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Biodiversity Journal 2024, 15 (2): 113-155

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 115-121

    Ulrich Kutschera & Rajnish Khanna
    The Significance of Darwin’s Origin of Species 1872 and ecology of salt-marsh plants in Northern California, USA
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.115.121

    ABSTRACT
    In 1872, the 6th (last) edition of Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species was published, wherein he had added a well-known section on Mivart’s criticism of 1871 concerning natural selection. Here, we describe Darwin’s ideas on “lower vs. higher organisms”, inclusive of his hypothesis of steady “perfection” and species co-existence during the evolutionary history of life. In addition, Darwin discussed evolution with reference to ecological interactions, proposed the concept of “competitive exclusion”, and, in our view, founded “evolutionary ecology”. These concepts were not addressed in the first, frequently quoted text of 1859. Therefore, we present Darwin’s ignored section with reference to a major recent paper on “Co-existence of plant species under harsh environmental conditions”, as well as our own observations on marsh vegetation in the San Francisco Bay Estuary. We conclude that “Darwin 1872” should be recognized as the definitive version of the “Species Book”, as recommended by the author himself and with reference to Letters published in the Darwin Correspondence Project-2023.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 123-127

    Ivan Rapuzzi
    Three new Carabus Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera Carabidae) of the subgenus Apotomopterus Hope, 1838 from North and Central Vietnam
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.123.127
    https://www.zoobank.org/B8163B88-9EE7-4AC2-BD23-8508285650F0

    ABSTRACT
    Three new taxa belonging to sugbenus Apotomopterus Hope, 1838 (genus Carabus Linnaeus, 1758, Coleoptera Carabidae) from Vietnam are here described and figured: Carabus (Apotomopterus) anacoreta n. sp. from Ha Giang Province, C. (Apotomopterus) tarasovinus toussainti n. ssp. from Nghe An Province, and C. (Apotomopterus) tonkinensis tropicus n. ssp. from Da Nang Province.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 129-133

    Bernhard Seifert
    Frequent misclassification by mtDNA barcoding as revealed by nuDNA and/or testable analysis of its expression products
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.129.133

    ABSTRACT
    Species identities are best indicated by analyses of nuclear DNA which is the material representing the working points of evolution. Additional good indicators of species identities are those expression products of nuclear DNA which are least modified by environmental influence and, as a consequence, show the highest correlation with the genetical core information. Among expression products such as morphology, products of metabolism and ethologicalor ecological traits, morphology is rated here as indicator with the highest correlation. The use of morphology as most important accessory indicator is furthermore favored by the leading position it played in species descriptions over 280 years of taxonomic research. Focusing on the example of ants, the paper considers 13 studies with parallel application of mtDNA barcoding, analysis of nuclear DNA and application of Numeric Morphology-Based Alpha-Taxonomy (NUMOBAT). Selected were only studies based on sufficiently high within-species numbers of samples. With nuclear DNA and NUMOBAT used as objective and testable control systems, the average classification error of mtDNA barcoding per sample or individual was 16.8% over 10 genera with 66 species with the extremes ranging from 0 to 32%. Ancient hybridization is considered a much more likely cause for mtDNA mismatches in ants than incomplete lineage sorting.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 135-141

    Calogero Muscarella & Ignazio Sparacio
    Rhizotrogus tatianae a new species from Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy) (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Melolonthinae)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.135.141
    https://www.zoobank.org/F370C2CD-4901-460F-82EB-AE82D017197E

    ABSTRACT
    Rhizotrogus tatianae a new species from Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy) is here described and illustrated (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Melolonthinae). It is similar to R. romanoi Sabatinelli, 1975, endemic of Sicily and Calabria (Madonie and Nebrodi Mountains), from which it differs by some characters of external morphology and genitalia. Both of these species belong to the R. aestivus (Olivier, 1789) group, a species widespread throughout almost all of Europe up to Asia Minor including almost all regions of continental and peninsular Italy. Rhizotrogus tatianae n. sp. is a crepuscolar species found in a forest environment.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (2): 143-155

    Ndakara Ofudjaye Emmanuel & Atuma Ifeanyi Morrison
    Characterising Rainwash Nutrient Fluxes and Soil Nutrients under Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae) and Lowland Rainforest: implications for Ecosystem Management
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.2.143.155

    ABSTRACT
    This study aimed to ascertain the relationship between rainwash nutrient fluxes and soil nutrient properties under Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae) and lowland rainforest for the purpose of sustainable ecosystem management. Both experimental and quasi experimental research designs were adopted. Samples from rainwash (for 12 months) and soil (from 0–15 cm and 15–30cm) were taken from 12 A. occidentale stands and 12 rainforests within 12 stratified quarters. Laboratory analyses of samples involved standard procedures, while data generated where statistically analysed. Results revealed that from A. occidentale and rainforest, fluxes of nutrients varied between throughfall (Tf) and stemflow (Sf), and between rainy season and dry season. The monthly nutrient fluxes by rainwash is such that Tf > Sf for both A. occidentale and native rainforest. The highest fluxes of nutrients by Tf occurred during dry months, with corresponding Sf fluxes were observed during rainy months. At 0.05 alpha levels, nutrient fluxes between Tf and Sf differed significantly; as well as between soil nutrient contents under A. occidentale and rainforest. Rainwash nutrients correlated positively and significantly with soil nutrients. Over time, A. occidentale add nutrients to soil through rainwash, therefore its cultivation is recommended for agro-forestry and sustainable ecosystem management.