New records and modelling the impacts of climate change on the black-tailed marmosets

Climate change represents an unprecedented threat to global biodiversity and, for many species, gaps in our knowledge of their biology remain acute. Gaps in baseline knowledge, such as confirmed identifications (Linnean shortfalls) and adequate collections (Wallacean shortfalls), need to be minimized with new studies, since this is often critical for effective conservation. Despite the increase in scientific research on primates in the southwest of the Brazilian Amazon, little is known about the species Mico nigriceps (Ferrari & Lopes, 1992) Primates, Platirryni. In the current study, we sought to reduce the extent of the Wallacean shortfall for M. nigriceps, understand whether climate change represents a threat to the distribution of the species, and identify priority areas for its conservation. Accordingly, we provide 121 new records in 14 locations, obtained directly from the field, and five from the literature. Using this, we carried out ecological niche modeling, to better understand how environmental suitability might limit the area occupied by the species. We then projected a distribution for 2070 with the SSP2-4.5 (more optimistic) and SSP5-8.5 (more pessimistic) scenarios. Our data confirmed the geographic distribution of the species as being restricted to headwaters of the Ji-Paraná/Machado river, but with a 400 km extension to the south. Under the modeled climate change scenarios, the area suitable for the species declines by 21% under the most optimistic, and by 27% in the pessimistic, scenario across the projected 50-year period. Although we have expanded the area of known occurrence for this species, we point out that climate change threatens the stability of this newly-discovered population strongly, and that this danger is intensified by deforestation, fire and hunting. We recommend that further studies be carried out to confirm the presence of the species in adjacent areas, those indicated by generated models as being potential environmentally suitable. In addition, we recommend intensifying forest restoration in currently pastured areas, and protection of the areas forming the current and future habitat of this species through such measures as protected area creation.

Validating species distribution models to illuminate coastal fireflies in the South Pacific (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)

The coastal areas of Vanuatu are under a multitude of threats stemming from commercialization, human development, and climate change. Atyphella Olliff is a genus of firefly that includes species endemic to these coastal areas and will need protection. The research that has already been conducted was affected by accessibility due to the remote nature of the islands which left numerous knowledge gaps caused by a lack of distributional data (e.g., Wallacean shortfall). Species distribution models (SDM) are a powerful tool that allow for the modeling of the broader distribution of a taxon, even with limited distributional data available. SDMs assist in filling the knowledge gap by predicting potential areas that could contain the species of interest, making targeted collecting and conservation efforts more feasible when time, resources, and accessibility are major limiting factors. Here a MaxEnt prediction was used to direct field collecting and we now provide an updated predictive distribution for this endemic firefly genus. The original model was validated with additional fieldwork, ultimately expanding the known range with additional locations first identified using MaxEnt. A bias analysis was also conducted, providing insight into the effect that developments such as roads and settlements have on collecting and therefore the SDM, ultimately allowing for a more critical assessment of the overall model. After demonstrating the accuracy of the original model, this new updated SDM can be used to identify specific areas that will need to be the target of future conservation efforts by local government officials.

Relative Contribution of Citizen Science, Museum Data and Publications in Delineating the Distribution of the Stag Beetle in Spain

Reliable distribution maps are in the basis of insect conservation, but detailed chorological information is lacking for many insects of conservation concern (the Wallacean shortfall). Museum collections, entomological publications and citizen science projects can contribute to solve this Wallacean shortfall. Their relative contribution to the knowledge on the distribution of threatened insects has been scarcely explored, but it is important given that each of these three sources of information has its own biases and costs. Here we explore the contribution of museum data, entomological publications and citizen science in delineating the distribution of the European stag beetle in Spain. Citizen science contributed the highest number of records and grid cells occupied, as well as the highest number of grid cells not contributed by any other information source (unique grid cells). Nevertheless, both museum data and publications contributed almost 25% of all unique grid cells. Furthermore, the relative contribution of each source of information differed in importance among Spanish provinces. Given the pros and cons of museum data, publications and citizen science, we advise their combined use in cases, such as the European stag beetle in Spain, in which a broad, heterogeneous, sparsely populated territory has to be prospected.

Using environmental DNA methods to survey for rare groundwater fauna: Detection of an endangered endemic cave crayfish in northern Alabama

The conservation and management of subterranean biodiversity is hindered by a lack of knowledge on the true distributions for many species, e.g., the Wallacean shortfall. In recent years, several studies have demonstrated the potential of environmental DNA (eDNA) as an effective approach to detect and monitor biodiversity, including rare, threatened, and endangered taxa. However, there are few eDNA studies of groundwater fauna. Here we report the results of the development and implementation of an eDNA assay targeting a short fragment of the mitochondrial CO1 locus of a critically imperiled cave crayfish, the Sweet Home Alabama Cave Crayfish (Cambarus speleocoopi), known from just four cave systems in the Interior Plateau karst region of northern Alabama. We detected C. speleocoopi DNA from water samples collected at 5 of 16 sites sampled (caves and springs), including two historical sites as well as three additional and potentially new sites in Marshall County, Alabama. All three of these sites were within 2 km of historical sites. Our study is the first to detect a groundwater crustacean in the Interior Plateau karst region. Additionally, our study contributes to the growing literature that eDNA is a viable complementary tool for detection and monitoring of a fauna that is difficult to survey and study using traditional approaches.

Distribution status of the Western Burrowing Frog, Sphaerotheca pashchima in India

In a recent study, Hortal et al. (2015) recognized seven shortfalls of knowledge that hamper our understanding of biodiversity. Three of these are of particular importance for drawing conservation strategies for ecological indicator species, among which we can count the amphibians (Simon et al. 2011): the Linnean shortfall describes ‘the knowledge incongruity between the described species and the remaining species yet to be described’ (Brown & Lomolino 1998); the Wallacean shortfall defines ‘paucity of knowledge about the actual distribution range of the species’ (Lomolino 2004); and the Darwinian shortfall refers to ‘lack of knowledge about the tree of life and evolution of lineages, species and traits’ (Diniz-Filho et al. 2013).

A survey of the Loureedia genus (Araneae, Eresidae) with a new species from Iran and the first assessment of illegal wildlife trade as a threat to the group

We describe and illustrate a new species of velvet spider from Iran, L. venatica sp. n., the first species of this genus outside of the Mediterranean region. We also resurrect Eresus jerbae from synonym, as a distinct and valid Loureedia species, L.jerbae comb.n, and record this genus to Jordan for the first time.We map the distribution of all available observations of L.venatica sp.n. and L.jerbae comb.n, based on museum specimens and on photographic records, using these observations, and the uncertainty therein, to estimate the species range and how it would be classified under the IUCN Red List. Addressing two of the obstacles to the conservation of poorly known taxa, the Linnaean shortfall, by increasing the number of described species, and the Wallacean shortfall, by increasing current knowledge of species distribution as well as their range.We also found that Loureedia jerbae comb.n. from Tunisia is been sold as an exotic pet, and that photos of Iranian Loureedia venatica sp.n. are being used to advertise the sale of this genus in the pet trade. We discuss the impacts this likely causes to these species, as well these species extinction risk under the IUCN Red List.

GreenMaps: a Tool for Addressing the Wallacean Shortfall in the Global Distribution of Plants

The exponential growth of species occurrence data can facilitate dynamic biodiversity analyses. However, raw biodiversity data alone should not be used indiscriminately due to inherent sampling biases, impediments that contribute to Wallacean shortfall (i.e. the paucity of species’ geographic information). It has been suggested that Wallacean shortfall is a common phenomenon across taxa, however, there is no global assessment geared toward overcoming this impediment for plants, despite the fundamental role of plants in ecosystem stability, food security and biodiversity conservation. Here, I present GreenMaps, a new tool that will permit a rapid initial assessment of the Wallacean shortfall for plants by building base maps of species’ predicted distributions upon which citizen science participation could contribute to spatial validation of the actual range occupied by species. The initial stages of GreenMaps have now been accomplished, providing a massive dataset of modeled range maps for over 194,000 vascular plant species. This will make it the largest and only global assessment of geographic distributions for plant species at scales relevant to research and conservation. Ultimately, GreenMaps will interface with a mobile application to enable volunteers from any region of the world to validate predicted species distributions to be used for the generation of new and improved global map of plant distributions.