Sónia Ferreira

Unravelling biodiversity, evolution and threats to conservation in the Sahara‐Sahel

Deserts and arid regions are generally perceived as bare and rather homogeneous areas of low diversity. The Sahara is the largest warm desert in the world and together with the arid Sahel displays high topographical and climatic heterogeneity, and has experienced recent and strong climatic oscillations that have greatly shifted biodiversity distribution and community composition. The large size, remoteness and long‐term political instability of the Sahara‐Sahel, have limited knowledge on its biodiversity. However, over the last decade, there have been an increasing number of published scientific studies based on modern geomatic and molecular tools, and broad sampling of taxa of these regions. This review tracks trends in knowledge about biodiversity patterns, processes and threats across the Sahara‐Sahel, and anticipates needs for biodiversity research and conservation. Recent studies are changing completely the perception of regional biodiversity patterns. Instead of relatively low species diversity with distribution covering most of the region, studies now suggest a high rate of endemism and larger number of species, with much narrower and fragmented ranges, frequently limited to micro‐hotspots of biodiversity. Molecular‐based studies are also unravelling cryptic diversity associated with mountains, which together with recent distribution atlases, allows identifying integrative biogeographic patterns in biodiversity distribution. Mapping of multivariate environmental variation (at 1 km × 1 km resolution) of the region illustrates main biogeographical features of the Sahara‐Sahel and supports recently hypothesised dispersal corridors and refugia. Micro‐scale water‐features present mostly in mountains have been associated with local biodiversity hotspots. However, the distribution of available data on vertebrates highlights current knowledge gaps that still apply to a large proportion of the Sahara‐Sahel. Current research is providing insights into key evolutionary and ecological processes, including causes and timing of radiation and divergence for multiple taxa, and associating the onset of the Sahara with diversification processes for low‐mobility vertebrates. Examples of phylogeographic patterns are showing the importance of allopatric speciation in the Sahara‐Sahel, and this review presents a synthetic overview of the most commonly hypothesised diversification mechanisms. Studies are also stressing that biodiversity is threatened by increasing human activities in the region, including overhunting and natural resources prospection, and in the future by predicted global warming. A representation of areas of conflict, landmines, and natural resources extraction illustrates how human activities and regional insecurity are hampering biodiversity research and conservation. Although there are still numerous knowledge gaps for the optimised conservation of biodiversity in the region, a set of research priorities is provided to identify the framework data needed to support regional conservation planning.

European Red List of dragonflies

The European Red List is a review of the conservation status of c.6,000 European species (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, freshwater fishes, butterflies, dragonflies, and selected groups of beetles, ...

Effects of prescribed fire on vegetation structure and breeding birds in young Pinus pinaster stands of northern Portugal

The effects of prescribed fire on understory vegetation structure and bird populations of Pinus pinaster stands in northern Portugal were assessed by using a synchronic sampling approach. During the spring of 1998 and 1999, 49 plots (of which 40 had been burned from 0.5 to 5 years ago) were characterised in terms of vegetation structure, surrounding landscape composition and breeding bird populations. Linear regression analysis and ANOVA were used to evaluate the effects of prescribed fire on vegetation and birds. Herbaceous vegetation showed a modal growth with a maximum development ca. 3 years after fire. Shrub development increased linearly with time since fire. Understory vegetation structure 5 years after fire was similar to control plots. Bird abundance and richness were influenced by plot variables (increased with stand age) and landscape variables (decreased with the amount of shrublands and eucalyptus stands surrounding the plot). After controlling for the effect of these variables, time since fire affected bird abundance, particularly for shrub/ground nesters. Minimum abundance occurred in the second or third breeding season after fire, possibly due to site tenacity or increased food availability. Prescribed burns did not affect bird richness. The size of the burned plots did not affect bird abundance or richness, probably because most burns were very small. Measures to increase bird diversity in these forests include maintaining other tree species and snags, avoiding the use of eucalyptus, and keeping a 5-year interval between consecutive prescribed burns in a given stand. The average size of burns could probably be increased without detrimental effects on bird populations.

Urinary ATP May Be a Dynamic Biomarker of Detrusor Overactivity in Women with Overactive Bladder Syndrome

Background Nowadays, there is a considerable bulk of evidence showing that ATP has a prominent role in the regulation of human urinary bladder function and in the pathophysiology of detrusor overactivity. ATP mediates nonadrenergic-noncholinergic detrusor contractions in overactive bladders. In vitro studies have demonstrated that uroepithelial cells and cholinergic nerves from overactive human bladder samples (OAB) release more ATP than controls. Here, we compared the urinary ATP concentration in samples collected non-invasively from OAB women with detrusor overactivity and age-matched controls. Methods Patients with neurologic diseases, history of malignancy, urinary tract infections or renal impairment (creatinine clearance <70 ml/min) were excluded. All patients completed a 3-day voiding diary, a 24 h urine collection and blood sampling to evaluate creatinine clearance. Urine samples collected during voluntary voids were immediately freeze-preserved for ATP determination by the luciferin-luciferase bioluminescence assay; for comparison purposes, samples were also tested for urinary nerve growth factor (NGF) by ELISA. Results The urinary content of ATP, but not of NGF, normalized to patients’ urine creatinine levels (ATP/Cr) or urinary volume (ATP.Vol) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in OAB women with detrusor overactivity (n = 34) than in healthy controls (n = 30). Significant differences between the two groups were still observed by boosting urinary ATP/Cr content after water intake, but these were not detected for NGF/Cr. In OAB patients, urinary ATP/Cr levels correlated inversely with mean voided volumes determined in a 3-day voiding diary. Conclusion A high area under the receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curve (0.741; 95% CI 0.62–0.86; P<0.001) is consistent with urinary ATP/Cr being a highly sensitive dynamic biomarker for assessing detrusor overactivity in women with OAB syndrome.

A critical checklist of the Odonata of Portugal

Abstract The Odonata checklist of continental Portugal, Madeira and the Azores includes 65 species. Besides Sympetrum nigrifemur, an endemic of Madeira and the Canary Islands, and the unique population of the Nearctic Ischnura hastata in the Azores, the species composition reflects a higher proportion of western Mediterranean and Ethiopian elements than any other European country. An isolated occurrence of Coenagrion pulchellum was confirmed. Due to obvious misidentifications and to the loss of voucher specimens of questionable species, 22 taxa were rejected. Future records of additional species are predicted.

New EPIC nuclear DNA sequence markers to improve the resolution of phylogeographic studies of coenagrionids and other odonates

While phylogeographic data provide valuable information to inform conservation plans, there are comparatively few Odonata phylogeographic studies. This lack of research is partially due to a lack of independent DNA markers with appropriate levels of polymorphism that PCR-amplify in a range of species. We followed an exon-primed, intron-crossing (EPIC) PCR strategy to develop five new, polymorphic nuclear DNA sequence loci (six distinct DNA fragments) for the southern damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale. These markers were: cell division cycle 5 protein (CDC5), arginine methyltransferase (PRMT), acetylglucosaminyl-transferase (AgT), myosin light chain (MLC) and phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI). Between three and five of these new markers could be PCR-amplified in five other species from the genus Coenagrion; one locus (PRMT) can be used in 26 other species of odonates that we examined, including three species of Anisoptera belonging to the genus Onychogomphus. These new nuclear genetic markers will be useful for phylogeographic studies in a range of odonate species, but also for phylogenetic studies, providing a particularly useful complement to the existing mitochondrial and nuclear loci.

Impact of landscape on spatial genetic structure and diversity of Coenagrion mercuriale (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) in northern France

Loss and fragmentation of habitat is a current main cause of biodiversity loss in freshwater habitats. Odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) depend on these habitats to complete their development. Fragmentation may be a particular threat for odonates because it generates a network of small habitat patches within which populations could suffer from isolation and loss of genetic diversity. The southern damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale is categorized on the IUCN red list as Near Threatened, largely because of population fragmentation and demographic declines associated with changes in land use. Small populations at the margin of this species’ range are of particular concern because they would be prone to detrimental effects of habitat fragmentation if this species were a poor disperser. We sampled C. mercuriale in 16 habitat patches (localities) at 4 main sites in the department of Pas-de-Calais in northwestern France to quantify factors that affect dispersal and genetic diversity. Specimens were genotyped at 12 microsatellite loci to quantify genetic diversity, genetic differentiation, and the potential effect of landscape variables on genetic differentiation, and to detect any potential source–sink structure. Habitat separation had a limiting effect on dispersal by C. mercuriale, resulting in 3 main genetic clusters and weak divergence at the main site of Vallée de la Course. Genetic differentiation was low in each main site, implying that the localities within sites were connected at scales of up to ∼2 km, albeit with some evidence for isolation at the more isolated localities. Given the degree of isolation of some areas and a lack of apparent genetic mixing in the intervening populations, any movement among the most distantly separated sites must have occurred some time ago. We identified barriers to dispersal, such as woodland, but detecting an unambiguous effect of certain variables, such as urbanization, was difficult because many landscape features were highly correlated.

Local extinctions and range contraction of the endangered Coenagrion mercuriale in North Africa

Freshwater biodiversity is currently threatened worldwide. In North Africa, 24.4% of Odonata are regionally threatened with extinction. In this region, freshwater resources are particularly scarce and an increasing shortage of water is expected. To better understand the current threats to the endangered North African damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale we updated information on extinct and extant populations in North Africa and characterized these localities with regard to their topography, climate and anthropogenic use (anthrome). The C. mercuriale populations are being lost and this damselfly is experiencing range contraction. In Morocco nearly 45% of the populations have become extinct in recent decades and in Tunisia a single extant population remains. This species, which occupied predominantly areas of high value for human settlement, is now mainly restricted to high altitude areas. Nevertheless, the extant populations remain under threat of extinction due to increasing demand for water, changes in agricultural practices and land conversion.

Hypolestes hatuey sp. nov.: a new species of the enigmatic genus Hypolestes (Odonata, Hypolestidae) from Hispaniola

Both sexes of Hypolestes hatuey Torres-Cambas, sp. nov. (Odonata: Zygoptera: Hypolestidae) from Hispaniola are described and illustrated here. This newly described species differs from H. trinitatis and H. clara, the other two species within the genus, by the morphology of the genital ligula and male cerci. Females of H. hatuey sp. nov. differ from H. clara by the shape of the female antehumeral stripe and wing venation. Morphological distinctiveness in males is supported by genetic differences in the 16S mitochondrial gene. Following the categories and criteria of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, we suggest this species should be listed as Data Deficient (DD), given that available data on its distribution are too limited to assess its risk of extinction.

Identification of evolutionarily significant units in the Cuban endemic damselfly Hypolestes trinitatis (Odonata: Hypolestidae)

Species classification may not reflect the underlying/cryptic genetic diversity which should otherwise be conserved as it represents the potential of populations to evolve and adapt. The identification of evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) allows cryptic genetic diversity to be taken into account when designating conservation priorities. Here, we used mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences integrated with ecological niche models (ENM) to identify ESUs in Hypolestes trinitatis, a threatened Cuban endemic damselfly species. We found that this species comprises two distinct genetic groups in Central and Eastern Cuba respectively, which are also geographically isolated, as shown by ENM. Therefore, we propose these groups to be considered as different ESUs. According with their extent of occurrence, number of locations and inferred decline of habitat extent and quality, Central and Eastern ESUs qualify as Endangered [EN B1b(iii)] and Vulnerable [VU B1b(iii)], respectively.