Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Menglin Wang, Simon Hellemans, Ales Bucek, Taisuke Kanao, Jigyasa Arora, Crystal Clitheroe, Jean-Jacques Rafanomezantsoa, Brian L. Fisher, Rudolf Scheffrahn, David Sillam-Dusses, Yves Roisin, Jan Sobotnik, Thomas Bourguignon
Summary: Madagascar, due to its isolation, is home to unique plant and animal species, including various lineages of termites. This study used mitochondrial genomes to explore the historical biogeography of Neoisoptera, a termite lineage. The results suggest that Neoisoptera colonized Madagascar between 7 and 10 times independently during the Miocene, similar to its colonization of Australia.
Article
Zoology
S. A. W. Giles, K. Arbuckle
Summary: This study estimated the diversification dynamics of chameleons and found that rapid radiations of Malagasy chameleons were a result of transoceanic dispersal events, while the rapid radiations of South African chameleons were influenced by substantial floral turnover. Additionally, the evolution of distinct ecomorphs of chameleon contributed to fast diversification via adaptive radiations.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Simone Fattorini
Summary: Earwigs have a higher diversity in the tropical regions of the southern hemisphere compared to the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. This distribution pattern is believed to be a result of the fragmentation of the Gondwana supercontinent and the collision between India and the Eurasian plate. The Himalayan orogenesis and colder temperatures have hindered the colonization of North America by South American earwigs.
Article
Ecology
Nathaniel Heiden, Andreu Cera, Sara Palacio
Summary: Gypseous soils pose challenges to plants, but seed germination is mainly influenced by soil pH and Ca availability, with gypsum content playing a minor role. Most species germinate better in alkaline soils with high Ca availability.
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jan Hackel, Terry W. Henkel, Pierre-Arthur Moreau, Eske De Crop, Annemieke Verbeken, Mariana Sa, Bart Buyck, Maria-Alice Neves, Aida Vasco-Palacios, Felipe Wartchow, Heidy Schimann, Fabian Carriconde, Sigisfredo Garnica, Regis Courtecuisse, Monique Gardes, Sophie Manzi, Eliane Louisanna, Melanie Roy
Summary: The study reconstructs the biogeography of neotropical fungi and identifies multiple origins and diversification events. The results indicate that neotropical fungi have origins in Africa and Australasia, and are influenced by geographical and climatic factors.
Article
Plant Sciences
Weston L. Testo, Andre L. de Gasper, Sonia Molino, Jose Maria Gabriel y Galan, Alexandre Salino, Vinicius Antonio de Oliveira Dittrich, Emily B. Sessa
Summary: This study analyzed sequence data of the fern family Blechnaceae and found that the group originated in Eurasia in the late Cretaceous, and diversified mainly in the austral Pacific region during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. Long-distance dispersal is frequent and asymmetrical, with Australia and tropical America being major source areas; climate-mediated vicariance shaped current distributions.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Arni Sholihah, Erwan Delrieu-Trottin, Fabien L. Condamine, Daisy Wowor, Lukas Ruber, Laurent Pouyaud, Jean-Franccois Agnese, Nicolas Hubert
Summary: Pleistocene climatic fluctuations had complex interactions with the geology of the islands in Southeast Asia, leading to high species diversity and endemism in the Sunda Shelf. The emergence of land in Southeast Asia varied drastically with sea level fluctuations during the Pleistocene, causing temporary connections between insular and continental biodiversity hotspots. The study on freshwater biodiversity in Southeast Asia suggests that evolutionary consequences of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations are not solely reliant on sea-level fluctuations isolating populations on different islands.
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Katya J. Romero-Soler, Ivon M. Ramirez-Morillo, Eduardo Ruiz-Sanchez, Claudia T. Hornung-Leoni, German Carnevali
Summary: The study found that speciation in Bakerantha began in the Late Pliocene, associated with vicariance resulting from the rise of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, a barrier that isolated the Bakerantha species. Genetic data suggest that the species have achieved a high degree of genetic differentiation and variation, but most of them lack intraspecific structure, even though species have remained stable over time due to their life history traits.
BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Fei Yu, Jiaxin Li, Linjun Zhang, Ganggang Zhang, Yueqin Yang, Yang Wang, Xianfeng Yi
Summary: The Grain-for-Green Program in China is effective for protecting the ecological environment and mitigating disasters. This study compared the effects of different types of vegetation restoration on the rodent abundance, seed dispersal, and seedling recruitment in a forest in the Taihang Mountains. The results showed that the Grain-for-Green forest had similar effects to the natural forest in terms of rodent composition and abundance, but had higher seed removal rate and dispersal distance compared to abandoned cropland, indicating its potential for providing seed dispersal service and contributing to vegetation restoration and biodiversity conservation.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Raees Khan, Robert S. Hill
Summary: The three relict genera in Podocarpaceae exhibit unique seed cone morpho-anatomy, with distinct features such as epimatium presence and fleshiness. These structures have low taxonomic value but play a significant role in evolutionary and ecological adaptations. The reconstruction of ancestral seed cones in Podcarpaceae is complex due to multiple convergent evolutions.
Article
Ecology
Jun-Wei Ye, Zhao-Zhen Yang, Bin Tian
Summary: In Taiwan, the biodiversity assembly is mainly attributed to land-bridge and oversea dispersal after the emergence of proto-Taiwan. In situ speciation plays a greater role in the formation of endemism compared to dispersal events. The southern part of China is found to be the most important source for dispersal, with South-Central China and Southeast China as the main regions. Species with in situ origin are younger than those with dispersal origin. Further investigations with more sophisticated sampling and genetic data are required in the future.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Biology
C. Y. Utami, A. Sholihah, F. L. Condamine, C. Thebaud, N. Hubert
Summary: Species persist in landscapes through ecological dynamics and proliferate at wider spatial scales through evolutionary mechanisms. The use of dated molecular phylogenies has shed new light on the presence of cryptic diversity in species-rich ecosystems and its impact on diversification models. A study on 10 lineages of freshwater fishes in Sundaland reveals that geographical isolation plays a major role in diversification.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Dan-Xiao Peng, Viet-Cuong Dang, Sadaf Habib, Russell L. Barrett, Anna Trias-Blasi, Jun Wen, Zhi-Duan Chen, Li-Min Lu
Summary: The study conducted intensive taxon sampling and reconstructed the biogeographic history of Tetrastigma, revealing a trend of dispersal from continental Asia to the Sunda island chain during its evolution. Through regional division analysis, it was found that continental Asia is the main source area for Tetrastigma, while Sunda is the largest sink, with the Philippines identified as an active junction between Asia and Australia.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhiyuan Zhao, Liquan Zhang, Lin Yuan, Tjeerd J. Bouma
Summary: This study provides new insights into the submerged seed dispersal behavior of saltmarsh species and its impact on their recruitment. The settling speed of seeds is density-dependent, and the seed trapping ratio is influenced by surface roughness and hydrodynamic intensity. Submerged seed dispersal may limit salt marsh recruitment through reduced chances of seed burial and trapping on smooth tidal flat surfaces.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Leonid Rasran, Kati Vogt, Marc Trattnig, Karl-Georg Bernhardt
Summary: Hydrological restoration was conducted in the Lower Traisen River to restore riparian plant communities. The study investigated the transport of plant diaspores in the river water before and after the restoration. Results showed an increase in ruderal species and neophytes, while competitors and stress-tolerant competitors declined. Hydrochory was identified as an essential dispersal pathway for many plant species in the area. The findings suggest the need for follow-up management to control invasive species and improve biodiversity in the Traisen Valley.