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1. Molecular phylogeny of the tribe Candalidini (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): systematics, diversification and evolutionary history

   https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12432  

   Braby, Michael F. ; Espeland, Marianne ; Müller, Chris J. ; Eastwood, Rod ; Lohman, David J. ; Kawahara, Akito Y. ; Maunsell, Sarah C. ; Pierce, Naomi E. ( June 2020 , Systematic Entomology)

   The butterfly tribe Candalidini is geographically restricted to Australia and mainland New Guinea and its adjacent islands. With 60 species and subspecies, it represents a large radiation of Papilionoidea in the Australian region. Although the species‐level taxonomy is relatively well understood, the number of genera is uncertain, varying from two to eight. We reconstructed the phylogeny of the Candalidini based on a 13‐locus hybrid enrichment probe set (12.8 Kbp: COI, Thiolase, CAD, CAT, DDC, EF1‐a, GAPDH, HCL, IDH, MDH, RPS2, RPS5, Wingless), including all previously recognized genera and 76% (28/37) of the species‐level diversity of the tribe. Maximum likelihood analysis recovered the Candalidini as a strongly supported monophyletic group. In conjunction with morphological characters, the phylogeny provided a robust framework for a revised classification in which we recognize four genera, 37 species and 23 subspecies. The genusNesolycaenaWaterhouse & R.E. Turner is considered in synonymy withCandalidesHübner, and four other genera are not recognized, namely,HolochilaC. Felder,AdalumaTindale,ZetonaWaterhouse andMicroscenaTite. Of the four valid genera, theabsimilisgroup (23 species) is placed in the newly described genusEirmocidesBraby, Espeland & Müllergen. nov.(type speciesCandalides consimilisWaterhouse). Theerinusgroup (six species) is assigned toErinaSwainson, which is reinstated.Chrysophanus cyprotusOlliff is assigned toCyprotidesTite, which is also reinstated as a monotypic genus. The remainingmore »seven species are placed inCandalides sensu stricto. Overall, we propose 47 new nomenclatural changes at the species and subspecies levels, including the synonymy ofHolochila biakaTite asEirmocides tringa biaka(Tite)syn. nov. et comb. nov.and recognition ofCandalides hyacinthinus gilesiM.R. Williams & Bollam as a distinct speciesErina gilesi(M.R. Williams & Bollamstat. rev. et comb. nov.A dated phylogeny using Bayesian inference in BEAST2 and biogeographical and habitat analyses based on the DEC model in BioGeoBEARS indicated that the ancestor of the Candalidini most likely evolved in rainforest habitats of the mesic biome in situ on the Australian plate of Southern Gondwana during the Eocene (c. 43 Ma). A major period of diversification occurred in the Miocene, which coincided with aridification of the Australian continent, followed by a further episode of radiation in montane New Guinea during the Plio‐Pleistocene.

   This published work has been registered on ZooBank by the authors: Michael Braby:http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:4D3A7605‐EBD0‐40F6‐A5F2‐7F67F59E3D60;

   Marianne Espeland:http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:00D6F9F9‐3902‐4A8B‐846F‐720AB32922A6;

   Chris Müller:http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:15FE5F26‐7596‐46C2‐9697‐1FD92A692D0D;

   http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:47D5CA34‐C294‐4FBD‐84B6‐1C2A82B7CADF.

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2. Following the Mangroves:diversification in the banded lampeye Aplocheilichthys spilauchen (Dume´ril, 1861) (Cyprinodontiformes: Procatopodidae) along the Atlantic coast of Africa

   https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04497-3(0123456789().,-volV() 01234567 89().,-volV)  

   P. H.N.Braganca ; J. Van der Zee ; A. Chakona ; R. C.Schmidt ; M. L.J.Stiassny ( January 2021 , Hydrobiologia)

   Available ecological information,an extensive distributional range, conflicting osteological data, and a proposed early Miocene origin provide the impetus for the present study which investigates genetic structuring, biogeographic, and phylogenetic relationships within the Aplocheilichthys spilauchen lineage. Through the analysis of the mitochondrial gene COI, species delimitation methods(ABGD,GB,GMYC, bPTP) were applied, recognizing 6–7OTUs with absolute pairwise genetic distances ranging between8and22%. The onset of diversification is estimated to be within the middle Miocene and both dispersal and vicariance-shaped A. spilauchen diversity and distribution, as suggested by time-calibrated and ancestral range reconstruction(S-DIVA)analyses. We report for the first time, a pattern of diversification within a lineage of brackish water fish that isconcordant with the historical distribution of coastal mangroves forests, shaped by a series of historical events that likely affected forest cover since the middle Miocene(e.g. major climate shifts and sea-level fluctuations, onset of the modern Congo River outlet, increased volcanism in the Cameroon Volcanic Line).
3. Ecological niche modeling of Loranthaceae haustorial morphology across Australia.

   Trang, Kenneth ; Calvin, Clyde L. ; Wilson, Carol A. ( July 2019 , Botany 2019: Sky Islands and Desert Seas)

   Loranthaceae are parasitic plants in about 76 genera that are predominantly found in subtropical and temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere as branch parasites. Australia is an area of high diversity with about 11 genera and 65 species, most of which are endemic. Loranthaceae branch parasites are also morphologically diverse having both radial and zygomorphic flowers that are typically bird pollinated and each of the four basic haustorial types. Haustorial types include epicortical roots (ERs) that grow along the host branch surface and at intervals form secondary attachments to their host, clasping unions where parasite tissue enlarges partially encircling the host branch, wood roses where host tissue proliferates forming a placenta where the parasite is attached, and bark strands that spread within the outer tissues of the host branch. We hypothesized that those haustoria where parasitic tissue proliferated, such as ERs and clasping unions, would occupy more mesic environments. To test this hypothesis and investigate other relationships among ecological parameters and haustorial form we used 17,753 sets of occurrence and ecological data from the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) online repository for 42 species of Loranthaceae. We analyzed haustorial forms through comparative studies of haustoria housed at the UC Herbarium,more »relevant literature, and collections in public repositories. Biogeographical and environmental data were analyzed using mapping and statistical methods in the R environment. Our preliminary research suggests that bark strands are found in climatic regions across Australia, including deserts, while both epicortical roots (ERs) and clasping unions are mostly restricted to mesic coastlines of eastern Australia (21 of 22 species with ERs occur only along eastern coastlines of Australia or in the Cape York Peninsula). Wood roses are less common in Australia with few data points. Haustoria are sometimes complex, especially clasping unions where bark strands are occasionally also produced. An interesting finding was that Amyema sanguinea has a wide distribution in arid as well as mesic climates even though it has ERs. This species has unusually robust ERs that might contribute to its wider ecological niche. Evolution of haustoria in Australia is discussed based on phylogenetic hypotheses of Loranthaceae genera.« less
4. Paleotemperatures and recurrent habitat shifts drive diversification of treefrogs across distinct biodiversity hotspots in sub‐Amazonian South America

   https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13997  

   Vasconcellos, Mariana M. ; Colli, Guarino R. ; Cannatella, David C. ( November 2020 , Journal of Biogeography)

   We investigate the biogeographical history and diversification in a treefrog lineage distributed in contrasting (open and forested) ecoregions of South America, including three biodiversity hotspots. We evaluate the role of dispersal and whether other factors such as diversity‐dependence or paleotemperatures could explain the diversification pattern for this group. Especially focusing on the savanna endemics, we illuminate the processes governing the species assembly and evolution of the Cerrado savanna.

   South American ecoregions south of the Amazon (i.e. Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Araucaria Forest, Pampas, Central and Southern Andes).

   Boana pulchellagroup.

   We built the most complete time‐calibrated phylogeny for the group to date. We then reconstructed ancestral ranges using the dispersal‐extinction‐cladogenesis (DEC) model comparing different dispersal scenarios considering distance, adjacency and ecological similarity among regions. Centre‐of‐origin hypotheses in forest and open ecoregions were also tested. Using biogeographical stochastic mapping, we additionally estimated the contribution of range shifts across different biomes. Lastly, we evaluated several diversification models, including the effect of time, diversity‐dependence and temperature‐dependence on speciation and extinction rates.

   TheBoana pulchellagroup originated during the Early Miocene (~17.5 MYA) and underwent high speciation rates during the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum, with a decreasing trend following the Miocene Climatic Transition. We found no supportmore »for a single ecoregion acting as a centre of origin and diversification; instead, we inferred recurrent range shifts with dispersal among dissimilar adjacent ecoregions. Speciation linearly dependent on paleotemperatures, with either no or very low constant extinction rates, best explained the slowdown diversification pattern.

   Our results support a species assembly of Cerrado savanna in South America during the Miocene with intermittent interchange with rain forest habitats. Past climate changes impacted the rate new species originated with apparently no impact on extinction. Finally, the repeated habitat shifts among open/dry and forested/humid ecoregions, rather than long‐term in‐situ diversification in single areas, highlights the very dynamic historical interchange between contrasting habitats in South America, possibly contributing to its high species diversity.

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5. Oceanic islands of Wallacea as a source for dispersal and diversification of murine rodents

   https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13720  

   Rowe, Kevin C. ; Achmadi, Anang S. ; Fabre, Pierre‐Henri ; Schenk, John J. ; Steppan, Scott J. ; Esselstyn, Jacob A. ( October 2019 , Journal of Biogeography)

   To determine the historical dynamics of colonization and whether the relative timing of colonization predicts diversification rate in the species‐rich, murine rodent communities of Indo‐Australia.

   Indo‐Australian Archipelago including the Sunda shelf of continental Asia, Sahul shelf of continental Australia, the Philippines and Wallacea of Indonesia.

   Order Rodentia, Family Muridae.

   We used a fossil‐calibrated molecular phylogeny and Bayesian biogeographical modelling to infer the frequency and temporal sequence of biogeographical transitions among Sunda, Sahul, the Philippines and Wallacea. We estimated diversification rates for each colonizing lineage using a method‐of‐moments estimator of net diversification and Bayesian mixture model estimates of diversification rate shifts.

   We identified 17 biogeographical transitions, including nine originating from Sunda, seven originating from Sulawesi and broader Wallacea and one originating from Sahul. Wallacea was colonized eight times, the Phillipines five times, Sunda twice and Sahul twice. Net diversification rates ranged from 0.2 to 2.12 species/lineage/My with higher rates in secondary and later colonizers than primary colonizers. The highest rates were in the genusRattusand their closest relatives, irrespective of colonization history.

   Our inferences from murines demonstrate once again the substantial role of islands as sources of species diversity in terrestrial vertebrates of the IAA with most speciation events occurringmore »on islands. Sulawesi and broader Wallacea have been a major source of colonists for both island and continental systems. Crossings of Wallace's Line were more common than subsequent transitions across Lydekker's Line to the east. While speciation following colonization of oceanic archipelagos and large islands is consistent with adaptive radiation theory and ideas regarding ecological opportunity, we did not observe a strong signal of incumbency effects. Rather, subsequent colonists of landmasses radiated unhindered by previous radiations.

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