| 1. |
- Ralimanana, H., et al.
(författare)
-
Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity: Threats and opportunities
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 378:6623
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Madagascar’s unique biota is heavily affected by human activity and is under intense threat. Here, we review the current state of knowledge on the conservation status of Madagascar’s terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity by presenting data and analyses on documented and predicted species-level conservation statuses, the most prevalent and relevant threats, ex situ collections and programs, and the coverage and comprehensiveness of protected areas. The existing terrestrial protected area network in Madagascar covers 10.4% of its land area and includes at least part of the range of the majority of described native species of vertebrates with known distributions (97.1% of freshwater fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals combined) and plants (67.7%). The overall figures are higher for threatened species (97.7% of threatened vertebrates and 79.6% of threatened plants occurring within at least one protected area). International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments and Bayesian neural network analyses for plants identify overexploitation of biological resources and unsustainable agriculture as the most prominent threats to biodiversity. We highlight five opportunities for action at multiple levels to ensure that conservation and ecological restoration objectives, programs, and activities take account of complex underlying and interacting factors and produce tangible benefits for the biodiversity and people of Madagascar.
|
|
| 2. |
- Kehoe, Laura, et al.
(författare)
-
Make EU trade with Brazil sustainable
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 364:6438, s. 341-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
|
|
| 3. |
- Antonelli, Alexandre, 1978, et al.
(författare)
-
Madagascar's extraordinary biodiversity : Evolution, distribution, and use
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 378:6623, s. 962-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Madagascar's biota is hyperdiverse and includes exceptional levels of endemicity. We review the current state of knowledge on Madagascar's past and current terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity by compiling and presenting comprehensive data on species diversity, endemism, and rates of species description and human uses, in addition to presenting an updated and simplified map of vegetation types. We report a substantial increase of records and species new to science in recent years; however, the diversity and evolution of many groups remain practically unknown (e.g., fungi and most invertebrates). Digitization efforts are increasing the resolution of species richness patterns and we highlight the crucial role of field- and collections-based research for advancing biodiversity knowledge and identifying gaps in our understanding, particularly as species richness corresponds closely to collection effort. Phylogenetic diversity patterns mirror that of species richness and endemism in most of the analyzed groups. We highlight humid forests as centers of diversity and endemism because of their role as refugia and centers of recent and rapid radiations. However, the distinct endemism of other areas, such as the grassland-woodland mosaic of the Central Highlands and the spiny forest of the southwest, is also biologically important despite lower species richness. The documented uses of Malagasy biodiversity are manifold, with much potential for the uncovering of new useful traits for food, medicine, and climate mitigation. The data presented here showcase Madagascar as a unique " living laboratory" for our understanding of evolution and the complex interactions between people and nature. The gathering and analysis of biodiversity data must continue and accelerate if we are to fully understand and safeguard this unique subset of Earth's biodiversity.
|
|
| 4. |
- Sigmund, G., et al.
(författare)
-
Addressing chemical pollution in biodiversity research
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Global Change Biology. - : Wiley. - 1354-1013 .- 1365-2486. ; 29:12, s. 3240-3255
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Climate change, biodiversity loss, and chemical pollution are planetary-scale emergencies requiring urgent mitigation actions. As these "triple crises" are deeply interlinked, they need to be tackled in an integrative manner. However, while climate change and biodiversity are often studied together, chemical pollution as a global change factor contributing to worldwide biodiversity loss has received much less attention in biodiversity research so far. Here, we review evidence showing that the multifaceted effects of anthropogenic chemicals in the environment are posing a growing threat to biodiversity and ecosystems. Therefore, failure to account for pollution effects may significantly undermine the success of biodiversity protection efforts. We argue that progress in understanding and counteracting the negative impact of chemical pollution on biodiversity requires collective efforts of scientists from different disciplines, including but not limited to ecology, ecotoxicology, and environmental chemistry. Importantly, recent developments in these fields have now enabled comprehensive studies that could efficiently address the manifold interactions between chemicals and ecosystems. Based on their experience with intricate studies of biodiversity, ecologists are well equipped to embrace the additional challenge of chemical complexity through interdisciplinary collaborations. This offers a unique opportunity to jointly advance a seminal frontier in pollution ecology and facilitate the development of innovative solutions for environmental protection.
|
|
| 5. |
- Cavender, J. C., et al.
(författare)
-
Distribution and ecology of dictyostelids in Madagascar
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Phytotaxa. - : Magnolia Press. - 1179-3155 .- 1179-3163. ; 505:2, s. 176-186
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Samples for isolation of dictyostelid cellular slime molds were obtained from 20 collecting sites at 18 localities in south central and southeastern Madagascar during May 2009. At least thirty species of dictyostelids representing seven genera were recovered from 52 samples of soil/humus. This total included 17 species described as new to science, 13 species already known from various localities throughout the world, and four isolates that remain unidentified. Fourteen of the new species isolated from these samples are members of the whorl-branched, light-spored genus Heterostelium (formerly Polysphondylium). The overall level of species richness of dictyostelids in Madagascar is greater than what is known for all of mainland Africa sampled to date. Levels of biodiversity in Madagascar were higher for mesic than for xeric vegetation types, and each of the newly described species of Heterostelium appeared to have a limited distribution among the localities sampled.
|
|
| 6. |
- Perrigo, Allison L., et al.
(författare)
-
Additional new species suggest high dictyostelid diversity on Madagascar
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Mycologia. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0027-5514 .- 1557-2536. ; 112:5, s. 1026-1042
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dictyostelids are a monophyletic group of sorocarp-forming social amoebae in the major eukaryotic division Amoebozoa. Members of this taxon, which is made up of almost 200 described species, are common in terrestrial soils globally. Still, the alpha diversity is not well known in many areas, and new species are frequently recovered. The highest species richness is found in the tropics. Here, five new species are described from soil samples collected in Madagascar. These species-Cavenderia basinodulosa, C. canoespora, Heterostelium radiatum, H. versatile, andRaperostelium stabile-are described based on both morphological characteristics and molecular data, with sequence data from the rDNA small subunit (SSU). The five new species are morphologically disparate, ranging from relatively small, robust taxa such asR. stabileto taxa with variable morphologies such as the largerH. radiatumandH. versatileand the yellow-tinted and irregularly branched speciesC. canoesporaandC. basinulosa. These new species, together with earlier work where 13 other species were described from the island, suggest that there is a range of genetically diverse and highly morphologically variable dictyostelid taxa occurring on Madagascar, suggesting biogeographic patterns even within these very small organisms.
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
- Perrigo, Allison L., et al.
(författare)
-
What's on your boots : an investigation into the role we play in protist dispersal
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Journal of Biogeography. - : Wiley. - 0305-0270 .- 1365-2699. ; 39:5, s. 998-1003
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- D. M. Wilkinson (2010, Journal of Biogeography, 37, 393–397) suggested that anthropogenic dispersal is an understudied and potentially important factor in terrestrial protist biogeography. We investigated human footwear as a potential vector of dictyostelids, a diverse group of amoebae that includes both geographically restricted and cosmopolitan species. Eighteen pairs of boots were examined and dictyostelids were isolated from nearly all samples larger than 5.0 g. In total, six dictyostelid isolates were recovered, corresponding to four species –Dictyostelium minutum, D. sphaerocephalum, D. leptosomopsis and a new species, Polysphondylium sp. 1. Myxogastrid amoebae and acrasid-like aggregations were also observed. Thus anthropogenic dispersal of naked amoebae appears to occur. The possible role of variations in dictyostelid fruiting body morphologies in dispersal potential is also discussed. These results support Wilkinson’s proposal and suggest that dictyostelids may be a useful group with which to study anthropogenic dispersal of terrestrial protists.
|
|
| 10. |
- Puruleia, A., et al.
(författare)
-
Rediscovery of the lost skink Proscelotes aenea and implications for conservation
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - 2045-2322. ; 13:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Biodiversity loss is recognized as a grand challenge of the twenty-first century but ascertaining when a species is "lost" can be incredibly difficult-since the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. This may be a relatively easy task for large and conspicuous animals, but extremely difficult for those living hidden lives or at low population sizes. We showcase this challenge by focusing on Africa's montane skink, Proscelotes aenea (Barbour & Loveridge 1928). In this study, we embarked on a year-long intensive survey to find this fossorial species in Lumbo, Northern Mozambique, the only remaining location where it may still occur but was recorded for the last time over 100 years ago. We located the species already after 20 days of intensive and targeted searching by five members of our team. The finding allowed us to describe, for the first time, details on the biology and ecology of the species, alongside photos and videos of live specimens (including a pregnant female), and to sequence DNA from the species, which we used to infer the phylogenetic placement. Our combined 12S and 16S phylogenetic analysis weakly suggest that the genus Proscelotes may not be monophyletic and therefore requires further phylogenetic work and potentially taxonomic revision. We also gathered evidence of a possible decrease in population abundance and, based on the species' ecology, we identified urbanization as a potential key threat, which could lead to the local or global extirpation of the species. We call for urgent conservation actions that help protect the future of the montane skink, and additional surveys to map its full distribution. As countries now work towards implementing the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, our study demonstrates the need for proper investments in biodiversity inventories and monitoring in order to halt species extinctions by 2030.
|
|
| 11. |
- Vadell, E., et al.
(författare)
-
Five new species of dictyostelid social amoebae (Amoebozoa) from Thailand
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Bmc Evolutionary Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2148. ; 18
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundDictyostelid cellular slime molds (dictyostelids) are common inhabitants of the soil and leaf litter layer of fields and forests, along with animal dung, where they feed mostly on bacteria. However, reports on the species diversity of dictyostelids in South Asia, particularly Thailand, are limited. The research reported in this paper was carried out to increase our knowledge of the species diversity of this group of organisms in northern Thailand.ResultsForty soil samples were collected at four localities in northern Thailand to assess the species richness of dictyostelids. These samples yielded five dictyostelid isolates that were not morphologically consistent with any described species. Based on molecular signatures, all five of these isolates were assigned to the family Cavenderiaceae, genus Cavenderia. All five share a number of morphological similarities with other known species from this family. The new taxa differ from previously described species primarily in the size and complexity of their fruiting bodies (sorocarps). This paper describes these new species (Cavenderia aureostabilis, C. bhumiboliana, C. protodigitata, C. pseudoaureostipes, and C. subdiscoidea) based on a combination of morphological characteristics and their phylogenetic positions.ConclusionsAt least 15 taxa of dictyostelids were obtained from the four localities in northern Thailand, which indicates the high level of species diversity in this region. Five species were found to be new to science. These belong to the family Cavenderiaceae, genus Cavenderia, and were described based on both morphology and phylogeny.
|
|
| 12. |
- Andersson, Hanna, et al.
(författare)
-
Natur på skolgården för lärande, hälsa och hållbarhet
- 2024. - 2024
-
Rapport (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Gröna och artrika utemiljöer främjar barns och ungas välbefinnande och kunskap, bådegenom hälsofördelar kopplade till biologisk mångfald och genom att skapa förutsättningarför lek och lärande om natur och miljöfrågor. Skolgården skulle kunna bidra till allt detta,men är idag i hög grad en outnyttjad plats för biologisk mångfald och klimatanpassningav städer. I denna policy brief presenteras huvudsakliga motiv och möjliga åtgärder för attutveckla gröna miljöer och biologisk mångfald på skolgårdar och förskolegårdar.
|
|
| 13. |
- Antonelli, Alexandre, 1978, et al.
(författare)
-
Cities: Factor in their biological impact
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 540
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
|
|
| 14. |
- Antonelli, Alexandre, 1978, et al.
(författare)
-
The pitfalls of taking science to the public
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 359
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
|
|
| 15. |
- Antonelli, Alexandre, 1978, et al.
(författare)
-
The science and ethics of extinction
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Nature Ecology and Evolution. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2397-334X. ; 2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
|
|
| 16. |
- Antonelli, Alexandre, 1978, et al.
(författare)
-
We must protect biodiversity
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Washington Post. - 0190-8286. ; :Dec 15
-
Tidskriftsartikel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)
|
|
| 17. |
- Cavender, James C., et al.
(författare)
-
New species of Polysphondylium from Madagascar
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Mycologia. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0027-5514 .- 1557-2536. ; 108:1, s. 80-109
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Two series of samples collected for isolation of dictyostelid cellular slime molds (dictyostelids) in Madagascar yielded a relatively large number of isolates of Polysphondylium. Most of these turned out to be species new to science that show varying degrees of clustering from unclustered to coremiform as well as an ability to migrate. Migratory ability (phototaxis) is a common feature of species assigned to Group 2 of the Polysphondylia and is common in the new species from Madagascar. Another common feature, clustering, appears to be a strategy for keeping fruiting bodies erect for a longer time in a climate that is relatively dry, whereas migratory ability may function seasonally when there is more rainfall. Thirteen species are described herein. Each of these is characterized by a particular set of distinguishing features, and collectively they expand our concept of the genus Polysphondylium.
|
|
| 18. |
|
|
| 19. |
- Mekkerdchoo, O., et al.
(författare)
-
Tracing the evolution and economic potential of konjac glucomannan in Amorphophallus species (Araceae) using molecular phylogeny and RAPD markers
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Phytotaxa. - : Magnolia Press. - 1179-3155 .- 1179-3163. ; 282:2, s. 81-106
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The genus Amorphophallus is an economically important taxon that is abundant in Old World tropical forests (Asia, Oceania and Africa). It includes many species that are used with increasing frequency as a source of food and pharmaceutical products worldwide. Amorphophallus konjac is an important economic crop and has been used widely in China and Japan for commercial konjac glucomannan (KGM) production. However, the species’ range does not extend to Thailand, where other closely related species may be more suitable for commercial KGM production. Present understanding of genetic relaionships among Thai Amorphophallus species is still limited, and the connection between evolutionary history and KGM content is unknown. Here, the genetic relationships among various accessions of Amorphophallus spp. collected in Thailand are investigated using the chloroplast trnL-trnF spacer, nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the second intron of LEAFY (FLint2) together with genome-wide DNA variation analysis, Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. RAPD primers are also developed to quickly and efficiently identify species producing high levels of KGM. This study finds that two monophyletic clades include high KGM content species. RAPD analyses indicate that primer AC-10 generates specific bands identifying species belonging only to the high and medium KGM content clades. These primers can be used as a screening tool for economical species, aiming at improving the industrial production of KGM in Thailand and the world. © 2016 Magnolia Press.
|
|
| 20. |
|
|
| 21. |
- Perrigo, Allison L
(författare)
-
Diversity Underfoot : Systematics and Biogeography of the Dictyostelid Social Amoebae
- 2013
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Dictyostelids (Amoebozoa) are a group of social amoebae consisting of approximately 150 species, which are found in terrestrial habitats worldwide. They are divided into eight major clades based on molecular phylogeny, and within these clades are many species complexes. Some species are seemingly cosmopolitan in distribution, while others are geographically restricted. In this thesis dictyostelids were recovered from high latitude habitats (soils in Sweden and Iceland) as well as from the soles of shoes. Morphological characters and DNA sequence analyses were used to identify isolates that were recovered and delimit new species, as well as to investigate the monophyly of Dictyostelium aureostipes. Nine species were reported from Northern Sweden and four from Iceland. Among the isolates recorded in Sweden were two new species, described as D. barbibulus and Polysphondylium fuscans. P. fuscans was among the four species recovered from footwear, contributing evidence for anthropogenic transport of dictyostelids. Ecological patterns were assessed using linear regression and generalized linear models. The ecological analyses of dictyostelids recovered from Iceland indicate that these organisms are most frequently found in soils of near-neutral pH, but also exhibit a species richness peak in moderately acidic soils. These analyses indicate that in Iceland dictyostelid species richness decreases with altitude, and in the northern hemisphere the species richness increases with decreasing latitude. A three-region analysis of the D. aureostipes species complex indicated that this species is in fact made up of at least five phylogenetically distinct clades, and in light of this the group is in need of taxonomic revision. These results indicate that the dictyostelid species richness is higher than previously known, especially in high-latitude regions, and that even seemingly well-defined species may harbour cryptic diversity. Presently, species ranges may be expanding via anthropogenic dispersal but despite this, the dictyostelids are found to exhibit biogeographic trends well known from macroorganisms, such as a latitudinal gradient of species richness.
|
|
| 22. |
- Perrigo, Allison L.
(författare)
-
The road less traveled
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 361
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
|
|
| 23. |
- Perrigo, Allison L., et al.
(författare)
-
Why mountains matter for biodiversity
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Journal of Biogeography. - : Wiley. - 0305-0270 .- 1365-2699. ; 47:2, s. 315-325
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mountains are arguably Earth's most striking features. They play a major role in determining global and regional climates, are the source of most rivers, act as cradles, barriers and bridges for species, and are crucial for the survival and sustainability of many human societies. The complexity of mountains is tightly associated with high biodiversity, but the processes underlying this association are poorly known. Solving this puzzle requires researchers to generate more primary data, and better integrate available geological and climatic data into biological models of diversity and evolution. In this perspective, we highlight emerging insights, which stress the importance of mountain building through time as a generator and reservoir of biodiversity. We also discuss recently proposed parallels between surface uplift, habitat formation and species diversification. We exemplify these links and discuss other factors, such as Quaternary climatic variations, which may have obscured some mountain-building evidence due to erosion and other processes. Biological evolution is complex and the build-up of mountains is certainly not the only explanation, but biological and geological processes are probably more intertwined than many of us realize. The overall conclusion is that geology sets the stage for speciation, where ecological interactions, adaptive and non-adaptive radiations and stochastic processes act together to increase biodiversity. Further integration of these fields may yield novel and robust insights.
|
|
| 24. |
|
|
| 25. |
- Truszkowski, Jakub, et al.
(författare)
-
Online tree expansion could help solve the problem of scalability in Bayesian phylogenetics
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Systematic Biology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1063-5157 .- 1076-836X. ; 72:5, s. 1199-1206
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bayesian phylogenetics is now facing a critical point. Over the last 20 years, Bayesian methods have reshaped phylogenetic inference and gained widespread popularity due to their high accuracy, the ability to quantify the uncertainty of inferences and the possibility of accommodating multiple aspects of evolutionary processes in the models that are used. Unfortunately, Bayesian methods are computationally expensive, and typical applications involve at most a few hundred sequences. This is problematic in the age of rapidly expanding genomic data and increasing scope of evolutionary analyses, forcing researchers to resort to less accurate but faster methods, such as maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood. Does this spell doom for Bayesian methods? Not necessarily. Here, we discuss some recently proposed approaches that could help scale up Bayesian analyses of evolutionary problems considerably. We focus on two particular aspects: online phylogenetics, where new data sequences are added to existing analyses, and alternatives to Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) for scalable Bayesian inference. We identify 5 specific challenges and discuss how they might be overcome. We believe that online phylogenetic approaches and Sequential Monte Carlo hold great promise and could potentially speed up tree inference by orders of magnitude. We call for collaborative efforts to speed up the development of methods for real-time tree expansion through online phylogenetics.
|
|
| 26. |
- Zizka, A., et al.
(författare)
-
Bio-Dem, a tool to explore the relationship between biodiversity data availability and socio-political conditions in time and space
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Journal of Biogeography. - : Wiley. - 0305-0270 .- 1365-2699. ; 48:11, s. 2715-2726
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim Geo-referenced species occurrence records are a prime example of biodiversity data and a cornerstone of biodiversity research. Yet, their availability depends on non-biological factors, including the political framework in the region of collection. Here we present Bio-Dem (), an open-source software to explore the relationship between the availability of species occurrence records and the political framework in countries worldwide and through time. Location Global. Taxon Any. Methods Bio-Dem accesses the number of occurrence records available from countries worldwide from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility () and socio-political information from these countries from the Varieties of Democracy database () as well as information on colonial history from the Issue Correlates of War Project. Results Bio-Dem is available as a free graphical user interface web application at . Through three interactive graphs, Bio-Dem enables users to explore the relationship between species occurrence records and countries' regime type, freedom of movement, freedom of association, gross domestic product, education length, political corruption, armed conflict and colonial history. We describe possible links of these specific political indicators with the collection and mobilization of biodiversity data. Illustrative examples and video tutorials explaining the use of Bio-Dem are available at . Main conclusions Bio-Dem provides a user-friendly way to explore the link between socio-political variables and the availability of species occurrence records in user-selected taxa and geographic regions, and to generate hypotheses on their connection. We envision Bio-Dem as a useful tool for teachers communicating the caveats of available biodiversity data, for biodiversity scientists exploring potential spatial and temporal bias in their data, and for social scientists exploring the impact of political systems on scientific data collection and biodiversity conservation.
|
|
