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Diversity
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Diversity in 2024
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Diversity in 2024

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 7007

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Michael Wink

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Guest Editor
Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 329, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Interests: phytochemistry; molecular pharmacology of medicinal and toxic plants; alkaloids; evolution; chemical ecology; ornithology; phylogeny and evolution
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful 2023 and wish you a happy, healthy and fruitful 2024.

We are launching the Special Issue “Diversity in 2024” to celebrate the coming year. This Special Issue is dedicated to high-quality review papers and research papers on all aspects of biodiversity and its applications, including biodiversity assessment and biodiversity preservation. We welcome contributions from researchers who can offer insights on the latest developments in this field. We also encourage authors to invite relevant experts and colleagues to contribute to this Special Issue.

We look forward to your contributions, which we believe will make this Special Issue a unique resource for future researchers in the exciting field of diversity.

Prof. Dr. Michael Wink
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biodiversity
  • conservation
  • ecology
  • phylogeny
  • evolution

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 8066 KiB  
Article
Taxonomic Insights into Caulerpa (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) Species in French Polynesia: Confirmation of 13 Species and Reinstatement of C. pickeringii Harvey & Bailey
by Laura Lagourgue, Thomas Sauvage, Mayalen Zubia, Stefano G. A. Draisma, Christophe Vieira, Aschwin Engelen and Claude E. Payri
Diversity 2024, 16(4), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16040243 - 18 Apr 2024
Viewed by 343
Abstract
Caulerpa J.V. Lamouroux is a genus of green macroalgae belonging to the family Caulerpaceae in the order Bryopsidales. The genus comprises 104 currently accepted species, of which 51 have been recorded from Pacific Islands. Among these islands, French Polynesia is found in the [...] Read more.
Caulerpa J.V. Lamouroux is a genus of green macroalgae belonging to the family Caulerpaceae in the order Bryopsidales. The genus comprises 104 currently accepted species, of which 51 have been recorded from Pacific Islands. Among these islands, French Polynesia is found in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean and includes five archipelagos (i.e., the Austral, Gambier, Marquesas, Society, and Tuamotu Islands) where seaweed inventories have reported a total of 16 Caulerpa species so far based on morphology. Here, based on a sampling covering the five archipelagos of French Polynesia, we attempt to (i) verify the taxonomy of Caulerpa species present in these regions based on phylogeny, (ii) describe in more detail the specific diversity between the five archipelagos, and (iii) provide a morphological identification tool for these species. We successfully obtained 134 new tufA sequences for phylogenetic analyses, which corresponded to 13 species. We propose to resurrect C. pickeringii Harvey & Bailey for representatives of C. webbiana var. pickeringii and classify it in the Caulerpa subgenus Araucarioideae. We also transfer C. seuratii to C. pickeringii based on genetic results. A new morphological identification key is provided as well as an updated distribution of Caulerpa species across French Polynesia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2024)
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14 pages, 11888 KiB  
Article
Effective Field Collection of Pezizales Ascospores for Procuring Diverse Fungal Isolates
by Alassane Sow, Judson Van Wyk, Benjamin Lemmond, Rosanne Healy, Matthew E. Smith and Gregory Bonito
Diversity 2024, 16(3), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16030165 - 06 Mar 2024
Viewed by 921
Abstract
Pezizales are a diverse and economically important order of fungi. They are common in the environment, having epigeous form, such as morels and hypogeous, forms called truffles. The mature ascospores of most epigeous Pezizales are forcibly discharged through an opening at the ascus [...] Read more.
Pezizales are a diverse and economically important order of fungi. They are common in the environment, having epigeous form, such as morels and hypogeous, forms called truffles. The mature ascospores of most epigeous Pezizales are forcibly discharged through an opening at the ascus apex created with the lifting of the operculum, a lid-like structure specific to Pezizales. The axenic cultures of Pezizales fungi isolated from single ascospores are important for understanding the life cycle, development, ecology, and evolution of these fungi. However, obtaining single-spore isolates can be challenging, particularly for collections obtained in locations where sterile work environments are not available. In this paper, we introduce an accessible method for harvesting ascospores from fresh ascomata in the field and laboratory for obtaining single-spore isolates. Ascospores are harvested on the inside cover of Petri plate lids in the field, air dried, and stored. At a later date, single-spore isolates are axenically cultured through serial dilution and plating on antibiotic media. With this approach, we were able to harvest ascospores and obtain single-spore isolates from 12 saprotrophic and 2 ectomycorrhizal species belonging to six Pezizales families: Discinaceae, Morchellaceae, Pezizaceae, Pyronemataceae, Sarcosomataceae, and Sarcoscyphaceae. This method worked well for saprotrophic taxa (12 out of 19 species, 63%) and was even effective for a few ectomycorrhizal taxa (2 out of 13 species, 15%). This process was used to study the initial stages of spore germination and colony development in species across several Pezizales families. We found germination often commenced with the swelling of the spore, followed by the emergence of 1–8 germ tubes. This method is sufficiently straightforward that, provided with sterile Petri dishes, citizen scientists from distant locations could use this approach to capture spores and subsequently mail them with voucher specimens to a research laboratory for further study. The generated single-spore Pezizales isolates obtained through this method were used to generate high-quality genomic data. Isolates generated in this fashion can be used in manipulative experiments to better understand the biology, evolution, and ecogenomics of Pezizales. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2024)
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11 pages, 4515 KiB  
Article
Diversity of Fish and Decapod Fry in the Coastal Zone of Amvrakikos Gulf
by George Katselis, Nikolaos Vlahos, Constandin Koutsikopoulos and Dimitrios K. Moutopoulos
Diversity 2024, 16(3), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16030164 - 06 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1315
Abstract
Amvrakikos Gulf and its surrounding coastal lagoons are of primary importance for the local biodiversity and fishing activities. Fish species inhabited the coastal lagoons based on the seasonal ongoing migration movements of fry and adult fish individuals from the sea towards the lagoons. [...] Read more.
Amvrakikos Gulf and its surrounding coastal lagoons are of primary importance for the local biodiversity and fishing activities. Fish species inhabited the coastal lagoons based on the seasonal ongoing migration movements of fry and adult fish individuals from the sea towards the lagoons. Information on the early stages of fish and decapod species in the Amvrakikos Gulf is limited only to the planktonic ontogenetic stages and reproduction biology, respectively. The aim of this study was to describe the spatial distribution of fry from commercially important fish and decapod species in the coastal zone of Amvrakikos Gulf. The seasonal appearance of the early stage of the most commercially important fish species caught in the coastal zone of the gulf ranged from one to four seasons, depending on the species. Individuals of all ontogenetic stages (fry, juveniles, and adults) were reported for several species (A. boyeri, A. fasciatus, S. abaster, S. tyfle, and B. ocellaris), indicating that these species may be regarded as residents in the coastal zone, providing habitats for their entire life cycle. The average relative abundance of the species/genera exhibited no differences compared to other Greek brackish waters. The species composition in the Amvrakikos Gulf at 10 cm and above was in agreement with the transitional nature of the area, with permanent and occasional species present. The present study emphasizes the importance of the coastal zone as a nursery habitat for commercially important species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2024)
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23 pages, 1607 KiB  
Article
Diversity and Composition of Belowground Fungal Communities Associated with Picea abies L. (H.) Karst. and Larix sp. Mill.: A Comparative Study
by Jūratė Lynikienė, Adas Marčiulynas, Diana Marčiulynienė, Artūras Gedminas, Valeriia Mishcherikova and Audrius Menkis
Diversity 2024, 16(3), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16030160 - 04 Mar 2024
Viewed by 827
Abstract
The aim of the presented study was to compare the diversity and composition of fungal communities associated with the roots and the rhizosphere soil of P. abies and Larix sp. in mid-age and mature managed forest stands in Lithuania. We also aimed to [...] Read more.
The aim of the presented study was to compare the diversity and composition of fungal communities associated with the roots and the rhizosphere soil of P. abies and Larix sp. in mid-age and mature managed forest stands in Lithuania. We also aimed to assess the presence of fungi–host-specific associations, i.e., whether Larix sp. stands could provide habitats for soil fungi currently associated with P. abies. The study sites were 10 Larix sp. and 10 P. abies forest stands in Lithuania. For the study, 100 root samples and 10 organic and 10 mineral soil samples were collected in P. abies stands as well as the same number in Larix sp. stands, and DNA was isolated, amplified using ITS2 rDNA as a marker and subjected to high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the Shannon diversity index of fungal communities was similar between the two tree species when compared either between root (H = 4.26 P. abies and H = 3.82 Larix sp.), organic soil (H = 5.12 P. abies and H = 5.13 Larix sp.) or mineral soil (H = 4.71 P. abies and H = 4.29 Larix sp.) samples. Multivariate analysis showed that the fungal community composition in the organic and mineral soil samples of both P. abies and Larix sp. were similar, and thus, overlapping. The analysis also showed that the distribution of fungal species was denser in the roots and organic soil but more scattered in mineral soil. However, several fungi in the roots of either P. abies or Larix sp. showed a certain host specificity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2024)
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Review

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69 pages, 81603 KiB  
Review
The Axes of Divergence for the Evolutionary Radiation of Notothenioid Fishes in Antarctica
by Joseph T. Eastman
Diversity 2024, 16(4), 214; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16040214 - 30 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1012
Abstract
Notothenioid fishes, a perciform group, radiated in the cold shelf waters around the Antarctic continent and the 110 species dominate fish diversity, abundance, and biomass at levels of ≈77%, 92%, and 91%, respectively. This occurred in a locality with frequent glaciomarine cycles that [...] Read more.
Notothenioid fishes, a perciform group, radiated in the cold shelf waters around the Antarctic continent and the 110 species dominate fish diversity, abundance, and biomass at levels of ≈77%, 92%, and 91%, respectively. This occurred in a locality with frequent glaciomarine cycles that fragmented and obliterated habitats, disrupted ecosystems, and made parts of the high latitude shelves periodically uninhabitable. The notothenioid radiation encompasses three stages and 10 axes: for the habitat stage, divergence in (1) depth and (2) biotope, meaning subdivisions within the pelagic and benthic realms; for the morphology stage, divergence in (3) body size, (4) body density based on proportions of skeletal and adipose tissues, (5) body shape, (6) trophic morphology, specifically head morphology related to feeding (jaws, teeth, head size, and pharyngeal gape), and (7) neuromorphology (brain and sensory systems); and for the communication stage, divergence in (8) fecundity and egg size, (9) sexual dichromatism and dimorphism in body and fins, and (10) parental care behavior associated with nesting. There was an antecedent Eocene fossil fauna that did not include notothenioids and that has minimal taxonomic representation in the modern fauna. Liparids (snailfishes) and zoarcids (eelpouts) also diversified in Antarctic waters but with minimal divergence. Hypotheses are offered as to why these radiations played out the way they did and why notothenioids are dominant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2024)
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14 pages, 960 KiB  
Review
Opportunities for Biodiversity Conservation via Urban Ecosystem Regeneration
by Gad Perry and Robert D. Cox
Diversity 2024, 16(3), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16030131 - 20 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1363
Abstract
Conservation traditionally focuses on at-risk species and relatively intact ecosystems. As the human population and our global impact have risen, many more species and ecosystems are at risk and fewer intact ecosystems remain, with urbanization being a major contributing factor. Cities and their [...] Read more.
Conservation traditionally focuses on at-risk species and relatively intact ecosystems. As the human population and our global impact have risen, many more species and ecosystems are at risk and fewer intact ecosystems remain, with urbanization being a major contributing factor. Cities and their inhabitants are here to stay, and the prevalence of urbanization, often in the vicinity of areas of high conservation value, requires reconsideration of the conservation value of urban ecosystems and urban green spaces. Our aim is to explore the practical aspects of such actions. Urban ecosystem regeneration will require the incorporation of strategies for urban ecosystem regeneration into an overall conservation policy. The novel paradigm of urban ecosystem regeneration, advocated here, maximizes the capacity of urban spaces to support biodiversity while reducing undesirable outcomes and enhancing human wellbeing. The potential for cities to exacerbate biological invasion, climate change, and other ecosystem-degrading factors requires particular attention in devising a strategy for conservation in urban spaces, made essential by the predicted further spread of cities across the globe. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2024)
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