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Monday, September 21st, 2020
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| 3:54a | [Botany • 2020] Wild Orchid Diversity of Highland Forest in the Heart of Borneo: Long Banga and Tama Abu, Sarawak
Abstract The Heart of Borneo (HoB) initiative facilitates conservation and environment protection while enhancing sustainable development that safeguards the welfare of natural resources and inhabitants of the island. The HoB research expeditions conducted in the Long Banga and Tama Abu were aimed to document the highland orchid species inhabited in one of the largest remaining transboundary rainforests in the world, which are racing dissolution from their habitat. Thus the resolution for their conservation in situ and ex situ could be drafted meritoriously. The research expeditions in the protected transboundary forest areas revealed a total of 206 species and 59 genera. A total of 118 species of 46 genera were recorded during the HoB Long Banga 2016 expedition, while 117 species in 46 genera were found from the HoB Tama Abu 2017 expedition. Roughly 70% of the species documented were epiphytes. A few of them were mycoheterotrophs, such as Aphyllorchis pallida, Cystorchis aphylla, and Tropidia saprophytica, and several «jewel» orchids, including Cystorchis stenoglossa and Macodes petola. Astonishingly, we discovered a number of endemic and newly recorded orchid species for Borneo. In Long Banga, the riverine forests are home to a higher number of orchids than the inland forests, owing to the presence of host trees with a spreading crown structure and moist bark texture suited epiphyte colonisation. In addition, the riverine forests are banked by a swampy alluvial vegetation that encourage the terrestrial species to grow in. Sites of the inland forests were seen disturbed with wide canopy gaps lacking of the emergent layer. Contrarily, in Tama Abu, the inland forest perceived as the more preferable habitats for orchids to thrive in as it was an undisturbed forested belt. In addition, they had a higher humidity essential for the orchid growth. It was not surprisingly, that a high abundance of orchid species was encountered in the undisturbed inland hill forest roofed with dense tree canopy cover. The hills transitioned into a montane vegetation with a lower number of species. This parameter peaked in a mossy forest, a distinct habitat harbouring endemic and rare species. In addition, ten endemic species are assessed as EN B2b(iii). Herewith, our discovery infers the need for a continuous biodiversity monitoring and conservation assessment to maintain orchid species survival and to reveal the accurate species richness within the highland habitats of Sarawak. Additionally, underlined herein is the need for establishment of an arboretum or a conservation centre for orchids to accommodate the botanical study. Keywords: conservation assessment, endemism, inland forest, Northern Sarawak, Malaysia, Orchidaceae, riverine forest, species composition
Conclusions: The generalised records obtained from the two expeditions in the northeast region of Sarawak’s Heart of Borneo strengthens the idea that the Sarawak’s highland forest harbours a vast variety of orchid species. A total of 206 species and 59 genera were collected from the inland montane and riverine forests, as well as non-trail sites in Long Banga and Tama Abu forests. Bulbophyllum, Dendrobium, and Coelogyne were the genera with the highest number of species. Most of the documented species were epiphytes, including ten endemics and threatened species, as well as two species newly recorded for Borneo. Here, we emphasise the importance and influence of each vegetation type on the species abundance, where the highest diversity was found in the inland montane forests. In the inland montane forests, undisturbed sites were dominated by emergent trees with dense and spreading crown structure providing moisture that is suitable for both epiphyte and terrestrial plant colonisation. However, an even higher diversity of orchids could be expected, if all found specimens were fertile. Therefore, further cultivation of the living plants in an arboretum or an ex situ conservation prior to species identification is undoubtedly important. Edward Entalai Besi, Dome Nikong, Runi Sylvester Pungga and Rusea Go. 2020. Wild Orchid Diversity of Highland Forest in the Heart of Borneo: Long Banga and Tama Abu, Sarawak. Nature Conservation Research. 5(Suppl.1): 125–135. DOI: 10.24189/ncr.2020.048 Electronic Supplement 1. Orchid species found in Tama Abu and Long Banga, Sarawak, Heart of Borneo Electronic Supplement 2. List of orchid species found in the highland forests in Long Banga and Tama Abu, Heart of Borneo, including information on the growth habits and localities | ||||||||||
| 6:07a | [Herpetology • 2020] Amazophrynella gardai • A New Tiny Toad Species of Amazophrynella (Anura: Bufonidae) from east of the Guiana Shield in Amazonia, Brazil
Abstract The combination of different approaches has successfully delimited new species within many Neotropical species complexes traditionally classified as a single nominal organism. Recent studies have shown that the Amazonian endemic genus Amazophrynella, currently composed of 12 small-sized species, could harbor several additional species. Based on morphology and molecular data, we describe a new species of Amazophrynella from east of the Guiana Shield, in Pará state, Brazil. The new species is characterized by having one of the biggest size of the genus (SVL of males 16.0–17.8 mm and females 22.9–24.4 mm), presence of a large palmar tubercle (occupying 2/4 of the palmar surface), 5.6–8.1% uncorrected p-distance from its sister clade (including A. teko, A. sp.1, and A. manaos) for the 16S mitochondrial gene, and 8.8% for the COI. The new species described here represents a newly discovered lineage. Of the 12 Amazophrynella species currently recognized, two were describe in the last century (A. bokermanni and A. minuta) and the remaining species were recently discovered and described (in the last six years), which underscores the degree to which species richness of Amazophrynella is underestimated.
  Amazophrynella gardai sp. nov. Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished using the following combination of traits: (1) large size for the genus (SVL of males 16.0–17.8 mm and females 22.9–24.4 mm); (2) snout elongated, acuminated in lateral view and truncated in dorsal view; (3) dorsal skin spiculated (small sized warts with pointed tips); (4) ventral region with dark brown blotches, with a white background; (5) palmar and subarticular tubercles rounded; (6) big palmar tubercle, occupying 2/4 of the palmar surface. Natural history (Fig. 7). One male individual (ZUFMS-AMP12822) showed stiff-legged behavior and thanatosis (death-feigning) during manipulation for photographs. The stiff-legged behavior is a defensive strategy to avoid detection by predators and thanatosis is used to avoid subjugation (Bertoluci et al., 2007; Toledo, Sazima & Haddad, 2011). Russel (2002) documented death-feigning behavior in Amazophrynella “minuta” from Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Loreto, Peru (probably A. matses or A. amazonicola, see Rojas et al., 2015). This is the first report of stiff-legged behavior in the genus Amazophrynella. We found individuals of Amazophrynella gardai sp. nov. by visual search and pitfall traps inside the forest (from 500 m up to 2,000 m from the edge). During visual search (both diurnal and nocturnal periods), we found three males (ZUFMS-AMP12822-24), one female (ZUFMS-AMP12821), and an amplected couple (ZUFMS-AMP12828-29) on the leaf litter. The individuals were in “Terra firme”, nearby to rivulets inside the forest, concentrating their activity during the morning, between 8:00–11:00 h am. Using the pitfall traps, we collected one female (ZUFMS-AMP12825) and one amplected couple (ZUFMS-AMP12826-27). February comprises the rainy season in the region and the presence of amplected couples may indicate that Amazophrynela gardai sp. nov. was in its breeding season. However, we have not observed males in calling activity. Etymology The specific name is a patronym honoring Prof. Adrian Antonio Garda (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN) for his extensive contributions to the knowledge of Neotropical anurans, his friendship, and his mentoring of SM and DJS during their doctorate degrees. Distribution (Fig. 8). Amazophynella gardai sp. nov. is known only from its type locality, Óbidos municipality, Pará state, Brazil. The area where we found the new species is characterized as a Alluvial Forest type, with smaller trees where it is possible to observe a high concentration of palm trees. Sarah Mângia, Ricardo Koroiva and Diego José Santana. 2020. A New Tiny Toad Species of Amazophrynella (Anura: Bufonidae) from east of the Guiana Shield in Amazonia, Brazil. PeerJ. 8:e9887. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9887  | ||||||||||
| 7:28a | [Fungi • 2020] Antrodia yunnanensis (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) • Morphological Characteristics and Phylogenetic Analyses reveal A New Polypore from China
Abstract A new polypore, Antrodia yunnanensis, collected from southwestern China, is described and illustrated based on morphological characteristics and molecular evidence. It is characterized by annual, resupinate basidiocarps with greyish blue to dark greyish blue pore surface upon drying, round to angular pores measuring 2–3 per mm, a dimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, subicular hyphae bearing fine crystals, and cylindrical, thin-walled, smooth basidiospores measuring 7–9.9 × 2.5–3.1 µm. Molecular phylogeny inferred from ITS and nLSU sequence data showed that samples of A. yunnanensis formed a distinctive lineage in Antrodia sensu lato, and it nested a sister group with A. tropica. Keywords: brown-rot fungi, Fomitopsidaceae, phylogeny, polypore, taxonomy, Fungi
Antrodia yunnanensis M.L. Han & Q. An, sp. nov. Antrodia yunnanensis is characterized by annual, resupinate basidiocarps with greyish blue to dark greyish blue pore surface upon drying; round to angular pores measuring 2–3 per mm, a dimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, subicular hyphae bearing fine crystals, and cylindrical, thin-walled, smooth basidiospores measuring 7–9.9 × 2.5–3.1 µm. Type.— China. Yunnan Province, Jingdong County, Wuliangshan Nature Reserve, 6 October 2017, on living angiosperm tree, Han 1157 (holotype, LFNC!). Etymology.—yunnanensis (Lat.): referring to distribution of the species in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. Mei-Ling Han, Qi An, Wen-Xian Fu, Xuan Chen, Tian Bu and Wen-Jing Li. 2020. Morphological Characteristics and Phylogenetic Analyses reveal Antrodia yunnanensis sp. nov. (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) from China. Phytotaxa. 460(1).; 1–11. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.460.1.1 | ||||||||||
| 11:13a | [Diplopoda • 2020] Coxobolellus gen. nov. • Integrative Taxonomy of the New Millipede Genus (Spirobolida : Pseudospirobolellidae), with Descriptions of Ten New Species
Abstract Pseudospirobolellidae is a poorly known family of spirobolidan millipedes with only two genera and five described species. Yet, the descriptive taxonomy and molecular systematics of this group have been largely neglected. Therefore, the present work presents an integrative taxonomic study of new pseudospirobolellid taxa in Thailand. To this end, two mitochondrial gene fragments (COI and 16S rRNA) combined with morphological characters were used to define the genus Coxobolellus, gen. nov. with 10 new species, viz. C. albiceps, sp. nov., C. compactogonus, sp. nov., C. fuscus, sp. nov., C. nodosus, sp. nov., C. serratus, sp. nov., C. simplex, sp. nov., C. tenebris, sp. nov., C. tigris, sp. nov., C. transversalis, sp. nov. and C. valvatus, sp. nov. The interspecific COI sequence divergences among the new species ranged from 6 to 15%. The intergeneric COI sequence divergence between species of Coxobolellus, gen. nov., Benoitolus birgitae and Pseudospirobolellus sp. ranged from 20 to 23%. Three major morphological differences separate Coxobolellus, gen. nov. from Benoitolus and Pseudospirobolellus, namely (1) the protruding process on the 3rd (and 4th) coxae on male legs, (2) the posterior gonopod telopodite divided into two parts, and (3) a conspicuous opening pore at the mesal margin at the end of the coxal part of the posterior gonopod. Thus, the new genus is well supported by both mtDNA and morphological evidence, while the delimitation of the 10 new species is supported by the congruence between mtDNA and morphological data. Yet, with respect to the relationships of Benoitolus birgitae, morphological data suggest a similarity with Coxobolellus, gen. nov. and Pseudospirobolellus, whereas mtDNA data place this species in the Pachybolidae. Further phylogenetic analyses are needed to explore this apparent incongruence and test the monophyly of Pseudospirobolellidae. Keywords: mitochondrial DNA, new genus, phylogeny, species delineation Class DIPLOPODA de Blainville in Gervais, 1844 Order SPIROBOLIDA Bollman, 1893 Suborder SPIROBOLIDEA Bollman, 1893 Family Pseudospirobolellidae Brölemann, 1913 Genus Coxobolellus, gen. nov. Type species: Coxobolellus tenebris, sp. nov. Distribution: Hitherto known only from Thailand Ecology: Specimens of Coxobolellus gen. nov. are mostly found under leaf litter. Sometimes specimens are found inside rotten wood or climbing on trees. Etymology: The name emphasises the importance of coxal characters in the diagnosis of the new genus.
Coxobolellus albiceps, sp. nov. Etymology: The specific epithet is a Latin noun in apposition, meaning ‘white/pale head’ and referring to the contrastingly pale head in living specimens (Fig. 13A–C). Coxobolellus compactogonus, sp. nov. Etymology: The specific epithet is a noun in apposition referring to the particularly compact posterior gonopod.
Coxobolellus fuscus, sp. nov. Etymology The specific name is a Latin adjective, meaning ‘brown’ and referring to the general body colour of living specimens (Fig. 13D). Coxobolellus nodosus, sp. nov. Etymology The specific epithet is a Latin adjective referring to the pigmented node at the tip of the anterior gonopod telopodite of this species. Coxobolellus serratus, sp. nov. Etymology The specific epithet is a Latin adjective referring to the prominent serration of the telopodital part of the posterior gonopod. Coxobolellus simplex, sp. nov. Etymology The specific epithet is a Latin adjective referring to the particularly simple posterior gonopod.
Coxobolellus tenebris, sp. nov. Etymology The specific epithet is a Latin adjective, meaning ‘dark’ and referring to the general body colour of living specimens.
Coxobolellus tigris, sp. nov. Etymology The specific epithet is a Latin noun in apposition, meaning ‘tiger’ and referring to the colour pattern on living specimens (Fig. 13F). Coxobolellus transversalis, sp. nov. Etymology The specific epithet is a Latin adjective referring to the transverse truncation of the anterior gonopod coxa. Coxobolellus valvatus, sp. nov. Etymology The specific epithet is a Latin adjective referring to the prominently toothed vulva valve. Piyatida Pimvichai, Henrik Enghoff, Somsak Panha and Thierry Backeljau. 2020. Integrative Taxonomy of the New Millipede Genus Coxobolellus, gen. nov. (Diplopoda : Spirobolida : Pseudospirobo นักวิจัยคณะวิทย์ฯ มมส ค้นพบกิ้งกือกระบอกสกุลใหม่ของโลก (new genus) จำนวนกว่า 10 สปีชีส์  |
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