scholarly journals High levels of cryptic species diversity uncovered in Amazonian frogs

2011 ◽  
Vol 279 (1734) ◽  
pp. 1806-1814 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Chris Funk ◽  
Marcel Caminer ◽  
Santiago R. Ron
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Cryptic Diversity ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Poor Understanding

One of the greatest challenges for biodiversity conservation is the poor understanding of species diversity. Molecular methods have dramatically improved our ability to uncover cryptic species, but the magnitude of cryptic diversity remains unknown, particularly in diverse tropical regions such as the Amazon Basin. Uncovering cryptic diversity in amphibians is particularly pressing because amphibians are going extinct globally at an alarming rate. Here, we use an integrative analysis of two independent Amazonian frog clades, Engystomops toadlets and Hypsiboas treefrogs, to test whether species richness is underestimated and, if so, by how much. We sampled intensively in six countries with a focus in Ecuador ( Engystomops : 252 individuals from 36 localities; Hypsiboas : 208 individuals from 65 localities) and combined mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA, morphological, and bioacoustic data to detect cryptic species. We found that in both clades, species richness was severely underestimated, with more undescribed species than described species. In Engystomops , the two currently recognized species are actually five to seven species (a 150–250% increase in species richness); in Hypsiboas , two recognized species represent six to nine species (a 200–350% increase). Our results suggest that Amazonian frog biodiversity is much more severely underestimated than previously thought.

scholarly journals Molecular phylogeny of Kazimierzus Plisko, 2006 (Clitellata, Kazimierzidae) from the Western and Northern Cape Province inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences

2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-92
Author(s):  
Thembeka Clara Nxele ◽  
Jadwiga Danuta Plisko ◽  
Tarombera Mwabvu ◽  
Oliver Tendayi Zishiri
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Integrative Taxonomy ◽  
Cryptic Diversity ◽  
Undescribed Species ◽  
Mitochondrial Marker ◽  
Phylogenetic Reconstructions ◽  
Northern Cape ◽  
Tree Building ◽  
Close Relatedness

Species identification of earthworms using morphology can be challenging and inconclusive as homoplasy in many characters is high. The use of molecular DNA technology, such as the use of conserved regions in mtDNA and nuclear DNA has unravelled the phylogenetic background of several earthworm species. The current study utilised the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial marker to reconstruct the phylogeny of Kazimierzus Plisko, 2006 species from the Western and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. Phylogenetic reconstructions were implemented using Bayesian Inference, as well as Maximum Likelihood. Both tree building methods adhered to the monophyly of the majority of the taxa. Results showed that species fell into two clades and validated eleven currently known Kazimierzus species (K. circulatus (Plisko, 1998), K. franciscus (Pickford, 1975), K. guntheri (Pickford, 1975), K. hamerae (Plisko, 1998), K. kleinoodi Nxele & Plisko, 2017, K. nietvoorbiji Nxele & Plisko, 2017, K. nieuwoudtvillensis Nxele & Plisko, 2017, K. occidualis (Plisko, 1998), K. pearsonianus (Pickford, 1975), K. phumlani Nxele & Plisko, 2017, K. sophieae (Plisko, 2002)). Cryptic diversity is evident in K. occidualis with genetic divergence greater than 12% amongst populations. Kazimierzus franciscus and K. ljungstroemi (Pickford, 1975) have a low genetic variability suggesting close relatedness or probably conspecificity. A group of specimens from Clanwilliam are morphologically identical to K. sophieae, but are genetically distinct and may belong to undescribed species. This study demonstrates the importance of integrative taxonomy in earthworms in order to present reliable taxonomic and biogeographic data.

scholarly journals Taxonomic distribution of cryptic diversity among metazoans: not so homogeneous after all

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 20160371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerardo Pérez-Ponce de León ◽  
Robert Poulin
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Cryptic Diversity ◽  
Taxonomic Distribution ◽  
Extensive Survey ◽  
Taxonomic Groups

Cryptic diversity plagues estimates of biodiversity, conservation efforts and attempts to control diseases and invasive species. Here, we re-visit a decade-old assessment of whether or not cryptic species are homogeneously reported among higher metazoan taxa. We compiled information from an extensive survey of the literature to recover all reports of cryptic species among metazoans. After correcting for currently known species richness and research effort per taxon, we find that cryptic species are over-reported in some taxa and under-reported in others. Although several taxa showing either a lack or an excess of reported cryptic species were poorly studied invertebrate groups, we found that cryptic species were over-reported in amphibians, reptiles and crustaceans, all relatively well-studied groups. The observed heterogeneity in the distribution of reported cryptic species may reflect taxon-specific properties affecting either the propensity for cryptic species to be formed or their likelihood of being detected by conventional taxonomy. Either way, the implications of cryptic diversity may not apply equally across all taxonomic groups.

scholarly journals DNA barcoding uncovers cryptic diversity in 50% of deep-sea Antarctic polychaetes

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (11) ◽  
pp. 160432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine J. Brasier ◽  
Helena Wiklund ◽  
Lenka Neal ◽  
Rachel Jeffreys ◽  
Katrin Linse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Cryptic Diversity ◽  
Polychaete Species ◽  
Total Species Richness ◽  
Antarctic Benthos ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
Total Species ◽  
Insight Into

The Antarctic marine environment is a diverse ecosystem currently experiencing some of the fastest rates of climatic change. The documentation and management of these changes requires accurate estimates of species diversity. Recently, there has been an increased recognition of the abundance and importance of cryptic species, i.e. those that are morphologically identical but genetically distinct. This article presents the largest genetic investigation into the prevalence of cryptic polychaete species within the deep Antarctic benthos to date. We uncover cryptic diversity in 50% of the 15 morphospecies targeted through the comparison of mitochondrial DNA sequences, as well as 10 previously overlooked morphospecies, increasing the total species richness in the sample by 233%. Our ability to describe universal rules for the detection of cryptic species within polychaetes, or normalization to expected number of species based on genetic data is prevented by taxon-specific differences in phylogenetic outputs and genetic variation between and within potential cryptic species. These data provide the foundation for biogeographic and functional analysis that will provide insight into the drivers of species diversity and its role in ecosystem function.

scholarly journals Cryptic Species Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationship in the Rust Genus Chrysomyxa from China

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Rui Wang ◽  
Clement K. M. Tsui ◽  
Chongjuan You
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Species Delimitation ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Species Boundaries ◽  
Cryptic Diversity ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Rust Diseases ◽  
Two New Species

Chrysomyxa rusts are fungal pathogens widely distributed in the Northern hemisphere, causing spruce needle and cone rust diseases, and they are responsible for significant economic losses in China. Taxonomic delimitation and precise species identification are difficult within this genus because some characters often overlap in several species. Adequate species delimitation, enhanced by the use of DNA-based methodologies, will help to establish well-supported species boundaries and enable the identification of cryptic species. Here, we explore the cryptic species diversity in the rust genus Chrysomyxa from China. Species delimitation analyses are conducted using a distance-based method (ABGD) and three tree-based methods (GMYC, bPTP, and mPTP) based on combined LSU and ITS sequences of over 60 specimens. Although there is some incongruence among species delimitation methods, two new species and three putative cryptic species are identified. The key to 20 Chrysomyxa species distributed in China is presented. These results suggest that a significant level of undiscovered cryptic diversity is likely to be found in Chrysomyxa from China. Future studies should consider multiple analytical methods when dealing with multi-locus datasets.

Unexpected species diversity within Japanese Mundochthonius pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpiones : Chthoniidae) and the necessity for improved species diagnosis revealed by molecular and morphological examination

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajime Ohira ◽  
Shingo Kaneko ◽  
Leanne Faulks ◽  
Tadaaki Tsutsumi
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Molecular Taxonomy ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Species Classification ◽  
Invertebrate Diversity

Using the complementary approaches of morphological and molecular taxonomy is essential to further our understanding of invertebrate diversity, including the identification of cryptic species. Although the species classification of a widespread group of arachnids, the pseudoscorpions, has been based on traditional diagnostic characters for a long time, recent taxonomic studies have suggested that some of these are unreliable for distinguishing species. Thus, the application of molecular taxonomy may be particularly useful in this group. Here, we performed molecular phylogenetic analyses and species delimitation analyses based on partial sequences of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase I and nuclear DNA 18S rRNA genes to assess the taxonomy of species and the reliability of morphological characteristics for distinguishing species in the Japanese soil-dwelling genus Mundochthonius (Chthoniidae). Our results revealed the existence of seven major genetic clades, likely corresponding to three described species and four cryptic species. Although two described species, M. kiyoshii and M. itohi, were represented by single clades in the phylogenetic analysis, a third, M. japonicus, was composed of multiple clades, highlighting inconsistencies between phylogenetic relationships and current species classifications using traditional morphological diagnostics. This study exemplifies the need for further exploration of pseudoscorpion taxonomy and species diversity. In particular, detailed morphological examinations are expected to help determine differences among cryptic species.

scholarly journals Cryptic diversity and range extension in the big-eyed bat genus Chiroderma (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae)

ZooKeys ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 918 ◽  
pp. 41-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Burton K. Lim ◽  
Livia O. Loureiro ◽  
Guilherme S.T. Garbino
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Lesser Antilles ◽  
Cryptic Diversity ◽  
Species Status ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
First Time

Since the last systematic review of Chiroderma (big-eyed bats) more than two decades ago, we report on biodiversity surveys that expand the distribution and species diversity of this Neotropical genus. The Caribbean endemic species Chiroderma improvisum is documented for the first time from Nevis in the northern Lesser Antilles. A broader geographic sampling for a molecular analysis identifies a paraphyletic relationship in Chiroderma trinitatum with respect to Chiroderma doriae. Cis-Andean populations of C. trinitatum are most closely related to the morphologically distinctive and allopatrically distributed C. doriae in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest of Brazil and Paraguay. The sister taxon to this grouping includes trans-Andean populations of C. trinitatum, which we recommend to elevate to species status as C. gorgasi. This is an example of a cryptic species because C. gorgasi was previously considered morphologically similar to C. trinitatum, but more detailed examination revealed that it lacks a posterolabial accessory cusp on the lower second premolar and has a narrower breadth of the braincase. We provide an amended description of Chiroderma gorgasi.

scholarly journals Cryptic species diversity reveals biogeographic support for the ‘mountain passes are higher in the tropics’ hypothesis

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1832) ◽  
pp. 20160553 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Gill ◽  
B. C. Kondratieff ◽  
K. L. Casner ◽  
A. C. Encalada ◽  
A. S. Flecker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Integrative Taxonomy ◽  
Cryptic Diversity ◽  
Opposite Pattern ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Low Latitudes ◽  
Dispersal Traits ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
The Tropics

The ‘mountain passes are higher in the tropics’ (MPHT) hypothesis posits that reduced climate variability at low latitudes should select for narrower thermal tolerances, lower dispersal and smaller elevational ranges compared with higher latitudes. These latitudinal differences could increase species richness at low latitudes, but that increase may be largely cryptic, because physiological and dispersal traits isolating populations might not correspond to morphological differences. Yet previous tests of the MPHT hypothesis have not addressed cryptic diversity. We use integrative taxonomy, combining morphology (6136 specimens) and DNA barcoding (1832 specimens) to compare the species richness, cryptic diversity and elevational ranges of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) in the Rocky Mountains (Colorado; approx. 40°N) and the Andes (Ecuador; approx. 0°). We find higher species richness and smaller elevational ranges in Ecuador than Colorado, but only after quantifying and accounting for cryptic diversity. The opposite pattern is found when comparing diversity based on morphology alone, underscoring the importance of uncovering cryptic species to understand global biodiversity patterns.

scholarly journals Remarkable Species Diversity of the Leafhopper Genus Xestocephalus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Aphrodinae) in Thailand

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 514
Author(s):  
Zonglei Liang ◽  
Christopher H. Dietrich ◽  
Wu Dai
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Comparative Morphology ◽  
Malaise Trap ◽  
Field Sampling ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Trap Field ◽  
The World ◽  
First Time

Xestocephalus Van Duzee is among the most common and widespread genera of Cicadellidae in the temperate and tropical regions of the world. In the present study, 205 specimens of the genus Xestocephalus were collected in Thailand, whereas only a single species of the genus was recorded previously using Malaise trap field sampling, studied by comparative morphology. Seventeen species were recognized, including twelve new species: X. binarius sp. nov., X. chrysanthemum sp. nov., X. cowboyocreus sp. nov., X. densprint sp. nov., X. dimiprocessus sp. nov., X. exproiecturus sp. nov., X. gracilus sp. nov., X. limpidissimus sp. nov., X. malleus sp. nov., X. nonattribus sp. nov., X. recipinams sp. nov., and X. tenusis Liang sp. nov. Four species were recorded in Thailand for the first time: Xestocephalus abyssinicus Heller and Linnavuori, Xestocephalus asper Linnavuori, Xestocephalus ishidae Matsumura, and Xestocephalus toroensis Matsumura. Detailed morphological descriptions of all 17 species are given; photographs of external habitus and male genitalia of the species from Thailand are provided. A checklist of species of the genus is also given, and a key to all Thailand Xestocephalus species is also provided.

Molecules and morphology suggest cryptic species diversity and an overall complex taxonomy of fish scale geckos, genus Geckolepis

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inga Lemme ◽  
Martina Erbacher ◽  
Nathalie Kaffenberger ◽  
Miguel Vences ◽  
Jörn Köhler
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Fish Scale

Ionic liquids: Solvation ability and polarity

2009 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 767-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinzia Chiappe ◽  
Marco Malvaldi ◽  
Christian Silvio Pomelli
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Liquids ◽  
Kinetic Data ◽  
Classification Criteria ◽  
Experimental Measurements ◽  
Molecular Liquids ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Poor Understanding ◽  
The Many ◽  
Molecular Solvents

The role of ionic liquids (ILs) as solvents in chemistry is limited by the poor understanding of the solvation phenomenon in these media. The usual classification criteria used for molecular solvents through various experimental measurements fail to insert ILs into a univocal classification for ILs. Here, we first discuss the unsuitability of the usual interpretative scheme for molecular liquids and elucidate schematically the mechanism of solvation in ILs, pointing out the peculiarities that differentiate them with respect to molecular liquids. Second, we focus on reactivity and reaction kinetics in ILs, underlining the many problems that the complexity of these media reflects on the interpretation of kinetic data and some possible approaches to understand qualitatively the (often not trivial) kinetic problems for reactions performed in ILs.

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