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Taxonomic Distribution (taxonomic + distribution)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Profiling invasive fish species: the importance of phylogeny and human use

DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 4 2005
Carles Alcaraz
ABSTRACT Understanding the ecological differences between native and invasive species is of considerable scientific and practical interest. We examined such differences between native and invasive inland fish species from the Iberian Peninsula in order to analyse the importance of phylogenetic correction and variability (in addition to central tendency). We collected 26 quantitative and qualitative variables on the ecology, life-history traits and human use of the 69 inland fish species of the Iberian Peninsula, including native, invasive and migratory species. The taxonomic distribution of invasive fish species deviated significantly from world freshwater richness and in contrast to native species, invasive fish belongs to only five taxonomic orders but to a wide spectrum of families not native to the Iberian Peninsula. Because the life-history traits were highly dependent on taxonomy, the results, with or without applying phylogenetic methods, differed and after accounting for phylogeny, invasive species displayed higher and wider latitude in general and a different reproductive season mainly among salmonids and cyprinids. Human use was also significantly different between native and invasive fish species and produced more variability in life-history traits of invasive species and uneven taxonomic distribution because of the high diversity of species introduced. We show that accounting for taxonomy and studying variability in addition to central tendency is important in the comparison of life-history traits between native and invasive species. [source]

Towards a phylogenetic classification of dendrocoelid freshwater planarians (Platyhelminthes): a morphological and eclectic approach

JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH, Issue 4 2006
R. Sluys
Abstract We explore and review the taxonomic distribution of morphological features that may be used as supporting apomorphies for the monophyletic status of various taxa in future, more comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of the dendrocoelid freshwater planarians and their close relatives. Characters examined are: (i) musculature of the pharynx; (ii) anatomy of the eye; (iii) distribution of testis follicles along the longitudinal axis of the body; (iv) epidermis of the body wall; (v) musculature of the ventral body wall; (vi) presence or absence of a penis papilla; (vii) position of the mouth opening; and (viii) anterior adhesive organ. A phylogenetic hypothesis, in the form of a character state tree, is developed. This hypothesis suggests that the Kenkiidae should be resurrected as a separate family, sharing a sistergroup relationship with the Dendrocoelidae. This sistergroup relationship is supported by the shared presence of an apomorphic anterior adhesive organ. Although the shape of the anterior adhesive organ, both within and between kenkiids and dendrocoelids, may differ considerably between species, they are all constructed according to the same principles. The monophyly of the Kenkiidae is supported by the presence of an apomorphic thickening of the marginal zone of the epidermis and presumably also by the presence of prepharyngeal testes. Within the Kenkiidae, the genus Macrocotyla should be considered as a junior synonym of Kenkia, which is characterized by the presence of an apomorphic ,planariid pharynx-type 2'. The monophyly of the Dendrocoelidae is suggested by the presence of a dendrocoelid type of pharynx. It is shown that multicellular eye cups with numerous photoreceptor cells are not restricted to the Dugesiidae and the Terricola but are also characteristic for the Dendrocoelidae; the phylogenetic implications of this character state distribution are discussed. It is pointed out that in planarians there may be a relationship between: (i) body size, the size of an eye cup and the number of its constituent pigment cells; and (ii) the size of an eye cup and the number of photoreceptor cells that it contains. Some tentative phylogenetic groups are suggested on the basis of the following presumed apomorphic characters: presence of transverse fibres in the ventral subepidermal musculature, presence of an extra longitudinal muscle layer in the outer pharynx musculature, a mouth opening that has shifted anteriad. It is suggested that the presumed monophyly of the genus Bdellocephala is supported by the apomorphic absence of a penis papilla, combined with a penial lumen provided with many plicae. Zusammenfassung Wir untersuchen und begutachten die taxonomische Verbreitung morphologischer Merkmale, die man als Apomorphien für die Monophylie verschiedener Taxa in einer zukünftigen umfangreicheren phylogenetischen Analyse der Dendrocoeliden und ihrer nächsten Verwandten heranziehen könnte. Zu diesen untersuchten Merkmalen gehören die Pharynxmuskulatur, die Augen-Anatomie, die Anordnung der Hodenfollikel entlang der Längsachse des Körpers, die Epidermis, die Muskulatur der ventralen Körperwand, das Vorhandensein oder Fehlen einer Penispapille, die Lage der Mundöffnung sowie des vorderen Hartorgans. Eine phylogenetische Hypothese wurde als character state-Stammbaum entwickelt. Hierin wird vorgeschlagen, die Kenkiidae wieder als eigenständige Familie und als Schwestergruppe der Dendrocoelidae zu betrachten. Dieses Schwestergruppen-Verhältnis wird durch den gemeinsamen Besitz eines apomorphen vorderen Haftorgans gestützt. Obwohl sich die Form dieses Organs sowohl innerhalb als auch zwischen Kenkiiden und Dendrocoeliden beträchtlich zwischen den Arten unterscheiden kann, ist es grundsätzlich gleich aufgebaut. Die Monophylie der Kenkiidae wird durch eine als apomorph betrachtete Verdickung des Epidermisrandes und durch das Auftreten praepharyngealer Hoden gestützt. Innerhalb der Kenkiidae sollte die Gattung Macrocotyla als Juniorsynonym von Kenkia angesehen werden, die durch den apomorphen Planarien-Pharynx-Typ 2 charakterisiert ist. Als Beleg für die Monophylie der Dendrocoelidae wird der Dendrocoeliden-Pharynx-Typ vorgeschlagen. Es wird gezeigt, dass vielzellige Augenbecher mit zahlreichen Photorezeptorzellen nicht auf die Dugesiidae und die Terricola beschränkt, sondern auch für die Dendrocoelidae charakteristisch sind; die phylogenetische Bedeutung dieser Merkmalsverteilung wird diskutiert. Es wird hervorgehoben, dass es in den Planarien wahrscheinlich eine Beziehung zwischen (i) Körpergröße, Größe der Augenbecher und Zahl der Photorezeptorzellen ebenso wie (ii) der Größe eines Augenbechers und der Zahl seiner Photorezeptorzellen gibt. Versuchsweise werden einige phylogenetische Gruppierungen auf der Basis der folgenden vermutlich apomorphen Merkmale vorgeschlagen: Vorhandensein transversaler Fasern in der ventralen subepidermalen Muskulatur, Auftreten einer zusätzlichen Längsmuskelschicht in der äußeren Pharynxmuskulatur und eine nach vorn verschobene Mundöffnung. Es wird weiterhin vorgeschlagen, die vermutete Monophylie der Gattung Bdellocephala durch das Fehlen einer Penispapille als Autapomorphie zu stützen, zusammen mit dem Merkmal eines durch viele Falten gekennzeichneten Penislumens. [source]

The radiation of the Cape flora, southern Africa

BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 4 2003
H. P. LINDER
ABSTRACT The flora of the south-western tip of southern Africa, the Cape flora, with some 9000 species in an area of 90 000 km2 is much more speciose than can be expected from its area or latitude, and is comparable to that expected from the most diverse equatorial areas. The endemism of almost 70%, on the other hand, is comparable to that found on islands. This high endemism is accounted for by the ecological and geographical isolation of the Cape Floristic Region, but explanations for the high species richness are not so easily found. The high species richness is accentuated when its taxonomic distribution is investigated: almost half of the total species richness of the area is accounted for by 33,Cape floral clades'. These are clades which may have initially diversified in the region, and of which at least half the species are still found in the Cape Floristic Region. Such a high contribution by a very small number of clades is typical of island floras, not of mainland floras. The start of the radiation of these clades has been dated by molecular clock techniques to between 18 million years ago (Mya)(Pelargonium) and 8 Mya (Phylica), but only six radiations have been dated to date. The fossil evidence for the dating of the radiation is shown to be largely speculative. The Cenozoic environmental history of southern Africa is reviewed in search of possible triggers for the radiations, climatic changes emerge as the most likely candidate. Due to a very poor fossil record, the climatic history has to be inferred from larger scale patterns, these suggest large-scale fluctuations between summer wet (Palaeocene, Early Miocene)and summer dry climates (Oligocene, Middle Miocene to present). The massive speciation in the Cape flora might be accounted for by the diverse limitations to gene flow (dissected landscapes, pollinator specialisation, long flowering times allowing much phenological specialisation), as well as a richly complex environment providing a diversity of selective forces (geographically variable climate, much altitude variation, different soil types, rocky terrain providing many micro-niches, and regular fires providing both intermediate disturbances, as well as different ways of surviving the fires). However, much of this is based on correlation, and there is a great need for (a)experimental testing of the proposed speciation mechanisms, (b)more molecular clock estimates of the age and pattern of the radiations, and (c)more fossil evidence bearing on the past climates. [source]

BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH: Conserving macroinvertebrate diversity in headwater streams: the importance of knowing the relative contributions of , and , diversity

DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 5 2010
Amber Clarke
Abstract Aim, We investigated partitioning of aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity in eight headwater streams to determine the relative contributions of , and , diversity to , diversity, and the scale dependence of , and , components. Location, Great Dividing Range, Victoria, Australia. Methods, We used the method of Jost (Ecology, 2007, 88, 2427,2439) to partition , diversity into its , and , components. We undertook the analyses at both reach and catchment scales to explore whether inferences depended on scale of observation. Results, We hypothesized that , diversity would make a large contribution to the , diversity of macroinvertebrates in our dendritic riverine landscape, particularly at the larger spatial scale (among catchments) because of limited dispersal among sites and especially among catchments. However, reaches each had relatively high taxon richness and high , diversity, while , diversity made only a small contribution to , diversity at both the reach and catchment scales. Main conclusions, Dendritic riverine landscapes have been thought to generate high , diversity as a consequence of limited dispersal and high heterogeneity among individual streams, but this may not hold for all headwater stream systems. Here, , diversity was high and , diversity low, with individual headwater stream reaches each containing a large portion of , diversity. Thus, each stream could be considered to have low irreplaceability since losing the option to use one of these sites in a representative reserve network does not greatly diminish the options available for completing the reserve network. Where limited information on individual taxonomic distributions is available, or time and money for modelling approaches are limited, diversity partitioning may provide a useful ,first-cut' for obtaining information about the irreplaceability of individual streams or subcatchments when establishing representative freshwater reserves. [source]