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1. Synonymisation of the male-based ant genus Phaulomyrma (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) with Leptanilla based upon Bayesian total-evidence phylogenetic inference

   https://doi.org/10.1071/IS20059  

   Griebenow, Zachary H. (January 2021, Invertebrate Systematics)

   Although molecular data have proven indispensable in confidently resolving the phylogeny of many clades across the tree of life, these data may be inaccessible for certain taxa. The resolution of taxonomy in the ant subfamily Leptanillinae is made problematic by the absence of DNA sequence data for leptanilline taxa that are known only from male specimens, including the monotypic genus Phaulomyrma Wheeler & Wheeler. Focusing upon the considerable diversity of undescribed male leptanilline morphospecies, the phylogeny of 35 putative morphospecies sampled from across the Leptanillinae, plus an outgroup, is inferred from 11 nuclear loci and 41 discrete male morphological characters using a Bayesian total-evidence framework, with Phaulomyrma represented by morphological data only. Based upon the results of this analysis Phaulomyrma is synonymised with Leptanilla Emery, and male-based diagnoses for Leptanilla that are grounded in phylogeny are provided, under both broad and narrow circumscriptions of that genus. This demonstrates the potential utility of a total-evidence approach in inferring the phylogeny of rare extant taxa for which molecular data are unavailable and begins a long-overdue systematic revision of the Leptanillinae that is focused on male material. 

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2. First records of the North American leafhopper Gyponana mail (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) invading urban gardens and agroecosystems in Europe

   https://doi.org/10.37520/aemnp.2021.011  

   Trivellone, Valeria; Forte, Vally; Filippin, Luisa; Dietrich, Christopher H. (May 2021, Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae)

   The Nearctic leafhopper species Gyponana (Gyponana) mali DeLong, 1942 isreported from Europe for the fi rst time and represents the fi rst record of the tribe Gyponini Stål, 1870 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Iassinae: Gyponini) for the Palearctic Region. Specimens were collected in southern Switzerland (Ticino) and two regions of northern Italy (Lombardy and Veneto) in 2015–2019. The preferred host plant in these areas appears to be Cornus sanguinea L. Phylogenetic analysis of the COI barcode sequences grouped one of the European specimens with three individuals of G. (G.) mali from Ontario, Canada. Morphological study indicated that the male genitalia of the European population are intermediate between G. (G.) mali and G. (G.) extenda DeLong, 1942. 

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3. Motmotnirmus danielalfonsoi n. sp., a new species of chewing louse from a turquoise-browed motmot (Eumomota superciliosa), with notes on Motmotnirmus guatemalensis

   Gustafsson, Daniel; Bush, Sarah (January 2024, Revista Chilena de Ornithologia)

   RESUMEN. - We describe a new species of chewing louse, Motmotnirmus danielalfonsoi n. sp., from the Turquoise-Browed Motmot (Eumomota superciliosa). It differs from congeneric species in several characters, including the head shape, the abdominal chaetotaxy of the male, and in the characters of the male genitalia. Females differ from congeneric species primarily in the head shape and the shape and size of abdominal plates. Additionally, we suggest that the true host of Motmotnirmus guatemalensis is the Lesson’s Momot (Momotus lessonii), which is also a new host record. Such suggestion is based on examinations of museum specimens of lice from various motmot species. We also provide a key to the species of Motmotnirmus and an updated checklist of the genus Motmotnirmus. 

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4. Male Bowhead Whale Reproductive Histories Inferred from Baleen Testosterone and Stable Isotopes

   https://doi.org/10.1093/iob/obac014  

   Hunt, Kathleen E; Buck, C Loren; Ferguson, Steven H; Fernández Ajo, Alejandro; Heide-Jørgensen, Mads Peter; Matthews, Cory J (January 2022, Integrative Organismal Biology)

   Synopsis Male mammals of seasonally reproducing species typically have annual testosterone (T) cycles, with T usually peaking during the breeding season, but occurrence of such cycles in male mysticete whales has been difficult to confirm. Baleen, a keratinized filter-feeding apparatus of mysticetes, incorporates hormones as it grows, such that a single baleen plate can record years of endocrine history with sufficient temporal resolution to discern seasonal patterns. We analyzed patterns of T every 2 cm across the full length of baleen plates from nine male bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) to investigate occurrence and regularity of T cycles and potential inferences about timing of breeding season, sexual maturation, and reproductive senescence. Baleen specimens ranged from 181–330 cm in length, representing an estimated 11 years (smallest whale) to 22 years (largest whale) of continuous baleen growth, as indicated by annual cycles in stable isotopes. All baleen specimens contained regularly spaced areas of high T content (T peaks) confirmed by time series analysis to be cyclic, with periods matching annual stable isotope cycles of the same individuals. In 8 of the 9 whales, T peaks preceded putative summer isotope peaks by a mean of 2.8 months, suggesting a mating season in late winter / early spring. The only exception to this pattern was the smallest and youngest male, which had T peaks synchronous with isotope peaks. This smallest, youngest whale also did not have T peaks in the first half of the plate, suggesting initiation of T cycling during the period of baleen growth. Linear mixed effect models suggest that whale age influences T concentrations, with the two largest and oldest males exhibiting a dramatic decline in T peak concentration across the period of baleen growth. Overall, these patterns are consistent with onset of sexual maturity in younger males and possible reproductive senescence in older males. We conclude that adult male bowheads undergo annual T cycles, and that analyses of T in baleen may enable investigation of reproductive seasonality, timing of the breeding season, and life history of male whales. 

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5. Neurocranial narrowness across nonhuman anthropoid primates

   https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.r4xgxd2r0  

   Mormile, Isabel; Percival, Christopher; Rossie, James (January 2026, Dryad)

   {"Abstract":["Body size allometry has been proposed to explain neurocranial shape\n variation across platyrrhine monkeys, including the extreme neurocranial\n narrowness (NCN) of small-bodied taxa. However, catarrhine primates do not\n align with the proposed platyrrhine allometry, suggesting that body size\n alone may not explain anthropoid NCN variation. We measured NCN in\n platyrrhine and catarrhine anthropoids, and identified inter-clade\n differences in degree and allometric scaling of NCN using GLS pANCOVA, a\n method combining generalized least squares analysis and phylogenetic\n analysis of covariance. We further performed character history analysis\n using extant anthropoid data and fossil evidence to estimate neurocranial\n shape in anthropoid ancestors. We found no unified allometry of NCN across\n platyrrhines or across anthropoids as a whole, and there was no\n significant correlation between body mass and NCN across platyrrhines or\n catarrhines. At the subfamily level, callitrichine and possibly cebine\n platyrrhines differ from other anthropoids in degree and allometric\n scaling of NCN. Character history analysis suggests that higher NCN is the\n ancestral platyrrhine condition, and broader neurocranial shape evolved\n independently in catarrhines and larger-bodied platyrrhines. Our results\n support the hypothesis that body size does not explain anthropoid NCN\n variation, and provide a foundation for future research into potential\n correlates of anthropoid NCN."],"TechnicalInfo":["# Neurocranial narrowness across nonhuman anthropoid primates Dataset DOI:\n [10.5061/dryad.r4xgxd2r0](10.5061/dryad.r4xgxd2r0) ## Description of the\n data and file structure The dataset contains a complete list of skeletal\n specimens with the linear measurement values used to calculate\n neurocranial narrowness (NCN), as well as annotated R code to replicate\n phylogenetic analyses of covariance and generalized least squares analyses\n (GLS pANCOVA). GLS pANCOVA identifies species or clades that deviate from\n expected neurocranial shape allometry. R code is also included for\n performing linear regression of brain weight residuals and neurocranial\n narrowness values. ### Code/software The .Rmd files were compiled in\n RStudio for R version 4.3.3, and require the **evomap** package (Smaers,\n J.B., and F.J. Rohlf. 2016. "Testing species’ deviations from\n allometric predictions using the phylogenetic\n regression." *Evolution* 70: 1145-1149). The phylogenetic tree\n referenced in the R code is available through the **10kTrees Project**\n (Arnold C., L. J. Matthews, and C. L. Nunn. 2010. "The *10kTrees\n Website*: A New Online Resource for Primate Phylogeny." *Evolutionary\n Anthropology* 19: 114-118). * To download **evomap** for R:\n [https://smaerslab.com/software/](https://smaerslab.com/software/) * The\n 10kTrees Project:\n [https://10ktrees.nunn-lab.org/Primates/index.html](https://10ktrees.nunn-lab.org/Primates/index.html) ### Files and variables #### File: qualaveragesfemale.csv **Description:** Species-average neurocranial narrowness values for female specimens, formatted for use in the attached R code. These values were derived from caliper measurements of skeletal specimens from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology; a complete accounting of specimens can be found in the **rawdata.csv** file. ##### Variables * **Genus.** Genus and species, formatted to match phylogenetic tree labels used in the * **Weight.** Species-average body mass in kilograms (kg), per Smith and Jungers (1997). * **NCN.** Species-average neurocranial narrowness, calculated as **NCL** divided by **NCB**. * **NCL.** Species-average neurocranial length in millimeters (mm), measured from glabella to lambda. * **NCB.** Species-average neurocranial breadth (mm), measured as biparietal breadth from euryon to euryon. #### File: pANCOVA_f.Rmd **Description:** Annotated R Markdown code for performing a phylogenetic ANCOVA to identify deviations from expected allometry of neurocranial narrowness. This analysis includes only female specimens, and requires importing the **qualaveragesfemale.csv** file. #### File: qualaveragesmale.csv **Description:** Species-average neurocranial narrowness values for male specimens, formatted for use in the attached R code. As above, these values were derived from caliper measurements of skeletal specimens from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology; a complete accounting of specimens can be found in the **rawdata.csv** file. ##### Variables * **Genus.** Genus and species, formatted to match tree tip labels. * **Weight.** Species-average body mass in kilograms (kg), per Smith and Jungers (1997). * **NCN.** Species-average neurocranial narrowness, calculated as **NCL** divided by **NCB**. * **NCL.** Species-average neurocranial length in millimeters (mm), measured from glabella to lambda. * **NCB.** Species-average neurocranial breadth (mm), measured as biparietal breadth from euryon to euryon. #### File: pANCOVA_m.Rmd **Description:** Annotated R Markdown code for performing a phylogenetic ANCOVA to identify deviations from expected allometry of neurocranial narrowness. This analysis includes only male specimens, and requires importing the **qualaveragesmale.csv** file. #### File: pgls.Rmd **Description:** Annotated R Markdown code for performing a phylogenetic generalized least squares analysis of neurocranial narrowness allometry across anthropoids. Requires importing both **qualaveragesfemale.csv** and **qualaveragesmale.csv**. #### File: univariate_f.Rmd **Description:** Annotated R Markdown code for univariate phylogenetic ANCOVA of neurocranial length and breadth, where each variable is analyzed individually. Includes only female specimens, and requires importing the **qualaveragesfemale.csv** file. #### File: univariate_m.Rmd **Description:** Annotated R Markdown code for univariate phylogenetic ANCOVA of neurocranial length and breadth, where each variable is analyzed individually. Includes only male specimens, and requires importing the **qualaveragesmale.csv** file. #### File: brainweights.csv **Description:** Species-average brain weight, body weight, and neurocranial narrowness values. ##### Variables * **Species.** Genus and species. * **Brainweight.** Species-average brain weight in kilograms (kg), derived from Stephan (1981) and Boddy *et al.* (2012). * **Bodyweight.** The median value between species-average male and species-average female body mass (kg), per Smith and Jungers (1997). * **M.** Species-average male body mass (kg). * **F.** Species-average female body mass (kg). * **NCN.** Species-average neurocranial narrowness, calculated as neurocranial length divided by neurocranial breadth. * **EQ.** Encephalization quotient, calculated as per Jerison (1973). #### File: EQ_analysis.Rmd **Description:** Annotated R Markdown code for linear regressions of brain weight residuals and neurocranial narrowness. Requires importing the **brainweights.csv** file. #### File: rawdata.csv **Description:** Original list of specimens with taxonomic information and linear measurements, as well as body mass (where available) and notes on methods and preservation. ##### Variables * **Call num.** Specimen's museum call number, where "USNM" refers to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and "MCZ" the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. * **Sex.** Male (M), female (F), or unknown (?). * **Genus / sp.** Genus, species, and (when available) subspecies of each specimen. * **Recorded weight (kg).** Museum data for some specimens included the weight of the individual in kilograms. This column is left blank for specimens without recorded weights. * **Cranial length (mm).** Cranial length from glabella to lambda, in millimeters. * **Cranial breadth (mm).** Cranial breadth from euryon to euryon, in millimeters. * **CL/CB (NCN).** Neurocranial narrowness, calculated as cranial length divided by cranial breadth."]} 

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