1. Slippery slopes : montane isolation and elevational shifts shape the evolution and diversity of Iberolacerta lizardsChristophe Dufresnes, Sven Gippner, Sylvia Hofmann, Spartak Litvinchuk, Anamarija Žagar, Daniel Jablonski, Gilles Pottier, Rodrigo Megía-Palma, Gregorio Sánchez-Montes, Octavio Jiménez Robles, Enrique Ayllón, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Understanding the processes driving the diversity of mountain herpetofauna requires a comprehensive examination of species diversification across evolutionary scales. Here, we investigate the phylogeography of Iberolacerta, a genus of eight lizard species mainly restricted to high elevations in southwestern Europe. Using genomic data, we reconstructed a nuclear phylogeny that aligns with mitochondrial evidence in supporting the divergence of all currently recognized species. Notably, we detect historical nuclear gene flow between I. cyreni and I. martinezricai in Central Spain, suggesting past range overlap, reminiscent of previously observed mitochondrial introgression between I. galani and I. monticola, and the lack of divergence between disjoint populations of I. monticola. Bioclimatic projections accordingly depict broader historical ranges during the last glacial maximum compared to interglacial and current conditions. At the intraspecific level, genomic analyses of four high-elevation species reveal that genetic structure is mainly shaped by isolation-by-distance and, in I. cyreni, by separation among mountain ranges, while heterozygosity generally decreases with elevation. These findings are consistent with the impact of glacial-interglacial cycles on the genetic diversity of montane taxa: populations experience genetic isolation and altitudinal bottlenecks during interglacial periods, but are reconnected and admix in lowland areas during glacial periods. These processes are expected to leave contrasting signatures between the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, as well as between slow- and fast-evolving molecular markers. From a conservation perspective, our results highlight that the genetically richest – and potentially most adaptive – populations occur at the lowland edges of the species’ ranges, where they are also most vulnerable to climate change.
Keywords: biogeography, climate change, Lacertidae, RAD-seq, Europe
Published in DiRROS: 19.12.2025; Views: 360; Downloads: 183
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2. Lizard host abundances and climatic factors explain phylogenetic diversity and prevalence of blood parasites on an oceanic islandRodrigo Megía-Palma, Gemma Palomar, Javier Martínez, Bernardo Antunes, Katarzyna Dudek, Anamarija Žagar, Nina Guerra Serén, Miguel A. Carretero, Wiesław Babik, Santiago Merino, 2023, complete scientific database of research data Abstract: 1. Host abundance might favour the maintenance of a high phylogenetic diversity of some parasites via rapid transmission rates. Blood parasites of insular lizards represent a good model to test this hypothesis because these parasites can be particularly prevalent in islands and host lizards highly abundant. 2. We applied deep amplicon sequencing and analysed environmental predictors of blood parasite prevalence and phylogenetic diversity in the endemic lizard Gallotia galloti across 24 localities on Tenerife, an island in the Canary archipelago that has experienced increasing warming and drought in recent years. 3. Parasite prevalence assessed by microscopy was over 94% and a higher proportion of infected lizards was found in warmer and drier locations. A total of 33 different 18s rRNA parasite haplotype were identified and the phylogenetic analyses indicated that they belong to two genera of Adeleorina (Apicomplexa: Coccidia), with Karyolysus as the dominant genus. The most important predictor of between-locality variation in parasite phylogenetic diversity was the abundance of lizard hosts. 4. A combination of climatic and host demographic factors associated with an insular syndrome may be favouring a rapid transmission of blood parasites among lizards on Tenerife, which may favour the maintenance of a high phylogenetic diversity of parasites.
Keywords: lizards, parasites, genetics, biogeography, habitat, data
Published in DiRROS: 27.10.2025; Views: 318; Downloads: 189
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4. Importance of environmental factors and crop type on weed diversity associated with cereals in EgyptEthar A. Hussein, Monier M. Abd El-Ghani, Urban Šilc, Lamiaa F. Shalabi, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: The research on arable weeds in relation to crops is attributed to the influence of weeds as competitors on crop productivity. It is hypothesised that region, crop type, crop seasonality and soil characteristics are the main factors affecting the diversity and distribution of weeds. In this study, the analysis of weed structure associated with cereals in the different bioclimatic regions of Egypt (Nile Delta, Nile Valley and Western Desert oases) was investigated. Two winter cereals (wheat; barley) and two summer cereals (maize; rice) as main crops were included, and thirteen soil parameters for 261 relevés were used to assess the diversity of weed vegetation. The influence of the explanatory factors on the weed communities was analysed using RDA. A total of 250 species constituted the flora of the studied cereal fields, belonging to 166 genera and 47 families, with therophytes (64.7%) dominating among life forms. One third of the recorded species is of Mediterranean and Saharo-Arabian chorotypes. The variation partitioning of the RDA model between explanatory variables revealed that the effect of bioclimatic regions had the greatest effect on weed composition, followed by crop type, while soil properties had lower effect, and crop seasonality was not significant.
Keywords: agro-ecosystem, biogeography, Egypt, segetal flora, vegetation analysis, weed infestation
Published in DiRROS: 18.06.2025; Views: 501; Downloads: 254
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5. Molecular phylogeny of Parabathynellidae (Crustacea, Bathynellacea), and three new species from Thai cavesAna Isabel Camacho, Paloma Mas-Peinado, Santi Watiroyram, Anton Brancelj, Elia Bandari, Beatriz A. Dorda, Adrian Casado, Isabel Rey, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: A preliminary molecular phylogenetic framework for 12 genera (23 species) of the family Parabathynellidae from Europe, Australia, North Africa and India is presented based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers (Cox1 and 18S). The generated hypothesis places the Southeast Asia genus Paraeobathynella closer to European genera (Iberobathynella, Paraiberobathynella and Parabathynella) than to the Australian (Brevisomabathynella, Atopobathynella, Billibathynella, Octobathynella, Arkaroolabathynella and Lockyerenella) or Indian genera (Habrobathynella), or to the cosmopolitan genus Hexabathynella (Spain and Australia). Three new species of the genus Paraeobathynella from Thailand, P. ratensis n. sp., P. siamensis n. sp. and P. hanjavanitiana n. sp., are described based on morphological and molecular features. This is the first record of the genus from Thailand and extends its range of distribution within Asia, where it was previously known only from Vietnam. The new species are clearly separated as independent units at least since the Middle Miocene.
Keywords: biogeography, morphology, molecular phylogeny, Thai cave fauna, Parabathynellidae, 18S, Cox1
Published in DiRROS: 12.03.2025; Views: 667; Downloads: 600
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6. Phylogenomic, biogeographic, and evolutionary research trends in arachnologyscientific monograph Abstract: This book focuses on systematics, biogeography, and evolution of arachnids, a group of ancient chelicerate lineages that have taken on terrestrial lifestyles. The book opens with the questions of what arachnology represents, and where the field should go in the future. Twelve original contributions then dissect the current state-of-the-art in arachnological research. These papers provide innovative phylogenomic, evolutionary and biogeographic analyses and interpretations of new data and/or synthesize our knowledge to offer new directions for the future of arachnology.
Keywords: biogeography, phylogeny, systematics, evolution, arachnology
Published in DiRROS: 09.08.2024; Views: 868; Downloads: 681
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7. Phylogenomic, biogeographic, and evolutionary research trends in arachnologyMatjaž Kuntner, 2022, other scientific articles Abstract: Textbook knowledge tells us that arachnids are a hyper diverse clade of chelicerates that have taken on terrestrial lifestyles. Original papers published in prestigious venues routinely reconstruct details of this purported single terrestrialization event that would have been followed by arachnid diversification on land. However, we are beginning to understand that arachnids are very likely paraphyletic; as such, Arachnida can only circumscribe an assemblage of chelicerates that live terrestrially. If so, arachnid terrestrialization may have taken several independent routes at different historic times. While the diversity and phylogeny of spiders, scorpions and harvestmen may be relatively well documented and understood, additional groups that we deem to be arachnids remain enigmatic and will likely continue to be more or less neglected after this Special Issue. We have here assembled examples of contemporary studies that include both original research as well as reviews focusing on “arachnids” and cover loosely defined biological subdisciplines of phylogenomics, biogeography, and evolution. The latter includes systematics, taxonomy, DNA barcoding, and trait evolution. In this editorial, I introduce the authors of these papers and their featured research, and through this narrative, I pose two questions. The first one is what is arachnology given that arachnids may not be monophyletic? The second question is where should our field be headed toward in the near future?
Keywords: biogeography, phylogeny, systematics, evolution, arachnology
Published in DiRROS: 06.08.2024; Views: 918; Downloads: 648
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8. First record of the Canestrini’s goby Ninnigobius canestrinii (Ninni, 1883) : a rare and endangered fish species from Slovenian watersDomen Trkov, Ana Fortič, 2023, other scientific articles Abstract: The Canestrini’s goby is a small goby endemic to the Adriatic basin, inhabiting brackish and fresh waters. The species is threatened by habitat destruction and pollution. For this reason, the goby is protected in part of its range, while its conservation status in other areas is not yet established. The detailed biogeography of the species should be known so that appropriate conservation measures can be taken. Despite extensive sampling of fish fauna in coastal wetlands, this species has not yet been detected in Slovenia. In this study, the first record of Ninnigobius canestrinii (Ninni, 1883) in Slovenian waters is reported along with a comprehensive review of documented records of the species.
Keywords: Gobiidae, endemic goby, endangered species, habitat endangerment, habitat destruction, biogeography, northern Adriatic basin, Slovenia
Published in DiRROS: 06.08.2024; Views: 1094; Downloads: 587
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9. Biogeography of the Caribbean Cyrtognatha spidersKlemen Čandek, Ingi Agnarsson, Greta Binford, Matjaž Kuntner, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: Island systems provide excellent arenas to test evolutionary hypotheses pertaining to gene flow and diversification of dispersal-limited organisms. Here we focus on an orbweaver spider genus Cyrtognatha (Tetragnathidae) from the Caribbean, with the aims to reconstruct its evolutionary history, examine its biogeographic history in the archipelago, and to estimate the timing and route of Caribbean colonization. Specifically, we test if Cyrtognatha biogeographic history is consistent with an ancient vicariant scenario (the GAARlandia landbridge hypothesis) or overwater dispersal. We reconstructed a species level phylogeny based on one mitochondrial (COI) and one nuclear (28S) marker. We then used this topology to constrain a time-calibrated mtDNA phylogeny, for subsequent biogeographical analyses in BioGeoBEARS of over 100 originally sampled Cyrtognatha individuals, using models with and without a founder event parameter. Our results suggest a radiation of Caribbean Cyrtognatha, containing 11 to 14 species that are exclusively single island endemics. Although biogeographic reconstructions cannot refute a vicariant origin of the Caribbean clade, possibly an artifact of sparse outgroup availability, they indicate timing of colonization that is much too recent for GAARlandia to have played a role. Instead, an overwater colonization to the Caribbean in mid-Miocene better explains the data. From Hispaniola, Cyrtognatha subsequently dispersed to, and diversified on, the other islands of the Greater, and Lesser Antilles. Within the constraints of our island system and data, a model that omits the founder event parameter from biogeographic analysis is less suitable than the equivalent model with a founder event.
Keywords: biogeography, spiders
Published in DiRROS: 23.07.2024; Views: 1043; Downloads: 625
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10. Biogeographical history of golden orbweavers : chronology of a global conquestEva Turk, Klemen Čandek, Simona Kralj-Fišer, Matjaž Kuntner, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Aim
A wholistic biogeographical reconstruction should combine a phylogeny with specifics of organismal biology, plate tectonics and consequent probabilities of historic dispersal events. Here, we demonstrate this approach by reconstructing the geographical origin and sequence of intercontinental colonization of the golden orbweaving spiders, a global clade. We test two alternative hypotheses about their ancestral range. Due to the highest contemporary species diversity in Africa, the ‘Out of Africa’ hypothesis predicts the Afrotropics as their most likely ancestral area. The alternative, ‘Out of West Burma’ hypothesis aims to explain a Burmese amber fossil as stem nephilid. Because the West Burma block probably detached from Australia, then rafted towards Laurasia, either on its own or with India, this hypothesis predicts either Australasia or Indomalaya (or both) as the ancestral area.
Location
Worldwide.
Taxon
Golden orbweaving spiders, family Nephilidae.
Methods
We construct an expanded phylogeny of nephilid spiders and apply RASP (Reconstruct Ancestral State in Phylogenies) to infer their global biogeographical history. We fit the data to six integrated biogeographical models: DEC, DIVALIKE, BAYAREALIKE and their +j variants. We fine-tune the analysis by evaluating varying probabilities of dispersal between geographical areas throughout the clade's evolutionary history. We use the physical distance between the areas as a proxy for dispersal probabilities, thus accounting for plate tectonics.
Results
The best supported model reconstructs both Australasia and Indomalaya as ancestral area. In several parts of the phylogeny, these areas persist for the estimated 130-million-year evolutionary history. However, numerous intercontinental shifts in nephilid biogeographical history are also inferred. Since nephilid origins are clearly Gondwanan, our study supports the interpretations that Burmese amber contains Gondwanan biota.
Main conclusions
These results are consistent with the Out of West Burma hypothesis but reject the Out of Africa hypothesis. That certain clades persist in their ancestral ranges while others may shift continents aligns well with the known nephilid biology. Our methodological approach that assesses organismal specific dispersal probabilities through concrete distances measured though time slices of the Earth's history can be applied to biogeographical reconstruction of any lineage.
Keywords: spiders, golden orbweavers, Nephilidae, reconstruction of lineage, biogeography
Published in DiRROS: 22.07.2024; Views: 1342; Downloads: 749
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