scholarly journals A conservation assessment of the freshwater gastropods of South Dakota based on historical records and recent observations

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce J. Stephen
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Nominal Species ◽  
Conservation Assessment ◽  
Gastropod Species ◽  
Freshwater Gastropods ◽  
Freshwater Gastropod ◽  
The Status ◽  
Conservation Evaluation

In South Dakota, like most U.S. states, up-to-date knowledge of the distribution of freshwater gastropod species is lacking and historical data suffers from a host of synonyms. I consulted literature records and online museum databases to compile a list of freshwater gastropods historically recorded for South Dakota. I used systematic studies and regional records to evaluate each historically-listed species reducing 54 nominal species to 25 expected to inhabit South Dakota. This, along with recent survey data from across the state, enable a benchmark conservation status to be established for the freshwater gastropods of South Dakota. My preliminary conservation evaluation indicates Planorbula armigera is critically imperiled (S1), while three species; Ferrissia rivularis, Campeloma decisum, and Amnicola limosus are imperiled (S2). The status of historical species not observed recently, and suspected inhabitants known from adjacent states are discussed.

scholarly journals A Review of the Ongoing Decline of the White-Tailed Jackrabbit

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Brown ◽  
Andrew T. Smith ◽  
Jennifer K. Frey ◽  
Brittany R. Schweiger
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Grassland Restoration ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Species Status ◽  
Habitat Alterations ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
The Status ◽  
Lepus Californicus ◽  
Historical Range

The distribution and abundance of the white-tailed jackrabbit Lepus townsendii have declined significantly since 1950, continuing a trend that began in some regions of its range in the late 1800s. We reviewed museum records and the literature to evaluate the status of the white-tailed jackrabbit in each state and province in its historical range and evaluated possible reasons for its decline. Our evaluation revealed its extirpation or decline throughout much of its range, but its legal or conservation status does generally not reflect this precarious status. We note its extirpation in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, and potential extirpation in British Columbia, Oregon, Illinois, and Wisconsin. We classified the white-tailed jackrabbit to be broadly extirpated in Iowa, Minnesota, Washington, Nebraska and California, and declining with local extirpations in Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and South Dakota. We consider it to be a relict in Ontario, and possibly declining in Alberta, Saskatchewan, North Dakota, Idaho, and Montana. We consider only Manitoba to have a possibly stable population. Determining the reasons for the species' reduced distribution is difficult, as the decline appears to be due to multiple factors, none of which provide a universal explanation. We dismissed road kills, recreational hunting, disease and parasites, and competition with black-tailed jackrabbits Lepus californicus as causes of the widespread population declines and extirpations. We concluded that habitat alterations and climate change are overriding factors, and that past depredation measures and increased predator populations have likely contributed to the decline. These hypotheses require further testing. We recommend more research on the distribution, abundance, ecology, and population dynamics of white-tailed jackrabbits, and management that includes a frank appraisal of the species' status, the potential for grassland restoration, and programs to reintroduce populations into prairie preserves and restored grasslands.

scholarly journals A Review of the Ongoing Decline of the White-Tailed Jackrabbit

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 341-352
Author(s):  
David E. Brown ◽  
Andrew T. Smith ◽  
Jennifer K. Frey ◽  
Brittany R. Schweiger
Keyword(s):  
South Dakota ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Grassland Restoration ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Species Status ◽  
Habitat Alterations ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
The Status ◽  
Lepus Californicus ◽  
Historical Range

Abstract The distribution and abundance of the white-tailed jackrabbit Lepus townsendii have declined significantly since 1950, continuing a trend that began in some regions of its range in the late 1800s. We reviewed museum records and the literature to evaluate the status of the white-tailed jackrabbit in each state and province in its historical range and evaluated possible reasons for its decline. Our evaluation revealed its extirpation or decline throughout much of its range, but its legal or conservation status does generally not reflect this precarious status. We note its extirpation in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, and potential extirpation in British Columbia, Oregon, Illinois, and Wisconsin. We classified the white-tailed jackrabbit to be broadly extirpated in Iowa, Minnesota, Washington, Nebraska and California, and declining with local extirpations in Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and South Dakota. We consider it to be a relict in Ontario, and possibly declining in Alberta, Saskatchewan, North Dakota, Idaho, and Montana. We consider only Manitoba to have a possibly stable population. Determining the reasons for the species' reduced distribution is difficult, as the decline appears to be due to multiple factors, none of which provide a universal explanation. We dismissed road kills, recreational hunting, disease and parasites, and competition with black-tailed jackrabbits Lepus californicus as causes of the widespread population declines and extirpations. We concluded that habitat alterations and climate change are overriding factors, and that past depredation measures and increased predator populations have likely contributed to the decline. These hypotheses require further testing. We recommend more research on the distribution, abundance, ecology, and population dynamics of white-tailed jackrabbits, and management that includes a frank appraisal of the species' status, the potential for grassland restoration, and programs to reintroduce populations into prairie preserves and restored grasslands.

A Review of Species Diversity, Distribution and Ecology of Freshwater Gastropod Molluscs Inhabiting the Ukrainian Transcarpathian

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 349-374
Author(s):  
V. V. Anistratenko ◽  
Yu. I. Furyk ◽  
O. Yu. Anistratenko ◽  
E. V. Degtyarenko
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Gastropod Species ◽  
Freshwater Gastropods ◽  
Distinctive Features ◽  
Freshwater Gastropod ◽  
Distribution And Ecology ◽  
First Time ◽  
Regional Fauna

Abstract The diversity of freshwater gastropods recorded in the Transcarpathian Region of Ukraine is reviewed and comments on their distribution and ecology are provided. Thirty-five species were revealed in samples collected from the lowland and mountainous parts of the Ukrainian Transcarpathia. Three species are recorded for the first time in the regional fauna: Viviparus sphaeridius, Bithynia troschelii and Segmentina montgazoniana. For species found in the region brief remarks on the biotopes in which they were registered and relevant taxonomic comments are given. The most distinctive features of the mollusc fauna of Ukrainian Transcarpathia are considered; the presence as well as the absence of some taxa in comparison with adjacent regions is discussed. The results of our observations confirm that the distribution of gastropod species depends on the types of waterbodies and their altitude location. The presented data contribute to the knowledge of the regional malacofauna and should help to assess the biogeographic status of the Transcarpathian Region more clearly.

scholarly journals Reassessment of the distribution and population size of Spizella wortheni

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-461
Author(s):  
LAURA M. SCOTT-MORALES ◽  
PATRICIA VELA-COIFFIER ◽  
MAURICIO COTERA-CORREA ◽  
MIRNA ALMEJO-RAMOS ◽  
JULIO CANALES-DELGADILLO
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Historical Records ◽  
Conservation Assessment ◽  
Basic Model ◽  
The Status ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Line Transects

SummaryInformation deficit constrains our capacity to assess the status of threatened species in regional and global contexts. In this study of the endangered Worthen’s Sparrow Spizella wortheni, we first review its current and potential distribution using the species distribution software, Maxent. An initial basic model was constructed using historical records, and used to guide a subsequent search for additional populations in summer 2013. Using the information gathered from our survey, we built a second, breeding model, to update the current and potential species distribution. Population size was estimated using line transects of variable length to count singing males and calculate densities per 10 ha. We found 10 new small reproductive populations dispersed south of the established core area, increasing the extent of occurrence of the species from 25 km2 to almost 17,000 km2. Suitable habitat across the species’ range was more than threefold higher in the breeding compared with the basic model. We counted 316 males, with a mean density of four individuals per 10 ha. Our results demonstrate that conservation assessment based on limited records can exaggerate the vulnerability of species, and confirm that the Worthen’s Sparrow population and geographic distribution range are larger than previously determined, indicating that the Red List status of this species should be reconsidered. The use of niche models was successful in enhancing species information data quantity (e.g. range extensions) and quality (e.g. more precise habitat requirements), facilitating improved understanding of needs and conservation status in the wild.

Barrmaelia oxyacanthae. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. Cannon
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
North America ◽  
South Dakota ◽  
North Dakota ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Former Yugoslavia

Abstract A description is provided for Barrmaelia oxyacanthae, saprobic on wood of various trees. Some information on its dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Africa (South Africa), North America (Canada, USA (New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia)), Asia (Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan (Aktyubinskaya oblast), Pakistan), Europe (Belarus, Belgium, former Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, former Yugoslavia)). B. oxyacanthae is sometimes found on elm twigs previously gnawed by rabbits.

scholarly journals Ground beetles (Carabidae) of field margin habitats

Biologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (10) ◽  
pp. 1631-1641
Author(s):  
Janina Bennewicz ◽  
Tadeusz Barczak
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
Ground Beetle ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Field Margin ◽  
Poecilus Cupreus ◽  
The Status ◽  
Beetle Assemblages ◽  
Anchomenus Dorsalis ◽  
Pterostichus Melanarius

Abstract The aim of this study was to identify the role of field margin habitats in preserving the diversity and abundance of ground beetle assemblages, including potentially entomophagous species and those with conservation status in Poland. Research material was collected in 2006–2007 in four types of margin habitats – a forest, bushes, ditches and in two arable fields. Insects were captured into pitfalls, without preservation liquid or bait added to the traps. Traps were inspected twice a week, between May and August, and one sample was a weekly capture. In field margin habitats the most abundant species were Limodromus assimilis, Anchomenus dorsalis, Pterostichus melanarius and Carabus auratus. A lower abundance of species was noted on fields, with dominant Poecilus cupreus and P. melanarius. The group of zoophagous carabids found in our study includes 30 species from field margin habitats, i.e. 37.5% of all captured Carabidae taxa and 58.3% of all specimens. The share of aphidophagous species was 84.9% among bushes, 86.7% near ditches, and 88.0% in the forest habitat. Several species captured during the study are under protection in Poland. These include the partly protected Carabus convexus, which also has the status of near threatened species, the partly protected Calosoma auropunctatum, and Broscus cephalotes. Considering all the investigated field margin habitats, ground beetles were most numerous in the oak-hornbeam habitat, defined as bushes, formed predominantly by Prunus spinosa, Crataegus leavigata, Sambucus nigra and Rosa canina. Thus, this habitat was the most important reservoir/refugium for the ground beetles.

scholarly journals Species Delimitation and Conservation in Taxonomically Challenging Lineages: The Case of Two Clades of Capurodendron (Sapotaceae) in Madagascar

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1702
Author(s):  
Carlos G. Boluda ◽  
Camille Christe ◽  
Aina Randriarisoa ◽  
Laurent Gautier ◽  
Yamama Naciri
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Status ◽  
The Other ◽  
Genetic Admixture ◽  
Putative Hybrid ◽  
Illegal Logging ◽  
Conservation Assessment ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Test Species ◽  
Species Complexes ◽  
Genetic Pools

Capurodendron is the largest endemic genus of plants from Madagascar, with around 76% of its species threatened by deforestation and illegal logging. However, some species are not well circumscribed and many of them remain undescribed, impeding a confident evaluation of their conservation status. Here we focus on taxa delimitation and conservation of two species complexes within Capurodendron: the Arid and Western complexes, each containing undescribed morphologies as well as intermediate specimens alongside well-delimited taxa. To solve these taxonomic issues, we studied 381 specimens morphologically and selected 85 of them to obtain intergenic, intronic, and exonic protein-coding sequences of 794 nuclear genes and 227 microsatellite loci. These data were used to test species limits and putative hybrid patterns using different approaches such as phylogenies, PCA, structure analyses, heterozygosity level, FST, and ABBA-BABA tests. The potential distributions were furthermore estimated for each inferred species. The results show that the Capurodendron Western Complex contains three well-delimited species, C. oblongifolium, C. perrieri, and C. pervillei, the first two hybridizing sporadically with the last and producing morphologies similar to, but genetically distinct from C. pervillei. The Arid Complex shows a more intricate situation, as it contains three species morphologically well-delimited but genetically intermixed. Capurodendron mikeorum nom. prov. is shown to be an undescribed species with a restricted distribution, while C. androyense and C. mandrarense have wider and mostly sympatric distributions. Each of the latter two species contains two major genetic pools, one showing interspecific admixture in areas where both taxa coexist, and the other being less admixed and comprising allopatric populations having fewer contacts with the other species. Only two specimens out of 172 showed clear genetic and morphological signals of recent hybridization, while all the others were morphologically well-delimited, independent of their degree of genetic admixture. Hybridization between Capurodendron androyense and C. microphyllum, the sister species of the Arid Complex, was additionally detected in areas where both species coexist, producing intermediate morphologies. Among the two complexes, species are well-defined morphologically with the exception of seven specimens (1.8%) displaying intermediate patterns and genetic signals compatible with a F1 hybridization. A provisional conservation assessment for each species is provided.

scholarly journals First record of subterranean rissoidean gastropod assemblages in Southeast Asia (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Pomatiopsidae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 9-34
Author(s):  
Jozef Grego
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
New Genus ◽  
First Record ◽  
Karst Spring ◽  
Gastropod Species ◽  
The Third ◽  
Freshwater Gastropod

In February 2017 we investigated several caves and karstic springs in Laos for the presence of underground freshwater gastropod species. We report previously unrecorded freshwater gastropod assemblages in the largest cave in Laos, Tham Khon Dôn, and in the third largest cave, Pha Soung, in Khammouane Province, with single finds in Na Li Cave (Khammouane Province), an unnamed cave near Vieng Thong (Bolikhamsay Province) and a small karst spring near Phonsavan (Xianghouan Province). All 15 species recorded and described herein are new to science. Four species are assigned to the new genus Pseudoiglica: P. pseudoiglica sp. n., P. olsavskyi sp. n., P. kameniari sp. n., and P. phonsavanica sp. n. Three species are assigned to the new genus Thamkhondonia: T. moureti sp. n., T. vacquiei sp. n., and T. smidai sp. n. Eight species are assigned to the genus Tricula Benson, 1843: T. valenasi sp. n., T. davisi sp. n., T. spelaea sp. n., T. lenahani sp. n., T. reischuetzorum sp. n., T. phasoungensis sp. n., T. bannaensis sp. n., and T. viengthongensis sp. n.

scholarly journals Taxonomic Uncertainty and the Anomaly Zone: Phylogenomics Disentangle a Rapid Radiation to Resolve Contentious Species (Gila robusta complex) in the Colorado River

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler K. Chafin ◽  
Marlis R. Douglas ◽  
Max R. Bangs ◽  
Bradley T. Martin ◽  
Steven M. Mussmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorado River ◽  
Nominal Species ◽  
Rapid Radiation ◽  
Evolutionary Mechanisms ◽  
Phylogenetic Discordance ◽  
The Status ◽  
Taxonomic Uncertainty ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
Phylogenetic Models ◽  
Methodological Difficulties

AbstractSpecies is an indisputable unit for biodiversity conservation, yet their delimitation is fraught with both conceptual and methodological difficulties. A classic example is the taxonomic controversy surrounding the Gila robusta complex in the lower Colorado River of southwestern North America. Nominal species designations were originally defined according to weakly diagnostic morphological differences that conflicted with traditional genetic analyses. Consequently, the complex was re-defined as a single polytypic unit, with the proposed ‘threatened’ status of two being withdrawn at the federal level. Here, we utilized dense spatial and genomic sampling (N=387 and >22k loci) to re-evaluate the status of the complex, based on SNP-based coalescent and polymorphism-aware phylogenetic models. In doing so, all three species were supported as evolutionarily independent lineages, despite widespread phylogenetic discordance. To understand this discrepancy with past studies, we categorized evolutionary mechanisms driving discordance. We tested (and subsequently rejected) prior hypotheses suggesting that phylogenetic discord in the complex was hybridization-driven. Instead, we found the G. robusta complex to have diverged within the ‘anomaly zone’ of tree space and, as such, have accumulated inconsistent patterns of diversity which have confounded prior studies. After extending these analyses with phylogeographic modeling, we propose that this is reflective of a rapid radiation promoted by Plio-Pleistocene tectonism. Our results not only support resurrection of the three species as distinct entities, but also offer an empirical example of how phylogenetic discordance can be categorized in other recalcitrant taxa where variation is primarily partitioned at the species-level.

A new riparian Mantidactylus (Brygoomantis) frog from the Tsaratanana and Manongarivo Massifs in northern Madagascar

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4486 (4) ◽  
pp. 575 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIGUEL VENCES ◽  
ANDREA HILDENBRAND ◽  
KATHARINA M. WARMUTH ◽  
FRANCO ANDREONE ◽  
FRANK GLAW
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Nominal Species ◽  
Type Specimens ◽  
The Status ◽  
Morphological Differences

The subgenus Brygoomantis in the Madagascar-endemic genus Mantidactylus contains 12 nominal species but is in urgent need of taxonomic revision as many additional, genetically divergent but undescribed candidate species have been identified. We here take a first step towards a better resolution of this group by describing a new species, Mantidactylus schulzi sp. nov., occurring at the Tsaratanana and Manongarivo Massifs, differentiated in genetic, bioacoustic and sometimes morphological characters from its closest relatives. We show that upon detailed study, most species in Brygoomantis can be delimited by concordant differentiation of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, and by bioacoustic and morphological differences. We flag this group of morphologically similar frogs as a test case where molecular data on historical type specimens by ancient DNA methods might be needed to reach a satisfying clarification of taxonomy and nomenclature. However, the status of the new species M. schulzi is not in doubt as it is morphologically distinct from most historical type specimens, and microendemic to a region in northern Madagascar from where no earlier names exist. 

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