Biodiversity Data Journal最新文献

Background: The subfamily Panchaetothripinae Bagnall (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) comprises about 150 species belonging to 42 genera worldwide. Amongst these, twelve species belonging to six genera were previously recorded from the Arabian Peninsula, including eight species in four genera from Saudi Arabia. The Faunistic studies on the subfamily have been confined to the tropical and subtropical parts of Africa, America, Southeast Asia and Australia. However, the tropical regions of the Arabian Peninsula remained under-studied, with no considerable work having been done on this subfamily.

New information: We present the first illustrated key to the Panchaetothripinae genera of the Arabian Peninsula and a checklist of Arabian species to facilitate their recognition. Moreover, two genera and species, Hercinothrips femoralis (Reuter) and Rhipiphorothrips cruentatus Hood, are recorded as new to Saudi Arabia. New distributional data for each species is also given. The presence of greenhouse thrips Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis Bouche in the country is doubtful. The species has not been recovered despite extensive surveys across the country spanning over six years. However, it is kept in the Arabian species list until further confirmations.

Background: The second manuscript in the series "Dalberto Teixeira Pombo (DTP) Arthropod Collection" focuses on Algar do Carvão, a remarkable volcanic pit on Terceira Island, Azores, that is a Natural Monument, a show cave and part of the Terceira Island Natural Park. This volcanic cave is unique amongst the archipelago's subterranean systems due to its distinctive geological features, including rare silica-based speleothems and its exceptional natural setting. Surrounded by remnants of native laurel forest, the cave hosts a specialised assemblage of arthropods, including several taxa endemic to the Azores and single island endemic species. Of particular interest are four obligate cave-dwelling species or subspecies (troglobionts): the centipede Lithobius obscurus azoreae Eason & Ashmole, 1992 (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha, Lithobiidae); the springtail Pseudosinella ashmoleorum da Gama, 1988 (Collembola, Entomobryomorpha, Entomobryidae); the spider Turinyphia cavernicola Wunderlich, 2008 (Arachnida, Araneae, Linyphiidae); and the ground beetle Trechus terceiranus Machado, 1988 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae), the last two being endemics to Terceira Island. These species are part of a fragile and narrowly distributed subterranean fauna shaped by the volcanic origin of the island and its isolation (0.4 Ma). Their presence highlights the conservation value of Algar do Carvão, which serves not only as a cave biodiversity hotspot, but also as a natural laboratory for studying evolution, adaptation to subterranean habitats and island biogeography. Despite being a show cave with frequent human visits, Algar do Carvão retains a relatively intact hypogean ecosystem, though it remains vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures, such as habitat disturbance and pollution.

New information: Particular focus is given to the abundance and population trends of the endemic cave-adapted beetle Trechus terceiranus, monitored through a long-term standardised programme initiated in 1999 using non-lethal trapping methods. This effort, designed to monitor population variation across seasons and years and to evaluate the potential impacts of increasing human visitation to the cave, represents one of the few continuous monitoring programmes for cave arthropods on oceanic islands. Over the course of this study, we also report the first citation of 21 arthropod taxa for Algar do Carvão, two of which are endemic to the Azores (Canariphantes acoreensis (Wunderlich, 1992) and Phloeostiba azorica (Fauvel, 1900)), contributing significantly to the known biodiversity of this volcanic pit, in particular and of Azorean subterranean fauna, in general.

Background: A bryophyte diversity survey was carried out from July 29 to 1 August 2013, in Santa Cruz das Flores, Flores Island (Azores) (39.471185 N Latitude; -31.184692 W Longitude), along an elevational gradient (70, 200, 400, 600 and 800 m a.s.l.). The study employed the Global Island Monitoring Scheme (GIMS) protocol for bryophytes. At each elevation level, three replicates of six substrates colonised by bryophytes (rock, soil, humus, dead wood, tree trunks, leaves) were collected. In total, 385 sampling events generated 1345 species occurrence records, representing 89 bryophyte species (37 mosses; 52 liverworts).

New information: The acrocarpous moss Fissidens azoricus (P.de la Varde) Bizot, listed as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN, had not been reported from Flores Island since 1937; this is the first publication with new locations for the species.The altitudinal gradient revealed an increase in species richness and abundance with elevation, following a mid-elevation peak pattern, with the highest richness between 400 m a.s.l. (52 species; 364 records) and 600 m a.s.l. (54 species; 402 records), followed by a decline at 800 m a.s.l. (33 species; 148 records). At 70 m a.s.l., 20 species were identified (128 records) and, at 200 m a.s.l., 35 species were recorded (232 records). In terms of substrate preference, the highest species richness and abundance were found colonising epiphytic substrates (58 species; 424 records), followed by terricolous substrates (44 species; 233 records).

Background: The genus Atkinsonia in the family Stathmopodidae comprises 13 species described worldwide and only one is recorded from the Korean Peninsula. Despite this low species richness, the genus shows broad ecological diversity at the larval stage, ranging from phytophagy to carnivory, which supports the need for a comprehensive taxonomic study.

New information: We report Atkinsonia beijingana as a newly-recorded species from the Korean Peninsula. We describe the adult morphology and genitalia. A worldwide checklist of Atkinsonia species and their distributions is also provided to improve understanding of the genus.

Background: The genus Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912, is the most speciose and taxonomically complex genus in the tribe Pachyrhynchini. Currently, the genus is comprised of more than 250 species that are classified into seven subgenera. One of the least studied subgenera under the genus Metapocyrtus is the subgenus Dolichocephalocyrtus Schultze, 1925, whose members are generally known for their long and slender rostrum (0.60 to 0.76 times as long as wide). Another distinct feature of this subgenus is the evident sexual dimorphism: males possess elytra with a rounded apex and a steep apical declivity, while females exhibit a sharply pointed, triangular projection at the elytral apex. Like most weevils under the genus Metapocyrtus, species under the subgenus Dolichocephalocyrtus have a narrow geographic range due to their flight inability; this is probably the reason why all known species under this subgenus are endemic to the Philippines.

New information: A new species of flightless weevil, belonging to the genus Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912, subgenus Dolichocephalocyrtus Schultze, 1925, from the Aliwagwag Protected Landscape (APL), Cateel, Davao Oriental, Mindanao, Philippines, is described and illustrated. Named after the Aliwagwag Falls, the novel species, Metapocyrtus (Dolichocephalocyrtus) aliwagwag Pajota & Cabras, sp. nov., is the first species of the genus to be formally described from Cateel, Davao Oriental. The description of this novel species adds to the rich diversity of the genus Metapocyrtus in the country and highlights the ecological significance of the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor (EMBC).

Obligate argyrodine kleptoparasites (Theridiidae, Araneae) exploit heterospecific spider webs for food and shelter. Argyrodine spiders are a model lineage for the study of kleptoparasitism and related strategies, yet data on the behaviour of the majority of the over 250 argyrodine species is lacking. Here, we help fill that knowledge gap by documenting the natural history of two poorly-known species. We studied Argyrodes pluto and Neospintharus baboquivari in the webs of two other cobweb spiders, the western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus) and Tidarren sisyphoides, across four sites in southern Arizona. Argyrodes pluto completes its life cycle in L. hesperus webs and specialises on host egg sacs, displacing them to the periphery and feeding on eggs and juveniles; this behaviour appears essential for its reproduction. Neospintharus baboquivari occurs gregariously in both host webs, gleaning small prey. In contrast, N. baboquivari is reportedly a solitary araneophage in the colonial orb webs of Philoponella oweni. We quantified egg sac displacement and describe foraging, mating, egg sac construction and interactions with parasitoids and predators. These findings reveal novel natural history information and expand our understanding of argyrodine behavioural plasticity.

Background: Magnolia zenii Cheng, an endemic and critically endangered species, is restricted to Baohua Mountain, Jiangsu Province, China. Despite the implementation of in situ conservation measures implemented after the establishment of Baohua Mountain Nature Reserve in 1984, the species continues to face significant regeneration challenges.

New information: This study evaluates the population structure and regeneration dynamics of M. zenii using data from field surveys conducted in 2001 and 2024. Our findings indicate a substantial increase in the total population size from 34 to 115 individuals and a broadening of the size-class distribution. However, persistent gaps in recruitment, particularly the absence of individuals in the smallest diameter class (< 5 cm), highlight critical reproductive and establishment constraints. Factors limiting regeneration include poor seedling establishment due to reproductive inefficiencies, intense competition from Phoebe sheareri and Phyllostachys edulis and anthropogenic impacts associated with tourism management. We propose a multi-faceted conservation strategy emphasising enhanced reproductive management, mitigation of competitive pressure and science-based tourism control to promote sustainable population recovery. This study provides a comprehensive framework for addressing regeneration constraints and providing information for long-term conservation policies for M. zenii and other endangered species with similar ecological challenges.

Background: Hainan Island serves as an important reservoir of molluscan biodiversity in China. However, the documented molluscan fauna is predominantly composed of macromolluscan species, while micromolluscan diversity remains critically understudied.

New information: In this study, we document four marine microgastropod species belonging to the family Zebinidae Coan, 1964 from Hainan Island, China: Schwartziella triticea (Pease, 1861), Pandalosia subfirmata (O. Boettger, 1887), Zebina tridentata (Michaud, 1830) and Stosicia annulata (Dunker, 1860). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to examine shell morphology. Amongst these, Stosicia annulata (Dunker, 1860) represent a new record for China, suggesting that more extensive sampling along Hainan Island's coastline will likely yield additional discoveries.

Background: Functional traits offer critical insights into species performance, survival strategies and ecological interactions. However, the availability of comprehensive trait datasets remains limited, primarily due to the substantial effort required for field sampling and laboratory analysis. This constraint is particularly pronounced in biodiversity hotspots such as the Atlantic Forest, one of the most diverse and threatened biomes globally. The ATLANTIC DUNG BEETLE TRAITS dataset addresses part of this gap by compiling extensive morphological and ecological information for a key insect group in this biome. Dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeinae) play essential roles in nutrient cycling, secondary seed dispersal and soil aeration, but many species are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation and other human-induced pressures.

New information: The dataset includes 47 distinct traits for 1,398 individuals representing up to 385 taxa. Many traits were measured separately by sex and/or habitat to capture intraspecific variation, resulting in 107 trait records overall. It is organised into two main components: Novel dataset - Includes 371 individuals from 72 taxa, with measurements for six continuous morphological traits (mean biomass, wing length, wing width, wing area, wing aspect ratio and wing loading) and four categorical ecological traits (body size, diet, relocation behaviour and diel activity), all recorded at the individual level. Additionally, this dataset includes a set of high-resolution photographs of dung beetle wings from 355 individuals across 51 taxa. These images were used to derive key morphological measurements and are provided to support reproducibility and further research. Published datasets - Include records for 1,027 individuals representing up to 357 taxa, including 210 taxonomically uncertain species. These datasets cover both individual- and species-level functional traits, totalling 46 traits compiled from 29 published studies conducted between 2011 and 2024. This functional trait database offers a standardised, detailed resource to support macroecological, functional and conservation analyses, contributing to biodiversity assessment and management in the Atlantic Forest.

Background: The global climate is warming, especially in northern regions due to high-latitude amplification. This high-latitude warming leads to range expansion with advancing tree- and forest-lines (TFLs) in the Northern Hemisphere. However, empirical studies can rarely provide a well-documented elevational expansion rate, especially for timescales longer than 40-50 years. This study provides a unique long-term dataset on TFL dynamics of Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii in Norway, based on a combination of resampled historical data (n = 319) and new field registrations (n = 447).Our dataset includes a total of 766 registrations from five counties in Norway. In total, the dataset contains 439 treelines and 327 forest lines, most likely representing the highest recorded TFLs for the region at the given time. For all data, both resampled and new, locality, coordinates, elevation, aspect and spatial uncertainty and the resampling/sampling methods and definitions are provided. The entire material is stored and available for download through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) portal.

New information: This dataset includes newly-resampled TFLs, based on 57-127-year-old registrations. The entries provide elevational changes, georeferenced localities and potential sites for monitoring climate change effects. The entries enable regional analyses of TFL dynamics on intermediate timescales, including the effect of time lags. The material is available for modelling TFL range shifts along the boreal-alpine ecotone. This dataset most likely provides the highest registered Betula pubescens subsp. czerepanovii locations within their specific regions, thus representing the contemporary ecophysiological range limits for the life-form tree. Additional high-elevation TFL sites and localities have been added to make the material suitable for future remapping and monitoring of climatic TFL dynamics.