Areas of endemism of land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida) in the Southern Atlantic Forest

Areas of endemism of Pteridaceae (Polypodiopsida) in Brazil: a first approach

Areas of endemism (AoE) comprise regions host to two or more endemic taxa, whose distributional limits are congruent and not random. These areas are important for two reasons: they comprise the smallest geographic units for biogeographic analyses and they are priority targets for conservation actions. Ferns are a monophyletic group that despite having a wide geographic distribution, concentrates great species richness and endemism in some regions (centres). The southern and southeastern regions of Brazil comprise one of these centres for the Neotropics. This study aims to verify the AoE of Pteridaceae in Brazil and examine whether the results obtained here are congruent with areas already delimited for other groups and whether there is spatial correspondence between the AoE and Conservation Units. To this end, a database was created with collection records of the 205 Pteridaceae species occurring in Brazil based on a review of herbaria. We analysed 23 815 records for 205 Pteridaceae species using Endemicity Analysis (NDM-VNDM), selecting the fill and assumed parameters, and 1°, 2° and 3° grid-cells. The consensus of 158 AoE, using different grid sizes, was calculated, and subsequently, generalized AoE were established. The Guiana Shield, southern Brazil, southeastern Brazil, and southeastern Bahia were considered generalized AoE. These areas correspond to those found for animals and angiosperms, and in previous studies with ferns. Furthermore, two areas, Acre and Mato Grosso do Sul, were recovered only on grids with 2° and 3°. It will be essential to conduct more research to confirm the persistence of both AoE (Acre and Mato Grosso do Sul), especially after expanding sampling. Most endemic species distribution points occur outside protected areas, demonstrating an alarming situation regarding the conservation of these taxa. In addition, fern distribution data could (and should) be used in conservation practices, programmes and policies, given that they are good ecological indicators and that the distribution of ferns may not reflect that of angiosperms and animals.

An updated biogeographic evaluation of endemism and conservation of small mammals from Chile

Ecological factors such as temperature, precipitation, and vegetation type have been reported to influence biogeographic patterns (e.g., species distribution, richness, and endemism) in mammals. In Chile, these patterns only had been explored in selected mammal groups from certain localities. In this study, we describe and analyze biogeographic patterns for all small mammals (marsupials, armadillos, bats, rodents), reported until 2020, in different climatic and ecological regions from continental Chile. Using a compiled database of 89 species, we estimated their distributional similarity, described and characterized richness and areas of endemism using Bayesian and Parsimony Analysis of Endemism, and linked species distribution with conservation status according to the IUCN Red List. We found three similarity units of species distribution based on climate: Arid, Temperate, and Polar; higher richness and endemism in north and south-central Chile; two areas of endemism, one in north and one in south; and a hotspot in south-central Chile. Finally, species of greater conservation concern showed a similar and small distribution range. The concordance in the distribution of the species with Chilean climatic regions (as determined by precipitation and temperature) suggest that the spatial distribution of Chilean small mammals is influenced strongly by those abiotic factors. This also could explain the patterns of richness and endemism and, therefore species hotspots. Variations of climatic factors therefore should be considered in explaining biogeographic patterns and conservation plans of Chilean small mammal species, because species of greater concern tend to be associated and having similar distributional characteristics.

Distribution patterns of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in the Americas: an analysis based on networks and endemicity

Triatominae, commonly known as kissing bugs, are a group of approximately 150 species of hematophagous reduviids, some of which are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of the Chagas disease. Distributional patterns of triatomines have been studied based on macroecological and historical biogeographic approaches, but the definition of distributional patterns and areas of endemism are yet to be defined based on objective criteria. We used two methods to identify biogeographic units in the Triatominae: the endemicity analysis based on an optimality criterion (NDM/VNDM software) and a network approach aimed to simplify and highlight the underlying structure in species distributions (Infomap Bioregions). Information on species distributions was obtained from a data paper, comprising 21 815 records for 135 triatomine species occurring in the Americas. The resulting areas of each method were clustered using a meta consensus criterion based on dissimilarities and interpreted as recurrent areas. The NDM areas show a nested structure, presenting greater restrictions to the inclusion of species in a given area, requiring broad sympatry. In contrast, bioregions emphasize spatial patterns with better-delimited areas and species occurrences do not need to be highly congruent. When areas were clustered based on their species composition two clear patterns arose from both methods: (i) areas within the southern Amazon and southeast South America, especially in the Chacoan subregion, formed a cluster, and (ii) areas north of the Amazon, Pacific, Mesoamerica, Mexican transition zone and Nearctic formed another cluster. Moreover, within each of these two clusters, there was a latitudinal gradient of the areas in the Americas showing spatial similarity between the areas found in both methods. Results of both methods show well-bound areas separating the triatomine fauna in the Brazilian subregions, resulting in the recognition of areas corresponding to the biomes Chaco, Pampa, Cerrado, and Caatinga, and, to a lesser extent, the Atlantic Forest.

Assessing the Diversity and Distribution Pattern of the Speciose Genus Lycocerus (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) by the Global-Scale Data

Species richness patterns and endemism on the large-scale play a significant role in biogeography and biodiversity conservation. This study aimed to explore the diversity centers and endemic areas of a large cantharid genus Lycocerus, so as to test whether the hypothesis of montane and island systems biodiversity in previous studies was supported. In this study, a comprehensive species’ geographical database on the global scale consisting of 4,227 records for 324 Lycocerus species was compiled and analyzed. Species richness pattern was mapped into a grid-based map with a spatial resolution of 1° × 1° fishnet. An unbalanced pattern was identified, and it showed that the centers of species richness of Lycocerus were situated in Eastern Himalayas, Hengduan Mountains, Eastern Sichuan Mountains, Taiwan, and Japan. Further analyses based on two approaches, including parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) and endemicity analysis (EA), were applied to detect areas of endemism (AOEs) at three different grid sizes (1°, 1.5°, and 2°). Finally, a total of nine AOEs were detected, including five montane areas (Himalayan areas, Hengduan Mountains, South edge of China, Eastern China Mountains, and Eastern Sichuan Mountains), three islands (Taiwan Island, Japan, and Korean Peninsula), and one plateau (Shan Plateau), which were generally consistent with the species richness pattern. The results verify that montane and island systems have an essential role in promoting the formation of diversity centers and AOEs because of their complex topography, varied habitat and geological events.

Endemics determine bioregionalization in the alpine zone of the Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot (South-West Asia)

Alpine habitats are characterized by a high rate of range restricted species compared to those of lower elevations. This is also the case for the Irano-Anatolian global biodiversity hotspot in South-West Asia, which is a mountainous area harbouring a high amount of endemic species. Using two quantitative approaches, Endemicity Analysis and Network-Clustering, we want to identify areas of concordant species distribution patterns in the alpine zone of this region as well as to test the hypothesis that, given the high proportion of endemics among alpine species, delimitation of these areas is determined mainly by endemic alpine species, i.e., areas of concordant species distribution patterns are congruent with areas of endemism. Endemicity Analysis identified six areas of concordant species distribution patterns irrespective of dataset (total alpine species versus endemic alpine species), whereas the Network-Clustering approach identified five and four Bioregions from total alpine species and endemic alpine species, respectively. Most of these areas have been previously identified using the endemic flora of different elevational zones. The identified units using both methods and both datasets are strongly congruent, proposing that they reveal meaningful distribution patterns. Bioregionalization in the Irano-Anatolian biodiversity hotspot appears to be strongly influenced by the endemic alpine species, a pattern likely to hold in alpine regions outside the Irano-Anatolian hotspot.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00035-021-00266-7.