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In recent years many bee species have expanded/contracted their ranges in response to natural or human-induced changes in habitats. Therefore, identifying suitable habitats and evaluating connectivity between them is crucial for the conservation of species. Species distribution models (SDMs) and connectivity algorithms are the main tools currently available to provide knowledge of species potential to shift/expand their ranges. We aimed to identify the core habitats of Apis florea and evaluate connectivity between populations. We carried out a multi-level modeling framework to predict an ensemble model of habitat suitability of the species in three critical months (May, October, and January) based on (1) only the climatic variables; (2) both climatic and environmental data. Then, we used the concept of circuit theory to evaluate potential linkages between core habitats. Spatial patterns of suitable habitats and connectivity between them varied across months. Potential habitats of the species appeared to be strongly influenced by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), croplands, village density, and water vapor pressure. Most of the predicted core habitats and connectivity were found in the western half of the species range in May due to the abundance of nectar and pollen in habitats. Contrary to the western parts, core habitats in eastern regions appeared to be fragmented with limited connectivity. Our results provided the first map of connectivity for A. florea that could improve the understanding of the distribution of red dwarf honey bees and contribute to conservation strategies to protect core areas for this keystone pollinator species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of spatial patterns of climatically suitable habitats, and species range contractions/expansions, or shifts due to changing climate are important to improve the effectiveness of conservation efforts. Ecological niche models (ENMs) are the primary tools currently available for evaluating species' response to anthropogenic or natural changes. We used ENMs to evaluate potential effects of future climate changes on the distribution range of a keystone pollinator, Apis florea Fabricius 1787 (Apidae: Apini), across its native range. We also provided a picture of the potential paleodistribution range of this species to complement future genetic/phylogenetic studies. In all assessed scenarios (i.e past, current, and future), the species was limited to its current native range and the mean temperature of the coldest season was the most key determinative factor affecting the species' climate niche. The projection results revealed that the extent of climatically suitable habitats of the species was probably more than current in the past time periods and will increase in the future. Our findings of the consequences of climate changes on geographical distributions of this pollinator facilitate future management efforts for the species conservation by the identification of potential habitats where A. florea may already exist, prioritizing key habitats within the species' native range under the current and future conditions, and recognizing regions where it is likely to spread its range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duikers from the subfamily Cephalophinae are small to medium-sized antelope native to sub-Saharan Africa. Since most of the species belonging to this group are considered at-risk due to the process of population decline and probable extinction, recognizing their evolutionary biology will be useful toward preventing their extinction. Herein, molecular phylogeny of fourteen species of duikers were re-evaluated using complete mitochondrial genome sequences (n=17), cytochrome b (n=64), cytochrome c oxidase I (n=81), as well as the tRNA-proline gene and D-loop sequences. The analysis of a total of 225 gene sequences showed the average base composition of mtDNA sequences, based on mitogenome sequences, as follows: 26.8 % T, 26.5 % C, 33.3 % A, and 13.4 % G, with a great AT bias (60.1 %). According to the phylogenetic trees which resulted from maximum likelihood analysis, five distinct groups were indicated as West African red (Cephalophus callipygus, C. ogilbyi), East African red (C. leucogaster, C. natalensis, C. rufilatus, C. nigrifrons), savanna (Sylvicapra grimmia), giant (C. dorsalis, C. jentinki, C. silvicultor, C. spadix), and dwarf (Philantomba maxwellii, P. monticola) duikers. Furthermore, the current study showed that results will be similar using limited mitochondrial genes or either mitogenomes. Giving a careful attention to the phylogeny of duikers, two distinct evolutionary lineages were observed which could be defined as two distinct tribes (i.e. dwarf duikers and other species) within this subfamily. It means that their phylogeny is in accordance with their body-size classes. Therefore, similar approaches would be useful for those animals in which phylogeny is in accordance with their geographic position and body size, as can be seen in duikers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this survey, phylogenetic relationships within the tribe Hippotragini were re-evaluated using 132 gene sequences and ten complete mitogenomes. Based on the complete mitochondrial genomes, the average base composition of mtDNA sequences was 26.9% T, 26.3% C, 33.4% A, and 13.4% G, showing a strong AT bias (60.3%). The phylogenetic trees were constructed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods, and were found to have very identical topologies. The results of this study revealed that this tribe is a strongly supported monophyletic group, and in all of the phylogenetic trees, except for COXI, Addax nasomaculatus is considered as a sister group for the monophyletic group of the genus Oryx. All of the species belonging to the genus Hippotragus constructed another monophyletic clade. Besides, within the monophyletic group of the genus Oryx, there are probably two distinct evolutionary pathways, i.e. O. gazella was located as a sister taxon of other species. Also, based on the whole mitogenomes, the extinct blaubok (H. leucophaeus), the endangered giant sable (H. niger variani), and the southern sable (H. niger niger), showed very close phylogenetic relationships and the roan antelope (H. equinus) is nested as their sister taxon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]