Helmet Shape and Phylogeography of the Treehopper Membracis mexicana.

Membracis mexicana (Hemiptera: Membracidae) is distributed in four biogeographic provinces of Mexico. Field observations indicate that there are different forms of this species, but the distribution of the phenotype and the genetic variation of this species have not been clarified. The aim of this study was to quantify the phenotypic and genetic variation of M. mexicana and determine whether the configuration of biogeographic provinces impacts the distribution of this variation. To achieve this, we analyzed 307 photographs using 19 landmarks and geometric morphometrics to quantify the phenotypic variation in helmets. We sequenced five molecular markers for 205 individuals to describe the phylogeographic pattern. As a result, we identified three morphological configurations of the helmet of M. mexicana and two genetic lineages. The morphotypes are (1) a large and wide helmet with small dorsal spots, (2) a small and narrow helmet with large dorsal spots, and (3) a small and narrow helmet with small spots. Genetic lineages are distributed in southeast and western Mexico. The western lineage corresponds to two helmet morphotypes (1 and 2) and the southeast lineage to morphotype 3. We found that the larger helmets correspond to the western lineage and are distributed in Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and Pacific lowlands provinces, whereas the smallest helmets correspond to the southeast lineage and are present in the Veracruzan and Yucatan Peninsula provinces.

Distribution, diversity, endemism, and ecology of Nymphalid butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in the Loxicha Region, Oaxaca, Mexico / Distribución, diversidad, endemismo y ecología de las mariposas Nymphalidae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) en la Región Loxicha, Oaxaca, México

Abstract Introduction: The Loxicha Region of Oaxaca, Mexico, has been historically important for the study of Nymphalidae, second in the Papilionoidea for species richness. Describing the diversity patterns of this butterfly clade in Loxicha can improve our understanding of the evolutionary history of the Sierra Madre del Sur, the Mexican Pacific slope, and Mexico in general. Objective: To describe the temporal and spatial patterns of Nymphalidae diversity along an elevational gradient (80-2 600 m), and to compare Loxicha's fauna with other regions in Mexico. Methods: We obtained 28 756 records from 21 sites in the Loxicha Region, representing seven years of sampling. We estimate and analyze the diversity, endemism, and distributional patterns for three elevational levels and five vegetation types. We estimated species composition and similarity with other regions of the Pacific and Atlantic slopes. Results: We identified 189 taxa, including species and subspecies, from 85 genera and ten subfamilies of Nymphalidae. Loxicha contains 46 % of the species in the family recognized for Mexico, including ten endemic species and 56 endemic subspecies. Cloud forest and low elevations were the most diverse habitats for this family. There is a clear divergence between the Atlantic and Pacific faunas, and the Sierra Madre del Sur has two faunal components. High-elevation sites in Oaxaca, and in the neighboring state of Guerrero, have a distinctive fauna, apparently isolated from low-elevation sites, revealing an archipelagic distribution for cloud forest Nymphalidae. Conclusions: The Loxicha Region is one of the richest areas for Nymphalidae in Mexico. Distribution on the Pacific slope is determined by geographical history and ecological conditions, including elevation. Nymphalidae can be used to test hypotheses of biogeographic regionalization in Mexico.

Resumen Introducción: La Región Loxicha de Oaxaca, México, ha sido históricamente importante para el estudio de Nymphalidae, segunda en riqueza de especies en Papilionoidea. Describir los patrones de diversidad de este taxón de mariposas en Loxicha puede mejorar nuestra comprensión de la historia evolutiva de la Sierra Madre del Sur, la vertiente del Pacífico mexicano y México en general. Objetivo: Describir los patrones temporales y espaciales de la diversidad de Nymphalidae a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal (80-2 600 m), y comparar la fauna de Loxicha con otras regiones de México. Métodos: Obtuvimos 28 756 registros de 21 sitios de la Región Loxicha, que representan siete años de muestreo. Estimamos y analizamos la diversidad, el endemismo y los patrones de distribución para tres niveles altitudinales y cinco tipos de vegetación. Estimamos la composición de especies y la similitud con otras regiones de las vertientes del Pacífico y Atlántico de México. Resultados: Identificamos 189 taxones, incluyendo especies y subespecies, de 85 géneros y diez subfamilias de Nymphalidae. Loxicha contiene 46 % de las especies de la familia reconocidas para México, incluidas diez especies endémicas y 56 subespecies endémicas. El bosque mesófilo y las elevaciones bajas fueron los hábitats más diversos para esta familia. Existe una clara divergencia entre las faunas del Atlántico y del Pacífico, y la Sierra Madre del Sur tiene dos componentes faunísticos. Los sitios de elevaciones altas en Oaxaca, y en el estado vecino de Guerrero, tienen una fauna distintiva, aparentemente aislada de los sitios de elevaciones bajas, lo que revela una distribución archipelágica para los Nymphalidae del bosque mesófilo. Conclusiones: La Región Loxicha es una de las zonas más diversas para Nymphalidae en México. La distribución en la vertiente del Pacífico está determinada por la historia geográfica y las condiciones ecológicas, incluida la elevación. Nymphalidae puede usarse para probar hipótesis de regionalización biogeográfica en México.

Ocean warming and increased salinity threaten Bostrychia (Rhodophyta) species from genetically divergent populations.

Increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere have resulted in global change, such as ocean warming and sea level rise. Increased salinity in estuaries is expected as a result of sea level rise and warming. Thus, we analysed the interactive effects of increased temperature and salinity on multiple physiological responses of Bostrychia montagnei and B. calliptera from two biogeographic provinces, Tropical Southwestern Atlantic (TSA) and Warm Temperate Southwestern Atlantic (WTSA). Macroalgae were cultured under three salinities (15, 25 and 35 PSU) and three temperatures: mean sea surface temperature (SST: 27 °C for TSA and 24 °C for WTSA), an RCP8.5 ocean warming scenario (SST + 5 °C), and a maximum temperature to test the algal upper thermal tolerance limits (RCP8.5 + 2 °C). Macroalgae from both localities decreased their growth under increased temperature and salinity. RCP8.5 + 2 °C was lethal for both macroalgae from TSA. RCP8.5 and RCP8.5 + 2 °C at 35 PSU were lethal for B. calliptera from WTSA, due to the interactive effects between increased temperature and salinity. Overall, increased salinity decreased the effective quantum yield and relative electron transport rate in algal photosynthesis. Our results demonstrated that the macroalgae synthesized proteins, carbohydrates (polysaccharides and low molecular weight carbohydrates), and antioxidants to tolerate detrimental temperatures and salinities. Our results also demonstrated that the macroalgae adjusted their pigment contents (phycobiliproteins, total carotenoids, and chlorophyll a) for efficient light-harvesting under thermal and saline stress. Our findings suggest that ocean warming and increased salinity in estuaries will be detrimental to B. montagnei and B. calliptera populations from both biogeographic provinces, especially to those from TSA that already live closer to their upper thermal tolerance limits.

Geographical distribution of Emesis/ Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) in Mexico: Updated checklist and temporal patterns.

We present a synthesis of the existing information on the genus Emesis Fabricius in Mexico concerning biogeographical patterns and taxonomical aspects. Emesis is the most diverse genus of Emesidini with 57 species and subspecies, with Mexico as the northern limit of this Neotropical genus. We analyzed 5434 specimens of the Lepidoptera Collection of the MZFC, UNAM and compared them with specimens from collections of Mexico, Central and South America. Taxonomic determination and corroboration were made by analysis of wing patterns and genitalia. Geographic distribution and phenology were obtained from the database MARIPOSA. We present an updated list of Emesis of Mexico, with 17 species and subspecies. For each species, we provide information on phenology, geographic, altitudinal, and vegetation distributions. We discuss taxonomic and undersampling concerns for some species, as well as spatial and temporal patterns with special reference to vegetation types and biogeographic provinces in Mexico.

Towards Conservation of the Remarkably High Number of Daisy Trees (Asteraceae) in Mexico.

Mexico is floristically the fourth most species-rich country in the world, and Asteraceae is the most diverse vascular plant family in this country. The species exhibits a wide range of growth forms, but the tree-like habit, appropriately named daisy trees, is heavily underestimated, even though slightly different tree definitions are handled. Very little is known about their precise species number or conservation status in Mexico, so we update here the list of known Mexican daisy tree species, summarize their very diverse uses, present a general panorama of their present and future distribution, and discuss their conservation status. A bibliographic review and herbarium study were carried out, carefully curated taxonomical ocurrence maps were prepared for each species, and a climatic suitability modelling approach was used to characterise the spatial patterns of Mexican Asteraceae trees. With 149 daisy tree species, the country ranks second at a global level; within the country, their greatest diversity is found in central and western Mexico. A decrease in diversity is estimated in areas that currently host the highest species richness, whereas the hotspot regions are estimated to show an increase in species diversity, so climate change is not a threat to all Mexican daisy tree species.

Revisiting the diversity and distribution of the ophiuroids (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Peru.

While the Ophiuroidea of Peruvian waters have long been studied, there exists inconsistencies regarding taxonomy and spatial distribution records. Based on literature review and museum records, we provide an updated checklist of the ophiuroids accompanied by the first geographical distribution analysis. Peruvian waters host 36 species of Ophiuroidea (three doubtful), yet 15 previous records of species are considered invalid for the area. We recorded five new records of species for Peru: Amphiodia oerstedi, Diopederma daniana, Ophiocomella alexandri, Ophiolepis crassa, and Ophiophthalmus normani. Peruvian maritime area is divided into four areas: The Tropical Eastern Pacific area where 16 species of ophiuroids occur, the Transition Zone with 13 species, the Warm Temperate Southeastern Pacific with nine species, and the Deep Zone with 14 species. We found significant differences in species composition among areas (except among the Eastern Pacific and the Transitional Zone), and each of them is represented by particular species. According to the rarefaction curve, the inventory of ophiuroids for the country is not yet complete; therefore, we suggest performing more expeditions along the Peruvian waters focusing mainly on the deep zones which remain relatively unexplored to date.

A new species of Nerice Walker, 1855 and further additions to the catalogue of Indian Notodontidae Stephens, 1829 (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea) from Himalaya with report of range extensions.

The present work deals with the additional species of Notodontidae recorded from different provinces of Indian Himalaya subsequent to the publication of Catalogue of Indian Notodontidae which provided systematic account of 242 species and 10 subspecies. Current communication comprises: (I) Description of a new species of genus Nerice Walker, 1855, Nerice (Nerice) mishmiensis Mazumder, Raha, Chandra Schintlmeister sp. nov., from Eastern Himalayan landscape of Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, along with a comparative diagnosis with two other congeners viz. N. aemulator Schintlmeister Fang, 2001 and N. upina Alphéraky, 1892; (II) Reporting of 3 species new to the Indian fauna from Eastern and Western Himalaya: Periergos genitale Schintlmeister, 2002, Honveda nepalina Nakamura, 1976 and Syntypistis nigribasalis tropica (Kiriakoff, 1974) with their diagnosis and genitalic illustrations; (III) Addition of 5 species and 1 more subspecies to the existing list from various literature; (IV) Additional distribution records of 40 species detected through primary sampling along with details of the materials examined; among which 3 species viz. Pseudallata laticostalis (Hampson, 1900), Baradesa lithosioides lithosioides Moore, 1883 and Ptilodon flavistigma (Moore, 1879) showed unusual altitudinal records around 3000 m. Thus, altogether Indian Notodontidae fauna has been updated to 247 species (including nominotypical subspecies) and 15 subspecies under 116 genera of 10 subfamilies.

Geographical distribution of Lasaia Bates, 1868 (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) across the biogeographical provinces of Mexico.

Riodinidae are one of the most diverse families of Lepidoptera, mainly in the Neotropical region; however, their biology, ethology, taxonomy, systematics, and biogeography are poorly known. In Mexico, the regional and local distributions of the family are still incomplete. We review the distributional data of the genus Lasaia Bates (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), based on records from four national and seven international collections. We record five species and seven subspecies in Mexico, with 2722 records, distributed in 314 localities of 24 states. The states with higher species richness are Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz; also, the genus was recorded in 11 of the 14 biogeographical provinces of Mexico. The tropical semi-deciduous and deciduous forests, below of 1000 m a.s.l., contain most of the diversity of Lasaia. Historical data are crucial for the study of local and regional diversity and ecological patterns at large temporal scales. Data presented here show the morphological and ecological variation of Lasaia over the last 80 years, mostly from the XX century when anthropogenic disturbances were intensified. This kind of studies is the first step in recording the historical distribution of these taxa, which will lead to more complex analyses on distribution range shifts, their causes and consequences.

Diversification of the genus Apogon (Lacepède, 1801) (Apogonidae: Perciformes) in the tropical eastern Pacific.

We examined the role of geographic barriers and historical processes on the diversification of Apogon species within the tropical eastern Pacific (TEP). Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences were used in Bayesian and Maximum likelihood analyses to generate a phylogenetic hypothesis for Apogon species. Bayesian inferences were used to date the cladogenetic events. Analyses with BioGeoBEARS were conducted to reconstruct the biogeographic history and ancestral ranges. The phylogenetic results show a monophyletic clade of TEP Apogon species with A. imberbis from the eastern Atlantic as sister species. The two lineages diverged during the Miocene. Within the TEP clade, two subclades diverged at around 11.1 million years ago (Mya): one clusters the coastal continental species (A. pacificus, A. retrosella and A. dovii), and the second clusters the oceanic island species (A. atradorsatus, A. atricaudus and A. guadalupensis). The estimated diversification times of these subclades were 9.8 and 7.1 Mya, respectively. Within each subclade, species divergences occurred during the Pliocene-Pleistocene epochs. The divergent event between the Atlantic A. imberbis and Apogon TEP clade corresponds to the first closure event of the Central American Seaway. The biogeographic history of Apogon within the TEP appears to be the result of vicariant, dispersal and founder events that occurred during the last 11 million years. The vicariant and dispersal events occurred along the mainland and were associated with the origin of the Central American Gap. The founder events could have allowed the invasion of Apogon to TEP island areas and could have been driven by ancient warming oceanic waters, changes in circulation of marine currents, and the presence of seamounts in ancient marine ridges that allowed the settlement of marine biota. These factors may have allowed Apogon lineages to cross the TEP biogeographic barriers at different times, with subsequent genetic isolation.

New state records and updated checklist of Aphodiini and Eupariini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) from Mexico.

Thirty one new state records of species of Aphodiinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from Mexico are presented, 24 species belong to Aphodiini and seven species to Eupariini into the genera Agrilinellus, Alloblackburneus, Aphotaenius, Ataenius, Blackburneus, Cephalocyclus, Coelotrachelus, Euparia, Euparixia, Geomyphilus, Gonaphodiellus, Gonaphodiopsis, Haroldiellus, Liothorax, Nialaphodius, Odontolytes, Oscarinus, Pharaphodius, and Planolinellus. New records are from the states of Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Colima, Chiapas, Estado de México, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Puebla, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Zacatecas, and Distrito Federal. A checklist with updated nomenclature is included for the recorded species of Aphodiini and Eupariini from Mexico.