Faunal Similarity Research Articles

An unexpected late paroxyclaenid (Mammalia, Cimolesta) out of Europe: dental evidence from the Oligocene of the Bugti Hills, Pakistan

AbstractEight isolated mammal molars were discovered in lower Oligocene deposits of the Bugti Hills, Pakistan (Paali Nala, DB‐C2; lower Chitarwata Formation). Because of their unusual morphology, these molars have long remained enigmatic. Extensive comparisons with fossil eutherian and metatherian mammals and the recent description of new paroxyclaenids (Mammalia, Cimolesta) from the lower Eocene (Ypresian) of Europe have highlighted the plausible affinities of these teeth from the Oligocene of Pakistan and suggest a referral to Paroxyclaenidae. The dental morphology of this taxon is singular among Paroxyclaenidae, and as such it allows us to propose here a new species and a new genus: Welcommoides gurki. The occurrence of a paroxyclaenid in the Oligocene of Pakistan remains somewhat unexpected inasmuch as these mammals have so far been known only from the Eocene of Europe. At c. 4.2 kg, W. gurki is the largest paroxyclaenid ever discovered, and is assigned to the subfamily Merialinae, which became extinct in Europe around the Ypresian–Lutetian transition, long before the occurrence of this new taxon from Pakistan. Welcommoides has a suite of unusual characters compared with merialines, suggesting that this South Asian lineage had diverged for some time from its European Ypresian counterparts. Such a hypothesis is supported by the faunal similarities between European and Indian subcontinent faunas during the Ypresian. Moreover, our discovery strengthens support for the hypothesis that low latitudes of South Asia were a tropical refugium, at least during the first steps of the global climatic deterioration started at the Eocene–Oligocene transition.

Diversity and composition of Coreidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in a seasonal forest of central Mexico

ABSTRACT The diversity of the Coreidae family in the tropical deciduous forest (TDF) of Coaxitlán, Tlaquiltenango, Morelos, Mexico, is presented. From the collection carried out during an annual cycle, 34 species, 18 genera, 8 tribes, and 2 subfamilies were recorded. The sample coverage was 99% and according to the Chao 1 richness estimator, 90% of the species in the study area were represented. The greatest richness, abundance, and diversity occur during the months of greatest rainfall. The faunal similarities between months show groupings in species composition corresponding to the TDF’s seasonality. The community structure reflects a high diversity, integrated by a high proportion (>60%) of species with a low abundance. The data show that the diversity of Coreidae in the TDF is high, but the environmental heterogeneity of this type of vegetation suggests that the species composition could still be different in other sites, which shows the need to continue documenting it.

Biogeography of the Iranian snakes.

The events of the Cenozoic era such as mountain formation caused Iran to become one of the most amazing biodiversity hotspots in the world today. This pioneering study on Iranian snake biogeography integrates historical and ecological analyses. A phylogeographic review traces speciation and dispersal, while cluster analysis with a new snake checklist assesses faunistic similarities within Iran and its surroundings. Jaccard and Sorenson indices generate similarity dendrograms, Indicator Species Analysis pinpoints regional key species, and Endemism index calculates regional endemism rates, enriching our knowledge of Iran's species diversity. Phylogeographic analyses identify four biogeographical corridors for snake ingress into Iran: the Arabian region through southwestern Iran, the Western Asian mountainous transition zone via northwestern Iran, the Turanian region into northeastern Iran, and the Indus River Valley into southeastern and eastern Iran. Dendrogram analysis divides snake fauna into three groups. The first group associates western Zagros and Khuzestan fauna with the Sahara and Arabian regions. The second group links Kopet Dagh and Turkmen Steppe fauna with the Turanian region, and Central Plateau and Baluchistan fauna with the Iranian region. The third group connects northwest highlands, Alborz and Zagros mountains, and Caspian Sea coasts with the Western Asian Mountain transition zone. The study validates broad biogeographic patterns via ecoregional associations and indicator species analysis, providing finer resolution. Species like Platyceps najadum in Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests exemplify ecoregional alignment, while Zagros and Alborz mountains exhibit unique faunal indicators, indicating species-level divergence. Shared indicators among widespread ecoregions reflect habitat continuity; exclusive indicators emphasize regional distinctiveness. Despite endemic species prevalence, they seldom act as significant indicators due to various factors. Our research confirms the Zagros Mountains, Khuzestan Plain, Alborz Mountains, and Persian Gulf coasts as snake diversity hotspots, marked by higher species richness compared to other Iranian regions.

The bivalved arthropod Caudicaella aff. bispinata from the Heatherdale Shale (Cambrian Stage 3), South Australia

Sunellids are early Cambrian bivalved arthropods first recognized in South China that are important for understanding the early evolution of the group. However, their taxonomic affinity and distribution beyond South China is poorly known. Furthermore, the relationship between members of the Sunellidae and the globally dispersed Isoxys remains unclear. Recently, rare specimens of the sunellid Caudicaella aff. bispinata have been recovered from the lower Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 3) Heatherdale Shale, eastern Stansbury Basin, South Australia, representing the first record of the group from East Gondwana. Caudicaella aff. bispinata from Australia bears a semicircular carapace, a pair of anterodorsal sulci, anterior and posterior cardinal spines, as well as a distinct thick border or margin. It most closely resembles Caudicaella bispinata from the Shuijingtuo Formation in western Hubei Province, South China. The new discovery adds support for strong faunal similarity of the Konservat-Lagerstätten of South Australia and South China and extends the known geographical range of Cambrian sunellids to East Gondwana. The occurrence of Caudicaella bispinata in South China and Caudicaella aff. bispinata in East Gondwana strengthens the biostratigraphic correlation between those two palaeo-continents.

The Central Paratethys Sea – Part of the tropical eastern Atlantic rather than gate into the Indian Ocean

The Miocene Paratethys Sea is frequently depicted as junction between the Proto-Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean. Herein, we elucidate the biogeographic character of this large epicontinental Miocene sea based on its speciose gastropod fauna. We debunk the persistent myth that there was a connection between these marine realms during Langhian times via the Tethys Seaway. Throughout most of the Early and Middle Miocene the connectivity of the Central Paratethys was via the Rhône Strait and the Slovenian Strait as supported by up to ~22 % of species shared with the Proto-Mediterranean Sea. The faunistic similarity decreased successively at higher latitudes towards the northeastern Atlantic and dropped to low values towards the North Sea. Therefore, a connection with the North Sea can be excluded throughout the Early and Middle Miocene. Faunistic relations of the Central Paratethys Sea with the Eastern Paratethys Sea were surprisingly low until the late Middle Miocene, when endemic species from the Eastern Paratethys ‘flooded’ the Central Paratethys. Therefore, the effectiveness in species transfer or presence of the Carasu and Barlad straits, hypothetically connecting both seas, must be questioned for most of the Middle Miocene.The present-day gastropod faunas of the tropical eastern Atlantic (TEA) and the Indo-West Pacific Region (IWP) can be distinguished clearly by their differing faunal structure (different relative abundance of certain families). The faunas of the Paratethyan and the Proto-Mediterranean Sea follow more closely the type nowadays represented in the tropical eastern Atlantic, suggesting a common origin. The faunistic connectivity with the Indian Ocean, via the Tethys Seaway ceased very early during the Early Miocene, predating the formation of the Gomphotherium land bridge by several million years. Consequently, we reject a re-activation of the Tethys Seaway during the Langhian as providing an effective oceanographic gateway. This is an important observation for climate models, linking the closure of the Tethys Seaway to Miocene climate change.

Revision of the Early Carboniferous trilobite Linguaphillipsia, with a new species from Terengganu in Peninsular Malaysia

This study examines the morphology and palaeobiogeography of species assigned to the Early Carboniferous trilobite Linguaphillipsia. We recognize 27 valid species found in Tournaisian and Viséan deposits worldwide. We provide an updated generic diagnosis, with four previously recognized species groups revised. The terapaiensis-group and scabra-group are considered synonymous, while the longicornuta-group and strabonis-group are retained. Linguaphillipsia exhibits a restricted palaeogeographical distribution around the tropical Palaeo-Tethys Ocean, together with the shallow marine margins of eastern Gondwana (Australia). During the Tournaisian, 15 species of Linguaphillipsia ranged across what is now Europe, Asia, and eastern Australia, each showing distinct provincialism. This distribution persisted into the Viséan, although the number of species decreased, particularly in eastern Palaeo-Tethys of Asia. The genus did not survive to the end of the Mississippian. In addition, we describe a new species, Linguaphillipsia buchuensis sp. nov., from Bukit Buchu in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia (East Malaya Block). Based on faunal similarities, we correlate the Bukit Buchu beds with the Charu Formation in Pahang and assign the unit a Viséan (middle Mississippian) age. Hung Yung Tang [tanghungyung@gmail.com], Department of Geology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; Marine Geoscience Program, Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Masatoshi Sone [masatoshi.sone@gmail.com], Department of Geology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia; David K. Brezinski [david.brezinski@maryland.gov], Maryland Geological Survey, 2300 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA; Yu He Teng [yuheteng@gmail.com], Academy of Sciences Malaysia, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Hasrizal Shaari [riz@umt.edu.my], Fatin Izzati Minhat [fatinminhat@umt.edu.my], Marine Geoscience Program, Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.

Multifaceted leaf litter traits shape soil fauna communities: Evidence from subtropical monocultural plantations

The important role of litter traits in shaping soil fauna communities has been increasingly acknowledged. It remains uncertain how fauna community features are associated with multiple litter traits, especially over the long term. With equal-aged monocultural plantations of 20 species in a subtropical climate in Hunan, China, we tested whether fauna communities were different after 40 years due to the landuse and choice of tree species, and the extent to which such disparity can be explained by litter traits. For each plantation plus a natural forest plot, we inventoried fauna in three layers (fresh litter, fragmentation and humus), measured fresh litter traits (leaf economics, size and shape and defenses), litter quantity and soil characteristics (soil properties, root and microbial biomass). Compared with natural forests, most plantations had similar fauna diversity indexes, but markedly lower density (-53.84%). Both density and diversity indexes generally increased from litter layers to humus: 0.89–1.71 for density, 32.45–38.03 for richness, 2.46–3.01 for Shannon-Wiener index, 0.82–0.92 for Gini-Simpson index and 0.74–0.84 for Pielou's evenness, respectively. Significant correlations between soil fauna indicators and litter traits were almost absent for litter layers, but were frequently observed in the humus layer. In the humus layer, soil fauna density was associated with traits related to economics (e.g., specific leaf area and dry matter content), defenses (e.g., phenol concentration) and metal element concentrations, but not with any size and shape traits, whereas soil fauna diversity could be associated with all the above trait categories. Both the leaf economics spectrum and size and shape spectrum could be significantly associated with the fauna indicators of the humus layer. Soil fauna indicators were more closely associated with litter traits than litter quantity and soil characteristics. This study reveals a link between soil fauna communities and litter traits at both individual traits and overall spectrum levels. The results emphasize the significance of segregating litter and soil layers in soil fauna studies, and the essential role of natural forests in preserving soil biodiversity.

European water frame directive ecoregions do not adequately represent freshwater fish biogeography

The quest to understand species' distribution patterns and delineate their limits has led to the establishment of the world's ecoregions, large units of land containing a distinct assemblage of species, both for terrestrial and marine ecosystems. However, freshwaters constitute their own special case within terrestrial ecosystems, and have only recently been divided into freshwater ecoregions, primarily based on watershed limits. Freshwater ecoregions used by the European Water Frame Directive (WFD), which guides freshwater management policies in the European Union, have been criticized for not adequately representing freshwater fish biogeography. This study compares the geographic agreement between WFD ecoregions and freshwater fish distribution at the European scale. Using IUCN Red List distribution maps, we determined the composition of freshwater fish communities in major European basins. Then, we calculated a similarity matrix in order to cluster freshwater basins with more related fish assemblages. We compare our findings with WFD ecoregions and global ecoregions from the Freshwater Ecoregions of the World (FEOW) database. Our results reveal that WFD ecoregions do not sufficiently capture freshwater fish assemblage differences across Europe. Mediterranean basins exhibit high freshwater fish endemism and greater species variation, whereas central European basins harbor more similar fauna. Overall, our results align more with those of FEOW. To enhance the relevance of freshwater ecoregions in Europe for management and conservation, we propose several measures to ensure a comprehensive study involving all stakeholders in the process of defining these ecoregions accurately.

Southernmost record of Megadolodus (Litopterna, Proterotheriidae, Megadolodinae) from the late Middle Miocene of Fitzcarrald, Peruvian Amazonia, and mesowear analysis of diet in megadolodine litopterns

ABSTRACT Megadolodinae is a clade of tropical bunodont litopterns that includes three previously recognized species from Miocene fossil sites from northern South America. Here, we report an additional occurrence of Megadolodus molariformis from the Middle Miocene exposures at the Fitzcarrald arch (Peruvian Amazonia), based on dental material, which represents the southernmost record of the clade. This discovery further increases the faunal similarity between Fitzcarrald and the coeval La Venta fauna of Colombia. Given the convergent evolution of the bunodont dentition of megadolodines with suoids (Old World pigs and New World peccaries), we tested the hypothesis of frugivory in megadolodines with a mesowear angle approach using modern pigs and peccaries. These analyses differentiate the diet of modern suoids and suggest that megadolodines had a more abrasive diet than most of these taxa, except for the grazing warthogs. The dentition of megadolodines shows similar levels of abrasion to modern babirusas, thereby suggesting that the latter may represent an appropriate modern analog.

Diversity of insect galls in veredas of the Brazilian Cerrado in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Brazilian veredas are hygrophilous communities with high species diversity, featuring many floristic studies but a still incipient number of faunistic studies. In the present study, we conducted an inventory of insect galls in four different veredas located in the Northern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Overall, we found 75 gall morphotypes, distributed across 50 host species representing 37 plant genera and 22 families. Fabaceae was the plant family with the greatest number of insect gall morphotypes (n = 21), followed by Malpighiaceae (n = 10). The plant genera that supported the highest diversity of insect galls were Copaifera (n = 8) and Byrsomima (n = 5). The plant species Copaifera oblongifolia (n = 6) and Anacardium humile (n = 4) exhibited the highest richness of insect galls. The leaves were the most attacked organs (89% of all galls). Most morphotypes are glabrous (83%), green (69%) and lenticular (60%). The taxa of gall-inducing insects were identified for 46 morphotypes (80%), and were recorded inducers from the orders Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Hymenoptera. Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) was the most representative galling group, with 42 morphotypes, making up 93.3% of the recorded inducers. Among the sampled veredas areas, the Vereda do Peruaçu presented the highest richness of insect gall morphotypes and host plant species. The faunistic similarity was higher in the Pedras and Tiririca veredas, followed by Almescla and Peruaçu veredas. This is the first systematic inventory of insect galls and their host plant in Brazilian veredas. The diversity of insect galls in the studied veredas is relatively high when compared to other Brazilian Cerrado vegetation types.

Fluid chemistry alters faunal trophodynamics but not composition on the deep-sea Capelinhos hydrothermal edifice (Lucky Strike vent field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge)

The recently discovered deep-sea Capelinhos hydrothermal edifice, ~ 1.5 km of the main Lucky Strike (LS) vent field (northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge), contrasts with the other LS edifices in having poorly-altered end-member hydrothermal fluids with low pH and chlorine, and high metal concentrations. Capelinhos unique chemistry and location offer the opportunity to test the effects of local abiotic filters on faunal community structure while avoiding the often-correlated influence of dispersal limitation and depth. In this paper, we characterize for the first time the distribution patterns of the Capelinhos faunal communities, and analyze the benthic invertebrates (> 250 µm) inhabiting diffusive-flow areas and their trophic structures (δ13C, δ15N and δ34S). We hypothesized that faunal communities would differ from those of the nearest LS vent edifices, showing an impoverished species subset due to the potential toxicity of the chemical environment. Conversely, our results show that: (1) community distribution resembles that of other LS edifices, with assemblages visually dominated by shrimps (close to high-temperature focused-fluid areas) and mussels (at low-temperature diffuse flow areas); (2) most species from diffuse flow areas are well-known LS inhabitants, including the bed-forming and chemosymbiotic mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus and (3) communities are as diverse as those of the most diverse LS edifices. On the contrary, stable isotopes suggest different trophodynamics at Capelinhos. The high δ15N and, especially, δ13C and δ34S values suggest an important role of methane oxidation (i.e., methanotrophy), rather than the sulfide oxidation (i.e., thiotrophy) that predominates at most LS edifices. Our results indicate that Capelinhos shows unique environmental conditions, trophic structure and trophodynamics, yet similar fauna, compared to other LS edifices, which suggest a great environmental and trophic plasticity of the vent faunal communities at the LS.

Biogeography of Greater Antillean freshwater fishes, with a review of competing hypotheses.

In biogeography, vicariance and long-distance dispersal are often characterised as competing scenarios. However, they are related concepts, both relying on collective geological, ecological, and phylogenetic evidence. This is illustrated by freshwater fishes, which may immigrate to islands either when freshwater connections are temporarily present and later severed (vicariance), or by unusual means when ocean gaps are crossed (long-distance dispersal). Marine barriers have a strong filtering effect on freshwater fishes, limiting immigrants to those most capable of oceanic dispersal. The roles of vicariance and dispersal are debated for freshwater fishes of the Greater Antilles. We review three active hypotheses [Cretaceous vicariance, Greater Antilles-Aves Ridge (GAARlandia), long-distance dispersal] and propose long-distance dispersal to be an appropriate model due to limited support for freshwater fish use of landspans. Greater Antillean freshwater fishes have six potential source bioregions (defined from faunal similarity): Northern Gulf of México, Western Gulf of México, Maya Terrane, Chortís Block, Eastern Panamá, and Northern South America. Faunas of the Greater Antilles are composed of taxa immigrating from many of these bioregions, but there is strong compositional disharmony between island and mainland fish faunas (>90% of Antillean species are cyprinodontiforms, compared to <10% in Northern Gulf of México and Northern South America, and ≤50% elsewhere), consistent with a hypothesis of long-distance dispersal. Ancestral-area reconstruction analysis indicates there were 16 or 17 immigration events over the last 51 million years, 14 or 15 of these by cyprinodontiforms. Published divergence estimates and evidence available for each immigration event suggests they occurred at different times and by different pathways, possibly with rafts of vegetation discharged from rivers or washed to sea during storms. If so, ocean currents likely provide critical pathways for immigration when flowing from one landmass to another. On the other hand, currents create dispersal barriers when flowing perpendicularly between landmasses. In addition to high salinity tolerance, cyprinodontiforms collectively display a variety of adaptations that could enhance their ability to live with rafts (small body size, viviparity, low metabolism, amphibiousness, diapause, self-fertilisation). These adaptations likely also helped immigrants establish island populations after arrival and to persist long term thereafter. Cichlids may have used a pseudo bridge (Nicaragua Rise) to reach the Greater Antilles. Gars (Lepisosteidae) may have crossed the Straits of Florida to Cuba, a relatively short crossing that is not a barrier to gene flow for several cyprinodontiform immigrants. Indeed, widespread distributions of Quaternary migrants (Cyprinodon, Gambusia, Kryptolebias), within the Greater Antilles and among neighbouring bioregions, imply that long-distance dispersal is not necessarily inhibitory for well-adapted species, even though it appears to be virtually impossible for all other freshwater fishes.

Differential sampling in the assessment of conservation and biodiversity merit: a comparison of the seagrass macrofauna in three nearby South African estuaries

To what extent is the relative biodiversity of some flagship conservation sites a result of differential attention? Knysna estuarine bay is the topmost ranked South African estuary for conservation importance and biodiversity. It is also one of the most intensively studied, and hence differential sampling effort could partly be responsible for its apparent relative richness. To assess the extent to which this might be true, identical sampling area, effort and methodology were employed to compare the benthic macrofauna of one specific major Knysna habitat (Zostera capensis seagrass beds) with equivalent ones in two nearby lesser-studied estuaries, the Keurbooms/Bitou and Swartvlei. Investigation showed all three localities to share a common species pool, but different elements of it dominated the shared habitat type in each. The seagrass and adjacent sandflat macrobenthos proved just as biodiverse in unprotected Keurbooms/Bitou as in the Protected Area of Knysna, but that in Swartvlei (also a Protected Area) was impoverished in comparison, presumably consequent on mouth closure and the prevailing lower salinity. Despite marked geomorphological and hydrological differences, all three estuaries share a suite of unusual faunal elements and such particularly close faunal similarity suggests the importance of historical biogeographic processes. The analysis emphasises the need for caution when assessing the relative conservation importance or other merits of different individual systems in a data-limited environment.

Biostratigraphy of Liminic Ostracoda (Crustacea) from the Quiricó Formation, Lower Cretaceous of the São Francisco Basin, Minas Gerais State, Brazil: An approach on paleozoogeographic evolution of Gondwana

The present study is the first biostratigraphic framework based on limnic ostracods for the Quiricó Formation, São Francisco Basin, Brazil. Three sections located at Minas Gerais State were approached: 1. Stratotype section of the Quiricó Formation, Presidente Olegário County; 2. Hypostratotype section of the Tereza Farm, João Pinheiro County; and 3. São Bento Farm section, Carmo do Paranaíba County. After ostracod taxonomic analysis and integration with previous studies, six biostratigraphic units are described, one superzone and five zones. From the lower to the upper part of the Quiricó Formation, zones are: Zone Brasacypris ovum, OSF-0; Zone Timiriasevia sanfranciscanensis, OSF-1.1; Zone Cypridea hystrix, OSF-1.2; Zone Alicenula longiformis, OSF-1.3; and Zone Harbinia spp., OSF-1.4. Superzone Penthesilenula pintoi, OSF-1, comprises zones Timiriasevia sanfranciscanensis, Cypridea hystrix, Alicenula longiformis and Harbinia spp, and is attributed to the Berriasian–Albian? interval. The Brasacypris ovum Zone is attributed to the Berriasian; the Timiriasevia sanfranciscanensis Zone is attributed to the Berriasian; the Cypridea hystrix Zone is attributed to the Valanginian–Hauterivian interval; the Alicenula longiformis Zone is attributed to the Barremian; and the Harbinia spp. Zone is attributed to the Aptian. A paleozoogeographic analysis showed faunal similarities with several sedimentary basins in Brazil, Argentina, Gabon, Gamba, Congo and Cabinda during the late assemblage of Gondwana previous to the complete breakup of the supercontinent.

Assessment of the DNA barcode libraries for the study of the poorly-known rove beetle (Staphylinidae) fauna of West Siberia.

Staphylinidae, or rove beetles, are one of the mega-diverse and abundant families of the ground-living terrestrial arthropods that is taxonomically poorly known even in the regions adjacent to Europe where the fauna has been investigated for the longest time. Since DNA barcoding is a tool to accelerate biodiversity research, here we explored if the currently-available COI barcode libraries are representative enough for the study of rove beetles of West Siberia. This is a vast region adjacent to Europe with poorly-known fauna of rove beetles and from where not a single DNA barcode has hitherto been produced for Staphylinidae. First, we investigated the faunal similarity between the rove beetle faunas of the climatically compatible West Siberia in Asia, Fennoscandia in Europe and Canada and Alaska in North America. Second, we investigated barcodes available for Staphylinidae from the latter two regions in BOLD and GenBank, the world's largest DNA barcode libraries. We conclude that the rather different rove beetle faunas of Fennoscandia, on the one hand and Canada and Alaska on the other hand, are well covered in both barcode libraries that complement each other. We also find that even without any barcodes originating from specimens collected in West Siberia, this coverage is helpful for the study of rove beetles there due to the significant number of widespread species shared between West Siberia and Fennoscandia and due to the even larger number of shared genera amongst all three investigated regions. For the first time, we compiled a literature-based checklist for 726 species of the West Siberian Staphylinidae supplemented by their occurrence dataset submitted to GBIF. Our script written for mining unique (i.e. not redundant) barcodes for a given geographic area across global libraries is made available here and can be adopted for any other regions.

Specialized herbivores have differential distribution in veredas under different drying levels

AbstractWe investigated the distribution patterns of galling insects in veredas with varying degrees of drying in the Brazilian Cerrado. We tested if the insect gall diversity is higher in degraded veredas (dry veredas) compared to preserved (wet veredas) ones, as predicted by the hygrothermal stress hypothesis. Additionally, we also tested whether the composition of galling insects varied along the veredas and if species richness and abundance of galling insects are higher in the upstream zone of the veredas. In total, we recorded 99 species of galling insects, distributed across 54 plant species and 24 botanical families. We found that galling species richness was high in degraded veredas compared to preserved ones, while the abundance of galling insects was higher in preserved veredas than in degraded ones. When examining the different zones along the veredas, we observed variations in the richness and abundance of galling insects in preserved veredas. Specifically, the galling insect richness was higher in the upstream and middle zones compared to the downstream zone, while the abundance of galling insects was higher in the middle zone compared to the upstream zone. However, in the degraded veredas, there were no significant differences in galling species richness and abundance among the zones studied. The composition of galling insect species differed significantly between degraded and preserved veredas, with a higher faunal similarity observed in preserved veredas for both the downstream and upstream zones compared to degraded veredas (upstream zone). Our results indicate a preference of galling insects for more hygrothermally stressed environments, such as dry veredas and upstream zones of wet veredas.

Recent Progress in Taxonomic Studies, Biogeographic Analysis, and Revised Checklist of Reptiles in Indochina

The Indochinese Peninsula represents one of the key global biodiversity hotspots in Southeast Asia. The herpetofauna of Indochina (herein including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand) currently (as by 10 August 2023) comprises 882 native and six invasive species of reptiles and is one of the richest in the world. About 40% of the Indochinese reptile species were discovered or recorded within the first two decades of the 21st century. We review the literature and our field data to assess all recent discoveries and taxonomic changes; we compile an annotated checklist of reptilian fauna of Indochina, including updated faunal lists for Vietnam and Thailand. Reptile species checklists for Laos and Cambodia are published for the first time. For each species we provide the following information: scientific name; recommended common name in English; information on type specimens; information on recognized subspecies; type locality; data on its distribution within Indochina and beyond; IUCN conservation status; taxonomic comments and the most important references. We review the distribution of each reptilian species across the 23 biogeographic subregions of Indochina, estimate the similarity among the regional faunas and evaluate their species richness and endemism. In total, we record 882 native reptile species belonging to three orders, 34 families and 163 genera; of them 408 species (46.3%) are endemic to Indochina. Comprising 512 known species, the reptilian fauna of Thailand is the richest (114 country endemics, 22.3%), followed by Vietnam with 496 species (157 endemics, 31.7%), Laos with 250 species (39 endemics, 15.6%), and Cambodia with 191 species (15 endemics, 7.9%). A cluster analysis of faunal similarity between the subregions revealed three major groupings, corresponding to the Sundaland fauna south of the Isthmus of Kra, the subtropical fauna of northeastern Indochina, and the tropical fauna of mainland Indochina. Within the latter grouping four clusters can be distinguished: (1) northern, central and southern Annamites, (2) western Indochinese subregions, (3) central-south Vietnam lowlands including the Bolaven Plateau and Cardamom Mountains, (4) and the depleted faunas of river deltas, coastal areas and offshore islands. We identify the Northern, Central and Southern Annamites, the Northwest Uplands of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, Southern Tenasserim in Thailand as the major centers of reptilian diversity in Indochina. The highest number of Indochinese endemic reptilian species was recorded in Central-Southern Vietnam Lowlands, Northern Annamites, and Central Annamites. The analysis of reptilian distribution patterns suggests the presence of 20 clusters of species sharing similar distribution patterns across Indochina. Our results further underline the key role of Indochina as an important area for diversity and conservation of reptiles. Among 882 native species of Indochinese reptiles, 356 species (40.4%) are considered as Data Deficient (DD) or were Not Evaluated (NE) according to the IUCN Red List criteria, while 106 species (12.0%) were considered Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN) or Critically Endangered (CR), 17 species (1.9%) were considered to be Near Threatened (NT), and 403 species (45.7%) to be of the Least Concern (LC) status. Our work has implications for elaboration of further conservation efforts for Indochinese reptiles on regional and global levels, as well as for a better understanding of the biogeographic patterns of reptilian richness and endemism in Asia.

Malacofauna of Bolków castle (Lower Silesia, SW Poland) – trends and perspectives

Bolków castle is located in the Lower Silesian voivodeship near the Kaczawskie Mountains. Malacological studies were carried out in 2006, 2010 and 2021. In 2006, specimens were collected only by hand, but in 2010 and 2021 samples were also made by litter sieving and from material taken from rock shelves and walls. Overall, 35 species were found, but the numbers declined over time: 28 species in 2006, 26 in 2010 and 20 in 2021. Two species recorded before our studies were not found again. Abundance declined greatly between 2010 and 2021. Over this period, open-country species declined the most, and shade-loving species increased as a proportion of the whole. In particular, the open-country Pupilla muscorum, eudominant in 2010, was absent in 2021, while the tolerant Alinda biplicata increased greatly over the same period. While more widespread environmental or climatic change may be involved, the castle has been subject to increased human pressure and a renovation programme in 2015. Castle faunas, here and elsewhere, are not only refugia for locally or nationally uncommon species, but provide a basis for regular monitoring of faunal change. Other castles in the region, most especially those at Stary Książ and Książ have similar faunas, and can be used in the same way.

Contrasting results of multiple species delimitation approaches cause uncertainty in synecological studies: A case study on Sri Lankan chafers

Abstract Biodiversity patterns are the sum of multiple overlapping species distributions. Their analysis therefore requires proper species inference. DNA‐based species delimitation has become increasingly popular for such assessments, but their robustness is often problematic due to incongruence between multiple delimitation approaches. Here, we explored how contrasting results of different species’ delimitations translate into conclusions of synecological studies, exemplified by assemblages of phytophagous scarab beetles in Sri Lanka from different elevations and forest types. Particularly, we compared estimates based on complete assemblages and on cumulated species inventories inferred from individually analysed subclades. The patterns of assemblage similarity were analysed across different spatial scales with reference to morphospecies, molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) and haplotypes. Method‐related ambiguity of species (MOTUs) estimates, which also included subclade inferences, severely affected the certainty of apparent biodiversity patterns at most spatial scales. Even more contrasting patterns resulted from individual clade‐wise analyses of faunal similarity or even from cumulated species inventories from individual clade‐wise species delimitation analysis. In this case study of tropical chafer beetles, haplotypes provided only very little explanatory information, since genetically highly diverse populations widely lacked shared haplotypes. Therefore, searching proper species boundaries should be the ultimate goal of biodiversity assessments to lend an enduring meaning to biodiversity research and its sustainable application. Our study underlines the need for awareness when synecological observations from different studies are integrated, which use different species delimitation methods for their biodiversity assessment, and its potential impact on conservation management.

Comparative approach of the fauna diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in a stream on ferralitic soil and equatorial climate at 2 seasons in Cameroon (Central Africa)

In order to determine the structure of benthic macroinvertebrates fauna in relation with some environmental factors, a study was carried out in the Esoa river at Nkongsamba in the Littoral region of Cameroon from January 2021 to January 2022. Physico-chemical parameters were measured according to APHA and Rodier recommendations, while benthic macroinvertebrates sampling was done out according to the multihabitat approach at a monthly frequency. The physico-chemical analyses revealed very good oxygenation of the water, a tendency of neutrality for the pH (7.79±0.8 UC) and a low and constant temperature (22.61±1.83 °C). The BMI count showed 3732 individuals, including 4 phyla, 6 classes, 14 orders and 69 families and over 80 species. Besides, the class of insects, and in particular the order of Odonata, supplanted the benthic fauna. The Esoa 2 and Esoa 3 stations recorded the highest relative abundance of BMI (37.43% and 36.99% respectively) with a predominance of pollutant taxa, notably the families of Chironomidae, Physidae, Tubificidae and Lumbricidae. On the other hand, the Esoa 1 station, with low relative abundance (25.56%), was more diversified and dominated by polluosensitive taxa, including Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera. The high values of the Sӧrensen similarity index (65.62%) showed a high faunal similarity of the Esoa 2 and Esoa 3 stations. The high values of the Shannon and Weaver diversity index (4.6 bits/ind) indicated a high diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates reflecting the good ecological status of the waters of the Esoa stream.