Distribution Range Of Species Research Articles

Partial altitudinal movement of Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys in Himalayan Siwalik range

Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys is widely spread in the Himalayan Siwalik range but information is available on its migratory behavioural patterns. Hence, a two-year study was undertaken to investigate its distribution range of the species in the summer and winter seasons in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. A total of twenty variables including 19 bioclimatic variables and elevation were selected for the development of Species distribution Modelling (SDM). Occurrence records of P. leucogenys in summer and winter were processed at the Maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) using the ENMeval data package. The results suggested a downward movement from the upper Siwalik Himalayan ranges to the lower Siwalik in winter, and with return migration movement in summer. However, a large fraction of the distribution range was found overlapping in both the models, which suggests partial altitudinal migration of P. leucogenys. The data recorded on the ground subordinate the finding of the model. A wide range of tolerance for bioclimatic variables was observed in P. leucogenys, however temperature-related factors played a vital role in the variation in the species distribution range in the annual cycle of partial migration. The finding of this study would be a valuable reference for future studies on ecological and behavioral aspects of partial-migration of bird species in the Himalaya.

Lowering the rate of timber harvesting to mitigate impacts of climate change on boreal caribou habitat quality in eastern Canada

Many boreal populations of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) have declined in Canada, a trend essentially driven by the increasing footprint of anthropogenic disturbances and the resulting habitat-mediated apparent competition that increases predation pressure. However, the influence of climate change on these ecological processes remains poorly understood. We evaluated how climate change will affect boreal caribou habitat over the 2030–2100 horizon and in a 9.94 Mha study area, using a climate-sensitive simulation ensemble that integrates climate-induced changes in stand dynamics, fire regime, and different levels of commercial timber harvesting. We assessed the relative importance of these three drivers under projections made using different radiative forcing scenarios (RCP 2.6, 4.5, 8.5). Habitat quality was estimated from resource selection functions built with telemetry data collected from 121 caribou between 2004 and 2011 in 7 local populations. At the beginning of our simulations, caribou habitat was already structured along a south-to-north increasing quality gradient. Simulations revealed changes in forest cover that are driven by climate-induced variations in fire regime and scenarios of harvesting levels, resulting in the loss of older coniferous forests and an increase in deciduous stands. These changes induced a generalized decrease in the average habitat quality and in the percentage of high-quality habitat for caribou, and in a northward recession of suitable habitat. Timber harvesting was the most important agent of change for the 2030–2050 horizon, although it was slowly replaced by changes in fire regime until 2100. Our results clearly showed that it is possible to maintain the current average habitat quality for caribou in future scenarios that consider a reduction in harvested volumes, the only lever under our control. This suggests that we still have the capacity to conciliate socioeconomic development and caribou conservation imperatives in the face of climate change, an important issue debated throughout the species distribution range.

Population and Landscape Genetics Provide Insights Into Species Conservation of Two Evergreen Oaks in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Adjacent Regions.

The combination of population and landscape genetics can facilitate the understanding of conservation strategy under the changing climate. Here, we focused on the two most diverse and ecologically important evergreen oaks: Quercus aquifolioides and Quercus spinosa in Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP), which is considered as world’s biodiversity hotspot. We genotyped 1,657 individuals of 106 populations at 15 nuclear microsatellite loci throughout the species distribution range. Spatial patterns of genetic diversity were identified by mapping the allelic richness (AR) and locally common alleles (LCA) according to the circular neighborhood methodology. Migration routes from QTP were detected by historical gene flow estimation. The response pattern of genetic variation to environmental gradient was assessed by the genotype–environment association (GEA) analysis. The overall genetic structure showed a high level of intra-species genetic divergence of a strong west-east pattern. The West-to-East migration route indicated the complex demographic history of two oak species. We found evidence of isolation by the environment in Q. aqu-East and Q. spi-West lineage but not in Q. aqu-West and Q. spi-East lineage. Furthermore, priority for conservation should be given to populations that retain higher spatial genetic diversity or isolated at the edge of the distribution range. Our findings indicate that knowledge of spatial diversity and migration route can provide valuable information for the conservation of existing populations. This study provides an important guide for species conservation for two oak species by the integration of population and landscape genetic methods.

Tadpole soup: Chinantec caldo de piedra and behavior of Duellmanohylaignicolor larvae (Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae).

Although amphibian consumption by humans has been reported globally, this practice is not well studied despite its direct implications to the decline of amphibian populations. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognizes the need to document the use and trade of species to be considered in assessing their extinction risk. Here the consumption of Duellmanohylaignicolor tadpoles is documented. It is a micro endemic species categorized as Near Threatened (NT) consumed in a traditional dish called “caldo de piedra” (stone soup) prepared by the Chinantec people (Tsa Ju Jmí’) in Oaxaca, Mexico. Through conversations with local people and stream monitoring, the behavior of tadpoles of this species was documented and aspects of their exploitation and habitat use described. Places where caldo de piedra is still consumed were determined and using a spatial analysis with Geographic Information Systems, the distribution of the species in relation to those localities was analyzed. A number of other areas where tadpoles of this species might also occur and be exploited is predicted. In conclusion, the school behaviour, surface feeding, and the preference for deeper waterbodies that these tadpoles exhibit makes them vulnerable to being caught in large quantities. As they are consumed locally, are not commercialized, and the species distribution range is wider than caldo de piedra consumption, this implies a low risk for their populations. However, the tadpoles’ reliance on streams with depths x̄ = 60 cm and flux x̄ = 0.65 m/s reduces the availability of sites for their optimal development.

Contributions to the taxonomic status and molecular phylogeny of Asian Bronzeback Snakes (Colubridae, Ahaetuliinae, Dendrelaphis Boulenger, 1890), from Mizoram State, Northeast India

We evaluate the presence of three sympatric species of Asian Bronzeback Snakes (genus Dendrelaphis Boulenger, 1890) from Mizoram State, India. These are taxonomically complicated species that were recently, either resurrected (D. proarchos Wall, 1909, D. biloreatus Wall, 1908) or redefined (D. cyanochloris (Wall, 1921)). In the light of morphological and molecular data, we confirm the validity of D. proarchos from Mizoram, Northeast India, and subsequently confer the specimen of D. pictus (Gmelin, 1789) (CHS791) from Hainan (China) to D. proarchos. We also provide the first molecular phylogenetic data for the lesser-known species D. biloreatus as well as the first molecular samples of D. cyanochloris from Mizoram, Northeast India which seems to be the closest sample from Darjeeling, India (type locality). Apart from this, we also affirm the southwestern population in the distribution range of the latter species as D. cyanochloris sensu stricto, while conferring the southern population from Pinag Island, Malaysia to D. vogeli Jiang, Ren, Guo, Wang, Ding & Li, 2020, and the northeastern populations comprising Kachin (Myanmar), Tibet, Yunnan and Hainan (China) to D. ngansonensis (Bourret, 1935). Our present mitochondrial gene trees using the genes 16S rRNA, COI, and Cytb suggest the presence of cryptic diversity within several Dendrelaphis species, which will require rigorous genetic sampling and integrative taxonomic analysis to examine whether these lineages represent distinct species. This study also presents natural history and additional data on the distributional localities of Dendrelaphis species from Mizoram State, Northeast India.

Ocean currents shape the genetic structure of a kelp in southwestern Africa

AbstractAimDrivers of extant population genetic structure include past climate‐driven range shifts and vicariant events, as well as gene flow mediated by dispersal and habitat continuity. Their integration as alternative or complementary drivers is often missing or incomplete, potentially overlooking relevant processes and time scales. Here we ask whether it is the imprint of past range shifts or habitat connectivity driven by oceanographic transport that best explain genetic structure in a poorly understood model, a forest‐forming African kelp.LocationSouthwestern coast of Africa (Benguela current region).TaxonLaminaria pallida.MethodsWe estimated genetic variability along the species distributional range using 14 microsatellite markers. This genetic variability was compared to estimates of past range shifts derived from species distribution modelling for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the mid‐Holocene (MH) and the present, and estimates of habitat connectivity derived from oceanographic biophysical modelling.ResultsThe species is structured in two clusters, a southern cluster with much richer (allelic richness A: 10.40 ± 0.33) and unique (private alleles PA: 56.69 ± 4.05) genetic diversity, and a northern cluster (A: 4.75 ± 0.17; PA: 6.70 ± 1.45). These clusters matched well‐known biogeographical regions and their transition coincided with a dispersal barrier formed by upwelled offshore transport. No major range shifts or vicariant events were hindcasted along the present range, suggesting population stability from the LGM to the present.Main conclusionsHabitat connectivity, rather than past range shifts, explains the extant population structure. Future environmental requirements of the species along the Benguela upwelling system are projected to persist or even intensify, likely preserving the observed genetic patterns for the years to come. Yet, the differentiation and endemicity between clusters, and the isolation structured by the regional oceanography, implies high conservation value for genetic biodiversity, and even more if considering the ecological, social and economic services provided by kelp forests.

Vegetation Dynamics in a Loess Grassland: Plant Traits Indicate Stability Based on Species Presence, but Directional Change When Cover Is Considered.

This article evaluates the three-year vegetation dynamics of a species rich, protected steppe grassland on loess where no grazing occurred for decades at Bicske, Central Hungary. A detailed coenological survey of vascular vegetation was conducted in four permanent plots of 16 m2 each from 2018 to 2020. Raunkiaer’s life-forms, distribution range, and thousand-seed weight of species were evaluated. Shannon diversity and turnover rates for the species and the vegetation were also determined for each plot. In total, 108 vascular plant species were detected. The results indicate grassland stability when plant traits spectra were based on species presence data, but directional change if species cover values were used to weight trait categories. During the three years of the study, chamaephytes decreased and woody species increased their contribution for the Raunkiaer’s life-forms, while the cosmopolitan group has steadily lost its significance for distribution range types. Shannon diversity varied between 2.46 and 3.18 among plots (based on natural logarithm) and remained statistically unchanged through time. Average species turnover rates were 14.18% for 2018/19 and 17.52% for 2019/20, whereas corresponding values for vegetation turnover rates were 25.83% and 23.28%. Vegetation turnover rate was significantly higher than the species turnover rate.

Meridionalization as a Possible Resource for Fisheries: The Case Study of Caranx rhonchus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817, in Southern Italian Waters

Climate change affects the shift range distribution of species, especially among mobile species, and this phenomenon can alter ecosystems and impacts human activities. Fishing is an anthropic activity that undergoes the effect not only of the introduction and increase of non-native species but also of native thermophilic ones. Some of these species can become a commercially exploitable resource. However, this information is often obscured by the negative effects these species can cause to the environment. We investigated how the thermophilic species Caranx rhonchus, neglected in Italy, could become a relevant resource. We studied the nutritional profile and the presence of heavy metal contamination and compared these traits with those of a similar common Mediterranean species, namely Trachurus trachurus. The proximate composition was determined following the AOAC procedure, while the fatty acid profile was determined by GC/MS, and the mineral component was obtained by mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Caranx rhonchus is a nutritionally good species, although it is little consumed and exploited. Increasing the market supply with new commercially exploitable emerging species would benefit local communities and the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate how a shift of the range caused by climate change can provide benefits within the human dimension.

Diet of Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquilaheliaca) in Bulgaria: composition, distribution and variation.

The Eastern Imperial Eagle (EIE) is a top predator exploiting different prey in different parts of its distribution. In this study, we summarise data collected over a long period of time (for 25 consecutive years), identifying key prey species in the different regions, as well as clarifying seasonal preferences in the eagle’s diet. Most studies on the EIE food composition covering different parts of the species distribution range analyse the breeding season, while data about the winter diet are scarce. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study detailing the differences in EIE’s dietary preferences between the breeding and the winter periods. We identified 4891 specimens belonging to 196 different taxa, which represents the most comprehensive study considering the diet diversity of this threatened species. Mammals represented the largest proportion of the diet, followed by birds and reptiles. Northern White-breasted Hedgehog was the most common prey, accounting for 25.7% of the total prey caught and 26.75% of the biomass. The European Souslik was the second most important prey with 14.35% participation in the eagle’s diet, but with a 3.75% contribution to the biomass. As we predicted, prey composition and main prey species varied spatially and seasonally. Modelling differences in the EIE diet, we found that the “territory effect” had the strongest impact on the dietary variations. Diet diversity differed significantly between regions (F = 12.6, df = 4, p = 0.01). During the breeding season, eagles fed mainly on Hedgehogs (29.88%), Sousliks (16.85%) and Storks (7.74%), while the winter diet was predominantly small rodents (44.17%) and songbirds (13.96%). We found that top predators, such as EIE, have successfully adapted to a novel food source, which is abundant in the area. The detected flexibility in the diet of the species and its ability to switch to alternative prey, if available, when the primary prey decreased, should be considered when planning species conservation efforts. Investigating the temporal change of the main prey in the eagle’s diet is also crucial for further species conservation measures.

New species of Colletotrichum from wild Poaceae and Cyperaceae plants in Iran

ABSTRACT Twenty-two Colletotrichum strains were isolated from anthracnose symptoms or leaf spots on leaves of various wild Poaceae and Cyperaceae plants collected in three provinces of Iran and tentatively identified as belonging to the Graminicola species complex based on morphology. All strains were studied via a polyphasic approach combining colony characteristics, morphology and phylogeny inferred from multi-locus sequences, including the nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), partial sequences of the β-tubulin (tub2), actin (act), manganese superoxide dismutase 2 (sod2), DNA lyase 2 (apn2) genes, a 200-bp intron of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh), and the intergenic spacer between the apn2 gene and the mat1 idiomorph (apn2/mat1). Six species were distinguished, including three new species, namely C. caspicum, C. persicum, and C. sacchari, and three previously described species, C. cereale, C. nicholsonii and C. sublineola. Comprehensive morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided for all species. Furthermore, this study provided new insights into the distribution and host range of known species.

天坑森林植物群落叶功能性状、物种多样性和功能多样性特征

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 天坑森林植物群落叶功能性状、物种多样性和功能多样性特征 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202110273025 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金（31960047）；珍稀濒危动植物生态与环境保护教育部重点实验室研究基金（ERESEP2019Z04）；广西重点研发计划项目（桂科AB21220057）；广西漓江流域景观资源保育与可持续利用重点实验室研究基金（LRCSU21Z0101） Leaf functional traits, species diversity and functional diversity of plant community in Tiankeng forests Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:以天坑内部-边缘-外部森林植物群落为研究对象，通过调查植物的群落结构、叶功能性状，探究天坑内外森林植物群落叶功能性状、物种多样性和功能多样性变化特征及其内在关联，为深入了解负地形森林生态系统的功能和恢复退化喀斯特地区的植被提供一定参考。研究结果如下：（1）比叶面积（198.75 cm2/g））、叶面积（42.70 cm2）、叶磷含量（1.70 g/kg）和叶钾含量（10.27 g/kg）在天坑内部最高，叶组织密度（0.32 g/cm3）和叶干物质含量（0.41 g/g）在天坑外部最高，天坑内外森林均易受到磷限制，表明随天坑内部-边缘-外部生境变化，植物对环境的适应机制和生存策略发生了部分调整，物种的防御策略增强，生长投入策略减弱。（2） Shannon-Wiener指数（2.82）、Simpson指数（0.92）和Pielou's均匀度指数（0.87）均以天坑外部最高，功能丰富度（1.05）、功能离散度（1.88）和Rao's二次熵（4.52）以天坑内部最高，表明随天坑内部-边缘-外部生境的变化，植物功能性状的差异减少，物种分布及其功能性状分布总体上更为均匀、物种数量增多。（3）物种多样性指数之间、功能多样性指数之间存在较强的相关性，表明物种多样性指数之间、功能多样性指数之间存在不同的制约关系。（4）叶功能性状与物种多样性、功能多样性的相关性强，物种多样性和功能多样性之间相关性较弱，表明叶性状对生态学过程的变化较为敏感，叶功能性状与物种多样性之间存在较强的耦合关系。 Abstract:To explore leaf functional traits, species diversity, and functional diversity characteristics and correlation of plant community in Tiankeng forests will help to build the context of leaf traits, species diversity, and functional diversity research context, and further understand the process and functions of the ecological system in the negative terrain forest, and provide a scientific basis for restoration and reconstruction of the vegetation in degraded karst areas. This paper takes the woody plant community in three habitats (the inside of Tiankeng, the fringe of Tiankeng, and the outside of Tiankeng) of Dashiwei Tiankeng Group as the object, to study the leaf functional traits, species diversity, functional diversity characteristics and their interactions, through community investigation and leaf functional traits measurement. The results are as follows:(1) woody plant grown in the inside of Tiankeng shows the highest specific leaf area (SLA:198.75 cm2/g), leaf area (LA:42.70 cm2), leaf phosphorus content (LPC:1.70 g/kg) and leaf potassium content (LKC:10.27 g/kg), in the outer of Tiankeng presents the highest leaf tissue density (LTD:0.32 g/cm3) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC:0.41 g/g), and the growth of woody plant is limited by P in Tiankeng forests and nearby karst forests. With the variation of habitats from the inner to the outer of Tiankeng, partial adjustments are made in the adaption mechanism and survival strategy of the woody plant. A quick defense strategy on investment for the species increases, while a slow growth strategy on investment of species is weak. (2) Shannon-Wiener index (2.82), Simpson index (0.92) and Pielou's evenness index (0.87) in the outside of Tiankeng are the highest, and the functional richness index (1.05), function dispersion index (1.88) and Rao's quadratic entropy index (4.52) in the inside of Tiankeng are the highest. With the variation in the inner-edge-outer habitats of Tiankeng community, the differences in plant functional traits reduce, the range of species distribution and functional traits are steady, and the individual of species increases. (3) There is significantly correlated to each species diversity and functional diversity, indicating that there are different restrictive relationships between species diversity and functional diversity. (4) The leaf functional traits are significantly correlated with species diversity and functional diversity, and the correlation between species diversity and functional diversity is weak, indicating that leaf traits are more sensitive to variation of ecological processes and there is a strong coupling relationship between leaf functional traits and species diversity. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Deep-water paleoenvironmental changes based on early-middle Miocene benthic foraminifera from Malta Island (Central Mediterranean)

A detailed quantitative, statistical and isotopic study on benthic foraminiferal assemblages from the upper Burdigalian - lower Langhian of Malta Island (St. Peter's Pool section) was carried out in order to gain more insights on paleoenvironmental changes that affected the central part of the Mediterranean Basin during the early-middle Miocene. The most abundant and/or palaecologically significant taxa were grouped into Group A (oxic/oligotrophic and oxic/oligo-mesotrophic opportunistic behaving) and Group B (hypoxic/eutrophic) and, on the base of their microhabitat in superficial microhabitat taxa (epifaunal + epifaunal to shallow infaunal taxa), intermediate microhabitat taxa (shallow infaunal + shallow to intermediate infaunal taxa) and deep microhabitat taxa (deep infaunal species). The changes in the structure of the benthic foraminiferal assemblages, together with isotopic data and statistical analysis results, identify five main intervals SPP1-SPP5, testifying the evolution of bottom water conditions between 16.12 and 15.36 Ma, corresponding to warm climate conditions due to the onset of the Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO). The main benthic foraminiferal turnover occurred between 16.01 and 15.91 Ma. It has been recorded in both the palaecological and geochemical data and can be related to the Miller's Mi2 cooling event. This turnover correlates to a sea level falling that we believe caused an increase of the primary productivity due to runoff intensification. We suggest that the fluctuations of superficial microhabitat oxic/oligo/oligo-mesotrophic Group A, opposite to those of intermediate and deep microhabitat hypoxic/eutrophic Group B, and the occurrence of the superficial microhabitat, oxic/oligo-mesothrophic opportunistic behaving species are indicative of increased seasonality, which in turn affect food flux and oxygenation at the sea-floor. Moreover, the calculation of %P and the well-defined depth distribution range of some significant species allowed us to estimate a middle bathyal paleodepth, ranging from 600 m to 1000 m for the entire composite section.

A New Species of <i>Vietnamophryne</i> with an Extended Description of <i>Vietnamophryne orlovi</i>

We describe Vietnamophryne cuongi sp. nov., a new species of microhylid frog from northern Vietnam, based on morphological and molecular differences. Although superficially similar to remaining Vietnamophryne members, the new species differs by a number of diagnostic morphological characters, such as body size, habitus, head dimensions, finger and toe morphology, skin texture, as well as colour pattern. Phylogenetic analyses based on a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S gene place the new species to be sister to V. orlovi, from which it differed by 2.4% genetic divergence. We also describe the first female known of V. orlovi, collected in the forest of Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park, Cao Bang Province. The latter species, for which we provide an extended description herein, was recently described based on the single male type specimen only from the same site in northern Vietnam. Vietnamophryne cuongi sp. nov. is only known from three specimens, two adult females and a juvenile, from the evergreen tropical forest of Ba Vi National Park, Hanoi. As such, it is likely to be at high risk of habitat loss. Considering its high ecological specialization and the small known distribution range of the new species, we propose Endangered as IUCN Red List status.

IPODfish – A new method to infer the historical occurrence of diadromous fish species along river networks

Available information on diadromous fish species historical occurrences is generally biased and incomplete across species distribution range and spatial scales. This work aims to establish a new methodological framework (iPODfish – Inferring Past Occurrences of Diadromous Fish) to obtain a more complete representation of the historical occurrences of diadromous fish species over their full distribution range. The iPODfish is based on assumptions, rules and thresholds derived from the interplay between freshwater network features, diadromous fish species ecology and known historical occurrence. These are used to establish historical pseudo-occurrences at the segment scale, i.e., locations where the species was most likely to be present or absent. The methodology is expressed by a tree-like representation of a stepwise, information supported, decision process. It has five steps (separating main river segments from tributary segments; accounting for segments specificities; imposing the relative distance threshold; imposing the Strahler value threshold, and; establishing the sub-basin Strahler threshold), divides into two moments of application (main river followed by the tributaries) and establishes presences, pseudo-presences and pseudo-absences. The iPODfish can deal with multiple information sources, cope with data bias and provide a reliable consistent historical occurrence output at the segment scale for the known historical geographical range of the species. Despite its inference nature, iPODfish is still a conservative procedure leading to ecologically coherent outputs that may be applied to any diadromous fish species (with a relevant amount of historical data available) in any river network throughout the globe because the concepts and definitions used are general ecological features of diadromous and freshwater networks. The method outputs are applicable in biogeographical and/or macroecological studies using historical data and may prove useful to the management and conservation of diadromous fish species.

First Record of Orange Spotted Grouper Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1822) from the Iskenderun Bay, the northeastern Mediterranean

A single specimen of orange spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1822) was captured by a fisherman with a fishing line from the Iskenderun Bay (Konacık, Turkey) at 52 m depth. The morphological and color descriptions of E. coioides agree with previous descriptions. This record indicates that the eastward migration of this species in the Mediterranean coast of Turkey and fills the gap in the distribution range of the serranid species.

Exploring the origin and genetic representation of ex situ living collections of five endangered tree species established for 20–35 years

How well ex situ living collections capture the genetic variation of their wild-source populations, is an efficient indicator for assessing the success of ex situ conservation. Here, we explore the origins and genetic representation of multiple species' ex situ living collections that have been established for 20–35 years. We only sampled the potential wild-source populations, which cover parts of the focal species’ natural distribution ranges. Using microsatellite loci, we compared the genetic diversity between ex situ and wild populations, and verified the wild-source populations of ex situ living collections for five endangered tree species (i.e., Davidia involucrata , Dipteronia sinensis , Tetracentron sinense , Cercidiphyllum japonicum , and Tapiscia sinensis ). We found that the genetic diversity of ex situ populations is comparable to their wild-source populations for all five plant species. We detected weak genetic structure among ex situ and wild-source populations for each species. Our results suggested that ex situ living plant collections may have comparable genetic diversity compared with their corresponding wild-source populations. We recommend that additional ex situ collections from different maternal lines across ex situ institutions or the distribution range of the target species would contribute to high level of genetic representation of ex situ populations, and (2) complete collection records and optimal sampling strategies are required for effective ex situ plant conservation.

Ecological niche complexity of invasive and native cryptic species of the Bemisia tabaci species complex in China

Bemisia tabaci is an important pest affecting agricultural and horticultural crops worldwide and comprises a complex of cryptic species. In China, the introduction of the two invasive cryptic species, Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED), has considerably affected the ecological niche of the native cryptic species. Based on occurrence records obtained through field surveys and high-resolution environmental data, using maximum entropy modelling, we established ecological niche models to predict the distribution of invasive and native cryptic species of B. tabaci in China and identified the differences in ecological niches. The results showed that the distribution range and niche breadth of the invasive cryptic species exceed that of the native cryptic species in the order of MED > MEAM1 > China1 > Asia1. There are different degrees of niche overlap and range overlap between cryptic species. Moreover, the important environmental variables affecting their distribution were different, as well as their response and adaptation to most environmental variables. Our results suggest that the B. tabaci species complex occupies a complex ecological niche in China. The findings improve our understanding of the ecological characteristics of B. tabaci species complex, which will be useful in the development of prevention and control strategies for this pest in China.

Phylogeography and population structure of Squalius lucumonis: A baseline for conservation of an Italian endangered freshwater fish

The brook chub (Squalius lucumonis) is a freshwater fish, endemic of Central Italy, which is experiencing a rapid range decline so that it is presently listed as Critically Endangered in the Italian IUCN Red List. For effective conservation, information about the spatial pattern of genetic diversity is crucial. Therefore, we analysed the mitochondrial Control Region and nuclear (microsatellites) markers to investigate population genetic structure, demography and spatial diversity over the whole species distribution range. We revealed significant divergence among populations, even at the local spatial scale, according to the isolation by distance model. At the biogeographic spatial scale, genetic diversity was shaped by past hydrogeological and climatic events that isolated the principal drainage basins (Vara, Tiber and Arno) from each other. On the other hand, strong genetic differentiation within the Tiber drainage basin could be due to local factors that acted at single-stream scale, as recent barriers to fish dispersal and irregular seasonal flow rates typical of small Mediterranean streams.Our findings contribute to the basal data collection on S. lucumonis required by European Habitats Directive and necessary for planning protection actions. We recommend that the three river drainages and most of the sampling sites should be regarded as different Management Units (MUs) to preserve their genetic distinctiveness. A recovery plan for the brook chub should consider environmental intervention and creation of protected areas, as well as in situ/ex situ restocking activities with juveniles produced by breeders from the same MU, to preserve local (adaptive) diversity.

Management of glass eel fisheries is not a sufficient measure to recover a local Japanese eel population

We evaluated whether a strict fisheries management measure of closure of fishing for recruiting juveniles (glass eels) could have resulted in the recovery of a local population of Japanese eels, Anguilla japonica, when there was no harmonized management of the other life stages, the relevant ecosystem, or local socioeconomic factors (i.e., Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) approach not applied). The study was conducted in the Kojima Bay-Asahi River system, Okayama Prefecture, Japan, because this prefecture has not permitted commercial glass eel fisheries since 2003, which provides a unique opportunity to conduct a quasi–experimental evaluation of the effects of a glass eel fisheries moratorium. Longline eel fishery data and fishery-independent sampling data indicate that growth-phase Japanese eel (yellow eel) abundance in this water system has not increased, or maybe even decreased, since commercial glass eel fisheries in this area were closed. Based on the results obtained in this study, we concluded that the closure of glass eel fisheries was not a sufficient countermeasure to recover the Japanese eel population in the study area. To conserve and sustainably use Japanese eels, a series of management measures such as habitat restoration and management of yellow and silver eel fisheries are needed along with the control of glass eel fisheries throughout the species distribution range. The EBM approach might be helpful to progress integrated management at appropriate spatial scales.

Does the Garra population (Teleostei: Cyprinidae: Labeoninae) from the Kol River drainage, Persian Gulf basin merit formal description?

Recognizing and defining a species has been a controversial concern for a long time. To define the variation and the limitation between different species, especially closely related taxa in a complex species group, several concepts have been proposed which may lead to different taxonomic decisions. When a taxonomist studies a specific taxon, she/he should adopt a species concept and provide a species limitation to define the studied taxa. Garra population from the Kol River drainage, Persian Gulf basin has already been considered as Garra sp., based on molecular data, and to date no taxonomic decision has been made to provide a specific name for it. The Kol population presents several morphological characters that distinguish it from congeners: fully scaled breast; 78 branched dorsal-fin rays; caudal fin with 1617 branched rays and well-developed mental disc with free lateral and posterior margins. It is also distinguished from all other congeners in the Garra rufa group in Iran, by having two fixed, diagnostic nucleotide substitutions in the mtDNA COI barcode region. Furthermore, the Kol population demonstrates some distinct osteological characteristics in comparison to its closest species G. mondica. Based on the integrative molecular phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses, and morphological, osteological and distribution range data presented here, we think that the Kol River population merits formal description and can be considered as a distinct taxonomic unit (species).