Defining honeybee subspecies in an evolutionary context warrants strategized conservation

Despite the urgent need for conservation consideration,strategic action plans for the preservation of the Asian honeybee,Apis cerana Fabricius,1793,remain lacking.Both the convergent and divergent adaptations of this widespread insect have led to confusing phenotypical traits and inconsistent infraspecific taxonomy.Unclear subspecies boundaries pose a significant challenge to honeybee conservation efforts,as it is difficult to effectively prioritize conservation targets without a clear understanding of subspecies identities.Here,we investigated genome variations in 362 worker bees representing almost all populations of mainland A.cerana to understand how evolution has shaped its population structure.Whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)based on nuclear sequences revealed eight putative subspecies,with all seven peripheral subspecies exhibiting mutually exclusive monophyly and distinct genetic divergence from the widespread central subspecies.Our results demonstrated that most classic morphological traits,including body size,were related to the climatic variables of the local habitats and did not reflect the true evolutionary history of the organism.Thus,such morphological traits were not suitable for subspecific delineation.Conversely,wing vein characters showed relative independence to the environment and supported the subspecies boundaries inferred from nuclear genomes.Mitochondrial phylogeny further indicated that the present subspecies structure was a result of multiple waves of population divergence from a common ancestor.Based on our findings,we propose that criteria for subspecies delineation should be based on evolutionary independence,trait distinction,and geographic isolation.We formally defined and described eight subspecies of mainland A.cerana.Elucidation of the evolutionary history and subspecies boundaries enables a customized conservation strategy for both widespread and endemic honeybee conservation units,guiding colony introduction and breeding.

Reevaluation of the Holotype of Odorrana schmackeri Boettger,1892(Amphibia:Anura:Ranidae) and Characterization of One Cryptic Species in O.schmackeri sensu lato through Integrative Approaches

The Odorrana schmackeri sensu la to is a group of cascade frogs that are widely distributed in southern China.However,their taxonomy has long been unresolved and several cryptic species have been reported in the past decade.Previous analyses revealed the existence of three sympatrie species(i.c,O.schmackeri,O.hejiangensis and O.sp2) at the type locality of O.schmackeri(Gaojiayan Town,Yichang City,Hubei Province,China).However,the lack of an original description for the holotype specimen(SMF6241) of O.schmackeri poses a confusing and controversial problem in species nomination within this group.Here,we reevaluate the taxonomic affinities of SMF6241 and examine the distinctness of O.sp2 based on specimens from the type locality.We use integrative approaches that combine morphology with 10 microsatellite loci and bioacoustics.Canonical discriminant analysis of morphological characteristics revealed three distinct groupings(i.e.,O.schmackeri,O.hejiangensis and O.sp2) and attributed SMF6241 to O.schmackeri.Genetic clustering analysis of nuclear DNA also identified three corresponding clusters.In addition,analysis of interspecific variation in morphometrics and acoustics showed divergence between O.sp2 and its sympatric congeners.All lines of evidence from morphological,molecular and bioacoustic approaches suggest the species status of O.sp2,namely Odorrana ichangensis Chen,sp.nov.Overall,this study resolves the taxonomic assignment of the holotype of O.schmackeri and provides an example for species delimitation using integrative approaches.

A new species of the glass sponge genus Walteria(Hexactinellida:Lyssacinosida:Euplectellidae)from northwestern Pacific seamounts,providing a biogenic microhabitat in the deep sea

We report on a hexactinellid sponge new to science,Walteria demeterae sp.nov.,which was collected from the northwestern Pacific seamounts at depths of 1271–1703 m.Its tubular and basiphytous body,extensive lateral processes,numerous oval lateral oscula which are irregularly situated in the body wall,the presence of microscleres with oxyoidal,discoidal and onychoidal outer ends,and the absence of anchorate discohexasters,indicate it belongs to the genus Walteria of family Euplectellidae,which is also supported by molecular phylogenetic evidence from 18 S,28 S,16 S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I(COI)gene sequences.The unique morphotype,which is structured by a thin and rigid framework of body wall and lateral processes consisting of diactins,characterizes it as a new species.Local aggregations of individuals of this new species coupled with their associated macrofauna in the Suda Seamount are reported,highlighting its functional significance in providing biogenic microhabitats in the deep sea.

DNA Barcoding and Systematic Review of Minervaryan Frogs(Dicroglossidae:Minervarya) of Peninsular India:Resolution of a Taxonomic Conundrum with Description of a New Species

The genus Minervarya is among the most widely distributed,commonly occurring,and taxonomically confusing groups of dicroglossid frogs in India.Recent studies have provided evidence that this genus contains complexes of morphologically conserved but genetically divergent taxa—some widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia,and many particularly restricted to the Western Ghats region of the Indian Peninsula—posing several challenges in resolving long-standing taxonomic confusions.Here,we present a systematic review of minervaryan species found in Peninsular India,based on extensive DNA barcoding with nearly 400 samples from the entire range of the genus,including 277 new samples and topotypic material for most available names from the study area,combined with detailed morphological studies.As a result,we recognise 18 species in Peninsular India,including a new species described herein as Minervarya pentali sp.nov.Due to the comprehensive nature of the study,including comparisons with all available types,certain long-standing taxonomic uncertainties on the status of ten previously known taxa are resolved Rana(Tomopterna)parambikulamana Rao,1937(=Minervarya parambikulamana),Rana(Hylorana)sauriceps Rao,1937(=Minervarya sauriceps),and Fejervarya kudremukhensis Kuramoto,Joshy,Kurabayashi,and Sumida,2008"2007"(=Minervarya kudremukhensis),are considered as junior subjective synonyms of Rana(Rana)limnocharis mysorensis Rao,1922(=Minervarya mysorensis);Nyctibatrachus sanctipdustris var.modestus Rao,1920(=Minervarya modesta)is proposed to be a synonym of Rana limnocharis syhadrensis Annandale,1919(=Minervarya syhadrensis);while Rana murthii Pillai,1979(=Minervarya murthii)and Fejervarya mudduraja Kuramoto,Joshy,Kurabayashi,and Sumida,2008"2007"(=Minervarya mudduraja)are considered as junior subjective synonyms of Rana nilagirica Jerdon,1853(=Minervarya nilagirica).At the same time,Rana brevipalmata Peters,1871(=Minervarya brevipalmata),previously known only from its original description and the type specimen,is recognised as a distinct species referable to live populations in the Western Ghats.The study results in taxonomic stability of all the currently recognised members of the genus in Peninsular India.Significant geographical range extensions of species previously known from single localities are also provided based on morphologically and genetically confirmed records.Additionally,we classify all the recognised species into eight species-groups,with the aim of facilitating a better working taxonomy and future systematic studies on minervaryan frogs across their entire known range in Asia.

A joint call for actions to advance taxonomy in China

Taxonomy plays an important role in understanding the origin, evolution, and ecological functionality of biodiversity. There are large number of unknown species yet to be described by taxonomists, which together with their ecosystem services cannot be effectively protected prior to description. Despite this, taxonomy has been increasingly underrated insufficient funds and permanent positions to retain young talents. Further, the impact factordriven evaluation systems in China exacerbate this downward trend, so alternative evaluation metrics are urgently necessary. When the current generation of outstanding taxonomists retires,there will be too few remaining taxonomists left to train the next generation. In light of these challenges, all co-authors worked together on this paper to analyze the current situation of taxonomy and put out a joint call for immediate actions to advance taxonomy in China.

A polyphasic approach to delineate species in Bipolaris

Bipolaris species are important plant pathogens with a worldwide distribution in tropical and temperate environments.Species recognition in Bipolaris has been problematic due to a lack of molecular data from ex-type cultures,the use of few gene regions for species resolution and overlapping morphological characters.In this study,we evaluate the efficiency of different DNA barcodes in species delimitation in Bipolaris by phylogenetic analyses,Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery and Objective Clustering.GAPDH is determined to be the best single marker for the genus.These approaches are used to clarify the taxonomic placement of all sequences currently named as Bipolaris in GenBank based on ITS and GAPDH gene sequence data.In checking various publications,we found that the majority of new host records of fungal species published in the Plant Disease journal from 2010 to 2019 were based on BLAST searches of the ITS sequences and up to 82%of those records could be erroneous.Therefore,relying on BLAST searches from GenBank to name species is not recommended.Editorial boards of journals and reviewers of new record papers should be aware of this problem.In naming Bipolaris species,whether new or known,it is recommended to perform phylogenetic analyses based on GAPDH using the correct taxon sampling for accurate results and the species relationship should have reliable statistical support.At least two new species are represented by molecular data in GenBank and we provide an updated taxonomic revision of Bipolaris.We accept 45 species in Bipolaris and notes are provided for all the species including hosts and geographic distribution.

Roots of the taxonomic impediment:Is the“integrativeness”a remedy?

The use of the“integrative approach”for classification of organisms since its formal establishment in 2005 has become a recurrent theme of zoosystematics.A bibliometric survey of the publications on integrative taxonomy of animals,which is aimed at exploring the most popular areas of research and characterizing the practical systematists’attitudes to this new approach,is presented.An analysis of 582 papers,which appeared between 2005 and 2017 in journals indexed by Scopus and the Web of Science Core Collection,has illustrated the gradual growth of the popularity of integrative taxonomy as well as some biases in the representation of higher taxa in“integrated”studies.It has been shown that the“integrative”papers have more chance of appearing in a top-ranking journal and gain relatively more citations as compared with non-integrative papers.The obtained results are discussed in the context of the“taxonomic impediment”problem thought to be a consequence of the institutional crisis of traditional taxonomy,which has been vividly debated over the past decades.

DNA barcoding-based species delimitation increases species count of Eois （Geometridae） moths in a well-studied tropical mountain forest by up to 50%

The genus Eois comprises an important part of megadiverse assemblages of geometrid moths in mountain rainforests of southern Ecuador. In this study we report： （i） on the construction of a DNA barcode library of Eois for identification purposes; and （ii） the exploration of species diversity through species delimitation by pair-wise distance thresholds. COl barcode sequences were generated from 408 individuals （at least 105 species） collected on a narrow geographic scale （-40 km2） in the Reserva Bioldgica San Francisco. Analyses of barcode sequence divergence showed that species delimitations based solely on external morphology result in broad overlap of intra- and interspecific distances. Species delimitation at a 2% pair-wise distance threshold reveals a clear barcoding gap. Fifty-two previously unrecognized species were identified, 31 of which could only be distinguished by an integrative taxonomy approach. Twelve additional putative species could only be recognized by threshold-based delimitation. Most splits resulted in two or three newly perceived cryptic taxa. The present study increased the number of Eois species recorded from that small area of Andean mountain forest from 102 to 154 （morphology- plus integrative taxonomy-based） or even 166 （sequence-based）, leaving the species accumulation curve still far from reaching an asymptote. Notably, in no case did two or more previously distinguished morphospecies have to be lumped. This barcode inventory can be used to match larvae to known adult samples without rearing, and will therefore be of vital help to extend the currently limited knowledge about food plant relationships and host specialization.

Integrative approach of morphology and geometric morphometrics to species delimiation in Torrenticolidae(Acari:Hydrachnidiae)

This paper explores the integrative utilization of morphology and geometric morphometrics in order to deal with sibling species in Torrenticolidae. The results suggest:(1) Features of anterior margins of coxae, dorsoglandularia 1–4 and infracapitulum can be utilized in landmark-based geometric morphometrics approach;(2) A new species, Torrenticola brevisuturae Gu & Guo, sp. nov., is reported in this paper.