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This brief review discusses the history of leishmaniasis, considering its origin from the Paleoartic, Neoartic or Neotropic. We reassess some of the theories of the likely origin of this protozoan since the beginning of life on Earth, passing through the Mesozoic and continuing to the appearance of humans. The relationship between this parasite or its ancestors, possible vectors and hosts with regard to ecological modifications is discussed. Recent molecular techniques have helped to elucidate some of the evolutionary questions regarding Leishmania, but have also brought doubts about the origin and evolution of this human parasite. PCR has been used for studies in the new discipline of paleoparasitology, helping to elucidate some of the remaining evolutionary questions. Understanding of this global condition is fundamental in determining the best approach to use against the parasite, specifically for the development of an efficient vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anoura geoffroyi Gray, 1838, is a phyllostomid bat commonly referred to as Geoffroy's tailess bat. This bat is broadly distributed in the Neotropics from both versants of Mexico into northern and western South America and the Amazon Basin. A. geoffroyi eats mainly pollen, but also consumes fruit, nectar, and insects. It is not of special conservation concern because it is abundant throughout its range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neotropics contributes significantly to global biodiversity yet little is known about its mammalian fauna. Given our limited knowledge, concerns are that extinctions at the local level may cause a decline in genetic diversity through the loss of unique alleles. Here we report the geographical population structure of four rodent species from French Guiana: Dasyprocta leporina, Agouti paca, Proechimys cayennensis and P. cuvieri. Two of them ( Dasyprocta and Agouti) are commonly harvested throughout the country for subsistence and/or game hunting. Cytochrome b and control region sequences revealed the presence of a number of maternal lineages occurring in sympatry throughout French Guiana. We applied two cytochrome b rodent clock calibrations (7.5% and 12% per million years) to our data, and placed the divergence of the maternal lineages to between 160 000 and 260 000 years ago for the more diverse D. leporina and P. cuvieri, and between 66 000 and 46 000 years ago for the more recent A. paca and P. cayennensis. The clades appear to be widespread throughout South America as indicated by specimens sampled in Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela. At the population level, AMOVA revealed little or no geographical structure within French Guiana. However, this conclusion is based on a single genetic marker and relatively few specimens. © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 81, 203–218. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past decade, the use of predatory mirids alone or combined with releases of egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma have been tested in Europe for biological control of the worldwide invasive pest, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick). Here, we evaluated the control of this pest by the release of the Neotropical mirid Macrolophus basicornis (Stal), the Neotropic/Nearctic parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, and by combined releases of the predator and the parasitoid. Tests were conducted in greenhouse compartments during the summer and fall season. Each compartment contained 10 tomato plants in which only the pest was released or the pest with 1 or 2 natural enemies. Plant damage, and pest and natural enemy densities were checked weekly on one apical, medium, and bottom leaf of 5 plants. Both M. basicornis and T. pretiosum significantly reduced T. absoluta density when released alone. Combined releases resulted in a 10% higher reduction during the summer season, but not during the fall season. The damage caused by T. absoluta was significantly higher in control treatments than in all natural enemy treatments: at the end of the summer trial leaves were completely damaged in the control treatment, whereas only up to 25% leaf damage occurred in the natural enemy treatments. Combined releases did not result in lower damage than with releases of either M. basicornis or T. pretiosum. Practical aspects of single and combined releases are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major challenges in studies of activity and movement ecology is discovering how and why animals behave differently in certain environments. The gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) is widely distributed in the Neotropic region. In the Brazilian Pantanal wetland, gray brocket deer inhabit a unique landscape with varying ecotypes arranged in a mosaic, where seasonal flooding alters resource availability for the deer. Documenting animal activity and movement can be the key to understanding how a species interacts with its dynamic environment. We used data from accelerometers and characteristics of movement on six GPS-monitored gray brocket deer in the Pantanal wetland to investigate how habitat type, periods of the day, and cycles of flooding and drought affect activity, movement behavior, and displacement. Deer exhibited the lowest activity and encamped movement in closed habitat during diurnal and nocturnal periods, suggesting resting and foraging behaviors. The highest activity and exploratory movement occurred in open habitats, and potentially was related to deer searching for locations with greater resource availability. Individuals were displaced the most during floods, which was a response to access feeding sites that were free of water. Our results not only represent an unprecedented and refined view of the activity and movement behavior of brocket deer, but they also stress the importance of preserving multiple habitat types for species that express variable foraging strategies in heterogeneous landscapes. Um dos grandes desafios em estudos do padrão de atividade e ecologia do movimento é descobrir como e por que animais se comportam diferentemente em certos ambientes. O veado-catingueiro (Mazama gouazoubira) é uma espécie amplamente distribuída na região Neotropical que habita o Pantanal brasileiro, uma paisagem singular por apresentar unidades fitofisionômicas dispostas em mosaico e um regime sazonal de inundações que altera a disponibilidade de recursos ao longo do ano. O conhecimento da atividade e da movimentação animal pode ser a chave para entender como uma espécie interage com a dinâmica de seu ambiente. Neste estudo, utilizamos dados de acelerômetros e características dos movimentos de seis indivíduos monitorados com colares GPS no Pantanal para testar como o tipo de habitat, períodos do dia e os ciclos de cheia e seca afetam os padrões de atividade e de movimentação do veado-catingueiro. Nós registramos menores taxas de atividade e estado acampado em habitats fechados tanto nos períodos noturno quanto diurno, o que sugere comportamentos de descanso e forrageio. Em habitats mais abertos, por outro lado, registramos maiores taxas de atividade e de movimentação exploratória, o que pode estar atrelado à busca por locais com maior disponibilidade de recursos. Na fase de cheia também foram registrados maiores deslocamentos, o que pode ser uma resposta para acessar sítios de alimentação em áreas que não foram inundadas. Nossos resultados se destacam não apenas por trazer dados inéditos e refinados da atividade e movimentação para um cervídeo do gênero Mazama, mas também por ressaltar a importância de se conservar diferentes tipos de habitats para espécies que apresentam variações nos comportamentos que se traduzem em estratégias de forrageio em uma paisagem heterogênea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A revision of Xyalaspis (Hymenoptera: Anacharitinae) in the American continent is presented. This genus is mentioned for the first time from the Neotropical region. Xyalaspis flavipes Ashmead, 1896 is synonymized with Xyalaspis microstyla Kieffer, 1907 and is found in the Neotropical region. Five new species are described: Xyalaspis aberrans n. sp. (from the Neotropic), Xyalaspis alveolata n. sp. (from the Neotropic), Xyalaspis arapahoe n. sp. (from the Nearctic), Xyalaspis hirsuta n. sp. (from both regions), and Xyalaspis pilosa n. sp. (from the Neotropic). Diagnostic characters of each species are illustrated and data on the biology, distribution, and mesoscutum sculpturing of the genus Xyalaspis are discussed. A key for differentiating the America species of Xyalaspis is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoogeographical studies on Tardigrada are limited by the extent of our knowledge on tardigrade taxonomy and faunistics. In this paper we analyse the relationships between the tardigrade fauna of North, Central and South America (Nearctic and Neotropical regions) and provide the first test of whether the tardigrade fauna of the Americas has undergone the great American interchange. Our analyses were based on 384 tardigrade species records obtained for 1702 localities in North, South and Central America. We found that (1) some tardigrade species are distributed, as predicted by the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI) hypothesis, on both sides of the Panama Isthmus; (2) the Central American tardigrade fauna is specific and different from both the South and the North American faunas, although it is closer to the tropical areas of South America; (3) either the tardigrade fauna of South and North America appear to be more similar to each other than to that of Central America, or there is a Nearctic-Neotropic division of the faunas; and (4) endemism in Central America suggests a more complex biogeographical process than predicted by the connection of two continents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Auk: Ornithological Advances is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Close affinities recognized between taxa in Mexico and the contiguous USA have led to a variety of biogeographical scenarios. One such hypothesis suggests that species that occur in both countries have an origin in central Mexico followed by dispersal into the USA. This study expands upon previous phylogeographical work of the ringneck snake Diadophis punctatus by incorporating new data from previously unsampled areas appropriate to critically assess hypotheses regarding a Mexican origin for this species. Maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony analyses inferred a derived position for the lineage from southern Mexico with constraint tests for alternate evolutionary hypotheses resulting in significantly worse likelihood values. Ancestral area reconstructions inferred an origin for D. punctatus in the south-eastern USA followed by a south-east to north-east then westward directionality of historical migration. The position within the phylogeny and date estimate for the south-western + Mexico clade suggests a recent invasion into central Mexico with expansion into the Nearctic/Neotropic transition zone. The extensive lineage diversity inferred from the mtDNA suggests that the genus is a complex of cryptic species whose conservational status should be re-evaluated on both the national and regional levels. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 158, 629–640. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only 22 net-winged beetle species (Elateroidea: Lycidae) are known from the Western Palaearctic region (WPR), i.e. less than 0.5% of the global lycid diversity and much fewer than from similar latitudes of East Asia or Northern America. We used comprehensive distribution data and a molecular phylogeny of ~400 world lycids, including 14 European species, to provide a new perspective for understanding the structure and evolution of this group in the WPR. All Mediterranean species represent deeply rooted lineages with relatives in eastern Asia. These species occur in relictual ranges close to the family's Pleistocene refugial edge. The phylogeny points to the loss of biological connection with East Asia since the Mid-Miocene. A third of WPR species is widespread in Central and Northern Europe, reaching eastern Asia, some of them possibly younger elements of the European fauna. Unlike the relatively high diversity in the Eocene amber, the extant net-winged beetles represent a small fraction of elateroid diversity in the WPR and are generally rare. Therefore, we assume that most WPR species are relics trapped in Mediterranean refugia since the onset of the Plio-Pleistocene cooling and are critically endangered by the ongoing loss of suitable habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims The Lythraceae are a mainly subtropical to tropical family of the order Myrtales with 28 currently accepted genera and approximately 600 species. There is currently no well-supported phylogenetic and biogeographical hypothesis of the Lythraceae incorporating all currently accepted genera, which we sought to provide. Methods Plastomes of representative species of 18 distinct Lythraceae genera were sequenced and annotated. Together with existing sequences, plastomes of all 28 currently accepted genera in the Lythraceae were brought together for the first time. The plastomes were aligned and a Bayesian phylogenetic hypothesis was produced. We then conducted a time-calibrated Bayesian analysis and a biogeographical analysis. Key Results Plastome-based Bayesian and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees are generally congruent with recent nuclear phylogenomic data and resolve two deeply branching major clades in the Lythraceae. One major clade concentrates shrubby and arboreal South American and African genera that inhabit seasonally dry environments, with larger, often winged seeds, adapted to dispersal by the wind. The second major clade concentrates North American, Asian, African and several near-cosmopolitan herbaceous, shrubby and arboreal genera, often inhabiting humid or aquatic environments, with smaller seeds possessing structures that facilitate dispersal by water. Conclusions We hypothesize that the Lythraceae dispersed early in the Late Cretaceous from South American to North American continents, with subsequent expansion in the Late Cretaceous of a North American lineage through Laurasia to Africa via a boreotropical route. Two later expansions of South American clades to Africa in the Palaeocene and Eocene, respectively, are also hypothesized. Transoceanic dispersal in the family is possibly facilitated by adaptations to aquatic environments that are common to many extant genera of the Lythraceae, where long-distance dispersal and vicariance may be invoked to explain several remarkable disjunct distributions in Lythraceae clades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How host-associated microbial communities evolve as their hosts diversify remains equivocal: how conserved is their composition? What was the composition of ancestral microbiota? Do microbial taxa covary in abundance over millions of years? Multivariate phylogenetic models of trait evolution are key to answering similar questions for complex host phenotypes, yet they are not directly applicable to relative abundances, which usually characterize microbiota. Here, we extend these models in this context, thereby providing a powerful approach for estimating phylosymbiosis (the extent to which closely related host species harbor similar microbiota), ancestral microbiota composition, and integration (evolutionary covariations in bacterial abundances). We apply our model to the gut microbiota of mammals and birds. We find significant phylosymbiosis that is not entirely explained by diet and geographic location, indicating that other evolutionary-conserved traits shape microbiota composition. We identify main shifts in microbiota composition during the evolution of the two groups and infer an ancestral mammalian microbiota consistent with an insectivorous diet. We also find remarkably consistent evolutionary covariations among bacterial orders in mammals and birds. Surprisingly, despite the substantial variability of present-day gut microbiota, some aspects of their composition are conserved over millions of years of host evolutionary history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The American leaf spot, caused by Mycena citricolor , is an important disease of coffee (Coffea arabica), mostly in Central America. Currently, there are limited pathogen control alternatives that are environment friendly and economically accessible. The use of fungi isolated from the plant endomycobiota in their native habitats is on the rise because studies show their great potential for biological control. To begin to generate a green alternative to control M. citricolor , the objectives of the present study were to (i) collect, identify, screen (in vitro and in planta), and select endophytic fungi from wild Rubiaceae collected in old-growth forests of Costa Rica; (ii) confirm endophytic colonization in coffee plantlets; (iii) evaluate the effects of the endophytes on plantlet development; and (iv) corroborate the antagonistic ability in planta. Methods and results Through in vitro and in planta antagonism assays, we found that out of the selected isolates (i.e. Daldinia eschscholzii GU11N, Nectria pseudotrichia GUHN1, Purpureocillium aff. lilacinum CT24, Sarocladium aff. kiliense CT25, Trichoderma rifaii CT5, T. aff. crassum G1C, T. aff. atroviride G7T, T. aff. strigosellum GU12, and Xylaria multiplex GU14T), Trichoderma spp. produced the highest growth inhibition percentages in vitro. Trichoderma isolates CT5 and G1C were then tested in planta using Coffea arabica cv. caturra plantlets. Endophytic colonization was verified, followed by in planta growth promotion and antagonism assays. Conclusions Results show that Trichoderma isolates CT5 and G1C have potential for plant growth promotion and antagonism against Mycena citricolor , reducing incidence and severity, and preventing plant mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coevolution between floral traits and specific pollination behaviour is a significant evolutionary force in angiosperm diversification. However, hybridization is also reported to occur between plants with specialist pollination syndromes. Understanding the role of pollinators in plant diversification is crucial, especially in megadiverse regions, such as the Neotropics. In this review, we examine plant hybridization studies in the Neotropics with the aim of providing a perspective on biotic and abiotic factors starting hybrid zone formation. The Pleistocene was the most widely cited time for the occurrence of hybridization facilitated by geographical range shifts, but time-calibrated analyses are needed to recover a more realistic scenario. Our synthesis of hybridization and pollination systems suggested that specialist and generalist pollinators were associated with the starting point of hybridization in the Neotropical flora. Bees and hummingbirds are most likely to be the primary vectors of interspecific gene flow, and even sporadic visits by bees or other generalist pollinators could allow the formation of a new hybrid zone. We highlight that seed and pollen dispersal vectors should be included in an integrative discussion on hybridization in the Neotropical flora. We also provide a preliminary map of hybrid zones in the Neotropics, including Brazilian vegetation cover and losses in the last 30 years, with the aim of encouraging research into human-driven anthropogenic changes and formation and/or shift of hybrid zones through time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the relationship between diversification and functional trait evolution among broadly co‐occurring clades can shed light on interactions between ecology and evolutionary history. However, evidence from many studies is compromised because of their focus on overly broad geographic or narrow phylogenetic scales. We addressed these limitations by studying 46 independent, biogeographically delimited clades of songbirds that dispersed from the Eastern Hemisphere into the Americas and assessed (1) whether diversification has varied through time and/or among clades within this assemblage, (2) the extent of heterogeneity in clade‐specific morphological trait disparity and (3) whether morphological disparity among these clades is consistent with a uniform diversification model. We found equivalent support for constant rates birth–death and density‐dependent speciation processes, with notable outliers having significantly fewer or more species than expected given their age. We also found substantial variation in morphological disparity among these clades, but that variation was broadly consistent with uniform evolutionary rates, despite the existence of diversification outliers. These findings indicate relatively continuous, ongoing morphological diversification, arguing against conceptual models of adaptive radiation in these continental clades. Additionally, they suggest surprisingly consistent diversification among the majority of these clades, despite tremendous variance in colonization history, habitat valences and trophic specializations that exist among continental clades of birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Barbaria , recently established to accommodate the former Echiniscus bigranulatus group, is a tardigrade group emblematic for the South American tardigrade fauna. This unappendaged echiniscid lineage is widely recognized for the so-called 'double' sculpturing composed of endocuticular pillars and pseudopores or pores in the dorsal cuticle. The phylogenetic relationships in the genus have so far been completely unknown, but the discovery of two new species (B. paucigranulata sp. nov. and B. weglarskae sp. nov.), together with new genetic data for further six species (B. bigranulata , B. charrua comb. nov. , B. danieli , B. jenningsi , B. madonnae and B. ollantaytamboensis), create an opportunity not only to uncover phyletic relationships, but also to reconstruct morphological evolution in the genus. To achieve this, we sequenced five genetic markers (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS1, ITS2, COI) for multiple populations of eight species of Barbaria (two-thirds of all known species) collected in Alabama (USA), Argentina and the Antarctic, and we analysed them in tandem with detailed morphological data. Our phylogentic analysis and the reconstruction of evolution of morphological traits suggests that the ancestor of the genus inhabited the Neotropics, and it was morphologically most similar to B. bigranulata. We also analyse literature records of Barbaria and conclude that the genus is most likely limited to the Neotropics, Antarctica and southern parts of the Nearctic. The findings are discussed in the context of the phylogeny of the Echiniscus evolutionary line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudocypretta maculata Klie, 1932 , type species of the genus, is redescribed based on new material from Thailand. The main diagnostic features of the species are the presence of marginal septa, presence of Wouters organ on the first antenna, strongly serrated claw G2 of the second antenna (A2), small β seta on the mandibular palp, elongated terminal segment of the maxillular palp, smooth and large bristles on the third endite of the maxillula, undivided penultimate segment of the second thoracopod (T2), absence of d1 seta on the T2, completely separated terminal segment of the third thoracopod, absence of a pincer organ, and reduced caudal ramus with a triangular base. The taxonomic position of Pseudocypretta Klie, 1932 is also revised. Based on molecular analysis using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), Pseudocypretta appears closer to Cypridopsinae Kaufmann, 1900 than to Cyprettinae Hartmann, 1971. This result is congruent with morphological evidence and, among other cypridopsine genera, Pseudocypretta shows highest similarity with Cyprettadopsis Savatenalinton, 2020 given its reduced caudal ramus, the strongly serrated claw G2 of the A2, absence of pincer organ, and presence of marginal septa. Pseudocypretta is therefore allocated to the tribe Cyprettadopsini Savatenalinton, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ornithology (Oxford University Press) is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The use of Azospirillum brasilense as a crop inoculant has increased in recent years. Thus, the compatibility of the inoculation technology with seed treatments using pesticides needs to be evaluated. In this study, we evaluated the effect of an insecticide and fungicide formulation on A. brasilense strain FP2 population by culturing and culture‐independent approaches. In addition, we evaluated the impact of these pesticides on the ability of A. brasilense to promote plant growth by monitoring biometric traits (root and shoot dry mass and length) of wheat grown in Greenhouse conditions. Seed pesticide dressings, mainly fungicide, led to a significant mortality of A. brasilense over time. The ability of A. brasilense to promote wheat growth also decreased due to pesticide treatments combined with sowing delay. Considering that pesticides confer fitness advantages to the wheat in field condition, our results suggest that sowing within the first 4 h after inoculation maintain the beneficial effects of A. brasilense on wheat growth promotion. Furthermore, we conclude that inoculation and treatment of seeds with pesticides may be compatible techniques when carried out immediately before sowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of a study that compared the character variation of the male genitalia of neotropical Charaxinae. Charaxinae species occur in three Neotropic tribes, Preponini, Anaeomorphini and Anaenini. The male genitalia of Charaxinae consisted of the last two abdominal segments and their modifications for mating. The study showed that the structural patterns of genitalia allowed the separation in two groups.

Analysis of the biotic assembly of the Mexican Transition Zone (MTZ) is challenging because of the convergence of taxa with different origins and biogeographical histories. The typical Neotropical cenocron corresponds to genera widespread in South America that might have dispersed to the MTZ in the Pliocene–Holocene. It has been exemplified with distributional patterns of several plant and animal taxa; however, their historical congruence has not been tested. We examined the historical relationships among the areas of endemism where Typical Neotropical taxa are found through a cladistic biogeographical analysis to determine whether they have dispersed simultaneously, showing a geodispersal pattern. We searched for Neotropical clades that dispersed to the MTZ from the Pliocene to the present. The distribution of nine animal clades in seven areas of endemism was analysed by cladistic biogeography. Redundant areas and widespread taxa were treated with paralogy-free and transparent methods. Patterns of area relationships were searched using a parsimony analysis of paralogy-free subtrees. The parsimony analysis found a single resolved tree showing a general pattern of area relationships: (Chacoan ((South Brazilian (Boreal Brazilian + Lesser Antilles)), (South American Pacific (Mesoamerican-Central America + Western Mexico)))). Distributional and phylogenetic information on the groups analysed contrast with a previous cladistic biogeographical analysis that has shown different area relationships, thus supporting the general hypothesis of a geodispersal event of the Typical Neotropical cenocron in the MTZ. Additionally, the analysis provided evidence of vicariant events related to the lifting of the Northern Andes and climatic changes during the Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) are a wide-ranging felid species, occurring from southern United States to northern Argentina. They occupy various habitats and are usually considered the most abundant wild cat species in the Neotropics. However, genetic studies that include free-ranging Mesoamerican ocelots are rare and generally based on small sample sizes. This is the first conservation genetics study on ocelots in Costa Rica and the second one in Mesoamerica that has conducted a genetic assessment of the species at a countrywide scale. We evaluated genetic diversity and population structure of ocelots using 15 microsatellite loci in 28 successfully genotyped individuals from throughout the country. We also compared genetic diversity of Costa Rican ocelots with that of jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor) in the country, and with ocelots in Belize. Genetic diversity of ocelots in Costa Rica was relatively high as measured by rarified allelic richness (A R = 5.50 ± 1.36) and expected heterozygosities (H E = 0.79 ± 0.08). We did not detect patterns of genetic substructure, suggesting high levels of gene flow throughout the country and no strong barriers to movement. As expected, genetic diversity of Costa Rican ocelots was higher than co-occurring jaguars and pumas. Additionally, levels of genetic diversity were slightly higher in Costa Rican ocelots when compared with their counterparts in Belize, confirming the south to north decrease in genetic diversity reported in other studies. Our study provides critical baseline information to understand the status of wild ocelot populations in Costa Rica. Future studies on ocelots and other threatened or keystone species should also integrate genetic monitoring and conservation genetics analysis to properly inform management decisions, guarantee their long-term survival, and improve the resilience of ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common idea is that resisting or blocking herbivore attacks by structural, chemical and molecular means after they have commenced is the first line of plant defence. However, these are all secondary defences, operating only when all the various methods of avoiding attack have failed. The real first line of plant defence from herbivory and herbivore-transmitted pathogens is avoiding such attacks altogether. Several visual, chemical and 'statistical' methods (and commonly their combined effects) have been proposed to allow avoidance of herbivore attacks. The visual types are camouflage, masquerade, aposematic coloration of toxic or physically defended plants (including Müllerian/Batesian mimicry), undermining herbivorous insect camouflage, delayed greening, dazzle and trickery coloration, heterophylly that undermines host identification, leaf movements, and signalling that colourful autumn leaves are soon to be shed. The mimicry types include: herbivore damage, insects and other animals, fungal infestation, dead/dry leaves or branches, animal droppings, and stones and soil. Olfactory-based tactics include odour aposematism by poisonous plants, various repelling volatiles, mimicry of faeces and carrion odours, and mimicry of aphid alarm pheromones. The 'statistical' methods are mast fruiting, flowering only once in many years and being rare. In addition to the theoretical aspects, understanding these mechanisms may have considerable potential for agricultural or forestry applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The jewel orchids (Goodyerinae), named after their often colourful leaves, have a pantropical distribution with a clear Asian centre of diversity. However, the Nearctic and Neotropical America together form a second centre of diversity, with one-third of known species of Goodyerinae. Previously, only a few American samples have been included in phylogenetic studies, and their putatively Asian origins and American divergence times were poorly known. To elucidate these topics, we inferred phylogenetic trees, performed molecular dating and reconstructed biogeographic history using nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid matK sequences for 34 species of Goodyerinae from the New World and 76 previously published accessions of Cranichideae. Our well-supported phylogenetic topology suggests two independent dispersal events to the New World from the Indomalesian region during the Miocene. The first inferred dispersal of a Neotropical clade diverged c. 11 Mya from their most recent common ancestor (MRCA), comprising three highly supported subclades that do not match the limits of Aspidogyne , Kreodanthus and Microchilus as previously circumscribed. The second dispersal involved a largely Nearctic clade of Goodyera s.l. diverging c. 8.4 Mya from the MRCA and exhibiting a complex biogeographic history with subsequent dispersals between the Nearctic and Indomalesia. The occurrence of these species in gallery forests putatively prevented vicariance events imposed by the expansion of the Chacoan region as previously detected for epiphytic Orchidaceae. Eighty-nine nomenclatural combinations and three new names in Microchilus are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rearrangement of 37 genes with one control region, firstly identified in Gallus gallus mitogenome, is believed to be ancestral for all Aves. However, mitogenomic sequences obtained in recent years revealed that many avian mitogenomes contain duplicated regions that were omitted in previous genomic versions. Their evolution and mechanism of duplication are still poorly understood. The order of Accipitriformes is especially interesting in this context because its representatives contain a duplicated control region in various stages of degeneration. Therefore, we applied an appropriate PCR strategy to look for duplications within the mitogenomes of the early diverged species Sagittarius serpentarius and Cathartiformes, which is a sister order to Accipitriformes. The analyses revealed the same duplicated gene order in all examined taxa and the common ancestor of these groups. The duplicated regions were subjected to gradual degeneration and homogenization during concerted evolution. The latter process occurred recently in the species of Cathartiformes as well as in the early diverged lineages of Accipitriformes, that is, Sagittarius serpentarius and Pandion haliaetus. However, in other lineages, that is, Pernis ptilorhynchus , as well as representatives of Aegypiinae, Aquilinae, and five related subfamilies of Accipitriformes (Accipitrinae, Circinae, Buteoninae, Haliaeetinae, and Milvinae), the duplications were evolving independently for at least 14–47 Myr. Different portions of control regions in Cathartiformes showed conflicting phylogenetic signals indicating that some sections of these regions were homogenized at a frequency higher than the rate of speciation, whereas others have still evolved separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the introduction of cattle, exotic dung beetles (Coleoptera: Aphodiidae, Geotrupidae, Scarabaeidae) were imported into the Antipodes (Australia and New Zealand) and North America (primarily the United States) to accelerate the degradation of cattle dung on pastures. The history of dung beetle introductions between the two regions is similar but has not previously been assessed: this is important as new introductions are continuing in the regions. Here, we review these introduction programs, report on their current status, and discuss methodological advances. In doing so, we examine the accidental introduction of exotic (i.e. adventive) species and the contribution of both deliberately introduced and adventive species to endemic dung beetle faunas. Further, we provide a list of pest and parasite species whose populations can be reduced by dung beetle activity. We also identify a combined total of 37 introduced and 47 adventive dung beetle species that have become established in the Antipodes and North America, with exotic species dominating dung beetle assemblages from pasture habitats. Climatic and edaphic matches, the size of founding populations, abiotic and biotic stressors, and the time of year when releases are made are all critical determinants that affect the success of dung beetle introduction programs. Finally, we discuss opportunities, plus the risks and challenges associated with dung beetle introductions. We hope that this review will aid in the success of future introduction programs, either to enhance ecosystem services in areas that they are needed, or potentially to reestablish native species in regions where they have been extirpated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Psylloidea (Hemiptera) comprise ~4,000 species of small sap-feeding insects known as psyllids or jumping plant-lice. We summarize species composition of the nonnative psyllid fauna in North America and review detection records, current distributions, host use, life histories, and geographical sources. Forty-six species are considered to be nonnative accounting for ~10% of the known North American psyllid fauna. The family Psyllidae is overrepresented in the pool of exotics (52% of exotic species) relative to global psyllid diversity, whereas Triozidae (at 11% of exotic species) is underrepresented. Records of initial detection range from the 1832 detection of a European pear psyllid to the 2016 detection of a Ficus specialist from Asia. Many species exhibit discontinuous distributions in North America presumably caused by multiple introductions or by secondary spread of established populations. Host plants of nonnative species are almost exclusively trees and shrubs. The factor most correlated with introduction is presence of hosts from the psyllid's native region. Virtually all host plants in North America have been imported intentionally for human-related use, with initial importation beginning in the 1500s and 1600s. Arrival of host plants in North America often preceded psyllid detection or arrival by decades or centuries. There has been almost no spillover by psyllids onto native plant species reflecting the narrow host range of Psylloidea. A glaring exception is the recent damaging colonization of a native Fraxinus closely related to the psyllid's European Fraxinus host. Biological and geographical traits correlated with arrival and establishment of nonnative psyllids have shifted through time. Temperate Europe was the source of the earliest arriving species, with initial detection records primarily in New England and eastern Canada. In contrast, recent arrivals are mostly Myrtaceae- and Fabaceae-feeding species from the Neotropics or Australia, with detection records limited mostly to Florida or California. Early-arriving, temperate zone species exhibit a formal winter diapause while recent arrivals from the Neotropics and Australia appear to reproduce more-or-less continuously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coleoptera Scarabaeidae family is one of the most diverse groups of insects on the planet, which live in complex microbiological environments. Their immune systems have evolved diverse families of Host Defense Peptides (HDP) with strong antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. However, there are several peptide sequences that await discovery in this group of organisms. This would pave the way to identify molecules with promising therapeutic potential. This work retrieved two sources of information: 1) De-novo transcriptomic data from two species of neotropical Scarabaeidae (Dichotomius satanas and Ontophagus curvicornis); 2) Sequence data deposited in available databases. A Blast-based search was conducted against the transcriptomes with a subset of sequences representative of the HDP. This work reports 155 novel HDP sequences identified in nine transcriptomes from seven species of Coleoptera: D. satanas (n = 76; 49.03%), O. curvicornis (n = 23; 14.83%), (Trypoxylus dichotomus) (n = 18; 11.61%), (Onthophagus nigriventris) (n = 10; 6.45%), (Heterochelus sp) (n = 6; 3.87%), (Oxysternon conspicillatum) (n = 18; 11.61%), and (Popillia japonica) (n = 4; 2.58%). These sequences were identified based on similarity to known HDP insect families. New members of defensins (n = 58; 37.42%), cecropins (n = 18; 11.61%), attancins (n = 41; 26.45%), and coleoptericins (n = 38; 24.52%) were described based on their physicochemical and structural characteristics, as well as their sequence relationship to other insect HDPs. Therefore, the Scarabaeidae family is a complex and rich group of insects with a great diversity of antimicrobial peptides with potential antimicrobial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opinion. Comments on the geographic trends in neotropical avian research on Nearctic-Neotropic migrants in Central American countries. Use of human demographic and land related statistics as an index of human related pressures on a country's avifauna; Assembly of statistics indicative of geographic patterns researched; Number of publications on birds for most New World countries from 1979 to 1995.

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We used radiocollars and GPS collars to determine the movements and habitat selection of golden jackals (Canis aureus) in a seasonally dry deciduous forest with no human settlements in eastern Cambodia. We also collected and analyzed 147 scats from jackals to determine their seasonal diet and prey selection. The mean (± SE) annual size of home-range ranges (47.1 ± 2.5 km2; n = 4), which were mutually exclusive between mated pairs, was considerably larger than that previously reported for this species, resulting in an extremely low density (0.01 jackal/km2). The unusually large home ranges and low density probably were due to the harsh dry season when most understory vegetation is burned and nearly all waterholes dry up, thereby causing a large seasonal decline in the availability of small vertebrate prey. Resident groups consisted of an alpha pair, but no betas, and were situated only in areas not occupied by leopards (Panthera pardus) and dholes (Cuon alpinus). Jackals avoided dense forests and streams, and had a strong selection for dirt roads, possibly to avoid larger predators. Overall the jackal diet was diverse, with at least 16 prey items identified, and there was no significant difference in diet composition between the cool-dry and hot-dry seasons. Scat analysis showed that the main food items consumed by jackals were processional termites (Hospitalitermes spp.; 26% biomass consumed), followed by wild pig (Sus scrofa ; 20%), muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis ; 20%), and civets (17%). Compared to available biomass, jackals were not random in their consumption of ungulates because muntjac were selectively consumed over larger ungulate species. Dietary overlap with dholes and leopards was relatively low, and consumption patterns indicated jackals were preying on ungulates rather than scavenging from kills of larger carnivores. Our results showed that the jackal is an extremely adaptable and opportunistic species that exhibits unique behaviors to survive in an extreme environment near the edge of its distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The millipede family Xystodesmidae includes 486 species distributed primarily in temperate deciduous forests in North America and East Asia. Species diversity of the family is greatest in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States, with 188 species. Although the group includes notable taxa such as those that are bioluminescent and others that display Müllerian mimicry, producing up to 600 mg of cyanide, basic alpha-taxonomy of the group is woefully incomplete and more than 50 species remain undescribed in the Appalachian Mountains alone. In order to establish a robust phylogenetic foundation for addressing compelling evolutionary questions and describing species diversity, we assembled the largest species phylogeny (in terms of species sampling) to date in the Diplopoda. We sampled 49 genera (out of 57) and 247 of the species in the family Xystodesmidae, recollecting fresh material from historical type localities and discovering new species in unexplored regions. Here, we present a phylogeny of the family using six genes (four mitochondrial and two nuclear) and include pivotal taxa omitted from previous studies including Nannaria , Erdelyia , taxa from East Asia, and 10 new species. We show that 6 of the 11 tribes are monophyletic, and that the family is paraphyletic with respect to the Euryuridae and Eurymerodesmidae. Prior supraspecific classification is in part inconsistent with the phylogeny and convergent evolution has caused artificial genera to be proposed. Subspecific classification is likewise incongruent with phylogeny and subspecies are consistently not sister to conspecifics. The phylogeny is used as a basis to update the classification of the family, diagnose monophyletic groups, and to inform species hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An invasive population of spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula White, was first noted in North America in Pennsylvania in 2014, and by September 2020 populations had spread to six additional states. To develop a biocontrol program to aid in the management of the pest, exploratory surveys for SLF natural enemies in its native range were carried out in 27 provinces and other administrative regions of China from 2015 to 2019. Naturally laid egg masses were collected and sentinel SLF egg masses were deployed to attract egg parasitoids, and yellow sticky traps were used to collect SLF nymphs to discover and determine the parasitism rates of nymphal parasitoids. Results show that SLF is widely distributed in China (22 provinces and regions) and that the population densities in northeast China are higher than in southern and western China. An egg parasitoid, Anastatus orientalis Yang (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), and a nymphal parasitoid, Dryinus sinicus Olmi (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae), were collected. Anastatus orientalis was reared from SLF eggs in seven provinces in China with parasitoid emergence rates ranging from 4.0 to 15.5% (or 17.6 to 37.3% if including only egg masses that had at least some parasitism). There were significant differences in parasitoid emergence rates between sites associated with factors including habitat and host plants. Dryinus sinicus was discovered in eight cities across six provinces. The percentage of SLF nymphs parasitized by D. sinicus were 31.1, 23.3, and 0% in Tai'an, Shandong Province, Beijing City, and Yan'an, Shaanxi Province, respectively. These two parasitoids are promising natural enemies that are being considered as potential biocontrol agents of invasive populations of SLF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolutionary rate explanations for latitudinal diversity gradients predict faster speciation and diversification rates in richer, older and more stable tropical regions (climatic stability hypothesis). Numerous modern lineages have emerged in high latitudes, however, suggesting that climatic oscillations can drive population divergence, at least among extratropical species (glacial refugia hypothesis). This conflicting evidence suggests that geographical patterns of evolutionary rates are more complicated than previously thought. Here, we reconstructed the complex evolutionary dynamics of a comprehensive data set of modern mammals, both terrestrial and marine. We performed global and regional regression analyses to investigate how climatic instability could have indirectly influenced contemporary diversity gradients through its effects on evolutionary rates. In particular, we explored global and regional patterns of the relationships between species richness and assemblage‐level evolutionary rates and between evolutionary rates and climatic instability. We found an inverse relationship between evolutionary rates and species richness, especially in the terrestrial domain. Additionally, climatic instability was strongly associated with the highest evolutionary rates at high terrestrial latitudes, supporting the glacial refugia hypothesis there. At low latitudes, evolutionary rates were unrelated to climatic stability. The inverse relationship between evolutionary rates and the modern latitudinal diversity gradient casts doubt on the idea that higher evolutionary rates in the tropics underlie the current diversity patterns of modern mammals. Alternatively, the longer time spans for diversity to accumulate in the older and more stable tropics (and not high diversification rates) may explain the latitudinal diversity gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758), is one of the main pests of brassicas, and various insecticides, such as indoxacarb, are used to control it. However, frequent insecticide applications favor the selection of resistant individuals. Thus, the residual and sublethal effects of indoxacarb in two populations of P. xylostella , one collected in the field (FP) and one from the laboratory (LP), were evaluated and compared. The objective of this research was to investigate the toxicity of indoxacarb at residual and sublethal levels in a field population of P. xylostella from Brazil and a population from the laboratory. Leaf-dip bioassays showed high toxicity, with LC50 values after 48 h of 3.7 and 6.9 mg/liter for the LP and FP, respectively. Sublethal effects were indicated by significant reduction in the survival of larvae, pupae, and offspring. There was an increase in foliar consumption and a decrease in adult survival in the LP, and a decrease in fecundity in the FP. For the LP and FP population, the mean values for R 0, r m , and λ for the control treatment were significantly higher than for the treatment groups (CL15 and CL25). Exposure of larvae to sublethal indoxacarb concentrations significantly reduced larval and pupal survival. Larval and pupal survival decreased as the indoxacarb concentration increased. Fecundity was significantly lower for the FP at LC15 (96.2 eggs per female) and LC25 (69.2 eggs per female) concentrations compared with the other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ornithology (Oxford University Press) is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) occurs in small, declining, and highly fragmented populations throughout Southeast Asia, whereas the smaller leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is common and widespread. In contrast to leopard cats, little is known about the ecology of Asian golden cats, and resource partitioning between these species has not been studied. We used DNA-confirmed scats, camera-trap data, and prey surveys, to determine the diet, prey selection, and activity, of Asian golden cats and leopard cats in a protected area in northern Laos. The two felids had different diets: Asian golden cats consumed mostly ungulates (35% biomass consumed), murid rodents (23%), and carnivores (15%), whereas leopard cats consumed mostly murid rodents (79%). Asian golden cats were not random in their consumption of ungulates, because muntjac (Muntiacus spp.) were selectively consumed over larger ungulates, indicating muntjac were preyed upon rather than scavenged. Dietary overlap between the two felid species was moderate (R 0 = 0.60), and the dietary niche breadth of Asian golden cats (B = 8.44) was nearly twice as high as that of leopard cats (4.54). The mean (± SD) scat diameter was greater for Asian golden cats (2.1 ± 0.3 cm) than leopard cats (1.8 ± 0.2 cm), although diameters of leopard cat scats were considerably larger than previously assumed for this species. The felid species differed in their activity patterns, because Asian golden cats were diurnal, whereas leopard cats were nocturnal, although they did not differ in their use of elevation, suggesting there was no habitat segregation. Overall, leopard cats appeared to coexist with Asian golden cats, a potential predator and competitor, by exhibiting dietary and temporal partitioning. Our results showed that muntjac were important prey of Asian golden cats, suggesting the management of muntjac might be important for conserving populations of Asian golden cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While much has been learned regarding the phylogeny and evolution of cynipoid wasps, clearly illustrated diagnostic tools and identification keys have remained stagnant. So too, where keys do exist, they are often to genus or species, and there are no user-friendly keys to groups such as tribes, subfamilies, or families. This state of affairs leaves a knowledge gap for non-specialists and slows future research on the group. To address this, we provide a fully illustrated key to the higher-level groups of world Cynipoidea. We also provide summaries of all higher-level taxa with updated generic lists, biological data, distribution, and literature resources. The dichotomous key presented here is complimented with a multi-entry matrix-based key, created in Lucid, and served on www.waspweb.org with online versions of the dichotomous keys also available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Together, puffbirds (Bucconidae) and jacamars (Galbulidae) form the suborder Galbulae, sister group of all other Piciformes. Hitherto, the Galbulae had no ascertained pre-Pleistocene fossil record, and all previous alleged candidates have been refuted, except possibly the Sylphornithidae. Here we describe a wing of a tiny fossil bird from the early Oligocene of the Luberon region (southern France), which we assign to the Galbulae, as a new genus and species. Several characters, especially of the ulna and wing phalanx 1 of digit II, exclude the Passeriformes and Zygodactylidae, and indicate a representative of the Piciformes. Among Piciformes, absence of papillae remigales caudales and several characters of the wing phalanx 1 of digit II make it possible to assign the fossil to the Galbulae, and exclude all other clades. The fossil Sylphornithidae, with the carpometacarpus of Sylphornis being available, show some similarity with the Luberon fossil. The combination of features of the wing elements leads to the placement of the new fossil as stem Galbulae, and tentatively within the family Sylphornithidae. As such, it fills a gap and permits to better assign the whole enigmatic tiny sylphornithids, otherwise essentially known from leg bones. This yields the first firm pre-Pleistocene fossil record for the Galbulae. Today, both the Bucconidae and Galbulidae live exclusively in tropical America. The presence of stem Galbulae in the Oligocene of Europe, and probably the late Eocene, is a new example of a present-day Neotropical clade that had stem representatives in the Paleogene of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscape features and the ecology of suitable hosts influence the phenology of invasive tick species. The southern cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini) (Ixodida: Ixodidae), vectors causal agents of babesiosis in cattle and it infests exotic, feral nilgai, Bosephalus tragocamelus Pallas, and indigenous white-tailed deer, Odocoilus virginianus (Zimmerman), on the South Texas coastal plain wildlife corridor. The corridor extends from the Mexico border to cattle ranches extending north from inside Willacy Co. Outbreaks of R. microplus infesting cattle and nondomesticated ungulate hosts since 2014 in the wildlife corridor have focused attention on host infestation management and, by extension, dispersal. However, there is a knowledge gap on the ecology of R. microplus outbreaks in the South Texas coastal plain wildlife corridor. Ixodid distribution on the wildlife corridor is strongly influenced by habitat salinity. Saline habitats, which constitute ≈25% of the wildlife corridor, harbor few ixodids because of occasional salt toxicity from hypersaline wind tides and infrequent storm surges, and from efficient egg predation by mud flat fiddler crabs, Uca rapax (Smith). Rhipicephalus microplus infestations on nilgai were more prevalent in part of the corridor with mixed low salinity and saline areas than in an area that is more extensively saline. The different levels of R. microplus infestation suggest that man-made barriers have created isolated areas where the ecology of R. microplus outbreaks involve infested nilgai. The possible utility of man-made barriers for R. microplus eradication in the lower part of the South Texas coastal plain wildlife corridor is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study integrates biogeographical and phylogenetic data to determine the evolutionary history of the New World Dermacentor , and the origin of D. variabilis. The phylogenetic reconstructions presented here strongly support the hypothesis of an Afrotropical origin for Dermacentor , with later dispersal to Eurasia and the Nearctic. Phylogenetic and biogeographical data suggest that the genus reached the New World through the Beringia land bridge, from south-east Asia. The monophyly of the genus is supported, and most of the New World Dermacentor species appear as monophyletic. Dermacentor occidentals constitutes the sister lineage of D. variabilis , and the latter is subdivided into two well-supported clades: an eastern and a western clade. The western clade is genetically more variable than the eastern. The genus Dermacentor probably originated in Africa, and dispersed to the Palearctic and then to the New World through the Beringian route. Dermacentor variabilis appears to have originated in western North America, and then dispersed to eastern North America, probably in a single migration event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time in more than 30 years, a new European hoverfly genus has been discovered, Katara gen. nov. Its type species Katara connexa sp. nov. (Diptera: Syrphidae) is described from the Pindos Mountains (Greece), and the systematic position of the monotypic taxon within the tribe Rhingiini is analysed using morphological and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses resolved Katara connexa gen. et sp. nov. as sister taxon to Pelecocera latifrons. We assert based on the molecular phylogenetic results and the morphological distinctness of Pelecocera latifrons that this taxon merits a generic rank, thus we erect the genus Pseudopelecocera gen. nov. and also place Pelecocera persiana in this new genus based on shared characteristics. Based on our results, we place Chamaesyrphus in subgeneric rank and as a sister group to the nominal subgenus Pelecocera. We provide an identification key to the Rhingiini genera. Our phylogenetic analyses recovered all speciose Rhingiini genera as monophyletic and support existence of three main lineages within the tribe: (1) genus Rhingia with two groups, Palaearctic+Neotropical and Afrotropical taxa, (2) genus Cheilosia with its subgenera, and (3) lineage with remaining genera (Pseudopelecocera gen. nov. Katara gen. nov. Ferdinandea, Psarochilosia, Psarus, Portevinia and Pelecocera). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple high-severity insect outbreaks and wildfires dramatically altered the character of the Pinaleño high-elevation forests with notable impacts on ecosystem services. The Pinaleños are a small mountain range positioned close to large population centers, but not so close that any large industry is dependent on their resources, so regional and local impacts of the insect outbreaks to provisional resources were minor. There were qualitative impacts to cultural services, particularly to recreation, but no documented economic impacts. Effects on carbon and fuels were significant, but affected firefighting operations more than wildfire severity. The Pinaleños are positioned in an area of high biodiversity, and impacts on habitats of unique species were sometimes positive but also sometimes severely negative, especially on a relict population of Engelmann spruce and the critically endangered Mount Graham red squirrel. The Pinaleño situation illustrates how ecological disturbances can have a minor immediate economic impact but severe impacts on ecosystems and ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organisms of the Galapagos Islands played a central role in the development of the theory of evolution by Charles Darwin. Examination of the population genetics factors of many of these organisms with modern molecular methods has expanded our understanding of their evolution. Here, I provide a perspective on how selection, gene flow, genetic drift, mutation, and inbreeding have contributed to the evolution of 6 iconic Galapagos species: flightless cormorant, pink iguana, marine iguana, Galapagos hawk, giant tortoises, and Darwin's finches. Because of the inherent biological differences among these species that have colonized the Galapagos, different population genetic factors appear to be more or less important in these different species. For example, the Galapagos provided novel environments in which strong selection took place and the Darwin's finches diversified to produce new species and the cormorant adapted to the nutrient-rich western shores of the Galapagos by losing its ability to fly and genomic data have now identified candidate genes. In both the pink iguana, which exists in one small population, and the Galapagos hawk, which has small population sizes, genetic drift has been potentially quite important. There appears to be very limited interisland gene flow in the flightless cormorant and the Galapagos hawk. On the other hand, both the marine iguana and some of the Darwin's finches appear to have significant interisland gene flow. Hybridization between species and subspecies has also introduced new adaptive variation, and in some cases, hybridization might have resulted in despeciation. Overall, new population genetics and genomics research has provided additional insight into the evolution of vertebrate species in the Galapagos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transposable elements (TEs) are present in almost all organisms and affect the host in various ways. TE activity can increase genomic variation and thereby affect host evolution. Currently active TEs are particularly interesting because they are likely generating new genomic diversity. These active TEs have been poorly studied outside of model organisms. In this study, we aimed to identify currently active TEs of a notorious invasive species, the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta. Using RNA profiling of male and female germline tissues, we found that the majority of TE-containing transcripts in the fire ant germline belong to the IS630-Tc1-Mariner superfamily. Subsequent genomic characterization of fire ant mariner content, molecular evolution analysis, and population comparisons revealed a highly expressed and highly polymorphic mariner element that is rapidly expanding in the fire ant genome. Additionally, using comparative genomics of multiple insect species we showed that this mariner has undergone several recent horizontal transfer events (<5.1 My). Our results document a rare case of a currently active TE originating from horizontal transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial genomes of vertebrates are generally thought to evolve under strong selection for size reduction and gene order conservation. Therefore, a growing number of mitogenomes with duplicated regions changes our view on the genome evolution. Among Aves, order Psittaciformes (parrots) is especially noteworthy because of its large morphological, ecological, and taxonomical diversity, which offers an opportunity to study genome evolution in various aspects. Former analyses showed that tandem duplications comprising the control region with adjacent genes are restricted to several lineages in which the duplication occurred independently. However, using an appropriate polymerase chain reaction strategy, we demonstrate that early diverged parrot groups contain mitogenomes with the duplicated region. These findings together with mapping duplication data from other mitogenomes onto parrot phylogeny indicate that the duplication was an ancestral state for Psittaciformes. The state was inherited by main parrot groups and was lost several times in some lineages. The duplicated regions were subjected to concerted evolution with a frequency higher than the rate of speciation. The duplicated control regions may provide a selective advantage due to a more efficient initiation of replication or transcription and a larger number of replicating genomes per organelle, which may lead to a more effective energy production by mitochondria. The mitogenomic duplications were associated with phenotypic features and parrots with the duplicated region can live longer, show larger body mass as well as predispositions to a more active flight. The results have wider implications on the presence of duplications and their evolution in mitogenomes of other avian groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how biodiversity is distributed across space and time is one of the main challenges of biological conservation. Moreover, the choice of an adequate sampling methodology is crucial since this must provide an efficient overview of species diversity. We assessed the effectiveness and complementarity of three sampling methods (hand collection [HC], pitfall trapping [PT], and light trapping [LT]) for collecting ground beetles, which are known as a robust ecological indicator sensitive to habitat modifications. Our results varied in the number of species and abundance thereof caught by each sampling method. Both HC and LT were the most efficient and showed the highest species complementarity. HC recorded the highest number of ground beetle individuals, whereas the largest number of species were recorded with LT, but most represented by few individuals. Furthermore, the results revealed that PT do not work efficiently to provide reliable inventories in the remnant riparian cloud forests, which are characterized to be a highly heterogeneous environment. Our results might provide guidelines to choose the most efficient standardized sampling protocol for future inventory and monitoring of ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) diversity as a tool for the conservation planning in this threatened ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ornithocephalus clade (OC) consists of small, epiphytic orchids from the Neotropics. Thirty-six species of the OC and ten outgroup taxa were investigated using nrITS sequences analysed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. Molecular dating, biogeographical analyses and character reconstruction were also performed. Our results show a well-supported topology that agrees with all current generic circumscriptions, and complete congruence among the different phylogenetic methods. Based on a molecular clock analysis, the OC originated in the Miocene c. 10 (6–14) Mya and all genera were established by the Pliocene at 3.5 (1.8–5.6) Mya. The biogeographic reconstruction shows an origin and early diversification of the OC in the Atlantic Forest (Morrone's Paraná province), where six out of ten genera are restricted today. Only five of the 13 morphological characters reconstructed could be identified as unambiguous apomorphies for some genera, and a number of characters were ambiguous in the last common ancestor of the OC. The findings from this study provide a first broad phylogenetic hypothesis supporting generic circumscription and relationships in the OC and clarifying their origin and biogeographical history. Reconstruction of important morphological characters shows high plasticity in pseudobulb presence and multiple origins of asymmetric flowers. The column is the organ with the highest homology issues and further studies are needed to understand the origin of its various appendages and the tabula infrastigmatica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]