The Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest is amongst the most diverse biomes in the world, but the processes that shaped its biodiversity are still poorly understood. We used one mitochondrial and two ...nuclear markers to evaluate the phylogeographic patterns of the endemic harvestman Acutisoma longipes and its closely related species to investigate the biogeographic history of this biome. The results showed low intrapopulation diversity and strong population structure, suggesting poor dispersion amongst locations. Phylogenetic analyses pointed to three main mitochondrial lineages congruent with the geomorphology of the south-eastern region of Brazil (Serra do Mar, Serra da Mantiqueira, and interior plateau). These older divergences occurred in the middle-Neogene, suggesting that events in this period drove the diversification of the species, but Quaternary events also affected the populations locally. We detected some congruence between A. longipes demographic patterns and the areas of endemism delimited for harvestmen, suggesting that some regions of the distribution could have been more stable in the past (especially in Serra da Mantiqueira). Our findings corroborate that harvestmen are a suitable group for the study of ancient biogeographic events in the Atlantic Rain Forest, even at small-scale ranges. Acutisoma hamatum is here considered as a new junior synonym of A. longipes.
A new troglobitic harvestman, Relictopiolus galadriel gen. nov et sp. nov., is described from Olhos d'Água cave, Itacarambi, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Morphological characters, including male ...genitalia and exomorphology, suggest that this species belongs to the family Kimulidae, and it appears to share the greatest similarities with Tegipiolus pachypus. Bayesian inference analyses of a molecular dataset strongly support the inclusion of this species in Kimulidae and confirm the hypothesized sister-group relationship between R. galadriel and T. pachypus. A time calibrated phylogeny indicates that these sister-taxa diverged from a common ancestor approximately 40 Mya, during the Paleogene. The current range of Kimulidae illustrates a remarkable disjunct distribution, and leads us to hypothesize that the ancestral distribution of Kimulidae was once much more widespread across eastern Brazil. This may be attributed to the Eocene radiation associated with the warming (and humidifying) events in the Cenozoic when the best conditions for evergreen tropical vegetation in South America were established and followed by the extinction of kimulid epigean populations together with the retraction of rain forests during the Oligocene to Miocene cooling. The discovery of this relictual troglobite indicates that the Olhos d'Água cave was a stable refugium for this ancient lineage of kimulids and acted as a "museum" of biodiversity. Our findings, considered collectively with the diverse troglofauna of the Olhos d'Água cave, highlight it as one of the most important hotspots of troglobite diversity and endemism in the Neotropics. Given the ecological stresses on this habitat, the cavernicolous fauna are at risk of extinction and we emphasize the urgent need for appropriate conservation actions. Finally, we propose the transfer of Acanthominua, Euminua, Euminuoides and Pseudominua from Kimulidae to Zalmoxidae, resulting in two new synonymies and 13 new combinations.
Areas of endemism (AoE) are the main study units in analytical biogeographic methods, and are often defined as an area with two or more endemic species living in them, presenting substantial ...congruence among their range limits. We explored the distribution of land planarians (Geoplanidae, Platyhelminthes) across the southern region of the Brazilian Atlantic forest (from the state of Rio de Janeiro, to the state of Rio Grande do Sul) utilizing DaSilva's et al. (2015) protocol. We used two methods, Endemicity Analysis (EA), and Geographical Interpolation of Endemism (GIE). We identified nine AoE of terrestrial flatworms in the Southern Atlantic forest. Performance of the methodologies is discussed. These AoE of land planarians can be explained through vicariance events combined with their physiological and ecological own limitations. Interestingly, these AoE are congruent with fine-scale approaches such as that with harvestmen. Most land planarians have revealed to present a very small distributional range evidencing their potential as a good model for fine-scale studies of AoE.
Goniosomatine harvestmen have strongly armed pedipalps, generally large bodies and, commonly, very long legs (sometimes more than 20cm), and are distributed in the Brazilian Atlantic forest, from ...southern Bahia to Santa Catarina. Since they are conspicuous animals and individuals of some species tend to concentrate in caves (and also under rock boulders), they have been (and still are) the target of several studies, especially those focusing on reproductive and defensive behavior, population ecology, physiology, chromosomes, etc. In spite of their importance for biological studies (some species constitute important and frequently used models for these studies), the taxonomy of Goniosomatinae has faced some problems, including misidentification, a large number of undescribed species and the lack of a phylogenetic hypothesis for the relationships among its species (which would allow evolutionary studies to be made). The last taxonomic changes in the subfamily were made 60 years ago. Considering a taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of the subfamily to be of paramount importance, the main scope of the present paper is to provide a cladistic analysis and taxonomic revision of the species of Goniosomatinae and a new arrangement of genera (and species). The main taxonomic changes are given as follows. Six genera are recognised within the subfamily: Goniosoma; the newly described genus Pyatan; the reestablished genera Serracutisoma, Heteromitobates and Mitogoniella; and Acutisoma. New generic synonyms include: Glyptogoniosoma=Goniosomella=Lyogoniosoma=Metalyogoniosoma=Xulapona=Goniosoma, Acutisomelloides=Pygosomoides=Spelaeosoma=Serracutisoma; and Acutisomella=Heteromitobates. Newly described species include: Goniosoma capixaba; G. apoain; Pyatan insperatum DaSilva, Stefanini-Jim & Gnaspini; Serracutisoma pseudovarium; S. fritzmuelleri; S. guaricana; Heteromitobates anarchus; H. harlequin; H. alienus; Mitogoniella taquara; M. unicornis; and Acutisoma coriaceum. New combinations include: Goniosoma macracanthum (Mello-Leitão, 1922); G. unicolor (Mello-Leitão, 1932); G. carum (Mello-Leitão, 1936); Serracutisoma proximum (Mello-Leitão, 1922); S. banhadoae (Soares & Soares, 1947); S. molle (Mello-Leitão, 1933); S. thalassinum (Simon, 1879); S. catarina (Machado, Pinto-da-Rocha & Ramires, 2002); S. inerme (Mello-Leitão, 1927); S. spelaeum (Mello-Leitão, 1933); Heteromitobates inscriptus (Mello-Leitão, 1922); H. albiscriptus (Mello-Leitão, 1932); Mitogoniella modesta (Perty, 1833); and M. badia (Koch, 1839). Reestablished combinations include: Mitogoniella indistincta Mello-Leitão, 1936 and Acutisoma longipes Roewer, 1913. New specific synonyms include: Acutisomella cryptoleuca=Acutisomella intermedia=Goniosoma junceum=Goniosoma patruele=Goniosoma xanthophthalmum=Metalyogoniosoma unum=Goniosoma varium, Goniosoma geniculatum=Goniosoma venustum; Goniosomella perlata=Progoniosoma minense=Goniosoma vatrax, Glyptogoniosoma perditum=Progoniosoma cruciferum=Progoniosoma tijuca=Goniosoma dentipes; Leitaoius iguapensis=Leitaoius viridifrons=Serracutisoma proximum; Acutisoma marumbicola=Acutisoma patens=Serracutisoma thalassinum; Progoniosoma tetrasetae=Serracutisoma inerme; and Acutisoma monticola=Leitaoius nitidissimus=Leitaoius xanthomus=Mitogoniella mutila=Acutisoma longipes. The following species are considered species inquirenda: Goniosoma lepidum Gervais, 1844; G. monacanthum Gervais, 1844; G. obscurum Perty, 1833; G. versicolor Perty, 1833; and Mitogoniella badia (Koch, 1839). The monotypic genus Goniosomoides Mello-Leitão, 1932 (and its species, G. viridans Mello-Leitão, 1932) is removed from Goniosomatinae and considered incertae sedis.
Habitat loss and fragmentation have highlighted the importance of monitoring remaining habitats. For megadiverse groups such as arthropods, of which many species are still being discovered, the use ...of higher taxonomic levels as substitutes for diversity may be a useful tool. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of substitute taxonomic resolutions to assess the richness and composition of Laniatores harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones). The five resolutions selected were as follows: genus, family, subfamily, indicator taxa and intermediate resolution (combination of genus and species identification levels). In addition, we evaluated whether the diversity substitutes provide good estimates of latitudinal gradients. Nineteen Atlantic Forest sites located along a latitudinal gradient in northeastern Brazil were sampled. We recorded a total of 88 harvestmen species/morpho‐species, distributed in 7 families, 15 subfamilies and 36 genera. Genus and intermediate resolution were excellent substitutes for harvestmen species richness. The efficiency differed according to the substitute resolution used. Four resolutions were adequate to replace the harvestmen composition: genus, intermediate resolution, indicator taxa, and subfamily. The number of harvestmen species recorded was significantly different between Seasonal Semideciduous Forest and Costal Atlantic Rainforest. The same relationship was also observed the same relationship was observed when we consider genus and intermediate resolution. Our results suggest the use of genus as a substitute for richness and composition of harvestmen for reducing monitoring costs and providing evaluation in a shorter time and a more practical way.
Poisoning by spiders' bites and scorpions' stings domestic canines and felines seems to be frequent, considering the biology and behavior of these animals. However, little is known about this ...relationship. In the present review, we compiled the available information concerning this topic by focusing on arachnids that can cause accidents, reported cases in the scientific literature, and epidemiological and clinical aspects of accidents with domestic canines and felines. Arachnids of medical importance are distributed worldwide, but the cases described in the literature are episodic, and some report animals' death. Each taxon has specific venom toxicity that can affect organisms differently. Thus, the diagnosis and clinical treatment must be based on the individual that caused the accident. Knowledge on the occurrence of arachnids of medical importance, their biology, and venom toxicity must be deepened and publicized to avoid accidents.
A new species of Tmesiphantes Simon, 1892 is described and illustrated, based on eight male specimens collected at the Una Biological Reserve, southern state of Bahia, Brazil. It is distinguished by ...the morphology of male palpal bulb and tibial apophysis. The new species is very small and is the smallest theraphosid described to date (body length 5.5 mm). It is distinguished from congeners by the size, which vary from 12 mm (T. riopretano) to 23.8 mm (T. nubilus) in other species of the genus, aspect of palpal bulb, sternal posterior sigillae close to sternal margin and by the aspect of tibial apophysis which lacks the prolateral branch. Tmesiphantes presently comprises nine species. Sixth have been described for the southern region of Bahia, a well known area of endemism in the Atlantic Forest. Identification keys for Tmesiphantes males and females are presented.
The study of diversity has become increasingly sophisticated, including the use of measures of phylogenetic diversity.
We calculate the spatial variation in species richness, taxonomic beta ...diversity, and alpha and beta phylogenetic diversity (PDα and PDβ, respectively) of Atlantic Forest harvestman communities using a data set containing 556 species from 68 sites, distributed in 12 Brazilian states.
We compare the congruence of phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity patterns, and also compare PDα with null model expectations, to check for phylogenetic clustering or overdispersion in communities.
Species richness and PDα are correlated, peaking in southern and south‐eastern coastal sites and decreasing towards the interior and towards the north‐east. PDα in north‐eastern sites was higher than expected, while a clustered phylogenetic pattern characterised most other sites.
Communities in the southern and south‐eastern regions were dominated by species from the large family Gonyleptidae, presenting a high richness and a low PDα. As the dominance of Gonyleptidae decreased towards the north, where local communities have fewer species, but a higher PDα, they contain representatives of other families. The beta diversity was more sensitive to the compositional changes involving closely related Gonyleptidae species, while PDβ is more influenced by deeper phylogenetic compositional changes, between more distant lineages.
Phylogenetic diversity may be of special importance to assess the conservation value of distantly related lineages. These species‐poor groups are less likely to influence taxonomic‐based diversity analyses, but their importance for conservation arises from their phylogenetic distinctiveness, captured by PDα and PDβ measures.
Taxonomic and phylogenetic alpha diversities of Atlantic Forest harvestman communities were correlated, peaking in southern and south‐eastern coastal sites and decreasing towards the interior and towards the north‐east.
PDα in north‐eastern sites was higher than expected, while a clustered phylogenetic pattern characterized most southern sites, dominated by the speciose family Gonyleptidae.
The compositional changes in southern regions, between closely related gonyleptid species, were captured by taxonomic, but not by phylogenetic beta diversity, which is more influenced by deeper phylogenetic compositional changes.
Abstract Here, we discovered areas of endemism (AoE) for land planarians (Geoplaninae) and tested the influence of the past climate in the formation of AoEs in the southeastern AF in Brazil. Location ...Southeastern Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Materials and Methods We used 1888 records of 371 species in Endemicity Analysis and Geographic Interpolation of Endemism to uncover AoEs. We also carried out a species distribution modelling (SDM) of three genera to see the suitability regions where they were distributed during Mid‐Pliocene, Last Interglacial Maximum, Last Glacial Maximum and present time. Finally, we inferred a molecular phylogeny of Geoplaninae aiming to estimate divergence times of the taxa to test the relative influence of more recent climatic fluctuations in the speciations. Results We delimited 15 robust AoEs. SDM corroborates past climate altered some genera distribution. However, results of the phylogenetic analysis resulted in time estimation older than Pleistocene climatic fluctuations for more recent speciations. These endemic patterns could be explained through processes of reduction and expansion of suitability areas but in older times as generally reported in the literature. Geological events that formed mountains, sedimentary basins and major rivers are integrated with climate to explain high endemism and diversification. Main Conclusions Planarians have shown to be an optimal model for fine‐scale studies of AoE and diversification in AF. Pleistocene climatic fluctuations seem to have not been responsible for their diversification, but older climatic changes with geological events seem to have influenced their speciations and the present‐day high levels of endemism. In the future, robust phylogenies with more comprehensive sampling integrated with palaeoecological models will help to understand the diversification of the AF.
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