient stress in southern Baja California, which is the southern distribution limit for giant kelp. Further exploration of population level differences in ecophysiology should be applied to kelp forest restoration efforts as oceans warm.

Assessment of wild oil plants diversity and prioritization for valorization in Benin (West Africa): A multivariate approach

Wild oil plants (WOP) are species used for food, cosmetics, nutraceutical, and medicine. In Benin, their importance is still poorly documented. This study investigated the diversity of WOPs and identified priority species for valorization in Benin. Literature synthesis was used to gather data on a list of WOP species. This was completed by ethnobotanical surveys involving users (traditional healers, farmers, fishers, traders, and resource persons), actors in the three biogeographical zones of Benin (GuineoCongolian, Sudano-Guinean, and Sudanian zones). In addition, field visits to the species habitats were conducted with the help of local populations to assess the true presence of species mentioned during the survey and their availability. Data were collected on the identity of informants, WOPs used or known, ethnobotanical, nutritional and economic values, valorization level, their national distribution and threat status. Data were analysed using the Chi-square test and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Findings showed that oils extracted from these WOP seeds serve for medicinal (49.25%), food (29.85%), cosmetic (17.91%), and fuel (2.99%) purposes, and neither gender nor the main occupation defined knowledge of WOP diversity. A total of 36 WOPs belonging to 25 botanical families were identified. The top five priority species to be valorized across the country were: Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, Ricinodendron heudelotii (Bail.) Pierre, Lophira lanceolata Tiegh. ex Keay, Sesamum indicum L., and Cleome gynandra L. These species were identified as important resources for alleviating poverty and food insecurity in the communities and as potential candidates for the development of the oilseed sector in Benin. Further studies are needed to document the indigenous knowledge associated with those species, existing processing techniques, and exploitable capital to ensure their sustainable management.

Raptors observed (1983–2016) in National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary: semi-arid biogeographic region suggestions for parametric studies on ecological continuity in Khathiar-Gir Ecoregion, India

The birds of prey or raptors in the National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS) assume importance as they are among the top predators of the region, predating on small crocodilians, turtles, and birds. Our checklist of 30 species of raptors is developed from observations made during winter surveys conducted between 1983 and 2016. The study area covered the course of river Chambal including its confluence with river Kuno that leads from Palpur-Kuno Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. The raptors which use the steep and inaccessible mud cliffs of the Chambal landscape include Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila fasciata, Laggar Falcon Falco jugger, Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Spotted Owlet Athene brama, and the Indian Eagle-Owl or Rock Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis. Most of the other raptors noted in NCS appear to visit from and around the adjoining wildlife areas of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. According to two methods of classification the study comes in the semi-arid biogeographic zone or Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forest ecoregion. The list of raptors from NCS-Kuno has been compared with previous reports and the list available for Sariska Tiger Reserve and Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. The present work is the outcome of a long-term ecological monitoring that primarily focused on the Gharial Gavialis gangeticus and its ecological associates in water and the riverine shores. The birds of prey demanded time and attention for looking above and away from the water surface or the shorelines. Yet, our meticulous records maintained over 34 years have generated a basal profile that is expected to inspire focused studies on parameters that sustain ecological association of raptors of NCS adjoining forest habitats and wildlife sanctuaries in the ecoregion.

The range expansion of Clibanarius erythropus to the UK suggests that other range-shifting intertidal species may not follow

The ranges of species are shifting as a consequence of anthropogenic climate change. In the marine realm biogeographic transition zones could form barriers to dispersal and inhibit range-shift, but little is known about this potential effect. The hermit crab Clibanarius erythropus appeared in the UK in 2016 with the nearest reproducing population being on the northern coast of Brittany. This raises questions of which conditions may have permitted C. erythropus to cross the English Channel (7.25°W, 49.00°N) and whether this barrier could be overcome by other intertidal species. Dispersal simulations suggest the larvae of C. erythropus arrived in 2014, originated from North Brittany, experienced a mean temperature of around 16 °C, and took longer than 20 days to be transported across the channel. The transportation of larvae from Brittany to the southwest UK appears to be rare and driven by occasional, unusual ocean currents. The English Channel may continue to prevent species with pelagic larvae that settle within 20 days, such as many species of gastropod, annelids, and macroalgae, from successfully range expanding to the UK. North Brittany was the only landmass from which it is feasible the UK population of C. erythropus could have originated. Therefore, species with long-lived pelagic larvae but without reproducing populations in North Brittany may not appear in the southwest UK until the species are established in North Brittany. The English Channel could continue to limit the ability of many intertidal species to shift their range with climate change.

Freshwater diversity at a biogeographic edge zone: the high-mountain pea-clams of Ethiopia

Mountain ranges are known for their particular level of biodiversity typically including a striking amount of endemism. This has been comparatively well studied for certain mountain ranges worldwide such as the Alps in Europe, the Himalayas in Asia, the Rocky Mountains in North America and the Andes in South America. Apparently, this is not the case for the mountains on the African continent and especially their freshwater fauna. One of Africa’s largest high-elevated regions is the Ethiopian Highlands. The study of freshwater molluscs might potentially allow to provide valuable insights into the interplay of environmental variation and evolutionary change. Here, we present the first genetically based study of Afromontane sphaeriid bivalves in a worldwide phylogenetic framework which allowed us to assess and describe the recent diversity and endemism as well as the fauna’s biogeographic background. Additionally, a new Ethiopian species of Sphaeriidae, Pisidium boessnecki Albrecht & Clewing sp. nov., could be discovered and is formally described here. Our study revealed a total of six sphaeriid species for the restricted study region in the Ethiopian Highlands of which the first two are most likely endemic: Pisidium boessnecki sp. nov., P. ethiopicum, P. cf. kenianum, P. cf. pirothi, P. cf. viridarium, and Pisidium sp. V. Based on the multigene phylogeny generated, we conclude that the observed diversity might have been caused by multiple independent colonization events from Africa. The zoogeographic affinities of all Ethiopian sphaeriids are related to the Afrotropics. The importance of these findings is discussed. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:99C2C3A3-533B-4180-BBDD-E4E5A4D28F09

Habitat of the Long-Tailed Wood-Partridge in Central Mexico

The long-tailed wood-partridge (Dendrortyx macroura; hereafter, wood-partridge) is a forest quail endemic to the temperate forests of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt of central Mexico and is considered threatened according to the Secretariat of the Environment of Mexico. We studied 34 sites within the Natural Resources Protection Area River Basins of the Valle de Bravo, Malacatepec, Tilostoc and Temascaltepec in central Mexico to evaluate wood-partridge habitat during September–December 2019. We evaluated attributes of tree, shrub, and herbaceous vegetation, canopy cover, humidity, slope, and altitude. We also identified vegetation used for nesting, food, and shelter. The scant information published for other geographical areas indicates habitat consists of pine (Pinus spp.), pine-oak (Quercus spp.), and cloud forest. We found that the preferred habitat in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt was forest dominated by Alnus firmifolia, Pinus patula, Pinus pseudostrobus, Pinus teocote, and Quercus castanea. Wood-partridge preferred sites with an average of 90% canopy coverage, 100% shrub cover, high percent humidity, slopes >30%, and altitudes that ranged 2,700–3,000 meters above sea level. Additionally, we located an inactive nest in an area with 100% shrub cover and 80% tree cover in forest dominated by Pinus patula, relative humidity of 55%, and a temperature of 19° C. This is the first investigation of this bird within this important biogeographic transition zone between the Nearctic region and the Neotropics. We report the basic characteristics of the habitat used by this species along with the first description of a nest in an area with high rates of deforestation, overgrazing, and forest fires. The “gallinita de monte” represents an important element of the biocultural heritage for the Mazahua and Otomí peoples, who are Indigenous inhabitants of this area. We recommend additional research on wood-partridge to determine the extent of poaching and collection of eggs for food; determine effects of forest management; determine its basic ecology including survival, reproduction, and population density; verify habitat relationship; and corroborate information that describes the traditional knowledge of the species by the native Mazahua and Otomí peoples. We suggest it is most important to learn more about and disseminate traditional knowledge of the species and to preserve its biocultural value and heritage, particularly for Indigenous communities.

Horizontal and vertical spatial distribution and loss of grassland in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Two databases related to grassland in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) have been used in this research-the Copernicus Grassland (GRA) and CORINE Land Cover (CLC). The data have been processed by using GIS tools, and the spatial distribution of grass vegetation in relation to three biogeographical and four elevation zones has been determined. By using the Copernicus Water and Wetness (WaW) database, an insight into the coverage of grass vegetation in wetlands has been obtained. In addition, the analysis of changes in databases determined the total amount and location of the largest grassland losses. Based on GRA database, B&H is one of the richest countries, with 22.4% of its territory covered by grassland. According to the CLC database, pastures occupy 6.3% and natural grasslands 5.6% of the territory of B&H. However, grassland is exposed to various anthropogenic and natural processes that affect its distribution, quality, functions, etc. The CLC database has been processed by extracting the grasslands (pastures and natural grasslands) and calculating their spatial coverage and changes which happened during the three six-year periods from 2000 to 2018. The trend of decreasing pasture areas and increasing natural grasslands has been noticed. The pastures are most endangered by the processes of conversion to other types of agricultural land, while natural grassland increased spatial coverage during the period 2012-2018 mostly due to the revitalization and grazing of burned areas in the region of Herzegovina. Grasslands have been particularly targeted for afforestation and cropland conversion at present.

Bnormal average increase in sea surface temperature may promote the first documented mortality event of a marine sponge in the Southeastern Brazil

Frequent heat waves and mass mortality events on marine biota are positively correlated to ocean warming. Although literature has indicated some species of marine sponges, and some oceanic regions, like the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone, may be less affected or seem to be more resilient under future scenarios of climate changes, few studies have focused on the species responses on the climate change issue along Brazilian coast. This paradigm was undone throughout 2019 after an exceptional average increase of 2 °C in the sea surface temperature (SST) and on precipitation values since 2015 at Ilha Grande Bay (IGB, SE Brazil). The combination of SST and precipitation average increase possibly favored an environmental context for the unprecedented strong population decline and mass mortality rate of the marine sponge species Desmapsamma anchorata in the austral spring. The species used to be one of the most frequent benthic species at IGB however it was only recorded in 41.7% sites (n = 12). From 162 individuals recorded at Abraãozinho along 180 m rocky shore, 83 individuals (51.2%) were healthy, 74 (45.7%) were intensively covered by cyanobacteria and locally bleached, and five (3.1%) were completely bleached or died. Desmapsamma anchorata population deterioration in a biogeographic transition zone (Rio de Janeiro state) may reflect a shift in the marine community of IGB, opening space for opportunistic species establishment and coverage increase, since IGB has a high species turnover. The three-dimensionality, the shelter for several species, the high competitive ability and the potential to indicate polluted or not polluted areas make D. anchorata a key species for IGB monitoring in a climate change scenario.

Mapping actual distribution of invasive species siam weed and its abundance across biogeographical zones in Benin (West Africa)

Background Invasive weeds pose a serious threat to agricultural systems worldwide and the management of such species requires information on their distribution. Objective This research work aimed at assessing the evolution in the distribution of Siaw weed across biogeographical zones in Benin as first step toward the development of management policy and to give insight into the threat it poses to agriculture and biodiversity. Methods Field and roadside surveys were carried out to record the presence of the species. [...]

Formal Tests for Resistance-Resilience in Archaeological Time Series

The study of resilience is a common pathway for scientific data to inform policy and practice towards impending climate change. Consequently, understanding the mechanisms and features that contribute towards building resilience is a key goal of much research on coupled socio-environmental systems. In parallel, archaeology has developed the ambition to contribute to this agenda through its unique focus on cultural dynamics that occur over the very long term. This paper argues that archaeological studies of resilience are limited in scope and potential impact by incomplete operational definitions of resilience, itself a multifaceted and contested concept. This lack of interdisciplinary engagement fundamentally limits archaeology’s ability to contribute meaningfully to understanding factors behind the emergence and maintenance of long-term societal resilience, a topic of significant interest that the field is in theory ideally positioned to address. Here, we introduce resilience metrics drawn from ecology and develop case studies to illustrate their potential utility for archaeological studies. We achieve this by extending methods for formally measuring resistance, the capacity of a system to absorb disturbances; and resilience, its capacity to recover from disturbances, with a novel significance test for palaeodemographic data. Building on statistical permutation and post-hoc tests available in the rcarbon package in the R statistical environment, we apply our adapted resilience-resistance framework to summed probability distributions of calibrated radiocarbon dates drawn from the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. We deploy these methods to investigate cross-sectional trends across three recognised biogeographical zones of the Atlantic Forest domain, against the backdrop of prehistoric phases of heightened hydroclimatic variability. Our analysis uncovers novel centennial-scale spatial structure in the resilience of palaeodemographic growth rates. In addition to the case-specific findings, we suggest that adapting formal metrics can help archaeology create impact and engagement beyond relatively narrow disciplinary concerns. To this end, we supply code and data to replicate our palaeodemographic analyses to enable their use and adaptation to other archaeological problems.

Latitudinal gradient of copepod functional diversity in the South Atlantic Ocean

There is a growing consensus for assessing the multifaceted marine biodiversity by analyzing morphological taxonomy and biological traits to link the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relationships (BEF) to environmental variability. We applied taxonomic and functional diversity indices to relate copepod biodiversity with ecosystem functioning along different biogeographic zones from the Southwestern Atlantic to the Southern Ocean. To assess the link between functional traits and environmental gradients, we clustered 94 species into functional groups based on the combination of five functional traits. Taxonomic and functional diversity showed a linear decreasing trend along the latitudinal gradient. Species richness peaked at the subtropical latitude (∼30°S), while the functional richness was similar from the tropical up to the temperate region (∼45°S), which hosted on average 70% of the total pool of species, and dropped to only 16% in polar waters. We found that small- and medium-bodied broadcasting, large cruising carnivorous and detritivorous copepods contributed mostly to the larger functional space in tropical and subtropical zones. In turn, dominant copepod species with contrasting traits enhanced the functional divergence and decreased functional evenness poleward. Our results indicate that distinct copepod functional groups with specific environmental preferences are influenced by ecological mechanisms that promote functional richness through complementary resource use and niche partitioning. These findings highlight the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem functioning, which might contribute to ecosystem stability and resilience along environmental gradients.

Pintando con acuarelas en el lugar más lluvioso del mundo

This work reflects the story of an artistic experience developed in Ecuador, specifically in the biogeographic zone of Choco, in the north of the country. This region, located on the western face of the Andes mountain range, is home to one of the most important biodiversity hotspots on the planet, and is also the region in the world with the highest rainfall records, trapping clouds from 800 meters and reaching between 3,000 and 10,000 mm of rain per year. The objective was none other than to record a sample of the enormous biodiversity of the Choco through notes from the natural in a field notebook. For this, a stay was made in the Mashpi Reserve, which has a laboratory, research center, hotel and network of trails, to take notes of the natural flora and fauna species present in the reserve, and carry out a larger work based on these notes made for use in environmental awareness and dissemination. A project that links science, art and direct experience in equal parts and that has involved a whole scientific, artistic and research community to achieve it. Work financially supported by the Doctoral School of the University of Jaen.

A catalogue of Indian Arctiinae (Erebidae, Lepidoptera).

We present a catalogue of 673 species and nine subspecies of Indian Arctiinae in 175 genera which represents 6.11% of the global Arctiinae. Out of 673 species, a monogeneric tribe Amerilini is represented by four species (0.59 % of Indian Arctiinae and 6.06 % of global Amerilini), Arctiini are known by 180 species in 38 genera (26.74 % of Indian Arctiinae and 2.73% of global Arctiini), Lithosiini comprise 419 species in 128 genera (62.25% of Indian Arctiinae and 13.30% of global Lithosiini), and Syntomini account for 70 species in eight genera (10.40 % of Indian Arctiinae and 5.83% of global Syntomini). Information related to type localities, records from India with respective literature references, and the genus/ species synonyms is provided. Brief summaries for the four tribes of Indian Arctiinae, stating their Indian genus and species diversities, diagnostic characters of imagines are also provided. Furthermore, we present data on the distribution of the Arctiinae within the biogeographic zones of India. In addition, a brief analysis of the research history of Indian Arctiinae illustrates the general patterns of when and by whom the Indian species were described.