Ecological Affinities Research Articles

Neuroanatomy of the spinosaurid Irritator challengeri (Dinosauria: Theropoda) indicates potential adaptations for piscivory

Spinosauridae, a theropod group characterized by elongated snouts, conical teeth, enlarged forelimbs, and often elongated neural spines, show evidence for semiaquatic adaptations and piscivory. It is currently debated if these animals represent terrestrial carnivores with adaptations for a piscivorous diet, or if they largely lived and foraged in aquatic habitats. The holotype of Irritator challengeri, a nearly complete skull from the late Early Cretaceous Santana Formation of northeastern Brazil, includes one of the few preserved spinosaurid braincases and can provide insights into neuroanatomical structures that might be expected to reflect ecological affinities. We generated digital models of the neuroanatomical cavities within the braincase, using computer tomography (CT) data. The cranial endocast of Irritator is generally similar to that of other non-maniraptoriform theropods, with weakly developed distinctions of hindbrain and midbrain features, relatively pronounced cranial flexures and relatively long olfactory tracts. The endosseous labyrinth has a long anterior semicircular canal, a posteriorly inclined common crus and a very large floccular recess fills the area between the semicircular canals. These features indicate that Irritator had the ability for fast and well-controlled pitch-down head movements. The skull table and lateral semicircular canal plane are strongly angled to one another, suggesting a downward angling of approximately 45° of the snout, which reduces interference of the snout with the field of vision of Irritator. These neuroanatomical features are consistent with fast, downward snatching movements in the act of predation, such as are needed for piscivory.

The segetal flora of winter cereals and allied crops in Italy: species inventory with chorological, structural and ecological features

We present the first inventory of the segetal flora of Italian winter cereal crops and allied crop types. The database consists of over 30,000 records, derived from different sources. We provide information and analyses on life forms, chorotypes, Ellenberg indicator values and preferential habitats of the flora. The inventory includes 987 vascular taxa and nothotaxa (868 species, 118 subspecies and 1 nothosubspecies), belonging to 354 genera and 55 families. Characteristic segetal species are 128, while 740 are generalist or accidental species from other habitats. Species exclusive of segetal habitats are 47. One species is extinct, and one is not confirmed in Italy. We recorded 42 neophytes, 15 archaeophytes and 10 cryptogenic species. Segetal species that are threatened in Europe are 45. Species in the Italian Red List are four, and five are threatened endemic species. The most frequent species are Papaver rhoeas (1,045 records), Convolvulus arvensis (623) and Ranunculus arvensis (571). Most species are therophytes (64%) and have a Mediterranean (36%), wide (14%) or eastern (13%) distribution range. Mean Ellenberg indicator values revealed relevant ecological affinities between the inventoried flora and cultivated winter cereals. Our work represents the basis for future applied studies in botany, ecology and agronomy.

Preliminary Evidence for the Role Played by South Westerly Wind Strength on the Marine Diatom Content of an Antarctic Peninsula Ice Core (1980–2010)

Winds in the Southern Ocean drive exchanges of heat and carbon dioxide between the ocean and atmosphere. Wind dynamics also explain the dominant patterns of both basal and surface melting of glaciers and ice shelves in the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas. Long records of past wind strength and atmospheric circulation are needed to assess the significance of these recent changes. Here we present evidence for a novel proxy of past south westerly wind (SWW) strength over the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas, based on diatoms preserved in an Antarctic Peninsula ice core. Ecological affinities of the identified diatom taxa indicate an almost exclusively marine assemblage, dominated by open ocean taxa from the Northern Antarctic Zone (NAZ). Back-trajectory analysis shows the routes of air masses reaching the ice core site and reveals that many trajectories involve contact with surface waters in the NAZ of the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas. Correlation analyses between ice core diatom abundance and various wind vectors yield positive and robust coefficients for the 1980–2010 period, with average annual SWW speeds exhibiting the strongest match. Collectively, the data presented here provide new evidence that diatoms preserved in an Antarctic Peninsula ice core offer genuine potential as a new proxy for SWW strength.

First continuous pre-Jaramillo to Jaramillo terrestrial vertebrate succession from Europe

In this paper, the early Pleistocene small vertebrate sequence of Quibas-Sima (Quibas karstic complex, Murcia, SE Spain) is presented. The available magnetostratigraphic information together with the small vertebrate association, allow to reliably constrain the age of the different units. The basal unit of the section has recorded a reversed polarity assigned to the pre-Jaramillo Matuyama (C1r.2r, i.e., between 1.2 and 1.07 Ma). The intermediate units have recorded a normal polarity correlated directly with the Jaramillo subchron (C1r.1n, between 1.07 and 0.99 Ma), while the upper units record the post-Jaramillo reverse polarity (C1r.1r, i.e., between 0.99 and 0.78). Jaramillo subchron is especially significant regarding the earliest hominin dispersal in Western Europe. However, vertebrate faunas unambiguously correlatable with Jaramillo subchron are extremely rare in Europe. Thereby, the study of the Quibas-Sima sequence allows to characterize the vertebrate association synchronous to this paleomagnetic episode in southern Iberian Peninsula, and contributes to increase knowledge of the biotic and climatic events that took place in southern Europe at the beginning of the Early-Middle Pleistocene transition, prior to the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary. A continuous small vertebrate succession has been reported, including representatives of the families Bufonidae, Pelodytidae, Testudinidae, Gekkonidae, Blanidae, Lacertidae, Colubridae, Viperidae, Soricidae, Erinaceidae, Rhinolophidae, Vespertilionidae, Muridae, Gliridae, Sciuridae, Leporidae and Ochotonidae The ecological affinities of the faunal association suggest a progressive reduction in forest cover in the onset of the Jaramillo subchron.

Tsetse Flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) Population in Ethiopia: A Review

Tsetse flies (Glossina) are obligate bloodsucking medical and veterinary important vectors of trypanosome which causes African sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in live stocks. There are 31 Glossina species in Africa of which Glossina pallidipes, G. morsitans, G. fuscipes, G. tachinoides and G. longipennis are found in different regions of Ethiopia particularly, in Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia and Southern part of Ethiopia. The distribution of the genus Glossina is restricted to lowland rainforest and wooded savannah regions and not uniform but often patchy. The fly has a significant impact on human health and rural development, probably capable of transmitting pathogenic trypanosomes that affect humans and domestic animals. In advance to any tsetse control operation, surveys are required to identify which flies are present in the area and determine their distribution. Towards designing suitable control methods and monitoring of Tsetse flies, it is important to first understand the behavior of the fly. Though there are human Trypanosomiasis studies and reports in Ethiopia, there are no current evidences on the extent of the disease, vector distribution and the magnitude of the problem. Therefore this review provides some background information on the taxonomical distribution of tsetse flies, their unique way of reproduction, and how their ecological affinities, their distribution and population dynamics influence and dictate control efforts. The paper also discusses the vector importance and the different strategies for tsetse control. Recommendations and future research needs are also suggested based on the reviewed literature.

First record of Fusinus dimassai Buzzurro & Russo, 2007 (Gastropoda, Fasciolariidae) outside of the type locality: a further confirm of strict affinities between Messina strait and Tyrrhenian seamounts

A revision of mollusc samples deposited in the Benthic Ecology Laboratory collections of Messina University, provided specimens of Fusinus dimassai Buzzurro & Russo, 2007, from the “Apollo Bank”, south-western Tyrrhenian Sea. The record of such species, known so far from the Strait of Messina only, replicates the recent case of Jujubinus errinae Smriglio, Mariottini & Giacobbe, 2016, underlining the strict ecological affinities linking such peculiar area to the Tyrrhenian seamounts.

Distribution of common modern dinoflagellate cyst taxa in surface sediments of the Northern Hemisphere in relation to environmental parameters: The new n=1968 database

Abstract We present a new version of the standardized Northern Hemisphere “modern” dinoflagellate cyst (“dinocyst”) database, which includes abundances of 71 taxa at 1968 sites across the Northern Hemisphere, cross-referenced with 17 environmental parameters extracted mostly from the 2013 World Ocean Atlas. Several taxa with tropical to warm temperate affinities were added to the previous database version. Dinocyst concentrations in the surface sediments reach 106 cysts g−1, with maximum values along the continental margins and minimum values offshore in distal open ocean settings. Assemblages are characterized by the co-occurrence of phototrophic (n = 41) and heterotrophic taxa (n = 30), with maximum proportions of heterotrophic taxa in high productivity regions, notably at the sea-ice edge and in upwelling regions. The main pattern of assemblage distributions includes north–south and nearshore–offshore gradients, with maximum diversity of species along the continental margins and towards the south, in warm temperate and tropical areas. Canonical correspondence analyses performed on heterotrophic and phototrophic taxa independently yield consistent results, hence suggesting similar, but not identical, ecological affinities for both taxonomic groups. For both groups, sea-surface temperature and sea-ice are the most determining parameters, but the phototrophic taxa seem more sensitive to onshore–offshore gradients marked by salinity changes. Productivity-related parameters also determine dinocyst distribution, especially primary productivity in the fall and winter, with a stronger relationship for the combined dataset of phototrophic and heterotrophic taxa.

How does urbanization affect the reproductive characteristics and ecological affinities of street plant communities?

Anthropogenic activities in urban ecosystems induce a myriad of environmental changes compared with adjacent rural areas. These environmental changes can be seen as series of abiotic and biotic selection filters affecting the distribution of plant species. What are the attributes of plant species that compose urban communities, compared with rural communities, as related to their ecological affinities (e.g., to temperature, humidity), and reproductive traits (e.g., entomophily, autogamy, floral morphology)? Using a floristic dataset from a citizen science project recording plant species growing spontaneously in the streets, we analyzed the distribution of species according to their ecological requirements and reproductive traits along an urbanization gradient in the Parisian region. We developed an original floral and pollinator typology composed of five floral and four pollinator morphotypes. The proportion of impervious areas, used as a proxy of urbanization, was measured at different spatial scales, to reveal at which spatial scales urbanization is selecting plant traits. We found significant differences in plant communities along the urbanization gradient. As expected with the warmer and drier conditions of urban areas, species with higher affinities to higher temperature, light and nutrient soil content, and lower atmospheric moisture were over‐represented in urban plant communities. Interestingly, all of the significant changes in plant abiotical affinities were the most pronounced at the largest scale of analysis (1,000 m buffer radius), probably because the specific urban conditions are more pronounced when they occur on a large surface. The proportion of autogamous, self‐compatible, and nonentomophilous species was significantly higher in urban plant communities, strongly suggesting a lower abundance or efficiency of the pollinating fauna in urban environments. Last, among insect‐pollinated species, those with relatively long and narrow tubular corollas were disadvantaged in urban areas, possibly resulting from a reduction in pollinator abundance particularly affecting specialized plant–pollinator interactions.

Structural and environmental constraints on reduction of paired appendages among vertebrates

AbstractBurrowing habits or complex environments have generally been considered as potential drivers acting on reduction and loss of the appendicular skeleton among vertebrates. Herein, we suggest that this might be the case for lissamphibians and squamates, but that fin loss in fishes is usually prevented by important structural constraints, because pectoral fins are commonly used to control rolling and pitching. We provide an overview of the distribution of paired appendage reduction across vertebrates while examining the ecological affinities of finless and limbless clades. We analysed the correlation between lifestyle and fin or limb loss using the discrete comparative analysis. The resulting Bayesian factors indicate strong evidence of correlation between: (1) pectoral-fin loss and coexistence of anguilliform elongation and burrowing habits or complex habitat in teleost fishes; and (2) limb loss and a burrowing or grass-swimming lifestyle in squamate reptiles and lissamphibians. These correlations suggest that a complex environment or a fossorial habit is a driving force leading to appendage loss. The only style of locomotion that is functional even in the absence of paired appendages is the undulatory one, which is typical of all elongated reptiles and lissamphibians, but certainly less common in teleost fishes.

Observations on the Genus Ocys Stephens, 1828 (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

Following the separation of Ocys harpaloides (Audinet-Serville, 1821) and Ocys tachysoides (Antoine, 1933), mapped together under Bembidion harpaloides by Luff (1998), comments on their British distribution and ecological affinities are provided and O. harpaloides is added to the fauna of the Greek Ionian Islands. Ocys quinquestriatus (Gyllenhal, 1810) is described inhabiting a post-mature fruit tree in suburban Somerset.

A smart curtailment approach for reducing bat fatalities and curtailment time at wind energy facilities.

The development and expansion of wind energy is considered a key global threat to bat populations. Bat carcasses are being found underneath wind turbines across North and South America, Eurasia, Africa, and the Austro-Pacific. However, relatively little is known about the comparative impacts of techniques designed to modify turbine operations in ways that reduce bat fatalities associated with wind energy facilities. This study tests a novel approach for reducing bat fatalities and curtailment time at a wind energy facility in the United States, then compares these results to operational mitigation techniques used at other study sites in North America and Europe. The study was conducted in Wisconsin during 2015 using a new system of tools for analyzing bat activity and wind speed data to make near real-time curtailment decisions when bats are detected in the area at control turbines (N=10) vs. treatment turbines (N=10). The results show that this smart curtailment approach (referred to asTurbine Integrated Mortality Reduction, TIMR) significantly reduced fatality estimates fortreatment turbines relative to control turbines for pooled species data, and for each of fivespecies observed at the study site: pooled data (-84.5%); eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis, -82.5%); hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus, -81.4%); silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans, -90.9%); big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus, -74.2%); and little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus, -91.4%). The approach reduced power generation and estimated annual revenue at the wind energy facility by≤3.2% for treatment turbines relative to control turbines, and we estimate that the approach would have reduced curtailment time by 48% relative to turbines operated under a standard curtailment rule used in North America. This approach significantly reduced fatalities associated with all species evaluated, each of which has broad distributions in North America and different ecological affinities, several of which represent species most affected by wind development in North America. While we recognize that this approach needs to be validated in other areas experiencing rapid wind energy development, we anticipate that this approach has the potential to significantly reduce bat fatalities in other ecoregions and with other bat species assemblages in North America and beyond.

Unexpected diversity of whitefly predators in Eocene Baltic amber-new fossil Serangium species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

Serangium is a tropical genus of minute ladybird beetles, which has been recently discovered in Baltic amber. Discovery of the third species, S. kalandyki sp. nov., demonstrates the surprising diversity of this group in the palaeoenvironment of Eocene 'amber forests'. The new species, together with two previously described, form a well defined morphological group which suggests they all belong to a single lineage. An updated key to the fossil species of Serangium is presented. The diversity of the genus and its ecological affinities are discussed.

Paper and the poor: Romantic media ecologies and the Bank Restriction Act of 1797

AbstractRag paper is a common denominator for many Romantic‐era medial forms. The term “media ecology” has become increasingly accepted in media theory, and its spatial and ecological affinities connect it to the urgent topic of climate change. Media ecology invites book historians to consider the labor as well as the origins of the materials that underwrite our culture. This consideration of paper recasts the literary archive as an accretion of physical as well as intellectual labor. The physical labor necessary for the making of rag paper included increasingly industrialized agricultural work and textile production, as well as rag collecting and sorting, as many period authors were aware. At the inception of the Bank Restriction Period (1797–1821), the introduction of low‐denomination paper banknotes changed the London media ecology in ways that had a devastating effect on the English poor, including the very orders of agricultural and textiles workers, rag collectors, and papermill rag‐room women who had a hand in paper making. The Bank of England investigated and prosecuted hundreds, resulting in poverty, transportation, imprisonment, and executions. Paper notes and their forgeries invited considerations of other forms of cultural value and circulation, including literary authorship, and the article ends with the Bank of England's current celebration of Jane Austen as a literary icon by including her portrait on the polymer £10 note.

Distribution and (palaeo)ecological affinities of the main Spiniferites taxa in the mid-high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere

abstractIn marine sediments of late Cenozoic age, Spiniferites is a very common genus of dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts). Despite some taxonomical ambiguities due to large range of morphological variations within given species and convergent morphologies between different species, the establishment of an operational taxonomy permitted to develop a standardized modern database of dinocysts for the mid-high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. In the database that includes 1490 surface sediment samples, Spiniferites mirabilis-hyperacanthus, Spiniferites ramosus and Spiniferites elongatus were counted in addition to Spiniferites belerius, Spiniferites bentorii, Spiniferites bulloideus, Spiniferites delicatus, Spiniferites lazus and Spiniferites membranaceus. Among these taxa, Spiniferites mirabilis-hyperacanthus, Spiniferites ramosus, and Spiniferites elongatus are easy to identify and are particularly common. Spiniferites bentorii and Spiniferites delicatus also are morphologically distinct and occur in relatively high percentages in many samples. Spiniferites lazus and Spiniferites membranaceus also bear distinctive features, but occur only in a few samples. The identification of other taxa (Spiniferites belerius, Spiniferites bulloideus, notably) may be equivocal and their reported distribution has to be used with caution. The spatial distribution of Spiniferites species, with emphasis on the five most common taxa, is documented here with reference to hydrography (salinity and temperature in winter and summer, sea ice cover), primary productivity and geographical setting (bathymetry, distance to the coastline). The results demonstrate distinct ecological affinities for Spiniferites elongatus, which has an Arctic-subarctic distribution and appears abundant in low productivity environments characterized by winter sea ice and large temperature contrast between winter and summer. Spiniferites mirabilis-hyperacanthus, which occurs in warm temperate water sites, is more abundant in high salinity environments. It shares its environmental domain with Spiniferites bentorii, which appears to have a narrower distribution towards the warm and high salinity end of the Spiniferites mirabilis-hyperacanthus distribution. In contrast, Spiniferites delicatus, which occurs in warm-temperate to tropical environments, shows preference for relatively low salinity and low seasonal contrasts of temperature. Spiniferites ramosus exhibits a particularly wide distribution that overlaps both cold and warm Spiniferites taxa. Its cosmopolitan occurrence and its long-ranging biostratigraphical distribution suggest a high plasticity of the species and/or co-occurrence of several cryptic species. Hence, whereas Spiniferites elongatus and Spiniferites mirabilis-hyperacanthus are useful palaeoecological indicators despite their large morphological variability, Spiniferites ramosus is a taxon with an unconstrained ecological significance.

A review of the ecological affinities of marine organic microfossils from a Holocene record offshore of Adélie Land (East Antarctica)

Abstract. Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 318 recovered a ∼ 170 m long Holocene organic-rich sedimentary sequence at Site U1357. Located within the narrow but deep Adélie Basin close to the Antarctic margin, the site accumulated sediments at exceptionally high sedimentation rates, which resulted in extraordinary preservation of the organic sedimentary component. Here, we present an overview of 74 different mainly marine microfossil taxa and/or types found within the organic component of the sediment, which include the remains of unicellular and higher organisms from three eukaryotic kingdoms (Chromista, Plantae, and Animalia). These remains include phytoplanktonic (phototrophic dinoflagellates and prasinophytes) and very diverse zooplanktonic (heterotrophic dinoflagellates, tintinnids, copepods) organisms. We illustrate each marine microfossil taxon or type identified by providing morphological details and photographic images, which will help with their identification in future studies. We also review their ecological preferences to aid future (palaeo)ecological and (palaeo)environmental studies. The planktonic assemblage shows a high degree of endemism related to the strong influence of the sea-ice system over Site U1357. In addition, we found the remains of various species of detritus feeders and bottom-dwelling scavengers (benthic foraminifers and annelid worms) indicative of high export productivity at Site U1357. This study shows the potential of organic microfossil remains for reconstructing past environmental conditions, such as sea-ice cover and (export) productivity.

Using fluorescence microscopy to discern in situ from reworked palynomorphs in dynamic depositional environments — An example from sediments of the late Miocene to early Pleistocene Caspian Sea

Knowledge of the ecological affinities of fossil palynomorphs found in sediments allows palynologists to reconstruct environmental change through time. However, the journey from source to sink is not straightforward and it is often difficult to discern whether palynomorphs are in situ, especially when working on sediments deposited in dynamic environments such as deltas. Palynomorphs may be buried for long periods of time before being re-suspended and transported to secondary depositional sites, sometimes without visible changes in their appearance. In such cases, the palynological assemblages are not representative of the contemporary environment, as they contain a mixture of in situ and reworked palynomorphs. Here we use fluorescence microscopy as a tool to assess levels of reworking in a spatiotemporally highly dynamic setting, the Pliocene hydrocarbon reservoir rocks of the South Caspian Basin. The results highlight trends in the fluorescence properties of palynomorphs before, during and after the Pliocene that were not apparent using transmitted light microscopy. The late Miocene and early Pleistocene marine-influenced samples show predominantly unaltered assemblages, which may be considered in situ. The Pliocene samples, however, show variable signals, from relatively unaltered to highly altered assemblages. Potential causes of alteration include strong heating and exposure to oxygen/microbial decay. Due to low burial temperatures at the sites sampled, exposure to oxygen during transport is likely the primary mechanism of change in fluorescence properties. This paper emphasises use of the fluorescence method as a tool to characterise palynomorph properties and separate reworked from in situ palynomorph assemblage fractions. The fluorescence approach could also be applied to palynological studies in dynamic depositional settings worldwide.

The fish fauna of three lagoon-estuarine systems in the northeastern Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexican south Pacific

A checklist of fishes recorded from Mar Muerto, La Joya-Buenavista, and Los Patos-Solo Dios lagoon-estuarine systems, northeastern Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexico is presented. Fish samples were collected through 34 stations using several kinds of fishing gear, between April 2007 and May 2016. The checklist includes 2 classes, 19 orders, 52 families, 87 genera, and 120 species. The best-represented families are Carangidae (9 species), Gerreidae (7), and Engraulidae (6). The Mar Muerto system had 89 species, followed by La Joya-Buenavista with 76; in Los Patos-Solo Dios, only 41 species were recorded, perhaps due to a lower marine influence. Based on their ecological affinities, 43% of the fishes belong to marine stenohaline component, 42% to the marine euryhaline component, 11% are of freshwater derivation, and 5% are estuarine residents. The ichthyofauna showed high affinities to the Panamic province (80.7%) followed by Mexican (79.8%) and Cortes (73.1%) provinces. Nine species (8 native and 1 exotic) are added to the known continental fish fauna of the state of Chiapas.

Quantified ecology and co-occurrence of Mediterranean woody species in a landscape context

Understanding co-occurrence and ecological affinities of plant species is essential in vegetation and landscape ecology. In a case study, we analysed distribution records with high data density of all commonly occurring tree and shrub species of Crete (Greece) with offshore islands. We present the ecological range of widespread and more range-restricted species in the Mediterranean area, visualising their affinities for macroclimate, topoclimate and geology by means of an ecological heatmap. Complete linkage classification of combined ecological spectra revealed groups of generalist species with broad ecological amplitude, groups related to zonal vegetation and chiefly dependent on elevation, and species of azonal vegetation grouped mainly by topography and substrates. Species and ecological groups with high affinity may be indicative of (a combination of) site features. Our re-evaluation of plant distribution records links plant geographical and ecological information, and thereby complements expert habitat and species assessments. Our case study provides deeper understanding of ecological patterns, and at the same time allows for comparison and extrapolation to other biomes.

Differential responses of Miocene rodent metacommunities to global climatic changes were mediated by environmental context

The study of how long-term changes affect metacommunities is a relevant topic, that involves the evaluation of connections among biological assemblages across different spatio-temporal scales, in order to fully understand links between global changes and macroevolutionary patterns. We applied multivariate statistical analyses and diversity tests using a large data matrix of rodent fossil sites in order to analyse long-term faunal changes. Late Miocene rodent faunas from southwestern Europe were classified into metacommunities, presumably sharing ecological affinities, which followed temporal and environmental non-random assembly and disassembly patterns. Metacommunity dynamics of these faunas were driven by environmental changes associated with temperature variability, but there was also some influence from the aridity shifts described for this region during the late Miocene. Additionally, while variations in the structure of rodent assemblages were directly influenced by global climatic changes in the southern province, the northern sites showed a pattern of climatic influence mediated by diversity-dependent processes.

Species richness and spatial distribution of benthic amphipods (Crustacea: Peracarida) in the Alacranes Reef National Park, Gulf of Mexico

The diversity and distribution of benthic amphipods has been explored in the Alacranes Reef, which is the largest coral reef ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico. New insights into species richness, spatial distribution and extension of geographical ranges are presented by using data from published records and field surveys. A total of 117 species have been recorded, 9 of which are potentially new to science, 39 of which have new geographical records, and 7 are non-indigenous and previously reported in the literature as potentially invasive. Based on the use of a species-richness indicator (Chao 2), the expected species number is 40% higher, up to 200 spp., when compared to the observed species richness. The spatial distribution of amphipods varied significantly as a function of habitat type, showing the highest richness values on coral patches and the major abundances on man-made structures, such as navigation buoys and fishing traps. Multivariate analyses suggested the distinction between three taxonomically diverse species assemblages that showed similar ecological affinities, i.e. those on: (1) soft-bottom environments, grouping bare substrata and seagrass beds habitats; (2) hard-bottom environments, grouping coral patch and reef wall habitats; and (3) artificial substrata. The results highlight the importance of this reef ecosystem for a high amphipod diversity, but it is susceptible to future modifications in the presence of non-indigenous species, potentially invasive, on artificial substrata.