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Beltrán Echeverría FA, Tavera Martínez L, Hernández CE. Fossil Collection at the Zoology Museum of the University of Concepción: enhancing understanding of Chile's past biodiversity. Biodivers Data J 2024; 12:e117275. [PMID: 38469223 PMCID: PMC10925857 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.12.e117275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The digital inventory of paleontological material stored in Chilean museums is highly relevant as it increases accessibility to information, both locally and over long distances, while reducing wear and tear on specimens caused by physical manipulation. The Fossil Collection database of the Museum of Zoology of the University of Concepción (UCC_MZUC_FOS) includes 144 records, with the main representatives being marine invertebrates of the Bivalvia, Echinoidea and Gastropoda classes. Notable species include Encopecalderensis, Hemiasterwayensis, Zygochlamyspatagonica and Retrotapesexalbidus, most of which come from important Chilean fossil sites. Material was collected between 1970 and 2017, with a large portion of it being donated and identified by Professor Emeritus Hugo I. Moyano and Dr. Alberto Larraín. Although the specimens contained in the resource offer basic collecting information, they substantially contribute to sharing knowledge on the fossils kept in the museums throughout the country, while providing data on their distribution. New information This resource corresponds to the first publication of data on faunal fossils from a museum collection in Chile on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) platform, thereby enhancing the understanding and documentation of Chile's paleontological heritage and its national biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisca Alejandra Beltrán Echeverría
- Museo de Zoología, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160- C, Concepción, ChileMuseo de Zoología, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160- CConcepciónChile
| | - Laura Tavera Martínez
- Museo de Zoología, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160- C, Concepción, ChileMuseo de Zoología, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160- CConcepciónChile
- Postdoctoral Research, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, ChilePostdoctoral Research, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de ConcepciónConcepciónChile
| | - Cristián E. Hernández
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, ChileDepartamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de ConcepciónConcepciónChile
- Laboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva y Filoinformática, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Concepción, ChileLaboratorio de Ecología Evolutiva y Filoinformática, Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y OceanográficasConcepciónChile
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Willett JLE, Barnes AMT, Brunson DN, Lecomte A, Robertson EB, Dunny GM. Optimized Replication of Arrayed Bacterial Mutant Libraries Increases Access to Biological Resources. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0169323. [PMID: 37432110 PMCID: PMC10434011 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01693-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological collections, including arrayed libraries of single transposon (Tn) or deletion mutants, greatly accelerate the pace of bacterial genetic research. Despite the importance of these resources, few protocols exist for the replication and distribution of these materials. Here, we describe a protocol for creating multiple replicates of an arrayed bacterial Tn library consisting of approximately 6,800 mutants in 96-well plates (73 plates). Our protocol provides multiple checkpoints to guard against contamination and minimize genetic drift caused by freeze/thaw cycles. This approach can also be scaled for arrayed culture collections of various sizes. Overall, this protocol is a valuable resource for other researchers considering the construction and distribution of arrayed culture collection resources for the benefit of the greater scientific community. IMPORTANCE Arrayed mutant collections drive robust genetic screens, but few protocols exist for replication of these resources and subsequent quality control. Increasing the distribution of arrayed biological collections will increase the accessibility and use of these resources. Developing standardized techniques for replication of these resources is essential for ensuring their quality and usefulness to the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia L. E. Willett
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Aaron M. T. Barnes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Debra N. Brunson
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Alexandre Lecomte
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Ethan B. Robertson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gary M. Dunny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Feitosa RM, Silva TSR, Camacho GP, Ulysséa MA, Ladino N, Oliveira AM, de Albuquerque EZ, Ribas CR, Schmidt FA, Morini MSDC, da Silva RR, Dáttilo W, de Queiroz ACM, Baccaro FB, Santos JC, Carvalho KS, Sobrinho TG, Quinet YP, Moraes AB, Vargas AB, Torezan-Silingardi HM, Souza JLP, Marques T, Izzo T, Lange D, dos Santos IA, Del-Claro K, Nahas L, Paolucci L, Soares SA, Harada AY, Rabello AM, da Costa-Milanez CB, Diehl-Fleig E, Campos RBF, Solar R, Frizzo T, DaRocha W, Nogueira A. From species descriptions to diversity patterns: the validation of taxonomic data as a keystone for ant diversity studies reproducibility and accuracy. R Soc Open Sci 2023; 10:221170. [PMID: 36778958 PMCID: PMC9905978 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Research findings in natural sciences need to be comparable and reproducible to effectively improve our understanding of ecological and behavioural patterns. In this sense, knowledge frontiers in biodiversity studies are directly tied to taxonomic research, especially in species-rich tropical regions. Here we analysed the taxonomic information available in 470 studies on Brazilian ant diversity published in the last 50 years. We aimed to quantify the proportion of studies that provide enough data to validate taxonomic identification, explore the frequency of studies that properly acknowledge their taxonomic background, and investigate the primary resources for ant identification in Brazil. We found that most studies on Brazilian ant diversity (73.6%) explicitly stated the methods used to identify their specimens. However, the proportion of papers that provide complete data for the repository institutions and vouchered specimens is vanishingly small (5.8%). Additionally, only 40.0% of the studies consistently presented taxon authorities and years of description, rarely referencing taxonomic publications correctly. In turn, the number of specialists and institutions consulted for ant identification in Brazil has increased in the last years, along with the number of studies that explicitly provide their taxonomic procedures for ant identification. Our findings highlight a shift between generations regarding the recognition of taxonomy as fundamental science, deepening our understanding of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo M. Feitosa
- Laboratório de Sistemática e Biologia de Formigas, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Thiago S. R. Silva
- The Insect Biodiversity and Biogeography Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Gabriela P. Camacho
- Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany
- Laboratório de Hymenoptera, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mônica A. Ulysséa
- Laboratório de Hymenoptera, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Natalia Ladino
- Laboratório de Sistemática e Biologia de Formigas, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Aline M. Oliveira
- The Insect Biodiversity and Biogeography Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Emília Z. de Albuquerque
- AntLab, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
- Rabeling Lab, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Carla R. Ribas
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Formigas, Departamento de Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Fernando A. Schmidt
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Formigas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil
| | - Maria Santina de C. Morini
- Laboratório de Mirmecologia do Alto Tietê, Núcleo de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rogério R. da Silva
- Coordenação de Ciências da Terra e Ecologia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Wesley Dáttilo
- Red de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología AC, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Antônio C. M. de Queiroz
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Formigas, Departamento de Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fabrício B. Baccaro
- Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Jean C. Santos
- Laboratório de Ecologia & Biodiversidade, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Karine S. Carvalho
- Laboratório de Ecologia, Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Campus Vitória da Conquista, Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Tathiana G. Sobrinho
- Laboratório de Sistemática e Ecologia de Insetos, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Campus São Mateus, São Mateus, Espírito Santos, Brazil
| | - Yves P. Quinet
- Laboratório de Entomologia, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Aline B. Moraes
- Prefeitura Municipal de Novo Hamburgo, Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - André B. Vargas
- Centro Universitário de Volta Redonda – UniFOA, Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Helena Maura Torezan-Silingardi
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental e de Interações, Instituto de Biologia. Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Jorge Luiz P. Souza
- Instituto Nacional da Mata Atlântica – INMA, Santa Teresa, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Tatianne Marques
- Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada e Citogenética, Instituto Federal do Norte de Minas Gerais – IFNMG, Campus Salinas, Salinas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thiago Izzo
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Comunidades, Departamento de Botânica e Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Denise Lange
- Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Campus Santa Helena, Santa Helena, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Iracenir A. dos Santos
- Centro de Formação Interdisciplinar, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Santarém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Kleber Del-Claro
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental e de Interações, Instituto de Biologia. Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Larissa Nahas
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental e de Interações, Instituto de Biologia. Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lucas Paolucci
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Stela A. Soares
- Secretaria Estadual de Educação de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ana Y. Harada
- Coordenação em Zoologia, Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Ananza M. Rabello
- Instituto de Estudos do Xingu, Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará, São Félix do Xingu, Pará, Brazil
| | - Cinthia B. da Costa-Milanez
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Renata B. F. Campos
- Laboratório de Ecologia, Ambiente e Território, PPG Gestão Integrada do Território, Universidade Vale do Rio Doce, Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Solar
- Centro de Síntese Ecológica e Conservação, Departamento de Genética. Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Tiago Frizzo
- Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte. Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Wesley DaRocha
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Insetos, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Laboratório de Mirmecologia, Centro de Pesquisa do Cacau, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Anselmo Nogueira
- Laboratório de Interações Planta-Animal (LIPA) – Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Wood CL, Welicky RL, Preisser WC, Leslie KL, Mastick N, Greene C, Maslenikov KP, Tornabene L, Kinsella JM, Essington TE. A reconstruction of parasite burden reveals one century of climate-associated parasite decline. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2211903120. [PMID: 36623180 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211903120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Long-term data allow ecologists to assess trajectories of population abundance. Without this context, it is impossible to know whether a taxon is thriving or declining to extinction. For parasites of wildlife, there are few long-term data-a gap that creates an impediment to managing parasite biodiversity and infectious threats in a changing world. We produced a century-scale time series of metazoan parasite abundance and used it to test whether parasitism is changing in Puget Sound, United States, and, if so, why. We performed parasitological dissection of fluid-preserved specimens held in natural history collections for eight fish species collected between 1880 and 2019. We found that parasite taxa using three or more obligately required host species-a group that comprised 52% of the parasite taxa we detected-declined in abundance at a rate of 10.9% per decade, whereas no change in abundance was detected for parasites using one or two obligately required host species. We tested several potential mechanisms for the decline in 3+-host parasites and found that parasite abundance was negatively correlated with sea surface temperature, diminishing at a rate of 38% for every 1 °C increase. Although the temperature effect was strong, it did not explain all variability in parasite burden, suggesting that other factors may also have contributed to the long-term declines we observed. These data document one century of climate-associated parasite decline in Puget Sound-a massive loss of biodiversity, undetected until now.
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Wood CL, Leslie KL, Claar D, Mastick N, Preisser W, Vanhove MPM, Welicky R. How to use natural history collections to resurrect information on historical parasite abundances. J Helminthol 2023; 97:e6. [PMID: 36633512 DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X2200075X] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Many of the most contentious questions that concern the ecology of helminths could be resolved with data on helminth abundance over the past few decades or centuries, but unfortunately these data are rare. A new sub-discipline - the historical ecology of parasitism - is resurrecting long-term data on the abundance of parasites, an advancement facilitated by the use of biological natural history collections. Because the world's museums hold billions of suitable specimens collected over more than a century, these potential parasitological datasets are broad in scope and finely resolved in taxonomic, temporal and spatial dimensions. Here, we set out best practices for the extraction of parasitological information from natural history collections, including how to conceive of a project, how to select specimens, how to engage curators and receive permission for proposed projects, standard operating protocols for dissections and how to manage data. Our hope is that other helminthologists will use this paper as a reference to expand their own research programmes along the dimension of time.
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Cordero S, López-Aliste M, Gálvez F, Fontúrbel FE. Herbarium collection of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), Chile. Biodivers Data J 2022; 10:e90591. [PMID: 36761550 PMCID: PMC9836566 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.10.e90591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This database gathers 10,721 specimens, belonging to 2,578 species from the Chilean vascular flora (angiosperms, gymnosperms and pteridophytes) deposited in the Herbarium of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) in Chile. The PUCV botanical collection was started by the renowned botanist Otto Zöllner and represents a major natural historical legacy for central Chile, with decades of information represented through preserved specimens. This collection is currently deposited in the Curauma campus of the PUCV. This digitisation effort is part of the PUCV's endeavour to mobilise its biological collections and make them freely available through GBIF, encouraging national and international researchers to generate new knowledge, based on this invaluable heritage, which is a silent witness of the vast plant diversity that once existed in Chile and that is now vanishing due to anthropogenic drivers. New information The database provides occurrence records from 10,721 specimens of vascular flora held in the PUCV Herbarium, representing 2,578 species, 914 genera and 177 families. Each record includes data on taxonomy, geographic distribution, elevation and collection information (e.g. date of collection, legitimavit and determinavit of specimens, general observations). The database serves as a repository containing records from past decades on the diversity and distribution of plant species, mainly from the Chilean Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Cordero
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, ChilePontificia Universidad Católica de ValparaísoValparaísoChile
| | - Manuel López-Aliste
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, ChilePontificia Universidad Católica de ValparaísoValparaísoChile
| | - Francisca Gálvez
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, ChilePontificia Universidad Católica de ValparaísoValparaísoChile
| | - Francisco E. Fontúrbel
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, ChilePontificia Universidad Católica de ValparaísoValparaísoChile
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Meineke EK, Daru BH. Bias assessments to expand research harnessing biological collections. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:1071-1082. [PMID: 34489117 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Biological collections are arguably the most important resources for investigations into the impacts of human activities on biodiversity. However, the apparent opportunities presented by museum-derived datasets have not resulted in consistent or widespread use of specimens in ecology outside phenological research and species distribution modeling. We attribute this gap between opportunity and application to biases introduced by collectors, curators, and preservation practices and an imperfect understanding of these biases and how to mitigate them. To facilitate broader use of specimen-based data, we characterize collection biases across key axes and explore interactions among them. We then present a framework for determining the bias assessments needed when extracting data from biological collections. We show that bias assessments required by particular ecological studies will depend on the response variables being measured and the predictor axes of interest. We argue that quantification of biases in specimen-derived datasets is needed to facilitate the widespread application of these data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K Meineke
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis 95616, CA, USA.
| | - Barnabas H Daru
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA.
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Herrera Mesías F, Weigand AM. Updates to the checklist of the wild bee fauna of Luxembourg as inferred from revised natural history collection data and fieldwork. Biodivers Data J 2021; 9:e64027. [PMID: 34040491 PMCID: PMC8139942 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.9.e64027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Museums and other institutions curating natural history collections (NHCs) are fundamental entities to many scientific disciplines, as they house data and reference material for varied research projects. As such, biological specimens preserved in NHCs represent accessible physical records of the living world's history. They provide useful information regarding the presence and distribution of different taxonomic groups through space and time. Despite the importance of biological museum specimens, their potential to answer scientific questions, pertinent to the necessities of our current historical context, is often under-explored. The currently-known wild bee fauna of Luxembourg comprises 341 registered species distributed amongst 38 different genera. However, specimens stored in the archives of local NHCs represent an untapped resource to update taxonomic lists, including potentially overlooked findings relevant to the development of national conservation strategies. New information We re-investigated the wild bee collection of the Zoology Department of the National Museum of Natural History Luxembourg by using morphotaxonomy and DNA barcoding. The collection revision led to the discovery of four species so far not described for the country: Andrenalagopus (Latreille, 1809), Nomadafurva (Panzer, 1798), Hoplitispapaveris (Latreille, 1799) and Sphecodesmajalis (Pérez, 1903). Additionally, the presence of Nomadasexfasciata (Panzer, 1799), which inexplicably had been omitted by the most current species list, can be re-confirmed. Altogether, our findings increase the number of recorded wild bee species in Luxembourg to 346. Moreover, the results highlight the crucial role of NHCs as repositories of our knowledge of the natural world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Herrera Mesías
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-Universität Bochum Bochum Germany.,Musée national d'histoire naturelle de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg Musée national d'histoire naturelle de Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg
| | - Alexander M Weigand
- Musée national d'histoire naturelle de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg Musée national d'histoire naturelle de Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg
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Gómez-Zapata PA, Haelewaters D, Quijada L, Pfister DH, Aime MC. Notes on Trochila (Ascomycota, Leotiomycetes), with new species and combinations. MycoKeys 2021; 78:21-47. [PMID: 36761369 PMCID: PMC9849072 DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.78.62046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of Trochila (Leotiomycetes, Helotiales, Cenangiaceae) are scarce. Here, we describe two new species based on molecular phylogenetic data and morphology. Trochilabostonensis was collected at the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, Massachusetts. It was found on the stem of Asclepiassyriaca, representing the first report of any Trochila species from a plant host in the family Apocynaceae. Trochilaurediniophila is associated with the uredinia of the rust fungus Ceroteliumfici. It was discovered during a survey for rust hyperparasites conducted at the Arthur Fungarium, in a single sample from 1912 collected in Trinidad. Macro- and micromorphological descriptions, illustrations, and molecular phylogenetic analyses are presented. The two new species are placed in Trochila with high support in both our six-locus (SSU, ITS, LSU, rpb1, rpb2, tef1) and two-locus (ITS, LSU) phylogenetic reconstructions. In addition, two species are combined in Trochila: Trochilacolensoi (formerly placed in Pseudopeziza) and T.xishuangbanna (originally described as the only species in Calycellinopsis). This study reveals new host plant families, a new ecological strategy, and a new country record for the genus Trochila. Finally, our work emphasizes the importance of specimens deposited in biological collections such as fungaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Andrea Gómez-Zapata
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USAPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteUnited States of America
| | - Danny Haelewaters
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USAPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteUnited States of America
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USAHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States of America
- Farlow Herbarium and Reference Library of Cryptogamic Botany, Harvard University Herbaria, Harvard University, 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USAHarvard University HerbariaCambridgeUnited States of America
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech RepublicUniversity of South BohemiaČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
| | - Luis Quijada
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USAHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States of America
- Farlow Herbarium and Reference Library of Cryptogamic Botany, Harvard University Herbaria, Harvard University, 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USAHarvard University HerbariaCambridgeUnited States of America
| | - Donald H. Pfister
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USAHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States of America
- Farlow Herbarium and Reference Library of Cryptogamic Botany, Harvard University Herbaria, Harvard University, 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USAHarvard University HerbariaCambridgeUnited States of America
| | - M. Catherine Aime
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USAPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteUnited States of America
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Abstract
The accessibility of global biodiversity information has surged in the past two decades, notably through widespread funding initiatives for museum specimen digitization and emergence of large-scale public participation in community science. Effective use of these data requires the integration of disconnected datasets, but the scientific impacts of consolidated biodiversity data networks have not yet been quantified. To determine whether data integration enables novel research, we carried out a quantitative text analysis and bibliographic synthesis of >4,000 studies published from 2003 to 2019 that use data mediated by the world's largest biodiversity data network, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Data available through GBIF increased 12-fold since 2007, a trend matched by global data use with roughly two publications using GBIF-mediated data per day in 2019. Data-use patterns were diverse by authorship, geographic extent, taxonomic group, and dataset type. Despite facilitating global authorship, legacies of colonial science remain. Studies involving species distribution modeling were most prevalent (31% of literature surveyed) but recently shifted in focus from theory to application. Topic prevalence was stable across the 17-y period for some research areas (e.g., macroecology), yet other topics proportionately declined (e.g., taxonomy) or increased (e.g., species interactions, disease). Although centered on biological subfields, GBIF-enabled research extends surprisingly across all major scientific disciplines. Biodiversity data mobilization through global data aggregation has enabled basic and applied research use at temporal, spatial, and taxonomic scales otherwise not possible, launching biodiversity sciences into a new era.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Mason Heberling
- Section of Botany, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA 15213;
| | - Joseph T Miller
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Secretariat, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Daniel Noesgaard
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Secretariat, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Scott B Weingart
- Digital Humanities Program, University Libraries, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Dmitry Schigel
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Secretariat, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
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11
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Salazar K, Nattier R. New Light on Historical Specimens Reveals a New Species of Ladybird (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): Morphological, Museomic, and Phylogenetic Analyses. Insects 2020; 11:E766. [PMID: 33172182 PMCID: PMC7694756 DOI: 10.3390/insects11110766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Natural history collections house an important source of genetic data from yet unexplored biological diversity. Molecular data from museum specimens remain underexploited, which is mainly due to the degradation of DNA from specimens over time. However, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology can now be used to sequence "old" specimens. Indeed, many of these specimens are unique samples of nomenclatural types and can be crucial for resolving systematic or biogeographic scientific questions. Two ladybird beetle specimens from Patagonia corresponding to a new species of the genus Eriopis Mulsant were found in the collections of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN), Paris. Here, we describe Eriopis patagonia Salazar, sp. nov. Total DNA of one of the two specimens was sequenced by NGS using a paired-end Illumina approach. We reconstruct and characterize the mitochondrial genome of this species (16,194 bp). Then, the protein-coding genes (PCGs) and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) were used to infer by maximum likelihood and Bayesian Inference the phylogenetic position of E. patagonia among 27 representatives of Coccinellidae. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the position of Eriopis as sister group to Cycloneda Crotch. Hence, we highlight the high potential of sequencing technology for extracting molecular information from old specimens, which are used here for the systematic study of a genus, while demonstrating the importance of preserving biological collections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Salazar
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, 57 rue Cuvier, CP 50, 75005 Paris, France;
- Grupo de Investigación Insectos de Colombia, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Ciudad Universitaria, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
| | - Romain Nattier
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, 57 rue Cuvier, CP 50, 75005 Paris, France;
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12
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Hoey JA, Fodrie FJ, Walker QA, Hilton EJ, Kellison GT, Targett TE, Taylor JC, Able KW, Pinsky ML. Using multiple natural tags provides evidence for extensive larval dispersal across space and through time in summer flounder. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1421-1435. [PMID: 32176403 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Dispersal sets the fundamental scales of ecological and evolutionary dynamics and has important implications for population persistence. Patterns of marine dispersal remain poorly understood, partly because dispersal may vary through time and often homogenizes allele frequencies. However, combining multiple types of natural tags can provide more precise dispersal estimates, and biological collections can help to reconstruct dispersal patterns through time. We used single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes and otolith core microchemistry from archived collections of larval summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus, n = 411) captured between 1989 and 2012 at five locations along the US East coast to reconstruct dispersal patterns through time. Neither genotypes nor otolith microchemistry alone were sufficient to identify the source of larval fish. However, microchemistry identified clusters of larvae (n = 3-33 larvae per cluster) that originated in the same location, and genetic assignment of clusters could be made with substantially more confidence. We found that most larvae probably originated near a biogeographical break (Cape Hatteras) and that larvae were transported in both directions across this break. Larval sources did not shift north through time, despite the northward shift of adult populations in recent decades. Our novel approach demonstrates that summer flounder dispersal is widespread throughout their range, on both intra- and intergenerational timescales, and may be a particularly important process for synchronizing population dynamics and maintaining genetic diversity during an era of rapid environmental change. Broadly, our results reveal the value of archived collections and of combining multiple natural tags to understand the magnitude and directionality of dispersal in species with extensive gene flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Hoey
- Ecology, Evolution, & Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - F Joel Fodrie
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC, USA
| | - Quentin A Walker
- NOAA, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Beaufort Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA.,CSS-Inc., Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Eric J Hilton
- Department of Fisheries Science, College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA, USA
| | - G Todd Kellison
- NOAA, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Beaufort Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Timothy E Targett
- School of Marine Science and Policy, College of Earth, Ocean, & Environment, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE, USA
| | - J Christopher Taylor
- NOAA, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Beaufort Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Kenneth W Able
- Marine Field Station, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, Tuckerton, NJ, USA
| | - Malin L Pinsky
- Ecology, Evolution, & Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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13
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Lavretsky P, McInerney NR, Mohl JE, Brown JI, James HF, McCracken KG, Fleischer RC. Assessing changes in genomic divergence following a century of human-mediated secondary contact among wild and captive-bred ducks. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:578-595. [PMID: 31872482 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Along with manipulating habitat, the direct release of domesticated individuals into the wild is a practice used worldwide to augment wildlife populations. We test between possible outcomes of human-mediated secondary contact using genomic techniques at both historical and contemporary timescales for two iconic duck species. First, we sequence several thousand ddRAD-seq loci for contemporary mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) throughout North America and two domestic mallard types (i.e., known game-farm mallards and feral Khaki Campbell's). We show that North American mallards may well be becoming a hybrid swarm due to interbreeding with domesticated game-farm mallards released for hunting. Next, to attain a historical perspective, we applied a bait-capture array targeting thousands of loci in century-old (1842-1915) and contemporary (2009-2010) mallard and American black duck (Anas rubripes) specimens. We conclude that American black ducks and mallards have always been closely related, with a divergence time of ~600,000 years before present, and likely evolved through prolonged isolation followed by limited bouts of gene flow (i.e., secondary contact). They continue to maintain genetic separation, a finding that overturns decades of prior research and speculation suggesting the genetic extinction of the American black duck due to contemporary interbreeding with mallards. Thus, despite having high rates of hybridization, actual gene flow is limited between mallards and American black ducks. Conversely, our historical and contemporary data confirm that the intensive stocking of game-farm mallards during the last ~100 years has fundamentally changed the genetic integrity of North America's wild mallard population, especially in the east. It thus becomes of great interest to ask whether the iconic North American mallard is declining in the wild due to introgression of maladaptive traits from domesticated forms. Moreover, we hypothesize that differential gene flow from domestic game-farm mallards into the wild mallard population may explain the overall temporal increase in differentiation between wild black ducks and mallards, as well as the uncoupling of genetic diversity and effective population size estimates across time in our results. Finally, our findings highlight how genomic methods can recover complex population histories by capturing DNA preserved in traditional museum specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Lavretsky
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Nancy Rotzel McInerney
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jonathon E Mohl
- Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Joshua I Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Helen F James
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kevin G McCracken
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.,Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Human Genetics and Genomics, Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.,Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Museum, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Robert C Fleischer
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
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14
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Domina G, Venturella G, Gargano ML. Synthetic cartography for mapping biodiversity in the Mediterranean region: Sicily as a case study. PhytoKeys 2018; 109:77-92. [PMID: 30364914 PMCID: PMC6199346 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.109.28297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This paper proposes a new hierarchical land classification system for the mapping of species distribution at national or regional scales. Our integrative framework incorporates two hierarchical levels inferred from historical, climatic, geomorphological and geological attributes. The feasibility of this proposal is based on the use of historical collections and literature data, as well as on its ability to combine old low-precision data with more recent records of higher resolution. The system is set up for vascular plants, but it can also be used for other taxonomic groups. Furthermore, it has the potential for application to the whole Mediterranean region because it is based on information that is generally available in all Mediterranean countries. This model is tested with the distribution of loci classici of the Italian endemic plants occurring in Sicily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianniantonio Domina
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 4. I-90128 Palermo, ItalyUniversity of PalermoPalermoItaly
| | - Giuseppe Venturella
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 4. I-90128 Palermo, ItalyUniversity of PalermoPalermoItaly
| | - Maria Letizia Gargano
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 16. I-90128 Palermo, ItalyUniversity of PalermoPalermoItaly
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15
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Funk VA, Gostel M, Devine A, Kelloff CL, Wurdack K, Tuccinardi C, Radosavljevic A, Peters M, Coddington J. Guidelines for collecting vouchers and tissues intended for genomic work (Smithsonian Institution): Botany Best Practices. Biodivers Data J 2017:e11625. [PMID: 28325986 PMCID: PMC5345056 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.5.e11625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Vicki A Funk
- Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Morgan Gostel
- Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States of America; Global Genome Initiative (GGI), National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Amanda Devine
- Global Genome Initiative (GGI), National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Carol L Kelloff
- Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Kenneth Wurdack
- Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Chris Tuccinardi
- Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Aleks Radosavljevic
- Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Melinda Peters
- Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Coddington
- Global Genome Initiative (GGI), National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States of America
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16
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Hespanhol H, Cezón K, Felicísimo ÁM, Muñoz J, Mateo RG. How to describe species richness patterns for bryophyte conservation? Ecol Evol 2016; 5:5443-55. [PMID: 27069596 PMCID: PMC4813098 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Revised: 07/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
A large amount of data for inconspicuous taxa is stored in natural history collections; however, this information is often neglected for biodiversity patterns studies. Here, we evaluate the performance of direct interpolation of museum collections data, equivalent to the traditional approach used in bryophyte conservation planning, and stacked species distribution models (S‐SDMs) to produce reliable reconstructions of species richness patterns, given that differences between these methods have been insufficiently evaluated for inconspicuous taxa. Our objective was to contrast if species distribution models produce better inferences of diversity richness than simply selecting areas with the higher species numbers. As model species, we selected Iberian species of the genus Grimmia (Bryophyta), and we used four well‐collected areas to compare and validate the following models: 1) four Maxent richness models, each generated without the data from one of the four areas, and a reference model created using all of the data and 2) four richness models obtained through direct spatial interpolation, each generated without the data from one area, and a reference model created with all of the data. The correlations between the partial and reference Maxent models were higher in all cases (0.45 to 0.99), whereas the correlations between the spatial interpolation models were negative and weak (−0.3 to −0.06). Our results demonstrate for the first time that S‐SDMs offer a useful tool for identifying detailed richness patterns for inconspicuous taxa such as bryophytes and improving incomplete distributions by assessing the potential richness of under‐surveyed areas, filling major gaps in the available data. In addition, the proposed strategy would enhance the value of the vast number of specimens housed in biological collections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Hespanhol
- CIBIO/InBio Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto Campus Agrário de Vairão 4485-661 Vairão Portugal
| | - Katia Cezón
- Real Jardín Botánico (CSIC) Plaza de Murillo 2 28014 Madrid Spain
| | - Ángel M Felicísimo
- Centro Universitario de Mérida Universidad de Extremadura 06800 Mérida Spain
| | - Jesús Muñoz
- Real Jardín Botánico (CSIC) Plaza de Murillo 228014 Madrid Spain; Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica Bolívar 20-35 Ambato Ecuador
| | - Rubén G Mateo
- Department of Ecology & Evolution University of Lausanne Biophore Building 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
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17
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Ikin T. A Conservation Ethic and the Collecting of Animals by Institutions of Natural Heritage in the Twenty-First Century: Case Study of the Australian Museum. Animals (Basel) 2011; 1:176-85. [PMID: 26486222 DOI: 10.3390/ani1010176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2011] [Accepted: 01/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary It is a core task of collecting institutions like museums to take examples of animals and preserve them as specimens in collections. In the twenty-first century, museums are equally the places where research is conducted and education is promoted in the service of conservation of animals in an era of the decline of biodiversity. In this paper, the balance of co-operation between collecting of animals by museums and the promotion and scientific pursuit of conservation of fauna in those museums is considered. As a “challenge” to museum science, it is considered in the context of Australia's oldest museum, and its policy and practice in the current century. Abstract Collecting of animals from their habitats for preservation by museums and related bodies is a core operation of such institutions. Conservation of biodiversity in the current era is a priority in the scientific agendas of museums of natural heritage in Australia and the world. Intuitively, to take animals from the wild, while engaged in scientific or other practices that are supposed to promote their ongoing survival, may appear be incompatible. The Australian Museum presents an interesting ground to consider zoological collecting by museums in the twenty-first century. Anderson and Reeves in 1994 argued that a milieu existed that undervalued native species, and that the role of natural history museums, up to as late as the mid-twentieth century, was only to make a record the faunal diversity of Australia, which would inevitably be extinct. Despite the latter, conservation of Australia's faunal diversity is a key aspect of research programmes in Australia's institutions of natural heritage in the current era. This paper analyses collecting of animals, a core task for institutions of natural heritage, and how this interacts with a professed “conservation ethic” in a twenty-first century Australian setting.
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