Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity最新文献

Local to large-scale phylogenetic studies of freshwater fishes, especially groups with controversial within-genus diversity (e.g., Thymallus Linck, 1790), are crucial to understanding their phylogenetic statuses. We examined the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary divergence of species in the genus Thymallus (grayling) in Mongolia using mitochondrial DNA. In this study, we used 124 samples from 15 sites in rivers and lakes in the western, northern, and eastern parts of Mongolia to clarify their phylogenetic relationships. Our Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood trees support the existence of seven species of graylings in Mongolia, including Thymallus brevirostris, Thymallus nigrescens, Thymallus svetovidovi, Thymallus grubii, Thymallus arcticus, and new for the country Thymallus brevicephalus and Thymallus baicalensis. We observed relatively close sister species relationships of T. brevirostris and T. brevicephalus (p distance: 0.4%), as well as T. nigrescens and T. baicalensis (p distance: 0.5%). We also ran a time-calibrated phylogenetic tree to trace evolutionary divergence between species and found a divergence time ranging from 0.87 to 7.24 million years ago. Better knowledge of within-genus diversity of fish in the rivers of Mongolia (including the upstream portions of larger river drainages and lakes that graylings populate) is key to further conservation of these species.

The current study documents the presence of twelve lichenicolous fungi from India that were previously unknown from the country. These fungi include Cercidospora solearispora, Endococcus verrucosus, Lichenopeltella leptogii, Lichenostigma dimelaenae, Polycoccum aksoyi, P. evae, P. kerneri, Rosellinula haplospora, Scutula milliaris, Sphaerellothecium parmotrematis and Stigmidium ramalinae. Moreover, this research reveals that Cladophialophora parmeliae has expanded its distributional range in India. These newly documented lichenicolous fungi provide valuable insights into the biodiversity and ecological dynamics of the Indian lichen flora, throwing light on previously unexplored aspects of fungal diversity in the region.

Frugivory and seed dispersal of Elaeocarpus munronii (Wight) Mast. were studied in the shola forest of Eravikulam National Park. The entire day was divided into four-time intervals: morning (07.00–10.00), midday (10.00–01.00), afternoon (01.00–04.00), and evening (04.00–07.00) for data collection. Eleven bird and animal species from 10 families feed on the ripened fruits of this endemic tree. The frugivores are Nilgiri wood pigeon (Columba elphinstonii), large-billed crow (Corvus macororhynchos), small green barbet (Megalaima viridis), red vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer), Indian cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus), Nilgiri langur (Semnopithecus johni), lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus), brown palm civet (Paradoxurus jerdonii), Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica), grizzled Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura), and Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica). Lion-tailed macaques, Indian crested porcupines, Indian giant squirrels, and grizzled Indian giant squirrels were the seed predators. Diurnal animals had the most visits during midday (10.00 am-1.00 pm), while nocturnal animals had the most visits during late evening (7.00 pm-10.00 pm). Nilgiri langurs had the highest predation intensity (92.93%), and brown palm civets left the most intact seeds (76.34%). Frugivore visits were evenly distributed across various individual trees, highlighting the importance of E. munronii trees as a food source for many species.

The new species Arthophacopsis zhurbenkoi is described here, which has been colonizing the thallus of Heterodermia dissecta. Additionally, Arthophacopsis heterodermiae, a species not previously recorded in India, colonizing the thallus of Heterodermia sp. and Polyblastidium dendriticum is reported for the first time from the country. Furthermore, we include a comprehensive key to identify all known lichenicolous species that colonize lichen genus Heterodermia in India.

Parahellenia mizoramensis sp. nov. from Costaceae is described and illustrated as a new species from Northeast India (Mizoram) and represents the only existing species under the genus from India. It differs from its allied species, Parahellenia tonkinensis (Gagnep.) Juan Chen, N.H. Xia, L.Y. Zeng, S. Jin Zeng, and Parahellenia yunnanensis S. Jin Zeng, N.H. Xia, L.Y. Zeng, and Juan Chen by the size and shape of axillary buds, wider bracts, longer calyx and corolla lobes, crenulate margin of labellum, prominent overlapping of labellum margin to form trumpet-shaped, presence of bright red streaks in anther crest, and shape of dorsal appendage in stigma. The newly described species is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) based on the available data as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Categories and Criteria.

Previous studies examining the flora in the Korean Demilitarized Zone and its surroundings focused only on specific locations or ways to utilize these areas. We investigated vascular plant distribution in this area across the entire Korean Peninsula. Species richness, endemism, and alien species richness were examined for 54,948 occurrence records. Biodiversity and protection status were assessed, and a self-organizing map algorithm was used to divide the flora distribution into an Eastern region (including the Central region) and a Western region. Environmental factors of each distribution type were analyzed. The whole study area had 1,790 taxa of 655 genera and 151 families. The flora of the Central region was similar to that of the Eastern region, which had the richest biodiversity, whereas the Western region contained various invasive alien plants. Most areas with high biodiversity were classified as protected by international agreements. In the self-organizing map, the Eastern and Central regions exhibited large distribution of endemic and northern lineage plants, and the Western region showed high abundances of invasive alien plants. The considerable biodiversity of this area is threatened due to continuous housing development and military operations. Therefore, policies to ensure sustainable conservation of plant biodiversity “hotspots” are required.

The life cycle of Kallima inachus inachus (Doyère, [1840]) has been studied in detail from Vijaynagar, Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh, India. The larvae of this species feed on Strobilanthes clarkei belonging to the family Acanthaceae, which is being reported here as a new larval host plant of K. i. inachus from India. The eggs were laid singly beneath the surface of the host plant and occasionally near the larval host plant. The entire life history from the incubation period to the enclosing of the adult was completed in 55 to 57 days. During the present study, adult longevity was recorded as 9–12 days. The entire time span and the measurement of various life cycle stages have been discussed.

The present paper contains the first report of Westermannia superba Hübner, 1823, and Bornean endemic species, Nola faircloughi Holloway, 2003, from Micronesia, with detailed illustrations of adults and genitalia. These species are the very first records of the Nolidae in Micronesia.

Effective pollinators of Arisaema nambae Kitam., endemic to western Okayama and eastern Hiroshima prefectures, western Japan, were determined, and 113 insects from 24 spathes of A. nambae in three populations in Okayama Prefecture were collected. Most floral visitors were fungus gnats (Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae). Their maximum body width was less than the internal diameter (ca. 2 mm) of the exit at the bottom of the staminate spathe. Pollen grains of Arisaema attached to the bodies of fungus gnats collected from pistillate spathes provided evidence that they visited the pistillate spathe after escaping from staminate spathes. Based on their visitation frequency, size compatibility between their body and the exit from the staminate spathes and the pollen loads they carry, fungus gnats appear to play an important role in the pollination of A. nambae.

To determine the distributional area of Nymphaea pygmaea (Salisb.) W.T.Aiton and N. tetragona Georgi (Nymphaeaceae) and to identify the boundary between the two species, we conducted an examination of 199 specimens obtained from four herbaria (NGU, OSA, SAPS, TNS). Our analysis revealed that the specimen collection localities of N. pygmaea and N. tetragona were distinctly separated from east to west on the Ishikari Lowland (42°–44°N, 141°–142°E). Furthermore, we found that the distributional boundary between these two species was located somewhat south of the 50° N latitude, which has been identified in North America and Europe. We also discussed several factors that could be responsible for the clear geographic division of the two species in Hokkaido, such as differences in geological factors, habitats among the species, and potential reproductive interference.