@article {1929, title = {The strong influence of collection bias on biodiversity knowledge shortfalls of Brazilian terrestrial biodiversity}, journal = {Diversity and Distributions}, volume = {22}, year = {2016}, month = {30/09/2016}, pages = {1232-1244}, abstract = {

Aim: The knowledge of biodiversity facets such as species composition, distribution and ecological niche is fundamental for the construction of biogeographic hypotheses and conservation strategies. However, the knowledge on these facets is affected by major shortfalls, which are even more pronounced in the tropics. This study aims to evaluate the effect of sampling bias and variation in collection effort on Linnean, Wallacean and Hutchinsonian shortfalls and diversity measures as species richness, endemism and beta-diversity.
Location: Brazil.
Methods: We have built a database with over 1.5 million records of arthropods, vertebrates and angiosperms of Brazil, based on specimens deposited in scientific collections and on the taxonomic literature. We used null models to test the collection bias regarding the proximity to access routes. We also tested the influence of sampling effort on diversity measures by regression models. To investigate the Wallacean shortfall, we modelled the geographic distribution of over 4000 species and compared their observed distribution with models. To quantify the Hutchinsonian shortfall, we used environmental Euclidean distance of the records to identify regions with poorly sampled environmental conditions. To estimate the Linnean shortfall, we measured the similarity of species composition between regions close to and far from access routes.
Results: We demonstrated that despite the differences in sampling effort, the strong collection bias affects all taxonomic groups equally, generating a pattern of spatially biased sampling effort. This collection pattern contributes greatly to the biodiversity knowledge shortfalls, which directly affects the knowledge on the distribution patterns of diversity.
Main conclusions: The knowledge on species richness, species composition and endemism in the Brazilian biodiversity is strongly biased spatially. Despite differences in sampling effort for each taxonomic group, roadside bias affected them equally. Species composition similarity decreased with the distance from access routes, suggesting collection surveys at sites far from roads could increase the probability of sampling new geographic records or new species.

Recommended citation: Oliveira, U., Paglia, A.P., Brescovit, A.D., de Carvalho, C.J.B., Silva, D.P., Rezende, D.T., Leite, F.S.F., Batista, J.A.N., Barbosa, J.P.P.P., Stehmann, J.R., Ascher, J.S., de Vasconcelos, M.F., De Marco, P., Jr, L\öwenberg-Neto, P., Dias, P.G., Ferro, V.G. and Santos, A.J. (2016): The strong influence of collection bias on biodiversity knowledge shortfalls of Brazilian terrestrial biodiversity. Diversity and Distributions, 22 (12): 1232-1244. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12489

}, keywords = {beta-diversity, endemism, Hutchinsonian shortfall, Linnean shortfall, species distribution models, species richness, Wallacean shortfall}, issn = {1366-9516, 1472-4642}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12489}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ddi.12489}, author = {Oliveira, Ubirajara and Paglia, Adriano Pereira and Brescovit, Antonio D. and Carvalho, Claudio J. B. and Silva, Daniel Paiva and Rezende, Daniella T. and Leite, Felipe S{\'a} Fortes and Batista, Jo{\~a}o Aguiar Nogueira and Barbosa, Jo{\~a}o Paulo Peixoto Pena and Stehmann, Jo{\~a}o Renato and Ascher, John S. and Vasconcelos, Marcelo Ferreira and De Marco, Paulo and L{\"o}wenberg-Neto, Peter and Dias, Priscila Guimar{\~a}es and Ferro, Viviane Gianluppi and Santos, Adalberto J.} } @article {1374, title = {Spatial patterns of phylogenetic diversity and endemism in the Western Ghats, India: A case study using ancient predatory arthropods}, journal = {Ecology and Evolution}, volume = {11}, year = {2021}, month = {12/11/2021}, pages = {16499-16513}, abstract = {

The Western Ghats (WG) mountain chain in peninsular India is a global biodiversity hotspot, one in which patterns of phylogenetic diversity and endemism remain to be documented across taxa. We used a well-characterized community of ancient soil predatory arthropods from the WG to understand diversity gradients, identify hotspots of endemism and conservation importance, and highlight poorly studied areas with unique biodiversity. We compiled an occurrence dataset for 19 species of scolopendrid centipedes, which was used to predict areas of habitat suitability using bioclimatic and geomorphological variables in Maxent. We used predicted distributions and a time-calibrated species phylogeny to calculate taxonomic and phylogenetic indices of diversity, endemism, and turnover. We observed a decreasing latitudinal gradient in taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity in the WG, which supports expectations from the latitudinal diversity gradient. The southern WG had the highest phylogenetic diversity and endemism, and was represented by lineages with long branch lengths as observed from relative phylogenetic diversity/endemism. These results indicate the persistence of lineages over evolutionary time in the southern WG and are consistent with predictions from the southern WG refuge hypothesis. The northern WG, despite having low phylogenetic diversity, had high values of phylogenetic endemism represented by distinct lineages as inferred from relative phylogenetic endemism. The distinct endemic lineages in this subregion might be adapted to life in lateritic plateaus characterized by poor soil conditions and high seasonality. Sites across an important biogeographic break, the Palghat Gap, broadly grouped separately in comparisons of species turnover along the WG. The southern WG and Nilgiris, adjoining the Palghat Gap, harbor unique centipede communities, where the causal role of climate or dispersal barriers in shaping diversity remains to be investigated. Our results highlight the need to use phylogeny and distribution data while assessing diversity and endemism patterns in the WG.

}, keywords = {biodiversity hotspots, centipedes, diversity gradients and endemism, peninsular India, species richness}, issn = {2045-7758}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8119}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.8119}, author = {Bharti, D. K. and Edgecombe, Gregory D. and Karanth, K. Praveen and Joshi, Jahnavi} } @article {289, title = {Character of woodland fragments affects distribution of myriapod assemblages in agricultural landscape}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {930}, year = {2020}, month = {28/04/2020}, pages = {139 - 151}, abstract = {

Fragments of woodland fulfil many irreplaceable functions in the agricultural landscape including being the main source of biodiversity of soil invertebrates. Due to intensive farming and land use changes, especially in the second half of the 20th century, fragments of woodland in agricultural landscape almost disappeared. This has led to a decrease in the diversity of invertebrates, especially those for which the presence of these woodland habitats in the landscape is a key element for survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of fragments of woodland (characterised by their area, vegetation structure, the amount of leaf litter layer and soil moisture) on the distribution of centipedes and millipedes (Myriapoda) in the agricultural landscape of South Moravia (Czech Republic). Myriapods were collected using pitfall traps during summer in 2016 and 2017. Results showed that activity-density of myriapods is positively correlated with thickness of the leaf litter layer. Moreover, the species richness of centipedes is positively correlated with increasing size of fragments of woodland although higher centipedes\’ activity-density was found in rather uniform woodlands in term of diversity of tree species.

}, keywords = {activity-density, area, Chilopoda, Diplopoda, landscape elements, species richness}, issn = {1313-2989}, doi = {10.3897/zookeys.930.48586}, url = {https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/48586/}, author = {Hor{\v n}{\'a}k, Ond{\v r}ej and Mock, Andrej and {\v S}arapatka, Bo{\v r}ivoj and Tuf, Ivan Hadri{\'a}n} }