14 results on '"Iannella, Mattia"'
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2. Up and down from North to South: Latitudinal Distribution of Flea Beetle Genera in Continental Africa (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini).
- Author
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Biondi, Maurizio, D'Alessandro, Paola, and Iannella, Mattia
- Subjects
FLEA beetles ,PHYTOPHAGOUS insects ,PLANT diversity ,BEETLES ,CHRYSOMELIDAE ,INSECT diversity ,BIODIVERSITY - Abstract
Simple Summary: Biodiversity is not evenly distributed on Earth. For phytophagous insects, we could expect increasing taxonomic richness from temperate to tropical latitudes, where plant diversity is high. In this paper, we explored the variation in the number of genera in one of the most widespread groups of phytophagous insects, flea beetles, from north to south on the African continent. We found that the number of genera depends on the number of vegetation types, the kind of vegetation, and some specific bioclimatic variables, leading to an up-and-down trend in taxonomic richness from north to south. The distribution of global biodiversity can be investigated based on comprehensive datasets and many methods to process them. The taxonomic diversity of phytophagous insects is typically linked to plant diversity, which increases from temperate to tropical latitudes. In this paper, we explored the latitudinal distribution of the flea beetle genera (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini) on the African continent. We divided the area into latitudinal belts and looked for possible correlations with the number and types of vegetational divisions, the area of each belt, and the bioclimatic variables. The number of flea beetle genera is related to the number and types of vegetation divisions rather than the area of each belt. Some bioclimatic variables are highly related to the number of genera, which is higher within those belts where climate factors limit the oscillation of temperature over the year and favor high precipitations, especially in the warmest months. These biotic and abiotic factors lead to a two-peak trend in the taxonomic richness of flea beetle genera from north to south. Genera endemic to restricted areas are linked to the presence of high mountain systems and increase the taxonomic richness of the belt they belong to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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3. Climatic Niche, Altitudinal Distribution, and Vegetation Type Preference of the Flea Beetle Genus Arsipoda in New Caledonia (Coleoptera Chrysomelidae).
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Biondi, Maurizio, D'Alessandro, Paola, and Iannella, Mattia
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FLEA beetles ,CHRYSOMELIDAE ,BEETLES ,ECOLOGICAL niche ,ECOLOGICAL models ,HABITATS ,HABITAT selection - Abstract
Simple Summary: The distribution of many beetle species remains poorly known, and the knowledge of their ecological requirements is even more fragmentary. Starting with published data on the flea beetle genus Arsipoda in New Caledonia, we investigated the habitat preferences of the 21 species from this area. These species are significantly associated with vegetation growing on volcanic substrates. A few widespread species are also present in secondary vegetation, such as savanna and brushwood. We estimated current suitable areas for the genus using ecological niche models, and identified possible under-sampled areas, mainly in the central sector of the main island. New Caledonia is one of the major biodiversity hotspots. The flea beetle genus Arsipoda (Coleoptera Chrysomelidae) is present with 21 species, all endemic. We investigated, using GIS analyses and ecological niche models, the habitat preferences of these species in terms of vegetation types, altitude, and climate, and assessed the adequacy of knowledge on the spatial parameters affecting the distribution of the genus in New Caledonia. Altitude and geology seem to play an important role in shaping species distribution. Volcanic substrate allows the growth of ultramafic vegetation, which includes most of their host plants. From a biogeographic and conservation perspective, our results report a deep link between Arsipoda species and their habitats, making them particularly sensitive to environmental modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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4. Adamastoraltica humicola Biondi & Iannella & D'Alessandro 2020, sp. nov
- Author
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Biondi, Maurizio, Iannella, Mattia, and D'Alessandro, Paola
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Coleoptera ,Insecta ,Arthropoda ,Chrysomelidae ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Adamastoraltica humicola ,Adamastoraltica ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Adamastoraltica humicola sp. nov. Diagnosis. Adamastoraltica humicola sp. nov. is the only known species of the new genus here described, thus, it is clearly distinguishable from other flea beetle species by the genus characters. Similarities with moss-inhabitant flea beetle genera are likely due to adaptive convergence (see “Taxonomic notes” in the description of the new genus). The lack of scutellum is the most evident diagnostic trait. Although it is shared with species of the genus Stegnaspea, A. humicola sp. nov. is easily distinguishable from each Stegnaspea species by several features on head, pronotum, elytra, ventral parts, legs, aedeagus and spermatheca (see “Taxonomic notes” in the description of the new genus). Type material. Holotype ♂. [Republic of South Africa] Z A.40 / Table Mount. [Table Mountain] / Wynberg- Cave / Ravine C.P. [Newlands Ravine, 33°58’S 18°44’E] // xi-xii.1960 / Humus // N. Leleup leg. (MNHN). Para- types. Same data as the holotype, 2 ♂♂ and 3 ♀♀ (MNHN); Republic of South Africa: Z. A.43 / Table Mountain / Doline. Bats Cave [~ 33°58’S 18°57’E] // Humus / xii.1960 // N. Leleup leg. (MNHN). Description of the holotype ( ♂ ). Body ovate in dorsal view, very strongly and evenly convex in lateral view (Figs 1–3); total length of body (LB) = 1.33 mm; maximum pronotal width at base (WP = 0.59 mm); maximum width of elytra at middle (WE = 0.89 mm). Dorsal surface glabrous, metallic black, without evident punctures (Figs 1, 3–4); antennae and legs brown. Head (Figs 5–6) with impunctate surface; supraorbital and suprafrontal grooves joined and distinctly impressed; inter-antennal space slightly wider than length of the first antennomere; frons length (from upper orbital line to clypeus) about three times the inter-antennal space; frontal ridge wide, slightly raised, apically rounded; eyes sub-elliptical, small; interocular width about four times the transverse width of each eye; labrum apically deeply incised (Fig. 7); antennae about as long as half body length (LAN = 0.71 mm; LAN/LB = 0.54); last antennomeres distinctly wider than middle ones (Fig. 1); LA: 100:82:68:54:64:54:64:64:68:77:136. Pronotum (Figs 3–5) very convex, in dorsal view transverse, distinctly longer medially than laterally (LP = 0.38 mm; WP/LP = 1.54), with slightly rounded sides converging anteriorly; surface apparently smooth, but with very sparse and very shallow punctation; anterior, lateral, and basal margins very finely bordered (Fig. 5); anterior and posterior angles not prominent. Scutellum absent. Metathoracic wings absent. Elytra (Figs 1–3) moderately elongate (LE = 1.16 mm; WE/LE = 0.77; LE/LP = 3.04), strongly convex, with clearly rounded sides, apically jointly acute; lateral margin thin, not visible in dorsal view; surface smooth, with very sparse and very shallow punctation. Humeral calli absent. First pro- and mesotarsomeres weakly enlarged (Figs 1, 8a). Ventral parts brown; last abdominal ventrite without preapical sculptures or impressions. Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 10) (LAED = 0.56 mm; LE/ LAED = 2.09) with smooth surface; slightly tapered and weakly sinuate laterally in ventral view, apically rounded, with a median tooth; basal opening large; median lobe distinctly and evenly curved in lateral view, gradually thinner towards apical part, with dorsally oriented apex; dorsal ligula wide, laterally parallel, extending from half-length of aedeagus to subapical part. Variation. Males (n = 4; range): 1.16 ≤ LE ≤ 1.24 mm; 0.89 ≤ WE ≤ 0.90 mm; 0.38 ≤ LP ≤ 0.40 mm; 0.59 ≤ WP ≤ 0.60 mm; 0.68 ≤ LAN ≤ 0.73 mm; 0.56 ≤ LAED ≤ 0.57 mm; 1.33 ≤ LB ≤ 1.41 mm; 3.04 ≤ LE/LP ≤ 3.13; 1.47 ≤ WE/WP ≤ 1.51; 1.52 ≤ WP/LP ≤ 1.54; 0.72 ≤ WE/LE ≤ 0.77; 0.51 ≤ LAN/LB ≤ 0.54; 2.09 ≤ LE/LAED ≤ 2.14. Fe- males (n = 3; range): 1.22 ≤ LE ≤ 1.38 mm; 0.89 ≤ WE ≤ 1.08 mm; 0.37 ≤ LP ≤ 0.44 mm; 0.60 ≤ WP ≤ 0.65 mm; 0.69 ≤ LAN ≤ 0.75 mm; 0.17 ≤ LSPC ≤ 0.19 mm; 1.40 ≤ LB ≤ 1.67 mm; 2.93 ≤ LE/LP ≤ 3.11; 1.44 ≤ WE/WP ≤ 1.66; 1.44 ≤ WP/LP ≤ 1.62; 0.71 ≤ WE/LE ≤ 0.78; 0.45 ≤ LAN/LB ≤ 0.50; 7.00 ≤ LE/LSPC ≤ 7.25. Paratypes very similar in shape, sculpture and color to the holotype. Females distinguishable by the less enlarged first pro- and mesotarsomeres. Spermatheca (Fig. 11a) with elongate, subcylindrical basal part gradually narrower from half-length towards the distal part; distal part about as long as 1/3 of the basal part, lacking distinct collum and appendix; ductus short, uncoiled, U-shaped, apically inserted. Tignum (Fig. 11b) elongate and narrow, in lateral view basally and apically clearly curved; vaginal palpi (Fig. 11c) thin, basally not connected, moderately sclerotized along their entire length, apically with three setae. Etymology. The specific epithet is after the word “humus”, the type of habitat where the specimens of the new species were collected. Distribution. Republic of South Africa, Western Cape Province (Table 1; Fig. 12). Possible Southern-Western Afrotropical chorotype (SWA). Ecological notes. All the specimens were collected in humus, in a site without trees or shrub vegetation. Considering the species morphology (see “Diagnosis” in the description of the new species) and the absence of leaf litter in the collection site, Adamastoraltica humicola sp. nov. is likely to be a moss inhabitant.
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- 2020
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5. Adamastoraltica Biondi & Iannella & D'Alessandro 2020, gen. nov
- Author
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Biondi, Maurizio, Iannella, Mattia, and D'Alessandro, Paola
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Coleoptera ,Insecta ,Arthropoda ,Chrysomelidae ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Adamastoraltica ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Adamastoraltica gen. nov. Description. Body ovate and very convex, with maximum pronotal width at base and maximum width of elytra at middle (Figs 1, 3); elytral base as wide as pronotal base (Fig. 4). Dorsal surface glabrous, metallic, apparently smooth, but with very sparse and very shallow punctation (Figs 1, 3���4). Head (Figs 5���6) with supraorbital, suprantennal and suprafrontal sulci distinctly impressed and joined, forming a continuous groove; supraorbital pore poorly visible; area of frontal calli paler, but neither delimited nor raised; inter-antennal space slightly wider than length of the first antennomere; frons length (from upper orbital line to clypeus) distinctly longer than the inter-antennal space; frontal ridge slightly raised; eyes sub-elliptical, small. Mouth parts (Fig. 7) with clearly medially-incised labrum; three-segmented and flat maxillary palpi; three-segmented and thickset labial palpi. Antennae about as long as half body length (Fig. 1), with last antennomeres distinctly wider than middle ones. Pronotum (Figs 1, 3���5) very convex, in dorsal view transverse, subtrapezoidal, with converging anteriorly sides; margins very finely bordered; anterior and posterior angles not prominent; anterolateral setiferous pore very small, placed on the vertex of the anterior angle (Fig. 5). Scutellum absent (Fig. 4). Metathoracic wings absent. Elytra (Figs 1���3) moderately elongate, strongly convex, with clearly rounded sides and thin lateral margins, apically jointly acute; epipleurae (Fig. 2) very wide, horizontally oriented, little visible in lateral view. Humeral calli absent. Procoxal cavities posteriorly open (Fig. 2). Pro-, meso- and metasternum short (Fig. 2); intercoxal process of prosternum about as wide as supracoxal part, laterally subparallel; medial process of both metasternum and first abdominal ventrite distinctly elongate and anteriorly acute. Hind femora slightly swollen (Fig. 2); hind tibiae (Fig. 8b) longitudinally not channelled, without any spines or teeth on lateral margins; apical spur of hind tibiae simple; first metatarsomere as long as second and third together (Fig. 8c); third tarsomere of all legs very deeply incised; tarsal claws simple (Fig. 8a). Metafemoral extensor tendon (Fig. 9) with dorsal lobe slightly and evenly curved; extended arm of the dorsal lobe elongate; tendon basal edge straight, forming an acute dorsal-basal angle with the dorsal lobe; tendon central furrow very wide; dorsal edge of the ventral lobe straight, angled downward; basal angle of the ventral lobe slightly acute, not pointed apically; recurved flange significantly sclerotized. Metafemoral extensor tendon displays many similarities with the Altica Morpho-Group (Furth & Suzuki 1998). Median lobe of aedeagus (Fig. 10) simple, lacking ventral sulcus and other sculptures, evenly curved in lateral view, with a large dorsal ligula. Spermatheca of Alticinae-type (Furth & Suzuki 1994) (Fig. 11a) with sub-cylindrical basal part; distal part distinctly shorter than basal part, lacking a distinct collum and appendix; ductus short, uncoiled, U-shaped, apically inserted. Tignum (Fig. 11b) elongate and narrow, in lateral view basally and apically clearly curved; vaginal palpi (Fig. 11c) thin, basally not connected, moderately sclerotized along their entire length, apically with three setae. Type species. Adamastoraltica humicola sp. nov. Etymology. The name of the new genus means ���flea beetle of Adamastor���, a mythological figure of Titan transformed into a towering mountain in order to protect the Cape from passing sailors who dared to discover the African continent���s mysteries. Gender: feminine, because of the ��� altica ��� suffix. Distribution. Republic of South Africa, Western Cape Province (Table 1; Fig. 12). Taxonomic notes. Adamastoraltica gen. nov., known from a single species collected in humus, appears very similar to most moss-inhabitant flea beetle genera distributed worldwide (Fig. 12), possibly due to adaptation to similar environmental conditions of their habitat (see ���Introduction��� and ���Discussion���). Possible adaptive convergences concern: very small size, very convex and subglobose body, antennae with enlarged apical antennomeres, strongly reduced hind wings, greatly simplified and shortened mesothorax and metathorax, and elytra lacking humeral calli. However, the new genus shares some characters with the Asian genus Cangshanaltica Konstantinov, Chamorro, Prathapan, Ge, and Yang, know from China, Hong Kong and Thailand (Dama��ka & Aston 2019; Dama��ka & Konstantinov 2016; Konstantinov et al. 2013), such as: labrum apically deeply incised (Fig. 7); antennae not clavate (Fig. 1); anterior coxal cavities posteriorly open (Fig. 2); base of pronotum without transverse impression (Figs 1, 4���5); first abdominal ventrite with longitudinal ridges between metacoxae (Fig. 2); third tarsomere narrow and deeply incised (Figs 1, 3, 8a, c). The new genus is, however, easily distinguishable from Cangshanaltica by: suprantennal and suprafrontal sulci distinctly impressed (Fig. 6) (shallow, barely visible in Cangshanaltica); pronotal anterolateral setiferous pore very small, placed on vertex of the anterior angle (Fig. 5) (almost in the middle of the lateral margin in Cangshanaltica); pronotum with posterolateral callosity absent (Figs 1, 4���5) (present and slightly protruding in Cangshanaltica); scutellum absent (Fig. 4) (present in Cangshanaltica); metafemurs slightly swollen (Fig. 2) (robust in Cangshanaltica); hind tibiae longitudinally not channelled, without any spines or teeth on lateral margin (Fig. 8b) (clearly channelled with small spines on lateral margin in Cangshanaltica); apical spur of the hind tibiae barely distinguishable among tibial setae, very shorter than tarsal claws (Fig. 8b) (longer in Cangshanaltica); tarsal claws simple (Figs 8a, c) (subappendiculate in Cangshanaltica). The lack of scutellum, a peculiar character of Adamastoraltica gen. nov., is shared with Stegnaspea Baly, a genus generally associated with Poaceae and also occurring in the Western Cape Province with six species (D���Alessandro et al. 2012). The new genus, however, is clearly distinguishable from Stegnaspea by the following characters: body surface apparently smooth, with very sparse and very shallow punctation (Figs 1, 3���4) (clearly punctate in Stegnaspea); labrum medially incised (Fig. 7) (rounded in Stegnaspea); maxillary palpi flat (Figs 6���7) (slender in Stegnaspea); frontal calli absent (Fig. 6) (present in Stegnaspea); medial processes of metasternum and first abdominal ventrite comparatively narrow and elongate (Fig. 2) (wider and shorter in Stegnaspea); tarsal claws simple (Figs 8a, c) (subappendiculate in Stegnaspea); metafemoral extensor tendon attributable to the Altica morpho-group sensu Furth & Suzuki (1998) (Fig. 9) (attributed to the Chaetocnema morpho-group in Stegnaspea); median lobe of aedeagus simple (Fig. 10) (with complex sculptures in Stegnaspea); spermatheca without distinct collum and with short, apically inserted ductus (Fig. 11a) (with distinct collum and longer, sub-apically inserted ductus in Stegnaspea)., Published as part of Biondi, Maurizio, Iannella, Mattia & D'Alessandro, Paola, 2020, Adamastoraltica humicola, new genus and new species: the first example of possible moss-inhabiting flea beetle genus from sub-Saharan Africa (Coleoptera Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae), pp. 99-108 in Zootaxa 4763 (1) on pages 100-103, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4763.1.8, http://zenodo.org/record/3744099, {"references":["Furth, D. G. & Suzuki, K. (1998) Studies of Oriental and Australian Alticinae genera based on the comparative morphology of the metafemoral spring, genitalia, and hind wing venation. In: M. Biondi, M. Daccordi & D. G. Furth (Eds), Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on the Chrysomelidae. Proceedings of XX ICE Firenze. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Firenze, pp. 91 - 124.","Furth, D. G. & Suzuki, K. (1994) Character correlation studies of problematic genera of Alticinae in relation to Galerucinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). In: Furth, D. G. (Ed.), Proceedings of the third international symposium on the Chrysomelidae, Beijing. Citeseer. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, pp. 116 - 135.","Damaska, A. F. & Aston, P. (2019). Leaf litter and moss-inhabiting flea beetles of Hong Kong (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticini). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae, 59, 151 - 161. https: // doi. org / 10.2478 / aemnp- 2019 - 0013","Damaska, A. F. & Konstantinov, A. S. (2016) A new species of Cangshanaltica Konstantinov et al., a moss-inhabiting flea beetle from Thailand (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini). Zootaxa, 4107 (1), 93 - 97. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4107.1.7","Konstantinov, A. S., Chamorro, M. L., Prathapan, K., Ge, S. - Q. & Yang, X. - K. (2013) Moss-inhabiting flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) with description of a new genus from Cangshan, China. Journal of Natural History, 47, 2459 - 2477. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222933.2012.763068","D'Alessandro, P., Grobbelaar, E. & Biondi, M. (2012) Revision of the genus Stegnaspea Baly with descriptions of five new species from southern Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini). Insect Systematics & Evolution, 43, 11 - 33. https: // doi. org / 10.1163 / 187631212 X 626032"]}
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- 2020
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6. Unravelling the taxonomic assessment of an interesting new species from Socotra Island: Blepharidina socotrana sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
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Biondi, Maurizio and Iannella, Mattia
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Coleoptera ,Insecta ,Arthropoda ,Chrysomelidae ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Biondi, Maurizio, Iannella, Mattia (2019): Unravelling the taxonomic assessment of an interesting new species from Socotra Island: Blepharidina socotrana sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Acta. Ent. Mus. Natl. Pragae) 59 (2): 499-505, DOI: 10.2478/aemnp-2019-0040, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/aemnp-2019-0040
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- 2019
7. Revision of the Calotheca nigrotessellata species group from southern Africa, with description of two new species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini).
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D'ALESSANDRO, Paola, IANNELLA, Mattia, GROBBELAAR, Elizabeth, and BIONDI, Maurizio
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FISHER discriminant analysis , *PHYTOGEOGRAPHY , *CHRYSOMELIDAE , *FLEA beetles , *BEETLES , *STAPHYLINIDAE ,BEETLE anatomy - Abstract
Calotheca Heyden is a mostly sub-Saharan flea beetle genus, comprising twenty-seven species previously included in Blepharida Chevrolat. The examination of new material is revealing a high species richness, as there is high intraspecific variability. Calotheca luteomaculata sp. nov. from Zimbabwe and the Republic of South Africa, and C. luteotessellata sp. nov. from the Republic of South Africa are here described and attributed to the C. nigrotessellata (Baly) species group, mainly based on genitalic characters. Photographs of the main diagnostic characters are supplied, including the median lobe of the aedeagus and spermatheca. A forward stepwise discriminant function analysis, using morphometric variables, has been performed. It supports the attribution of the examined specimens to the three species here considered, thus adding characters useful for their identification. Information on geographical distribution and host plants are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2020
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8. Forecasting the spread associated with climate change in Eastern Europe of the invasive Asiatic fl ea beetle, Luperomorpha xanthodera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).
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IANNELLA, MATTIA, D'ALESSANDRO, PAOLA, and BIONDI, MAURIZIO
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CHRYSOMELIDAE , *CLIMATE change , *BIOLOGICAL invasions , *BEETLES , *ECOLOGICAL niche , *GEOGRAPHICAL distribution of insects - Abstract
The current climate has facilitated biological invasions worldwide, with the spread of invasive species accelerating over the last few decades. Introductions of species are often accidental and facilitated by many factors, including intercontinental trade. In this paper, we explore the secondary range of an adventive fl ea beetle native to Asia, Luperomorpha xanthodera, which was recently found in many European countries on several occurrences. This species has detrimental effects mainly on ornamental plants, being destructive to leaves and fl owers, which can have serious negative economic consequences. We inferred current and future potential distribution of this alien species using Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM) and analysed the future increase in suitable areas in European countries. Suitable climatic conditions for L. xanthodera are assumed to be similar to that in areas where this species currently occurs, which includes Ireland and some Balkan countries, where the species is not recorded yet. In the future, a North-eastern expansion is predicted, with many countries currently lacking suitable climatic conditions for L. xanthodera becoming suitable and potentially colonizable by this species. The geographic trend revealed and quantified in our analysis follows the increase in the mean temperature in the coldest quarter of the year, which is predicted to rise in the next 30 years. This will result in this species spreading from south-western Europe to North-Eastern countries, such as Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Belarus and Latvia, which should adopt preventive measures to avoid the accidental introduction of L. xanthodera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2020
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9. Phylogeography and species distribution modelling of Cryptocephalus barii (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): is this alpine endemic species close to extinction?
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Brunetti, Matteo, Magoga, Giulia, Iannella, Mattia, Biondi, Maurizio, and Montagna, Matteo
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SPECIES distribution ,PHYLOGEOGRAPHY ,BIOLOGICAL extinction ,QUATERNARY Period ,CHRYSOMELIDAE ,BEETLES - Abstract
The alternation of glacial and interglacial cycles of the Quaternary period contributed in shaping the current species distribution. Cold-adapted organisms experienced range expansion and contraction in response to the temperature decrease and increase, respectively. In this study, a fragment of the mitochondrial marker COI was used to investigate the phylogeography of Cryptocephalus barii, a cold-adapted alpine leaf beetle species endemic of Orobie Alps, northern Italy. The relationships among populations, their divergence time, and the most probable migration model were estimated and are discussed in light of the Pleistocene climate oscillations. Through a species distribution modelling analysis, the current habitat suitability was assessed and the distribution in a future global warming scenario predicted. The main divergence events that led to the actual population structure took place from ~750,000 to ~150,000 years ago, almost following the pattern of the climate oscillations that led to the increase of the connections between the populations during cold periods and the isolation on massifs in warm periods. The most supported migration model suggests that the species survived to past adverse climatic conditions within refugia inside and at the limit of the actual range. The species distribution modelling analysis showed that C. barii is extremely sensitive to air temperature variations, thus the increase of temperature caused by global warming will reduce the suitable areas within the species range, leading to its possible extinction in the next 50 years. Cryptocephalus barii is a representative case of how cold adapted and limited distributed species have been and could be affected by climate change, that highlights the implementation of conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2019
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10. Distribution patterns and habitat preference for the genera-group Blepharida s.l. in Sub-Saharan Africa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini).
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D'Alessandro, Paola, Iannella, Mattia, Frasca, Roberta, and Biondi, Maurizio
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BEETLES ,CHRYSOMELIDAE ,SPECIES distribution ,ECOSYSTEMS ,SAVANNAS - Abstract
Abstract This study analyzes the distributions in Sub-Saharan Africa of the endemic and sub-endemic flea beetle genera, Calotheca Heyden and Blepharidina Bechyné, this latter subdivided in the two subgenera, Blepharidina s.str. and Afroblepharida Biondi & D'Alessandro. To compare and correlate their pattern of geographic range and the current distribution of the terrestrial ecosystems occurring in the Afrotropical Region, 588 presence records were considered, 61 for Afroblepharida , 93 for Blepharidina and 434 for Calotheca. Afroblepharida , mainly occurring in the region of Africa between the 20th parallel N and the equator, has a clear preference (62%) for desert and semi-desert habitats, while Calotheca , widespread in the southern Africa, mainly in the eastern belt between the 20° and 40° meridian at E of Greenwich, Arabian Peninsula and Israel, results comparatively more mesophilous, preferring savannas (54%), and forests (37%). Finally, Blepharidina , mainly occurring in the region between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer, takes an intermediate position between Afroblepharida and Calotheca , with preference for savannah (47%), forest (32%), and semi-desertic (21%) habitat. Presence records were also used to build Ensemble models for current and past climatic conditions (Last Glacial Maximum and Mid-Holocene). The results, also in this case, show a clear separation between Afroblepharida and Blepharidina in central African's predicted suitable areas, as well as for Calotheca , which is predicted to occur especially in southern Africa. Post-modeling analyses on predicted suitable areas reinforced the patterns of habitat preference observed through occurrence localities and showed that the two genera once shared a large area, mainly composed by savannas, which progressively shrunk and changed to more desertic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2018
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11. Systematics and biogeography of the Afrotropical flea beetle subgenus Blepharidina (Afroblepharida) Biondi & D'Alessandro, with description of seven new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini).
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D'Alessandro, Paola, Frasca, Roberta, Grobbelaar, Elizabeth, Iannella, Mattia, and Biondi, Maurizio
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BEETLES ,SPECIES ,TAXONOMY ,SPECIES distribution ,PHYLOGENY - Abstract
A taxonomic revision of the species attributed to the subgenus Blepharidina (Afroblepharida) Biondi & D'Alessandro is provided. Seven new species are described: Blepharidina (Afroblepharida) afarensis sp. nov. and B. (A.) tajurensis sp. nov. from Djibouti; B. (A.) bantu sp. nov. from Kenya; B. (A.) benadiriensis sp. nov. from Somalia; B. (A.) nubiana sp. nov. from Sudan; B. (A.) pusilla sp. nov. from Ethiopia and Kenya; B. (A.) zephyra sp. nov. from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria. An updated catalogue, including material examined, distributions, chorotypes, and ecological notes, is supplied. The revision comprises a key to the eleven known species, habitus photos, and microscope and scanning electron micrographs of diagnostic characters, including the aedeagus and spermatheca. A phylogenetic analysis based on parsimony was provided. The strict consensus tree was used to put forward a preliminary biogeographical analysis of the taxon in the light of the current distribution of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2018
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12. DBSCAN and GIE, Two Density-Based "Grid-Free" Methods for Finding Areas of Endemism: A Case Study of Flea Beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in the Afrotropical Region.
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Biondi, Maurizio, D'Alessandro, Paola, De Simone, Walter, and Iannella, Mattia
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FLEA beetles ,CHRYSOMELIDAE ,ENDEMIC animals ,BEETLES ,SPECIES distribution ,PROTECTED areas ,BIOGEOGRAPHY - Abstract
Simple Summary: Areas of endemism (AoEs) are one of the most important topics discussed in biogeography, considering that the analysis of areas of sympatry between endemic species is essential to understand species distribution patterns, reconstruct evolutionary events, regionalize biogeographical areas, and assess regions of high conservation concern. Here, we propose a workflow based on the application of a clustering-based algorithm to identify AoEs and compare it to another method, the Geographical Interpolation of Endemism, based on a kernel density approach. We apply this framework to the flea beetles of the whole sub-Saharan Africa, identifying several AoEs through both methods, but with differences in their delimitation, number and features of characteristic species, and surface. Considering that our proposed workflow can be applied to any territorial context and sets of endemic species, we also provide a GIS tool that implements all the steps into one single toolbox. The identification of AoEs, possibly facilitated by our approach, can provide useful spatial information when dealing with several biodiversity-related issues, even applied to practical conservation measures, such as protected areas management and landscape planning. Areas of endemism (AoEs) are a central area of research in biogeography. Different methods have been proposed for their identification in the literature. In this paper, a "grid-free" method based on the "Density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise" (DBSCAN) is here used for the first time to locate areas of endemism for species belonging to the beetle tribe Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini in the Afrotropical Region. The DBSCAN is compared with the "Geographic Interpolation of Endemism" (GIE), another "grid-free" method based on a kernel density approach. DBSCAN and GIE both return largely overlapping results, detecting the same geographical locations for the AoEs, but with different delimitations, surfaces, and number of detected sinendemisms. The consensus maps obtained by GIE are in general less clearly delimited than the maps obtained by DBSCAN, but nevertheless allow us to evaluate the core of the AoEs more precisely, representing of the percentage levels of the overlap of the centroids. DBSCAN, on the other hand, appears to be faster and more sensitive in identifying the AoEs. To facilitate implementing the delimitation of the AoEs through the procedure proposed by us, a new tool named "CLUENDA" (specifically developed is in GIS environment) is also made available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
13. Habitat Specificity, Host Plants and Areas of Endemism for the Genera-Group Blepharida s.l. in the Afrotropical Region (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini).
- Author
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Iannella, Mattia, D'Alessandro, Paola, De Simone, Walter, and Biondi, Maurizio
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HOST plants , *CHRYSOMELIDAE , *PHYTOPHAGOUS insects , *BEETLES , *CLIMATE sensitivity , *CHEMICAL plants , *INSECT diversity - Abstract
Simple Summary: Knowledge of the processes that generate biodiversity is a core-issue of any conservation strategy because it allows predicting the effects of environmental changes in the number and distribution of target taxa. Some phytophagous insects can be good potential indicators of such processes, thanks to their wide distribution and their sensitivity to climate change, due to the association with specific environments and host plants. Unfortunately, this ecological information is often lacking. However, statistical tools allow reconstructing the ecological features of interest, based on the presence–absence data of the taxa, the climatic and vegetational features of their distributional areas, and the available data about their host plants. In this paper, we apply some geostatistical methods to identify processes and patterns of biodiversity at a continental scale, focusing on a group of phytophagous insects widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. The genus Calotheca Heyden (Chrysomelidae) is mainly distributed in the eastern and southern parts of sub-Saharan Africa, with some extensions northward, while Blepharidina Bechyné occurs in the intertropical zone of Africa, with two subgenera, Blepharidina s. str. and Blepharidina(Afroblepharida) Biondi and D'Alessandro. These genera show different ecological preferences. Through an up-to-date presence–absence dataset, in the light of the terrestrial ecoregions of sub-Saharan Africa and the distribution of their possible host plants, we interpreted the pattern of occurrence of these three supraspecific taxa, by geostatistical analyses in GIS and R environments. The separation of Blepharidina from Calotheca was probably driven by changes in climate as adaptation to more xeric and warm environments with a major occupancy of semidesert and savannah habitats, especially in the Afroblepharida species. Based on our data and analyses, Calotheca is mainly associated with Searsia (Anacardiaceae), and Blepharidina is likely associated with Commiphora (Burseraceae). This hypothesis is also corroborated by the widespread and even dominance of the Commiphora plants in the ecoregions where both Blepharidina s.str. and, above all, Afroblepharida, are more common. The main areas of endemism of the two genera are also differently located: Calotheca in the temperate zone; Blepharidina within the intertropical belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
14. Phylogeography and species distribution modelling of Cryptocephalus barii (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): is this alpine endemic species close to extinction?
- Author
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Matteo Brunetti, Giulia Magoga, Matteo Montagna, Mattia Iannella, Maurizio Biondi, Brunetti, Matteo, Magoga, Giulia, Iannella, Mattia, Biondi, Maurizio, and Montagna, Matteo
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0106 biological sciences ,Polyphaga ,Insecta ,Arthropoda ,Species distribution ,Chrysomeloidea ,Climate change ,Evolutionary biology ,phylogeography ,global warming ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Orobie Alp ,03 medical and health sciences ,Orobie Alps ,lcsh:Zoology ,Biodiversity & Conservation ,Genetics ,Animalia ,Glacial period ,lcsh:QL1-991 ,species distribution models ,cold-adapted specie ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Invertebrata ,030304 developmental biology ,cold-adapted species, endemism, global warming, Italy, Orobie Alps, phylogeography, species distribution models, species extinctions ,0303 health sciences ,Extinction ,Ecology ,species distribution model ,Chrysomelidae ,Cenozoic ,species extinctions ,Global warming ,Hexapoda ,Environmental niche modelling ,Coleoptera ,Phylogeography ,Geography ,Biogeography ,Italy ,endemism ,Interglacial ,cold-adapted species ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Research Article - Abstract
The alternation of glacial and interglacial cycles of the Quaternary period contributed in shaping the current species distribution. Cold-adapted organisms experienced range expansion and contraction in response to the temperature decrease and increase, respectively. In this study, a fragment of the mitochondrial marker COI was used to investigate the phylogeography of Cryptocephalusbarii, a cold-adapted alpine leaf beetle species endemic of Orobie Alps, northern Italy. The relationships among populations, their divergence time, and the most probable migration model were estimated and are discussed in light of the Pleistocene climate oscillations. Through a species distribution modelling analysis, the current habitat suitability was assessed and the distribution in a future global warming scenario predicted. The main divergence events that led to the actual population structure took place from ~750,000 to ~150,000 years ago, almost following the pattern of the climate oscillations that led to the increase of the connections between the populations during cold periods and the isolation on massifs in warm periods. The most supported migration model suggests that the species survived to past adverse climatic conditions within refugia inside and at the limit of the actual range. The species distribution modelling analysis showed that C.barii is extremely sensitive to air temperature variations, thus the increase of temperature caused by global warming will reduce the suitable areas within the species range, leading to its possible extinction in the next 50 years. Cryptocephalusbarii is a representative case of how cold adapted and limited distributed species have been and could be affected by climate change, that highlights the implementation of conservation actions.
- Published
- 2019
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