Broad Latitudinal Distribution Research Articles

Genome-wide evolutionary signatures of climate adaptation in spotted sea bass inhabiting different latitudinal regions.

Consideration of the thermal adaptation of species is essential in both evolutionary biology and climate-change biology because it frequently leads to latitudinal gradients of various phenotypes among populations. The spotted sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) has a broad latitudinal distribution range along the marginal seas of the Northwest Pacific and thus provides an excellent teleost model for population genetic and climate adaptation studies. We generated over 8.57 million SNP loci using whole-genome resequencing from 100 samples collected at 14 geographic sites (five or ten samples per site). We estimated the genetic structure of the sampled fish and clustered them into three highly differentiated populations. The genetic differentiation pattern estimated by multivariable models combining geographic distance and sea surface temperature differences suggests that isolation by distance and isolation by environment both have significant effects on this species. Further investigation of genome-wide evolutionary signatures of climate adaptation identified many genes related to growth, muscle contraction, and vision that are under positive natural selection. Moreover, the contrasting patterns of natural selection in high-latitude and low-latitude populations prompted different strategies of trade-offs between growth rate and other traits that may play an essential role in adaptation to different local climates. Our results offer an opportunity to better understand the genetic basis of the phenotypic variation in eurythermal fishes inhabiting different climatic regions.

Natural selection drives the evolution of mitogenomes in Acrossocheilus

The mitochondrial genome plays a crucial role in the balance of energy and heat production in organisms and, thus, may be under natural selection due to its potential role in adaptive divergence and speciation. Here, we studied natural selection on the mitogenome of Acrossocheilus (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae), a genus of fish that inhabits a broad latitudinal distribution ranging from the tropics and subtropics through temperate regions. Specifically, we used 25 published mitogenome sequences of Acrossocheilus species to investigate phylogenetic relationships in this genus and detected signals of positive selection on 13 protein-coding, mitochondrial genes. We found that relaxed purifying selection and genetic drift were the predominant evolutionary forces acting on the analyzed mitogenomes. However, we also found evidence of diversifying selection on some codons, indicating episodes of positive selection. Additionally, we analyzed the mitogenomic data within an environmental modeling framework and found that the Ka/Ks ratio of ATP6 may correlated with a mean diurnal temperature range (p = 0.0449), while the Ka/Ks ratio of COX2 may correlated with precipitation during the driest month (p = 0.00761). These results suggest that the mitogenomes of Acrossocheilus species may be involved in evolutionary adaptations to different habitats. Based on this, we believe that our study provides a new insight into the role of the mitochondrial genome of Acrossocheilus species in adaptation to different environments. During our study, we also discovered several cases of paraphyly and polyphyly among accessions of species and their putative synonyms. Thus, our study suggests that a careful reassessment of the taxonomy of Acrossocheilus is using high-quality molecular data merited.

The Flowering of Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) in Italy: A Phenology Modeling Approach

Knowledge of the flowering dates of black locust trees (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is crucial information of both economic significance and scientific interest. Black locust is in fact an excellent melliferous plant and can provide information on climate change impacts due to its large distribution throughout the world as planted and naturalized trees. This paper presents the calibration and validation of a phenological model targeted at the simulation of the whole process of black locust flowering (from BBCH 51—inflorescence of flower buds visible—to BBCH 69—end of flowering). The work relies on the phenological observations gathered in the context of IPHEN, the Italian PHEnological Network, with a broad latitudinal distribution of the observational sites (from 37.53° to 46.28° N) and a long time span, from 2010 to 2021. Phenology modeling is based on the Normal Heat Hours approach, which translates air temperature into thermal units based on a plant specific response curve. As meteorological input data, a high resolution (0.045°) gridded dataset was obtained by spatial interpolation of GSOD (NOAA) weather stations.

Two new frog species from the Litoria rubella species group from eastern Australia.

The bleating tree frog (Litoria dentata) is one of the more prominent pelodryadid frogs of eastern Australia by virtue of its extremely loud, piercing, male advertisement call. A member of the Litoria rubella species group, L. dentata has a broad latitudinal distribution and is widespread from coastal and subcoastal lowlands through to montane areas. A recent mitochondrial DNA analysis showed a deep phylogeographic break between populations of L. dentata on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. Here we extended the mitochondrial survey with more geographically comprehensive sampling and tested the systematic implications of our findings with nuclear genome wide single-nucleotide polymorphism, morphological and male advertisement call datasets. While similar in appearance and in male advertisement call, our integrative analysis demonstrates the presence of three species which replace each other in a north-south series. We redescribe Litoria dentata, which is restricted to coastal north-eastern New South Wales, and formally describe Litoria balatus sp. nov., from south-eastern Queensland, and Litoria quiritatus sp. nov., from the mid-coast of New South Wales to north-eastern Victoria.

Explaining Variation in Abundance and Species Diversity of Avian Cestodes in Brine Shrimps in the Salar de Atacama and Other Chilean Wetlands

Further biogeographical studies of parasites are vital to improve our understanding of biodiversity distribution and predict the impacts of global change. Hypersaline lakes are good laboratories to investigate the avian cestode abundance and species diversity given the abundance of hosts (waterbirds and Artemia) and their broad latitudinal distribution. We analysed cestode infection in brine shrimp Artemia franciscana in northern (Atacama) and central Chile and compared them to results from A. persimilis in southern Chile (Patagonia). Thus, we covered a broad latitudinal gradient from 23° to 53° S. Five cestode taxa including two species of the genus Flamingolepis, Gynandrotaenia stammeri, Eurycestus avoceti, and Fuhrmannolepis averini were recorded from A. franciscana in Atacama lagoons (prevalence = 4.1%). In contrast, no cestode infection was detected in central Chile, likely because they are temporary wetlands. Parasites of flamingos and shorebirds were associated with Atacama lagoons (arid and higher salinity), while Confluaria podicipina and Fimbriarioides sp. (parasites of grebes and ducks, respectively) were dominant in Patagonian lagoons (sub-antarctic and of lower salinity). These differences mirror changes in the relative abundance of the respective final hosts. The flamingo parasite Flamingolepis sp. 1 was the most prevalent and abundant cestode in Atacama, where it was recorded only in autumn. Seasonality and habitat effects (especially abundance and phenology of different bird species) appear to override any latitudinal trends in the prevalence, diversity, and distribution of cestodes. Cestode prevalence was higher in larger wetlands but was not related to the sex of either intermediate host. We recorded a greater taxonomic richness at the cestode family level in Atacama, but a greater dominance of a single family of avian hosts (the flamingos). Ours is the first spatio–temporal study of Artemia cestodes at local and regional scales in the southern hemisphere.

The testate amoebae of New Zealand: A checklist, identification key and assessment of biogeographic patterns

New Zealand (NZ) is a well-known hotspot of biodiversity and endemism for macroscopic organisms, but its microbial diversity is comparatively poorly documented. We assembled all records on NZ testate amoebae published since the early 20th century and present a comprehensive taxonomic checklist for NZ. Testate amoebae are reported from six major habitat types across both the North and South Islands of NZ, but the sampling effort is ecologically and geographically biased in favour of wetlands and the South Island. As a result, 93% of all 128 morphotypes recorded in NZ occur in wetlands, 28% are restricted to the South Island, and diversity is greater at higher latitudes. Around 50% of morphotypes have a broad latitudinal distribution across the NZ mainland, whereas 15% have narrow latitudinal ranges. Future research should aim to broaden the geographical and ecological ranges. We predict that our list of NZ testate amoebae will expand substantially with future work, and that the latitudinal diversity gradient will be inverted. We also introduce an interactive, fully illustrated, online Lucid key for the rapid identification of NZ testate amoebae. As many morphospecies are cosmopolitan, this key provides a useful tool for testate amoebae identification in other parts of the world.

Coping with a changing Arctic: mechanisms of acclimation in the brown seaweed Saccharina latissima from Spitsbergen

Polar regions are facing rapid temperature increase. In Arctic fjord systems, increased temperatures result in hyposalinity caused by the melting of sea ice and glaciers and freshwater run-off. Additionally, enhanced freshwater discharge and intrusion of nutrient-rich Atlantic water may result in nutrient input in summer. Combined, these factors might have a strong impact on primary producers, such as the abundant kelp speciesSaccharina latissima, an important foundation species in Arctic shallow-water coastal ecosystems. We ran 2 short-term 2factor experiments with field samples from Kongsfjorden (Svalbard) to evaluate the impact of temperature increase in summer combined with hyposalinity (temperature × salinity) or nutrient enrichment (temperature × nutrients) on the physiological and biochemical status of ArcticS. latissima. In the temperature × salinity experiment, growth and maximum photosynthetic quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) were generally not affected. Temperature increase resulted in increased C:N ratios, based on decreasing nitrogen assimilation. Overall, hyposalinity had no severe effect but resulted in lower phlorotannin concentrations. Growth andFv/Fmimproved with increasing temperatures and nutrient enrichment. The de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle and mannitol declined at higher temperatures. Regarding other biochemical response variables, nutrients had no major impact (temperature × nutrients). In conclusion, in line with its broad latitudinal distribution range and adaptability,S. latissimaproved to be highly resilient to changing abiotic drivers and will likely be promoted by warming in the future Arctic.

The advertisement call of Gastrotheca chrysosticta Laurent, 1976 (Anura: Hemiphractidae).

The genus Gastrotheca Fitzinger, 1843 currently harbors 75 species (Frost 2020). These marsupial frogs have a broad latitudinal distribution range in Central and South America, from Costa Rica southward to Argentina (Duellman 2015). The advertisement call features as the pulse structure, call duration, and repetition pulse rate are used by researchers to recognize the species of Gastrotheca (Duellman 2015). The availability of call descriptions is also crucial for recognizing these species with secretive life habits and implementing long-term passive acoustic monitoring programs (Vaira et al. 2011; Akmentins et al. 2014).

A Bird's Eye View: Hesperornithiforms as Environmental Indicators in the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway

Seabirds are considered indicators of ecological hotspots in modern ecosystems because their biogeographic distribution is correlated with physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic factors. Pursuit diving seabirds – those that actively pursue prey underwater – are generally more limited in distribution and more closely tied to oceanographic factors, as diving ability is often gained at the expense of flight capabilities. Today, wing propelled pursuit diving seabirds are restricted to colder waters; foot propelled divers have a broader latitudinal distribution, but do not forage far from shore in marine environments. In comparison, Late Cretaceous Northern Hemisphere seas were host to foot propelled pursuit diving seabirds called hesperornithiforms. Their Western Interior Seaway fossil record, in particular, reflects the broad latitudinal distribution of modern foot propelled divers, but with occurrences of offshore foraging more typical of modern wing propelled divers. The presence of hesperornithiforms in such a wide variety of environments (Boreal, Tethyan, coastal, nearshore, and offshore) suggests different ecological and oceanographic conditions affected biogeographic patterns of Late Cretaceous divers. The purpose of this study is to explore Late Cretaceous hesperornithiform paleobiogeography in light of what is known about how biotic and environmental factors affect modern pursuit diving seabirds to better understand WIS paleoecology.The Late Cretaceous was characterized by greenhouse climate, high sea levels, and epicontinental seas that provided marine paleoenvironments with no modern analogs. Two notable ecological differences between the Late Cretaceous and today are the presence of marine reptiles (and absence of marine mammals) as apex predators and the lack of acanthomorph fish diversity. Spatio-temporal overlap among hesperornithiforms, marine reptiles, and large predatory fishes implies different competition and predator-prey relationships among marine carnivores than today. Differences in swimming capabilities between marine reptiles and marine mammals may partially account for the presence of hesperornithiforms in warm, offshore waters. Additionally, environmental factors relating to the unique paleoceanography of the WIS would have also influenced hesperornithiform populations. Ample shoreline, abundant shallow water habitats, and high primary production made epicontinental seas hotspots for pursuit diving seabirds, despite warmer temperatures. Together, ecosystem structure and the unique oceanographic factors characterizing epicontinental seas both contribute to differences in seabird biogeography between the Late Cretaceous and today.

Strengthening mycorrhizal research in South America.

Strengthening mycorrhizal research in South America.

Influence of latitudinal variation in environmental gradients and population structure on the demography of a widespread pelagic fish, Arripis trutta (Forster, 1801)

Knowledge of the influence of both spatial and temporal environmental gradients on life history traits and population demographics is a critical requirement in the management of exploited fish populations. This study examined variation in the demographics of Arripis trutta, an economically-important pelagic fish species with a broad latitudinal distribution in the waters of coastal south-eastern (SE) Australia, a region dominated by the influence of the East Australian Current (EAC). A validated ageing protocol was first developed using sectioned sagittal otoliths, which in turn permitted examination of latitudinal variation in A. trutta growth, size compositions and age compositions. The von Bertalanffy growth function parameters for A. trutta in SE Australia were estimated to be L∞ = 63.20 ± 0.37 cm fork length (FL), k = 0.26 ± 0.01 yr−1 and to = −0.14 ± 0.03 yr, with a maximum estimated age of 12.7 years. Growth was shown to be faster with decreasing latitude likely due to a simple relationship with the latitudinal gradient in water temperature; fastest growth occurring in northern NSW and slowest growth occurring in Tasmania. Latitudinal patterns in growth were remarkably similar to those previously reported for this species, despite age being estimated using scale readings some 40 years ago. This consistency in latitudinal growth patterns of a temperate fish can be attributed to the life history-related movements undertaken by A. trutta in this region. This temporally-consistent movement pattern is supported by the spatial gradient in the size and age composition of A. trutta sampled from different latitudes in both the current and historical research, whereby numbers of large and old fish increase progressively from Tasmania to northern NSW. These results highlight the need to consider the potential for spatial size- or age-structuring in the development of sampling designs and interpretation of results for any study examining spatial or temporal variation in demographic parameters of exploited fish populations.

Croton cupreolepis (Euphorbiaceae), a New Coppery-lepidote Tree Species from Eastern Madagascar

Abstract Croton cupreolepis (Euphorbiaceae) is newly described from montane, evergreen forests of eastern Madagascar. It is distinguished by its coppery-lepidote trichomes that form a dense covering on the floral buds and inflorescences, as well as on the dorsal side of the petals of both pistillate and staminate flowers, and also by its distinctive recurved pedicels. The young leaves are covered by the same type of coppery trichomes on the lower surface, but as the leaves expand, the coppery scales become scattered on a background of silvery scales. The species has been confused with Croton chrysodaphne, C. nobilis, or else specimens have been left determined just to genus. Its broad latitudinal distribution in Madagascar suggests that it may once have been more widespread, but has been a victim of the widespread deforestation of primary forest along the eastern slopes of the island.

Effects of changes in micro-weather conditions on structural features, total protein and carbohydrate content in leaves of the Atlantic rain forest tree golden trumpet (Tabebuia chrysotricha).

Golden trumpet, Tabebuia chrysotricha, is a native tree from the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest, with a broad latitudinal distribution. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of short-term changes in micro-weather conditions on structural features, and total protein and carbohydrate content of golden trumpet leaves, using structural and histochemical approaches. Leaves were harvested in four different micro-weather conditions: 1. Afternoon, after a hot, sunny day; 2. at dawn, after a previously hot, sunny day; 3. at noon, of a hot, sunny day; and 4. at noon, of a cold, cloudy day. Leaflets exposed to low light irradiance showed flattened chloroplasts, uniformly distributed within the cells, throughout the palisade parenchyma. Conversely, leaflets exposed to high light irradiance presented flattened and rounded chloroplasts, in the upper and lower palisade parenchyma cells, respectively. The strongest protein staining was found for leaves harvested at the coldest period, whereas the weakest protein staining was found for leaves harvested after a hot, sunny day. The largest and most numerous starch grains were found for leaves harvested in the afternoon, after a hot, sunny day. Conversely, the smallest and less numerous starch grains were found for leaves harvested at dawn. Analysis of the data reported herein suggests that the leaflet responses to transient changes in micro-weather conditions are likely to contribute to the golden trumpet successful establishment in the broad latitudinal distribution in which the species is found.

Latitudinal dependence of body condition, growth rate, and stable isotopes of juvenile capelin (Mallotus villosus) in the Bering and Chukchi Seas

Capelin occupy a key trophic role and have a broad latitudinal distribution in the northeastern Pacific and Arctic Oceans. Understanding their adaptation to a range of conditions is important to predicting how they will respond to climate change. To quantify the variation in body condition in different physical environments, we measured energy density, RNA/DNA ratios, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in 62 juvenile capelin along the Western Alaskan coast from Bristol Bay to Point Barrow ranging across approximately 14° of latitude. Energy density correlated positively with latitude, whereas RNA/DNA (instantaneous growth index) was strongly correlated with sea surface temperature, indicating that optimal growth of capelin was achieved at ~9 °C, followed by rapid decreases in RNA/DNA ratios at higher temperatures. δ13C and δ15N had strong, inverse nonlinear relationships with latitude. Depletion of δ13C seen in capelin North of Bristol Bay may be related to the incorporation of allochthonous basal resources into the diets of juvenile capelin from nearby riverine inputs. Observed enrichment of δ15N North of Bristol Bay is likely to be related to incorporation of higher trophic level prey items. Given inverse relationship between δ13C and δ15N, these prey items are likely available due to the increased diversity of basal resources from increased inputs of riverine organic material.

Genes Left Behind: Climate Change Threatens Cryptic Genetic Diversity in the Canopy-Forming Seaweed Bifurcaria bifurcata.

The global redistribution of biodiversity will intensify in the coming decades of climate change, making projections of species range shifts and of associated genetic losses important components of conservation planning. Highly-structured marine species, notably brown seaweeds, often harbor unique genetic variation at warmer low-latitude rear edges and thus are of particular concern. Here, a combination of Ecological Niche Models (ENMs) and molecular data is used to forecast the potential near-future impacts of climate change for a warm-temperate, canopy forming seaweed, Bifurcaria bifurcata. ENMs for B. bifurcata were developed using marine and terrestrial climatic variables, and its range projected for 2040-50 and 2090-2100 under two greenhouse emission scenarios. Geographical patterns of genetic diversity were assessed by screening 18 populations spawning the entire distribution for two organelle genes and 6 microsatellite markers. The southern limit of B. bifurcata was predicted to shift northwards to central Morocco by the mid-century. By 2090-2100, depending on the emission scenario, it could either retreat further north to western Iberia or be relocated back to Western Sahara. At the opposing margin, B. bifurcata was predicted to expand its range to Scotland or even Norway. Microsatellite diversity and endemism were highest in Morocco, where a unique and very restricted lineage was also identified. Our results imply that B. bifurcata will maintain a relatively broad latitudinal distribution. Although its persistence is not threatened, the predicted extirpation of a unique southern lineage or even the entire Moroccan diversity hotspot will erase a rich evolutionary legacy and shrink global diversity to current (low) European levels. NW Africa and similarly understudied southern regions should receive added attention if expected range changes and diversity loss of warm-temperate species is not to occur unnoticed.

Occurrence of the coral Porites panamensis (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) in an estuarine environment of the Colombian Pacific

Porites panamensisis the scleractinian coral with the widest latitudinal distribution in the eastern tropical Pacific. Here, we report the occurrence ofP. panamensisin an estuarine environment of the central Pacific coast of Colombia at the rocky reef of Los Negritos, Málaga Bay.Porites panamensisseems to withstand a wide range of environmental settings, including areas with unfavourable conditions for the survival of most other corals. Such wide tolerance may explain its broad latitudinal distribution in the eastern tropical Pacific.

Survival and Condition of Cold‐Banked Juvenile Walleyes

AbstractOver their broad latitudinal distribution in nature, Walleye Sander vitreus have adapted to survive long winters in ice‐covered lakes and for more than 5 months when water temperatures are less than required for growth (10°C). Thus, our hypothesis is that hatchery‐reared fall‐fingerling Walleyes may be maintained in hatchery confinement at low temperature for relatively long intervals with minimal requirement for feed and maintenance, i.e., cold banked (CB). Little information has been published, however, on survival and condition of CB fish to judge its merits. In this study, survival and condition of three cohorts (N = 1,538) of feed‐trained juvenile Walleyes (181–192 mm total length, 47–58 g) are described after overwintering for 125–153 d in indoor culture tanks that were supplied with lake water of ambient winter temperature and pelleted feed. The mean for survival of three tanks of CB fish in each cohort was 85.8, 91.7, and 98.6% at corresponding mean water temperatures of 7.6, 8.3, and 6.8°C, where the lowest temperature ranged from 3.3°C to 4°C. The difference in mean length, weight, and condition from start to finish was small and statistically significant in only 1 of 3 years. Accelerated growth was observed in recaptured CB Walleyes 2 and 3 years after they were stocked into an 8‐ha lake. The findings of this study suggest that cold banking can be used to hold Walleyes overwinter for subsequent spring stocking, with minimum loss of stock, or for holding back stock in a commercial facility for grow out.

Multilocus phylogeny and biogeography of the New World Pheucticus grosbeaks (Aves: Cardinalidae)

Using a multilocus approach, we investigated the tempo and pattern of diversification in a widely distributed New World songbird, the cardinalid genus Pheucticus. Each of the three geographic groups recovered (North American, Middle American, and South American) was comprised of a pair of currently recognized species, and four, three, and three geographically and genetically distinct phylogeographic lineages respectively. Diversification within Pheucticus appears to have occurred at a relatively constant pace throughout the Pleistocene and evenly across a broad latitudinal distribution. The Isthmus of Panama completion and Pleistocene glacial cycles both appear to have played prominent roles in the diversification of this group.

The effect of paleoecology and paleobiogeography on stable isotopes of Quaternary mammals from South America

The modern South American mammalian assemblage was determined by the closure of the Panama isthmus (∼2.7–3.1 Ma) and later on, by profound climatic and environmental fluctuations occurred during the Quaternary as well as by the appearance of humans in the continent. In the present study, stable isotope analyses (δ13C, δ18OCO3 and δ18OPO4) have been carried out on Pleistocene–Holocene northern inmigrant and endemic taxa from a broad latitudinal and altitudinal distribution in South America with the purpose of characterizing their paleoecology and the effects of the paleobiogeographic distribution on stable isotope results. Equids and gomphotheres show a wide range of δ13C values going from woodlands to pure C4 grasslands. In the case of equids, Hippidion shows lower δ13C values than Equus in the Late Pleistocene, whereas, in the case of gomphotheres, Cuvieronius and Stegomastodon differ in their δ18O values on account on differences in their paleobiogeography with the former found in the Andean corridor and the latter dispersing through an eastern route. Isotope data of the rest of taxa (immigrant and endemic) are in general in good agreement with other previous isotopic and non-isotopic studies. The latitude threshold between mixed C3–C4 and pure C3 conditions have been pinpointed at ∼33°S in the Middle and the Late Pleistocene. Mammalian δ18O values are intimately related to latitudinal and altitudinal distribution, with the latter exerting an overriding influence independently of latitude. Calculated altitudinal gradients (between −0.23‰/100 m and −0.40‰/100 m) are within the range of modern gradients.

CARRINGTON MAPS OF Ca II K-LINE EMISSION FOR THE YEARS 1915-1985

We have used Mount Wilson Observatory calcium K-line images, digitized and flat fielded by the solar group at UCLA, to construct Carrington maps of Ca II 3934 A intensity for the years 1915-1985. These maps have a spatial resolution comparable to the resolution of Carrington maps of the magnetic field observed at Kitt Peak and a spectral resolution comparable to the width of the K232 emission. Consequently, they provide a way of tracking the spatial distribution of magnetic flux from the present back to the year 1915. In this paper, we compare some of the recent K-line maps with corresponding maps of magnetic field, and show examples of K-line maps during earlier sunspot cycles when high-quality magnetograms were not available. Then, we use butterfly diagrams and super-synoptic displays to summarize the long-term evolution of the patterns of calcium intensity. Although each cycle has characteristics that are similar to the others, cycle 19 is remarkable for its broad latitudinal distribution of active regions, for its giant poleward surges of flux, and for the emergence of a north-south asymmetry that lasted 10 years.