Journal Description
Diversity
Diversity
is a peer-reviewed, open access journal on the science of biodiversity from molecules, genes, populations, and species, to ecosystems and is published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubAg, GEOBASE, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Biodiversity Conservation) / CiteScore - Q2 (Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous))
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 15.4 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.5 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
2.1 (2023);
5-Year Impact Factor:
2.3 (2023)
Latest Articles
Morphological and Molecular Identification of Porpita porpita (Hydrozoa: Porpitidae) Larval and Colonial Phases
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070425 - 19 Jul 2024
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Porpita porpita is a colonial polymorphic hydrozoan distributed in temperate and tropical zones. This species, like most hydrozoans, possesses a metagenetic life cycle with alternating life forms: medusa stage, polypoid colony, and planula larva. However, a characterization of its early stages of development
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Porpita porpita is a colonial polymorphic hydrozoan distributed in temperate and tropical zones. This species, like most hydrozoans, possesses a metagenetic life cycle with alternating life forms: medusa stage, polypoid colony, and planula larva. However, a characterization of its early stages of development is still lacking. For this study, an integrative description of the larval stages and the hydroid colony was performed using molecular and histologic tools. The results show that P. porpita develops through three larval stages: preplanula, planula, and premetamorphic planula. The preplanula is distinguished by an absence of polarity, the planula by differentiation of the oral–aboral poles, and the premetamorphic stage by cellular differentiation. Furthermore, two morphologies of young hydroids with different developmental patterns of gonozooids and dactylozooids were observed; notably, it was not possible to observe the gastrozooid in either. Taxonomic identification was confirmed using mitochondrial (COI) and ribosomal (18S and 28S) markers. Our analysis indicates that the COI gene exhibits higher intraspecific variability compared to the 18s and 28s rDNA ribosomal genes. The presented results support the future identification of P. porpita based on morphological characteristics, regardless of the stage of development. Specifically, they shed light on the diversity of mesozooplankton in reef communities.
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First Record of the Invasive Alien Species Rugulopteryx okamurae (Phaeophyceae, Dictyotales) along the Eastern Coast of Sicily (Italy, Mediterranean Sea): Is It Ready to Expand into the Ionian Sea?
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Giuliana Marletta, Andrea Lombardo and Donatella Serio
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070424 - 19 Jul 2024
Abstract
The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot for the introduction of non-indigenous species. Among them, invasive alien species can seriously affect the areas they colonize, not only by altering the marine food webs and community structure, but also by harming certain economic activities, such
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The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot for the introduction of non-indigenous species. Among them, invasive alien species can seriously affect the areas they colonize, not only by altering the marine food webs and community structure, but also by harming certain economic activities, such as fishing, tourism, aquaculture and marine infrastructure. Rugulopteryx okamurae is a brown macroalga considered the fourth most harmful species among the 10 most invasive species reported in the Mediterranean; in fact, it has recently been included in the list of invasive alien species of Union concern due to its serious impact on biodiversity and socioeconomic implications. This species was reported for the first time in the Mediterranean in 2002 in Thau Lagoon (France), introduced by the aquaculture of the Japanese oyster Magallana gigas. Since then, this species has spread in both the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean with a strong invasive behavior, particularly along the Strait of Gibraltar. Rugulopteryx okamurae was also recently reported for the first time in Italian waters, in the Gulf of Palermo (Sicily). In this study, we report a record of this species further to the east, in the Ionian Sea, where it has not previously been recorded, and provide possible explanations of the spreading and arrival routes in this area. The rapid expansion of R. okamurae is raising concerns; thus, in order to safeguard native communities, it is crucial to keep monitoring this invasive species so that it is possible to regularly update its distribution and follow up on its spread dynamics in the Mediterranean basin.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Italy: Past and Future Perspectives)
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Mangrove Biodiversity and Conservation: Setting Key Functional Groups and Risks of Climate-Induced Functional Disruption
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Alexander C. Ferreira, Elizabeth C. Ashton, Raymond D. Ward, Ian Hendy and Luiz D. Lacerda
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070423 - 19 Jul 2024
Abstract
Climate change (CC) represents an increasing threat to mangroves worldwide and can amplify impacts caused by local anthropogenic activities. The direct effects of CC on mangrove forests have been extensively discussed, but indirect impacts such as the alteration of ecological processes driven by
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Climate change (CC) represents an increasing threat to mangroves worldwide and can amplify impacts caused by local anthropogenic activities. The direct effects of CC on mangrove forests have been extensively discussed, but indirect impacts such as the alteration of ecological processes driven by specific functional groups of the biota are poorly investigated. Ecological roles of key functional groups (FGs) in mangroves from the Atlantic–Caribbean–East Pacific (ACEP) and Indo-West Pacific (IWP) regions are reviewed, and impacts from CC mediated by these FGs are explored. Disruption by CC of ecological processes, driven by key FGs, can reinforce direct effects and amplify the loss of ecological functionality and further degradation of mangrove forests. Biogeochemistry mediator microbiotas of the soil, bioturbators, especially semiterrestrial crabs (Ocypodoids and Grapsoids) and herbivores (crustaceans and Insects), would be the most affected FG in both regions. Effects of climate change can vary regionally in the function of the combination of direct and indirect drivers, further eroding biodiversity and mangrove resilience, and impairing the predictability of ecosystem behaviour. This means that public policies to manage and conserve mangroves, as well as rehabilitation/restoration programs, should take into consideration the pressures of CC in specific regions and the response of key FGs to these pressures.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Conservation of Mangroves)
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The Natural Infection of Freshwater Snails with the Avian Air Sac Fluke, Cyclocoelum mutabile (Trematoda: Cyclocoelidae), in Brazil
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Jordana Costa Alves de Assis and Hudson Alves Pinto
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070422 - 19 Jul 2024
Abstract
Trematodes of the family Cyclocoelidae are parasites mainly of the respiratory system of birds and present a cosmopolitan distribution. Although infection with these flukes can result in pathological changes and even bird death, information on their life cycles is scarce and almost entirely
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Trematodes of the family Cyclocoelidae are parasites mainly of the respiratory system of birds and present a cosmopolitan distribution. Although infection with these flukes can result in pathological changes and even bird death, information on their life cycles is scarce and almost entirely based on experimental infection data. Thus, the generation of knowledge on the mollusks that act as natural intermediate hosts of cyclocoelids is necessary and can aid control measures against these air sac trematodes. In the present study, gastropod mollusks collected in an urban stream from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, were subjected to the compression technique for the detection of non-emerging larval trematodes. Tailless cercariae with confluent ceca were found in 8/30 (26.7%) specimens of Biomphalaria glabrata and 3/33 (9.1%) specimen of Physella acuta. Samples of the cercariae were subjected to morphological characterization and genetic study (28S, Cox-1, and Nad-1). For comparative purposes, adult trematodes previously collected in the air sac of a common gallinule (Gallinula galeata) found dead in another waterbody from the same region were also characterized. The molecular sequences obtained revealed a high degree of similarity (100% in 28S, 99.2% in Cox-1, and 99.5% in Nad-1) between larval stages found in mollusks and adult parasites found in G. galeata and morphologically identified as Cyclocoelum mutabile. The conspecificity with this widely distributed cyclocoelid was also corroborated by phylogenetic analysis and comparison with isolates of this species previously characterized in Peru and the Czech Republic (99.4–100% and 96.7–97.0% of similarity in Nad-1, respectively). Thus, the integrative analysis carried out in the present work enabled us to identify C. mutabile in mollusks in South America for the first time. The finding of B. glabrata and P. acuta as new intermediate hosts corroborates the importance of freshwater gastropods in the transmission of C. mutabile, as well as the low specificity to the mollusk group, as previously characterized through experimental studies.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Wildlife Pathogens)
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Open AccessArticle
Estimating the Population Size of Masked Palm Civets Using Hair-Snaring in Southwest China
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Di Wang, Dan Zhang, Hongliang Bu, John B. Hopkins III, Mengyin Xiong, Dajun Wang, Meng Yao, Sheng Li and Rongjiang Wang
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070421 - 19 Jul 2024
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Mesocarnivores are major components of carnivore assemblages, and they play important roles in structuring communities and regulating community dynamics. In Southwest China, many apex predators have been extirpated, and this has potentially resulted in the ecological release of mesocarnivores. Estimating the sizes of
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Mesocarnivores are major components of carnivore assemblages, and they play important roles in structuring communities and regulating community dynamics. In Southwest China, many apex predators have been extirpated, and this has potentially resulted in the ecological release of mesocarnivores. Estimating the sizes of mesocarnivore populations is challenging. We used DNA derived from hairs and spatial capture–mark–recapture techniques to estimate the population size of masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) in Laohegou Nature Reserve in the Minshan Mountains of Sichuan Province, China. In the fall of 2014 and the spring of 2015, we collected 144 and 230 hair samples, respectively, at 30 baited stations. We used 16S rRNA fragments, microsatellite genotyping, and sexing to determine that 191 samples were derived from 44 masked palm civet individuals (24 males and 20 females). Using spatially explicit capture–recapture analysis, we estimated that there were 82 ± 13 masked palm civets in the study area, with a density of 1.7 individuals/km2. This is the first study to estimate the population size of masked palm civets in the wild. Our data provide important new information on the density of masked palm civets.
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The Role of Crop, Livestock, and Farmed Aquatic Intraspecific Diversity in Maintaining Ecosystem Services
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Agnès Bernis-Fonteneau, Devra I. Jarvis, Beate Scherf, Lukas Schütz, Yanxin Zhang, Fabio Attorre and Linda Collette
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070420 - 18 Jul 2024
Abstract
Most of the attention given to intraspecific crop, livestock, and aquaculture diversity in agricultural production systems has been targeted at their roles in providing provisioning services, such as food and fibre or their cultural services, providing non-material benefits, such as places for recreation
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Most of the attention given to intraspecific crop, livestock, and aquaculture diversity in agricultural production systems has been targeted at their roles in providing provisioning services, such as food and fibre or their cultural services, providing non-material benefits, such as places for recreation and inspiration. The additional role that intraspecific crop, livestock, and aquaculture diversity has in providing regulating and supporting ecosystem services for agricultural productivity and ecosystem resilience has been largely neglected. A literature review was carried out across sectors (crop, livestock, aquaculture), both on the counterfactual, i.e., the lack of intraspecific diversity in the production system and on the direct and indirect roles that intraspecific diversity plays in maintaining seven of the regulating and supporting ecosystem services: (i) regulating pest and diseases; (ii) maintaining and regulating water and soil quality; (iii) regulating and improving the flow of reproductive diversity; (iv) buffering excess or lack of water; (v) regulating soil erosion; (vi) nutrient cycling in water and soil; and (vii) supporting habitat maintenance. Benefits from the use of intraspecific diversity, diversity per se, and adaptive traits include a limited use of chemical inputs and unsustainable practices and their negative impact on livelihoods, ecosystem functioning, and productivity. All sectors (crop, livestock, and aquaculture) should be examined in the agricultural production system to understand the provision of the different ecosystem services by intraspecific diversity. Differences in structure, functioning, and temporal and spatial scales of these sectors should also be considered. Supporting and regulating ecosystem services often have relatively longer-term processes than food provisioning and rely not only on the current diversity but also on its presence over time. The presented regulating and supporting ecosystem services rely on the presence of the diversity from the farm to the landscape and to agroecological zone. Neglecting the additional role that intraspecific crop, livestock, and aquaculture diversity has in providing regulating and supporting ecosystem services is shown in this review to be detrimental to agricultural productivity and landscape resilience.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function)
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An Integrative Analysis of the Specific Distinctness of Valvata (Cincinna) ambigua Westerlund, 1873 and Valvata (Cincinna) piscinalis (Müller, 1774) (Gastropoda: Valvatidae)
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Maibritt Schäffer and Bernhard Hausdorf
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070419 - 18 Jul 2024
Abstract
Valvata (Cincinna) piscinalis (Müller, 1774) is a widespread and variable Palaearctic freshwater snail species. Some authors have separated more depressed forms with a wider umbilicus as a distinct species, Valvata (Cincinna) ambigua Westerlund, 1873. The latter species was described
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Valvata (Cincinna) piscinalis (Müller, 1774) is a widespread and variable Palaearctic freshwater snail species. Some authors have separated more depressed forms with a wider umbilicus as a distinct species, Valvata (Cincinna) ambigua Westerlund, 1873. The latter species was described from Scandinavia and has also been reported from Siberia and Kazakhstan and more recently from Central Europe. We conducted an integrative study of the delimitation and relationships of V. ambigua and V. piscinalis using both morphometric and molecular genetic analyses. Analyses of the morphometric data did not reveal differentiation into distinct clusters. Rather, the shell characteristics used to distinguish V. ambigua and V. piscinalis showed continuous variation. There is little variability in mitochondrial DNA sequences in the V. piscinalis complex. A median-joining network based on cytochrome oxidase sequences showed that the morphological character states supposedly characteristic of V. ambigua and V. piscinalis did not correlate with the genetic relationships of the individuals studied. We therefore consider V. ambigua to be synonymous with V. piscinalis.
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(This article belongs to the Section Animal Diversity)
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Description of the Northern Green Anaconda (Eunectes akayima sp. nov. Serpentes; Boidae): What Is in a Name?
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Jesús A. Rivas, Juliana S. Terra, Marijn Roosen, Patrick S. Champagne, Renata Leite-Pitman, Paola De La Quintana, Marco Mancuso, Luis F. Pacheco, Gordon M. Burghardt, Freek J. Vonk, Juán Elías García-Pérez, Bryan G. Fry and Sarah Corey-Rivas
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070418 - 18 Jul 2024
Abstract
While elucidating the evolutionary trajectory of green anacondas, we previously documented the existence of two distinct species, Eunectes akayima sp. nov. and Eunectes murinus (Linnaeus, 1758), that separated approximately 10 million years ago. Our research integrates a novel molecular clock approach, focuses on tectonic plate
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While elucidating the evolutionary trajectory of green anacondas, we previously documented the existence of two distinct species, Eunectes akayima sp. nov. and Eunectes murinus (Linnaeus, 1758), that separated approximately 10 million years ago. Our research integrates a novel molecular clock approach, focuses on tectonic plate movements with fossil records as minimal chronological markers, and offers a refined understanding of speciation events in relation to major biogeographical occurrences in South America. Mitochondrial DNA analysis demonstrates a significant genetic divergence between the species, which is supported by a notable difference in sexual size dimorphism (SSD) intensity between the two species, along with other morphological differences. This paper also rectifies earlier oversights in the description of the new species and clarifies taxonomic ambiguities in compliance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (henceforth ICZN). In addition, we designate a neotype for E. murinus to stabilize the group. In an effort to honor Indigenous nations, E. akayima sp. nov. derives its name from the Carib language, advocating for the inclusion of traditional names in scientific discourse. Our paper not only contributes to the taxonomic stability of anacondas but also advocates for the usage of Indigenous names in zoological nomenclature by adopting a more inclusive and flexible approach to the ICZN and eliminating unintended exclusionary practices that we have inherited in science as in other disciplines.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue DNA Barcoding for Biodiversity Conservation and Restoration)
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An Updated Checklist of the Fishes from the Upper Malagarazi (Lake Tanganyika Basin) in Burundi: Implications for an under Implementation Malagarazi Nature Reserve
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Anatole Bigirimana, Tchalondawa Kisekelwa, Luis M. da Costa, Donatien R. Muzumani, Christian Mukweze Mulelenu, Emmanuel Abwe, Gaspard Banyankimbona and Emmanuel Vreven
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070417 - 18 Jul 2024
Abstract
The upper Malagarazi (uM) Basin is situated in Southeastern Burundi and Northwestern Tanzania, and partially covered by the Malagarazi Nature Reserve (MNR). A checklist of fishes from the uM, in Burundi, is presented based on a literature review, a re-examination of historical collections,
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The upper Malagarazi (uM) Basin is situated in Southeastern Burundi and Northwestern Tanzania, and partially covered by the Malagarazi Nature Reserve (MNR). A checklist of fishes from the uM, in Burundi, is presented based on a literature review, a re-examination of historical collections, and a study of new collections (2013–2022). A total of 74 native species, including 14 endemics and two introduced Oreochromis, distributed over 38 genera and 16 families, are reported. Of the aforementioned species, 60 native (81%) and one introduced are present in the MNR. The most important families in the uM and the MNR are the Cyprinidae (21 versus 17 species, respectively) and Cichlidae (12 versus 11). Other families are represented by less than 10 species in both the uM and the MNR. Furthermore, of the 14 species endemic to the uM (19%), only eight (57%) are reported from the MNR; the others are confined to some non-included affluent rivers. Moreover, eight taxa still await formal description. Finally, as some endemic and native species are not included within the current borders of the MNR, adjustments are proposed and the need for a new protected area is considered.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Biogeography of Freshwater Fish)
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Linking Perceived Biodiversity and Restorative Benefits in Urban Parks through Place Attachment—A Case Study in Fuzhou, China
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Jingru Chen, Binsheng Wu, Kunli Dai and Jiao Yu
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070416 - 18 Jul 2024
Abstract
Enhanced understanding of environmental restoration can be achieved by examining how urban park visitors’ perceptions of biodiversity contribute to their sense of environmental rejuvenation. In this study, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 554 visitors from five representative urban parks in Fuzhou, China,
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Enhanced understanding of environmental restoration can be achieved by examining how urban park visitors’ perceptions of biodiversity contribute to their sense of environmental rejuvenation. In this study, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 554 visitors from five representative urban parks in Fuzhou, China, and a structural equation model was used to explore the interactions among perceived biodiversity, place attachment, and self-rated repair. The main findings were as follows: (1) Perceived biodiversity had significant positive and direct effects on place dependence and self-rated restoration, but not on place identity. It is worth noting that place dependence has a deep and direct impact on place identity. (2) Self-rated restoration could be directly influenced by perceived biodiversity and place dependence. The direct impact of perceived biodiversity showed more intensity than place dependence. (3) Place dependence can be the only intermediary or link in the chain between perceived biodiversity and self-rated restoration. Conversely, place identity may not act as an independent intermediary but can play a key role in the chain of intermediaries. The study not only advances our understanding of the complex relationship between perceived biodiversity, place attachment, and self-assessed restoration; it also provides practical implications for urban green eco-design initiatives, thereby contributing to the field of urban landscape planning and formulation.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity in 2024)
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Age Determination of Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussels (Gonidea angulata) in the Okanagan Basin, Canada
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Paul Grant, Joy Wade, Todd R. Lewis, Rowshyra A. Castañeda, Emma Branquinho, Sean MacConnachie, Stephen Wischniowski and Barbara Campbell
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070415 - 18 Jul 2024
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems and the biodiversity they support are facing unprecedented threats, exemplified by broad declines of freshwater mussels within a global biodiversity hotspot. The Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel (Gonidea angulata) is an at-risk species in Canada, with limited information on population
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Freshwater ecosystems and the biodiversity they support are facing unprecedented threats, exemplified by broad declines of freshwater mussels within a global biodiversity hotspot. The Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel (Gonidea angulata) is an at-risk species in Canada, with limited information on population age structure. Maximum age of the species was found to be 50 years, by counting winter annuli and validated by isotopic oxygen analysis. Employing a Bayesian Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM), results showed mussels from river habitat were predicted to have faster growth rates than mussels from lake habitats, highlighting the impact of local environmental conditions, including temperature variations, primary productivity, and water quality, on mussel growth dynamics. Of concern was the limited evidence of juvenile recruitment, with the majority of specimens potentially representing an ageing population. This pattern potentially signals an early warning of impending population decline. Our results underscore the necessity of monitoring age structure as a vital component of assessing population health of freshwater mussels and the importance of understanding local environmental conditions when determining age.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Population Ecology and Protection of Freshwater Mussels)
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A New Intriguing Teleost from the Albian Muhi Quarry, Central Mexico, and Early Euteleostean Diversification
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Gloria Arratia and Katia A. González-Rodríguez
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070414 - 17 Jul 2024
Abstract
The Albian Muhi Quarry of Central Mexico has produced a variety of fishes, among which the teleosts are the most diversified, including representatives of stem groups together with a variety of crown groups. A new genus and species, †Xeneichthys yanesi, is described
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The Albian Muhi Quarry of Central Mexico has produced a variety of fishes, among which the teleosts are the most diversified, including representatives of stem groups together with a variety of crown groups. A new genus and species, †Xeneichthys yanesi, is described based on a unique combination of characters, such as a dorsoventral elongation and narrowing of infraorbitals 2 and 3, preopercle, opercle, and cleithrum; absence of some bones, such as the infraorbital 5, interopercle, and pelvic plate and fin; presence of an elongated urostyle and a membranous outgrowth or stegural on the first uroneural; and cycloid and ctenoid scales on the flanks. Due to its combination of characters, †Xeneichthys yanesi is interpreted as belonging to a new extinct family, †Xeneichthyidae, which is considered as an Euteleostei or Euteleosteomorpha incertae sedis. The fish faunas of another Albian quarry, Tlayúa of Tepexi de Rodriguez, Puebla, and Muhi Quarry are compared, and although both contain taxa that can be assigned to stem teleosts (e.g., †ichthyodectiforms and †crossognathiforms), both also contain crown teleosts (e.g., elopomorphs, clupeomorphs, and euteleosts)—all of which are endemic to their respective quarries and make them important centers of diversification of fish faunas during the Early Cretaceous.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity, Biogeography and Evolution of Actinopterygians)
Open AccessArticle
Genetic Diversity of the Common Black Carp Strain (Cyprinus carpio var. baisenensis)
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Sahr Lamin Sumana, Yu Liao, Chengfeng Zhang, Xiaojun Jing, Jian Zhu, Yongkai Tang, Wenting Liu and Shengyan Su
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070413 - 17 Jul 2024
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The Common Black Carp Strain (Cyprinus carpio var. baisenensis), known for its black skin, is commonly cultured in the integrated rice-agriculture (IRA) system in Guangxi province, China. This study aimed to compare the genetic diversity of three common carp strains/populations (Common
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The Common Black Carp Strain (Cyprinus carpio var. baisenensis), known for its black skin, is commonly cultured in the integrated rice-agriculture (IRA) system in Guangxi province, China. This study aimed to compare the genetic diversity of three common carp strains/populations (Common Black Carp Strain, Huanghe, and Songpu) using resequencing data. The genome-based method reveals a significant difference (p < 0.05) in identified loci and SNP frequency (p < 1 × 10−6) between the Songpu (Sp) or mirror carp and Huanghe (Hh) new strain. Additionally, the Common Black Carp Strain (Bk) exhibits a higher number of Tajima’s D values, possibly due to its population size and mutations within its entire genome. The average value of population nucleotide diversity (π) for the Bk is 1.706 × 10−4 while the mean number for the Hh and Sp strains is 1.691 × 10−4 Heterozygosity analysis results indicate that the Bk has the highest F coefficient compared to the Sp and Hh hybrids. This suggests that the isolated population of the Bk may have experienced a decrease in population size as a result of environmental disturbances in the IRA system. PCA results further reveal that all individuals of the Bk, except for one, are clustered together, while individuals of the Hh form a separate group. On the other hand, Sp displays a distinct distribution pattern. The comparative study of the genetic diversity of the Bk provides baseline data on its genome makeup. Assessing genetic diversity and genetic structure is critical for fisheries management and the conservation of critically endangered fish species.
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Open AccessArticle
Habitat Suitability Analysis and Future Distribution Prediction of Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in the Qinling Mountains, China
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Qi Ma, Huihui Zhang, Jiechao Liu, Yiman Guo and Kang Liu
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070412 - 16 Jul 2024
Abstract
Climate change has triggered a series of global problems, posing a huge threat to the distribution of many plants and animals, especially endangered species such as the giant panda. Therefore, predicting the distribution of habitat quality under climate change conditions is of great
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Climate change has triggered a series of global problems, posing a huge threat to the distribution of many plants and animals, especially endangered species such as the giant panda. Therefore, predicting the distribution of habitat quality under climate change conditions is of great significance for protecting these species. In this study, we examined the correlation between suitable habitat index and ecosystem services using 260 occurrence records and 13 environmental factors with giant pandas as the model species. The species distribution models can also be employed to predict and compare the potential geographical distribution of giant pandas at present and in the 2050s and 2090s in the Qinling Mountains of Shaanxi Province. The results show the following: (1) The relationship between suitable habitat index and ecosystem services of giant panda is not uniform. (2) From 2040 to 2100, the existing habitats may decrease by 47.8% to 98.5%. (3) The main direction of change in the center of the distribution of the giant panda’s habitat is to migrate first eastward and then northwestward. Our results regarding the potential distribution pattern of giant pandas in the Qinling Mountains and their response to climate change can provide important references for optimizing the conservation and habitat management of wild giant pandas in the Qinling Mountains.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Activities on Mammal Biodiversity)
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The Genetic Characterization of the Canarian Endemic Palm (Phoenix canariensis) by Simple Sequence Repeats and Chloroplast Markers: A Tool for the Molecular Traceability of Phoenix Hybridization
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Isabel Saro, Priscila Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Diego Rivera, Concepción Obón, Fredérique Aberlenc, Antonio Díaz-Pérez, Salwa Zehdi-Azouzi, Leticia Curbelo and Pedro A. Sosa
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070411 - 16 Jul 2024
Abstract
The endemic palm from the Canary Islands, Phoenix canariensis, is one of the most distinctive elements of the Canarian vegetation landscape, contributing to cultural, economic and environmental aspects. One of the main conservation problems facing this iconic palm is anthropogenic hybridization with
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The endemic palm from the Canary Islands, Phoenix canariensis, is one of the most distinctive elements of the Canarian vegetation landscape, contributing to cultural, economic and environmental aspects. One of the main conservation problems facing this iconic palm is anthropogenic hybridization with other Phoenix species, particularly Phoenix dactylifera, which has been introduced extensively throughout its geographical range. Therefore, it is important to obtain a genetic tool that addresses different issues that may have an impact on the protection of P. canariensis, including ornamental applications and wild population conservation purposes. Our main goals were to detect a molecular tracer that could reliably distinguish between Phoenix canariensis and P. dactylifera in the Canary archipelago and to characterize the presence and extent of genetic hybridization events between the two species. We used 19 nuclear microsatellites and 1 chloroplast minisatellite set and analysed a large sample size (N = 433) of plants using both Bayesian methods and ordination techniques. Our data showed that a set of 13 nuclear markers revealed diagnostic alleles for P. canariensis, which were defined as the Canarian nuclear genotype (CNG). Moreover, P. canariensis exhibited an exclusive chlorotype of 266 bp that together with the GNC serve as an indicator of genetic purity in the Canarian palm. These markers are sufficient to detect any hybrid, even if it is not related to morphological differences. The occurrence of a considerable number of specimens with different degrees of hybridization is discussed in terms of the existence of different generations of hybrids and different types of crosses. Thus, the genetic tracers represent an invaluable tool to address any proposal for the genetic conservation of Phoenix canariensis.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Diversity Hotspots in the 2020s)
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Root-Zone Bacterial Diversity in Field-Grown Individual Plants from Alfalfa Lines with Wild Relatives in Their Genetic Backgrounds
by
Michalis Omirou, Urania Michaelidou, Dionysia A. Fasoula, Alan Humphries, Benjamin Kilian and Ioannis M. Ioannides
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070410 - 15 Jul 2024
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Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a vitally important perennial fodder legume worldwide. Given their particular traits, alfalfa crop wild relatives (CWRs) could be used to develop cultivars that can tolerate extreme environmental and climatic conditions. Until now, researchers have overlooked the composition
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Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a vitally important perennial fodder legume worldwide. Given their particular traits, alfalfa crop wild relatives (CWRs) could be used to develop cultivars that can tolerate extreme environmental and climatic conditions. Until now, researchers have overlooked the composition and structure of bacterial communities in the root zone of alfalfa and its relevant CWRs and their influence on forage performance under actual field conditions. In this study, high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA analysis was performed to investigate the diversity and assemblies of bacterial communities in the bulk soil and in the root zone of individual field-grown Medicago plants arranged in a honeycomb selection design. The plants used in this study were M. sativa × M. arborea hybrids (Genotypes 6 and 8), the closely-related M. sativa nothosubsp. varia (Martyn) Arcang. (Genotype 13), and M. sativa ssp. sativa (Genotype 20). The bacterial communities in the root-zone samples and the assemblies in the bulk soil differed significantly. Genotype 13 was found to have distinct bacterial assemblies from the other genotypes while exhibiting the lowest forage productivity. These findings suggest that plant productivity may influence the composition of bacterial communities in the root zone. Biomarker analysis conducted using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) revealed that only members of the Rhizobiales order were enriched in the M. sativa nothosubsp. varia root zone whereas taxa belonging to Sphingomonas and various Bacteriodota were enriched in the other genotypes. Of the shared taxa identified in the root zone of the Medicago lines, the abundance of specific taxa, namely, Flavisolibacter, Stenotrophomonas, and Sphingomonas, were positively associated with forage yield. This pioneering study, in which the root zones of individual Medicago plants under actual field conditions were examined, offers evidence of differences in the bacterial composition of alfalfa genotypes with varying genetic backgrounds. Its findings indicate that particular bacterial taxa may favorably influence plant performance. This study covered the first six months of crop establishment and paves the way for further investigations to advance understanding of how shifts in bacterial assemblies in alfalfa roots affect plant performance over time.
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Open AccessArticle
Effects of Seasonality on the Large and Medium-Sized Mammal Community in Mountain Dry Forests
by
Carmen Julia Quiroga-Pacheco, Ximena Velez-Liendo and Andreas Zedrosser
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070409 - 14 Jul 2024
Abstract
Seasonality drives natural processes, impacting environmental factors like temperature and resource availability, leading to shifts in wildlife communities. The Andean dry forests exhibit a marked seasonality, with a dry and cold season (May–September) and a warm, wet season (October–April). In a year-long remote
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Seasonality drives natural processes, impacting environmental factors like temperature and resource availability, leading to shifts in wildlife communities. The Andean dry forests exhibit a marked seasonality, with a dry and cold season (May–September) and a warm, wet season (October–April). In a year-long remote camera survey in Southern Bolivia, we identified 29 medium to large mammal species, 18 outside their known distribution ranges. While overall species richness remained stable, photographic records varied between seasons. Capture rates, reflecting species richness and abundance, were more influenced by season and habitat. Wet season rates were lower, but higher in all other habitats compared to the mountain bush and grasslands. Rates increased with altitude and distance to hiking trails, but decreased with increasing distance from main roads. Medium to large mammals were more active during the dry season, indicating adjustments in response to seasonal changes. Our results suggest a cumulative impact of various factors beyond mere seasonality, and call for adjustments in global species distributions. Moreover, emphasize the need for biodiversity monitoring in dry forest habitats, particularly regarding responses to environmental shifts and human-induced alterations.
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(This article belongs to the Section Animal Diversity)
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Temporal Variation in and Influence of Environmental Variables on a Lepidopteran Community in a Mediterranean Mid-Mountain Area
by
Pedro M. Bernabé-Ruiz, Francisco J. Jiménez-Nieva and Juan C. Pérez-Quintero
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070408 - 14 Jul 2024
Abstract
The temporal variation in a community of nocturnal and diurnal Lepidoptera was studied in a Mediterranean mid-mountain area of the SW Iberian Peninsula between 2017 and 2019. Monthly samplings that allowed for the identification of 3528 specimens, belonging to 373 species from 40
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The temporal variation in a community of nocturnal and diurnal Lepidoptera was studied in a Mediterranean mid-mountain area of the SW Iberian Peninsula between 2017 and 2019. Monthly samplings that allowed for the identification of 3528 specimens, belonging to 373 species from 40 different families, also provided data on the temporal and seasonal variation in richness and the abundance (dominated by Geometridae and Noctuidae), diet type (mainly oligophagous), voltinism (mostly univoltine) and biogeography of the community, primarily Mediterranean in scope. Richness, abundance and diversity were also found to be highly positively correlated with temperature and solar radiation, and less negatively correlated with precipitation and humidity. Canonical correspondence analyses (CCAs) also indicate that temperature and radiation are the climatic variables with the greatest influence on species occurrence over the different months of the year. The CCAs gave a cumulative variance value of 84.79% when using the monthly mean values of temperature, solar radiation and minimum relative humidity, and 86.4% if only monovoltine species were considered. Guidelines to maintain diversity in the environment of the study area are provided. It is possible that the area may function as a refuge area for Lepidoptera in the face of climate change and deforestation that are occurring in the geographical environment.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogeography and Diversity of Butterflies and Moths)
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Deep-Sea Ophiuroids (Echinodermata; Ophiuroidea) from the Avilés Canyon System: Seven New Records for the Spanish North Atlantic Marine Subdivision
by
Aurora Macías-Ramírez, Laura M. García-Guillén and M. Eugenia Manjón-Cabeza
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070407 - 14 Jul 2024
Abstract
The Avilés Canyon System (ACS) is located in the southern Bay of Biscay (northern Spain, Cantabrian Sea). It has been declared a Site of Community Importance (SCI: C ESZZ12003) within the Natura 2000 Network and recognized as a Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME). This
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The Avilés Canyon System (ACS) is located in the southern Bay of Biscay (northern Spain, Cantabrian Sea). It has been declared a Site of Community Importance (SCI: C ESZZ12003) within the Natura 2000 Network and recognized as a Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME). This area is included in the North Atlantic Marine Subdivision (NAMD). The present study reviews ophiuroid fauna collected during the INDEMARES–ACS project and compares the new findings with previous studies using the Official Spanish Checklist (“Inventario Español de Especies Marinas”) to update our knowledge on the diversity and distribution of these species. During the surveys carried out within the LIFE + INDEMARES–Avilés Canyon System project (2010–2012), a total of 7413 specimens belonging to 45 ophiuroid species were collected from 50 stations in a depth range between 266 and 2291 m. The most frequent species was Ophiactis abyssicola (M. Sars, 1861). Comparing the identified species with public datasets, seven species should be considered as new records for NAMD: Ophiocten centobi Paterson, Tyler & Gage, 1982, Amphiura borealis (G.O. Sars, 1872), Amphiura fragilis Verrill, 1885, Ophiochondrus armatus (Koehler, 1907), Ophiosabine parcita (Koehler, 1906), Ophiophrixus spinosus (Storm, 1881), Ophiotreta valenciennesi (Lyman, 1879). Furthermore, one species has expanded its bathymetric range: Ophiosabine parcita (Koehler, 1906).
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deep-Sea Echinoderms of the European Seas)
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Phylogeographic Relationships Reveal the Origin of an Introduced Population of the Dalmatian Algyroides (Reptilia: Lacertidae) into Southern Italy
by
Elisavet-Aspasia Toli, Dimitra Sergiadou, Piero Carlino, Anastasios Bounas, Miguel A. Carretero, Riccardo Castiglia, D. James Harris, Chrysoula Papadaki, Olivier S. G. Pauwels, Lidija Leković and Konstantinos Sotiropoulos
Diversity 2024, 16(7), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16070406 - 14 Jul 2024
Abstract
The genetic structure and dispersal dynamics of reptile populations are profoundly influenced by natural processes and human activities. While natural dispersal is shaped by species’ characteristics and paleogeographical features, human-mediated translocations have become increasingly prevalent, posing ecological challenges. Mitochondrial genetic markers have been
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The genetic structure and dispersal dynamics of reptile populations are profoundly influenced by natural processes and human activities. While natural dispersal is shaped by species’ characteristics and paleogeographical features, human-mediated translocations have become increasingly prevalent, posing ecological challenges. Mitochondrial genetic markers have been pivotal in untangling invasion pathways for various species. Our study focuses on the Dalmatian Algyroides, Algyroides nigropunctatus (Duméril & Bibron, 1839), a lizard species endemic to the Balkan Peninsula, where recent observations in the Apulian region of Italy suggest an introduced population. Genetic analyses employing two mtDNA markers (16S and ND4 genes) elucidate the phylogenetic relationships of the Dalmatian Algyroides and trace the geographic origin of the introduced population. Our findings reveal areas in western Greece and southwestern Albania as the most probable areas of the source population, while we identify two previously undetected geographical lineages in the native range, highlighting the complex evolutionary history of the species in the region. Additionally, indications of potential glacial refugia and post-glacial dispersal patterns shed more light on the species’ demographic dynamics.
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(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Phylogeny and Evolution)
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