Alessandro Minelli Taxonomy Faces Speciation: the Origin of Species Or

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Alessandro Minelli Taxonomy Faces Speciation: the Origin of Species Or Biodiversity Journal , 2015, 6 (1): 123–138 MONOGRAPH Taxonomy faces speciation: the origin of species or the fading out of the species? Alessandro Minelli Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58 B, I 35131 Padova, Italy; email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Efficient field sampling and new investigation tools, including barcoding and other molecular techniques, are bringing to light an unexpected wealth of new species, including sets of morphologically quite uniform, but genetically distinct cryptic species. On the other hand, increasing appreciation of the dynamic nature of the species and a better knowledge of speciation processes and introgression phenomena challenges the taxonomists’ efforts to shoehorn all diversity of life into a formal classification of which the species would be the basic unit. Unfortunately, there is probably not a single best notion of species, either in theory or in practice. KEY WORDS barcoding; cryptic species; hybridization; speciation; species concepts. Received 25.01.2015; accepted 26.02.2015; printed 30.03.2015 Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 16th-18th 2014, Cefalù-Castelbuono (Italy) THE SPECIES - A SOLID PILLAR OF views, species have been created at the beginnings OUR REPRESENTATION OF LIVING of time and the naturalist’s job is to piously explore NATURE? Nature with the aim of completing their inventory. What does survive to our time, of this reassuring A substantial percentage of recent books and art- pre-Darwinian conception of biological diversity? icles in zoology, botany, palaeontology, biogeo- Little, if anything, in theory, but quite a lot in practice. graphy and ecology may suggest that the species has This is true both of the approach with which taxonom- damaged through the Darwinian revolu- passed un ists continue Linnaeus’ project for a global inventory tion. Although everybody, or so, in these disciplines of biodiversity and of the perspective from which is likely ready to accept that species are products of most of their colleagues in biology, ecology, biogeo- evolution, in practice a great many professionals graphy and stratigraphy look at the extant or extinct describe and analyze the living world of the past and forms of life that are the object of their studies. present time in terms not that different from those To be sure, there are also the ‘professionals of of Linnaeus and the other pre-Darwinian authors. the species problem,’ that is, biologists - but also In the title-page of his magnum opus, Linnaeus philosophers of biology - who take very seriously (1758) announced an arrangement of his Systema the Darwinian challenge and specifically focus on naturae per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, all those contexts where the boundaries between ordines, genera, species. Firmly placed at the species are less precise or less complete, and often bottom of the hierarchy, the species category was largely arbitrary. thus proposed as the fundamental unit of classifica- The species problem has, in fact, two main tion. In the author’s creationist and largely fixist aspects. One is conceptual, the other is practical. The 124 ALESSANDRO MINELLI conceptual aspect of the species problem is how the species we know at present and, still worse, how species can, or should be defined, provided that this many species still await description. Estimates of question can be eventually answered to the general ‘valid’ described species range between 1.5 million satisfaction of biologists and philosophers alike. The and 2 millions; a document issued in 2011 by the practical aspect is, how species are recognized by International Institute for Species Exploration gave taxonomists working on the different groups of a figure of 1,922,710 species as described through- organisms and, most important, whether taxonom- out 2009. ists can all agree on a single species concept, to be Something, however, must be wrong with many adopted as the universal currency in describing the of these estimates. In the last few decades, the diversity of life. A comparison of taxonomic practice number of new species described each year has as performed by leading specialists in a diversity of been in the order of 17500 (International Institute taxa, from mammals to fungi, from bacteria to for Species Exploration, 2012). This means that flowering plants, has abundantly demonstrated that since 1985 about half a million new entries have the entities called species in a group have little in been added to the list of described species. The net common with the entities called species in another increase has been sensibly smaller, because of the group (Claridge et al., 1997). Unfortunately, this number of nominal species that in the same time heterogeneity is concealed under the (nearly) interval have been recognized to be just synonyms universal use of Linnaean binomens. It is thus all too of other species. However, the net increase has been easy to take taxonomic species as a set of broadly probably in the order of 350 000-400 000, whereas comparable units, of which we can make statistics the most recent estimates of the number of de- scribed species are not correspondingly larger than for the most different purposes, e.g. biodiversity the estimates produced 30 years ago. assessments and comparisons of extant or extinct In the last two decades of the XX century a faunas and floras. This practice should be best number of papers offered estimates of the number avoided (Minelli, 2000) but we do not have a real of living species that still await description, one of substitute for it; the global biodiversity estimates the first and most often cited being May (1988). offered below are not exempt from this ‘original sin.’ Some estimates were based on the percentage of In this article I will focus on this practical aspect undescribed species in small but dense samplings to the species problem, mostly taking examples from in areas and habitats with high diversity, e.g. papers published in 2014: with this temporal restric - Hodgkinson & Casson (1991) for tropical insects tion I only wish to stress the lively interest surround- and Grassle & Maciolek (1992) for deep-sea ing these questions. The relevant literature is animals. Other estimates included ecological enormous, and rapidly increasing with the increas- considerations, such as the degree of hostplant spe - ing availability of morphological and especially cialization of phytophagous insects, as in Erwin’s molecular methods, and their massive application to (1982) pioneering paper or Stork’s (1988) revisita - the most diverse kinds of organisms. Enormous is tion of the same. One of the most recent papers on also the literature about the conceptual aspects of the the subject adjusts the estimates to ∼8.7 million (±1.3 species problem, but I will only mention here two million SE) eukaryotic species globally, of which articles (Bernardi & Minelli, 2011; Mallett, 2013) to ∼2.2 million (±0.18 million SE) are marine (Mora et which I refer the interested reader and summarize in al., 2011); anothe r, more sensible one (Scheffers et Table 1 the most important among the more than 20 al., 2012) acknowledges the plurality of unknown or different species concepts proposed to date. poorly known factors, as a consequence of which uncertainty remains bet ween a global total as low as 2 million species, microbes excluded, and estimates HOW MANY SPECIES? as high as 50 millions and over. Even if we temporarily ignore the problems caused by the lack of a satisfactory species concept PROLIFERATION OF NEW SPECIES applicable to every kind of living things and thus simply frame the question in terms of taxonomic Strong catalysts favouring the description of (named) species, it is difficult to say how many new species are the new megajournals specifically Taxonomy faces speciation: the origin of species or the fading out of the species? 125 devoted to taxonomy. In zoology, the leading role described by Riedel et al. (2013). Another 98 new of Zootaxa and ZooKeys is by now unrivalled and species of Trigonopterus have been described in a undisputed. According to the journal’s editor- paper (Riedel et al., 2014) devoted to materials in-chief, in 2010 Zootaxa contributed about 20% of recently collected in Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, all animal taxa described that year as new, that is, a Bali, Palawan, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores), a large number in the order of 4000 (Zhang, 2011). area from where only one species of Trigonopterus Launched a few years after their zoological was previously known. equivalents, Phytotaxa and PhytoKeys have been Perhaps less expected, there are also large num - also rapidly growing and by now outcompete the bers of undescribed species in the Lepidoptera, biggest journals long established in the field. especially among the so-called micros. A recent According to Zhang et al. (2014), the total number study of the gelechioid genus Ethmia in Costa Rica of new plant taxa described in 2011 was 6024 (of revealed the presence of 22 undescribed species which 575 in Taxon, 473 in Phytotaxa, 183 in in addition to 23 described in the past (Phillips- Novon, 169 in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Rodríguez et al., 2014). Society); in 2012, the total was 6647 (of which 632 Virtually unfathomed is, in some specialists’ in Phytotaxa, 465 in Systematic Botany, 340 in view, the world of Fungi, of which the number of Phytoneuron, 301 in the Kew Bulletin, 267 in existing species is estimated between 1.5 and 5 Taxon); in 2013 the number decreased to 5116 (of million, i.e. 15 to 50 times the number of currently which 501 in Phytotaxa, 248 in PhytoKeys, 199 in described species. The wealth of undescribed fungal Biodiversity Research and Conservation, 196 in the diversity is not limited to the microscopic forms: a Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society).
Recommended publications
  • Odonata: Polythoridae) Melissa Sánchez-Herrera1,2* , Christopher D
    Sánchez-Herrera et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology (2020) 20:74 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-020-01638-z RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access An exploration of the complex biogeographical history of the Neotropical banner-wing damselflies (Odonata: Polythoridae) Melissa Sánchez-Herrera1,2* , Christopher D. Beatty3, Renato Nunes2,4, Camilo Salazar1 and Jessica L. Ware2,5 Abstract Background: The New World Tropics has experienced a dynamic landscape across evolutionary history and harbors a high diversity of flora and fauna. While there are some studies addressing diversification in Neotropical vertebrates and plants, there is still a lack of knowledge in arthropods. Here we examine temporal and spatial diversification patterns in the damselfly family Polythoridae, which comprises seven genera with a total of 58 species distributed across much of Central and South America. Results: Our time-calibrated phylogeny for 48 species suggests that this family radiated during the late Eocene (~ 33 Ma), diversifying during the Miocene. As with other neotropical groups, the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) of most of the Polythoridae genera has a primary origin in the Northern Andes though the MRCA of at least one genus may have appeared in the Amazon Basin. Our molecular clock suggests correlations with some major geographical events, and our biogeographical modeling (with BioGeoBEARS and RASP) found a significant influence of the formation of the Pebas and Acre systems on the early diversification of these damselflies, though evidence for the influence of the rise of the different Andean ranges was mixed. Diversification rates have been uniform in all genera except one—Polythore—where a significant increase in the late Pliocene (~ 3 mya) may have been influenced by recent Andean uplift.
    [Show full text]
  • Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada
    Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada Vol. 40(1) Summer 2021 The Newsletter of the BSC is published twice a year by the In this issue Biological Survey of Canada, an incorporated not-for-profit From the editor’s desk............2 group devoted to promoting biodiversity science in Canada. Membership..........................3 President’s report...................4 BSC Facebook & Twitter...........5 Reminder: 2021 AGM Contributing to the BSC The Annual General Meeting will be held on June 23, 2021 Newsletter............................5 Reminder: 2021 AGM..............6 Request for specimens: ........6 Feature Articles: Student Corner 1. City Nature Challenge Bioblitz Shawn Abraham: New Student 2021-The view from 53.5 °N, Liaison for the BSC..........................7 by Greg Pohl......................14 Mayflies (mainlyHexagenia sp., Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae): an 2. Arthropod Survey at Fort Ellice, MB important food source for adult by Robert E. Wrigley & colleagues walleye in NW Ontario lakes, by A. ................................................18 Ricker-Held & D.Beresford................8 Project Updates New book on Staphylinids published Student Corner by J. Klimaszewski & colleagues......11 New Student Liaison: Assessment of Chironomidae (Dip- Shawn Abraham .............................7 tera) of Far Northern Ontario by A. Namayandeh & D. Beresford.......11 Mayflies (mainlyHexagenia sp., Ephemerop- New Project tera: Ephemeridae): an important food source Help GloWorm document the distribu- for adult walleye in NW Ontario lakes, tion & status of native earthworms in by A. Ricker-Held & D.Beresford................8 Canada, by H.Proctor & colleagues...12 Feature Articles 1. City Nature Challenge Bioblitz Tales from the Field: Take me to the River, by Todd Lawton ............................26 2021-The view from 53.5 °N, by Greg Pohl..............................14 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Hemiptera: Heteroptera)From Louisiana, U.S.A
    Taylor & Gil: Aradidae from Louisiana 199 STATE RECORDS, CONFIRMATIONS, AND HABITATS OF ARADIDAE (HEMIPTERA: HETEROPTERA)FROM LOUISIANA, U.S.A. STEVEN J. TAYLOR1 AND STEPHANIE A. GIL2 1Illinois Natural History Survey, 1816 South Oak Street, Champaign, Illinois 61820 E-mail: [email protected] 2Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803-1710 E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The Aradidae of Louisiana are poorly known, with only 5 species reported from the state. We examined 251 adult flat bugs from Louisiana in the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum, confirming the presence of 4 species (Aradus falleni Stål, Acaricoris ignotus Harris and Drake, Notapictinus aurivilli (Bergroth), and Mezira sayi Kormilev) and adding 14 more in 4 subfamilies (Aneurinae: Aneurus fiskei Heidemann, Aneurus pygmaeus Kormilev; Aradi- nae: Aradus acutus Say, Aradus aequalis Say, Aradus kormilevi Heiss, Aradus ornatus Say, Aradus robustus Uhler; Carventinae: Neoproxius gypsatus (Bergroth); Mezirinae: Neurocte- nus pseudonymus Bergroth, Neuroctenus simplex (Uhler), Mezira emarginata (Say), Mezira froeschneri Davidová-Vilímová et al., Mezira granulata (Say), and Mezira lobata (Say)) to the state’s fauna. Habitats recorded for these species are discussed. Key Words: flat bug, distribution, habitat, Aneurus, Neuroctenus, Neoproxius RESUMEN Los Aradidae de Louisiana han sido poco estudiados y solo cinco species son conocidas para en el estado. Al examinar 251 chinches adultas de Louisiana pertecientes al Louisiana State Arthropod Museum,
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution and Ontology 1 This Is a Final Manuscript in Press: To
    Evolution and Ontology 1 This is a Final Manuscript In Press: To appear in the International Journal of Science Education The Nature of Naive Explanations of Natural Selection Michel Ferrari & Michelene T.H. Chi Learning Research and Development Center University of Pittsburgh [email protected] Running head: Evolution and Ontology Address correspondence to: Michelene T.H Chi Learning Research and Development Center 3939 O’Hara Street Pittsburgh, PA 15260 email: [email protected] 31 March 1998 Evolution and Ontology 2 Abstract Unlike some pivotal ideas in the history of science, the basic notion of natural selection is remarkably simple and so one might expect most students to easily grasp the basic principles of the Darwinian theory; yet many students nevertheless have difficulty understanding Darwinian evolution. We suggest that misconceptions about natural selection arise from mistaken categorization. Our thesis for explaining students’ failure to understand this concept, or evolution in general, is not that they necessarily fail to understand individual Darwinian principles; rather, they often fail to understand the ontological features of equilibration processes, of which evolution is one instance. They thus attribute the evolutionary process in general, and natural selection in particular, with event-like properties. For example, naive students appear to focus on the idea of survival of the fittest, but embed this idea within an event ontology that involves actors struggling to overcome obstacles and achieve goals. Results showed that most naive subjects’ evolutionary explanations reflected an event ontology. Furthermore, event ontology attributes were positively correlated with Non-darwinian explanations; by contrast, equilibration attributes, when present, were positively correlated with key Darwinian principles.
    [Show full text]
  • A Molecular Phylogeny of the Neotropical Butterfly Genus Anartia
    MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 26 (2003) 46–55 www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev A molecular phylogeny of the neotropical butterfly genus Anartia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) Michael J. Blum,a,b,* Eldredge Bermingham,b and Kanchon Dasmahapatrab,c a Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, USA b Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Naos Island Molecular Laboratories, Unit 0948, APO-AA 34002-0948, Panama, FL, USA c Department of Biology, Galton Laboratory, University College, 4 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HE, UK Received 2 August 2001; received in revised form 17 June 2002 Abstract While Anartia butterflies have served as model organisms for research on the genetics of speciation, no phylogeny has been published to describe interspecific relationships. Here, we present a molecular phylogenetic analysis of Anartia species relationships, using both mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Analyses of both data sets confirm earlier predictions of sister species pairings based primarily on genital morphology. Yet both the mitochondrial and nuclear gene phylogenies demonstrate that Anartia jatrophae is not sister to all other Anartia species, but rather that it is sister to the Anartia fatima–Anartia amathea lineage. Traditional bi- ogeographic explanations for speciation across the genus relied on A. jatrophae being sister to its congeners. These explanations invoked allopatric divergence of sister species pairs and multiple sympatric speciation events to explain why A. jatrophae flies alongside all its congeners. The molecular phylogenies are more consistent with lineage divergence due to vicariance, and range expansion of A. jatrophae to explain its sympatry with congeners. Further interpretations of the tree topologies also suggest how morphological evolution and eco-geographic adaptation may have set species range boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Three Challenges to Contemporaneous Taxonomy from a Licheno-Mycological Perspective
    Megataxa 001 (1): 078–103 ISSN 2703-3082 (print edition) https://www.mapress.com/j/mt/ MEGATAXA Copyright © 2020 Magnolia Press Review ISSN 2703-3090 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.1.1.16 Three challenges to contemporaneous taxonomy from a licheno-mycological perspective ROBERT LÜCKING Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 6–8, 14195 Berlin, Germany �[email protected]; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3431-4636 Abstract Nagoya Protocol, and does not need additional “policing”. Indeed, the Nagoya Protocol puts the heaviest burden on This paper discusses three issues that challenge contempora- taxonomy and researchers cataloguing biodiversity, whereas neous taxonomy, with examples from the fields of mycology for the intended target group, namely those seeking revenue and lichenology, formulated as three questions: (1) What is gain from nature, the protocol may not actually work effec- the importance of taxonomy in contemporaneous and future tively. The notion of currently freely accessible digital se- science and society? (2) An increasing methodological gap in quence information (DSI) to become subject to the protocol, alpha taxonomy: challenge or opportunity? (3) The Nagoya even after previous publication, is misguided and conflicts Protocol: improvement or impediment to the science of tax- with the guidelines for ethical scientific conduct. Through onomy? The importance of taxonomy in society is illustrated its implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, Colombia has using the example of popular field guides and digital me- set a welcome precedence how to exempt taxonomic and dia, a billion-dollar business, arguing that the desire to name systematic research from “access to genetic resources”, and species is an intrinsic feature of the cognitive component of hopefully other biodiversity-rich countries will follow this nature connectedness of humans.
    [Show full text]
  • Taxonomy and Phylogenetic Relationships of the Coral Genera Australomussa and Parascolymia (Scleractinia, Lobophylliidae)
    Contributions to Zoology, 83 (3) 195-215 (2014) Taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of the coral genera Australomussa and Parascolymia (Scleractinia, Lobophylliidae) Roberto Arrigoni1, 7, Zoe T. Richards2, Chaolun Allen Chen3, 4, Andrew H. Baird5, Francesca Benzoni1, 6 1 Dept. of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy 2 Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia 3Biodiversity Research Centre, Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei 115, Taiwan 4 Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan 5 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia 6 Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR227 Coreus2, 101 Promenade Roger Laroque, BP A5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia 7 E-mail: [email protected] Key words: COI, evolution, histone H3, Lobophyllia, Pacific Ocean, rDNA, Symphyllia, systematics, taxonomic revision Abstract Molecular phylogeny of P. rowleyensis and P. vitiensis . 209 Utility of the examined molecular markers ....................... 209 Novel micromorphological characters in combination with mo- Acknowledgements ...................................................................... 210 lecular studies have led to an extensive revision of the taxonomy References ...................................................................................... 210 and systematics of scleractinian corals. In the present work, we Appendix .......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Skylark Free Download
    SKYLARK FREE DOWNLOAD MacLachlan | 112 pages | 03 Aug 2004 | HarperCollins Publishers Inc | 9780064406222 | English | New York, NY, United States To All Our Friends & Guests Sound Mix: Stereo. This adaptation for more efficient hovering flight may have evolved because of Skylark Eurasian skylarks' preference for males that sing and hover for longer periods Skylark so demonstrate that they are likely to have good overall fitness. Available on Amazon. The Eurasian skylark walks over the ground searching for food on the soil surface. Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is home to a variety of wildlife, and surveys conducted in noted skylarksospreys, and peregrine falcons—among other birds—nesting on the base. The only thing you'll need to worry about is Skylark to read on the plane. Get Word of the Day delivered Skylark your inbox! Crazy Credits. Round trip flights and hotel for 2 - what you see is what you pay. Metacritic Reviews. Chub 'Chubbers' Horatio. Maggie : [ Wiping eyes, voice breaking ] Sarah. The verb and noun "lark", with Skylark meaning, may be related to "skylark" or to the dialect word "laik" New Shorter OED. Runtime: Skylark min. Retrieved 14 February Yes No Report this. Rooms Error Skylark. The Skylark population increased rapidly and had spread throughout both Skylark North and Skylark Islands by the s. Chub 'Chubbers' Horatio Lois Smith Canadian Field-Naturalist. Featured Skylark : Washington, Connecticut. Retrieved 5 August Do you know the person or Skylark these quotes desc Dunn's lark. Short-clawed lark Karoo long-billed lark Benguela long-billed lark Eastern long-billed lark Cape long-billed lark Agulhas long-billed lark.
    [Show full text]
  • Diverse Reproductive Barriers in Hybridising Crickets Suggests Extensive Variation in the Evolution and Maintenance of Isolation
    Evol Ecol (2013) 27:993–1015 DOI 10.1007/s10682-012-9610-2 ORIGINAL PAPER Diverse reproductive barriers in hybridising crickets suggests extensive variation in the evolution and maintenance of isolation Thor Veen • Joseph Faulks • Frances Tyler • Jodie Lloyd • Tom Tregenza Received: 5 July 2012 / Accepted: 21 September 2012 / Published online: 10 November 2012 Ó Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2012 Abstract Reproductive barriers reduce gene flow between populations and maintain species identities. A diversity of barriers exist, acting before, during and after mating. To understand speciation and coexistence, these barriers need to be quantified and their potential interactions revealed. We use the hybridising field crickets Gryllus bimaculatus and G. campestris as a model to understand the full compliment and relative strength of reproductive barriers. We find that males of both species prefer conspecific females, but the effect is probably too weak to represent a barrier. In contrast, prezygotic barriers caused by females being more attracted to conspecific male song and preferentially mounting and mating with conspecifics are strong and asymmetric. Postzygotic barriers vary in direction; reductions in fecundity and egg viability create selection against hybridisation, but hybrids live longer than pure-bred individuals. Hybrid females show a strong preference for G. bimaculatus songs, which together with a complete lack of hybridisation by G. campestris females, suggests that asymmetric gene flow is likely. For comparison, we review repro- ductive barriers that have been identified between other Gryllids and conclude that multiple barriers are common. Different species pairs are separated by qualitatively different Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10682-012-9610-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
    [Show full text]
  • An Overview of Flat Bug Genera (Hemiptera, Aradidae)
    ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Denisia Jahr/Year: 2006 Band/Volume: 0019 Autor(en)/Author(s): Lariviere Marie C., Larochelle Andre Artikel/Article: An overview of flat bug genera (Hemiptera, Aradidae) from New Zealand, with considerations on faunal diversification and affinities 181-214 © Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at An overview of flat bug genera (Hemiptera, Aradidae) from New Zealand, with considerations on faunal diversification and affinities1 M .-C . L ARIVIÈRE & A. L AROCHELLE Abstract: Nineteen genera and thirty-nine species of Aradidae have been described from New Zealand, most of which are endemic (12 genera, 38 species). An overview of all genera and an identification key to subfamilies, tribes, and genera are presented for the first time. Species included in each genus are list- ed for New Zealand. Concise generic descriptions, illustrations emphasizing key diagnostic features, colour photographs representing each genus, an overview of the most relevant literature, and notes on distribution are also given. The biology and diversification of New Zealand aradids, and their affinities with neighbouring faunas are briefly discussed. Key words: Aradidae, biogeography, Hemiptera, New Zealand, taxonomy. Introduction forests, and using their stylets to extract liq- uids from fungal hyphae associated with de- The Aradidae, also commonly referred caying wood. Many ground-dwelling species to as flat bugs or bark bugs, form a large fam- of rainforest environments are wingless – a ily of Heteroptera containing over 1,800 condition thought to have evolved several species and 210 genera worldwide (SCHUH times in the phylogeographic history of the & SLATER 1995).
    [Show full text]
  • Awenda Provincial Park
    AWENDA PROVINCIAL PARK One Malaise trap was deployed at Awenda Provincial Park in 2014 (44.82534, -79.98458, 231m ASL; Figure 1). This trap collected arthropods for twenty weeks from April 29 – September 19, 2014. All 10 Malaise trap samples were processed; every other sample was analyzed using the individual specimen protocol while the second half was analyzed via bulk analysis. A total of 3029 BINs were obtained. Over half the BINs captured were flies (Diptera), followed by bees, ants and wasps (Hymenoptera), moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera), and true bugs (Hemiptera; Figure 2). In total, 595 arthropod species were named, representing 21.3% of the BINs from the Figure 1. Malaise trap deployed at Awenda Provincial site (Appendix 1). All the BINs were assigned at least Park in 2014. to family, and 54% were assigned to a genus (Appendix 2). Specimens collected from Awenda represent 214 different families and 705 genera. Diptera Hymenoptera Lepidoptera Hemiptera Coleoptera Trombidiformes Sarcoptiformes Psocodea Mesostigmata Araneae Entomobryomorpha Mecoptera Symphypleona Trichoptera Neuroptera Thysanoptera Dermaptera Pseudoscorpiones Stylommatophora Odonata Opiliones Orthoptera Figure 2. Taxonomy breakdown of BINs captured in the Malaise trap at Awenda. APPENDIX 1. TAXONOMY REPORT Class Order Family Genus Species Arachnida Araneae Agelenidae Agelenopsis Clubionidae Clubiona Clubiona kastoni Dictynidae Emblyna Emblyna sublata Linyphiidae Ceraticelus Ceraticelus atriceps Ceraticelus fissiceps Ceratinella Ceratinella brunnea Ceratinops
    [Show full text]
  • Genome Analysis of Ranavirus Frog Virus 3Isolated from American Bullfrog
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Genome analysis of Ranavirus frog virus 3 isolated from American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) in South America Marcelo Candido 1*, Loiane Sampaio Tavares1, Anna Luiza Farias Alencar2, Cláudia Maris Ferreira3, Sabrina Ribeiro de Almeida Queiroz1, Andrezza Maria Fernandes1 & Ricardo Luiz Moro de Sousa1 Ranaviruses (family Iridoviridae) cause important diseases in cold-blooded vertebrates. In addition, some occurrences indicate that, in this genus, the same virus can infect animals from diferent taxonomic groups. A strain isolated from a Ranavirus outbreak (2012) in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, had its genome sequenced and presented 99.26% and 36.85% identity with samples of Frog virus 3 (FV3) and Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) ranaviruses, respectively. Eight potential recombination events among the analyzed sample and reference FV3 samples were identifed, including a recombination with Bohle iridovirus (BIV) sample from Oceania. The analyzed sample presented several rearrangements compared to FV3 reference samples from North America and European continent. We report for the frst time the complete genome of Ranavirus FV3 isolated from South America, these results contribute to a greater knowledge related to evolutionary events of potentially lethal infectious agent for cold-blooded animals. Among the major viral pathogens, worldwide distributed and recent history, Ranavirus (Rv) is highlighted, on which, studies in South America remain limited. Rv are part of the family Iridoviridae that is divided into fve genera, of which three are considered more relevant by infectious severity in aquatic and semi-aquatic animals: Lymphocystivirus, Megalocytivirus and Rv. Tey are enveloped and unenveloped viruses, showing double-stranded DNA whose genome ranges from 103 to 220 kbp.
    [Show full text]