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1. A landmark environmental law looks ahead: Updating practices for the genomic era

   Fischman, Robert L; Ruhl, J B; Forester, Brenna R; Lama, Tanya M; Kardos, Marty; Rojas, Grethel Aguilar; Robinson, Nicholas A; Shirey, Patrick D; Lamberti, Gary A; Ando, Amy W; et al (December 2023, Science)

   In late December 1973, the United States enacted what some would come to call “the pitbull of environmental laws.” In the 50 years since, the formidable regulatory teeth of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) have been credited with considerable successes, obliging agencies to draw upon the best available science to protect species and habitats. Yet human pressures continue to push the planet toward extinctions on a massive scale. With that prospect looming, and with scientific understanding ever changing, Science invited experts to discuss how the ESA has evolved and what its future might hold. 

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2. Conservation genetics of Sclerocactus in Colorado: the importance of accurate taxonomy to conservation

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2023.1310985  

   McGlaughlin, Mitchell E; Naibauer, Samantha K (December 2023, Frontiers in Conservation Science)

   IntroductionRecent advances in genetic data collection utilizing next-generation DNA sequencing technologies have the potential to greatly aid the taxonomic assessment of species of conservation concern, particularly species that have been difficult to describe using morphology alone. Accurate taxonomic descriptions aided by genetic data are essential to directing limited conservation resources to species most in need.Sclerocactus glaucusis a plant endemic to Western Colorado that is currently listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). However, in 2023, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed de-listingS. glaucusfrom the ESA due to recovery of the species. Previous research had found substantial genetic structure between populations in the northern part of theS. glaucusrange relative to the majority of the species distribution. MethodsIn this study we utilized double-digest Restriction-site Associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) in order to better understand the genetic structure ofS. glaucus. ResultsOur results indicate thatS. glaucuscontains two distinct evolutionary lineages that warrant recognition at the level of species, with what was previously described asS. glaucusNorth being recognized asSclerocactus dawsoniae. DiscussionThe newly describedS. dawsoniaehas a limited estimated number of individuals, low levels of nucleotide diversity, a very narrow geographic range, and an uneven geographic distribution with most plants being found in a single management area, all of which supports continued direct conservation of this species. In contrast,S. glaucushas a large estimated minimum population size, a broad geographic range that includes numerous protected areas, and adequate levels of genetic diversity. Without further conservation action, a delisting decision forS. glaucuswill simultaneously remove all Endangered Species Act protections forS. dawsoniae. The current work demonstrates the importance of having robust genetic datasets when planning conservation activities for species of concern. Moving forward, we recommend that government stakeholders prioritize supporting genetic studies of endangered species prior to making any changes to listing decisions. 

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3. Review of the Messor semirufus complex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Greece

   https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1185.111484  

   Salata, Sebastian; Lapeva-Gjonova, Albena; Georgiadis, Christos; Borowiec, Lech (November 2023, ZooKeys)

   Messoris a diverse genus of Myrmicinae with 168 extant species and subspecies. In the Mediterranean, some of its taxa historically were classified as members of theMessor instabilisgroup (sensu Santschi), of which 19 are known from the eastern Mediterranean. Here, theMessor semirufuscomplex of the Balkan Peninsula that assembles a distinct subsection of members of theinstabilisgroup is defined and treated. In total, five species are recorded, including three that are new.Messor atanassoviiAtanassov, 1982 is redescribed and confirmed for Bulgaria (Thracian Plain, Struma, and Mesta Valley, Pirin Mt., and Eastern Rhodopi) and Greece (Epirus, Ionian Islands, Central and Eastern Macedonia, and Thraki). Three species are described as new to science:Messor danaesSalata, Georgiadis & Borowiec,sp. nov.(Cyclades: Serifos),Messor kardamenaeSalata & Borowiec,sp. nov.(Dodecanese: Kos, Nisyros, Rhodes, and Tilos), andMessor venerisSalata, Georgiadis & Borowiec,sp. nov.(Cyclades: Milos). The fifth member of the complex,Messor creticusBorowiec & Salata, 2019, maintains its status of Cretan endemic. 

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4. A review of Nearctic Lathrobium (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), with revision and descriptions of new flightless species from the mountains of the southeastern U.S.

   https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1198.118355  

   Haberski, Adam; Caterino, Michael S. (April 2024, ZooKeys)

   Species of the genusLathrobiumGravenhorst (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Paederinae) from North America north of Mexico are reviewed and 41 species are recognized. Morphology and mitochondrial COI sequence data were used to guide species designations in three flightless lineages endemic to the southern Appalachian Mountains, a biologically diverse region known for cryptic diversity. Using a combination of phylogeny, algorithm-based species delimitation analyses, and genitalic morphology, five new cryptic species are described and possible biogeographic scenarios for their speciation hypothesized:L. balsamenseHaberski & Caterino,sp. nov.,L. camplyacraHaberski & Caterino,sp. nov.,L. islaeHaberski & Caterino,sp. nov.,L. lividumHaberski & Caterino,sp. nov.,L. smokienseHaberski & Caterino,sp. nov.Five additional species are described:L. absconditumHaberski & Caterino,sp. nov.,L. hardeniHaberski & Caterino,sp. nov.,L. lapidumHaberski & Caterino,sp. nov.,L. solumHaberski & Caterino,sp. nov., andL. thompsonorumHaberski & Caterino,sp. nov.Two species are transferred fromLathrobiumtoPseudolathraCasey:Pseudolathra parcum(LeConte, 1880),comb. nov.andPseudolathra texana(Casey, 1905),comb. nov.Twenty-six names are reduced to synonymy. Lectotypes are designated for 47 species. Larvae are described where known, and characters of possible diagnostic value are summarized. Species diagnoses, distributions, illustrations of male and female genitalia, and a key toLathrobiumspecies known from the Nearctic region (including several introduced species) are provided. 

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5. A Neotropical complex of Ripersiella species (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Rhizoecidae) collected from the nests of Acropyga ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

   https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1123.90141  

   Schneider, Scott A; LaPolla, John S (September 2022, ZooKeys)

   We describe five new Neotropical species ofRipersiellaliving in association withAcropygaants:R. campensissp. nov.,R. illicianssp. nov.,R. montanaesp. nov.,R. pediandensissp. nov., andR. telaliasp. nov.We also redescribeR. andensisandR. colombiensisbased on type specimens and other collections. Together, these seven species form a morphologically similar group that we informally refer to as theandensis-complex ofRipersiella. All members of theandensis-complex are confirmed or are speculated to be mutualists ofAcropygaants. We discuss the implications of these associations and provide an identification key to the Neotropical species ofRipersiellathat are lacking bitubular cerores, including the new species. 

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