Article
Zoology
Vu Dang Hoang Nguyen, Luan Thanh Nguyen, Nikolai L. Orlov, Robert W. Murphy, Sang Ngoc Nguyen
Summary: A new species of the genus Gekko, Gekko phuyenensis sp. nov., from southern Vietnam's Phu Yen Province is described based on morphological and molecular evidence. This new species shows distinctive features such as moderate size and specific measurements that set it apart from its congeners. Phylogenetic analysis places G. phuyenensis sp. nov. as a sister lineage to G. cf. grossmanni from a different province in southern Vietnam, with significant genetic distances observed between them. This discovery brings the total number of known Gekko species in Vietnam to 14.
Article
Zoology
Costanza Piccoli, Francesco Belluardo, Javier Lobon-Rovira, Ivo Oliveira Alves, Malalatiana Rasoazanany, Franco Andreone, Goncalo M. Rosa, Angelica Crottini
Summary: Using an integrative taxonomic approach, a new microendemic gecko species, P. manongavato sp. nov., is formally described. It differs from other species in the P. bastardi clade genetically and morphologically. Due to its restricted range and habitat fragmentation, it is proposed to be classified as Critically Endangered.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
L. Lee Grismer, Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Evan S. H. Quah, Jesse L. Grismer, Perry L. Wood
Summary: The genus Cyrtodactylus is the third largest vertebrate genus on earth, with over 300 species spread across at least eight biogeographic regions. Ancestral ranges were reconstructed on a mitochondrial phylogeny, indicating that Cyrtodactylus evolved in the proto-Himalaya region and diversified in Indoburma and Indochina.
Article
Plant Sciences
Anna Berthe Ralaiveloarisoa, Kare Liimatainen, Helene Ralimanana, Vololoniaina Jeannoda, Stuart Cable, Tuula Niskanen
Summary: Gloeocantharellus andasibensis sp. nov. is characterized by orange-red basidiomata, small verrucose basidiospores, and a distinct nrITS sequence, representing the first record of the genus from Madagascar. Additionally, sequencing was performed on type specimen of G. okapaensis and specimens of G. lateritius and G. corneri to enhance the understanding of the nomenclature of the genus.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ya-Ping Sun, Bei-Bei Wang, Zhang-Ping Wu, Xi-Wen Zheng, Jing Hou, Heng-Lin Cui
Summary: Five novel halophilic archaeal strains were isolated from coastal saline sediments and sea salt in China. They demonstrated typical morphology and growth characteristics and showed high similarities with existing species. However, based on genetic and phylogenetic analyses, it is confirmed that these strains represent five new species. This is the first report of a novel haloarchaeon isolated from a marine intertidal zone.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Andrey Khalaim
Summary: Two new species of the genus Diaparsis from Madagascar are described, marking the first record of the genus and subfamily Tersilochinae in Madagascar. Both new species exhibit unique morphological features previously unknown in the subfamily Tersilochinae.
Article
Microbiology
Ze-Shen Liu, Ke-Huan Wang, Man Cai, Mei-Ling Yang, Xiao-Kang Wang, Hong-Lin Ma, Yi-Han Yuan, Lin-Huan Wu, De-Feng Li, Shuang-Jiang Liu
Summary: This study isolated and cultivated five unknown bacterial strains from polluted soil and conducted a taxonomic research, identifying them as new species. These bacteria showed resistance to heavy metals and the ability to metabolize aromatic compounds, indicating their adaptation to polluted soil environments.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Martin W. Hahn, Alexandra Pitt, Johanna Schmidt, Antonio Camacho
Summary: This study characterized 14 strains of freshwater bacteria through genomic, phylogenetic, and phenotypic analyses. The results indicate that these strains represent 14 new species.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Huibin Lu, Fei Liu, Tongchu Deng, Meiying Xu
Summary: This study identified twelve novel species belonging to the genus Undibacterium isolated from streams in China. Through comparisons of gene sequences, phylogenetic trees, and lipid acid analysis, the characteristics of the new species were determined.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jun Mochizuki, Hisaya Kojima, Manabu Fukui
Summary: The study describes the isolation and characteristics of two aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, obligately chemolithoautotrophic thiosulfate-oxidizing bacteria strains AkT22(T) and aks77(T) from a brackish lake in Japan. These bacteria exhibited growth at temperatures above 5 degrees C, with optimum growth at 22 degrees C, and showed no growth on sulfide, tetrathionate, elemental sulfur, or organic substrates. Major cellular fatty acids and respiratory quinones were identified for both strains, and their genomes were characterized. The new genera Thiosulfativibrio zosterae gen. nov., sp. nov. and Thiosulfatimonas sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov. are proposed based on the study findings.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Dan-Hua Li, Rexiding Abuduaini, Meng-Xuan Du, Yu-Jing Wang, Hong-He Chen, Nan Zhou, Hai-Zhen Zhu, Yong Lu, Pei-Jun Yu, Yun-Peng Yang, Cheng-Ying Jiang, Qiang Sun, Chang Liu, Shuang-Jiang Liu
Summary: As part of the China Microbiome Initiatives, researchers cultivated and characterized the gut microbiome of cynomolgus monkeys, discovering eight novel bacterial species.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Ines Calvete-Torre, Giulia Alessandri, Christian Milani, Francesca Turroni, Paola Laiolo, Maria Cristina Ossiprandi, Abelardo Margolles, Lorena Ruiz, Marco Ventura
Summary: Ten new Bifidobacterium strains were isolated from various animals and proposed as novel species based on phylogenetic analyses and distinctive phenotypic characteristics compared to known Bifidobacterium species.
SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah Vanwijnsberghe, Charlotte Peeters, Emmelie De Ridder, Charles Dumolin, Anneleen D. Wieme, Nico Boon, Peter Vandamme
Summary: The study found multiple Paraburkholderia isolates and species in pristine forest soil, capable of degrading aromatic compounds, possibly due to the abundant presence of aromatic compounds in decomposing plant litter, reflecting microbial habitat diversity or synergistic relationships.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Marcello Mezzasalma, Elvira Brunelli, Gaetano Odierna, Fabio Maria Guarino
Summary: The study provides the first karyotype description of eight Uroplatus species, revealing chromosome diversity in terms of chromosome number, heterochromatin composition, and NORs localization. Chromosome reduction is proposed to have occurred through translocations of microchromosomes on larger chromosomes, with independent sex chromosome diversification in different genera.
Article
Microbiology
Hyunyoung Jo, Miri S. Park, Yeonjung Lim, Ilnam Kang, Jang-Cheon Cho
Summary: Eleven bacterial strains were isolated from freshwater environments and identified as novel species of the Flavobacterium genus. The complete genome sequences varied in size from 3.45 to 5.83 Mb, with G+C contents ranging from 33.41% to 37.31%. Analyses of average nucleotide identity (ANI) values confirmed the separation of these strains into separate species, with two strains belonging to the same species. Genomic, phylogenetic, and phenotypic characterization distinguished the 11 strains from previously recognized Flavobacterium species. Therefore, these strains are proposed as new species.
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
News Item
Ecology
Omar El-Deeb, Alexander Skeels, Ian Brennan
Review
Ecology
Rachael V. Gallagher, Daniel S. Falster, Brian S. Maitner, Roberto Salguero-Gomez, Vigdis Vandvik, William D. Pearse, Florian D. Schneider, Jens Kattge, Jorrit H. Poelen, Joshua S. Madin, Markus J. Ankenbrand, Caterina Penone, Xiao Feng, Vanessa M. Adams, John Alroy, Samuel C. Andrew, Meghan A. Balk, Lucie M. Bland, Brad L. Boyle, Catherine H. Bravo-Avila, Ian Brennan, Alexandra J. R. Carthey, Renee Catullo, Brittany R. Cavazos, Dalia A. Conde, Steven L. Chown, Belen Fadrique, Heloise Gibb, Aud H. Halbritter, Jennifer Hammock, J. Aaron Hogan, Hamish Holewa, Michael Hope, Colleen M. Iversen, Malte Jochum, Michael Kearney, Alexander Keller, Paula Mabee, Peter Manning, Luke McCormack, Sean T. Michaletz, Daniel S. Park, Timothy M. Perez, Silvia Pineda-Munoz, Courtenay A. Ray, Maurizio Rossetto, Herve Sauquet, Benjamin Sparrow, Marko J. Spasojevic, Richard J. Telford, Joseph A. Tobias, Cyrille Violle, Ramona Walls, Katherine C. B. Weiss, Mark Westoby, Ian J. Wright, Brian J. Enquist
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Damien Esquerre, Stephen Donnellan, Ian G. Brennan, Alan R. Lemmon, Emily Moriarty Lemmon, Hussam Zaher, Felipe G. Grazziotin, J. Scott Keogh
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Carlos J. Pavon-Vazquez, Ian G. Brennan, J. Scott Keogh
Summary: The study revealed evidence of ancient hybridization between the Komodo dragon and sand monitors, with sand monitor species sharing more nuclear alleles with the Komodo dragon than expected, displaying phenotypes intermediate between their closest relatives and the Komodo dragon. Biogeographic analysis indicated co-occurrence of the Komodo dragon and ancestral sand monitors in northern Australia.
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Hayden R. Davis, Indraneil Das, Adam D. Leache, Benjamin R. Karin, Ian G. Brennan, Todd R. Jackman, Izneil Nashriq, Kin Onn Chan, Aaron M. Bauer
Summary: The use of molecular systematic techniques has greatly increased the recognition of cryptic biological diversity, such as seen in the rapid increase in diversity within the gekkonid genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827. The study on Borneo showed evidence of new species within the C. pubisulcus complex, despite minimal phenotypic distinction. This highlights the importance of conservation efforts for these newly identified species and the overall undescribed diversity across Borneo.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jane Melville, David G. Chapple, J. Scott Keogh, Joanna Sumner, Andrew Amey, Phil Bowles, Ian G. Brennan, Patrick Couper, Stephen C. Donnellan, Paul Doughty, Danielle L. Edwards, Ryan J. Ellis, Damien Esquerre, Jessica Fenker, Michael G. Gardner, Arthur Georges, Margaret L. Haines, Conrad J. Hoskin, Mark Hutchinson, Craig Moritz, James Nankivell, Paul Oliver, Carlos J. Pavon-Vazquez, Mitzy Pepper, Daniel L. Rabosky, Kate Sanders, Glenn Shea, Sonal Singhal, Jessica Worthington Wilmer, Reid Tingley
Summary: Global biodiversity loss due to human activity is significant, with a large portion of undocumented species contributing to the underestimation of this loss. This study introduces a quantitative approach for prioritizing taxonomic research to aid in conservation efforts, using Australian lizards and snakes as a diverse vertebrate group case study. The research identified a substantial number of species with taxonomic uncertainty, highlighting the importance of investing in identifying unknown species for conservation before they are lost.
Article
Ecology
Carlos J. Pavon-Vazquez, Ian G. Brennan, Alexander Skeels, J. Scott Keogh
Summary: The study utilized large datasets and new methodological approaches to evaluate the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on the diversification of monitor lizards. The results revealed multiple instances of endemic radiation in the Indo-Australasia region, with incumbency effects partially explaining patterns in biotic exchange between Australia and New Guinea.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Hayden R. Davis, Izneil Nashriq, Kyra S. Woytek, Shanelle A. Wikramanayake, Aaron M. Bauer, Benjamin R. Karin, Ian G. Brennan, Djoko T. Iskandar, Indraneil Das
Summary: Using molecular genetic data, the diversity within the gecko genus Cyrtodactylus has been found to be more than double the previous estimation, indicating the presence of numerous unrecognized lineages. This study focuses on reptile taxonomy on Borneo and delimits three distinct species within the Cyrtodactylus consobrinus species complex using a combination of ddRADseq, single-locus data, and morphological data. The results reveal high species-level diversity but minimal population structure within the consobrinus species complex. Additionally, the study suggests the reconsideration of the status of C. malayanus as a species complex. These findings emphasize the importance of recognizing and protecting the unrecognized lineages on Borneo, which are facing threats from deforestation and other human activities.
Article
Zoology
Mariana P. Marques, Diogo Parrinha, Luis M. P. Ceriaco, Ian G. Brennan, Matthew P. Heinicke, Aaron M. Bauer
Summary: Several specimens of the poorly known Angolan endemic gecko Pachydactylus angolensis were recently collected in southern Angola, significantly expanding its known distribution range. Previous observations suggested the existence of two morphological forms in the country - a coastal form and an inland form. Through morphological examination and molecular data analysis, the taxonomic revision identified these two forms as separate species, with the coastal form considered the nominotypic population and the inland form described as a new species, Pachydactylus maiatoi sp. nov. This discovery has biogeographical implications, which are briefly discussed.
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
David G. Chapple, Stephanie N. J. Chapple, Sarah A. Smith, Glenn M. Shea, Ian G. Brennan, Ross A. Sadlier
Summary: Skinks are the most diverse family of lizards and the Australasian region is a hotspot for skinks. This study focused on determining the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of the Australian Eugongylini tribe. By analyzing genetic sequences, three well-supported lineages of Australian Eugongylini were identified, and some new relationships were revealed.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarin Tiatragul, Ian G. Brennan, Elizabeth S. Broady, J. Scott Keogh
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Correction
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarin Tiatragul, Ian G. Brennan, Elizabeth S. Broady, Scott Keogh
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Ian G. Brennan, Alan R. Lemmon, Emily Moriarty Lemmon, Conrad J. Hoskin, Stephen C. Donnellan, J. Scott Keogh
Summary: The size and isolation of the Australian continent make it an excellent location for studying biodiversity accumulation and evolution. Many of Australia's plants and animals, including frogs, are unique and endemic due to their long separation from the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. Australian frogs exhibit remarkable ecological and morphological diversity, categorized into a few distantly related radiations.
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Damien Esquerre, Ian G. Brennan, Stephen Donnellan, J. Scott Keogh
Summary: This study presents an updated time-calibrated phylogenomic hypothesis to investigate the diversification of pythons in the Australo-Papuan region. The results show that pythons experienced sudden speciation rates and accelerated phenotypic evolution following their invasion of this region, providing evidence for adaptive radiation theory. This study highlights the importance of studying diverse adaptive diversification systems in understanding biodiversity generation.
Article
Biology
George P. Gurgis, Juan D. Daza, Ian G. Brennan, Mark Hutchinson, Aaron M. Bauer, Michelle R. Stocker, Jennifer C. Olori
Summary: The research on Australian pygopodids geckos found significant variation in cranial shape, primarily attributed to factors such as head width, elongation, and shape. While habitat and diet had a significant influence on cranial morphology, this effect was more likely due to ecological differences between genera rather than among species. This suggests that phylogeny has a strong impact on morphology at higher levels, but differences in diet and habitat use may contribute to variation seen within and among species.
INTEGRATIVE ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
