Biodiversity Data Journal最新文献

Background: In our recent examination of the Phintella specimens collected from Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, a new species and the unknown female of P.liae Wang, Mi & Peng, 2023 were recognised, based on the morphological characteristics and molecular evidence.

New information: A new species of Phintella Strand, 1906 is described: P.hongkan sp. nov. (♂♀) from Hainan, China. The unknown female of P.liae Wang, Mi & Peng, 2023 is also described for the first time. Diagnostic photos of both species are provided.

Variations in colouration patterns have been reported in numerous wildlife species, particularly birds. However, the increased use of camera traps for wildlife monitoring has enabled the detection of elusive species and phenotypic variations that might otherwise go undetected. Here, we compiled records of unusual colouration patterns in terrestrial mammals, documented through camera-trap studies over a 12-year period in the Llanganates-Sangay Connectivity Corridor, in the Tropical Andes of Ecuador. We identified colour variations in seven species of terrestrial mammals, including disorders, such as melanism, white spotting/ piebaldism, xanthocromism and progressive greying. Notably, we reported a high prevalence of melanism in wild populations of the clouded oncilla, along with observations on the species' activity patterns. Approximately half of the recorded clouded oncillas were melanistic. We detected significant differences in activty patterns between melanistic and non-melanistc clouded oncilla, with melanistic morphs showing a peak of activity between 3 a.m. and before dawn. The proportion of melanistic individuals suggests that melanism is widespread throughout the corridor. However, its impact on the species' fitness remains unclear.

Background: Khorata Huber, 2005 contains 52 species distributed in Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, out of which about 34 species have been recorded from China. It can be distinguished from all other genera of Pholcidae by the male chelicerae with lateral ledges and the cheliceral apophyses with cuticular ridges or scales. The femur of the male palp features a retrolateral apophysis. The male palp is small, characterised by a prolaterally attached genital bulb that lacks projections, except for the embolus. The carapace exhibits a shallow median groove and the female abdomen shows no posterior pockets.

New information: A spider survey conducted in June 2024 from the Jiangxi Qiyunshan National Nature Reserve, Jiangxi, China recorded the genus Khorata for the first time. Based on morphological comparison, one new species was identified and is described here. A detailed description, diagnosis, photographs and distribution map of the new species are provided.

Background: The genus Apharinodes Raffray, 1890 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae, Hybocephalini) includes four known species occurring in East and Southeast Asia.

New information: A new species, Apharinodesbaixiensis sp. nov., is described from Heyuan City, Guangdong Province, China. Important morphological characters of the new species are illustrated by colour plates.

Background: Jiangsu Province is located on the southeast coast of China and lacks high-altitude mountains, with only a few hilly areas mainly distributed in its southern region. In recent years, We investigated the diversity of Plecoptera species in the major mountainous and forested areas of Jiangsu, recording a total of 20 species across 12 genera and five families.

New information: In this paper, we examined the materials of Kamimuria from Jiangsu and described a new species, K.liyangensis sp. nov. In addition, detailed English descriptions and colour pictures of K.microda are provided for the first time.

The Permanent Forest Reserve (PFR) is recognised as one of the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in Malaysia`s spatial planning. Incorporating biological factors alongside existing physical attributes is crucial to improve the classification of ESAs. It is important to attain biological diversity information to formulate biological factors, which include vertebrates such as bird communities. Birds are highly sensitive to changes within ecosystems; hence, they play a pivotal role in reflecting the overall ecological condition. Therefore, the study focused on assessing bird species' richness in the Kluang Forest Reserve (Kluang FR) and compared its bird diversity amongst five PFRs ESAs in southern Peninsular Malaysia. Methods such as mist netting, point count observations and call recording were deployed to calculate the alpha and beta diversity of the bird community. A total of 68 species comprised of 36 families were recorded and the white-rumped shama (Copsychusmalabaricus) was the most abundant species in all reserves studied. Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) revealed that the bird diversity in Kluang FR is more similar to bird santuary Panti Forest Reserve compared to the other four forest reserves and indicates that diversification of species richness. However, the absence of published species information in forest reserves poses challenges for comparing bird assemblages amongst different reserves. More extensive studies are needed in Johor and throughout Malaysia to provide data that can effectively assist and support biodiversity conservation and management.

Merapoh, Pahang, is an area rich with limestone karst located within the Lipis National Geopark and home to the Sungai Relau gate of Taman Negara Pahang, a totally protected rainforest in Malaysia. Much of the research conducted here is mainly inside the National Park, with few published faunal records for the Merapoh caves. This study compiled the data on the bat species diversity of eight Merapoh caves (March 2020 to March 2022) using mist nets and harp traps. Our results indicate that Chiroptera diversity at Merapoh caves is rich, with a total of 32 species recorded from 865 individuals and four new locality records for the State of Pahang, namely Rousettusleschenaultii, Lyrodermalyra, Rhinolophuscoelophyllus and Hipposiderospomona. Gua Gunting has the highest diversity of bats recorded in this study (19 species). Significant Merapoh caves with bat colony roosts in Merapoh include Gua Jinjang Pelamin (Eonycterisspelaea & Rousettusleschenaultii), Gua Tahi Bintang (Hipposideroslarvatus) and Gua Pasir Besar (Miniopterusmedius). Rhinolophusconvexus, previously recorded only in upper montane rainforests, was also recorded in Merapoh caves indicating that this species can also be found in lower elevations than previously thought. Based on the findings of the current study and additional records from two previous studies, the Merapoh bat species diversity checklist totalled up to 38 species. On the whole, the rich bat diversity in Merapoh is reflective of its immense limestone karst landscape, which highlights the reason Lipis National Geopark has been recently gazetted. Future bat research should continue here and in other karsts within Lipis Geopark to sustainably conserve biological diversity, manage geological structures and raise awareness amongst the locals to appreciate their national heritage.

Background: Thanh Hoa Province is located in North Central Vietnam and the Province contains a large area of 393,361.33 hectares of natural forest. A complexity of landforms has given this Province a high level of biodiversity potential. However, the reptile fauna of Thanh Hoa Province is still underestimated. Previous studies documented 111 species of reptiles from this Province.

New information: As a result of our field surveys in Pu Luong and Xuan Lien Nature Reserves, we report five species of reptiles for the first time from Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, namely Plestiodontamdaoensis, Scincelladevorator (Scincidae), Elaphetaeniura, Pareasmacularius and Pseudoxenodonmacrops (Colubridae), with novel data about morphological characteristics. In addition, we provide an updated checklist of 116 species of reptiles from Thanh Hoa Province. The reptile fauna of Thanh Hoa Province also contains a number of species of conservation concern: 22 species listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam, 22 species listed in the IUCN Red List, 18 species listed in the Vietnam Governmental Decree No. 84; and 21 species listed in CITES appendices.

Little is known about granite outcrops in arid regions. The current study sought to determine if granite outcrops generate wetter islands compared to their arid surroundings. Forty independent phytosociological stands dealing with granite outcrops (25 stands) and nearby matrix (15 stands) vegetation were sampled. A total of 146 species of vascular plants were identified, categorised into 39 families and 106 genera. Results recorded more taxa in granite outcrops than in their matrix; specifically, there were 29.2% more species, 33.8% more genera and 26.6% more families in the granite outcrops than in their matrix. Only 16 species were reported in the matrix area that are not present in the granite outcrops, compared to 46 species found in the granite outcrops that are absent from the matrix area. The ratios of therophytes and phanerophytes in granite outcrops were 5% and 11.1% greater, respectively, than those observed in their matrices. The proportions of Sudano-Zambasian elements were higher in granite outcrops than those in the matrix and, in contrast, the Sudano-Arabian and tropical elements proportions were higher in the matrix than those in the granite outcrops. The current results concluded that granite outcrops form wetter island-like habitats as compared to their surroundings.

Background: Chironomidae, commonly known as non-biting midges, are key indicators of the health and biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems. They are also one of the most abundant and diverse groups of aquatic invertebrates. Although Chironomidae are ecologically important, abundant and diverse, there has been limited focused research on this group in Lithuania. Our study addresses this gap by analysing the diversity of Chironomidae in six Lithuanian streams.

New information: In this study, we present a comprehensive list of Chironomidae collected from six streams with similar hydrological characteristics: three dammed and three undammed. Lithuania is home to 158 species of known species of Chironomidae, comprised of 22 species in the subfamily Tanypodinae, 87 in the Chironominae, 42 in the Orthocladiinae, four in the Diamesinae and three in the Prodiamesinae. Throughout our research, we collected 11,296 chironomid specimens using a D-shaped aquatic net. Amongst these specimens, we identified 89 species representing 65 genera and five subfamilies, including 37 species and 12 genera, were recorded for the first time in Lithuania. The subfamily Chironominae, with 28 genera and 6,816 specimens, has exhibited the highest abundance of non-biting midges both in terms of genera and individuals. Amongst the streams investigated, the Luknelė was the richest in diversity, harbouring 37 genera and 2,657 individuals, accounting for about 55% of the Chironomidae genera found during the research. Our findings significantly enhance the understanding of the Lithuanian Chironomidae fauna, marking the first comprehensive study of such a kind, as previous knowledge of this fauna has been derived only from related studies.