Article
Plant Sciences
Natascha D. Wagner, Pia Marincek, Loic Pittet, Elvira Hoerandl
Summary: In this study, the phylogenetic relationships of 45 Eurasian Salix species were analyzed using RAD sequencing data, infrared-spectroscopy, and morphometric data. The results showed that the molecular data were consistent with the described morphological species, supporting the inclusion of S. bicolor into S. phylicifolia. The alpine endemic S. hegetschweileri was found to be closely related to species of the section Nigricantes. The genomic structure and co-ancestry analyses revealed a geographical pattern for widespread S. myrsinifolia.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joyce Rodrigues do Prado, L. Lacey Knowles, Alexandre Reis Percequillo
Summary: This study utilized genome-wide SNP and morphometric data to apply a Bayesian model-based species delimitation in the genus Holochilus, leading to significant rearrangements of species boundaries and offering insights into the group's biogeographic history. It highlights the importance of integrative approaches in identifying evolutionary independent species and provides a critical source of data for hypotheses about the history of the biomes in the relatively understudied wetlands of South America.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Cornelia Krause, Birgit Oelschlaegel, Hafez Mahfoud, Dominik Frank, Gerard Lecocq, Lulezim Shuka, Christoph Neinhuis, Pablo Vargas, Aycan Tosunoglu, Mike Thiv, Stefan Wanke
Summary: The taxonomy of the Mediterranean Aristolochia pallida complex has been debated for decades. Phylogenetic analyses based on cpDNA sequence variation reveal that the traditional taxonomy does not align with the genetic relationships. Geographic factors play a significant role, with different lineages surviving and expanding in different refugia in the Mediterranean region. The study provides important clues to the origin and evolution of the Aristolochia pallida complex in the Mediterranean.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Carme Blanco-Gavalda, Merce Galbany-Casals, Alfonso Susanna, Santiago Andres-Sanchez, Randall J. Bayer, Christian Brochmann, Glynis V. Cron, Nicola G. Bergh, Nuria Garcia-Jacas, Abel Gizaw, Martha Kandziora, Filip Kolar, Javier Lopez-Alvarado, Frederik Leliaert, Rokiman Letsara, Lucia D. Moreyra, Sylvain G. Razafimandimbison, Roswitha Schmickl, Cristina Roquet
Summary: The Afromontane and Afroalpine areas in Africa are important biodiversity hotspots with rich plant endemics. This study focused on the plant genus Helichrysum and revealed its southern African origin and repeated colonization of the Afromontane and Afroalpine areas. The timing of these events coincide with mountain uplift and glacial cycles, suggesting their role in speciation and gene flow in the evolution of the Afroalpine flora.
Article
Ecology
Andrew C. Kraemer, Yannik E. Roell, Nate F. Shoobs, Christine E. Parent
Summary: The accumulation of functional diversity in communities is investigated in a multiscale study of land snail communities on 10 oceanic archipelagos. Consistent patterns of functional diversity across island ontogeny on all examined archipelagos indicate a common role for habitat filtering, ecological opportunity, and competition in diverse systems, leading to predictable changes in functional diversity and average morphology through island ontogeny.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Malahat Dianat, Adam Konecny, Leonid A. Lavrenchenko, Julian C. Kerbis Peterhans, Terrence C. Demos, Violaine Nicolas, David Ortiz, Josef Bryja
Summary: This study reveals that Eastern Afromontane Crocidura shrews originated in the Ethiopian Highlands and colonized other areas through a dispersal event. The Ethiopian Highlands were found to be the cradle of diversity for this group of mammals.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Ana P. B. Costa, Wayne Mcfee, Lynsey A. Wilcox, Frederick Archer, Patricia E. Rosel
Summary: The study uses an integrative approach to classify the coastal and offshore ecotypes of common bottlenose dolphins in the western North Atlantic (wNA), finding significant differences in morphology, mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, suggesting that the coastal ecotype may be a distinct species.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2022)
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matej Dolinay, Tadeas Necas, Breda M. Zimkus, Andreas Schmitz, Eric B. Fokam, Emily Moriarty Lemmon, Alan R. Lemmon, Vaclav Gvozdik
Summary: Through genomic sequence capture analysis and morphological examination, this study investigated six mtDNA lineages of the Puddle frogs species complex, revealing two divergent evolutionary lineages. The study also revealed the presence of hybridization within the species complex, forming a ladder-like phylogenetic pattern in phylogenomic analyses.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Angus D'Arcy Lawrie, Jennifer Chaplin, Lisa Kirkendale, Corey Whisson, Adrian Pinder, Musa C. Mlambo
Summary: Genetic and morphological data suggest a Gondwanan connection between the non-marine aquatic gastropod genera Coxiella, Tomichia, and Idiopyrgus. More assessment of the validity of the family Tomichiidae is needed. Coxiella is found in Australian salt lakes, Tomichia in southern Africa, and Idiopyrgus in South America. The taxonomy and diversity of these genera need to be better understood for future studies and conservation planning.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ozan Gundemir, Tomasz Szara, Ebru Eravci Yalin, Murat Karabagli, Zihni Mutlu, Osman Yilmaz, Serkan Kemal Buyukunal, Milos Blagojevic, Pere M. Pares-Casanova
Summary: From a taxonomic perspective, it is crucial to understand the differences in skull shape between species and breeds. This study identified variations in the shape of the skulls of three different cat breeds, with the orbit being the main differentiating factor. The shape of the orbit's edge has been shown to be a distinctive feature for distinguishing between cat skulls.
Article
Forestry
Kaiyu Yang, Jianghao Wu, Xinman Li, Xinbo Pang, Yangchen Yuan, Guohui Qi, Minsheng Yang
Summary: This study compared the application of traditional morphometric methods (TMMs) and geometric morphometric methods (GMMs) in the study of intraspecific leaf morphological characters of Quercus dentata. The results showed that GMMs had higher classification accuracy and could provide more information about leaf shape, while TMMs could provide more information about leaf size.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ronald Laniecki, Wojciech L. L. Magowski
Summary: This study revises the neglected mite genus Neoprotereunetes according to modern taxonomic standards. Six species previously placed in the invalid genera Protereunetes or Eupodes are transferred to Neoprotereunetes. A new genus, Antarcteupodes, is created for accommodating one Antarctic species. An identification key is provided for Neoprotereunetes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nelson Buainain, Marina F. A. Maximiano, Mateus Ferreira, Alexandre Aleixo, Brant C. Faircloth, Robb T. Brumfield, Joel Cracraft, Camila C. Ribas
Summary: This study evaluates the species limits and evolutionary history of Tunchiornis ochraceiceps, a forest songbird, using an integrative approach including plumage coloration, morphometrics, vocalization, and genomic data. The species has a relatively old crown age and comprises several lineages with little evidence of gene flow among them. The research proposes a taxonomic arrangement of four species, including a deeply divergent cryptic species.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Huacong Xi, Younan Wang, Tong Liu, Xingke Yang, Haoyu Liu, Yuxia Yang
Summary: The study identified a total of nine species within the Lycocerus fainanus species group, distributed in the subtropical regions of the Oriental area including Taiwan and the continent. The ancestral geographical range was likely located in northern Vietnam and southwest China. Species divergence was attributed to dispersal and vicariance, with some species possibly originating from Taiwan and returning to mainland China through Southeast Asia.
