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Fig. 14 in Revision, Phylogenetic, Biogeographic, And Host Analyses Of The Endemic Western North American Phymatopsallus Group, With The Description Of 9 New Genera And 15 New Species (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae)

Fig. 14. Ceratopsallus aquilonius: Male genitalia (AMNH_PBI 00071636).

Map 4 in Revision, Phylogenetic, Biogeographic, And Host Analyses Of The Endemic Western North American Phymatopsallus Group, With The Description Of 9 New Genera And 15 New Species (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae)

Map 4. Distribution of Ceratopsallus quercicola–C. vauqueliniae.

Map 2 in Revision, Phylogenetic, Biogeographic, And Host Analyses Of The Endemic Western North American Phymatopsallus Group, With The Description Of 9 New Genera And 15 New Species (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae)

Map 2. Distribution of Bisulcopsallus spp.

Fig. 7 in Revision, Phylogenetic, Biogeographic, And Host Analyses Of The Endemic Western North American Phymatopsallus Group, With The Description Of 9 New Genera And 15 New Species (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae)

Fig. 7. Bisulcopsallus fulvipunctatus: Male genitalia (AMNH_PBI 00068495; entire vesica drawn at

Map 1 in Revision, Phylogenetic, Biogeographic, And Host Analyses Of The Endemic Western North American Phymatopsallus Group, With The Description Of 9 New Genera And 15 New Species (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae: Phylinae)

Map 1. Distribution of Angelopsallus and Arizonapsallus spp.

opencc-zeroNov 2023View details →

Diversity of endemic cold-water amphipods threatened by climate warming in northwestern China

Aim: Climate change threatens freshwater faunal diversity. To prioritize areas for conservation, patterns in the distribution of species must be understood. We apply genetic analysis and species distribution models to identify patterns in the distribution of freshwater amphipods around Xinjiang, China, and project the impact of climate change on endemic species. Location: Xinjiang, China. Methods: A time-calibrated tree containing 37 freshwater amphipod molecular samples from Xinjiang is built to calculate phylogenetic diversity, the standardized effect sizes of phylogenetic diversity, weighted endemism, and phylogenetic endemism, in 100 × 100 km grid cells. Niche differentiation among species in an area of high phylogenetic endemism is explored using n-dimensional hypervolumes and principal components analyses. Present-day and projected future suitability of habitat of endemic freshwater amphipod species is described using species distribution models. Results: Areas of high freshwater amphipod diversity occur along the western boundary of Xinjiang; Areas north of Irtysh River, Tian Shan mountains, and the eastern margin of Pamir, have high phylogenetic endemism. Seasonal temperature and average annual water temperature contribute most to niche differentiation between geographically related freshwater species, negatively affect the projected distributions of endemic amphipods, and with continued warming, reduce future range distributions or latitudinal shifts of species. Main Conclusions: High freshwater amphipod phylogenetic endemism occurs in Xinjiang. Environmental factors are responsible for niche differentiation of endemic species. Future climate change will substantially affect the geographic distributions of endemic amphipods. Conservation efforts should be prioritized in areas with highly concentrated phylogenetic endemism.

opencc-zeroNov 2023View details →

Data from: Evidence for hybridisation-driven heteroplasmy maintained across generations in a ricefish endemic to a Wallacean ancient lake

Heteroplasmy, the presence of multiple mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes within cells of an individual, is caused by mutation or paternal leakage. However, heteroplasmy is usually resolved to homoplasmy within a few generations because of germ-line bottlenecks; therefore, instances of heteroplasmy are limited in nature. Here, we report heteroplasmy in the ricefish species Oryzias matanensis, endemic to Lake Matano, an ancient lake in Sulawesi Island, in which one individual was known to have many heterozygous sites in the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) gene. In this study, we cloned the ND2 gene for some additional individuals with heterozygous sites and demonstrated that they are truly heteroplasmic. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the extra haplotype within the heteroplasmic O. matanensis individuals clustered with haplotypes of O. marmoratus, a congeneric species inhabiting adjacent lakes. This indicated that the heteroplasmy originated from paternal leakage due to interspecific hybridisation. The extra haplotype was unique and contained two nonsynonymous substitutions. These findings demonstrate that this hybridisation-driven heteroplasmy was maintained across generations for a long time to the extent that the extra mitochondria evolved within the new host.

opencc-by-4.0Nov 2023View details →

Dataset of five citizen science platforms with reagards endemic bird species of the Atlantic Forest

Data on the contribution of observers of five different citizen science platforms in Brazil (eBird, WikiAves, Biofaces, iNaturalist, and Táxeus) related to endemic bird species in the Atlantic Forest.

opencc-zeroNov 2023View details →

Quantitative disease resistance in wild Silene vulgaris to its endemic pathogen Microbotryum silenes-inflatae collection sites

Details presented on the collections sites of Silene vulgaris seeds from natural populations, for use in the study, Quantitative Disease Resistance in wild Silene vulgaris to its Endemic Pathogen Microbotryum silenes-inflatae. In this study the seeds were collected a mixed half and full sibling families (seeds from the same maternal plants) and used to produce plants that were then cloned by vegetative cuttings. The infection rates of these clones, as well as of their F1 offspring, by the fungus Microbotryum silenes-inflatae are also presented.

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2023View details →

FIG. 4 in Honoring Jeanne Baret: Baretia lanata Timaná, comb. nov. (Caryophyllaceae), a new endemic genus and species combination for the Flora of Chile

FIG. 4. — Map of known distribution of Baretia lanata (Phil.) Timaná, comb. nov.

opencc-zeroJan 2024View details →

Data from: mapping endemic freshwater fish richness to identify high priority areas for conservation: an ecoregion approach

Freshwater ecosystems are experiencing accelerating global biodiversity loss. Thus, knowing where these unique ecosystems' species richness reaches a peak can facilitate their conservation planning. By hosting more than 290 freshwater fishes, Iran is a major freshwater fish hotspot in the Middle East. Considering the accelerating rate of biodiversity loss, there is an urgent need to identify species rich areas and understanding of the mechanisms driving biodiversity distribution. In this study, we gathered distribution records of all endemic freshwater fishes of Iran (85 species) to develop their richness map and determine the most critical drivers of their richness patterns from an ecoregion approach. We performed a generalized linear model (GLM) with quasi-Poisson distribution to identify contemporary and historical determinants of endemic freshwater fish richness. We also quantified endemic fish similarity among the 15 freshwater ecoregions of Iran. Results showed that endemic freshwater fish richness is highest in the Zagros Mountains while moderate level of richness was observed between Zagros and Alborz Mountains. High, moderate and low richness of endemic freshwater fish match with Upper Tigris & Euphrates, Namak, and Kavir & Lut Deserts ecoregions respectively. Kura - South Caspian Drainages and Caspian Highlands were the most similar ecoregions and Orumiyeh was the most unique ecoregion according to endemic fish presence. Precipitation and precipitation change velocity since the Last Glacial Maximum were the most important predictors of endemic freshwater fish richness. Areas identified to have the highest species richness have high priority for the conservation of freshwater fish in Iran, therefore, should be considered in future protected areas development.

opencc-zeroJan 2024View details →

Supplemental Data for: Lineage diversification and rampant hybridization among subspecies explain taxonomic confusion in the endemic Hawaiian fern Polypodium pellucidum

Premise: Polypodium pellucidum, a fern endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, encompasses a broad spectrum of morphological and ecological variation, suggesting a complex history involving divergence and hybridization. In contrast to angiosperm systems, spore dispersal in ferns presents a unique opportunity to study how highly dispersible organisms diversify in the dynamic landscape of the archipelago. Key Results: We infer P. pellucidum is monophyletic, dispersing to the Hawaiian archipelago 11.53 to 7.77 Mya, with diversification into extant clades 5.66 to 4.73 Mya. We identify four non-hybrid clades with unique morphologies, ecological niches, and distributions. Additionally, we elucidate several intraspecific hybrid combinations and evidence for undiscovered or extinct 'ghost' lineages contributing to extant hybrids populations. Conclusions: We provide a roadmap for revising the taxonomy of P. pellucidum to account for cryptic lineages and intraspecific hybrids. Geologic succession of the Hawaiian Islands through cycles of volcanism, vegetative succession, and erosion has determined the available habitats and distribution of ecologically specific divergent clades within P. pellucidum, with intraspecific hybrids arising as a result of ecological and or geological transitions, often persisting after the local extinction of their progenitors. This research contributes to our understanding of the evolution of Hawaii's diverse fern flora and allows for better conservation efforts that are often complicated by the presence of cryptic taxa and hybridization.

Data from: Abundance models of endemic birds of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, northern South America, suggest small population sizes and dependence on montane elevations

Abundance measures are almost non-existent for several bird species threatened with extinction, particularly range-restricted Neotropical taxa, for which estimating population sizes can be challenging. Here we use data collected over nine years to explore the abundance of 11 endemic birds from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM), one of Earth's most irreplaceable ecosystems. We established 99 transects in the "Cuchilla de San Lorenzo" Important Bird Area within native forest, early successional vegetation, and areas of transformed vegetation by human activities. A total of 763 bird counts were carried out covering the entire elevation range in the study area (~175–2650 m). We applied hierarchical distance-sampling models to assess elevation- and habitat-related variation in local abundance and obtain values of population density and total and effective population size. Most species were more abundant in the montane elevational range (1800–2650 m). Habitat-related differences in abundance were only detected for five species, which were more numerous in either early succession, secondary forest, or transformed areas. Inferences of effective population size indicated that at least four endemics likely maintain populations no larger than 15,000–20,000 mature individuals. Estimates of species' area of occupancy and effective population size were lower than most values previously described, a possible consequence of increasing anthropogenic threats. At least four of the endemics exceeded criteria for threatened species listing and a thorough evaluation of their extinction risk should be conducted. Population strongholds for most of the study species were located on the northern and western slopes of the SNSM between 1500–2700 m. We highlight the urgent need for facilitating effective protection of native vegetation in premontane and montane ecosystems to safeguard critical habitats for the SNSM's endemic avifauna. Follow-up studies collecting abundance data across the SNSM are needed to obtain precise range-wide density estimations for all species.

Data from: Past volcanic activity predisposes an endemic threatened seabird to negative anthropogenic impacts

Humans are regularly cited as the main driver of current biodiversity extinction, but the impact of historic volcanic activity is often overlooked. Pre-human evidence of wildlife abundance and diversity are essential for disentangling anthropogenic impacts from natural events. Réunion Island, with its intense and well-documented volcanic activity, endemic biodiversity, long history of isolation and recent human colonization, provides an opportunity to disentangle these processes. We track past demographic changes of a critically endangered seabird, the Mascarene petrel Pseudobulweria aterrima, using genome-wide SNPs. Coalescent modeling suggested that a large ancestral population underwent a substantial population decline in two distinct phases, ca. 125,000 and 37,000 years ago, coinciding with periods of major eruptions of Piton des Neiges. Subsequently, the ancestral population was fragmented into the two known colonies, ca. 1,500 years ago, following eruptions of Piton de la Fournaise. In the last century, both colonies declined significantly due to anthropogenic activities, and although the species was initially considered extinct, it was rediscovered in the 1970s. Our findings suggest that the current conservation status of wildlife on volcanic islands should be firstly assessed as a legacy of historic volcanic activity, and thereafter by the increasing anthropogenic impacts, which may ultimately drive species towards extinction.

Data from: Lineage diversity within a widespread endemic Australian skink to better inform conservation in response to regional-scale disturbance

This dataset was used to examine the phylogeographic genetic structure of Eastern three lined skink Bassiana duperreyi. It comprises SNP data used for population genetics and phylogenetic reconstruction. The data were used to provide foundational work for the detailed taxonomic re-evaluation of this species complex and to reinforce the need for biodiversity assessment to include an examination of cryptic species and/or cryptic diversity below the level of species. Such information on lineage diversity within species and its distribution in the context of disturbance at a regional scale can be factored into conservation planning regardless of whether a decision is made to formally diagnose new species taxonomically and nomenclaturally.

Alignment of mitogenome sequences (FASTA file) for a paleogenomic investigation of overharvest implications in an endemic wild reindeer subspecies

Overharvest can severely reduce the abundance and distribution of a species and thereby impact its genetic diversity and threaten its future viability. Overharvest remains an ongoing issue for Arctic mammals, which due to climate change now also confront one of the fastest changing environments on Earth. The high-Arctic Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), endemic to Svalbard, experienced a harvest-induced demographic bottleneck that occurred during the 17–20th centuries. Here we investigate changes in genetic diversity, population structure, and gene-specific differentiation during and after this overharvesting event. Using whole-genome shotgun sequencing, we generated the first ancient and historical nuclear (n = 11) and mitochondrial (n = 18) genomes from Svalbard reindeer (up to 4000 BP) and integrated these data with a large collection of modern genome sequences (n = 90), to infer temporal changes. We show that hunting resulted in major genetic changes and restructuring in reindeer populations. Near-extirpation followed by pronounced genetic drift have altered the allele frequencies of important genes contributing to diverse biological functions. Median heterozygosity was reduced by 23%, while the mitochondrial genetic diversity was reduced only to a limited extent, likely due to already low pre-harvest diversity and a complex post-harvest recolonization process. Such genomic erosion and genetic isolation of populations due to past anthropogenic disturbance will likely play a major role in metapopulation dynamics (i.e., extirpation, recolonization) under further climate change. Our results from a high-arctic case study therefore emphasize the need to understand the long-term interplay of past, current, and future stressors in wildlife conservation.

The conservation genetics of Iris lacustris (Dwarf Lake Iris), a Great Lakes endemic

Iris lacustris, a northern Great Lakes endemic, is a rare species known from 165 occurrences across Lake Michigan and Huron in the United States and Canada. Due to multiple factors, including habitat loss, lack of seed dispersal, patterns of reproduction, and forest succession, the species is threatened. Early population genetic studies using isozymes and allozymes recovered no to limited genetic variation within the species. To better explore genetic variation across the geographic range of I. lacustris and to identify units for conservation, we used tunable Genotyping-by-Sequencing (tGBS) with 171 individuals across 24 populations from Michigan and Wisconsin, and because the species is polyploid, we filtered the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) matrices using polyRAD to recognize diploid and tetraploid loci. Based on multiple population genetic approaches, we resolved three to four population clusters that are geographically structured across the two ranges of the species. The species migrated from west to east across its geographic range, and minimal genetic exchange has occurred among populations. Four units for conservation are recognized, but nine adaptive units were identified, providing evidence for local adaptation across the geographic range of the species. Population genetic analyses with all, diploid, and tetraploid loci recovered similar results, which suggests that methods may be robust to variation in ploidy level.

opencc-zeroMar 2024View details →

Considerable genetic diversity and structure despite narrow endemism and limited ecological specialization in the Hayden's ringlet, Coenonympha haydenii

Understanding the processes that underlie the development of population genetic structure is central to the study of evolution. Patterns of genetic structure can reveal signatures of isolation by distance, barriers to gene flow, or even the genesis of speciation. However, it is unclear how severe range restriction might impact the processes that dominate the development of genetic structure. In narrow endemic species, is population structure likely to be adaptive in nature, or rather the result of genetic drift? In this study, we investigated patterns of genetic diversity and structure in the narrow endemic Hayden's ringlet butterfly. Specifically, we asked to what degree genetic structure in the Hayden's ringlet can be explained by isolation by distance, isolation by resistance (in the form of geographic or ecological barriers to migration between populations), and isolation by environment (in the form of differences in host plant availability and preference). We employed a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach coupled with host preference assays, Bayesian modeling, and population genomic analyses to answer these questions. Our results suggest that despite their restricted range, levels of genetic diversity in the Hayden's ringlet are comparable to those seen in more widespread butterfly species. Hayden's ringlets showed a strong preference for feeding on grasses relative to sedges, but neither larval preference nor potential host availability at sampling sites correlated with genetic structure. We conclude that geography, in the form of isolation by resistance and simple isolation by distance, was the major driver of contemporary patterns of differentiation in this narrow endemic species.

opencc-zeroApr 2024View details →

Rare but not lost: Endemic mountain lizard occupancy following mega-fire and grazing disturbances

Wildfires and grazing by invasive herbivores can influence habitat suitability for ground‐dwelling fauna, such as reptiles. Australia has a large and diverse reptile fauna, with the Australian Alps bioregion in the southeast of the continent supporting a disproportionately high number of threatened species. In this bioregion, many species are threatened by fire, habitat loss or modification, and invasive species. The range of one such threatened endemic lizard, Cyclodomorphus praealtus (family Scincidae), was impacted by the 2019–20 mega-fires and is also subject to widespread grazing by invasive species. We investigated the relationship between C. praealtus site occupancy and fire and grazing. We completed 2045 surveys across 120 sites over 4 years, detecting the species at 43% of sites and increasing the species' known geographic range. Using single-season detection occupancy models, we found C. praealtus occupancy was not associated with elevation, vegetation height, or whether the site was burnt, but was positively associated with grazing activity. Our results indicate that C. praealtus can persist following a single fire in some cases and that habitats with high occupancy probabilities are subject to high grazing pressure. However, our results do not rule out more nuanced impacts associated with these disturbances, which affect a large proportion of C. praealtus' habitat. Our cumulative detection probability calculations revealed that considerable survey effort is often required to determine C. praealtus site occupancy. We therefore recommend that impact assessments assume species presence within areas of suitable habitat within the species' range. Our study improves our understanding of disturbance impacts on C. praealtus' occupancy while demonstrating the need for sufficiently resourced impact assessments for cryptic and threatened species.