A new species of crown-of-thorns sea star (CoTS), Acanthaster benziei sp. nov., is described based on four specimens collected from Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast where it inhabits coral reefs. Species ...delimitation from congeners in the species complex, i.e., Acanthaster planci, Acanthaster mauritiensis and Acanthaster cf. solaris, is primarily based on distinct and diagnostic mitochondrial DNA sequence regions. Species separation of Acanthaster benziei is additionally justified due to diagnostic morphological characters: fewer arms; narrower and thinner spines; fanned spine tips in primary and latero-oral spines; a wider tip or tapering shape in circumoral spines; and rhombus-shaped oral pedicellariae.
Mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) are prominent representatives of aquatic macroinvertebrates, commonly used as indicator organisms for water quality ...and ecosystem assessments. However, unambiguous morphological identification of EPT species, especially their immature life stages, is a challenging, yet fundamental task. A comprehensive DNA barcode library based upon taxonomically well‐curated specimens is needed to overcome the problematic identification. Once available, this library will support the implementation of fast, cost‐efficient and reliable DNA‐based identifications and assessments of ecological status. This study represents a major step towards a DNA barcode reference library as it covers for two‐thirds of Germany's EPT species including 2,613 individuals belonging to 363 identified species. As such, it provides coverage for 38 of 44 families (86%) and practically all major bioindicator species. DNA barcode compliant sequences (≥500 bp) were recovered from 98.74% of the analysed specimens. Whereas most species (325, i.e., 89.53%) were unambiguously assigned to a single Barcode Index Number (BIN) by its COI sequence, 38 species (18 Ephemeroptera, nine Plecoptera and 11 Trichoptera) were assigned to a total of 89 BINs. Most of these additional BINs formed nearest neighbour clusters, reflecting the discrimination of geographical subclades of a currently recognized species. BIN sharing was uncommon, involving only two species pairs of Ephemeroptera. Interestingly, both maximum pairwise and nearest neighbour distances were substantially higher for Ephemeroptera compared to Plecoptera and Trichoptera, possibly indicating older speciation events, stronger positive selection or faster rate of molecular evolution.
This study summarizes results of a DNA barcoding campaign on German Diptera, involving analysis of 45,040 specimens. The resultant DNA barcode library includes records for 2,453 named species ...comprising a total of 5,200 barcode index numbers (BINs), including 2,700 COI haplotype clusters without species‐level assignment, so called “dark taxa.” Overall, 88 out of 117 families (75%) recorded from Germany were covered, representing more than 50% of the 9,544 known species of German Diptera. Until now, most of these families, especially the most diverse, have been taxonomically inaccessible. By contrast, within a few years this study provided an intermediate taxonomic system for half of the German Dipteran fauna, which will provide a useful foundation for subsequent detailed, integrative taxonomic studies. Using DNA extracts derived from bulk collections made by Malaise traps, we further demonstrate that species delineation using BINs and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) constitutes an effective method for biodiversity studies using DNA metabarcoding. As the reference libraries continue to grow, and gaps in the species catalogue are filled, BIN lists assembled by metabarcoding will provide greater taxonomic resolution. The present study has three main goals: (a) to provide a DNA barcode library for 5,200 BINs of Diptera; (b) to demonstrate, based on the example of bulk extractions from a Malaise trap experiment, that DNA barcode clusters, labelled with globally unique identifiers (such as OTUs and/or BINs), provide a pragmatic, accurate solution to the “taxonomic impediment”; and (c) to demonstrate that interim names based on BINs and OTUs obtained through metabarcoding provide an effective method for studies on species‐rich groups that are usually neglected in biodiversity research projects because of their unresolved taxonomy.
For over 50 years Winston Ponder has been at the forefront of molluscan research. Young Winston collected land snails in the environs of Lower Hutt, New Zealand and marine species at Waikanae Beach ...northwest of Wellington. He attended Victoria University in Wellington in 1959 but moved to Auckland University in 1960 to study under Professor John E. Morton, with whom he completed his B.Sc. in 1963 (Galeommatoidea), his M.Sc. with 1st Class Honours in 1965 (Rissoidae), and his Ph.D. in 1968 (Neogastropoda). Winston was appointed Curator of Marine Invertebrates at the Dominion Museum in 1967. However, he soon moved to Australia after accepting the position of Curator of Molluscs at the Australian Museum in 1968. He would spend the next 37 years there. Winston has published in almost 50 different scientific journals and numerous edited books and volumes. He has collaborated with almost 100 different co-authors from around the world and has addressed multiple taxa and questions across the phylum. He has been a strong advocate for Australasian malacology. His advocacy has also included a robust outreach to students. However, his advancement of Australasian malacology was not done to the exclusion of the global role and needs of the discipline.
DNA metabarcoding was utilized for a large‐scale, multiyear assessment of biodiversity in Malaise trap collections from the Bavarian Forest National Park (Germany, Bavaria). Principal component ...analysis of read count‐based biodiversities revealed clustering in concordance with whether collection sites were located inside or outside of the National Park. Jaccard distance matrices of the presences of barcode index numbers (BINs) at collection sites in the two survey years (2016 and 2018) were significantly correlated. Overall similar patterns in the presence of total arthropod BINs, as well as BINs belonging to four major arthropod orders across the study area, were observed in both survey years, and are also comparable with results of a previous study based on DNA barcoding of Sanger‐sequenced specimens. A custom reference sequence library was assembled from publicly available data to screen for pest or invasive arthropods among the specimens or from the preservative ethanol. A single 98.6% match to the invasive bark beetle Ips duplicatus was detected in an ethanol sample. This species has not previously been detected in the National Park.
ABSTRACT
The genus Lodderena Iredale, 1924 has been classified in the Skeneidae by most recent authors. However, this family, originally characterized by their minute size, lack of nacre in the ...teleoconch and a rhipidoglossate radula, is currently considered to be polyphyletic assemblage, and preliminary molecular systematic data suggest exclusion of Lodderena from Skeneidae. In order to shed light on the systematic position of this genus, we provide a detailed description of the anatomy and histology of the type species, Lodderena minima (Tenison-Woods, 1878), and of L. ornata (Olsson & McGinty, 1958). The anatomical data confirm the vetigastropod-trochoid nature of Lodderena but exclude the genus from Skeneidae. Skeneidae are mainly characterized by a propodial penis, a hermaphroditic condition with separated testis and ovary, and a large receptaculum in the mantle roof. In contrast, Lodderena species lack both a copulatory organ and receptaculum, and have a true ovotestis. We also provide a critical review of nominal species in the genus. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, we exclude Lodderena from Skeneidae, instead treating it as a genus incertae sedis within Trochoidea. We discuss the implications of small size for functional morphology and reproduction.
Up to now, the internal anatomy of representatives of only two of three recent genera of the Orbitestellidae have been described. Herein, a species of the third genus, Lurifax vitreus from ...hydrothermal vent sites of the North Atlantic, is examined on the basis of semi-thin sections. Data on three-dimensional (3D)-anatomy and histology are provided in order to increase knowledge of the family. In addition, the original serial sections of Orbitestella wareni and Microdiscula cf. subcanaliculata of the original paper by Ponder (Journal of Molluscan Studies 56:515–532, 1990a) were reinvestigated and compared with Lurifax vitreus. Although Lurifax vitreus is significantly larger than the two former genera, it is again devoid of a gill but shows opponent ciliary stripes and a pallial tentacle. Most orbitestellid characters reflect plesiomorphic conditions among the Heterobranchia; autapomorphies of the family include an orthostrophic protoconch, massive jaws, a diagnostic radula type, paired posterior pedal glands with a common opening, and a pedally innervated copulatory organ. In agreement with actual molecular trees, our data suggest a placement of Orbitestellidae as basic Heterobranchia outside of Ectobranchia (Valvatoidea).
Solenogastres form a small clade of worm-shaped molluscs distributed world-wide with most of the approx. 300 species occurring in the deep sea. A recent diversity study from the abyssal plain in the ...Northwest Pacific has revealed a wealth of new abyssal solenogaster lineages highlighting the need for further alpha-taxonomic work. During the ‘Sea of Okhotsk Biodiversity Studies’ (SokhoBio) expedition, 93 specimens were collected at overall eight stations ranging from depths of 1696–3377 m. Preliminary investigations revealed twelve clearly distinguishable morphospecies, including one relatively common species present at six of eleven stations. All morphospecies are characterized externally via light microscopy and identified to the best possible taxonomic level via scleritome characters. Molecular barcodes (16S rRNA) are provided as a first step towards establishment of a barcoding library to enable fast and accurate re-identification of these taxonomically challenging molluscs in future studies. The most wide-spread and abundant cavibelonian Solenogastres Kruppomenia genslerae sp. nov. (Simrothiellidae) is exemplarily described in full microanatomical detail based on 3D-reconstructions from histological semithin section series and scanning electron microscopy. We discuss our results in comparison to the solenogaster diversity of the neighbouring abyssal plain of the Northwest Pacific, which is connected with the Kuril Basin via two straits. Our initial characterization of the diversity boosts the hitherto poorly known diversity of Solenogastres in the Far Eastern Seas, but also underlines the taxonomic impediment for proper taxonomic descriptions of the wealth of new discovered material.
Mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) are prominent representatives of aquatic macroinvertebrates, commonly used as indicator organisms for water quality ...and ecosystem assessments. However, unambiguous morphological identification of EPT species, especially their immature life stages, is a challenging, yet fundamental task. A comprehensive DNA barcode library based upon taxonomically well-curated specimens is needed to overcome the problematic identification. Once available, this library will support the implementation of fast, cost-efficient and reliable DNA-based identifications and assessments of ecological status. This study represents a major step towards a DNA barcode reference library as it covers for two-thirds of Germany's EPT species including 2,613 individuals belonging to 363 identified species. As such, it provides coverage for 38 of 44 families (86%) and practically all major bioindicator species. DNA barcode compliant sequences (≥500 bp) were recovered from 98.74% of the analysed specimens. Whereas most species (325, i.e., 89.53%) were unambiguously assigned to a single Barcode Index Number (BIN) by its COI sequence, 38 species (18 Ephemeroptera, nine Plecoptera and 11 Trichoptera) were assigned to a total of 89 BINs. Most of these additional BINs formed nearest neighbour clusters, reflecting the discrimination of geographical subclades of a currently recognized species. BIN sharing was uncommon, involving only two species pairs of Ephemeroptera. Interestingly, both maximum pairwise and nearest neighbour distances were substantially higher for Ephemeroptera compared to Plecoptera and Trichoptera, possibly indicating older speciation events, stronger positive selection or faster rate of molecular evolution.
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