Article
Zoology
Alexandre Reis Percequillo, Marcelo Weksler
Summary: This study discovered a new species of the genus Euryoryzomys in the Brejos de altitude of north-eastern Brazil, which is distinct from other species and has a unique geographical distribution.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicolas Oury, Cyril Noel, Stefano Mona, Didier Aurelle, Helene Magalon
Summary: With the development of genomics, it is now possible to sequence thousands of loci from hundreds of individuals at reasonable costs, which allows for the resolution of complex phylogenies. Using the coral genus Pocillopora as a case study, researchers explored the use of multiple criteria (genetics, morphology, biogeography, and symbiosis ecology) to delimit species. The results showed that genomics can be used alongside other criteria to delimit species boundaries and provided insights for the taxonomic revision and conservation of Pocillopora.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Minseok Jeong, Yitong Wang, Jong Im Kim, Woongghi Shin
Summary: In this study, the taxonomy and phylogeny of colonial Dinobryon species were investigated using molecular and morphological methods. The results revealed 15 different genetic lineages based on the nuclear ITS sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of the combined multigene dataset identified 18 subclades, including five new species. Morphological studies focused on lorica dimension and shape, as well as stomatocyst morphology. Based on these findings, five new species were proposed.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Anna V. Albano de Mello, Renato S. Recoder, Antoine Fouquet, Miguel T. Rodrigues, Pedro M. S. Nunes
Summary: In this study, the taxonomic status of lizards of the Iphisa elegans complex were reevaluated based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analysis, as well as morphological characteristics. The results revealed the presence of nine operational taxonomic units within the genus Iphisa and these units could be distinguished by external and hemipenial morphology. A new taxonomic rearrangement of the genus was proposed, including the elevation of Iphisa elegans soinii to the specific level, and the naming and description of five new species.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dariusz L. Szlachetko, Magdalena Dudek, Aleksandra Naczk, Marta Kolanowska
Summary: This study presents a revision of the orchid genus Andinia based on morphological and molecular studies. The authors also calculated and visualized the similarity of climatic niches occupied by representatives of the Andinia-complex. The study found the highest number of Andinia representatives in the Eastern Cordillera real montane forests, and identified unique orchid flora in the Guajira-Barranquilla xeric scrub ecoregion. The proposed classification recognizes nine genera within the Andinia-complex and provides a key to their identification.
Article
Zoology
Alexey A. Kotov, Petr G. Garibian, Eugeniya Bekker, Derek J. Taylor, Dmitry P. Karabanov
Summary: This study investigated the phylogeography, rates of evolution, and taxonomic status of different clades within the Daphnia curvirostris complex, revealing an eastern Palaearctic clade with at least four species having diagnostic morphological characters. Convergent morphological characters were also detected within the complex, providing insights into species boundaries. Divergence time estimates suggested an ancient origin for the Daphnia korovchinskyi group, but were complicated by the limited number of calibration points.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Sheng-Fang Tsai, Meng-Lun Lee, Kuo-Ping Chiang
Summary: A new marine planktonic ciliate species, Strombidium parasulcatum sp. n., was discovered in Taiwan. Its morphological characters are similar to Strombidium sulcatum sensu Song et al., 2000, but differ from other descriptions of S. sulcatum. Molecular analysis confirmed that they should be considered separate species. The study also highlights the importance of bacteria as a food resource for this ciliate, indicating the presence of potential cryptic species within the genus Strombidium.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Vladimir M. Gnezdilov, Fedor Konstantinov, Anna A. Namyatova
Summary: The Issidae, a highly diverse planthopper family, has been the subject of controversy in terms of internal phylogeny and classification. In this study, a phylogeny of the family was inferred using molecular and morphological data. The results validated the taxonomic status of subfamilies, tribes, and generic complexes, and revealed interesting insights about the origin and split of the family.
SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zihui Zhang, Hunter N. N. Hines, Hongbo Pan, Jiamei Jiang
Summary: This study reports on two species of ciliated protists from the East China Sea, providing detailed descriptions of their morphology, infraciliature, and gene sequences, as well as investigating the physiological changes in one of the species. The research improves the overall understanding of this group and provides a key to identify valid species.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Evgeny Banaev, Maria A. Tomoshevich, Sofia A. Khozyaykina, Anna A. Erst, Andrey S. Erst
Summary: A new species, Nitraria iliensis sp. nov., is discovered in the Ili basin, Almaty region, Kazakhstan. It is similar to N. sibirica Pall in morphology and belongs to section Nitraria ser. Sibiricae. This study utilizes an integrative taxonomic approach, combining molecular, biochemical, and morphological analyses, as well as palynological data, to define this new species. The article presents illustrations of the studied species, photographs of authentic specimens of the new species, and a distribution map of the new species and related taxa. Morphological characters were examined, important identification traits were identified, and a new key to differentiate between all species of the genus was developed.
Article
Zoology
Jessica R. Zehnpfennig, Andrew R. Mahon
Summary: In this study, a new species of Antarctic pycnogonid, Austropallene halanychi, is described. The species is distinguished from congeners by its larger size and unique morphological features. Molecular data and phylogenetic analyses further support its status as a new species.
Article
Microbiology
Yanpeng Chen, Wenhui Tian, Yaobin Guo, Hugo Madrid, Sajeewa S. N. Maharachchikumbura
Summary: During a survey of fungal diversity in Sichuan Province, China, two new species and a new genus of Helminthosporium-like fungi were discovered. The new genus, Synhelminthosporium, is distinguished by producing synnematous conidiophores.
Article
Microbiology
Urban Tillmann, Marc Gottschling, Stephan Wietkamp, Mona Hoppenrath
Summary: A new species, Prorocentrum spinulentum, from the North Atlantic is described in this study. It is distinct from other small Prorocentrum species based on cell morphology and DNA analysis. This study increases and improves our understanding of the diversity within this important group of planktonic organisms.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lian-chai Song, Lu Huang, Ling-ling Liu, Yao Feng, Li-li Wang, Zuo-yi Liu
Summary: A new species of the Curvicladiella genus was identified from diseased leaves of Paphiopedilum sp. from Guizhou Province, China. This is the first record of the genus in China. The new species, Curvicladiella paphiopedili, is characterized by penicillate conidiophores with a tapering stipe, curved stipe extension, and cylindrical conidia. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that this taxon is closely related to Curvicladiella cignea within Nectriaceae.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Jonas M. Eliassen, Bjarte H. Jordal
Summary: This study provides a detailed molecular phylogeny of the ambrosia beetle genus Xyleborinus in the Afrotropical region, particularly focusing on the Malagasy radiation. The analysis revealed a single colonization event in Madagascar approximately 8.5-11.0 million years ago, leading to the recent radiation and the emergence of at least 32 new species on the island. The molecular data strongly supported two recolonization events of the African mainland, as well as several intraspecific dispersals, resulting in taxonomic changes and the description of 12 new species.
INSECT SYSTEMATICS AND DIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Wengang Kang, Sten Anslan, Nicole Boerner, Anja Schwarz, Robin Schmidt, Sven Kuenzel, Patrick Rioual, Paula Echeverria-Galindo, Miguel Vences, Junbo Wang, Antje Schwalb
Summary: This study experimentally evaluated the effects of sediment sample quantity and bioinformatics pipelines on the metabarcoding data of diatoms, demonstrating minimal impact of sample quantity and high consistency among different bioinformatics pipelines. Taxonomic mismatches between metabarcoding and microscopy results were identified, potentially due to database incompleteness and taxonomic inconsistencies. Community analysis confirmed consistent results between microscopy and metabarcoding, highlighting the viability of metabarcoding in identifying diatom-environment relationships.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alejandro Ibanez, Molly C. Bletz, Galo Quezada, Robert Geffers, Michael Jarek, Miguel Vences, Sebastian Steinfartz
Summary: The diversity and richness of gut microorganisms in marine iguana populations are closely related to the genetic diversity of the host individuals, rather than being affected by El Nino-related nutrition deficiencies. During El Nino events, marine iguana populations face limited food resources, resulting in poor body condition, but with no significant differences in gut microbial structure.
Article
Zoology
Mark D. Scherz, Luca Schmidt, Angelica Crottini, Aurelien Miralles, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Achille P. Raselimanana, Jorn Koehler, Frank Glaw, Miguel Vences
Summary: The genus Scaphiophryne contains at least nine species of robust burrowing frogs with explosive breeding behavior, characterized by unique larval morphology. A comprehensive molecular phylogeny has revealed the monophyly of two subgenera and provided insights into the evolutionary lineages within each. The study also suggests the need for taxonomic revisions and proposes criteria for applying old nomina to known lineages.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sebastian Kirchhof, Mariana L. Lyra, Ariel Rodriguez, Ivan Ineich, Johannes Mueller, Mark-Oliver Roedel, Jean-Francois Trape, Miguel Vences, Stephane Boissinot
Summary: Climate change greatly impacts the diversity and evolution of the world's biota. Research shows that the Old World lacertid lizard lineages diversified after the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, with a particular focus on the sub-Saharan Acanthodactylus species and their environmental adaptations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Frank Glaw, Jorn Kohler, Oliver Hawlitschek, Fanomezana M. Ratsoavina, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Mark D. Scherz, Miguel Vences
Summary: The discovery of the world's smallest reptile, Brookesia nana, with extremely small body size and mature reproductive organs, highlights the evolutionary reduction of adult body size. This chameleon species is found only in a degraded rainforest in northern Madagascar and may be threatened by extinction. Further studies on female genitalia are needed to understand the evolution of genitalia in reptiles.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Zoology
Aurelien Miralles, Teddy Bruy, Angelica Crottini, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Fanomezana M. Ratsoavina, Mark D. Scherz, Robin Schmidt, Joern Koehler, Frank Glaw, Miguel Vences
Summary: The Paroedura bastardi Glade in Madagascar comprises four nominal species with distinct evolutionary lineages. The presence of reproductive isolation, lack of genetic admixture or morphological intermediates, and concordant differentiation in unlinked loci under sympatry suggest strong species status evidence within the complex. Taxonomic revisions include designating lectotypes, resurrecting a binomen, and describing a new species within the group.
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
David G. Chapple, Uri Roll, Monika Boehm, Rocio Aguilar, Andrew P. Amey, Chris C. Austin, Marleen Baling, Anthony J. Barley, Michael F. Bates, Aaron M. Bauer, Daniel G. Blackburn, Phil Bowles, Rafe M. Brown, S. R. Chandramouli, Laurent Chirio, Hal Cogger, Guarino R. Colli, Werner Conradie, Patrick J. Couper, Mark A. Cowan, Michael D. Craig, Indraneil Das, Aniruddha Datta-Roy, Chris R. Dickman, Ryan J. Ellis, Aaron L. Fenner, Stewart Ford, S. R. Ganesh, Michael G. Gardner, Peter Geissler, Graeme R. Gillespie, Frank Glaw, Matthew J. Greenlees, Oliver W. Griffith, L. Lee Grismer, Margaret L. Haines, D. James Harris, S. Blair Hedges, Rod A. Hitchmough, Conrad J. Hoskin, Mark N. Hutchinson, Ivan Ineich, Jordi Janssen, Gregory R. Johnston, Benjamin R. Karin, J. Scott Keogh, Fred Kraus, Matthew LeBreton, Petros Lymberakis, Rafaqat Masroor, Peter J. McDonald, Sven Mecke, Jane Melville, Sabine Melzer, Damian R. Michael, Aurelien Miralles, Nicola J. Mitchell, Nicola J. Nelson, Truong Q. Nguyen, Cristiano de Campos Nogueira, Hidetoshi Ota, Panayiotis Pafilis, Olivier S. G. Pauwels, Ana Perera, Daniel Pincheira-Donoso, Robert N. Reed, Marco A. Ribeiro-Junior, Julia L. Riley, Sara Rocha, Pamela L. Rutherford, Ross A. Sadlier, Boaz Shacham, Glenn M. Shea, Richard Shine, Alex Slavenko, Adam Stow, Joanna Sumner, Oliver J. S. Tallowin, Roy Teale, Omar Torres-Carvajal, Jean-Francois Trape, Peter Uetz, Kanishka D. B. Ukuwela, Leonie Valentine, James U. Van Dyke, Dylan van Winkel, Raquel Vasconcelos, Miguel Vences, Philipp Wagner, Erik Wapstra, Geoffrey M. While, Martin J. Whiting, Camilla M. Whittington, Steve Wilson, Thomas Ziegler, Reid Tingley, Shai Meiri
Summary: Despite improved knowledge of the conservation status of the world's skinks, around 20% of species are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, invasive species, and resource use, with most listed as endangered primarily due to their small geographic ranges. While 42% of species have stable population trends, 14% are experiencing declining populations.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James D. Burgon, Miguel Vences, Sebastian Steinfartz, Serge Bogaerts, Lucio Bonato, David Donaire-Barroso, Inigo Martinez-Solano, Guillermo Velo-Anton, David R. Vieites, Barbara K. Mable, Kathryn R. Elmer
Summary: The genus Salamandra is widely distributed in Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. Research on the phylogenetic relationships within the genus, especially in the polymorphic species S. salamandra, has been challenging. The study confirmed the distinctiveness of recognized Salamandra species and suggested potential taxonomic revision for some subspecies within S. salamandra.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Emanuel M. Fonseca, Adrian A. Garda, Eliana F. Oliveira, Felipe Camurugi, Felipe de M. Magalhaes, Flavia M. Lanna, Juan Pablo Zurano, Ricardo Marques, Miguel Vences, Marcelo Gehara
Summary: Rivers, landscape, and climate can alter patterns of gene flow and shape intraspecific genetic variation. The study on highly aquatic frog Pseudis tocantins in central Brazil found that genetic differentiation among localities is mostly explained by river connectivity, while elevation, slope, and climate have little impact. Migration patterns took place directionally from upstream to downstream sites.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sten Anslan, Maria Sachs, Lois Rancilhac, Henner Brinkmann, Jorn Petersen, Sven Kunzel, Anja Schwarz, Hartmut Arndt, Ryan Kerney, Miguel Vences
Summary: The study used multi-marker DNA metabarcoding to characterize the community of algae and other micro-eukaryotes associated with agile frog clutches in three small ponds in Germany. It found that sampling substrate strongly determined the community compositions, with frog clutch-associated communities forming distinct clusters as expected. The most abundant operational taxonomic units in clutch samples were from Chlamydomonas, Oophila, Nitzschia, and other ochrophytes, and two distinct clades of green algae assigned to Oophila were confirmed. The clutch-associated communities were influenced by sampling location, indicating that the taxa colonizing amphibian clutches can differ significantly depending on environmental conditions.
Article
Ecology
Katharina C. Wollenberg Valero, Joan Garcia-Porta, Iker Irisarri, Lauric Feugere, Adam Bates, Sebastian Kirchhof, Olga Jovanovic Glavas, Panayiotis Pafilis, Sabrina F. Samuel, Johannes Mueller, Miguel Vences, Alexander P. Turner, Pedro Beltran-Alvarez, Kenneth B. Storey
Summary: Understanding the genetic basis of adaptation to different abiotic environments is crucial in the context of climate change. Through functional and comparative genomics, this study identified a set of genes in lacertid lizards and other vertebrates that are involved in physiological and morphological adaptations to climate. These genes form a tightly connected interactome enriched in functions related to adaptation to climate and organismal stress response.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Laura Leiss, Anna Rauhaus, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Charles Fusari, Miguel Vences, Thomas Ziegler
Summary: The study explored the established ex situ populations for threatened Malagasy freshwater fish species, finding that there has been no significant improvement in ex situ conservation activities. It calls for better distribution of offspring, establishment of ex situ populations for species not yet kept in captivity, and the development of effective integrated in situ and ex situ conservation strategies.
Article
Zoology
Joern Koehler, Ernesto Castillo-Urbina, Cesar Aguilar-Puntriano, Miguel Vences, Frank Glaw
Summary: This study investigates the taxonomic status of the strabomantid frog species Pristimantis nebulosus from Peru. The study provides evidence of the conspecificity of the holotype and freshly collected topotypes through morphological comparison. Molecular phylogenetic analysis places P. nebulosus in the P. conspicillatus species group, closely related to P. bipunctatus and an undescribed candidate species from Cordillera de Carpish. The study also describes and names the closely related candidate species and discusses cryptic species diversity in the P. conspicillatus and P. danae species groups.
ZOOSYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Miguel Vences, Moritz Armerding, Jorn Koehler, Frank Glaw
Summary: A genetic variation assessment of the Madagascar frog Blommersia blommersae revealed the presence of 12 deep genetic lineages. Multiple mitochondrial lineages with genetic differences of 1.2-1.8% in 16S were found in the Ranomafana area in Madagascar. Phylogenetic analyses supported three main mitochondrial clades within B. blommersae, and a separate lineage from Sainte Luce was identified as a new species, Blommersia dupreezi sp. nov.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY
(2023)