Jump dispersal drives the relationship between micro- and macroevolutionary dynamics in the Sicydiinae (Gobiiformes: Oxudercidae) of Sundaland and Wallacea.

Insular biodiversity hotspots of Southeast Asia are remarkable for their biodiverse faunas. With a marine larval phase lasting up to several months, the freshwater fish subfamily Sicydiinae has colonized most islands of these hotspots. However, Sicydiinae diversity is still poorly understood in Southeast Asia. With the objective to estimate intraspecific genetic diversity and infer past demography, we conducted the molecular inventory of Sicydiinae species in Sundaland and Wallacea using 652 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene, species delimitation methods and Bayesian Skyline plot reconstructions. In total, 24 Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units are delimited among the 603 sequences belonging to 27 species and five genera. Two cases of discordance between morphology and mitochondrial sequence are observed suggesting ongoing speciation and/or introgression in two genera. Multiple new occurrences are reported, either for a single biodiversity hotspot or both, some of which corresponding to observations of a few individuals far from the range distribution of their conspecifics. Among the ten species or species group whose intraspecific diversity was examined, high levels of genetic diversity and past population expansion are revealed by Tajima's D tests and Bayesian Skyline Plot reconstructions. Together these results indicate that long-distance dispersal is common and suggest that most endemic species originated through founder events followed by population expansion. Patterns of sexual dimorphism and males' coloration among diverging species pair seem to point to sexual selection as an important mechanism contributing to speciation in the Sicydiinae of Sundaland and Wallacea.

Lepidothelphusa menneri n. sp. (Crustacea: Brachyura: Gecarcinucidae), first record of the genus from Kalimantan, Indonesia.

The gecarcinucid freshwater crab genus, Lepidothelphusa Colosi, 1920, is known only from Sarawak in northern Borneo, with six recognised species i.e. Lepidothelphusa cognettii (Nobili, 1903); L. flavochela Grinang & Ng, 2015; L. limau Grinang & Ng, 2015; L. loi Grinang & Ng, 2015; L. padawan Grinang & Ng, 2015; and L. sangon Grinang & Ng, 2015. The genus is now reported from Indonesian Borneo for the first time, from specimens recently collected from Gunung Kelam in Sintang Regency, Kalimantan Barat Province. Lepidothelphusa menneri n. sp. has a very distinctive tri-coloured pattern in life, unique among congeners. It can also easily be separated from congeners by carapace, epistome, male pleonal and male first gonopod characters.

A landmark-free analysis of the pelvic girdle in Sulawesi ricefishes (Adrianichthyidae): How 2D and 3D geometric morphometrics can complement each other in the analysis of a complex structure.

Geometric morphometrics (GM) enable the quantification of morphological variation on various scales. Recent technical advances allow analyzing complex three-dimensional shapes also in cases where landmark-based approaches are not appropriate. Pelvic girdle bones (basipterygia) of Sulawesi ricefishes are 3D structures that challenge traditional morphometrics. We hypothesize that the pelvic girdle of ricefishes experienced sex-biased selection pressures in species where females provide brood care by carrying fertilized eggs supported by elongated pelvic fins ("pelvic brooding"). We test this by comparing pelvic bone shapes of both sexes in species exhibiting pelvic brooding and the more common reproductive strategy "transfer brooding," by using landmark-free 2D and 3D GM, as well as qualitative shape descriptions. Both landmark-free approaches revealed significant interspecific pelvic bone variation in the lateral process, medial facing side of the pelvic bone, and overall external and internal wing shape. Within pelvic brooders, the three analyzed species are clearly distinct, while pelvic bones of the genus Adrianichthys are more similar to transfer brooding Oryzias. Female pelvic brooding Oryzias exhibit prominent, medially pointing tips extending from the internal wing and basipterygial plate that are reduced or absent in conspecific males, Adrianichthys and transfer brooding Oryzias, supporting our hypothesis that selection pressures affecting pelvic girdle shape are sex-biased in Sulawesi ricefishes. Furthermore, both sexes of pelvic brooding Oryzias have overall larger pelvic bones than other investigated ricefishes. Based on these differences, we characterized two reproductive strategy- and sex-dependent pelvic girdle types for Sulawesi ricefishes. Morphological differences between the investigated pelvic brooding genera Adrianichthys and Oryzias provide additional evidence for two independent origins of pelvic brooding. Overall, our findings add to a better understanding on traits related to pelvic brooding in ricefishes and provide a basis for upcoming studies on pelvic girdle function and morphology.

Potential Contribution of Ancient Introgression to the Evolution of a Derived Reproductive Strategy in Ricefishes.

Transitions from no parental care to extensive care are costly and involve major changes in life history, behavior, and morphology. Nevertheless, in Sulawesi ricefishes, pelvic brooding evolved from transfer brooding in two distantly related lineages within the genera Adrianichthys and Oryzias, respectively. Females of pelvic brooding species carry their eggs attached to their belly until the fry hatches. Despite their phylogenetic distance, both pelvic brooding lineages share a set of external morphological traits. A recent study found no direct gene flow between pelvic brooding lineages, suggesting independent evolution of the derived reproductive strategy. Convergent evolution can, however, also rely on repeated sorting of preexisting variation of an admixed ancestral population, especially when subjected to similar external selection pressures. We thus used a multispecies coalescent model and D-statistics to identify gene-tree-species-tree incongruencies, to evaluate the evolution of pelvic brooding with respect to interspecific gene flow not only between pelvic brooding lineages but also between pelvic brooding lineages and other Sulawesi ricefish lineages. We found a general network-like evolution in Sulawesi ricefishes, and as previously reported, we detected no gene flow between the pelvic brooding lineages. Instead, we found hybridization between the ancestor of pelvic brooding Oryzias and the common ancestor of the Oryzias species from the Lake Poso area. We further detected signs of introgression within the confidence interval of a quantitative trait locus associated with pelvic brooding in O. eversi. Our results hint toward a contribution of ancient standing genetic variation to the evolution of pelvic brooding in Oryzias.

DNA barcoding unveils a high diversity of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (West Java; Indonesia).

Background: Trichoptera are one of the most diverse groups of freshwater insects worldwide and one of the main bioindicators for freshwater quality. However, in many areas, caddisflies remain understudied due to lack of taxonomic expertise. Meanwhile, globally increasing anthropogenic stress on freshwater streams also threatens Trichoptera diversity. Methods: To assess the Trichoptera diversity of the area within and around the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (MHSNP or Taman Nasional Gunung Halimun Salak) in West Java (Indonesia), we conducted a molecular-morphological study on Trichoptera diversity using larvae from a benthic survey and adults from hand-netting. In addition to morphological identification, we applied four different molecular taxon delimitation approaches (Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent, Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes, Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery and Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning) based on DNA barcoding of Cytochrome-C-Oxidase I (COI). Results: The molecular delimitation detected 72 to 81 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU). Only five OTUs could be identified to species level by comparing sequences against the BOLD database using BLAST, and four more to the genus level. Adults and larvae could be successfully associated in 18 cases across six families. The high diversity of Trichoptera in this area highlights their potential as bioindicators for water quality assessment. Conclusions: This study provides an example of how molecular approaches can benefit the exploration of hidden diversity in unexplored areas and can be a valuable tool to link life stages. However, our study also highlights the need to improve DNA barcode reference libraries of Trichoptera for the Oriental region.

How to stay attached-Formation of the ricefish plug and changes of internal reproductive structures in the pelvic brooding ricefish, Oryzias eversi Herder et al. (2012) (Beloniformes: Adrianichthyidae).

Teleost fishes show an enormous diversity of parental care, ranging from no care to viviparity with maternal provisioning of embryos. External brooders carry their developing eggs attached to their bodies. This requires the formation of novel morphological structures to support attachment. The pelvic brooding ricefish Oryzias eversi evolved such a structure, called the "plug." The plug anchors attaching filaments from the fertilized eggs inside the female reproductive system, allowing the female to carry the embryos until hatching. Using histological sections and µ-computed tomography scanning, we show that the plug is formed by several types of interstitial cells, blood capillaries, and collagen fibrils that encapsulate the end of the attaching filaments in the anterior part of the gonoduct. Even 15 days after the loss of the protruding attaching filaments, the plug remains. In addition, the developed plug contains multinucleated giant cells that are derived from fusing macrophages. We thus hypothesize that the ricefish plug, which is vital for egg attachment in O. eversi, evolved due to an inflammatory reaction. We assume that it forms similar to a foreign body granuloma, as a reaction to irritation or injury of the gonoduct epithelium by the attaching filaments. Our study further corroborates that pelvic brooding entails a complex set of adaptations to prolonged egg-carrying in the female reproductive system. During brooding, for instance, ovulation in the ovary is suppressed and the anterior part of the gonoduct is characterized by an intricate, recessed folding.

Geosesarma garutense n. sp., a new species of vampire crab (Crustacea, Brachyura, Sesarmidae) from Garut in western Java.

A new species of vampire crab, Geosesarma garutense n. sp. is described from Garut in the eastern part of West Java, Indonesia. The species is unusual among congeners in Java in that the exopod of the third maxilliped does not possess a flagellum, the carapace is broadly rectangular in shape and the G1 relatively is short and stout, with the chitinous distal part spatuliform.

The genetic basis of a novel reproductive strategy in Sulawesi ricefishes: How modularity and a low number of loci shape pelvic brooding.

The evolution of complex phenotypes like reproductive strategies is challenging to understand, as they often depend on multiple adaptations that only jointly result in a specific functionality. Sulawesi ricefishes (Adrianichthyidae) evolved a reproductive strategy termed as pelvic brooding. In contrast to the more common transfer brooding, female pelvic brooders carry an egg bundle connected to their body for weeks until the fry hatches. To examine the genetic architecture of pelvic brooding, we crossed the pelvic brooding Oryzias eversi and the transfer brooding Oryzias nigrimas (species divergence time: ∼3.6 my). We hypothesize, that a low number of loci and modularity have facilitated the rapid evolution of pelvic brooding. Traits associated to pelvic brooding, like rib length, pelvic fin length, and morphology of the genital papilla, were correlated in the parental species but correlations were reduced or lost in their F1 and F2 hybrids. Using the Castle-Wright estimator, we found that generally few loci underlie the studied traits. Further, both parental species showed modularity in their body plans. In conclusion, morphological traits related to pelvic brooding were based on a few loci and the mid-body region likely could evolve independently from the remaining body parts. Both factors presumably facilitated the evolution of pelvic brooding.

Inflammation and convergent placenta gene co-option contributed to a novel reproductive tissue.

The evolution of pregnancy exposes parental tissues to new, potentially stressful conditions, which can trigger inflammation.1 Inflammation is costly2,3 and can induce embryo rejection, which constrains the evolution of pregnancy.1 In contrast, inflammation can also promote morphological innovation at the maternal-embryonic interface as exemplified by co-option of pro-inflammatory signaling for eutherian embryo implantation.1,4,5 Given its dual function, inflammation could be a key process explaining how innovations such as pregnancy and placentation evolved many times convergently. Pelvic brooding ricefishes evolved a novel "plug" tissue,6,7 which forms inside the female gonoduct after spawning, anchors egg-attaching filaments, and enables pelvic brooders to carry eggs externally until hatching.6,8 Compared to pregnancy, i.e., internal bearing of embryos, external bearing should alleviate constraints on inflammation in the reproductive tract. We thus hypothesized that an ancestral inflammation triggered by the retention of attaching filaments gave rise to pathways orchestrating plug formation. In line with our hypothesis, histological sections of the developing plug revealed signs of gonoduct injuries by egg-attaching filaments in the pelvic brooding ricefish Oryzias eversi. Tissue-specific transcriptomes showed that inflammatory signaling dominates the plug transcriptome and inflammation-induced genes controlling vital processes for plug development such as tissue growth and angiogenesis were overexpressed in the plug. Finally, mammalian placenta genes were enriched in the plug transcriptome, indicating convergent gene co-option for building, attaching, and sustaining a transient tissue in the female reproductive tract. This study highlights the role of gene co-option and suggests that recruiting inflammatory signaling into physiological processes provides a fast-track to evolutionary innovation.

Impact of Pleistocene Eustatic Fluctuations on Evolutionary Dynamics in Southeast Asian Biodiversity Hotspots.

Pleistocene climatic fluctuations (PCF) are frequently highlighted as important evolutionary engines that triggered cycles of biome expansion and contraction. Although there is ample evidence of the impact of PCF on biodiversity of continental biomes, the consequences in insular systems depend on the geology of the islands and the ecology of the taxa inhabiting them. The idiosyncratic aspects of insular systems are exemplified by the islands of the Sunda Shelf in Southeast Asia (Sundaland), where PCF-induced eustatic fluctuations had complex interactions with the geology of the region, resulting in high species diversity and endemism. Emergent land in Southeast Asia varied drastically with sea-level fluctuations during the Pleistocene. Climate-induced fluctuations in sea level caused temporary connections between insular and continental biodiversity hotspots in Southeast Asia. These exposed lands likely had freshwater drainage systems that extended between modern islands: the Paleoriver Hypothesis. Built upon the assumption that aquatic organisms are among the most suitable models to trace ancient river boundaries and fluctuations of landmass coverage, the present study aims to examine the evolutionary consequences of PCF on the dispersal of freshwater biodiversity in Southeast Asia. Time-calibrated phylogenies of DNA-delimited species were inferred for six species-rich freshwater fish genera in Southeast Asia (Clarias, Channa, Glyptothorax, Hemirhamphodon, Dermogenys, Nomorhamphus). The results highlight rampant cryptic diversity and the temporal localization of most speciation events during the Pleistocene, with 88% of speciation events occurring during this period. Diversification analyses indicate that sea-level-dependent diversification models poorly account for species proliferation patterns for all clades excepting Channa. Ancestral area estimations point to Borneo as the most likely origin for most lineages, with two waves of dispersal to Sumatra and Java during the last 5 myr. Speciation events are more frequently associated with boundaries of the paleoriver watersheds, with 60%, than islands boundaries, with 40%. In total, one-third of speciation events are inferred to have occurred within paleorivers on a single island, suggesting that habitat heterogeneity and factors other than allopatry between islands substantially affected diversification of Sundaland fishes. Our results suggest that species proliferation in Sundaland is not wholly reliant on Pleistocene sea-level fluctuations isolating populations on different islands. [Dispersal; diversification; eustatic fluctuations; freshwater fishes; insular systems; Milankovitch cycles; paleoenvironments; vicariance.].

Lake Poso's shrimp fauna revisited: the description of five new species of the genus Caridina (Crustacea, Decapoda, Atyidae) more than doubles the number of endemic lacustrine species.

Lake Poso, an ancient lake system on the Indonesian island Sulawesi, harbours an endemic species flock of six, four lacustrine and two riverine species of the freshwater shrimp genus Caridina. In this study, five new lacustrine species are described, bringing the total to eleven species altogether. The number of lacustrine species is more than doubled to nine species compared to the last taxonomic revision in 2009. One of them, Caridina mayamareenae Klotz, Wowor & von Rintelen, sp. nov., even represents the first case of an atyid shrimp associated with freshwater snails which is morphologically adapted to living in shells. An integrative approach was used by providing a combination of morphological, ecological, and molecular data. Based on standard morphological characters, distribution, substrate preferences, and colouration of living specimens in the field, five distinct undescribed species could be distinguished. To support our species-hypothesis based on the mitochondrial genes 16S and COI, a molecular phylogeny was used for all eleven species from Lake Poso. All species form a well-supported monophyletic group, but only four morphospecies consistently correspond to mtDNA clades - a possible reason could be introgressive hybridisation, incomplete lineage sorting, or not yet fixed species boundaries. These results are discussed further in the context of adaptive radiation, which turned out to be more diverse than previously described. Finally, yet importantly, subjecting all new species to similar threats and to the same IUCN category and criterion than the previously described species from the lake is recommended.

Biodiversity inventory of the grey mullets (Actinopterygii: Mugilidae) of the Indo-Australian Archipelago through the iterative use of DNA-based species delimitation and specimen assignment methods.

DNA barcoding opens new perspectives on the way we document biodiversity. Initially proposed to circumvent the limits of morphological characters to assign unknown individuals to known species, DNA barcoding has been used in a wide array of studies where collecting species identity constitutes a crucial step. The assignment of unknowns to knowns assumes that species are already well identified and delineated, making the assignment performed reliable. Here, we used DNA-based species delimitation and specimen assignment methods iteratively to tackle the inventory of the Indo-Australian Archipelago grey mullets, a notorious case of taxonomic complexity that requires DNA-based identification methods considering that traditional morphological identifications are usually not repeatable and sequence mislabeling is common in international sequence repositories. We first revisited a DNA barcode reference library available at the global scale for Mugilidae through different DNA-based species delimitation methods to produce a robust consensus scheme of species delineation. We then used this curated library to assign unknown specimens collected throughout the Indo-Australian Archipelago to known species. A second iteration of OTU delimitation and specimen assignment was then performed. We show the benefits of using species delimitation and specimen assignment methods iteratively to improve the accuracy of specimen identification and propose a workflow to do so.

Disentangling the taxonomy of the subfamily Rasborinae (Cypriniformes, Danionidae) in Sundaland using DNA barcodes.

Sundaland constitutes one of the largest and most threatened biodiversity hotspots; however, our understanding of its biodiversity is afflicted by knowledge gaps in taxonomy and distribution patterns. The subfamily Rasborinae is the most diversified group of freshwater fishes in Sundaland. Uncertainties in their taxonomy and systematics have constrained its use as a model in evolutionary studies. Here, we established a DNA barcode reference library of the Rasborinae in Sundaland to examine species boundaries and range distributions through DNA-based species delimitation methods. A checklist of the Rasborinae of Sundaland was compiled based on online catalogs and used to estimate the taxonomic coverage of the present study. We generated a total of 991 DNA barcodes from 189 sampling sites in Sundaland. Together with 106 previously published sequences, we subsequently assembled a reference library of 1097 sequences that covers 65 taxa, including 61 of the 79 known Rasborinae species of Sundaland. Our library indicates that Rasborinae species are defined by distinct molecular lineages that are captured by species delimitation methods. A large overlap between intraspecific and interspecific genetic distance is observed that can be explained by the large amounts of cryptic diversity as evidenced by the 166 Operational Taxonomic Units detected. Implications for the evolutionary dynamics of species diversification are discussed.

A new sesarmid crab of the genus Karstarma (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) associated with limestone formations in East Java, Indonesia.

A new stygobitic sesarmid crab species is described from underground freshwater cave streams in the southern Malang karst range on the south coast of East Java Province, Indonesia. Karstarma malang n. sp. is morphologically most similar to K. jacobsoni (Ihle, 1912) from an underground river cave system in the southern coast of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province in central Java, but differs in having a relatively larger cornea, less swollen ocular peduncle which lacks a ridge along the median part, proportionately shorter ambulatory legs and a more slender male first gonopod. This paper increases the number of the species of Karstarma Davie Ng, 2007, to 16; the new species being the eighth of the genus from Indonesia. It is also the third species which has a distinctly reduced cornea.

Plio-Pleistocene phylogeography of the Southeast Asian Blue Panchax killifish, Aplocheilus panchax.

The complex climatic and geological history of Southeast Asia has shaped this region's high biodiversity. In particular, sea level fluctuations associated with repeated glacial cycles during the Pleistocene both facilitated, and limited, connectivity between populations. In this study, we used data from two mitochondrial and three anonymous nuclear markers to determine whether a fresh/brackish water killifish, Aplocheilus panchax, Hamilton, 1822, could be used to further understand how climatic oscillations and associated sea level fluctuations have shaped the distribution of biota within this region, and whether such patterns show evidence of isolation within palaeodrainage basins. Our analyses revealed three major mitochondrial clades within A. panchax. The basal divergence of A. panchax mitochondrial lineages was approximately 3.5 Ma, whilst the subsequent divergence timings of these clades occurred early Pleistocene (~2.6 Ma), proceeding through the Pleistocene. Continuous phylogeographic analysis showed a clear west-east dispersal followed by rapid radiation across Southeast Asia. Individuals from Krabi, just north of the Isthmus of Kra, were more closely related to the Indian lineages, providing further evidence for a freshwater faunal disjunction at the Isthmus of Kra biogeographic barrier. Our results suggest that Sulawesi, across the Wallace Line, was colonised relatively recently (~30 ka). Nuclear DNA is less geographically structured, although Mantel tests indicated that nuclear genetic distances were correlated with geographic proximity. Overall, these results imply that recent gene flow, as opposed to historical isolation, has been the key factor determining patterns of nuclear genetic variation in A. panchax, however, some evidence of historical isolation is retained within the mitochondrial genome. Our study further validates the existence of a major biogeographic boundary at the Kra Isthmus, and also demonstrates the use of widely distributed fresh/brackishwater species in phylogeographic studies, and their ability to disperse across major marine barriers in relatively recent time periods.

The atyid shrimps from Lake Lindu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia with description of two new species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea).

The atyid shrimp Caridina linduensis Roux, 1904, has not been reported since its description more than a century ago. We here redescribe and figure this poorly known species based on new material from its type locality, Lake Lindu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Two new species, C. dali sp. nov. and C. kaili sp. nov. are also found in this lake and they are described and illustrated. Compared to C. linduensis, C. dali sp. nov. is distinguished by its relatively shorter rostrum which only overreaches the end of basal segment of antennular peduncle and the fewer teeth on the incisor process of the mandible. Caridina kaili sp. nov. can be separated from C. linduensis by its extremely short rostrum, which reaches almost or just reaches the end of the basal segment of the antennular peduncle, proportionately stouter second pereiopod and larger egg size. The two new species also prefer different habitats; C. linduensis is a true lake inhabitant, C. dali sp. nov. can be found both in the lake itself and associated streams while C. kaili sp. nov. is an obligate stream species.

Mitigating the impact of oil-palm monoculture on freshwater fishes in Southeast Asia.

Anthropogenic land-cover change is driving biodiversity loss worldwide. At the epicenter of this crisis lies Southeast Asia, where biodiversity-rich forests are being converted to oil-palm monocultures. As demand for palm oil increases, there is an urgent need to find strategies that maintain biodiversity in plantations. Previous studies found that retaining forest patches within plantations benefited some terrestrial taxa but not others. However, no study has focused on aquatic taxa such as fishes, despite their importance to human well-being. We assessed the efficacy of forested riparian reserves in conserving freshwater fish biodiversity in oil-palm monoculture by sampling stream fish communities in an oil-palm plantation in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Forested riparian reserves maintained preconversion local fish species richness and functional diversity. In contrast, local and total species richness, biomass, and functional diversity declined markedly in streams without riparian reserves. Mechanistically, riparian reserves appeared to increase local species richness by increasing leaf litter cover and maintaining coarse substrate. The loss of fishes specializing in leaf litter and coarse substrate decreased functional diversity and altered community composition in oil-palm plantation streams that lacked riparian reserves. Thus, a land-sharing strategy that incorporates the retention of forested riparian reserves may maintain the ecological integrity of fish communities in oil-palm plantations. We urge policy makers and growers to make retention of riparian reserves in oil-palm plantations standard practice, and we encourage palm-oil purchasers to source only palm oil from plantations that employ this practice.

Dead shrimp blues: a global assessment of extinction risk in freshwater shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea).

We present the first global assessment of extinction risk for a major group of freshwater invertebrates, caridean shrimps. The risk of extinction for all 763 species was assessed using the IUCN Red List criteria that include geographic ranges, habitats, ecology and past and present threats. The Indo-Malayan region holds over half of global species diversity, with a peak in Indo-China and southern China. Shrimps primarily inhabit flowing water; however, a significant subterranean component is present, which is more threatened than the surface fauna. Two species are extinct with a further 10 possibly extinct, and almost one third of species are either threatened or Near Threatened (NT). Threats to freshwater shrimps include agricultural and urban pollution impact over two-thirds of threatened and NT species. Invasive species and climate change have the greatest overall impact of all threats (based on combined timing, scope and severity of threats).

Paleo-drainage basin connectivity predicts evolutionary relationships across three Southeast Asian biodiversity hotspots.

Understanding factors driving diversity across biodiversity hotspots is critical for formulating conservation priorities in the face of ongoing and escalating environmental deterioration. While biodiversity hotspots encompass a small fraction of Earth's land surface, more than half the world's plants and two-thirds of terrestrial vertebrate species are endemic to these hotspots. Tropical Southeast (SE) Asia displays extraordinary species richness, encompassing four biodiversity hotspots, though disentangling multiple potential drivers of species richness is confounded by the region's dynamic geological and climatic history. Here, we use multilocus molecular genetic data from dense multispecies sampling of freshwater fishes across three biodiversity hotspots, to test the effect of Quaternary climate change and resulting drainage rearrangements on aquatic faunal diversification. While Cenozoic geological processes have clearly shaped evolutionary history in SE Asian halfbeak fishes, we show that paleo-drainage re-arrangements resulting from Quaternary climate change played a significant role in the spatiotemporal evolution of lowland aquatic taxa, and provide priorities for conservation efforts.

A new record of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium spinipes (Schenkel, 1902) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae) from Taiwan, with notes on its taxonomy.

The giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium spinipes (Schenkel, 1902) is recorded from Taiwan for the first time and extends the distribution of the species to north of the Tropic of Cancer. The Taiwanese specimens differ slightly from material from Indonesian Papua in the density of the spination of the adult second pereipods, the relative length of the ridge of the posterior submedian plate of thoracite sternite 4, and the color of the carapace, abdomen and pleural condyles.