间颅鼠兔的种群遗传结构和历史演化动态

本研究基于多个线粒体基因(包括COI、Cyt b、tRNA-Thr、tRNA-Pro、D-loop控制区部分序列共计2417 bp)对间颅鼠兔(Ochotona cansus)的种群遗传结构和历史演化动态进行了研究。基于线粒体基因联合数据构建的贝叶斯树显示,间颅鼠兔分为两大支系:来自岷山山系东部的甘肃白水江和四川唐家河的种群组成了支系一;其余采样点的种群组成了支系二。基于以上基因所构建的单倍型网络图显示的遗传结构与贝叶斯树一致。贝叶斯聚类分析(BAPS)将间颅鼠兔分为4个地理种群。A种群包括甘肃白水江(BSJ)和四川唐家河(TJH)的样本;B种群仅包括四川卧龙(WL)的样本;C种群包括青海北部种群(GC、MY、QL)、青海南部—四川北部种群(JW、JZ、ZK、RE)、四川康定(KD)和陕西太白山(TB)的样本;D种群包括山西娄烦(LF)以及陕西吴起(WQ)的样本。基于线粒体基因构建的物种树进行支系分化时间的推测,结果显示4个地理种群的分化时间分别约为0.72 Ma、0.32 Ma、0.12 Ma,这与造成青藏高原剧烈隆起的昆黄运动(1.10-0.60 Ma)和共和运动(0.15 Ma)发生时间基本吻合。采用中性检验、错配分布、扩展贝叶斯天际线(EBSPs)3种方法对间颅鼠兔的种群历史动态进行预测,分析结果显示间颅鼠兔在历史上并没有经历过显著的种群扩张,而且在末次盛冰期后开始衰减。生态位模型(ENM)预测结果表明:末次盛冰期时间颅鼠兔的潜在分布区比其现今分布区小,末次盛冰期比末次间冰期潜在分布区略大,表明间颅鼠兔受末次盛冰期影响较大。气候因子分析显示降水比温度对间颅鼠兔种群影响更大,推测降水对植被的演化影响显著,从而影响间颅鼠兔的食物来源和栖息环境。

A new karst-dwelling bent-toed gecko (Squamata： Gekkonidae Cyrtodactylus) from Xiangkhoang Province, northeastern Laos

We describe a new karst-dwelling Cyrtodactylus from Ban Thathom, Xiangkhoang Province, northeastern Laos. The new species can be distinguished from other congeners by having four dark dorsal bands between limb insertions, a discontinuous nucha~ loop, 10 precloacal pores in males or 10-12 precloacal pits （females） separated by a diastema from a series of enlarged femoral scales bearing 18 or 19 pores （male） or 8-10 pits （females） along each femur, 14-18 dorsal tubercle rows at midbody, no precloacal groove, 30-36 midbody scale rows across belly between ventrolateral skin folds, transversely enlarged subcaudal plates, and a maximal known snout-vent length of 75.5 mm. Our description brings to 22 the number of Cyrtodactylus species recorded from Laos.

Natural history of Valentin’s rock lizard(Darevskia valentini) in Armenia

Valentin's rock lizard (Darevskia valentini) is suggested to be the pare nt for several parthenoge netic species (e.g., D. armeniaca, D. bendimahiensis, D. sapphirina, and D. unisexualis) that evolved through hybridization. Complex evolutionary processes (ineluding reticulate evolution) are occurring within the areas where Valentin' s rock lizard coexists with these and other rock lizards. Hence, a detailed biological specification of this species is important for understanding how vertebrates evolve. Valentin's rock lizard is a longlived (up to 9 years), small diurnal lizard with larger females than males, which is unlike other species of the genus. Their relatively large eggs and early reproducti on period, which occurs just after emerge nee from winter shelters, are adaptatio ns for living in a high elevation climate (higher than 2 000 m a.s.l.). Their body temperatures (31 -32℃) are comparable to body temperatures of rock lizards living in milder climates, though female body temperature is more depe ndent on substrate temperature and basking due to their lower activity than that found in males. Population density fluctuates from several individuals to several hundred per hectare and is not affected by parthenogen coexistenee, although hybrids do occur in sexually biased populations where males are more common than females. The male home range is larger than that of females, though these home ranges broadly overlap. Prey is not limited in the mountain meadows and Valentin's rock lizards feed on a great variety of arthropods. Infan ticide occurs in high-de nsity populati ons.

Integrative taxonomy of the Plain-backed Thrush(Zoothera mollissima)complex(Aves,Turdidae)reveals cryptic species,including a new species

Background: The Plain-backed Thrush Zoothera mollissima breeds in the Himalayas and mountains of central China. It was long considered conspecific with the Long-tailed Thrush Zoothera dixoni, until these were shown to be broadly sympatric.Methods: We revise the Z. mollissima–Z. dixoni complex by integrating morphological, acoustic, genetic(two mitochondrial and two nuclear markers), ecological and distributional datasets.Results: In earlier field observations, we noted two very different song types of "Plain-backed" Thrush segregated by breeding habitat and elevation. Further integrative analyses congruently identify three groups: an alpine breeder in the Himalayas and Sichuan, China("Alpine Thrush"); a forest breeder in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan(at least), China("Himalayan Forest Thrush"); and a forest breeder in central Sichuan("Sichuan Forest Thrush"). Alpine and Himalayan Forest Thrushes are broadly sympatric, but segregated by habitat and altitude, and the same is probably true also for Alpine and Sichuan Forest Thrushes. These three groups differ markedly in morphology and songs. In addition, DNA sequence data from three non-breeding specimens from Yunnan indicate that yet another lineage exists("Yunnan Thrush"). However, we find no consistent morphological differences from Alpine Thrush, and its breeding range is unknown. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that all four groups diverged at least a few million years ago, and identify Alpine Thrush and the putative "Yunnan Thrush" as sisters, and the two forest taxa as sisters. Cytochrome b divergences among the four Z. mollissima sensu lato(s.l.) clades are similar to those between any of them and Z. dixoni, and exceed that between the two congeneric outgroup species. We lectotypify the name Oreocincla rostrata Hodgson, 1845 with the Z. mollissima sensu stricto(s.s.) specimen long considered its type. No available name unambiguously pertains to the Himalayan Forest Thrush.Conclusions: The Plain-backed Thrush Z. mollissima s.l. comprises at least three species: Alpine Thrush Z. mollissima s.s., with a widespread alpine breeding distribution; Sichuan Forest Thrush Z. griseiceps, breeding in central Sichuan forests; and Himalayan Forest Thrush, breeding in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan(at least), which is described herein as a new species. "Yunnan Thrush" requires further study.

A new species of the genus Theloderma Tschudi, 1838 (Amphibia： Anura： Rhacophoridae) from Tay Nguyen Plateau, central Vietnam

A new species of small tree frog from a primary montane tropical forest of central Vietnam, Tay Nguyen Plateau, is described based on morphological, molecular, and acoustic evidence. The Golden Bug-Eyed Frog, Theloderma auratum sp. nov., is distinguishable from its congeners and other small rhacophorid species based on a combination of the following morphological attributes： （1） bony ridges on head absent; （2） smooth skin completely lacking calcified warts or asperities; （3） pointed elongated tapering snout; （4） vocal opening in males absent; （5） vomerine teeth absent; （6） males of small body size （SVL 21.8-26.4 mm）; （7） head longer than wide; ED/SVL ratio 13%-15%; ESL/SVL ratio 16%-20%; （8） small tympanum （TD/EL ratio 50%-60%） with few tiny tubercles; （9） supratympanic fold absent; （10） ventral surfaces completely smooth; （11 ） webbing between fingers absent; （12） outer and inner metacarpal tubercles present, supernumerary metacarpal tubercle single, medial, oval in shape; （13） toes half-webbed： I 2-21/4 II 11/^-23/~ III 2-31/4 IV 3-11/2 V; （14） inner metatarsal tubercle present, oval; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; （15） iris bicolored; （16） dorsal surfaces golden-yellow with sparse golden-orange speckling or reticulations and few small dark-brown spots; （17） lateral sides of head and body with wide dark reddish-brown to black lateral stripes, clearlyseparated from lighter dorsal coloration by straight contrasting edge; （18） ventral surfaces of body, throat, and chest greyish-blue with indistinct brown confluent blotches; （19） upper eyelids with few （3-5） very small flat reddish superciliary tubercles; （20） limbs dorsally reddish-brown, ventrally brown with small bluish-white speckles. The new species is also distinct from all congeners in 12S rRNA to 16S rRNA mitochondrial DNA fragment sequences （uncorrected genetic distance P〉8.9%）. Advertisement call and tadpole morphology of the new species are described. Our molecular data showed Theloderma auratum sp. nov. to be a sister species of Th. palliatum from Langbian Plateau in southern Vietnam.

Detecting the non-breeding region and migration route of Whimbrels(Numenius phaeopus rogachevae)in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway

Determining the migration routes and connections of migratory birds at the population level helps clarify intraspecific differences in migration.Five subspecies have been recognized in the Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus)in Eurasia.Ssp.rogachevae is the most recently described subspecies.It breeds in Central Siberia,while its non-breeding region and migration routes are still unclear.We tracked the migration of Eurasian Whimbrels captured at three non-breeding sites(Moreton Bay in east coast of Australia,Roebuck Bay in Northwest Australia and Sungei Buloh Wetland in Singapore)and two migration stopover sites(Chongming Dongtan and Mai Po Wetland in China).We determined the breeding sites and inferred the subspecies of the tagged birds in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway(EAAF)based on the known breeding distribution of each subspecies.Of the 30 tagged birds,6 and 21 birds bred in the breeding range of ssp.rogachevae and variegatus,respectively;one bred in the presumed transition area between the breeding range of ssp.phaeopus and rogachevae,and two bred in the region between the breeding range of ssp.rogachevae and variegatus.The birds that bred in the ssp.rogachevae breeding range spent their non-breeding season in the northern Sumatra,Singapore,East Java and Northwest Australia and mainly stopped over along China's coasts during migration.None of our birds bred in the exclusive breeding range of the phaeopus subspecies.Previous studies have predicted that rogachevae whimbrels migrate along the Central Asian Flyway and spend the non-breeding season in West India and East Africa.We found that at least some rogachevae whimbrels migrate along the EAAF and spend the non-breeding season in Southeast Asia and Australia.The ssp.phaeopus is at best sparsely distributed in the EAAF in the west region,or possibly does not occur at all.

On the road to Mandalay: contribution to the Microhyla Tschudi, 1838(Amphibia: Anura: Microhylidae) fauna of Myanmar with description of two new species

We prese nt a morphological and molecular assessment of the Microhyla fauna of Myanmar based on new collections from central (Magway Division) and northem (Kachin State) parts of the country. In total, six species of Microhyla are documented, including M. berdmorei, M. heymonsi, M. butleri, M. mukhlesuri and two new species described from the semi-arid savarma-like plains of the middle part of the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) River Valley. We used a 2 481 bp long 12S rRNA- 16S rRNA fragment of mtDNA to hypothesize gen ealogical relati on ships within Microhyla. We applied an in teg rati ve taxonomic approach combining molecular, morphological, and acoustic lines of evidenee to evaluate the taxonomic status of Mya nmar Microhyla. We dem on strated that the newly discovered populations of Microhyla sp. from the Magway Division represent two yet undescribed species. These two new sympatric species are assigned to the M. achatina species group, with both adapted to the seas on ally dry environments of the Irrawaddy Valley. Microhyla fodiens sp. nov. is a stout-bodied species with a remarkably enlarged shovel-like outer metatarsal tubercle used for burrowing and is highly diverge nt from other know n congeners (P-distancea8.8%). Microhyla irrawaddy sp. nov. is a small-bodied slender frog reconstructed as a sister species to M. kodial from southern India (P-distance=5.3%);however, it clearly differs from the latter both in external morphology and advertisement call parameters. Microhyla mukhlesuri is reported from Myanmar for the first time. We further discuss the morphological diag no sties and biogeography of Microhyla species recorded in Myanmar.

Genomics and morphometrics reveal the adaptive evolution of pikas

Pikas(Lagomorpha: Ochotonidae) are small mouselike lagomorphs. To investigate their adaptation to different ecological environments during their dispersal from the Qinghai-Xizang(Tibet) Plateau(QTP), we collected 226 pikas and measured 20 morphological characteristics and recorded habitat information. We also sequenced the genome of 81specimens, representing 27 putative pika species.The genome-wide tree based on 4?090 coding genes identified five subgenera, i.e., Alienauroa, Conothoa,Lagotona, Ochotona, and Pika, consistent with morphometric data. Morphologically, Alienauroa and Ochotona had similar traits, including smaller size and earlier divergence time compared to other pikas.Consistently, the habitats of Alienauroa and Ochotona differed from those of the remaining subgenera. Phylogenetic signal analysis detected 83 genes significantly related to morphological characteristics, including several visual and hearingrelated genes. Analysis of shared amino acid substitutions and positively selected genes(PSGs) in Alienauroa and Ochotona identified two genes, i.e.,mitochondrial function-related TSFM(p.Q155E) and low-light visual sensitivity-related PROM1(p.H419Y).Functional experiments demonstrated that TSFM-155E significantly enhanced mitochondrial function compared to TSFM-155Q in other pikas, and PROM1-419Y decreased the modeling of dynamic intracellular chloride efflux upon calcium uptake. Alienauroa and Ochotona individuals mostly inhabit different environments(e.g., subtropical forests) than other pikas, suggesting that a shift from the larger ancestral type and changes in sensory acuity and energy enhancement may have been required in their new environments. This study increases our understanding of the evolutionary history of pikas.

Counting stripes:revision of the Lipinia vittigera complex(Reptilia, Squamata, Scincidae) with description of two new species from Indochina

We provide an integrative taxonomic analysis of the Lipinia vittigera species complex from mainland Southeast Asia. Based on examination of external morphology, color pattern, and 681 base pairs of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial gene, we demonstrate the presence of four morphologically distinct lineages of Lipinia in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia, showing a sequence divergence ranging 15.5%–20.4%. All discovered lineages are discretely diagnosable from one another by a combination of scalation traits and color patterns. A review of the published distribution data and a re-examination of available type material revealed the following results:(1) distribution of L. vittigera (Boulenger, 1894) sensu stricto is restricted to Sundaland and the Thai-Malay Peninsula south of the Isthmus of Kra;(2) L. microcercus (Boettger, 1901) stat. nov. is elevated to full species rank;the species has a wide distribution from central and southern Vietnam across Cambodia to eastern Thailand;we regard Lygosoma vittigerum kronfanum Smith, 1922 and Leiolopisma pranensis Cochran, 1930 as its junior synonyms;(3) Lipinia trivittata sp. nov. occurs in hilly areas of southern Vietnam, Cambodia, and eastern Thailand;and (4) Lipinia vassilievi sp. nov. is currently known only from a narrow area along the Vietnamese-Cambodian border in the foothills of the central Annamite Mountain Range. We further provide an identification key for Lipinia occurring in mainland Southeast Asia.

苏联远东地区角微蛛属(蜘蛛目,皿蛛科,微蛛亚科)一新种(英文)

The new species Ceratinella kurenshchikovi sp.nov. is described on the basis of the holotype male from Khabarovsk Province. It has a modified carapace, a character unknown in other Ceratinella species. The male palp of the new species is most similar to that of C. brevis.

A SURVEY OF THE HOLARCTIC LINYPHIIDAE (ARANEAE),A REVIEW OF THE ERIGONINE GENUS ZORNELLA JACKSON, 1932

The Holarctic erigonid genus Zornella has been surveyed. Four species are recognized in this genus, two Palaearctic: Z.cultrigera(L.Koch,11879) & Z.orientalis sp.nov., and two Nearctic: Z.armata(Banks, 1906) & Z.cryptodon Chamberlin,1920.It is demonstrated that neither nearctic species is conspecific with Z.cultrigera as was thought by Holm and other authors. Z.orientalis sp.nov. is described from northeastern Siberia. All of the species are illustrated and their distributions mapped.

First Record of the Gekkonid Genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 from Gunung Mulu National Park, Northern Sarawak, East Malaysia may Represent an Undescribed Species

We provide confirmed photographic evidence for the previously overlooked occurrence of the polyphyletic Asian gecko genus Cnemaspis from Gunung Mulu National Park, the world-renowned UNESCO natural heritage site in northern Sarawak, East Malaysia. This new record from Sarawak province represents a remarkable range extension for Cnemaspis cf. kendallii by 550 km to the northeast and denotes the most northern occurrence of the genus in Borneo. Our new finding makes it very likely that these gekkonid lizards also inhabit appropriate limestone karst habitats in adjacent Sabah, Brunei, and Kalimantan. Given the visible differences in the Mulu specimen compared to those from the remaining distribution range on Borneo and the Malaysian Peninsula together with the fact that numerous Cnemaspis species are restricted to small areas, it seems plausible that another undescribed, rather cryptic and possibly locally endemic Bornean species is involved. Lastly, the new record contributes to the importance of the Mulu National Park as a major conservation area in East Malaysia of international concerns.

Trends in Biodiversity Research — A Bibliometric Assessment

Research on biodiversity has grown considerably during the last decades. The present study applies bibliometric methods to evaluate efforts in this field of study. We retrieved roughly 69,000 bibliographic records from the Web of Science database that matched the word biodiversity (and derivatives) in keywords, title or abstract. Article contributions and number of involved authors and journals increased exceptionally fast since the 1980s, when the term biodiversity was coined. But since the year 2008, a decelerated growth rate leads to an average rate of knowledge generation. Using the frequency of terms extracted from publication titles, we inferred that the community-level focus has increased in biodiversity studies, while molecular biodiversity is still not strongly represented. Climate-related topics are rapidly gaining importance in biodiversity research. The geographical imbalance between allocation of research efforts and distribution of biological diversity is apparent.

伊朗Markazi省姬蜂科昆虫种类(膜翅目:姬蜂总科)(英文)

本文调查鉴定了伊朗Markazi省的姬蜂科昆虫种类4亚科13属15种,其中Glypta cylindrator(Fabricius)和Ichneumon terminatorius Gravenhorst为伊朗分布新纪录。

A crowd-sourced genomic project to assess hybrid content in a rare avian vagrant(Azure Tit Cyanistes cyanus(Pallas,1770))

The aim of this study was to correlate plumage variation with the amount of genomic hybrid content in hybrids between Azure Tits Cyanistes cyanus(Pallas,1770)and European Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus(Linnaeus,1758),by re-sequencing the genomes of museum specimens of non-hybrids and presumed hybrids with varying plumages.The project was funded by crowdsourcing and initiated when two presumed Azure Tits,observed by hundreds of Swedish birdwatchers,were rejected as hybrids based on minor plumage deviations assumed to indicate hybrid contents from the European Blue Tit.The results confirm that hybrids with intermediate plumages,so called Pleske’s Tits,are first generation hybrids(F1 hybrids).Individuals,whose plumages are similar to Azure Tits,but assessed as hybrids based on minor plumage deviations,are all backcrosses but vary in their degree of hybrid content.However,some individuals morphologically recognized as pure Azure Tits expressed similar degrees of hybrid content.The results indicate that:(1)hybrid content may be widespread in Azure Tits in the western part of its habitat distribution;(2)plumage deviation in backcrosses is not linearly correlated with the genetic degree of hybrid origin;and(3)all Azure Tits observed in Europe outside its natural distribution may have some degree of hybrid origin.We therefore suggest that it is very difficult to phenotypically single out hybrids beyond first generation backcrosses.We argue that decreased sequencing costs and improved analytical tools open the doors for museomic crowd-sourced projects that may not address outstanding biological questions but have a major interest for lay citizens such as birdwatchers.

Study of Caspian Goby Neogobius sp. Karyotype Flexibility from Several Biotops

The karyotype of Caspian goby was studied, which has been identified as Caspian bighead goby-Neogobius gorlap before. The results of cytogenetic analyses have shown that the diploid set of goby varies from 38 to 40 chromosomes, which is different from bighead goby （2n = 43-46）. We assumed that Caspian goby has independence as a species.

Impact of black cherry on pedunculate oak vitality in mixed forests:Balancing benefits and concerns

The vitality of European forests continues to decline due to new pests and diseases,climate-change related disturbances and high loads of atmospheric nitrogen deposition.Deteriorating soil health is a major factor underpinning the low vitality of West-European forests.Selecting tree species with soil ameliorative traits is proposed as an avenue to counteract soil acidification and improve overall forest vitality.Here we evaluate the impact of black cherry(Prunus serotina Ehrh.),a known rich litter species,on the vitality of neighboring pedunculate oak(Quercus robur L.)in ten mixed forests on sand in Germany,Belgium and the Netherlands.We found that black cherry admixture increases foliar N and P to a surplus whereas it causes deficiencies in foliar Mg,thereby resulting in an overall negative effect on oak foliar nutrient concentrations.Contrary,defoliation of oak leaves by herbivory decreases with the proximity of black cherry.Using structural equation modelling(SEM),we tested the hypothesized‘improved soil health’pathway.Our analyses showed that black cherry admixture leads to lower accumulation in the humus layer,resulting in higher soil base saturation which has a positive effect on foliar Ca yet a negative effect on total chlorophyll.Moreover,the SEM illustrated that herbivory of oak leaves decreases when black cherry is admixed,both via dilution and improved soil health.Indirect effects of black cherry on oak vitality via“improved soil health”in our SEM are however small in comparison to direct relations.Hence,our study showed that the combined positive and negative impacts of black cherry on oak vitality are limited,which tempers the potential benefits of using the rich litter species to counteract oak decline via improved soil health–yet,the concern of black cherry as an invasive alien species negatively affecting the vitality of mature pedunculate oak trees may also be exaggerated.

Dysregulation within the Prefronto-Parietal Background-Monitoring Network in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia patients have difficulties in focusing their attention, when distracting information must be ignored. Although it is adaptive in some situations to monitor the background for potentially relevant changes to a certain degree, voluntary attentional processes seem to be more severely disrupted by distracting information in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy controls. Reorienting processes associated with the detection of potentially relevant information outside the current focus of attention have previously shown to activate a bilateral prefronto-parietal network. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether this network is dysregulated in schizophrenia patients using fMRI during the performance in a combined oddball-incongruence task, in which relevant processing must be shielded from distracting irrelevant salient or conflicting information. During the occurrence of both oddballs and incongruence patients exhibited an increased activation of the intraparietal cortex—a saliency sensitive part of the prefronto-parietal network associated with background-monitoring. As this hyperactivation was accompanied by an increased activation in the dopaminergic midbrain, the results of our study link the finding of a hyperactive salience sensitive cortical region to the finding of the hyperdopaminergic state in schizophrenia, supporting the predominant view of psychosis as a state of aberrant salience.

Morphology and morphometry of two hybridizing buntings at their hybrid zone in northern Iran reveal intermediate and transgressive morphotypes

The closely related Black-headed Bunting(Emberiza melanocephala,a western Palearctic lineage)and Red-headed Bunting(Emberiza bruniceps,an eastern Palearctic lineage)hybridize and replace each other south of the Caspian Sea.The parental species have distinct phenotypes and therefore morphology is useful for assessing hybridization in the contact zone.In the years of 1940 and 1977,quite a few hybrids were collected and studied morphologically.Since then,the hybrid zone appears to have expanded westwards,but there has been a time gap in the collection of morphological data.Here we reanalyze bunting specimens morphologically and compare the historical data with recent data.Morphometric and phenotypic traits from three time periods(1940,1977 and recent)were studied to assess phenotypic variation of hybrids,pattern of hybridization,and transgressive traits in the hybrid zone.Our results show that most of the birds in the hybrid zone exhibit intermediate phenotypes(both colors and morphometric characters),ranging from the pure phenotype of either of the parental species.However,hybridization has also produced novel phenotypes not seen in any of the parents.Using a canonical discriminant function analysis,the morphometric characters separated each parental species and the hybrids quite well.Our results showed morphometric intermediacy of hybrids in accordance with phenotypes.We observe a time trend in which recent hybrids are more similar to Red-headed Buntings phenotypically compared to historical samples.This pattern is likely a signature of a westward expansion of the Red-headed Bunting into the breeding range of the Black-headed Bunting.

Challenges of deep-sea biodiversity assessments in the Southern Ocean

Despite recent progress in deep-sea biodiversity assessments in the Southern Ocean （SO）, there remain gaps in our knowledge that hamper efficient deep-sea monitoring in times of rapid climate change. These include geographical sampling bias, depth and size-dependent faunal gaps in biology, ecology, distribution, and phylogeography, and the evolution of SO species. The phenomena of species patchiness and rarity are still not well understood, possibly because of our limited understanding of physiological adaptations and thresholds. Even though some shallow water species have been investigated physiologically, community-scale studies on the effects of multiple stressors related to ongoing environmental change, including temperature rise, ocean acidification, and shifts in deposition of phytoplankton, are completely unknown for deep-sea organisms. Thus, the establishment of long-term and coordinated monitoring programs, such as those rapidly growing under the umbrella of the Southern Ocean Observing System （SOOS） or the Deep Ocean Observing Strategy （DOOS）, may represent unique tools for measuring the status and trends of deep-sea and SO ecosystems.