ARPHA Preprints
Not a member yet
49208 research outputs found
Sort by
Northward range extension of Atrichops crassipes (Meigen, 1820) (Diptera, Athericidae) in the Baltic ecoregion, with the first record from Latvia
No full textThe first record of Atrichops crassipes (Meigen, 1920) (Diptera, Athericidae) in Latvia is reported, together with additional findings from Lithuanian waters in 2015. The data are based on larval records collected during freshwater macroinvertebrate research and water‑quality monitoring. Atrichops crassipes represents a new Diptera species record for Latvia and marks the northernmost limit of the species known range. Our data suggest that A. crassipes is expanding its range northward, possibly driven by climate warming
And the twain shall meet at the end: a phylogeny of Myrcianthes (Myrtaceae, Myrteae) with phytogeographic and morphological insights
No full textBackground and aims – Myrcianthes is a New World genus of Myrtaceae with 36 species, diverse in the Andes, and often dominant in montane forests. It is found from the Pacific to the Atlantic, from sea level to 3729 m, and its total latitudinal range is almost 62°. Its old age, combined with a wide ecological and geographic range, and the many narrow-endemic species, make it of phytogeographic and evolutionary interest. Material and methods – Altitudinal, geographic, and wood anatomy data of the genus were compiled from literature and online herbaria and curated to eliminate errors and produce a reliable dataset. ML and Bayesian phylogenetic trees based on ITS, ETS, matK, and psbA-trnH of 11 Myrcianthes species, in a matrix of 123 species, were constructed. The Bayesian tree was calibrated with three macrofossils and three secondary calibration points and used to infer biogeographic history and to estimate ancestral ranges using BioGeoBEARS. Key results – Myrcianthes has the widest combined altitudinal/latitudinal range in Myrtaceae. Narrow-endemic species are concentrated either in the high-latitude lowlands or the low-latitude highlands. Myrcianthes diverged from Eugenia in the early Oligocene but did not diversify before the mid-Miocene (later than Eugenia). Myrcianthes diversified from the south into South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Its ancestral range emerged as the Chacoan/Paraná dominions, consistent with the extinct temperate/subtropical austral forest. After splitting from M. coquimbensis, endemic to Chile, the main clade divided into a lowland clade (most diverse in eastern South America) and a highland clade (most diverse in the Andes). The clades are sympatric near the inferred root of the tree and probably meet again in Colombia and Venezuela. Myrcianthes wood anatomy appears to differ from that of Eugenia by the occurrence of helical thickenings in the vessels and absence of prismatic crystals in the axial parenchyma, but sampling is still incomplete
What do morphological data tell us about the Andean-Neotropical Gripopteryginae (Plecoptera: Gripopterygidae) and related taxa?
No full textAbstract The Gripopterygidae family, a diverse group of stoneflies (Plecoptera) endemic to the Southern Hemisphere, has traditionally been divided into five subfamilies, though the monophyly of most remains uncertain due to limited morphological and molecular support. Here we conducted a morphology-based cladistic analysis using 50 characters and 41 taxa, including representatives from all five Gripopterygidae subfamilies and three Austroperlidae species, to test the monophyly of Gripopteryginae and determine the phylogenetic position of a newly discovered species, Tupiperla furcata sp. nov. The analysis, rooted with Penturoperla barbata (Austroperlidae), employed parsimony with implied weighting and tree bisection reconnection methods. Results supported a core Gripopteryginae clade, with absence of a posterior sclerite in tergum 10, but excluded Neopentura semifusca, which was more closely related to Antarctoperlinae. Additionally, Paragripopteryx munoai presented morphological divergence, suggesting it may require reclassification into a new genus. These results challenge the current subfamily classifications, particularly Dinotoperlinae and Leptoperlinae, and highlight the need for further taxonomic revision. To advance the understanding of Gripopterygidae phylogeny, we suggest incorporating molecular data and expanding taxon sampling throughout the Southern Hemisphere. Such efforts would clarify evolutionary relationships and biogeographic patterns, paving the way for a more robust classification of Plecoptera. Un resumen traducido al español puede consultarse en el suplemento electrónico (File S1)
Pleurophragmium parvisporum (Ascomycota): One name, seven stories – a case highlighting the need for verification of strains from public culture collections
No full textPublic repositories of living fungal strains provide essential reference points and support diverse scientific outcomes. Current best practices for preserving fungal strains emphasise the generation of DNA barcodes and the management of comprehensive metadata. However, challenges arise when type material or authentic reference strains are lacking, as this prevents direct comparison of DNA barcodes and forces identifications to rely solely on morphology. This problem is particularly pronounced for strains deposited during the pre-molecular era, especially those belonging to species with simple or convergent morphologies. In this study, we re-examined seven strains deposited in a public culture collection under the name Pleurophragmium parvisporum, including synonymous designations. Our approach combined cultivation experiments, comparative morphological analyses, multi-locus phylogenetic reconstruction of six nuclear markers, and biogeographic assessments. Our analyses revealed that these strains are scattered across four distinct families or orders in three classes. Two strains belong to Thysanorea (Chaetothyriales, Eurotiomycetes): T. acropleurogena sp. nov. and a sterile strain identified as the already known T. melanica. Two other strains were resolved within Wongia (Papulosaceae incertae sedis, Sordariomycetes) and introduced as W. pallidopolaris sp. nov. and W. rhachidophora sp. nov. Finally, two strains represent novel taxa within the Tubeufiales (Dothideomycetes), described here as Zaanenomyces hilifer sp. nov. and Skoliomycella flava gen. et sp. nov. Of the seven examined strains, only one conformed to the species concept of P. parvisporum and is here regarded as its reference strain. The phylogenetic analyses resolved P. parvisporum within Neomyrmecridium (Myrmecridiales, Sordariomycetes). Consequently, Neomyrmecridium was reduced to synonymy of Pleurophragmium, leading to the proposal of 11 new combinations (P. asiaticum comb. nov., P. asymmetricum comb. nov., P. fusiforme comb. nov., P. gaoligongense comb. nov., P. guizhouense comb. nov., P. luguense comb. nov., P. naviculare comb. nov., P. pteridophytophilum comb. nov., P. septatum comb. nov., P. sichuanense comb. nov., and P. sorbicola comb. nov.), and two new names (P. fluviale nom. nov. and P. jiulongheense nom. nov.). In addition, three species formerly placed in Uncispora are transferred to Thysanorea, with new combinations proposed based on congruent morphology and multi-locus phylogenetic evidence: T. hainanensis comb. nov., T. sinensis comb. nov., and T. wuzhishanensis comb. nov. This study refines the generic limits of Pleurophragmium and morphologically similar genera and reveals several previously unrecognised lineages. It highlights how misinterpretation of subtle morphological features may lead to strains being misidentified and deposited under incorrect names in public collections, where they risk perpetuating taxonomic errors
Zur Biologie, Historie und forstwirtschaftlichen Rolle des Ambrosiakäfers Platypus cylindrus (Fabricius, 1792), bekannt als Eichenkernkäfer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae)
No full textDer Eichenkernkäfer, Platypus cylindrus (Fabricius, 1792), ist eng an die Gattung Eiche (Quercus spp.) gebunden, deren Arten ökologisch, kulturell und wirtschaftlich von großer Bedeutung sind. Er ist ein tief in das Xylem eindringender Ambrosiakäfer, der sich primär von seinen mutualistischen Nahrungspilzen ernährt. Nach Jahrzehnten, in denen der Eichenkernkäfer in Deutschland kaum beachtet wurde, wird sein Vorkommen seit einigen Jahren wieder vermehrt beobachtet, vor allem an frisch gefällten oder lagernden Eichenstämmen während seiner Flugzeit von Mitte Juni bis September. Dies kann zu einer erheblichen technischen Entwertung des betroffenen Eichenholzes führen. Durch den Klimawandel, insbesondere infolge der zunehmenden Schwächung von Eichenbeständen durch Hitze- und Trockenstress sowie andere Schadinsekten gewinnt er wieder an forstwirtschaftlicher Bedeutung. Deshalb fasst dieses Review den aktuellen Kenntnisstand zur Taxonomie, Biologie, Lebensweise, Symbiose und forstlichen Bedeutung von P. cylindrus zusammen, beleuchtet historische Gradationen und analysiert, wie Klimawandel und weitere Schadinsekten dessen Rolle als potenzieller Schadorganismus verstärken. Basierend auf einer umfassenden Literaturrecherche und der Analyse historischer Quellen wurde der Kenntnisstand systematisch aufbereitet. Ergänzend wurden eigene hochauflösende Bildaufnahmen zur detaillierten morphologischen Darstellung von P. cylindrus erstellt sowie die Geschichte und Lebensweise der Ambrosiakäfer aufgearbeitet. Neben der Biologie und Symbiose wurden historische Gradationen dokumentiert, die bereits im 20. Jahrhundert zu massiven technischen Entwertungen von Eichenstämmen führten. Solche Schäden stellen bis heute eine große Herausforderung für Forstwirtschaft und Sägewerksindustrie dar, da befallenes Holz seine Nutzbarkeit verliert. Der Klimawandel verändert Flugzeiten und schwächt Wirtsbäume, wodurch P. cylindrus verstärkt Chancen zur Besiedlung vorgeschädigter oder absterbender Eichen erhält. Platypus cylindrus kann mehrere Laubbaumarten besiedeln, auch wenn er eine klare Präferenz für die Gattung Quercus hat. P. cylindrus stellt aufgrund seiner engen Pilzsymbiosen und seines sich möglicherweise erweiternden Wirtsspektrums ein wertvolles Modellsystem für Insekt-Pilz-Wechselwirkungen dar, gleichzeitig aber auch ein potenzielles Risiko für die Forstwirtschaft. Eine integrierte Betrachtung seiner Biologie, seiner Rolle als Indikator für klimabedingte Stressphasen in Wäldern sowie seiner wirtschaftlichen Bedeutung ist erforderlich, um fundierte Strategien zum Schutz und Erhalt von Eichenwäldern zu entwickeln
Birds of the Tolima Department of Colombia’s central Andean Region
No full textThe information in this article corresponds to a compilation of data from scientific journals, ornithological collections and virtual libraries (xeno-song, eBird and Biomap), as well as our contributions during more than 15 years of studies in Tolima. Together, this information allows us to understand the diversity of birds in the region. In addition, this article includes data on localities and the altitudinal and geographical distribution of each species. The results indicate the presence of 800 bird species in Tolima, of which 24 are endemic, 69 are near-endemic and 82 are migratory. Furthermore, 42 species face some degree of threat, two are classified as having deficient data and four have been introduced.This list constitutes a reference for studies of birds of the Upper Magdalena Valley. It is a necessary tool for conservation plans in this region of the country
Hidden in the Data: Unlocking the Potential of Brazil’s Sociobiodiversity for a Sustainable Bioeconomy
No full textBrazil harbors the richest biodiversity on Earth, accounting for 15–20% of all known species worldwide (Lewinsohn 2006). Its territory also encompasses significant cultural diversity, represented by 355 officially recognized Indigenous lands, 253 Afro-descendent territories, and 28 groups of traditional communities such as rubber tappers, coconut breakers and veredeiros (de Mendonça 2009). Despite this potential, the economy remains anchored in an agro-export model based on exotic commodity crops – most notably soybeans, strongly associated with deforestation and rising inequalities (Lobão and Staduto 2020). In contrast, Brazil’s sociobiodiversity, the combination of socio-cultural and biological richness, underpins the potential for a sociobiodiversity-based bioeconomy (Garrett et al. 2024), an approach that integrates traditional knowledge, sustainable use of native species, and innovation into broader economic agendas. Yet, the potential for developing this bioeconomy remains constrained. A central barrier is the invisibility of sociobiodiversity in official statistics.To examine how sociobiodiversity products and local markets are represented in official datasets, we conducted a local-scale study in Northern Minas Gerais, within the Cerrado biome – a global biodiversity hotspot increasingly threatened by agribusiness-driven deforestation. We compared production data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and subsidy data from the National Supply Company (Conab) with figures provided by the Cooperative Grande Sertão, a leading local cooperative that works directly with 400 families across nearly 40 municipalities. IBGE is the official agency responsible for compiling national statistics on the production of non-timber forest products such as açaí (Euterpe oleracea), Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) and natural rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), among others, and Conab is the governmental company that monitors products eligible for public procurement. Our results revealed two main key messages. First, value chains of native species that are socially and economically central to traditional communities are largely absent from systematic monitoring regarding their use, production, or market flows, corroborating previous studies (Porro 2019, Carvalho Ribeiro et al. 2024), and excluded from public policies. Of the 18 native species collected and commercialized by agroextractivists locally, only four (umbu – Spondias tuberosa, mangaba – Hancornia speciosa, pequi – Caryocar brasiliensis, and buriti – Mauritia flexuosa) are tracked in official datasets. Only five species, including macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata), are recognized under public procurement programs, despite their socio-economic relevance. Even for pequi, the most consolidated product, official data is incomplete (Fig. 1). Among the 1,434 municipalities in the Cerrado, its natural distribution area, only 292 (20%) appear in IBGE statistics, as the institute only records volumes above one ton. This implies that in 42% of municipalities, pequi production exists but remains unregistered, while in 38% there is no data at all.Our second finding was the marked discrepancy between official statistics and actual production reported by cooperatives. In four leading pequi-producing municipalities, official records diverged substantially from local data. In Cônego Marinho, for instance, just 30 agroextractivists collected six times more pequi than IBGE registered for the entire municipality in 2023, and in Miravânia, two collectors harvested more than five times the official figure (Fig. 1). These discrepancies may arise from multiple factors, including the informal or subsistence character of many extractive activities. As a result, the national statistics may fail to capture the full economic, ecological, and cultural importance of native species to rural and traditional communities. Understanding these data mismatches is essential for improving the accuracy and inclusiveness of biodiversity and bioeconomy indicators.Our study underscores the need to strengthen local monitoring capacities and create integrated data systems that combine official records with community-based knowledge to unlock the transformative potential of Brazil’s sociobiodiversity. Investments in territorialized data governance are essential to ensure more accurate representation of sociobiodiversity value chains, enabling place-based policies that align biodiversity conservation with inclusive economic development. Strengthening the visibility of native species in data systems is needed not only to improve accuracy but also to ensure informed decision-making, equitable benefit-sharing, and resilience in the face of environmental and social challenges. Making sociobiodiversity visible in data is a prerequisite for building a sustainable and just bioeconomy
I eat what my mother eats. Maternal effects on food preferences in invasive amphipods
No full textInvasive alien species achieve their success through a set of traits that give them a fitness advantage over other species. Many of them are characterised by a generalist diet with an inclination to carnivory. The feeding habits of aquatic animals depend on environmental conditions operating at the population level, but the population origin and genetic background are rarely taken into account. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the intraspecific genetic variability on the inheritance of feeding habits. We bred individuals of an invasive amphipod, Dikerogammarus villosus (Sowinsky, 1894), under semi-natural conditions in a mesocosm system, interbreeding genetically differentiated invasive populations originating from geographically isolated areas (Danube and Dnieper Deltas) or by inbreeding within the populations. We then tested food preferences of the F1 offspring (n = 256) in a 24-hour experiment providing them three food types: leaves, fish tissue and live chironomid larvae. Our results show that, despite similar breeding conditions applied to all experimental groups, populations of different origins varied in their food preferences. It appeared that the level of necrophagy or predation depended on the origin of the maternal population. Interestingly, inter-population hybrids exhibited a higher predation rate compared to pure strains. Our research shows that some traits related to invasiveness are influenced by the maternal effects and are shaped not only by the environment, but also depend on the population origin. To better predict the course and consequences of invasions, we stress the need to study the biology of invasive species using multiple populations
Structuring Biological Survey Metadata for Reuse: Implementing the Humboldt Extension in Flemish Bird Monitoring Datasets on GBIF
No full textThe effective reuse of biodiversity data is essential for informing evidence-based policy. As the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) increasingly aggregates data from diverse biological surveys, machine-readable metadata becomes progressively crucial. Structuring survey metadata from textual descriptions into standardized format improves their comparability and alignment with the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles (Wilkinson et al. 2016). The Humboldt Extension for Ecological Inventories (TDWG Humboldt Extension Task Group 2024) provides a controlled vocabulary to capture key methodological details of surveys and monitoring, enabling more robust analyses of biodiversity indices across spatial and temporal scales.At the Belgian Biodiversity Platform (BBPF), we apply the Humboldt Extension guidelines to enhance two bird monitoring datasets on GBIF. Although both represent counts of observed birds in Flemish areas, they differ in spatial scope and methodology: the Common Breeding bird monitoring in Flanders (Piesschaert et al. 2025) dataset, published by the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), uses point counts across 1x1 km squares throughout the entire Flemish region, while the Bird census counts at the Zwin Nature Park (Faveyts and Cooleman 2025) dataset, published by the BBPF, combines point and transect counts within one location.In this presentation, we review our practices for selecting and mapping Humboldt Extension terms in both sampling-event datasets. We thereby highlight our findings on how to structure their events’ metadata hierarchically to reflect spatial nesting, sampling effort, and taxonomic scope. For instance, both protocols focus on the same target taxonomic scope at the class' rank (Aves). A critical distinction, however, is that only the Common Breeding bird monitoring protocol excludes certain behavior-based observations of species groups breeding outside the counting area, such as foraging gulls (Larinae) and herons (Ardeinae) or corvids (Corvidae) in flocks flying over. Consequently, the excludedTaxonomicScope term is technically appropriate for mapping that methodological difference. Generically, we propose a schema that facilitates the identification of protocol-specific nuances and supports the more accurate derivation of species densities, abundances, and absences.Implementing the Humboldt Extension to Darwin Core in these real-world cases demonstrates the practical value of structured metadata for enhancing biodiversity data interoperability and reusability. This standardization generally contributes to meeting targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework
Assessment of inflammatory cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid for diagnostic differentiation of apical periodontitis
No full textIntroduction: Apical periodontitis (AP) is a chronic inflammatory condition resulting from microbial infection of the dental pulp. The host immune response and microbial interactions play a significant role in the disease’s progression. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) provides a valuable, non-invasive source for detecting inflammatory biomarkers involved in AP, such as IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-23. Aim: To evaluate the levels of IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-23 in GCF among individuals with symptomatic apical periodontitis (SAP), asymptomatic apical periodontitis (AAP), and healthy controls, and to assess their potential as diagnostic biomarkers. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included 90 participants aged 20–50 years, divided into three groups: SAP (n=30), AAP (n=30), and healthy controls (n=30). GCF samples were collected using Periostrips, and cytokine levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-23 levels were significantly elevated in the SAP group compared to the AAP and control groups (p<0.01). IL-10 showed the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC=0.806), followed by IL-1β (AUC=0.714). IL-23, although significantly elevated in SAP, had lower diagnostic value (AUC=0.636). Strong positive correlations were observed between IL-1β and IL-10, as well as IL-1β and IL-23. Conclusion: The elevated levels of IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-23 in GCF reflect their involvement in the inflammatory processes of apical periodontitis. IL-10 demonstrated the greatest potential as a diagnostic biomarker. These findings support the clinical utility of GCF cytokine profiling for non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring of AP progression