Current Distribution Data Research Articles

A systematic review of poeciliid fish invasions in Africa

BackgroundThis review compiles and synthesises the existing information concerning non-native poeciliid introductions to Africa. The recent upsurge in research on invasive poeciliids has revealed their widespread occurrence in Africa.ResultsWithin the 87 relevant articles, 74% reported on the presence of Gambusia spp., 33% on P. reticulata, 19% on X. hellerii, 11% on X. maculatus, and 5% on other ornamental poeciliids. Overall, poeciliids have been documented as introduced to 25 different countries in Africa. With Gambusia spp. being introduced to 16 countries and P. reticulata to 19 countries. Our results are representative of the current state of research on invasive poeciliids in Africa. There was a concentration of studies in South Africa, with limited research elsewhere. Current distribution data is relatively patchy, although widespread surveys of multiple river systems in Morocco and South Africa, confirmed widespread and abundant established poeciliid populations. The ecological impacts of invasive poeciliids in Africa remain understudied but evidence indicates deleterious effects on native fish, invertebrates, and amphibians, many of which are critically endangered or endemic.ConclusionCurrent research is limited in reporting from certain countries and ecological impacts. An increased effort to monitor species composition in vulnerable waterbodies, especially in the many African countries where invasive poeciliids are reported, should be completed to reveal further established populations. Future research should prioritise quantifying the ecological impacts of invasive poeciliids in the field and identifying both vulnerable and resistant native ecosystems to guide future management decisions.

Comparative Study of Potential Habitats for Two Endemic Grassland Caterpillars on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Based on BIOMOD2 and Land Use Data.

This study has systematically investigated and compared the geographical distribution patterns and population density of G. menyuanensis (Gm) and G. qinghaiensis (Gq), which are endemic to the QTP region and inflict severe damage. Using a method combining the BIOMOD2 integration model (incorporating nine ecological niche models) and current species distribution data, this study has compared changes in potential habitats and distribution centers of these two species during ancient, present, and future climate periods and conducted a correlation test on the prediction results with land use types. The study results indicate that there are differences in geographical distribution patterns, distribution elevations, and population density of these two species. Compared with single models, the integration model exhibits prominent accuracy and stability with higher KAPPA, TSS, and AUC values. The distribution of suitable habitats for these two species is significantly affected by climatic temperature and precipitation. There is a significant difference between the potential habitats of these two species. Gm and Gq are distributed in the northeastern boundary area and the central and eastern areas of the QTP, respectively. The areas of their suitable habitats are significantly and positively correlated with the area of grassland among all land use types of QTP, with no correlations with the areas of other land use types of QTP. The potential habitats of both species during the paleoclimate period were located in the eastern and southeastern boundary areas of the QTP. During the paleoclimate period, their potential habitats expanded towards the Hengduan Mountains (low-latitude regions) in the south compared with their current suitable habitats. With the subsequent temperature rising, their distribution centers shifted towards the northeast (high-latitude) regions, which could validate the hypothesis that the Hengduan Mountains were refuges for these species during the glacial period. In the future, there will be more potential suitable habitats for these two species in the QTP. This study elucidates the ecological factors affecting the current distribution of these grass caterpillars, provides an important reference for designating the prevention and control areas for Gm and Gq, and helps protect the alpine meadow ecosystem in the region.

The investigation of an inspired type toroidal dipole flexible metasurfaces at terahertz frequencies

We theoretically and experimentally carried out an inspired type of toroidal dipole (TD) metasurfaces, which composed of a metamolecule of symmetric aluminium semicircles with a bar in the middle fabricated on polyimide substrate in the terahertz (THz) regime. It was found that the three resonances show red-shift tendency due to the increase of inductance and capacitance with the increase of semicircle's outer radius. Meanwhile, both the TD resonances and the current flowing in the metallic bar can generate the head-to-tail magnetic field distribution, which is the most prominent feature of TD phenomenon. The generation of this phenomenon is discussed deeply via the power of the multipoles, which are calculated according to the volume current density distribution data extracted from the simulations. The low frequencies (∼0.5 THz) head-to-tail magnetic field distribution is mainly attributed to TD resonance generated via the mutual effect between the two semicircles, while the same phenomenon at high frequencies (∼0.8 THz) is mainly attributed to the current flowing the middle metallic bar. The enhancement of head-to-tail magnetic field distribution leads to the increase of quality (Q) factor, and the Q factor of fabricated sample is as high as 24.5. Moreover, the electromagnetic properties in TD metasurfaces could be adjusted by the metal bar's width. The optimization of TD resonances provides opportunity to design the high Q-factor metasurfaces, and it opens up potential applications in terahertz high sensitivity devices.

Data-driven fault diagnosis of PEMFC water management with segmented cell and deep learning technologies

Timely and effective fault diagnosis is crucial to guarantee the reliability and durability of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Segmented cell technology has been proven to be a powerful tool for exploring the internal characteristics of fuel cells, yet it is seldom applied for fault diagnosis. This paper proposes a data-driven fault diagnosis method that combines segmented cell and deep learning technology for PEMFC water management fault diagnosis. The dynamic characteristics of the current distribution of the fuel cell under different levels of faults are explored with segmented cell technology. A dual-input convolutional neural network is applied to combine current distribution data and sensor data for a more comprehensive system status for fault diagnosis. The results show that the model can efficiently identify flooding and drying faults with more than 98.5% accuracy, faster and more accurately than other algorithms. This work highlights the significance of segmented cell technology for the comprehension of water management inside PEMFC and provides a new concept for PEMFC fault diagnosis.

An updated checklist of the wild silkmoths (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae) of Colombia.

In recent years, the study of wild silkmoths (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) has increased exponentially due to the intense sampling effort and the use of molecular evidence for species delimitation, which led to the description of numerous new taxa especially from the Neotropic. Given these rapid advances, the checklist of the Colombian Saturniidae needs to be updated to cover the taxonomy, distribution, and diversity of these moths in the country. After an extensive review of literature, data repositories, and collections, an updated and comprehensive list of Saturniidae from Colombia is presented, including their occurrence status in each Colombian department. The checklist includes 7 subfamilies, 55 genera, and 790 taxa (766 in species rank) of Saturniidae in Colombia. Current distribution data show that the genus Winbrechlinia, the subgenusDarylesia, 379 species, and 18 subspecies are endemic to Colombia. Moreover, a dichotomic key to the Colombian subfamilies is provided. A few taxonomic changes are proposed based on a thorough taxonomic revision of the Colombian taxa. This revision also addresses the issue of outdated species names reported in the first checklist of Colombian Saturniidae (Amarillo-Suárez 2000) and excludes old records of taxa that are considered dubious for Colombia based on new evidence. By presenting an updated list of Colombian species, including the newly described taxa, this study aims at eliminating confusion stemming from outdated names and provides a useful resource for researching and conservating Saturniidae in Colombia. We wish to offer a common reference for future studies on the biodiversity and biogeography of moths in the Neotropical realm.

A basic healthy food basket approach to evaluate the affordability of healthy eating in South Africa and Kenya

IntroductionUnderstanding the affordability of healthy eating has always been a critical question but has escalated in importance considering the global context of more recent soaring food prices and the worsening of food and nutrition security indicators since the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost and affordability of basic healthy eating in South Africa and Kenya, through the application of a Basic Healthy Food Basket (BHFB) modeling framework applied within the food intake and nutritional context of the target countries.MethodsThe construction of the BHFB models was based on a number of key considerations (i.e., ‘building blocks’): household demographic (size and composition), socio-economically disaggregated household income levels, minimum wage data, typical food intake patterns, nationally monitored food retail prices and official country-specific nutrient intake and food consumption guidelines. For both countries BHFB’s were compiled and interpreted at a national level, as well as for a ‘more plant-based’ BHFB. The nutritional adequacy of the national BHFB’s was evaluated.ResultsBased on national demographical statistics in Kenya and South Africa, the reference family was defined as a four-member reference household consisting of 2 adults and 2 children. The detailed composition of the national BHFB’s is presented, consisting of 31 food items in Kenya and 24 food items in South Africa – covering all the food groups according to nutritional guidelines. The nutritional adequacy of the various BHFB’s is discussed and were generally deemed adequate for the majority of micro-nutrients – particularly the micro-nutrients of concern in the various countries. In January 2023 the cost of the national BHFB in Kenya and South Africa amounted to KSh33 800 (US$270) and R4 715 (US$ 262) respectively, − potentially excluding approximately 60% of the population from being able to afford a basic healthy food basket. A movement to ‘more plant-based’ BHFB’s (i.e., proportionally less meat/fish/eggs and proportionally more legumes) reduced the cost of the BHFB’s with 15% in Kenya and in South Africa. From a social support perspective, the analyses indicated that social support in the form of child support grants and children benefiting from school feeding programmes could result in the share of households able to afford basic healthy eating to increase by approximately 10 percentage points in the South African context.Conclusions and recommendationsThe study showed that the high (and rising) cost of basic healthy eating prevents large numbers of households in South Africa and Kenya from being able to afford basic healthy eating when considering current income distribution data. The research outcomes of the BHFB methodology applied in this study to monitor and evaluate the cost and affordability of basic healthy eating, should be monitored regularly and taken into consideration to inform food and nutrition policy decisions and actions. However, from a methodological perspective several critical challenges will have to be addressed to improve the measurement accuracy of the BHFB models, including the availability of official food retail price monitoring of a wider range of food items; household demographics, household income data, food intake data and household-level food expenditure data that are more frequently updated, as well as socio-economically and geographically disaggregated data on typical food intake behavior. From the perspective of plant versus animal protein sources, the study suggested that food intake patterns with an increased focus on legumes as a source of plant-based protein could help to improve the affordability of basic healthy eating. However, it is also important to consider consumer acceptability in this context from various perspectives, including sensory acceptability, cultural acceptability, and the available time for food preparation. The study identified the critical need to evaluate the cost of basic healthy eating on a geographically more refined level. This is based on the diversity of food intake behavior in different regions within the target countries as pointed out by in-country experts. However, future research to develop an improved understanding of food intake pattern in different regions/provinces/counties will be a critical enabler, along with geographically disaggregated food retail price data and demographical information.

Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis of Superconductor Power Mesh Using JSICsim

We have been developing a power supply analysis tool for Josephson junction-based circuits, embedded in our analog simulator JSICsim, supporting power-related analysis functions such as current distribution, invalid DC biases, and variance map analysis. The power analysis procedure involves the power mesh layout processing based on different types of models. The power mesh is converted into a netlist, which will be used to form a top-level netlist together with the core netlist. Using JSICsim for simulation and iteration, the current distribution data could be obtained, and its static and dynamic heat map could be rendered for designers. In this article, we also demonstrate several testbench circuits fabricated by using SIMIT-Nb03 technology, providing their simulation and testing results with analysis. The results show that by using this power supply analysis tool, the designers can locate the potential high-risk areas in terms of the current distribution in their design and use this information for improvement before fabrication.

New insights into the distribution and spreading of the Asian walnut moth, Garellamusculana (Erschov, 1874) (Lepidoptera, Nolidae) in Europe with a focus on the Italian range.

The Asian walnut moth, Garellamusculana (Erschov, 1874) (Lepidoptera, Nolidae) is an alien pest originating from Central Asia and is now spreading in Europe, attacking walnut trees. In this study, we updated the current distribution of G.musculana, focusing on the Italian range, where it was reported for the first time in 2021. Field surveys showed an extensive distribution of G.musculana in northern Italy, particularly in the Veneto Region. In this area, the Asian walnut moth developed on English and black walnut, attacking almost exclusively tree shoots. Based on current distribution data, further investigations are required in the nearby regions as well as in those that were less surveyed. Lastly, it is imperative to conduct more studies on insect biology and the impact on walnut production.

Conservation and Restoration of Mangroves in Response to Invasion of Spartina alterniflora Based on the MaxEnt Model: A Case Study in China

In China, the invasion of Spartina alterniflora is an important driver for the decrease of mangrove area and ecological service functions related to this habitat. In the past few decades, S. alterniflora clearing and mangrove restoration projects have mainly focused on the areas where it is already changed but ignored the potential distribution areas. This study suggested that implementation of mangrove protection prior to the areas with the threat of S. alterniflora invasion could greatly improve protection efficiency and save costs. Thus, using Maximum Entropy Modeling (MaxEnt), we estimated the potential spatial distribution of both mangroves and S. alterniflora in China, considering the current distribution data, topographical, sediments, sea surface temperature and bioclimatic variables. What’s more, we identified and calculated the potential distributed areas in each province. We aimed to explore (i) the key factors determining the distribution of mangrove and Spartina alterniflora along the coastline and (ii) the hotspots of their competitive occurrence, including S. alterniflora invasion areas and mangroves degradation areas, in order to support mangrove conservation. The model showed that the distance to the coastline and the topography play important roles in the distribution of S. alterniflora, while mangroves were more sensitive to the range of the annual sea surface temperature. Our results furthermore confirm that S. alterniflora has a wider potential distribution area (~10,585 km2) than mangroves (~9124 km2) at the coastline of China; and predict the provinces Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, Zhanjiang, Beihai and Wenzhou as hotspots for the competition between mangroves and S. alterniflora. We propose that priority should be given to the protection or restoration of mangrove plants in those areas which are co-suitable for mangroves and S. alterniflora. In these areas, management measures should be conducted that hinder S. alterniflora invasions or clear existing S. alterniflora plants, firstly. This study provides guidance for the management of native species by preventing biological invasion.

The detection of an alien pest, the cotton leaf roller Haritalodes decorata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), on the Black Sea Coast of Russia

Here we report about the first finding of an alien pest, the cotton leaf roller Haritalodes derogata (Fabricius, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), on the Russian Black Sea Coast. In summer of 2021, the significant damage caused by H. degorata to Hibiscus spp. was documented in the ornamental plantations of Sochi. The current distribution data and the bionomics of the species in the invaded region are provided. The DNA barcoding data obtained for the specimens from Sochi are analyzed comparing to the species representatives from the other parts of the world.

Cedrus distribution change: past, present, and future

Cedrus Trew (Pinaceae) includes four species, which are disjunctively distributed in the Mediterranean region and western Himalaya. Understanding the historical distribution of Cedrus and the driving factors can provide valuable information for the conservation of these species. In this study, we collected current distribution data and pollen fossil records for Cedrus. We used MaxEnt to simulate the distribution of Cedrus in the Mediterranean region and western Himalaya during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the middle Holocene (MH), present and future in response to different climate scenarios. Our simulation results indicate that winter precipitation is the key factor that determines the distribution of Cedrus, followed by winter temperature. The results also show that summer precipitation had a more important impact in the Mediterranean region than in the western Himalaya. The results indicate that climate change exerts a significant impact on the distribution of Cedrus in the Mediterranean, but not as much as in the western Himalaya. This could be attributed to the greater availability of microclimates (climate niche space) in the latter region. The availability of microclimates associated with the complex topography in the western Himalaya. The simulated results are generally consistent with fossil data. In the Mediterranean region, the suitability of the habitats for Cedrus decreased continuously from the LGM to the year 2070, with a distinct drop from the LGM to the MH. In the western Himalaya, the potential suitability of habitats for Cedrus increased from the LGM to the MH, but might fluctuate in the future. In general, this study identifies the key climate factors restricting the natural distribution of Cedrus. It shows that the distribution of Cedrus would be reduced in response to global climate change in the future, which indicates an urgent need for the protection and management of Cedrus populations.

Suitability and Sensitivity of the Potential Distribution of Cyclobalanopsis glauca Forests under Climate Change Conditions in Guizhou Province, Southwestern China

Global climate change is becoming increasingly prominent and has already begun to influence natural biological systems. Assessing the potential impact of climate change on ecosystems is an important research topic of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). Based on current distribution data, climate data, climate change scenarios (RCP8.5 scenario, 2070–2099), and application of the MaxEnt model, this study assessed suitability and sensitivity of the potential distribution of Cyclobalanopsis glauca forests under climate change conditions in Guizhou Province. The results were as follows: (1) Area under the curve values of training data and texting data indicated excellent performance of the model; (2) Compared to the current climate, areas of probability <0.4 were decreased, and the other areas presented an increasing trend under the RCP8.5 scenario; (3) Positive sensitivity areas were much larger than negative sensitivity areas under climate change. In either case, slight sensitivity areas accounted for the largest proportion; (4) The mean altitude of slight sensitivity areas measured the lowest, and highly negative sensitivity areas were the highest.

Quantifying and mapping angiosperm endemism in theAraucariaForest

AbstractNeotropical forests are home to exceptional biodiversity, especially along the eastern coast of tropical and subtropical South America. In the Atlantic Forest, the subtropical Araucaria Forest harbours both tropical and temperate plant lineages. Is the presence of Araucaria angustifolia the only attribute characterizing the south-eastern South American Araucaria Forest, or is this formation also defined by the co-occurrence of other endemic species? To answer this question, we revisited the history of this vegetation from published lists and from the current distribution data of angiosperm species. We aimed to identify species endemic to the Araucaria Forest, and to analyse areas of endemism, species richness and occurrence records across the study area. The taxa reported were classified as endemic, near-endemic or non-endemic. A list of 52 endemic taxa and 28 near-endemics was built from public databases and refined. Our results indicate that the eastern region of the southern plateau between the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina has the highest endemism diversity. We suggest that complex interactions are involved in the origin of endemism and that lineages represented in the list of endemic species may contain key taxa for future understanding these drivers in space and time.

Current distribution data for the red-listed species of aphyllophoroid fungi in Ukraine

The article provides current information on distribution patterns of six species of aphyllophoroid fungi (Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota) listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine: Clavariadelphus pistillaris, Gomphus clavatus, Hericium coralloides, Picipes rhizophilus, Polyporus umbellatus, and Sparassis crispa. Altogether, about 500 occurrences of the fungal fruitbodies in the country are reported. Of them, over 410 recent observations have been added to those published in the Red Data Book of Ukraine in 2009. Majority of that data has been provided over the last few years via mushroom citizen science, i.e. involvement of volunteers in collecting distribution data for macrofungi with large and distinctive fruitbodies. Only specialist-verified observations were included in the datasets reported in the article. The compiled data will serve as a considerably improved basis for future re-assessments of the conservation status of these threatened species for the next edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

Current distribution, microhabitat requirements and vulnerability of the Keeled Plump Bush-cricket (Isophya costata) at the north-western periphery of its range

Edge populations are of conservation importance because they typically suffer an elevated risk of extinction, possess low genetic variation and can be genetically distinct from core populations. Peripheral populations are generally characterized as being less abundant and more vulnerable to habitat change. In this study, we investigated the current distribution and microhabitat requirements of the Keeled Plump Bush-cricket (Isophya costata), a threatened species, at the north-western periphery of its range (Austrian-Slovak trans-border area, Central Europe). To clarify the current distribution pattern in relation to microhabitat requirements, we employed a comprehensive combination of microhabitat assessment and microrelief topography in a flood-plain area, which was supplemented by photo documentation created using a drone. We found that the distribution of the bush-cricket follows isolated occurrences with low densities. Regarding microhabitat requirements, we discovered a link between the distribution pattern of the bush-cricket and micro-elevations connected to dicotyledonous broadleaf plants. We assume that the novel information on species ecology found in this study could be a first step in obtaining sufficient data for further systematic monitoring. To set these findings for species conservation, it is necessary to mitigate the most serious threats, which are represented by early mowing and habitat degradation. Therefore, further detailed analysis of major threats and determination of the genetic structure of the species will be crucial to ensure appropriate conservation measures for the threatened peripheral bush-cricket metapopulation. This research provides the novel information about microhabitat requirements of the threatened bush-cricket at the north-western edge of its range. Current distribution data together with detailed knowledge of the microhabitat requirements provide important ecological information, which could have significant implications for the further systematic monitoring and species conservation.

Potential geographical distribution and changes of Artemisia ordosica in China under future climate change

Artemisia ordosica is a forerunner species of wind-break and sand-fixation in desert steppe in China, which plays an important role in ecosystem restoration and reconstruction. How-ever, it could influence human health. Based on 89 valid data of current distribution of A. ordosica in China and 19 typical climatic factors, the MaxEnt model was used to simulate the potential distribution of A. ordosica in China under current and two scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5; 2050s and 2070s). The SDM toolbox of ArcGIS software was used to analyze the potential distribution range of A. ordosica and its changes in China. The importance of key climatic factors was evaluated by comprehensive contribution rate, Jackknife method, and response curve of environmental variables. The accuracy of model was tested and evaluated by area under the curve (AUC) of the test subject working characteristic (ROC). The results showed that the MaxEnt model worked well (AUC=0.980). which predicted that A. ordosica was mainly concentrated in and around Mu Us Sandy Land, consistent with the current actual distribution range. The distribution area of A. ordosica of potential high fitness under the future two scenarios decreased by 5.2%-26.8%, which was negatively affected by future climate change. Seasonal variation of temperature, mean precipitation in the coldest season, and mean annual temperature had the greatest impact. The core area of future potential distribution of A. ordosica in China was located in Mu Us Sandy Land, with a tendency for spreading to northeast (Jilin, Heilongjiang, Liaoning and some parts of Hebei).

GalliForm, a database of Galliformes occurrence records from the Indo-Malay and Palaearctic, 1800\u20132008

Historical as well as current species distribution data are needed to track changes in biodiversity. Species distribution data are found in a variety of sources, each of which has its own distinct bias toward certain taxa, time periods or places. We present GalliForm, a database that comprises 186687 galliform occurrence records linked to 118907 localities in Europe and Asia. Records were derived from museums, peer-reviewed and grey literature, unpublished field notes, diaries and correspondence, banding records, atlas records and online birding trip reports. We describe data collection processes, georeferencing methods and quality-control procedures. This database has underpinned several peer-reviewed studies, investigating spatial and temporal bias in biodiversity data, species’ geographic range changes and local extirpation patterns. In our rapidly changing world, an understanding of long-term change in species’ distributions is key to predicting future impacts of threatening processes such as land use change, over-exploitation of species and climate change. This database, its historical aspect in particular, provides a valuable source of information for further studies in macroecology and biodiversity conservation.

Evolutionary history and eco‐climatic diversification in southern African dung beetle Sisyphus

AbstractAimThe high diversity of species in southern Africa has been attributed to geological and palaeoclimatic factors. The timing of radiations in some groups is held to be linked to these geoclimatic trends. Using the Scarabaeinae dung beetle genus, Sisyphus, as a model system, we investigate how geological uplift and climatic changes in the late Cenozoic affected its diversification patterns in southern Africa.LocationSouthern Africa.TaxonThe dung beetle genus, Sisyphus Latreille, 1807 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae).MethodsA dated molecular phylogeny of southern African Sisyphus was compared with a factor analysis of species distribution data that statistically defined groups of species according to current climatic distribution. We used these climatic clusters to estimate ancestral ranges using the “BioGeoBEARS” R package. A lineage through time plot was calculated using the R package ‘APE’. We used Bayesian diversification models (compound Poisson process on mass extinction times) to test hypotheses on how late Cenozoic uplift and climatic changes affected speciation and extinction of Sisyphus. Furthermore, we implemented ecological niche modelling in MaxEnt to predict the habitat suitability of species under present climatic conditions.ResultsFour species groups defined from factor analysis of current climatic distribution data are primarily restricted to the moist summer rainfall region in the northeast. Species diversification occurred from the mid‐Miocene until the Pleistocene, during which the central southern African plateau was uplifted in tandem with the advent of winter rainfall and arid climatic zones to the southwest. The ancestor of Sisyphus was centred in eastern low to mid‐altitude areas. Speciation rates were higher in the Miocene to Pliocene, followed by a dramatic drop during the transition to the Pleistocene.Main conclusionsThe taxonomic and eco‐climatic diversification of sisyphines is coincident with geological uplift and changes in climate in east‐central southern Africa. However, phylogenetic relationships of southern African Sisyphus species are not homogenously distributed with respect to geography and climate.

Distribution, Period of Gravidity, and Host Identification for the Narrow Pigtoe Mussel

AbstractThe narrow pigtoe Fusconaia escambia is a freshwater mussel found only in the Escambia and Yellow river basins in northwest Florida and southern Alabama. The U.S. Endangered Species Act lists it as threatened. Like other freshwater mussels (Unionidae), its life cycle involves a larval stage (i.e., glochidial) in which most species are obligate parasites on the gills or fins of fishes. Knowledge of life history, population demographics, population genetics, and threats for the narrow pigtoe is lacking throughout its range, which impedes conservation of this species. Therefore, our objectives were to 1) compare historical and current distribution data using a conservation status assessment map, 2) determine period of gravidity, and 3) identify fish hosts. We used a conservation status assessment map to examine spatial and temporal changes in narrow pigtoe distribution and the possibility that the species has been extirpated from a subbasin (i.e., Hydrologic Unit Code level 10 watershed boundary; U.S. Geological Survey National Hydrography Dataset). We determined period of gravidity for the narrow pigtoe by examining the gills of mussels in the field, and considered peak gravidity to be the month in which we encountered the greatest number of gravid females. We determined fish hosts by infecting individuals of 18 fish species with glochidia in a laboratory setting. Overall, the narrow pigtoe appears to be maintaining stable populations in Florida, but researchers have conducted too few surveys in Alabama subbasins for us to fully assess its status throughout its range. Peak months of gravidity were May–July, with the greatest percentage of gravid females observed in May, although we observed them as early as 9 March and as late as 25 October. We identified nine fish species from five genera as hosts for narrow pigtoe, with Blacktail Shiner Cyprinella venusta and Weed Shiner Notropis texanus consistently producing the greatest number of viable juvenile mussels. Host and gravidity findings from this study will be useful if propagation efforts become necessary for conservation of the narrow pigtoe.

Modelling the prehistoric geographical distribution of the genus Meleagris

Studies of the domestication of animals in the Americas suggest strong relationships between humans and a large number of animal species, with the application of many management strategies. Two species of the endemic pheasant genus Meleagris live in America: the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), culturally the most well-known species, with a natural distribution from North America to central Mexico; and the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata), endemic to the Yucatan Peninsula. However, the cultural exchange of both species, which began with the first sedentary human societies, has obscured the natural distributions of both species in central and southern Mexico.We have modelled the geographical distribution of both species based on the amplitude of the ecological niche, a concept that facilitates our understanding of biological adaptations. The models use temperature, precipitation and current distribution data to project back to the late Pleistocene.Three main inferences can be derived from our models. First, during the late Pleistocene both species of Meleagris experienced a reduction and drastic change in their geographical distribution. Second, the speciation events of the genus Meleagris occurred before the late Pleistocene. Third, the subspecies Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo displays the highest niche amplitude, spanning all other M. gallopavo subspecies, suggesting that it could be a product of cultural management.