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  • New species in old mountains: integrative taxonomy reveals ten new species and extensive short-range endemism in Nesticus spiders (Araneae, Nesticidae) from the southern Appalachian Mountains
Title: New species in old mountains: integrative taxonomy reveals ten new species and extensive short-range endemism in Nesticus spiders (Araneae, Nesticidae) from the southern Appalachian Mountains
This revision is based on sampling efforts over the past three decades in the southern Appalachian Mountains which have providedNesticus(Araneae, Nesticidae) collections of approximately 2100 adult specimens from more than 475 unique collecting events. Using a “morphology first” framework we examined recently collected specimens plus museum material to formulate morphology-based species hypotheses for putative new taxa (discovery phase). Using sequence capture of nuclear ultraconserved elements (UCEs) we analyzed 801 nuclear loci to validate new (and prior) morphology-based species hypotheses (validation phase) and reconstructed a robust backbone phylogeny including all described and new species. Sanger sequencing and UCE-bycatch were also used to gather mitochondrial data for more than 240 specimens. Based on our integrative taxonomic framework ten newNesticusspecies are herein described, includingN. binfordaesp. nov.,N. bondisp. nov.,N. caneisp. nov.,N. cherokeensissp. nov.,N. dellingerisp. nov.,N. dykemanaesp. nov.,N. jemisinaesp. nov.,N. lowderisp. nov.,N. roanensissp. nov., andN. templetonisp. nov.Previously unknown males are also described forN. bishopiGertsch, 1984,N. crosbyiGertsch, 1984, andN. silvanusGertsch, 1984, as well as the previously unknown female forN. mimusGertsch, 1984. Based on combined evidenceN. cooperiGertsch, 1984 is placed in synonymy withN. reclususGertsch, 1984. Overall, the montane radiation of AppalachianNesticusreveals a general lack of species sympatry and compelling biogeographic patterns. Several regionalNesticustaxa are rare, microendemic habitat specialists that deserve conservation attention and detailed future monitoring as conservation sentinels.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1937725
PAR ID:
10569434
Author(s) / Creator(s):
;
Publisher / Repository:
Pensoft
Date Published:
Journal Name:
ZooKeys
Volume:
1145
ISSN:
1313-2989
Page Range / eLocation ID:
1 to 130
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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