Iberian Endemic Species Research Articles

Herpetofauna del Parque Natural das Fragas do Eume (A Coruña): distribución, estado de conservación y amenazas

The Natural Park of Fragas do Eume, with its coastal location and thus low altitude and temperate weather conditions, is mostly covered by a thermophilous Atlantic forest. The steepness of Eume valley slopes have hindered both agricultural exploitation and urbanization, which dominate the surrounding plain and hills, thus protecting one of Europe’s best-conserved thermophilous Atlantic forests. Intensive sampling in this Park revealed a rich herpetofauna assemblage, with a high percentage of both Iberian endemic species and Eurosiberian Central European species. Thirteen species of amphibians and 10 of reptiles are present in the Park, representing, respectively, 93% and 40% of the species present in Galicia and 48% and 21%, respectively, of total Iberian species. The highest species richness was found especially in the forests of the lower area of the Eume riverbed and in certain areas of the center and north of the Park. The most important habitats of the Park, according to the number of species that they harbor, were the riparian forest, wet grasslands and shrublands for amphibians during their terrestrial phase, and ponds in grasslands and peatlands, streams and small runoff during their aquatic reproductive phase. For reptiles, shrubby and herbaceous edges of Atlantic forest, as well as scrublands, rocky outcrops and slopes were the main habitats. One of the main threats to herpetofauna are the eucalyptus plantations, which eliminate the autochthonous forest and favor fires. Another important threats are changes in land use, pollutant spills into aquatic environments and expansion of certain species, such as Wild Boar.

Stictonectes abellani sp. n. (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae) from the Iberian Peninsula, with notes on the phylogeny, ecology and distribution of the Iberian species of the genus.

Stictonectes abellani sp. n. is described from the Iberian Peninsula. On average, the new species is larger and the colouration of the upper surface darker than in most other species of the genus. Seemingly the species has been confounded with others in the past, particularly S. optatus (Seidlitz, 1887). Males can be separated from externally similar species by studying the shape of the parameres. Additionally, the anterior margin of the clypeus is provided with a distinct rim in both sexes, which is absent or only weakly present in other species. The habitus and the male genitalia of the new species are illustrated, and compared with those of S. optatus. External morphological differences from other members of the genus are discussed. According to studies of the molecular phylogeny, based on fragments of four mitochondrial genes, S. abellani sp. n. is clearly separated from previously described species of Stictonectes Brinck, 1943, apparently being relatively basal within the genus. The new species is rather widely distributed in the south-western part of the Iberian Peninsula, inhabiting pools in small temporary siliceous streams. We provide distributional maps for all eight Iberian Stictonectes and estimate the potential distributional areas of the new species and the other two endemic Iberian species S. occidentalis Fresneda & Fery, 1990 and S. rebeccae Bilton, 2011, based on environmental niche modelling.

Lectotypification ofRanunculus cabrerensis(Ranunculaceae)

Typification of the endemic Iberian species Ranunculus cabrerensis Rothm. is discussed. A specimen at MA from the exsiccatae for the Plantae Hispanie Boreali-Occidentalis (Rothmaler, 1934) is designated lectotype for this endemic Iberian species.

Molecular taxonomy and genetic diversity of Moricandia moricandioides subsp. pseudofoetida compared to wild relatives

Moricandia moricandioides subsp. pseudofoetida is a taxon endemic to the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, of which only one population is known. In this study, we used Inter Simple Sequence Repeat molecular markers to compare the taxon's genetic diversity with that of populations with similar ecological characteristics belonging to Iberian endemic species of the genus Moricandia (M. moricandioides subsp. moricandioides and Moricandia foetida) and to the widely distributed Moricandia arvensis, in the context of the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. The results indicated that M. moricandioides subsp. pseudofoetida has genetic diversity values similar to the two other endemic taxa, while M. arvensis has higher diversity values. We established a hypothesis concerning the origin of M. moricandioides subsp. pseudofoetida, since our results suggested that this taxon arose by reproductive isolation rather than hybridization between M. foetida and M. moricandioides. Our results might serve as a starting point to obtain a clear phylogenetic pattern for the genus. Finally, we proposed measures for the conservation of this rare taxon and recommendations for the collection of siliques to establish a seed bank.

Settlement and Successful Breeding of Reintroduced Spanish Imperial EaglesAquila adalbertiin the Province of Cadiz (Spain)

Summary. A project to reintroduce the Spanish imperial eagle in the province of Cadiz (Andalusia, Spain) began in 2002. The aim was to restore the former breeding nucleus, to encourage subpopulation interconnection and to ensure the long-term persistence of the southern metapopulation of this endemic Iberian species. A population reinforcement programme also began in 2005 at a location in the Donana area (Andalusia, Spain) to improve the viability of this endangered subpopulation. Between 2002 and 2010, a total of 73 young Spanish imperial eagles were released at four locations by means of hacking. As a result, in 2010 a released male bred successfully with a non-reintroduced female and two young were reared. This was the first successful breeding event recorded in Cadiz province since 1960. An additional territorial pair also settled in the release area in 2010 and four more translocated individuals have made breeding attempts within nearby breeding subpopulations since 2006. The settlement and breeding ...

<strong>The Trichoptera fauna of the Oja River (La Rioja, Spain)</strong>

The Oja River (La Rioja, Spain), belonging to the Ebro River Basin (NE Spain), encloses 3 different fluvial types (Mediterranean siliceous mountain, Mediterranean calcareous mountain and Humid calcareous mountain rivers) that give rise to a great diversity in the fauna of aquatic macroinvertebrates. During the years 2003−2009 benthic macroinvertebrates (aquatic stages and adults) were sampled in 7 sites along the river (3 in siliceous stretches, 1 in humid calcareous stretch and 3 in calcareous stretches) in different seasons. We have found 54 Trichoptera taxa, belonging to 31 genera and 16 families. Hydropsychidae (10 species), Limnephilidae (7 species) and Rhyacophilidae (7 species) were the dominant families. Most of the species have wide European distribution (50%), with the Iberian endemic species (22%) and Central and Western European species (18%) being the 2nd and 3rd groups in importance. The presence of some relict species in headwaters [Thremma gallicum McLachlan, Larcasia partita Navas and Odontocerum albicorne (Scopoli)] support the inclusion of this geographical area (Sierra de la Demanda, Iberian System Mountains) in the list of European pre-Pleistocene refuges for the Trichoptera fauna.

A new hygromiid for the Iberian malacofauna: Candidula corbellai n. sp. (Gastropoda, Pulmonata)

We report a new Iberian hygromiid, Candidula corbellai n. sp., and describe its conchological and anatomical characteristics. This new species is compared with two other Iberian endemic species, Candidula camporroblensis and C. rocandioi, which present similarities in the reproductive system, such as the long flagellum. The shell of the new species is compared with specimens of the type series of these taxa. The reproductive system of C. corbellai n. sp. is distinguished from C. camporroblensis by its longer male part, although the flagellum is shorter than the penis and epiphallus together and it has a long bursa copulatrix with respect to its duct, which is shorter. The epiphallus and the bursa copulatrix duct are longer in C. rocandioi than in C. corbellai n. sp. A geographical distribution map of the three species in the Iberian peninsula is shown.

International Standardization of Common Names for Iberian Endemic Freshwater Fishes

International Standardization of Common Names for Iberian Endemic Freshwater Fishes Iberian endemic freshwatershes do not have standardized common names in English, which is usually a cause of incon- veniences for authors when publishing for an international audience. With the aim to tackle this problem, an updated list of Iberian endemic freshwatersh species is presented with a reasoned proposition of a standard international designation along with Spanish and/or Portuguese common names adopted in the National Red Data Books.

Neotypification of Odontitella virgata (Link) Rothm. and lectotypification of Macrosyringion longiflorum (Lam.) Rothm. (Scrophulariaceae s.l.)

AbstractOriginal material for the endemic Iberian species Odontitella virgata, initially described as Euphrasia linifolia sensu Brot., non L., does not exist. A specimen from Valorado's herbarium (LISU) is chosen here as neotype for the name of the species now placed in the monotypic genus Odontitella. The same specimen is selected as neotype for Euphrasia tenuifolia Pers., basionym of Odontites tenuifolia (Pers.) G. Don, the correct name for these plants in Odontites. In addition, a lectotype is selected for the synonym Odontites aragonensis Willk. Macrosyringion longiflorum, the type of the generic name Macrosyringion, is lectotypified here by a specimen deposited in the Lamarck collections in Paris (P‐LA), since that French botanist was the author of the basionym Euphrasia longiflora and not Vahl, to whom authorship has hitherto been generally attributed.

Chromosome studies of European cyprinid fishes: interspecific homology of leuciscine cytotaxonomic marker—the largest subtelocentric chromosome pair as revealed by cross-species painting

Leuciscine cyprinids possess a nearly invariant diploid number (2n = 50) with an extremely uniform karyotype comprising of 8 pairs of metacentric, 13-15 pairs of submetacentric and 2-4 pairs of subtelocentric (st) to acrocentric (a) chromosomes. The largest pair is characteristically an st/a element-the 'leuciscine' cytotaxonomic marker. Previously, the interspecific homology of this chromosome pair could not be assessed owing to the inability to produce euchromatic or serial banding patterns. In the present study, we used laser-microdissection (15-20 copies of the marker chromosome) to construct a whole chromosome probe (WCP) from the marker chromosome of the roach Rutilus rutilus to ascertain the interspecific homology of marker chromosomes by cross-species in-situ hybridization. WCP was hybridized to chromosomes of widely distributed (Abramis brama, Alburnoides bipunctatus, Alburnus alburnus, Aspius aspius, Ballerus ballerus, B. sapa, Blicca bjoerkna, Chondrostoma nasus, Leucaspius delineatus, Leuciscus leuciscus, L. idus, R. rutilus, Scardinius erythrophthalmus, Squalius cephalus, and Vimba vimba) and Iberian endemic species (Achondrostoma oligolepis, Iberochondrostoma almacai, I. lusitanicum, Pseudochondrostoma duriense, S. alburnoides and S. pyrenaicus). Cross-species in-situ hybridization to chromosomes of Phoxinus phoxinus, a representative of leuciscine sister lineage, showed the same pattern as in all of the leuciscins. The probe consistently hybridized to the distal part of the short arm of the marker chromosome, indicating sequence homology.

Revision of the Paleartic species of the genus Ochthebius Leach (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) XXIV. Description of Ochthebius (Asiobates) sanabrensis n. sp. from northwestern Spain

In the Palearctic region, the hydraenid subgenus Asiobates Thomson, 1859 comprises two species groups (Jäch, 1990): the O. minimus Fabricius group and the O. bicolon Germar group. The O. bicolon group is quite diverse in the Iberian Peninsula (12 species) displaying a high level of endemism (six Iberian endemic species). In contrast, only two Iberian species of the O. minimus group are known to date, with both rather widely distributed in the western Palearctic Region: O. (Asiobates) aeneus Stephens, 1835 and O. (A.) minimus (Fabricius, 1792). A new species, apparently endemic to the northwestern Iberian Peninsula, is now added to this group.

Expansión del alburno <i>Alburnus alburnus</i> (Linnaeus, 1758) (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae) en la península Ibérica: el papel de los embalses

Since its first record in a tributary of the Ebro basin in 1992, the bleak Alburnus alburnus has spread to almost the whole Iberian Peninsula. In this paper (based on electrofishing surveys in 598 localities), we provide information on the expansion of the bleak. We detail current distribution in the Ebro basin and the rivers of the Eastern Pyrenees and we report its presence in three other major Iberian drainages. Currently, the bleak is sympatric with 15 Iberian endemic species (58% of total Iberian endemic fish). The possible threats to the rich Iberian ichthyofauna caused by the presence of the bleak are discussed. The factors that promoted the extremely rapid expansion of this exotic cyprinid are examined, focusing on the role of reservoirs, which seem to favour its dispersal.

Diversity of Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) at a mountain range in the limit of the Eurosiberian region, northwest Spain: species richness and beta diversity

Chrysomelidae from the Sierra de Queixa mountains (Galicia, northwest Spain) were sampled, reporting 93 species. The estimated local species richness using several non-parametric estimators and accumulation models varies between 104 and 142 species. To compare the Chrysomelidae fauna from Sierra de Queixa with other Galician assemblages we have assessed beta diversity among inventories and we have tested the differences on the zoogeographic compositions among areas. Sierra de Queixa is grouped with other Galician mountain ranges located in the transition zone between Eurosiberian and Mediterranean regions, and it is characterised by a high proportion of Iberian endemic species, significantly higher than expected. Therefore, Chrysomelidae fauna from Sierra de Queixa represents a unique assemblage of Eurosiberian elements that reached the area due to the climatic conditions and Iberian endemic species that are present in the Iberian mountains due to its historic role as southern refugia during glaciations.

Management of gene diversity in the endemic killifish Aphanius iberus: revising Operational Conservation Units

Abstract – Conservation of genetic diversity within species requires effective management techniques. To study the spatial structure of the killifish Aphanius iberus and to improve ongoing conservation practices, we used genetic approaches to assess the genetic structure of this endemic Iberian species. Twenty locations were analysed by allozyme electrophoresis and allelic variation was detected at 11 of 17 loci examined. Results of our study enabled us to redefine its conservation policy based on Operational Conservation Units (OCUs), which were proposed in 1996. The new OCUs recognise the genetic isolation of some marshland populations (FST = 0.247) and incorporate reintroductions that occurred over the last 10 years. We also propose that the status of A. iberus in the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species be changed from data deficient to endangered. Our work exemplifies how temporal genetic monitoring of populations can be a powerful tool to improve conservation programmes.

Management of gene diversity in the endemic killifish Aphanius iberus: revising Operational Conservation Units

Abstract – Conservation of genetic diversity within species requires effective management techniques. To study the spatial structure of the killifish Aphanius iberus and to improve ongoing conservation practices, we used genetic approaches to assess the genetic structure of this endemic Iberian species. Twenty locations were analysed by allozyme electrophoresis and allelic variation was detected at 11 of 17 loci examined. Results of our study enabled us to redefine its conservation policy based on Operational Conservation Units (OCUs), which were proposed in 1996. The new OCUs recognise the genetic isolation of some marshland populations (FST = 0.247) and incorporate reintroductions that occurred over the last 10 years. We also propose that the status of A. iberus in the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species be changed from data deficient to endangered. Our work exemplifies how temporal genetic monitoring of populations can be a powerful tool to improve conservation programmes.

Patterns of endemic plants and biogeography of the Baetic high mountains (south Spain)

The largest number of Iberian endemic plant species and indeed one of the largest in Europe is found in the Baetic Mountains in the south of Europe (Spain), with mountain peaks up to 1,800 m. Our aim is to analyze the endemic plants and biogeographic patterns as a base for establishing priority areas for conservation and management. We present the complete floristic list of the 237 narrow endemics that inhabit these mountain regions. Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Poaceae and Papilionaceae are families with the largest number of endemic species. The comparative analysis shows that the Baetic mountains are an important centre of endemism in the Mediterranean basin with a present degree of endemism of 28, 18%. Biogeographic patterns are first identified according to the development of the endemic plants on calcareous soils or siliceous soils, and next the phytogeographic subunits identified by different levels of endemism diversity. The abundance of endemic species in the Baetic mountains is explained by the geographical isolation together with its natural history.

Phylogeny of slug species of the genus Arion: evidence of monophyly of Iberian endemics and of the existence of relict species in Pyrenean refuges

The Iberian Peninsula contains the majority of the Paleartic land slug species of the genus Arion, which exhibits diverse taxonomic problems. The present study investigated Arion taxonomy on the basis of analyses of the mitochondrial ND1 gene and nuclear internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequences. The Iberian endemic species were monophyletically clustered in two divergent sister clades. The topotype specimens of Arion lusitanicus and the closely related species Arion nobrei and Arion fuligineus, as well as Arion hispanicus and Arion flagellus, were grouped into an 'Atlantic' clade, whereas Arion baeticus, Arion gilvus, Arion anguloi, Arion wiktori and Arion paularensis were included in a 'Continental-Mediterranean' clade. Calibration of mutation rate in the ND1 gene suggested that the divergence of these two clades occurred around the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary, with subsequent speciation events during the Pleistocene. A group of ancestral and divergent endemic species with distribution centred in the Pyrenean mountain range (Arion molinae, Arion lizarrusti, Arion antrhacius and Arion iratii) arose in the Pliocene and survived through the Pleistocene in geographically confined small populations. Arion lusitanicus showed up to be polyphyletic: specimens, sampled outside the geographic range of the topotype in the north-western Iberian Peninsula, were included in a non-monophyletic clade together with the widely distributed species Arion ater and Arion rufus. The divergent species with a wide European distribution (Arion subfuscus, Arion hortensis, Arion fagophilus and Arion intermedius) were located in basal positions in all topologies. The evolutionary history of these slug species (highly sensitive to climatic factors, with capacity for both outcrossing and selfing, and with low dispersal ability) appears to have been moulded by Pliocene-Pleistocene climate events and by the rugged topography of southern Europe, giving rise to repeated cycles of population isolation during periods of glaciation alternating with interglacial expansions limited by geographic barriers. © 2005 Blackwell Verlag.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Succisella (Dipsacaceae) in the Iberian Peninsula

A revision of the three endemic Iberian species of Succisella G. Beck (S. carvalhoana, S. microcephala and S. andreae-molinae), based on herbarium studies, SEM photographs and field observations, is presented utilizing morphological, palynological, karyological, biogeographical and ecological characters. The distribution of the species in the Iberian Peninsula is shown in a grid map. Full synonymy is given for all taxa. © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 144, 351–364. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: distribution – karyology – morphology – palynology – Portugal – Spain – taxonomy.

Cytotaxonomic study of some taxa of the subtribe Orchidinae (Orchidoideae, Orchidaceae) from the Iberian Peninsula

Chromosome numbers in 29 populations belonging to 21 species of Orchidinae from the Iberian Peninsula have been counted. For four Iberian endemic species, Anacamptis coriophora subsp. carpetana, Dactylorhiza caramulensis, Orchis tenera, and Serapias perez-chiscanoi, the number of chromosomes is reported here for the first time. For another three, Anacamptis champagneuxii, Himantoglossum hircinum, and Orchis langei, this number has been established in Iberian representatives. Moreover, new ploidy levels have been obtained for Anacamptis champagneuxii and Dactylorhiza sambucina. Some taxonomic, phylogenetic, and phytogeographic comments are made for several species or groups of species from the Western Mediterranean region.

Are Iberian endemics Iberian? A case-study using water beetles of family Dytiscidae (Coleoptera)

The phylogenetic relationships and the geographical origin of 27 of the 34 species and of 3 of the 9 subspecies of Iberian endemic Dytiscidae are studied, based on species level phylogenies constructed with two mitochondrial gene fragments (16S rRNA and Cytochrome Oxidase I). All Iberian endemic species for which more than one specimen was included were monophyletic with the exception of the complex Deronectes aubei sanfilippoi Fery & Brancucci, 1997-D. delarouzei (Jac. Du Val, 1857). The genus Stictotarsus as presently defined is polyphyletic, containing three different lineages: the S. duodecimpustulatus group —including the Iberian endemic S. bertrandi (Legros, 1956)—, Trichonectes otini (Guignot, 1941) (new combination) and the S. griseostriatus and S. roffii groups, which are in need of a new generic name. The genus Oreodytes is found to be paraphyletic, although with low bootstrap support. The species Nebrioporus (Nebrioporus) martinii (Fairmaire, 1858) (new combination) is transferred from the subgenus Zimmermannius to Nebrioporus. The Iberian populations of Stictotarsus griseostriatus (De Geer, 1774) and the endemic subspecies Oreodytes davisii rhianae Carr, 2001, O. sanmarkii alienus (Sharp, 1872) and Hydroporus normandi normandi Regimbart, 1903 do not form well characterised lineages, as measured with the mitochondrial markers used in this study. The Iberian endemic species of Dytiscidae are divided in three groups according to the type of vicariant origin: 1) within-Iberian species, when the sister species (or clade) of the Iberian endemic is also and Iberian endemic; 2) Iberian/European, when the sister occurs in Europe north of the Pyrenees; and 3) Iberian/North African, when the sister occurs in North Africa. Within-Iberian endemics are found to be on average older than Iberian/European and Iberian/North African species, they have more restricted distributions within the Iberian peninsula (they occur typically in only one of the main biogeographical regions), and tend to occur exclusively in running waters. The withinIberian species are best represented by the “Iberian” clade of the genus Deronectes, formed by six endemic species plus two species with wider distributions. Most species in this group originated in rapid succession in the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene boundary by repeated vicariant events in the three main mountain massifs in the Iberian peninsula: the Pyrenees, the Baetic ranges, and the Sistema Central plus mountain massifs of the NW. On the contrary, most of the Iberian/European species seem to be the recent (Pleistocene) vicariants of a species with a widespread distribution encompassing the Iberian peninsula, at present restricted to south and west of the Ebro valley. The results of these analyses suggest that the Iberian peninsula was an isolated refuge during the Quaternary glaciations, in where allopatric speciation was frequent among some lineages of Dytiscidae diving beetles.