Showing papers by "Fernando Z. Vaz-de-Mello published in 2021"
TL;DR: Sexually dimorphic structures in the abdomen of Pleurosticti, Glaphyridae, Phaenomeridinae, Passalidae and Omorgus are described and illustrated for the first time, providing future workers with the possibility to determine the sex of specimens based on external characters without the need for dissection.
17 citations
TL;DR: Its limitations are discussed from different perspectives: nomenclature, general pragmatism, and problems of DNA-based species delimitation in the light of the central aim of achieving a robust and stable nomenClature of organisms, essential for all applications of biodiversity research.
Abstract: New methods in taxonomy and systematics can influence the overall practice of formally naming and describing biodiversity. DNA barcoding has been controversial since its emergence, but now, large scale species descriptions exclusively based on barcodes have created what can be called a ‘new quality of performance’. Its limitations are discussed from different perspectives: nomenclature, general pragmatism, and problems of DNA-based species delimitation in the light of the central aim of achieving a robust and stable nomenclature of organisms, essential for all applications of biodiversity research. This issue needs to be addressed to prevent restraining the progress of taxonomy and its ability to contribute to modern science.
16 citations
Lancaster University1, Universidade Federal de Lavras2, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi3, Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária4, Environmental Change Institute5, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais6, University of Canterbury7, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais8, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso9, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute10
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that landscape-scale functional redundancy offsets the impact of local species losses and confers community-level resistance to primary forest disturbance, extending the spatial insurance hypothesis.
Abstract: Tropical forest biodiversity is being threatened by human activities, and species losses during forest disturbance can compromise important ecosystem functions and services. We assessed how species losses due to tropical forest disturbance affect community functional structure, using Amazonian dung beetles as a model group. We collected empirical data from 106 forest transects and used simulated extinction scenarios to determine how species loss influences community structure at regional and local scales. Although functional and taxonomic community metrics were largely unaffected by primary forest disturbance, they differed markedly between primary and secondary forests. However, our extinction scenarios demonstrated scale-dependence of species losses, whereby functional structure only eroded with species extinction at the local scale. Hence, we extend the spatial insurance hypothesis by demonstrating that landscape-scale functional redundancy offsets the impact of local species losses and confers community-level resistance to primary forest disturbance.
8 citations
TL;DR: The first part of the taxonomic revision of the subgenus Deltohyboma is presented in this paper, based on the examination of all type specimens and almost 9,800 specimens of which approximately 1,200, mostly males, had their genitalia studied.
Abstract: Deltochilum Eschscholtz, 1822 is perhaps the most speciose genus of the tribe Deltochilini sensu Tarasov & Dimitrov (2016) (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) and has been traditionally divided into eight subgenera. Among them, the subgenus Deltohyboma Lane, 1946, is the most speciose with 47 species, five of which are described here (D. genieri sp. nov., D. gilli sp. nov., D. susanae sp. nov., D. bolivariensis sp. nov. and D. inesae sp. nov.), and at least 165 species still undescribed. Due to the large number of species, and for practical purposes, the subgenus is here divided into 19 species-groups, with D. inesae sp. nov. left as incertae sedis. This division into species-groups will help in the reliable identification of species and will aid in the completion of the revision of subgenus. This report is the first part of the taxonomic revision of the subgenus Deltohyboma; it is based on the examination of all type specimens and almost 9,800 specimens of which approximately 1,200, mostly males, had their genitalia studied. The 19 species-groups recognized here are based mainly on characters described for the first time for Deltohyboma, namely, the state of a) the anterior margin of the clypeus (between the clypeal teeth), b) the internal margin of hypomera, c) the ventral face of the protibia, d) the posterior margin of the metafemur, and e) several new characters resulting from the first detailed study of the aedeagus and the endophallus of the group. Diagnosis, description, geographic distribution, composition and identifications keys (for males as well as males and females) for the species-groups are provided.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors predict the potential effects of future climate change on the geographical spatial distribution of the four most important (key) pastureland dung beetle species that are native to South America.
Abstract: Climate change is a serious threat, and it is necessary to prepare for the future climate conditions of grazing areas. Dung beetle species can help mitigate global warming by contributing to intense nutrient cycling and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by cattle farming. Additionally, dung beetles increase soil quality through bioturbation and reduce nematodes and hematophagous flies’ abundance in grasslands areas. There are several dung beetle species inhabiting South American pastures, however, the effects of climate change on their spatial distribution are still unknown. Here, we aimed to predict the potential effects of future climate change on the geographical spatial distribution of the four most important (“key”) pastureland dung beetle species that are native to South America. We used niche-based models and future climate simulations to predict species distribution through time. Our findings show radical reduction in the spatial range of dung beetle species, especially in recently opened areas, e.g., the Amazon region. We suggest that the consequences of these species’ spatial retraction will be correlated with ecosystem services depletion under future climate conditions, urgently necessitating pasture restoration and parasite control, as the introduction of new alien species is not encouraged.
7 citations
TL;DR: This is the first part of a revision of the type specimens of the South American Sericini, and raises Sayloria Frey, 1973, a former subgenus of Symmela Erichson, 1835 that includes three species, to genus level.
Abstract: This is the first part of a revision of the type specimens of the South American Sericini. Herein, we examine type specimens of Astaena described by Lawrence Webster Saylor (1913–1999). We provide diagnostic redescriptions, images of habitus, aedeagus, and labels of the type specimens of all 18 species described by him in the genus Astaena. We raise Sayloria Frey, 1973, a former subgenus of Symmela Erichson, 1835 that includes three species, to genus level. Our study results in the following new combinations and synonymy: Sayloria bicoloripes (Saylor, 1946) comb. nov. (= A. postnodata Frey, 1973 syn. nov.), S. abcora (Saylor, 1946) comb. nov. (= A. apolinarmaria Saylor, 1946 syn. nov.) and S. pottsi (Saylor, 1946) comb. nov.
6 citations
TL;DR: The Neotropical D. agenor species group of the subgenus Luederwaldtinia Martinez, 1951 is taxonomically reviewed and descriptions of new species and redescriptions were made after examining the type-specimens of the already described species.
Abstract: The Neotropical D agenor species group of the subgenus Luederwaldtinia Martinez, 1951 is taxonomically reviewed After examination of specimens in collections, the D agenor species group will consist of seventeen species, a leap from the former nine species: D agenor (Harold, 1869), D amplicollis (Harold, 1869), D belus (Harold, 1880), D centralis (Harold, 1869), D deyrollei (Harold, 1869), D sagittarius (Harold, 1869) stat rev, D tristis (Luederwaldt, 1923), D triquetrus (Luederwaldt, 1923), D validipilosus (Luederwaldt, 1931), D fornicatus (Luederwaldt, 1931) [transferred to D lucasi species group and to which D bosqi (Pereira, 1941) is considered to be a new synonym], D inachoides (Felsche, 1901) [transferred from the group fisus (Selenocopris)], D simplicicornis (Luederwaldt, 1935) [transferred from the group fisus (Selenocopris)], D subaeneus (Castelnau, 1840) [transferred from the D carbonarius species group], D rafanunezi sp nov from Mato Grosso, D henripittieri sp nov from Venezuela and D enioi sp nov from Guatemala and Costa Rica This review was based on external morphology and characters of the male genitalia (aedeagus and internal sac) Descriptions of new species and redescriptions were made after examining the type-specimens of the already described species Lectotype designations, species revalidations, redescriptions and new species descriptions are provided
5 citations
TL;DR: The results show that low-impact selective logging practices in sustainable forest sites may not cause irreversible impacts on dung beetles diversity, and that dung beetle assemblages were significantly recovered from the sixth year after logging.
4 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a new species of dung beetle, Epactoidesgiganteussp. nov., was described from a single female specimen collected in the 19th century on Reunion island and recently found at the Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.
Abstract: We describe a new species of dung beetle, Epactoidesgiganteussp. nov., from a single female specimen allegedly collected in the 19th century on Reunion island and recently found at the Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris. This species differs from other species of Epactoides by larger size and a set of other distinctive morphological characters. Epactoidesgiganteussp. nov. is the first native dung beetle (Scarabaeinae) of Reunion, and its discovery expands the known area of distribution of the genus Epactoides, which was hitherto believed to be endemic to Madagascar. Like other taxa from Madagascar and peripheral islands (e.g., Comoro, Seychelles, Mascarenes), E.giganteussp. nov. may have reached Reunion by over-water dispersal. Given the rapid loss of biodiversity on Reunion island and the fact that no additional specimens were re-collected over the last two centuries, it is very likely that E.giganteussp. nov. has gone extinct. However, we have unconfirmed evidence that the holotype of E.giganteussp. nov. might be a mislabeled specimen from Madagascar, which would refute the presence of native dung beetles on Reunion. We discuss both hypotheses about the specimen origin and assess the systematic position of E.giganteussp. nov. by examining most of the described species of Madagascan Epactoides. Additionally, we provide a brief overview of the dung beetle fauna of Mascarene Archipelago.
3 citations
TL;DR: The aim of this study was to describe the structure of dung beetle assemblage from an altitudinal enclave of rainforest in the municipality of Triunfo, Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil, with a total of 43 species being currently recorded in such forests.
Abstract: Altitudinal enclaves of rainforest are fragile and highly disturbed ecosystems located in high-altitude plateaus and mountains that are surrounded by Caatinga dry forest. Regardless of its biological importance, few studies regarding dung beetle assemblage were performed in an altitudinal enclave of rainforest. The aim of this study was to describe the structure of dung beetle assemblage from an altitudinal enclave of rainforest in the municipality of Triunfo, Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. Dung beetles were surveyed in the beginning of the rainy season using pitfall traps baited with excrement. Beetle diversity patterns were subsequently explored using Hill numbers. A total of 217 individuals belonging to 13 species and nine genera were recorded, and Dichotomius carbonarius (Mannerheim 1829), Uroxys bahianus Boucomont 1927, and Eurysternus nigrovirens Genier 2009 were the most abundant species. According to Hill numbers, there were five abundant species and three dominant species in the dung beetle assemblage. Also, there were two distinct beetle assemblages in the region of Triunfo, being most of the species commonly collected in Caatinga dry forest, as Deltochilum verruciferum Felsche 1911, Deltochilum sp., and U. bahianus. This study contributes to the scarce knowledge regarding diversity of dung beetles that inhabits altitudinal enclaves of rainforest of Northeastern Brazil, with a total of 43 species being currently recorded in such forests.
3 citations
31 Mar 2021
TL;DR: This work describes Pelidnota silveiranetoi sp.
Abstract: Pelidnota MacLeay, 1819 is one of the most diverse genus in Rutelina (Rutelini) and, even after broad and recent revisions, fieldwork has revealed a diversity of species yet to be known to science. Here, we describe Pelidnota silveiranetoi sp. nov. with illustrations and a map for the type locality, as well as its inclusion in a previously published identification key for the Pelidnota species. The new species is diagnosable by its color pattern (body with metallic green reflections, except on the elytra, which lack black spots), mouthpart features (galea bearing three teeth and the anterior part of the labium with an excavated surface, straight proximal margin, and the posterior part with a rounded lateral margin), and parameres (concave distal margin gradually acute and slightly divergent at the apex; straight lateral margin that is slightly sinuous at the middle; slightly corrugated proximal margin).
TL;DR: A new species from Colombia A. (Lobidion) fedescobari sp.
Abstract: Here, a new species from Colombia A. (Lobidion) fedescobari sp. nov. is described based on a single male and two females. Additionally, the species Ateuchus (Lobidion) punctatissimus Genier (2010) ...