Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhen Ye, Jakob Damgaard, Christian W. Haedicke, Xiuxiu Zhu, Silvia A. Mazzucconi, Martin B. Hebsgaard, Tongyin Xie, Huanhuan Yang, Wenjun Bu
Summary: The water boatmen of Corixoidea, a group of aquatic bugs, diversified in Gondwana during the late Triassic and the most diverse subfamily Corixinae in Corixidae arose during the separation of Laurasia from Gondwana. The large-scale expansion of the temperate and cold zones on the northward-moving Laurasian landmass provided new aquatic niches and ecological opportunities for the rapid diversification of the Holarctic corixid lineage.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caitlin M. Baker, Rebecca S. Buckman-Young, Cristiano S. Costa, Gonzalo Giribet
Summary: RNA sequencing and phylogenomic analysis were used to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships within the phylum Onychophora, revealing a well-supported phylogeny for the family Peripatopsidae with signals of Gondwanan vicariance. However, the family Peripatidae in the Neotropical region showed unstable relationships largely due to amino acid-translated sequence data. Discordant phylogenetic signal between genes may indicate a rapid, mid-Cretaceous radiation in the group.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Claudia S. Maturana, Sebastian Rosenfeld, Elisabeth M. Biersma, Nicolas Segovia, Claudio A. Gonzalez-Wevar, Angie Diaz, Javier Naretto, Ian C. Duggan, Ian D. Hogg, Elie Poulin, Peter Convey, Jennifer A. Jackson
Summary: Boeckella originated on the Gondwanan supercontinent, diversifying and spreading to Australasia and South America. Populations in the Antarctic region descended from South American ancestors, indicating that original Antarctic Gondwanan lineages did not survive the Quaternary ice ages. The species accumulation rate of Boeckella has been decreasing since the early Eocene, possibly due to cooling trends during the Cenozoic era.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)
Article
Geology
Guilherme Cunha Ribeiro, Rodrigo dos Reis Santos, Daubian Santos
Summary: Four new species of the genus Leptotarsus in the family Tipulidae were discovered in the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil. This brings the total number of Leptotarsus species in the Crato Formation to 8. An identification key for all Cretaceous Leptotarsus species worldwide is provided in this study.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luo Chen, Wei-Tao Jin, Xin-Quan Liu, Xiao-Quan Wang
Summary: This study successfully resolved the intergeneric relationships of Podocarpaceae using a large number of nuclear and chloroplast orthologous groups, and revealed that morphological traits may have promoted its species diversification. Additionally, the results indicate that Podocarpaceae originated in Gondwana and both vicariance and dispersal have contributed to its current biogeographic patterns.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Marc Philippe, Stephen McLoughlin, Christine Strullu-Derrien, Marion Bamford, Steffen Kiel, Andre Nel, Frederic Thevenard
Summary: This article discusses the fossil evidence of biotic communities parasitic on wood and emphasizes the impact of the diversity of parasites on the deterioration of host wood and the likelihood of fossilization. The study discovered a fossil wood assemblage from the Santonian period in southeast Africa, which contains a diverse biotic community. The research interprets the evolution of the wood-hosted biocoenosis based on the fossils, traces, and other features.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
V Deepak, Simon T. Maddock, Rhiannon Williams, Zoltan T. Nagy, Werner Conradie, Sara Rocha, D. James Harris, Ana Perera, Vaclav Gvozdik, Thomas M. Doherty-Bone, Rachunliu G. Kamei, Michele Menegon, Jim Labisko, Charles Morel, Natalie Cooper, Julia J. Day, David J. Gower
Summary: The phylogenetic relationships of sub-Saharan African natricine snakes, including the Seychelles endemic Lycognathophis seychellensis, are not well-understood. Genetic analysis suggests a close relationship between L. seychellensis and mainland sub-Saharan natricines, with low genetic variation. The lineage of L. seychellensis is estimated to have dispersed to the Seychelles from mainland Africa approximately 43-25 million years ago, challenging the idea that it is a Gondwanan relic.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Geology
Daubian Santos, Ismar de Souza Carvalho, Guilherme Cunha Ribeiro
Summary: This study describes twelve new species of the genus Leptotarsus and provides an updated identification key for all Cretaceous Leptotarsus species worldwide.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yanli Che, Wenbo Deng, Weijun Li, Jiawei Zhang, Yukihiro Kinjo, Gaku Tokuda, Thomas Bourguignon, Nathan Lo, Zongqing Wang
Summary: This study investigated the phylogenetic relationships and geographical distribution of Cryptocercus, demonstrating the significant roles of both vicariance and dispersal in shaping the distribution and diversity of these woodroaches. The findings supported six major lineages of Cryptocercus with clear geographical patterns, providing evidence for multiple dispersal and vicariance events that occurred over various time periods in the evolutionary history of the genus.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Geology
Nicholas R. Longrich, Xabier Pereda Suberbiola, R. Alexander Pyron, Nour-Eddine Jalil
Summary: During the Late Cretaceous, distinct dinosaur faunas evolved in the northern and southern hemispheres, with hadrosaurid and ceratopsian ornithischians dominating Laurasian continents and titanosaurian sauropods dominating Gondwanan communities. The discovery of a new lambeosaurine hadrosaurid, Ajnabia odysseus gen. et sp. nov., in Morocco suggests dispersal of this clade from Laurasia to Gondwana through marine barriers. Oceanic dispersal played a key role in shaping Mesozoic terrestrial dinosaur faunas, similar to patterns seen in Cenozoic mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Susan Kennedy, Jerilyn Calaor, Yazmin Zurapiti, Julian Hans, Masashi Yoshimura, Juanita Choo, Jeremy C. Andersen, Jackson Callaghan, George K. Roderick, Henrik Krehenwinkel, Haldre Rogers, Rosemary G. Gillespie, Evan P. Economo
Summary: Islands, as a significant part of Earth's biodiversity, are highly sensitive to environmental changes. This study uses DNA metabarcoding and statistical modelling to investigate the diversity patterns and non-native species invasion in three Pacific archipelagos. The results largely support the predictions of island biogeography theory and show that forest habitats in the oldest archipelago, the Ryukyus, are more resilient to non-native species invasion compared to the less taxonomically rich archipelagos.
Article
Plant Sciences
Carmen Benitez-Benitez, Ana Otero, Kerry A. Ford, Pablo Garcia-Moro, Sabina Donadio, Modesto Luceno, Santiago Martin-Bravo, Pedro Jimenez-Mejias
Summary: Carex subgenus Psyllophorae is a fascinating study group with early diversification and disjunct distribution, showing the role of historical geo-climatic events in evolutionary history, particularly in South America. Divergence away from primary Gondwanan vicariance hypotheses and long-distance dispersal-mediated allopatric diversification are key aspects of the group's evolution. The trans-Pacific colonization event and niche conservatism in section Junciformes are also noteworthy findings.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geology
Natalia C. A. Brandao, Jonathas S. Bittencourt, Adolfo R. Calor, Marcio Mendes, Max C. Langer
Summary: A new genus and species of mayfly, Astraeoptera cretacica gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Lower Cretaceous limestone of the Crato Formation in Brazil. The study also reanalyzed the holotypes of two other mayfly species, resulting in taxonomical changes, and indicated the predominance of Hexagenitidae among Cretaceous mayflies in the Crato Formation.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Evolutionary Biology
Juan J. Morrone
Summary: This article introduces Willi Hennig's approach to studying the distribution patterns of Diptera in New Zealand, and discusses the significance of Lars Brundin's application of phylogenetic biogeography.
Article
Biology
Qian-Qi Zhang, Da-Ran Zheng, Edmund A. Jarzembowski, Xue-Heng Wang, Jia-Hao Li, Michael S. Engel
Summary: This study reports a new genus and species, Jurassephemera zhangi, discovered in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. This extinct genus belongs to the family Sharephemeridae and is characterized by its moderate size and unique wing venation structure. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of the diversity and paleogeographic distribution of Sharephemeridae in China.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Entomology
Jakub Prokop, Andre Nel, Michael S. Engel
Summary: The Paleozoic insect fauna provides unique insights into key innovations in insect evolution, such as the origin of wings and modifications of postembryonic development. Most contemporary insect orders originated in the Late Paleozoic, but these estimates reflect divergences between stem groups rather than the appearance of crown groups. Fossil record shows the initial radiations of extant hyperdiverse clades during the Early Permian, as well as the specialized fauna before the End Permian mass extinction.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Nobuaki Mizumoto, Thomas Bourguignon
Summary: Termites adjust their speed during tandem runs to form stable pairs and efficiently reunite after separation. However, their response to light varies depending on the species and lighting conditions.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Damien Gergonne, Romain Fougeyrollas, Chantal Poteaux, Yves Roisin, Inge Armbrecht, Jan Sobotnik, Cynthia S. Valladares Romero, Juliette M. Berthier, David Sillam-Dusses, Virginie Roy
Summary: The study reveals the presence of hybridization and incongruences between mitochondrial and nuclear genes in two related termite species observed in the sympatry zone of the western Andes. This suggests that the formation of the Andes and changes in geographical and climatic conditions have influenced the evolutionary history of these species.
ORGANISMS DIVERSITY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
David Sillam-Dusses, Vojtech Jandak, Petr Stiblik, Olivier Delattre, Thomas Chouvenc, Ondrej Balvin, Josef Cvacka, Delphine Soulet, Jiri Synek, Marek Brothanek, Ondrej Jiricek, Michael S. Engel, Thomas Bourguignon, Jan Sobotnik
Summary: The study reveals that vibration and chemical signals are the main means of alarm communication in termites and wood roaches. Vibration signals are a shared characteristic of both termites and wood roaches, while chemical signals have independently evolved in multiple cockroach groups and at least two termite species. The complexity of vibration and chemical alarm signaling patterns is correlated with phylogenetic position, food type, foraging area size, and nesting habits.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Waseem Abbas, Philip C. Withers, Theodore A. Evans
Summary: Insects use different gas exchange patterns for respiration, including continuous, cyclic, and discontinuous exchange. There is a trade-off between lower gas exchange rate and limited water loss in discontinuous exchange. This study examined gas exchange patterns and metabolic rates in the red flour beetle over a 48-hour period, finding that the beetles initially used continuous exchange, then switched to cyclic exchange with decreased metabolic rate, and finally shifted to discontinuous exchange with further decreased metabolic rate.
BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas Cherico Wanger, Barry W. Brook, Theodore Evans, Teja Tscharntke
Summary: The use of pesticides on tropical crops has increased significantly in recent decades, posing a threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services. While amphibians and reptiles are common in tropical agricultural landscapes, there are few field studies that measure the impacts of pesticides on these species. This study conducted a year-long field experiment in Indonesia and found that pesticide application cannot predict the diversity patterns of amphibians and reptiles in cocoa plantations. However, exposure to herbicides and insecticides in vegetable gardens resulted in the elimination of amphibians, while reptiles were less impacted by insecticides and unaffected by herbicides. The loss of a common amphibian species due to pesticide use suggests a strong indirect negative effect of pesticides on their role as pest-control agents. The authors recommend landscape-based Integrated Pest Management and further ecotoxicological studies on amphibians and reptiles to establish a regulatory framework and ensure the recognition and protection of their ecosystem services.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xiaoxuan Long, Yuan Peng, Qi Feng, Michael S. Engel, Chao Shi, Shuo Wang
Summary: This article reports a new genus of Dryopteridaceae based on a well-preserved fertile specimen frond in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, representing the first fossil record of Dryopteridaceae from the Mesozoic. The age of this fossil is consistent with molecular-based estimates of divergence time, and it expands our understanding of polypod fern diversity in Mesozoic forests.
PALAEOBIODIVERSITY AND PALAEOENVIRONMENTS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Fiona Walsh, Gladys Karimarra Bidu, Ngamaru Karimarra Bidu, Theodore Evans, Thelma Milangka Judson, Peter Kendrick, Alice Nampijinpa Michaels, Danae Moore, Matilda Nelson, Carolyn Oldham, Josef Schofield, Ashley Sparrow, Muuki Karimarra Taylor, Desmond Purungu Taylor, Lee Nangala Wayne, Carol Milangka Williams, Martu elders experts
Summary: Integrating Australian Aboriginal art and narratives with soil excavation data suggests that the regularly spaced bare circles in Australian arid grasslands (fairy circles) are actually termite nests used for domestic and sacred purposes by Aboriginal people. This finding highlights the importance of incorporating Indigenous knowledge in scientific research on environmental phenomena. The co-production of knowledge between different cultures can enhance the care and management of ecosystems while supporting intergenerational learning.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Geology
Ya-Ni Tang, An-Cheng Peng, Zi-Ying Wu, Michael S. Engel, Zi-Zhong Yang, Yu Liu
Summary: Although there is a diverse spider fauna in Kachin amber, species of the family Macrothelidae have been scarce. This study reports the first fossil occurrence of Macrothelidae, represented by a well-preserved adult female specimen of a new genus and species. The discovery refines existing calibration points for phylogenetic work on mygalomorph diversification and contributes to our understanding of Cretaceous spider diversity in southern Asia.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Megan J. Lewis, Jacob D. Berson, Raphael K. Didham, Theodore A. Evans
Summary: Current methods for identifying resource preferences in dung beetles do not investigate resource provisioning of offspring below ground. Researchers tested the potential for using UV-fluorescent and non-fluorescent coloured glitters as markers for tracing the origin of dung incorporated into brood balls. The results showed that glitter can be an effective marker for tracking below ground resource use and larval provisioning experiments in dung beetles.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Johanna Romero Arias, Simon Hellemans, Esra Kaymak, Pierre. D. D. Akama, Thomas Bourguignon, Yves Roisin, Rudolf. H. H. Scheffrahn, Jan Sobotnik
Summary: While new species of termites are discovered every year, the description of species that are distantly related to known termite species is rare. This paper describes Engelitermes zambo sp.n., an African Termitidae species belonging to a completely new lineage of termites, for which a new subfamily, Engelitermitinae subfam.n., is created.
SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Andre Nel, Romain Garrouste, Michael S. Engel
Summary: Eornithoica grimaldii gen. et sp. nov., the earliest known Pupipara, was discovered in the lower Eocene of the Green River Formation. This fossil, dating back to around 52 Ma, suggests that epizooic ectoparasitic flies may have originated during the Paleocene or late Cretaceous, preceding the first bats. E. grimaldii likely parasitized birds or terrestrial mammals, exhibiting plesiomorphic characteristics. This study highlights the significance of examining fossil insects under UV light for obtaining new information.
Article
Entomology
Chen-yang Cai, Erik Tihelka, Xing-yue Liu, Michael S. Engel
Summary: The exponential growth of large-scale data for Neuropterida has greatly improved our understanding of the origin and evolution of lacewings and their allies. Recent phylogenomic studies based on various data sources have provided a well-resolved and congruent phylogeny, although some interfamilial relationships remain inconsistent.