Diversity

6 pages, 4060 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceInteresting Images

Is Ficopomatus enigmaticus (Annelida: Serpulidae) Becoming a Nuisance in Galveston Bay, Texas?

by Vanessa Fernández-Rodríguez, Laura Jurgens and Anja Schulze

Diversity 2023, 15(7), 852; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15070852 - 13 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1726

Herein, we report the recent proliferation of the non-native serpulid worm Ficopomatus enigmaticus in parts of Galveston Bay, Texas. Reef-like aggregations were first recovered from a settlement plate and a submerged brick at the Kemah Boardwalk Marina on 4 May 2023. By 20 [...] Read more.

Herein, we report the recent proliferation of the non-native serpulid worm Ficopomatus enigmaticus in parts of Galveston Bay, Texas. Reef-like aggregations were first recovered from a settlement plate and a submerged brick at the Kemah Boardwalk Marina on 4 May 2023. By 20 May, similar growths were reported to us by the Kemah Boardwalk Marina on floating docks, boat hulls, propellers, and rudders. On June 8, nearby marinas remained unaffected. We confirmed the worms’ species identities by noting their diagnostic characteristics. Full article

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14 pages, 1380 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Adaptive Genetic Management of a Reintroduction Program from Captive Breeding to Metapopulation Management of an Arboreal Marsupial

by Jennifer C. Pierson, Laurence Berry, Lauren Alexander, Jennifer Anson, Michelle Birkett, Leah Kemp, Bruce A. Pascoe, Katherine A. Farquharson and Carolyn J. Hogg

Diversity 2023, 15(7), 848; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15070848 - 12 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1509

Abstract

The application of genetic data to conservation management programs can be hindered by the mismatch in timelines for management decisions and the acquisition of genetic data, particularly genomic sequence data that may require outsourcing. While applying genetic principles where data are absent can [...] Read more.

The application of genetic data to conservation management programs can be hindered by the mismatch in timelines for management decisions and the acquisition of genetic data, particularly genomic sequence data that may require outsourcing. While applying genetic principles where data are absent can provide general guidelines for actions, genetic data can often fine-tune actions through adaptive management. We describe the adaptive genetic management of the establishment of a metapopulation of a small arboreal marsupial, the red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura). Two captive breeding programs were established as source populations, with genetic principles applied to the establishment of the first program and empirical genetic data used to guide the establishment of the second program. Genetic data from both programs were then used to allocate founders to three new populations to create a metapopulation with diversity both within and among the sites. Building and maintaining the diversity of metapopulations when recovering threatened species will reduce pressure on the original source populations and increase the resilience of the species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology, Conservation and Restoration of Threatened Animal)

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27 pages, 13920 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Species in Disguise: A New Species of Hornshark from Northern Australia (Heterodontiformes: Heterodontidae)

by William T. White, Frederik H. Mollen, Helen L. O’Neill, Lei Yang and Gavin J. P. Naylor

Diversity 2023, 15(7), 849; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15070849 - 12 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 8616

Abstract

A new species of hornshark is described from northwestern Australia based on six whole specimens and a single egg case. Heterodontus marshallae n. sp. was previously considered to be conspecific with H. zebra from the Western Pacific. The new species differs from H. [...] Read more.

A new species of hornshark is described from northwestern Australia based on six whole specimens and a single egg case. Heterodontus marshallae n. sp. was previously considered to be conspecific with H. zebra from the Western Pacific. The new species differs from H. zebra in the sequence of its NADH2 gene, several morphological characters, egg case morphology and key coloration features. Despite the coloration being similar between H. marshallae n. sp. and H. zebra, i.e., pale background with 22 dark brown bands and saddles, they differ consistently in two key aspects. Firstly, the snout of H. marshallae n. sp. has a dark semicircular bar, usually bifurcated for most of its length vs. a pointed, triangular shaped dark marking in H. zebra. Secondly, H. zebra has a dark bar originating below the posterior gill slits and extending onto anterior pectoral fin, which is absent in H. marshallae n. sp. The Heterodontus marshallae n. sp. is endemic to northwestern Australia and occurs in deeper waters (125–229 m) than H. zebra (0–143 m). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Connectivity, Species Diversity and Conservation Biology of Chondrichthyes)

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18 pages, 4221 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A New Enigmatic Teleost Fish from the Mid-Cretaceous of Lebanon

by Tamara El Hossny and Lionel Cavin

Diversity 2023, 15(7), 839; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15070839 - 08 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2099

Abstract

Teleosts form the largest clade among the extant actinopterygians, some extinct forms of which are still poorly positioned in the phylogeny. The Tselfatiiformes and Araripichthyidae are such examples. A newly discovered genus and species from the Cenomanian of Haqel, Lebanon, is described, and [...] Read more.

Teleosts form the largest clade among the extant actinopterygians, some extinct forms of which are still poorly positioned in the phylogeny. The Tselfatiiformes and Araripichthyidae are such examples. A newly discovered genus and species from the Cenomanian of Haqel, Lebanon, is described, and its systematic affinities are discussed. It shares several characteristics (deep and compressed body with elongated and high dorsal and anal fins, edentulous maxilla, and sinusoidal vertebral column) with both the Tselfatiiformes and Araripichthys, making it difficult to place within the teleosts. It shares with Abisaadichthys, among the tselfatiiforms’ family Protobramidae, an autogenous retroarticular, and with Araripichthys premaxillae with a long ascending process, well-developed maxillary articular condyle and two supramaxillae. Moreover, it shows some unique characteristics (a thin maxilla with two large supramaxillae, fused articular and angular bones, mandibular sensory canal opening on the external side of the anguloarticular, first dorsal pterygiophore having the same enlarged semi-circular plate as the first anal pterygiophore) justifying its generic status. Comments on some of the protobramids are presented, and the necessity for phylogenetic analysis to place the Tselfatiiformes, Araripichthys and Ypsiloichthys within the teleosts is outlined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Phylogeny and Evolution)

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16 pages, 1980 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Testing White’s Floristic Impoverishment Hypothesis in the Forest-Savanna Transition Zones of Africa

by Mathew Rees, John L. Godlee, David J. Harris, Casey M. Ryan and Kyle G. Dexter

Diversity 2023, 15(7), 833; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15070833 - 03 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1518

Abstract

In tropical Africa, forests and savannas are the two most widespread biomes and potentially represent alternative stable states with a divergent species composition. A classic, but untested, hypothesis posited by White (1983) suggests that the transition zones between forests and savannas contain a [...] Read more.

In tropical Africa, forests and savannas are the two most widespread biomes and potentially represent alternative stable states with a divergent species composition. A classic, but untested, hypothesis posited by White (1983) suggests that the transition zones between forests and savannas contain a floristically impoverished assemblage, with few representatives from each biome. Further, the evolutionary dimension of diversity has received limited attention, despite its importance for understanding the biogeographic history of biomes. Here, we quantified species richness and several measures of evolutionary diversity in 1° grid cells, using c. 300,000 occurrence records of trees and shrubs combined with biome affiliation data for 3203 species. We found that assemblages in transition zones hold fewer woody species than assemblages in forest and savanna zones, as posited by White. However, transition zones hold more phylogenetic diversity than expected given their species richness, whether one considers forest and savanna assemblages separately or together. We also show that the Congo Basin forest has low levels of phylogenetic diversity, given the number of species, and highlight south-eastern African savannas as a centre of savanna woody species richness and phylogenetic diversity. Regions with high phylogenetic diversity, given the number of both forest and savanna species, were centred around the Dahomey Gap and Cameroon, mainly in transition zones. Overall, our study shows that even if floristically impoverished, transition zones hold unexpectedly high evolutionary diversity. This suggests that they are important centres of evolutionary innovation and diversification and/or serve as evolutionary crossroads, where lineages that diversified in contrasting environments coexist within a single area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity of Vegetation and Flora in Tropical Africa -2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 1423 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Molecular Taxonomy of South Africa’s Catsharks: How Far Have We Come?

by Michaela van Staden, David A. Ebert, Enrico Gennari, Rob W. Leslie, Meaghen E. McCord, Matthew Parkinson, Ralph G. A. Watson, Sabine Wintner, Charlene da Silva and Aletta E. Bester-van der Merwe

Diversity 2023, 15(7), 828; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15070828 - 01 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1318

Abstract

The ability to correctly identify specimens at the species level is crucial for assessing and conserving biodiversity. Despite this, species-specific data are lacking for many of South Africa’s catsharks due to a high level of morphological stasis. As comprehensive and curated DNA reference [...] Read more.

The ability to correctly identify specimens at the species level is crucial for assessing and conserving biodiversity. Despite this, species-specific data are lacking for many of South Africa’s catsharks due to a high level of morphological stasis. As comprehensive and curated DNA reference libraries are required for the reliable identification of specimens from morphologically similar species, this study reviewed and contributed to the availability of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and nicotinamide adenine dehydrogenase subunit 2 (NADH2) sequences for South Africa’s catsharks. A molecular taxonomic approach, implementing species delimitation and specimen assignment methods, was used to assess and highlight any taxonomic uncertainties and/or errors in public databases. The investigated species were summarised into 47 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs), with some conflicting specimen assignments. Two Apristurus specimens sampled in this study remained unidentified, revealing the presence of previously undocumented genetic diversity. In contrast, haplotype sharing within Haploblepharus—attributed to nucleotide ambiguities—resulted in the delimitation of three congeners into a single MOTU. This study reveals that molecular taxonomy has the potential to flag undocumented species and/or misidentified specimens, and further highlights the need to implement integrated taxonomic assessments on catsharks that represent an irreplaceable component of biodiversity in the region. Full article

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17 pages, 1658 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Crystal-Wonder Cave System: A New Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity in the Southern Cumberland Plateau of South-Central Tennessee, USA

by Matthew L. Niemiller, Kirk S. Zigler, Amata Hinkle, Charles D. R. Stephen, Brendan Cramphorn, Jared Higgs, Nathaniel Mann, Brian T. Miller, K. Denise Kendall Niemiller, Kelly Smallwood and Jason Hardy

Diversity 2023, 15(7), 801; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15070801 - 23 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 6389

Abstract

The Crystal-Wonder Cave System developed in the Western Escarpment of the southern Cumberland Plateau in the Interior Low Plateau karst region of south-central Tennessee, USA is a global hotspot of cave-limited biodiversity. We combined historical literature, museum accessions, and database occurrences with new [...] Read more.

The Crystal-Wonder Cave System developed in the Western Escarpment of the southern Cumberland Plateau in the Interior Low Plateau karst region of south-central Tennessee, USA is a global hotspot of cave-limited biodiversity. We combined historical literature, museum accessions, and database occurrences with new observations from bio-inventory efforts conducted between 2005 and 2022 to compile an updated list of troglobiotic and stygobiotic biodiversity for the Crystal-Wonder Cave System. The list of cave-limited fauna includes 31 species (23 troglobionts and 8 stygobionts) with 28 and 18 species documented from the Crystal and Wonder caves, respectively, which represents five phyla, ten classes, nineteen orders, and twenty-six families (six arachnids, three springtails, two diplurans, three millipedes, six insects, three terrestrial snails, one flatworm, five crustaceans, and two vertebrates, respectively). The Crystal-Wonder Cave System is the type locality for six species—Anillinus longiceps, Pseudanophthalmus humeralis, P. intermedius, Ptomaphagus hatchi, Tolus appalachius, and Chitrella archeri. The carabid beetle Anillinus longiceps is endemic to the Crystal-Wonder Cave System. Sixteen species are of conservation concern, including twelve taxa with NatureServe conservation ranks of G1–G3. The exceptional diversity of the Crystal-Wonder Cave System has been associated with several factors, including a high dispersal potential of cave fauna associated with expansive karst exposures along the Western Escarpment of the southern Cumberland Plateau, a high surface productivity, and a favorable climate throughout the Pleistocene. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hotspots of Subterranean Biodiversity—2nd Volume)

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19 pages, 5856 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Subterranean Fauna of the Lukina Jama–Trojama Cave System in Croatia: The Deepest Cave in the Dinaric Karst

by Marko Lukić, Cene Fišer, Teo Delić, Helena Bilandžija, Martina Pavlek, Ana Komerički, Tvrtko Dražina, Branko Jalžić, Roman Ozimec, Rajko Slapnik and Jana Bedek

Diversity 2023, 15(6), 726; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15060726 - 31 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2479

Abstract

The Dinaric Karst is a global hotspot for subterranean diversity, with two distinct peaks of species richness in the northwest and southeast, and an area of a lower species richness in the central part. In this article, we present a species list and [...] Read more.

The Dinaric Karst is a global hotspot for subterranean diversity, with two distinct peaks of species richness in the northwest and southeast, and an area of a lower species richness in the central part. In this article, we present a species list and describe the ecological conditions of the Lukina jama–Trojama cave system, located in the central part of the Dinaric Karst. This cave system is the deepest and one of the most logistically challenging cave systems sampled so far in the Dinaric Karst. Repeated sampling resulted in a list of 45 species, including 25 troglobionts, 3 troglophiles, 16 stygobionts, and 1 stygophile. Most of the recorded species are endemic to the Velebit Mountain, while three species are endemic to the Lukina jama–Trojama cave system. Within the system, species richness peaks in the deepest third of the cave, most likely reflecting the harsh ecological conditions in the upper parts, including ice, cold winds, and occasional waterfalls. Milder and more stable deeper parts of the cave contain a rich subterranean species community, part of which is associated with two very distinct aquatic habitats, the cave hygropetric and the phreatic zone. The newly recognized hotspot of subterranean biodiversity in the central Dinaric Karst, which has emerged between the two known centers of biodiversity, further highlights the species richness in large cave systems, but also challenges the diversity patterns in the Dinaric Karst overall. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hotspots of Subterranean Biodiversity—2nd Volume)

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16 pages, 2136 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Fern Cave: A Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity in the Interior Low Plateau Karst Region of Alabama in the Southeastern United States

by Matthew L. Niemiller, Michael E. Slay, Thomas Inebnit, Benjamin Miller, Benjamin Tobin, Brendan Cramphorn, Amata Hinkle, Bradley D. Jones, Nathaniel Mann, K. Denise Kendall Niemiller and Steve Pitts

Diversity 2023, 15(5), 633; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15050633 - 06 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4303

Abstract

The Fern Cave System, developed in the western escarpment of the Southern Cumberland Plateau of the Interior Low Plateau karst region in Northeastern Alabama, USA, is a global hotspot of cave-limited biodiversity as well as home to the largest winter hibernaculum for the [...] Read more.

The Fern Cave System, developed in the western escarpment of the Southern Cumberland Plateau of the Interior Low Plateau karst region in Northeastern Alabama, USA, is a global hotspot of cave-limited biodiversity as well as home to the largest winter hibernaculum for the federally endangered Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens). We combined the existing literature, museum accessions, and database occurrences with new observations from bioinventory efforts conducted in 2018–2022 to generate an updated list of troglobiotic and stygobiotic species for the Fern Cave System. Our list of cave-limited fauna totals twenty-seven species, including nineteen troglobionts and eight stygobionts. Two pseudoscorpions are endemic to the Fern Cave System: Tyrannochthonius torodei and Alabamocreagris mortis. The exceptional diversity at Fern Cave is likely associated with several factors, such as the high dispersal potential of cave fauna associated with expansive karst exposures along the Southern Cumberland Plateau, high surface productivity, organic input from a large bat colony, favorable climate throughout the Pleistocene, and location within a larger regional hotspot of subterranean biodiversity. Nine species are of conservation concern, including the recently discovered Alabama cave shrimp Palaemonias alabamae, because of their small range sizes, few occurrences, and several potential threats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hotspots of Subterranean Biodiversity—2nd Volume)

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15 pages, 2547 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Updating the National Baseline of Non-Indigenous Species in Spanish Marine Waters

by Lydia Png-Gonzalez, Robert Comas-González, Matías Calvo-Manazza, Guillermo Follana-Berná, Enric Ballesteros, Pilar Díaz-Tapia, Jesús M. Falcón, J. Enrique García Raso, Serge Gofas, Marcos González-Porto, Eduardo López, Alfonso A. Ramos-Esplá, Eva Velasco and Aina Carbonell

Diversity 2023, 15(5), 630; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15050630 - 05 May 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2419

Abstract

The introduction of new non-indigenous species (NIS) in Spanish marine waters is addressed under Descriptor 2 of the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive. National baseline inventories of NIS have been compiled and updated for the three subregions (Western Mediterranean Sea, WMED; Bay [...] Read more.

The introduction of new non-indigenous species (NIS) in Spanish marine waters is addressed under Descriptor 2 of the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive. National baseline inventories of NIS have been compiled and updated for the three subregions (Western Mediterranean Sea, WMED; Bay of Biscay–Iberian Coast, ABI; Macaronesia, AMA) with data from 1800 to 2021. An overall of 574 species were identified with an alien, cryptogenic, crypto-expanding, or debatable status, mostly invertebrates (~65%) and primary producers (~22%). Of 412 alien species, 80.51% were reported in ABI, 67.82% in WMED, and 66.67% in AMA. Cryptogenic species are more abundant in the WMED (25.25%), compared to AMA (19.77%) and ABI (18.46%). ABI harbors more established species (62.56%) than AMA (45.2%) and WMED (43.56%), contrary to casual records (AMA 31.64%, WMED 23.76%, ABI 13.85%). Invasive species are more abundant (14.36%) in WMED. The ‘transport-stowaway’ pathway accounted for 142 (79.33%), 123 (67.58%), and 169 (85.21%) records in WMED, ABI, and AMA, respectively. The second most common pathway was ‘transport-contaminant’ related to mariculture (~10% of the total), prevalently in ABI with 42 species (23.08%). The Canary Islands stand out for species introduced through oil platforms from throughout the world. ‘Unaided’ was a relevant pathway of secondary introduction into the WMED, particularly of Lessepsian species progressing westwards. Temporal trends in newly introduced species show similar behavior among subregions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Marine Non-Indigenous Species in Europe by 2020, and Predictions through Modelling and Horizon Scanning for 2050)

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23 pages, 4423 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Fungal Diversity and Dynamics during Long-Term Immersion of Conventional and Biodegradable Plastics in the Marine Environment

by Aurélie Philippe, Cyril Noël, Boris Eyheraguibel, Jean-François Briand, Ika Paul-Pont, Jean-François Ghiglione, Emmanuel Coton and Gaëtan Burgaud

Diversity 2023, 15(4), 579; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15040579 - 20 Apr 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2179

Abstract

Plastics are associated with a worldwide pollution crisis, with strong negative impacts on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In marine environments, various organisms are colonizing plastic debris, but few studies have focused on fungal communities despite their non-trivial ecological roles in the marine [...] Read more.

Plastics are associated with a worldwide pollution crisis, with strong negative impacts on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In marine environments, various organisms are colonizing plastic debris, but few studies have focused on fungal communities despite their non-trivial ecological roles in the marine environment. In this study, different types of plastics (biodegradable and conventional) immersed in marine natural environments and under laboratory controlled settings were collected after long-term colonization. Using a metabarcoding approach targeting two genetic markers, namely, the ITS2 region and the V4 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene, we highlighted that fungal communities associated with plastic polymers were distinct from those found in the surrounding seawater. They also differed significantly between sampling locations and the nature of immersed polymers, indicating that fungal colonization was impacted by the sites and types of plastics, with clear dissimilarities between conventional and biodegradable polymers. Specifically for the conventional PVC polymer (Polyvinyl chloride), we also observed the successive stages of biofilm development and maturation after long-term immersion in seawater. A noticeable change in the fungal communities was observed around 30–40 days in natural settings, suggesting a colonization dynamic likely associated with a transition from biofilm formation to distinct communities likely associated with biofouling. Overall, this study strengthens the idea that the fungal kingdom is an integrated part of the “plastisphere”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Marine Diversity)

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23 pages, 9587 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Whole Genome Resequencing Reveals Genetic Diversity and Selection Signatures of Ethiopian Indigenous Cattle Adapted to Local Environments

by Endashaw Terefe, Gurja Belay, Abdulfatai Tijjani, Jianlin Han and Olivier Hanotte

Diversity 2023, 15(4), 540; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15040540 - 09 Apr 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2364

Abstract

Cattle are among the most important domesticated bovid species in the world, of which Ethiopia possesses large populations adapted to different agro-ecologies and production systems. Though several molecular population genetic studies have been done on Ethiopian indigenous cattle, genomic diversity and selection signatures [...] Read more.

Cattle are among the most important domesticated bovid species in the world, of which Ethiopia possesses large populations adapted to different agro-ecologies and production systems. Though several molecular population genetic studies have been done on Ethiopian indigenous cattle, genomic diversity and selection signatures pertinent to adaptation to the different local environments have yet to be comprehensively characterized. Here, the whole genome sequences of 151 samples from 14 Ethiopian indigenous cattle populations were analyzed to assess genomic diversity and differentiation as well as signatures of positive selection (using Hp, iHS, F_ST, and XP-CLR) in comparison to Sudanese zebu, Asian zebu, Ankole, and African and European taurine cattle. High genomic differentiation was observed between Ethiopian and non-Ethiopian cattle populations, while low genomic differentiation and inbreeding were present between and within Ethiopian cattle populations. Sixteen genome regions overlapping with 40 candidate genes were commonly identified by at least three genome scan methods. High frequencies of missense SNPs in ITPR2, CHADL, GNAS, STING1, and KIT genes with high haplotype differentiations were observed in Ethiopian cattle compared to non-Ethiopian cattle. The candidate genes were significantly associated with several biological functions and molecular pathways responsible for nutrient metabolism, skeletal development, immune response, reproduction, water balance, coat color pigmentation, and circulatory homeostasis. Our results provide new insights into the adaptation of the Ethiopian indigenous cattle to the country’s diverse environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Animal Diversity)

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14 pages, 1650 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Ancient DNA Contradicts the Presence of Social Voles (Genus Microtus, Subgenus Sumeriomys) in the Late Pleistocene of Western Europe

by Adam Nadachowski, Anna Lemanik, Laure Fontana, Danijela Popović, Michał Golubiński, Barbara Bujalska and Mateusz Baca

Diversity 2023, 15(4), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15040538 - 07 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2540

Abstract

Taxonomic decisions made by palaeontologists are often based on a few morphological features preserved in the fossil material. This practice may sometimes lead to the description of new species based on single specimens, which are, in fact, extreme or aberrant morphological variants of [...] Read more.

Taxonomic decisions made by palaeontologists are often based on a few morphological features preserved in the fossil material. This practice may sometimes lead to the description of new species based on single specimens, which are, in fact, extreme or aberrant morphological variants of known taxa. Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis of the Late Pleistocene specimens from the archaeological site Petits Guinards (Creuzier-la-Vieux, Allier, France), described as a new vole Microtus (Sumeriomys) bifrons, did not confirm the species distinctness of the studied population. The genetically examined specimens belonged to Stenocranius anglicus and/or Microtus arvalis, the dominant species at the site. Our findings show that it is risky to describe new fossil taxa on the basis of phenotypic outliers or morphologically aberrant, rare specimens that do not fall within the previously known population variability. We also highlight the importance of ancient DNA in resolving taxonomic and nomenclature problems and classifying fossil mammals of the Late Pleistocene age. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Environment and Climate during Pleistocene and Holocene)

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13 pages, 1382 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Checklist of the Mammal Collection Preserved at the University of Palermo under the Framework of the National Biodiversity Future Center

by Sabrina Lo Brutto, Antonina Badalucco, Rocco Iacovera, Elisabetta Cilli and Maurizio Sarà

Diversity 2023, 15(4), 518; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15040518 - 03 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2160

Abstract

The latest reorganization of the Vertebrate collections preserved at the “Pietro Doderlein” Museum of Zoology of the University of Palermo (Italy) has made it possible to draw up a check-list of the Mammal taxa present in the stuffed (M), fluid-preserved (ML) and anatomical [...] Read more.

The latest reorganization of the Vertebrate collections preserved at the “Pietro Doderlein” Museum of Zoology of the University of Palermo (Italy) has made it possible to draw up a check-list of the Mammal taxa present in the stuffed (M), fluid-preserved (ML) and anatomical (AN) collections. The intervention was planned under the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) agenda, focused on the enhancement of Italian natural history museums. The growing interest in museum collections strongly demands databases available to the academic and policy world. In this paper, we record 679 specimens belonging to 157 specific taxa arranged in 58 families and 16 orders. Most of the species (75.1%) come from the Palaearctic Region (southern Mediterranean and North Africa), with a minority of taxa coming from the Afrotropical (7.8%), Neotropical (4.6%), Indo-Malayan (3.4%) and Australasian (1%) regions. Among the 24% of the taxa listed in the IUCN categories as threatened (VU, EN, CR, RE) the specimens of the Sicilian wolf, a regional endemic subspecies that became extinct in the last century, stand out. Even if small (<1000 specimens), the collection of mammals of the Museum of Zoology is an important asset for research on biodiversity in the Mediterranean area, representing an international reference for those wishing to conduct morphological and genetic studies in this area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoological Checklists: From Natural History Museums to Ecosystems)

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12 pages, 2727 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Being Safe, but Not Too Safe: A Nudibranch Feeding on a Bryozoan-Associated Hydrozoan

by Davide Maggioni, Giulia Furfaro, Michele Solca, Davide Seveso, Paolo Galli and Simone Montano

Diversity 2023, 15(4), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15040484 - 24 Mar 2023

Viewed by 2291

Abstract

Nudibranchs have a mostly carnivorous diet, and they prey on a wide variety of other animal taxa. Many species, mainly belonging to the Cladobranchia suborder, feed on cnidarians, including member of the class Hydrozoa. Several hydrozoan species display a symbiotic lifestyle, being associated [...] Read more.

Nudibranchs have a mostly carnivorous diet, and they prey on a wide variety of other animal taxa. Many species, mainly belonging to the Cladobranchia suborder, feed on cnidarians, including member of the class Hydrozoa. Several hydrozoan species display a symbiotic lifestyle, being associated with other benthic invertebrates, including for instance bryozoans, corals, octocorals, and sponges. In our knowledge, no record of nudibranch predation on symbiotic hydrozoans has been reported so far, possibly thanks to the protective action by the host towards its symbiotic hydrozoan. Here, we show the unexpected case of a nudibranch belonging to the recently described species Sakuraeolis marhe (Fernández-Simón and Moles, 2023) feeding on Zanclea sp. 2, a hydrozoan associated with the cheilostome bryozoan Celleporaria sp. This trophic association is confirmed by the presence and storage of the nematocysts into the nudibranch cnidosacs. Moreover, the nudibranch appears to selectively store mostly a single type of nematocyst, that is large size stenotele. The observation here reported represents the first well-documented record of a nudibranch feeding on a symbiotic hydrozoan and the first confirmed case of predation on Zanclea polyps. Moreover, we provide additional genetic information and the first description of the internal anatomy of S. marhe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematics and Evolution of Gastropods)

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30 pages, 2173 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Detection and Evaluation of Environmental Stress in Winter Wheat Using Remote and Proximal Sensing Methods and Vegetation Indices—A Review

by Sandra Skendžić, Monika Zovko, Vinko Lešić, Ivana Pajač Živković and Darija Lemić

Diversity 2023, 15(4), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15040481 - 24 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3848

Abstract

Climate change has a significant impact on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation due to the occurrence of various environmental stress parameters. It destabilizes wheat production mainly through abiotic stresses (heat waves, drought, floods, frost, salinity, and nutrient deficiency) and improved conditions [...] Read more.

Climate change has a significant impact on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation due to the occurrence of various environmental stress parameters. It destabilizes wheat production mainly through abiotic stresses (heat waves, drought, floods, frost, salinity, and nutrient deficiency) and improved conditions for pest and disease development and infestation as biotic parameters. The impact of these parameters can be reduced by timely and appropriate management measures such as irrigation, fertilization, or pesticide application. However, this requires the early diagnosis and quantification of the various stressors. Since they induce specific physiological responses in plant cells, structures, and tissues, environmental stress parameters can be monitored by different sensing methods, taking into account that these responses affect the signal in different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum (EM), especially visible (VIS), near infrared (NIR), and shortwave infrared (SWIR). This study reviews recent findings in the application of remote and proximal sensing methods for early detection and evaluation of abiotic and biotic stress parameters in crops, with an emphasis on winter wheat. The study first provides an overview of climate-change-induced stress parameters in winter wheat and their physiological responses. Second, the most promising non-invasive remote sensing methods are presented, such as airborne and satellite multispectral (VIS and NIR) and hyperspectral imaging, as well as proximal sensing methods using VNIR-SWIR spectroscopy. Third, data analysis methods using vegetation indices (VI), chemometrics, and various machine learning techniques are presented, as well as the main application areas of sensor-based analysis, namely, decision-making processes in precision agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Diversity)

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14 pages, 2577 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Qualitative Exploration of Conflicts in Human-Wildlife Interactions in Namibia’s Kunene Region

by Robert Luetkemeier, Ronja Kraus, Meed Mbidzo, Morgan Hauptfleisch, Stefan Liehr and Niels Blaum

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 440; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030440 - 16 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2121

Abstract

Wildlife numbers are declining globally due to anthropogenic pressures. In Namibia, however, wildlife populations increased with policy instruments that allow private ownership and incentivize their sustainable use. Antithetically, this resulted in increased resource competition between humans and wildlife and triggered conflicts among various [...] Read more.

Wildlife numbers are declining globally due to anthropogenic pressures. In Namibia, however, wildlife populations increased with policy instruments that allow private ownership and incentivize their sustainable use. Antithetically, this resulted in increased resource competition between humans and wildlife and triggered conflicts among various stakeholder groups. This paper summarizes the results of a qualitative exploration of conflicts in wildlife management in Namibia’s Kunene Region, adjacent to Etosha National Park. We conducted a workshop and expert interviews with stakeholders from relevant sectors. Our qualitative research sheds light on societal conflicts over wildlife that originate from diverging interests, livelihood strategies, moral values, knowledge holders, personal relations and views on institutional procedures. We frame our insights into conflicting human–wildlife interactions with theoretical concepts of social-ecological systems, ecosystem services and ecosystem disservices and open the floor for quantitative assessments. Overall, our results may present a suitable way of understanding biodiversity conflicts in a theoretical way. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Wildlife Conflict across Landscapes)

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44 pages, 8716 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Reviewing Introduction Histories, Pathways, Invasiveness, and Impact of Non-Indigenous Species in Danish Marine Waters

by Kathe R. Jensen, Per Andersen, Nikolaj R. Andersen, Annette Bruhn, Helle Buur, Henrik Carl, Hans Jakobsen, Cornelia Jaspers, Kim Lundgreen, Ruth Nielsen, Beate Strandberg and Peter A. U. Stæhr

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030434 - 15 Mar 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2762

Abstract

Non-indigenous species (NIS) are of concern for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning. We present an updated list of NIS, including cryptogenic species, from Danish marine waters containing 123 species. Benthic invertebrates (36%) and phytoplankton (28%) dominate the list, but fish (15%) and macroalgae [...] Read more.

Non-indigenous species (NIS) are of concern for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning. We present an updated list of NIS, including cryptogenic species, from Danish marine waters containing 123 species. Benthic invertebrates (36%) and phytoplankton (28%) dominate the list, but fish (15%) and macroalgae (13%) are also important. The Limfjord in Northern Jutland emerges as a hotspot for the introduction of NIS. Data from multiple sources were included, i.e., the National Monitoring Program (NOVANA), the National Fish Atlas project, the citizen science project Arter.dk, research articles, and annual national reports of the ICES working group ITMO. Forty-six NIS species were subject to expert judging using a modified Harmonia protocol; 19 were found to fulfil the four selected criteria identifying a species as being ‘invasive’. Additionally, 38 species, not yet recorded in Danish waters, were evaluated using the same method, and 31 were found to fulfil the ‘invasive’ criteria. For nine selected species, introduction history, distribution maps, and time-series diagrams are presented. Our data document that the national monitoring efforts should be expanded to record macrozooplankton, coastal fish, and mobile epibenthic species. Furthermore, the national data repository, Arter.dk, should be expanded to enable more detailed documentation of new NIS records. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Marine Non-Indigenous Species in Europe by 2020, and Predictions through Modelling and Horizon Scanning for 2050)

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24 pages, 7882 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Phylogeny of Serpulidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) Inferred from Morphology and DNA Sequences, with a New Classification

by Elena Kupriyanova, Harry A. ten Hove and Greg W. Rouse

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030398 - 10 Mar 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3116

Abstract

Serpulidae Rafinesque, 1815 is a speciose group of polychaetes that all inhabit calcareous tubes. The family was traditionally subdivided into Serpulinae, Filograninae, and Spirorbinae. Recent phylogenetic analyses have suggested that both Filograninae and Serpulinae are paraphyletic, though with limited sampling. Here we report [...] Read more.

Serpulidae Rafinesque, 1815 is a speciose group of polychaetes that all inhabit calcareous tubes. The family was traditionally subdivided into Serpulinae, Filograninae, and Spirorbinae. Recent phylogenetic analyses have suggested that both Filograninae and Serpulinae are paraphyletic, though with limited sampling. Here we report the first phylogenetic analysis of Serpulidae based on comprehensive sampling of genera (though excluding most spirorbin genera). We include a much-needed revision of serpulid taxonomy based on a phylogenetic hypothesis derived from both morphological and molecular data. We analysed 18S, 28S, histone H3 ribosomal nuclear DNA and cytochrome b (cytb) mitochondrial sequences, combined with morphological data. The proposed new classification includes the re-formulated Serpulinae (with tribes Serpulini and Ficopomatini), Spirorbinae, and Filograninae, with apomorphies highlighted for major taxa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2022)

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70 pages, 16879 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Synoptic Review of the Cartilaginous Fishes (Chondrichthyes: Holocephali, Elasmobranchii) from the Upper Jurassic Konservat-Lagerstätten of Southern Germany: Taxonomy, Diversity, and Faunal Relationships

by Eduardo Villalobos-Segura, Sebastian Stumpf, Julia Türtscher, Patrick L. Jambura, Arnaud Begat, Faviel A. López-Romero, Jan Fischer and Jürgen Kriwet

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030386 - 08 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5615

Abstract

The Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous (164–100 Ma) represents one of the main transitional periods in life history. Recent studies unveiled a complex scenario in which abiotic and biotic factors and drivers on regional and global scales due to the fragmentation of Pangaea resulted in [...] Read more.

The Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous (164–100 Ma) represents one of the main transitional periods in life history. Recent studies unveiled a complex scenario in which abiotic and biotic factors and drivers on regional and global scales due to the fragmentation of Pangaea resulted in dramatic faunal and ecological turnovers in terrestrial and marine environments. However, chondrichthyan faunas from this interval have received surprisingly little recognition. The presence of numerous entire skeletons of chondrichthyans preserved in several localities in southern Germany, often referred to as Konservat-Lagerstätten (e.g., Nusplingen and the Solnhofen Archipelago), provides a unique opportunity of to study the taxonomic composition of these assemblages, their ecological distributions and adaptations, and evolutionary histories in detail. However, even after 160 years of study, the current knowledge of southern Germany’s Late Jurassic chondrichthyan diversity remains incomplete. Over the last 20 years, the systematic study and bulk sampling of southern Germany’s Late Jurassic deposits significantly increased the number of known fossil chondrichthyan genera from the region (32 in the present study). In the present work, the fossil record, and the taxonomic composition of Late Jurassic chondrichthyans from southern Germany are reviewed and compared with several contemporaneous assemblages from other sites in Europe. Our results suggest, inter alia, that the Late Jurassic chondrichthyans displayed extended distributions within Europe. However, it nevertheless also is evident that the taxonomy of Late Jurassic chondrichthyans is in urgent need of revision. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2023)

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21 pages, 2438 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Conservation Genetics of Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens): Nuclear Phylogeography Drives Contemporary Patterns of Genetic Structure and Diversity

by Shawna L. Kjartanson, Tim Haxton, Kristyne Wozney, Nathan R. Lovejoy and Chris C. Wilson

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030385 - 07 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2065

Abstract

Sustainable management of exploited and endangered species is facilitated by knowledge of their geographic genetic structure. Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) epitomizes both categories, but genetic information has largely been limited to the Laurentian Great Lakes basin. We assessed the hierarchical geographic [...] Read more.

Sustainable management of exploited and endangered species is facilitated by knowledge of their geographic genetic structure. Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) epitomizes both categories, but genetic information has largely been limited to the Laurentian Great Lakes basin. We assessed the hierarchical geographic genetic structure of lake sturgeon across their Canadian range using a variation at 14 microsatellite loci. Observed patterns showed evidence of two ancestral groups which originated from Mississippian and Missourian glacial refugia. Coalescent analysis indicates the two lineages most recently shared common ancestry during the late Pleistocene and were likely isolated by the late Wisconsinan ice advance, with subsequent interpopulation divergences within each lineage reflecting their reciprocal isolation as glacial meltwaters receded. Hierarchical patterns of genetic relationships among contemporary populations largely reflect colonization histories and connections within primary and secondary watersheds. Populations in western Canada showed strong similarities based on their shared Missourian origins and colonization from glacial Lake Agassiz. By contrast, populations in the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River drainage were largely founded from a Mississippian source. Sturgeon populations in northern parts of Ontario and Quebec showed evidence of mixed ancestry from secondary contact between the two refugial groups through Holocene meltwater lakes. Within major watersheds, the strong similarity among geographically separate populations reflects their shared ancestry during postglacial colonization. The general lack of structure within major river systems highlights historically continuous habitat (connectivity) and gene flow rather than contemporary barriers (dams). These data highlight the importance of Quaternary and prehistoric events on patterns of genetic diversity and divergence within and among contemporary populations, as well as the importance of these populations for conserving the species’ evolutionary legacy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Genetics of Sturgeons)

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14 pages, 8043 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Neuroanatomical Study and Three-Dimensional Cranial Reconstruction of the Brazilian Albian Pleurodiran Turtle Euraxemys essweini

by Marcos Martín-Jiménez and Adán Pérez-García

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030374 - 05 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2223

Abstract

Pleurodira represent one of the two clades that compose the crown Testudines, and their temporal range is Late Jurassic–present. However, knowledge about the neuroanatomy of extinct pleurodires is still very limited. In this context, scarce neuroanatomical information about the Cretaceous clade Euraxemydidae is [...] Read more.

Pleurodira represent one of the two clades that compose the crown Testudines, and their temporal range is Late Jurassic–present. However, knowledge about the neuroanatomy of extinct pleurodires is still very limited. In this context, scarce neuroanatomical information about the Cretaceous clade Euraxemydidae is currently available, limited to some characters of the Moroccan Cenomanian Dirqadim schaefferi. In the present work, we perform the detailed neuroanatomical study of its sister taxon, the Brazilian Albian Euraxemys essweini, based on the analysis of the skull of its holotype and only known individual of the species. The detailed virtual three-dimensional reconstruction of all its cranial bones is performed, also improving the information about its osseous anatomy. The different neuroanatomical cavities (i.e., cranial, nasal, and labyrinthic ones) and canals (i.e., nervous and circulatory ones) are compared with those identified thus far for other extinct and extant members of the Pleurodira in order to characterize the neuroanatomy of the extinct clade Euraxemydidae in detail. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Reptiles and Associated Faunal Record)

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18 pages, 8807 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Invading the Greek Seas: Spatiotemporal Patterns of Marine Impactful Alien and Cryptogenic Species

by Michail Ragkousis, Maria Sini, Nikoletta Koukourouvli, Argyro Zenetos and Stelios Katsanevakis

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030353 - 01 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2801

Abstract

The Greek Seas are greatly exposed to the proliferation of marine alien species. At least 242 alien species have been reported within Greek territorial waters, three-quarters of which are considered established, while their rate of introduction is increasing. Some of these species exhibit [...] Read more.

The Greek Seas are greatly exposed to the proliferation of marine alien species. At least 242 alien species have been reported within Greek territorial waters, three-quarters of which are considered established, while their rate of introduction is increasing. Some of these species exhibit high invasiveness, imposing severe impacts on native ecosystems and ecosystem services. The spatiotemporal proliferation of these species outside their natural boundaries depends on several parameters, including their biological characteristics, native distribution range, introduction pathway, and time of initial introduction. Knowing the current and potential alien species distribution is essential for the implementation of effective management actions. To investigate the distribution of impactful cryptogenic and alien species (ICAS) in the Greek Seas, we combined all records available until the end of 2020 from eight types of data sources: (1) scientific literature, (2) grey literature, (3) offline databases, (4) online scientific databases, (5) personal observations of independent researchers, (6) communications with divers and diving centers, (7) in situ underwater sampling, and (8) social networks. The results of 5478 georeferenced records refer to 60 marine ICAS belonging to 16 taxonomic groups. The number of records and the overall number of ICAS present an increasing trend from the northern to the southern parts of our study area, and there is a clear distinction in community composition between the northern and southern subregions. This latitudinal gradient is mainly due to the large number of thermophilous Lessepsian species of West Indo-Pacific origin, which reach the southern parts of the study area through unaided dispersal. On the other hand, transport stowaways appear to be more prevalent in areas located near large ports, which show significant differences in ICAS numbers and community composition compared to sites located far from ports. Most records (>40% of the total) were associated with rocky reefs, partly reflecting the preference of divers for this habitat type but also the presence of conspicuous, reef-associated impactful fish. The number of published records, as well as the number of reported ICAS, shows a dramatic increase with time, highlighting the urgent need for immediate proactive management actions and scientifically informed control measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Studies of Invasion Ecology in the Mediterranean Basin)

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21 pages, 1711 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Reptile Relocation Industry in Australia: Perspectives from Operators

by Chantelle M. Derez and Richard A. Fuller

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 343; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030343 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4086

Abstract

Thousands of reptiles are relocated annually in Australia, yet there has been relatively little research aimed at understanding how the reptile relocation industry operates. An online questionnaire was distributed to anyone who had relocated a reptile between April 2019 and April 2020, including [...] Read more.

Thousands of reptiles are relocated annually in Australia, yet there has been relatively little research aimed at understanding how the reptile relocation industry operates. An online questionnaire was distributed to anyone who had relocated a reptile between April 2019 and April 2020, including wildlife relocators, wildlife rehabilitators and the general public. The questionnaire explored demographics, decision-making and concerns about how the industry functions, through 24 questions and two opportunities to provide open-ended comments. We received 125 responses and 123 comments from operators in all Australian states and territories. Beliefs about appropriate times and places for reptile releases were not reflected in practice for the majority of operators. Confidence about reptiles remaining at recipient sites was low regardless of how many years’ experience an operator had. Escaped captive native reptiles were encountered by most operators, and a quarter of operators were called out to exotic non-native snakes. Operators across all levels of experience indicated a need for changes within the industry, including increased training and professionalism, and more scientific studies on the outcomes of relocations to address concerns about the impacts that the industry has on the wildlife that it is trying to protect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Welfare)

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43 pages, 9735 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Systematics and Phylogenetic Interrelationships of the Enigmatic Late Jurassic Shark Protospinax annectans Woodward, 1918 with Comments on the Shark–Ray Sister Group Relationship

by Patrick L. Jambura, Eduardo Villalobos-Segura, Julia Türtscher, Arnaud Begat, Manuel Andreas Staggl, Sebastian Stumpf, René Kindlimann, Stefanie Klug, Frederic Lacombat, Burkhard Pohl, John G. Maisey, Gavin J. P. Naylor and Jürgen Kriwet

Diversity 2023, 15(3), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030311 - 21 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 7150

Abstract

The Late Jurassic elasmobranch Protospinax annectans is often regarded as a key species to our understanding of crown group elasmobranch interrelationships and the evolutionary history of this group. However, since its first description more than 100 years ago, its phylogenetic position within the [...] Read more.

The Late Jurassic elasmobranch Protospinax annectans is often regarded as a key species to our understanding of crown group elasmobranch interrelationships and the evolutionary history of this group. However, since its first description more than 100 years ago, its phylogenetic position within the Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) has proven controversial, and a closer relationship between Protospinax and each of the posited superorders (Batomorphii, Squalomorphii, and Galeomorphii) has been proposed over the time. Here we revise this controversial taxon based on new holomorphic specimens from the Late Jurassic Konservat-Lagerstätte of the Solnhofen Archipelago in Bavaria (Germany) and review its skeletal morphology, systematics, and phylogenetic interrelationships. A data matrix with 224 morphological characters was compiled and analyzed under a molecular backbone constraint. Our results indicate a close relationship between Protospinax, angel sharks (Squatiniformes), and saw sharks (Pristiophoriformes). However, the revision of our morphological data matrix within a molecular framework highlights the lack of morphological characters defining certain groups, especially sharks of the order Squaliformes, hampering the phylogenetic resolution of Protospinax annectans with certainty. Furthermore, the monophyly of modern sharks retrieved by molecular studies is only weakly supported by morphological data, stressing the need for more characters to align morphological and molecular studies in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution and Diversity of Fishes in Deep Time)

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20 pages, 25644 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Exceptional Presence of Megaloceros giganteus in North-Eastern Iberia and Its Palaeoecological Implications: The Case of Teixoneres Cave (Moià, Barcelona, Spain)

by Antigone Uzunidis, Florent Rivals, Anna Rufà, Ruth Blasco and Jordi Rosell

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020299 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3619

Abstract

In this article we announce the discovery of the first remains of Megaloceros giganteus found in Catalonia (north-eastern Iberia) from the Late Pleistocene: a fragment of maxillary. Dated between 35,000 and 37,000 cal BP, it is also among the youngest occurrence of this [...] Read more.

In this article we announce the discovery of the first remains of Megaloceros giganteus found in Catalonia (north-eastern Iberia) from the Late Pleistocene: a fragment of maxillary. Dated between 35,000 and 37,000 cal BP, it is also among the youngest occurrence of this taxon in the Iberian Peninsula, while its last known occurrence is dated to the Neolithic period. Through a comparison with the giant deer of the northern Pyrenees, we analyzed the herbivore guilds in which this taxon was associated to understand the context in which it was able to enter the Iberian Peninsula. By comparing its diet with those of specimens from Northern Europe, we detail the ecological adaptations of this taxon in this new environment. We suggest that Megaloceros accompanied the migrations of cold-adapted species by taking advantage of the opening of corridors on both sides of the Pyrenees during the coldest periods of the Late Pleistocene. The diet of the Iberian individuals, which is oriented towards abrasive plants, suggests an adaptation to a different ecological niche than that found in Northern European individuals. The northern Iberian Peninsula may have been an extreme in the geographical expansion of M. giganteus. More specimens will be needed in the future to establish the variability of the southern Megaloceros populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Evolution of Mammals)

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17 pages, 1091 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Threat Analysis of Forest Fragmentation and Degradation for Peruvian Primates

by Sam Shanee, Lorena Fernández-Hidalgo, Nestor Allgas, Veronica Vero, Raul Bello-Santa Cruz, Mark Bowler, Mrinalini Erkenswick Watsa, Gabriel García Mendoza, Alvaro García-Olaechea, Cindy Hurtado, Zoila Vega, Laura Marsh, Ramesh Boonratana and A. Patricia Mendoza

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020276 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3154

Abstract

Peru has 55 primate taxa (including all species and subspecies), a third of which are threatened. The major drivers of habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation are grazing, forestry, agriculture and transport infrastructure. Other activities such as hunting exacerbate these threats. We assessed the [...] Read more.

Peru has 55 primate taxa (including all species and subspecies), a third of which are threatened. The major drivers of habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation are grazing, forestry, agriculture and transport infrastructure. Other activities such as hunting exacerbate these threats. We assessed the threats from degradation and fragmentation facing Peruvian primates to aid in the design and implementation of mitigation strategies. Through GIS-based mapping, statistical modeling and specialist assessments, we evaluated all primate taxa using the IUCN Conservation Measures Partnership Unified Classifications of Direct Threats across five categories (direct threats to primates, threats to habitat, causes of fragmentation, factors exacerbating fragmentation and threats to primates and habitats as a consequence of fragmentation), highlighting which were most common and most severe. Our results showed that all primate taxa were affected by degradation and fragmentation in Peru. The most common and severe direct threat was hunting, whereas housing and urban development, smallholder crop farming, smallholder grazing and large-scale logging were the most common and severe threats across the other categories. The families Cebidae and Atelidae face the highest overall threat. Our analysis showed that the current IUCN listing of Leontocebus leucogenys [LC] underestimates the true threat level this species faces and that Lagothrix lagothricha tschudii [DD] should be listed under one of the threat categories. In Peru, the need for mitigating the threat of habitat fragmentation is clear. To ensure the survival of Peru’s diverse primate taxa, forest connectivity needs to be maintained or recovered through the protection and restoration of key areas considering their biological and social needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Distribution of Wildlife Species in Relation to Human Impacts)

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17 pages, 1627 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

How Epiphytic Are Filmy Ferns? A Semi-Quantitative Approach

by Gerhard Zotz and Helena J. R. Einzmann

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020270 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3301

Abstract

Similar to plants in many other families, members of the Hymenophyllaceae use numerous substrates for growth, e.g., soil, rocks or tree bark. However, substrate preference does not only differ among species but can also vary among members of the same species. There have [...] Read more.

Similar to plants in many other families, members of the Hymenophyllaceae use numerous substrates for growth, e.g., soil, rocks or tree bark. However, substrate preference does not only differ among species but can also vary among members of the same species. There have been several attempts in the past to appropriately capture this variation, but none proved feasible or was replicated in any subsequent work. In our approach, we use textual information from numerous sources like checklists, floras and species descriptions to come up with a quantitative index of the preference of 450 species of filmy ferns (=c. 75% of all species of the family) for epiphytic, lithophytic or terrestrial growth. We show that the majority of species have clear habitat preferences, while strict habitat specificity is rather uncommon. Our compilation will be an important input for future ecological and phylogenetic studies in this family, but the presented approach is of much more general interest: it is immediately applicable to other taxonomic groups and should eventually allow us to replace the current approach of assigning species to distinct categories (epiphyte, lithophyte or terrestrial) by one that finally reflects biological variability more appropriately. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2022)

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10 pages, 2168 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Missing Late Pleistocene Ostrich Femur from Zhoukoudian (China): New Information Provided by a Rediscovered Old Cast

by Eric Buffetaut

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020265 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2850

Abstract

A complete ostrich femur from the Late Pleistocene deposits of the Upper Cave at Zhoukoudian (China) was referred by Shaw to Struthio anderssoni in the 1930s, but its present whereabouts are unknown. A good quality plaster cast of the missing specimen has been [...] Read more.

A complete ostrich femur from the Late Pleistocene deposits of the Upper Cave at Zhoukoudian (China) was referred by Shaw to Struthio anderssoni in the 1930s, but its present whereabouts are unknown. A good quality plaster cast of the missing specimen has been found in the collections of the Natural History Museum (London). This cast provides interesting information about the morphology of this large ostrich femur, which had previously been only summarily described and not illustrated. Although smaller than the femora of the Early Pleistocene giant ostrich Pachystruthio, the robust femur from Zhoukoudian shows morphological similarities with them, and it is suggested that ‘Struthio’ anderssoni should be placed in the genus Pachystruthio. The importance of old palaeontological casts is emphasized, as well as the need to preserve and curate them properly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Do We Still Need Natural History Collections?)

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17 pages, 1225 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Addressing Threats and Ecosystem Intactness to Enable Action for Extinct in the Wild Species

by Sarah E. Dalrymple, Thomas Abeli, John G. Ewen, Tania C. Gilbert, Carolyn J. Hogg, Natasha A. Lloyd, Axel Moehrenschlager, Jon Paul Rodríguez and Donal Smith

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020268 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3710

Abstract

The species listed as Extinct in the Wild (EW) in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species consist of 84 plants and animals that have been lost from their indigenous range. EW species are therefore restricted to ex situ conservation facilities and often [...] Read more.

The species listed as Extinct in the Wild (EW) in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species consist of 84 plants and animals that have been lost from their indigenous range. EW species are therefore restricted to ex situ conservation facilities and often have populations founded with few individuals. Our analysis demonstrates that 60% of EW species are associated with ecoregions that have very low proportions of intact habitat. Furthermore, threats such as invasive species, pollution, and climate change affect just over half of EW species and compound the obstacles facing their reinstatement to the wild. Despite these bleak assessments, there are various options for EW recovery. We present five scenarios that encapsulate the circumstances facing EW species and suggest potential conservation action for each of these situations. We illustrate these scenarios using case studies of EW species that demonstrate how the various options of ex situ management, reintroduction, and assisted colonisation to new habitat can be used to address the very exacting requirements of EW species. Our aim is to present a broad review of the obstacles facing the recovery of EW species whilst inspiring action to prevent the extinction of the most imperilled species on the planet. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessments, Planning and Action for Conservation of Species and Ecosystems at Multiple Spatial Scales)

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53 pages, 13639 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Basal Anseriformes from the Early Paleogene of North America and Europe

by Peter Houde, Meig Dickson and Dakota Camarena

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020233 - 07 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6756

Abstract

We describe nearly complete skeletons of basal Anseriformes from the Latest Paleocene to the early Eocene of North America and Europe. Collectively, these birds appear to be representative of anseriforms near the divergence of Anhimae and Anseres, but their exact positions relative to [...] Read more.

We describe nearly complete skeletons of basal Anseriformes from the Latest Paleocene to the early Eocene of North America and Europe. Collectively, these birds appear to be representative of anseriforms near the divergence of Anhimae and Anseres, but their exact positions relative to these clades remains uncertain. A new family, Anachronornithidae nov. fam., is erected on the basis of one of these, Anachronornis anhimops nov. gen., nov. gen. et sp., to which the others cannot be confidently assigned. The new fossils augment a growing collection of early Pan-Anseriformes, which in their diversity do not paint an unambiguous picture of phylogeny or character state evolution on the path to or within crown-Anseriformes. Anachronornis nov. gen. is similar in some aspects of both cranial and postcranial anatomy to other well-represented early Paleogene Anseriformes and members of Anseres, such as Presbyornis Wetmore, 1926. However, it exhibits a more landfowl-like bill, like that of Anhimae and unlike the spatulate bill of Anseres. Additional specimens of similar basal Anseriformes of uncertain affinities from the early Eocene of North America and Europe further complicate interpretation of character state polarity due to the mosaicism of primitive and derived characters they exhibit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2022)

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47 pages, 11309 KiB

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Cranial Material of Long-Snouted Dolphins (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Eurhinodelphinidae) from the Early Miocene of Rosignano Monferrato, Piedmont (NW Italy): Anatomy, Paleoneurology, Phylogenetic Relationships and Paleobiogeography

by Vera Tosetto, Piero Damarco, Riccardo Daniello, Marco Pavia, Giorgio Carnevale and Michelangelo Bisconti

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020227 - 05 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3183

Abstract

We provide a new study of previously published eurhinodelphinid materials from the early Miocene of Piedmont (NW Italy) based on a new preparation of the fossil specimens. We studied specimens previously assigned to Tursiops miocaenus and Dalpiazella sp. and provide new anatomical data [...] Read more.

We provide a new study of previously published eurhinodelphinid materials from the early Miocene of Piedmont (NW Italy) based on a new preparation of the fossil specimens. We studied specimens previously assigned to Tursiops miocaenus and Dalpiazella sp. and provide new anatomical data on the eurhinodelphinid skull and ear bones. In particular, we suggest that a skull that was previously assigned to Tursiops miocaenus must be reassigned to Ziphiodelphis sigmoideus (Cetacea, Odontoceti, Eurhinodelphinidae) based on new comparisons of the squamosal. This finding enabled us to provide new anatomical information on the ear bone anatomy of Z. sigmoideus that was previously unknown. The material originally assigned to Tursiops miocaenus is currently lost. For this reason and due to the fact that the partial illustration of this species by Portis does not allow us to find diagnostic characters for this species, we decided that Tursiops miocaenus is a nomen dubium. Analysis of additional isolated teeth previously assigned to Tursiops miocaenus led to the conclusion that these specimens represent Odontoceti incertae sedis. We performed a new phylogenetic analysis by adding newly discovered character states to a previous dataset and a paleobiogeographic analysis of Eurhinodelphinidae. We found two monophyletic clades within this family. The paleobiogeographic pattern found by the present work suggests the existence of North Atlantic and Mediterranean clades with some species distributed among both basins. We analyzed the virtual endocast of Ziphiodelphis sigmoideus and found that it resembles that of Schizodelphis in several respects, suggesting that some of the more derived characters of the odontocete brain were still absent in these early Miocene eurhinodelphinids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution of Crown Cetacea)

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29 pages, 4137 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Photographic Checklist, DNA Barcoding, and New Species of Sea Slugs and Snails from the Faafu Atoll, Maldives (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia and Vetigastropoda)

by Tauana J. Cunha, Jose Fernández-Simón, Macy Petrula, Gonzalo Giribet and Juan Moles

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020219 - 03 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4991

Abstract

Baseline biodiversity data are key for ecological and evolutionary studies and are especially relevant for areas such as the Maldivian Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, which can act as a stepping-stone for the transport of widely distributed marine species. We surveyed the islands [...] Read more.

Baseline biodiversity data are key for ecological and evolutionary studies and are especially relevant for areas such as the Maldivian Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, which can act as a stepping-stone for the transport of widely distributed marine species. We surveyed the islands and reefs of the Faafu and Malé Atolls with snorkeling and scuba diving, collecting the two gastropod subclasses, Heterobranchia and Vetigastropoda. Our inventory comprises 104 species photographed alive to create an identification guide. We also provide COI barcodes for most species, adding novel sequence data for the Maldivian malacofauna. Half of our species represent new records for the Maldives, emphasizing how much diversity remains to be discovered. Species distributions reflect ecological rarity, with almost 60% of taxa only found in one site. We also compiled a comprehensive checklist of heterobranchs and vetigastropods of the Maldives based on literature records, resulting in 320 species, which, together with barcoding data, indicate several potential cryptic species in the Indo-Pacific. Six new species are described, the nudibranchs Limenandra evanescenti n. sp., Eubranchus putnami n. sp., Sakuraeolis marhe n. sp., Moridilla maldivensis n. sp., Tergiposacca perspicua n. sp., and the sacoglossan Costasiella fridae n. sp. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoological Checklists: From Natural History Museums to Ecosystems)

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18 pages, 3877 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Spatiotemporal Patterns of Wolves, and Sympatric Predators and Prey Relative to Human Disturbance in Northwestern Greece

by Maria Petridou, John F. Benson, Olivier Gimenez and Vassiliki Kati

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020184 - 28 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3195

Abstract

In an era of increasing human pressure on nature, understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of wildlife relative to human disturbance can inform conservation efforts, especially for large carnivores. We examined the temporal activity and spatial patterns of wolves and eight sympatric mammals at 71 [...] Read more.

In an era of increasing human pressure on nature, understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of wildlife relative to human disturbance can inform conservation efforts, especially for large carnivores. We examined the temporal activity and spatial patterns of wolves and eight sympatric mammals at 71 camera trap stations in Greece. Grey wolves temporally overlapped the most with wild boars (Δ = 0.84) and medium-sized mammals (Δ > 0.75), moderately with brown bears (Δ = 0.70), and least with roe deer (Δ = 0.46). All wild mammals were mainly nocturnal and exhibited low temporal overlap with human disturbance (humans, vehicles, livestock, and dogs; Δ = 0.18–0.36), apart from roe deer, which were more diurnal (Δ = 0.80). Six out of nine species increased their nocturnality at sites of high human disturbance, particularly roe deer and wolves. The detection of wolves was negatively associated with paved roads, the detection of roe deer was negatively associated with human disturbance, and the detection of wild boars was negatively associated with dogs. The detection of bears, boars, and foxes increased closer to settlements. Our study has applied implications for wolf conservation and human–wildlife coexistence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Animal Diversity)

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16 pages, 1894 KiB

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Compilation, Revision, and Annotation of DNA Barcodes of Marine Invertebrate Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) Occurring in European Coastal Regions

by Ana S. Lavrador, João T. Fontes, Pedro E. Vieira, Filipe O. Costa and Sofia Duarte

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020174 - 26 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2304

Abstract

The introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) is one of the major threats to the integrity of European coastal ecosystems. DNA-based assessments have been increasingly adopted for monitoring NIS. However, the accuracy of DNA-based taxonomic assignments is largely dependent on the completion and reliability [...] Read more.

The introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) is one of the major threats to the integrity of European coastal ecosystems. DNA-based assessments have been increasingly adopted for monitoring NIS. However, the accuracy of DNA-based taxonomic assignments is largely dependent on the completion and reliability of DNA barcode reference libraries. As such, we aimed to compile and audit a DNA barcode reference library for marine invertebrate NIS occurring in Europe. To do so, we compiled a list of NIS using three databases: the European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN), the Information System on Aquatic Non-indigenous and Cryptogenic Species (AquaNIS), and the World Register of Introduced Marine Species (WRiMS). For each species, we retrieved the available cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial gene sequences from the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) and used the Barcode, Audit & Grade System (BAGS) to check congruence between morphospecies names and Barcode Index Numbers (BINs). From the 1249 species compiled, approximately 42% had records on BOLD, among which 56% were discordant. We further analyzed these cases to determine the causes of the discordances and attributed additional annotation tags. Of the 622 discordant BINs, after revision, 35% were successfully solved, which increased the number of NIS detected in metabarcoding datasets from 12 to 16. However, a fair number of BINs remained discordant. Reliability of reference barcode records is particularly critical in the case of NIS, where erroneous identification may trigger action or inaction when not required. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Marine Invasive Species)

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17 pages, 1857 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Role of Cymodocea nodosa and Caulerpa prolifera Meadows as Nitrogen Sinks in Temperate Coastal Lagoons

by Jaime Bernardeau-Esteller, José Miguel Sandoval-Gil, María Dolores Belando, Aranzazu Ramos-Segura, Rocío García-Muñoz, Lazaro Marín-Guirao and Juan Manuel Ruiz

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020172 - 26 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1917

Abstract

In coastal lagoons, marine benthic macrophyte meadows can be an important element in the resistance to eutrophication of the ecosystem, as they can function as temporary nitrogen sinks, limiting the availability of this nutrient for opportunistic organisms. The role of nitrogen sinks for [...] Read more.

In coastal lagoons, marine benthic macrophyte meadows can be an important element in the resistance to eutrophication of the ecosystem, as they can function as temporary nitrogen sinks, limiting the availability of this nutrient for opportunistic organisms. The role of nitrogen sinks for two dominant macrophyte species of Mediterranean coastal lagoons, the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa and the seaweed Caulerpa prolifera, was analysed by two different approaches: (i) studying nitrate (NO₃^-) and ammonium (NH₄⁺) uptake kinetics of aboveground tissues in a laboratory and (ii) estimating nitrogen stocks and demands of meadows under natural conditions. The studies were carried out in the coastal lagoon of the Mar Menor, which has been subjected to high anthropogenic nitrogen inputs for decades. While both macrophytes were efficient in exploiting NH₄⁺ from the water column, only C. prolifera showed a high NO₃^- uptake capacity. Large N pools in the C. nodosa and C. prolifera meadows of the Mar Menor were detected, suggesting that these habitats may have the potential to be essential reservoirs for this nutrient. However, the major role of belowground tissues of the seagrasses in nitrogen accumulation may determine important differences between the two species in temporary N storage and sequestration. The data on N demands for the meadows of both macrophytes in the Mar Menor suggest an important contribution of these habitats in controlling the inputs of this nutrient into the lagoon. We conclude that C. nodosa and C. prolifera meadows can play a key role as a sink for dissolved inorganic nitrogen in temperate coastal lagoons, being an important mechanism of resistance to eutrophication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Nitrogen Cycling and Food Webs)

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11 pages, 4990 KiB

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New Data on the Poorly Known Jurassic Record of the Turtle Hylaeochelys (Thalassochelydia), Based on New Finds from Portugal

by Adán Pérez-García, Bruno Camilo and Francisco Ortega

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020167 - 25 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2657

Abstract

Hylaeochelys is the only thalassochelydian turtle identified in the Cretaceous record. A single Lower Cretaceous species is known, Hylaeochelys belli, identified in United Kingdom and Germany and defined in the first half of the 19th century. Less than a decade ago, the [...] Read more.

Hylaeochelys is the only thalassochelydian turtle identified in the Cretaceous record. A single Lower Cretaceous species is known, Hylaeochelys belli, identified in United Kingdom and Germany and defined in the first half of the 19th century. Less than a decade ago, the presence of Hylaeochelys in the Upper Jurassic was recognized through the find of a single partial shell from West-Central Portugal. It was attributed to a new species, Hylaeochelys kappa. Until now, no other Hylaeochelys specimen was known for either the Iberian Peninsula or the Jurassic record. Two new specimens attributable to Hylaeochelys, from two different Upper Jurassic outcrops of west-central Portugal, are presented here. Its systematic attribution is analyzed. Consequently, knowledge about the anatomy and intraspecific variability of Hylaeochelys kappa is increased. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Reptiles and Associated Faunal Record)

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24 pages, 2908 KiB

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An Overview of Marine Non-Indigenous Species Found in Three Contrasting Biogeographic Metropolitan French Regions: Insights on Distribution, Origins and Pathways of Introduction

by Cécile Massé, Frédérique Viard, Suzie Humbert, Elvire Antajan, Isabelle Auby, Guy Bachelet, Guillaume Bernard, Vincent M. P. Bouchet, Thomas Burel, Jean-Claude Dauvin, Alice Delegrange, Sandrine Derrien-Courtel, Gabin Droual, Benoit Gouillieux, Philippe Goulletquer, Laurent Guérin, Anne-Laure Janson, Jérôme Jourde, Céline Labrune, Nicolas Lavesque, Jean-Charles Leclerc, Michel Le Duff, Vincent Le Garrec, Pierre Noël, Antoine Nowaczyk, Christine Pergent-Martini, Jean-Philippe Pezy, Aurore Raoux, Virginie Raybaud, Sandrine Ruitton, Pierre-Guy Sauriau, Nicolas Spilmont, Delphine Thibault, Dorothée Vincent and Amelia Curd Show full author list Hide full author list

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020161 - 23 Jan 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3472

Abstract

Biological invasions are one of the main global threats to biodiversity in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems worldwide, requiring effective inventorying and monitoring programs. Here, we present an updated list of non-indigenous species in French marine and transitional waters. Focused on eukaryote pluricellular [...] Read more.

Biological invasions are one of the main global threats to biodiversity in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems worldwide, requiring effective inventorying and monitoring programs. Here, we present an updated list of non-indigenous species in French marine and transitional waters. Focused on eukaryote pluricellular species found throughout the three metropolitan French marine regions (Western Mediterranean Sea, Bay of Biscay and the Northern Seas), a total of 342 non-indigenous, including 42 cryptogenic, species are listed as having been introduced since the 13th century. The majority of the species originated from the temperate Northern Pacific. They mainly arrived through both ballast and hull fouling and also are associated with shellfish farming activities. Most of them have been introduced since the 1970s, a time when maritime and aquaculture trade intensified. Despite important human-aided opportunities for species transfer between the three marine regions (for instance, via recreational boating or aquaculture transfers), only a third of these NIS are common to all regions, as expected due to their environmental specificities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Marine Non-Indigenous Species in Europe by 2020, and Predictions through Modelling and Horizon Scanning for 2050)

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22 pages, 1913 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

An Eudromaeosaurian Theropod from Lo Hueco (Upper Cretaceous. Central Spain)

by Elisabete Malafaia, Fernando Escaso, Rodolfo A. Coria and Francisco Ortega

Diversity 2023, 15(2), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020141 - 19 Jan 2023

Viewed by 4598

Abstract

The Lo Hueco fossil site (Cuenca, Spain) is one of the most relevant localities for the study of Late Cretaceous continental vertebrate faunas from Europe. The fossil record of theropod dinosaurs from this locality is represented by scarce isolated postcranial materials that were [...] Read more.

The Lo Hueco fossil site (Cuenca, Spain) is one of the most relevant localities for the study of Late Cretaceous continental vertebrate faunas from Europe. The fossil record of theropod dinosaurs from this locality is represented by scarce isolated postcranial materials that were preliminarily attributed to abelisaurids and to a possible giant bird, in addition to a large assemblage of isolated teeth that were related to different maniraptoran clades. Here, we describe an isolated partial left tibia articulated with the proximal tarsals and discuss their taxonomic affinities. A review of the European fossil record of Late Cretaceous theropods was performed to analyze possible changes in the faunistical composition during this period. The specimen from Lo Hueco exhibits some characters that have been interpreted as apomorphies for maniraptoran coelurosaurs and a combination of features compatible with deinonychosaurians. Within this clade, the specimen is more favorably comparable with velociraptorine dromaeosaurids and is tentatively interpreted as a member of this group. This specimen is one of the few non-dental specimens of dromaeosaurids described thus far from the Upper Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula and contributes to a better understanding of the composition and evolutionary history of the European theropod fauna during the last stages of the Mesozoic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fossil Reptiles and Associated Faunal Record)

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15 pages, 2501 KiB

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Quantifying the Potential Water Filtration Capacity of a Constructed Shellfish Reef in a Temperate Hypereutrophic Estuary

by Alan Cottingham, Andrew Bossie, Fiona Valesini, James R. Tweedley and Eve Galimany

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010113 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1937

Abstract

Shellfish reefs have been lost from bays and estuaries globally, including in the Swan-Canning Estuary in Western Australia. As part of a national program to restore the ecosystem services that such reefs once provided and return this habitat from near extinction, the mussel [...] Read more.

Shellfish reefs have been lost from bays and estuaries globally, including in the Swan-Canning Estuary in Western Australia. As part of a national program to restore the ecosystem services that such reefs once provided and return this habitat from near extinction, the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis was selected for a large-scale shellfish reef construction project in this estuary. To assess the potential filtration capacity of the reef, estuary seston quality, mussel feeding behavior, and valve gape activity were quantified in the laboratory and field during winter and summer. In general, estuary water contained high total particulate concentrations (7.9–8.7 mg L⁻¹). Standard clearance rates were greater in winter (1.9 L h⁻¹; 17 °C) than in summer (1.3 L h⁻¹; 25 °C), the latter producing extremely low absorption efficiencies (37%). Mussel valves remained open ~97% and ~50% of the time in winter and summer, respectively. They often displayed erratic behavior in summer, possibly due to elevated temperatures and the toxic microalgae Alexandrium spp. Despite numerous stressors, the reef, at capacity, was estimated to filter 35% of the total volume of the estuary over winter, incorporating 42.7 t of organic matter into mussel tissue. The reefs would thus make a substantial contribution to improving estuary water quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Ecology of Marine Benthic Communities)

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18 pages, 4726 KiB

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Exploring Old Data with New Tricks: Long-Term Monitoring Indicates Spatial and Temporal Changes in Populations of Sympatric Prairie Grouse in the Nebraska Sandhills

by Danielle J. Berger, Jeffrey J. Lusk, Larkin A. Powell and John P. Carroll

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010114 - 13 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2108

Abstract

The contiguous grasslands of the Sandhills region in Nebraska, USA, provide habitat for two sympatric, grassland-obligate species of grouse, the greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) and the plains sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi). Collectively referred to as prairie grouse, [...] Read more.

The contiguous grasslands of the Sandhills region in Nebraska, USA, provide habitat for two sympatric, grassland-obligate species of grouse, the greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) and the plains sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi). Collectively referred to as prairie grouse, these birds are monitored and managed jointly by wildlife practitioners who face the novel challenge of conserving historically allopatric species in shared range. We reconstructed region-wide and route-specific prairie grouse population trends in the Sandhills, using a 63-year timeseries of breeding ground counts aggregated from old reports and paper archives. Our objective was to repurpose historical data collected for harvest management to address questions pertinent to the conservation of prairie grouse, species whose populations have declined precipitously throughout their respective ranges. Because we cannot change the sampling protocol of historical data to answer new questions, we applied 3 different methods of data analysis—traditional regional mean counts used to adjust harvest regulations, spatially implicit, site-specific counts, and spatially explicit trends. Prairie-chicken populations have increased since the 1950s, whereas sharp-tailed grouse populations have remained stable or slightly declined. However, each species exhibited unique shifts in abundance and distribution over time, and regional indices masked important aspects of population change. Our findings indicate that legacy data have the capacity to tell new stories apart from the questions they were collected to answer. By integrating concepts from landscape ecology—a discipline that emerged decades after the collection of our count data began—we demonstrate the potential of historical data to address questions of modern-day conservation concern, using prairie grouse as a case study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Ecology and Diversity, Population Monitoring and Conservation: Recent Advances and New Challenges)

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10 pages, 899 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Macro-moth (Lepidoptera) Diversity of a Newly Shaped Ecological Corridor and the Surrounding Forest Area in the Western Italian Alps

by Irene Piccini, Marta Depetris, Federica Paradiso, Francesca Cochis, Michela Audisio, Patrick Artioli, Stefania Smargiassi, Marco Bonifacino, Davide Giuliano, Sara La Cava, Giuseppe Rijllo, Simona Bonelli and Stefano Scalercio

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010095 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2310

Abstract

In addition to the compilation of biodiversity inventories, checklists, especially if combined with abundance data, are important tools to understand species distribution, habitat use, and community composition over time. Their importance is even higher when ecological indicator taxa are considered, as in the [...] Read more.

In addition to the compilation of biodiversity inventories, checklists, especially if combined with abundance data, are important tools to understand species distribution, habitat use, and community composition over time. Their importance is even higher when ecological indicator taxa are considered, as in the case of moths. In this work, we investigated macro-moth diversity in a forest area (30 ha) in the Western Italian Alps, recently subjected to intense management activities. Indeed, an ecological corridor, which includes 10 clearings, has been shaped thanks to forest compensation related to the construction site of the Turin–Lyon High-Speed Railway. Here, we identified 17 patches (9 clearings and 8 forests), and we conducted moth surveys using UV–LED light traps. A total of 15,614 individuals belonging to 442 species were collected in 2020 and 2021. Two and fifteen species are new records for Piedmont and for Susa Valley, respectively. In addition to the faunistic interest of the data, this study—using a standardized method—provides geo-referenced occurrences, species-richness, and abundance values useful to compile a baseline dataset for future comparisons. Indeed, the replicable and easy shareable method allows us to make comparisons with other research and thus assess the impact of environmental changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoological Checklists: From Natural History Museums to Ecosystems)

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12 pages, 1288 KiB

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Population Subdivision in the Gopher Frog (Rana capito) across the Fragmented Longleaf Pine-Wiregrass Savanna of the Southeastern USA

by Thomas J. Devitt, Kevin M. Enge, Anna L. Farmer, Peter Beerli, Stephen C. Richter, Jeffrey G. Hall and Stacey L. Lance

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010093 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2040

Abstract

Delineating genetically distinct population segments of threatened species and quantifying population connectivity are important steps in developing effective conservation and management strategies aimed at preventing extinction. The gopher frog (Rana capito) is a xeric-adapted, pond-breeding species endemic to the Gulf and [...] Read more.

Delineating genetically distinct population segments of threatened species and quantifying population connectivity are important steps in developing effective conservation and management strategies aimed at preventing extinction. The gopher frog (Rana capito) is a xeric-adapted, pond-breeding species endemic to the Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains of the southeastern United States. This species has experienced extensive habitat loss and fragmentation in the formerly widespread longleaf pine-wiregrass savanna where it lives, resulting in individual abundance declines and population extinctions throughout its range. We used individual-based clustering methods along with Bayesian inference of historical migration based on almost 1500 multilocus microsatellite genotypes to examine genetic structure in this taxon. Clustering analyses identified panhandle and peninsular populations in Florida as distinct genetic clusters separated by the Aucilla River, consistent with the division between the Coastal Plain and peninsular mitochondrial lineages, respectively. Analysis of historical migration indicated an east–west population divergence event followed by immigration to the east. Together, our results indicate that the genetically distinct Coastal Plain and peninsular Florida lineages should be considered separately for conservation and management purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Amphibian Ecology in Geographically Isolated Wetlands)

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18 pages, 7299 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Big Five: Species Distribution Models from Citizen Science Data as Tool for Preserving the Largest Protected Saproxylic Beetles in Italy

by Lara Redolfi De Zan, Sarah Rossi de Gasperis, Vincenzo Andriani, Marco Bardiani, Alessandro Campanaro, Silvia Gisondi, Sönke Hardersen, Emanuela Maurizi, Fabio Mosconi, Gianluca Nardi, Livia Zapponi, Pasquale Rombolà and Federico Romiti

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010096 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2786

Abstract

Background. Volunteers’ participation in scientific research has increased in recent decades. Citizen science (CS) data have been used in quantitative ecology to analyse species ranges by means of species distribution models. We investigated the Italian distribution of five large saproxylic beetles (big [...] Read more.

Background. Volunteers’ participation in scientific research has increased in recent decades. Citizen science (CS) data have been used in quantitative ecology to analyse species ranges by means of species distribution models. We investigated the Italian distribution of five large saproxylic beetles (big five), to describe their niche space, paramount areas for their conservation, and conservation gaps. Methods. CS data from two projects, climate and environmental variables were used to produce Habitat suitability (HS) maps for each species and averaged HS maps. The big five’s conservation status was assessed interpolating HS maps with the distribution of protected areas, concomitantly identifying conservation gaps. Results. The pre-alpine and Apennines arcs, north-eastern Sicily and eastern Sardinia, were identified as conservation’s hotspots. Ranking HS levels from minimum to optimal, the extent of conservation gaps decreases as environmental suitability for the big five increases. Conclusions. For the first time in Italy, CS data have been used to investigate niche space of the largest protected saproxylic beetles and analyse the distribution of their suitable habitat. The resulting HS raster maps and vector layers, reporting HS value in all Italian protected areas (n° 3771), were provided and discussed, reporting an application example for conservation purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Italy: Past and Future Perspectives)

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22 pages, 2537 KiB

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A Phased Approach to Increase Human Tolerance in Elephant Corridors to Link Protected Areas in Southern Mozambique

by Michelle D. Henley, Robin M. Cook, Anka Bedetti, Jessica Wilmot, Adine Roode, Carlos L. Pereira, João Almeida and António Alverca

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010085 - 09 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3982

Abstract

Pathfinding elephants are moving through human dominated landscapes, often across international boundaries, thereby playing a vital role in connecting protected areas. Their movements are a call to action to not only understand their spatial requirements but to urgently work towards innovative ways to [...] Read more.

Pathfinding elephants are moving through human dominated landscapes, often across international boundaries, thereby playing a vital role in connecting protected areas. Their movements are a call to action to not only understand their spatial requirements but to urgently work towards innovative ways to make people’s livelihoods compatible with conservation outcomes so that coexistence and connected landscapes can prevail. We discuss the first three phases of a long-term strategy to conserve elephant corridors whilst incorporating the socio-economic needs of the people that share the landscape with them. We present a comprehensive satellite-tracking history of elephants across two transfrontier conservation areas (TFCA), represented by Great Limpopo- and Lubombo TFCAs and involving four countries (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eswatini) to flag where linking corridors exist. We use innovative cafeteria-style experiments to understand which elephant-unpalatable plants would offer lucrative alternative income streams to farmers living in human–elephant-conflict hotspots. The most suitable unpalatable plants are chosen based not only on whether they are unpalatable to elephants, but also on their life history traits and growth prerequisites. We consider a combination of potential economic values (food, essential oil, medicinal and bee fodder value) to ensure that selected plants would accommodate changing economic markets. Lastly, we highlight the importance of combining food security measures with ensuring people’s safety by means of deploying rapid-response units. By implementing these three phases as part of a longer-term strategy, we draw closer to ensuring the protection of bioregions to achieve biodiversity objectives at a landscape scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Elephants: Moving from Conflict to Coexistence with People)

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14 pages, 2223 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Mind the Gaps: Taxonomic, Geographic and Temporal Data of Marine Invertebrate Databases from Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe

by Marta Bento, Henrique Niza, Alexandra Cartaxana, Salomão Bandeira, José Paula and Alexandra Marçal Correia

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010070 - 05 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3049

Abstract

One of the best ways to share and disseminate biodiversity information is through the digitization of data and making it available via online databases. The rapid growth of publicly available biodiversity data is not without problems which may decrease the utility of online [...] Read more.

One of the best ways to share and disseminate biodiversity information is through the digitization of data and making it available via online databases. The rapid growth of publicly available biodiversity data is not without problems which may decrease the utility of online databases. In this study we analyze taxonomic, geographic and temporal data gaps, and bias related to existing data on selected marine invertebrate occurrences along the coastline of two African countries, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe. The final marine invertebrate dataset comprises of 19.910 occurrences, but 32% of the original dataset occurrences were excluded due to data gaps. Most marine invertebrates in Mozambique were collected in seagrasses, whereas in São Tomé and Príncipe they were mostly collected offshore. The dataset has a temporal coverage from 1816 to 2019, with most occurrences collected in the last two decades. This study provides baseline information relevant to a better understanding of marine invertebrate biodiversity data gaps and bias in these habitats along the coasts of these countries. The information can be further applied to complete marine invertebrate data gaps contributing to design informed sampling strategies and advancing refined datasets that can be used in management and conservation plans in both countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mapping Marine Biodiversity Knowledge Gaps Using Open Data)

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24 pages, 2816 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Lungfish and the Long Defeat

by Anne Kemp

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010063 - 04 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2847

Abstract

Australia has an excellent fossil record of lungfish that begins in the Devonian and includes many species in Tertiary and Quaternary deposits. The extant Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri, occurs in Pliocene deposits, but is now restricted to a handful of coastal rivers [...] Read more.

Australia has an excellent fossil record of lungfish that begins in the Devonian and includes many species in Tertiary and Quaternary deposits. The extant Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri, occurs in Pliocene deposits, but is now restricted to a handful of coastal rivers in Queensland. Some of the fossil taxa, belonging to species related to N. forsteri, are represented by only a few specimens, but others include large numbers of tooth plates. The existence of these taxa, even if they are represented by only a few specimens, indicates that lungfish were present in lakes and rivers in central and northern Australia in the past, and that the potential habitats for these fish were more extensive then than they are now. Many of the fossil populations died out because Australia became more arid, and the remaining species became isolated in large river systems in the north and east of the continent. However, the cause of extinction of some fossil populations was not always related to increasing aridity. Several fossil populations were apparently living in poor conditions. They stopped spawning and adding new members to the population. The remaining individuals showed advanced age and many diseases before the population disappeared. This can be observed in the present day, and one population in an isolated reservoir is already extinct. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution and Diversity of Fishes in Deep Time)

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17 pages, 4401 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Low Bioerosion Rates on Inshore Turbid Reefs of Western Australia

by Shannon Dee, Thomas DeCarlo, Ivan Lozić, Jake Nilsen and Nicola K. Browne

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010062 - 04 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2375

Abstract

Bioerosion on inshore reefs is expected to increase with global climate change reducing reef stability and accretionary potential. Most studies investigating bioerosion have focused on external grazers, such as parrotfish and urchins, whose biomass is more easily measured. Yet, cryptic endolithic bioeroders such [...] Read more.

Bioerosion on inshore reefs is expected to increase with global climate change reducing reef stability and accretionary potential. Most studies investigating bioerosion have focused on external grazers, such as parrotfish and urchins, whose biomass is more easily measured. Yet, cryptic endolithic bioeroders such as macroboring (worms, sponges and bivalves) and microboring taxa (fungus and algae) have the potential to be the dominant source of reef erosion, especially among inshore reef systems exposed to increased nutrient supply. We measured bioerosion rates of bioeroder functional groups (microborers, macroborers, and grazers), and their response to environmental parameters (temperature, light, turbidity, chlorophyll a), as well as habitat variables (coral cover, turfing algae, macroalgae) across two inshore turbid reefs of north Western Australia. Total bioerosion rates were low (0.163 ± 0.012 kg m⁻² year⁻¹) likely due to low light and nutrient levels. Macroborers were the dominant source of bioerosion and were positively correlated with turfing algae cover, highlighting the role of turf-grazing fish on endolithic bioerosion rates. Overall low bioerosion rates suggest that despite the reduced coral cover and carbonate production, these reefs may still maintain positive reef accretion rates, at least under current environmental conditions. However, an improved understanding of relationships between environmental drivers, habitat and grazing pressure with bioeroding communities is needed to improve predictions of reef carbonate loss with future climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marginal Reef Systems: Resilience in A Rapidly Changing World)

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17 pages, 3930 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Solemys Skull from the Late Cretaceous of Southern France

by Haiyan Tong, Eric Buffetaut, Patrick Méchin, Annie Méchin-Salessy and Julien Claude

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010058 - 03 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2639

Abstract

The first skull of Solemys (Testudines: Helochlydridae) is reported from the Late Cretaceous (Rognacian) Bastide Neuve locality, Fox Amphoux, Var, France. It is assigned to Solemys gaudryi (Matheron, 1869) on the basis of associated shell elements. Our study provides new insights regarding the [...] Read more.

The first skull of Solemys (Testudines: Helochlydridae) is reported from the Late Cretaceous (Rognacian) Bastide Neuve locality, Fox Amphoux, Var, France. It is assigned to Solemys gaudryi (Matheron, 1869) on the basis of associated shell elements. Our study provides new insights regarding the skull morphology of the family Helochelydridae and suggests that Helochelydra from England and Naomichelys from North America appear to be closer to each other than to Solemys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Diversity)

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23 pages, 6858 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Mediterranean Matters: Revision of the Family Onchidorididae (Mollusca, Nudibranchia) with the Description of a New Genus and a New Species

by Giulia Furfaro, Egidio Trainito, Marco Fantin, Marcella D’Elia, Enric Madrenas and Paolo Mariottini

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010038 - 29 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2295

Abstract

The Mediterranean Sea hosts a great Nudibranchia diversity and has proved to be particularly intriguing in the case of the family Onchidorididae, a group of dorid nudibranchs that lately increased its diversity with the addition of one recently described Mediterranean species. The Onchidorididae [...] Read more.

The Mediterranean Sea hosts a great Nudibranchia diversity and has proved to be particularly intriguing in the case of the family Onchidorididae, a group of dorid nudibranchs that lately increased its diversity with the addition of one recently described Mediterranean species. The Onchidorididae family has a troubled systematic history to date, characterized by uncertainties and genera that are considered valid or not, according to the different authors. This confused taxonomy reflects the lack of a broad and comprehensive view on the phylogenetic relationships occurring between Onchidorididae members, an incorrect interpretation of the diagnostic morphological characters, and a poor knowledge of important biological aspects characterizing the different genera included in the family. To shed some light on the systematics of Onchidorididae, an integrative taxonomic revision was carried out involving morphological, ecological, and molecular analyses on an updated dataset. Mediterranean specimens and species were added to the dataset of the already known Onchidorididae and a new species from the Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) is described here. Furthermore, historical controversies are clarified due to the discovery of new important synapomorphies useful to define genera belonging to the Onchidorididae family and to describe a new genus. Finally, the taxonomic status of all the known Onchidorididae species is investigated and discussed, filling the gap of knowledge on neglected species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematics and Evolution of Gastropods)

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