Obligate commensalism in the marine environment and its evolutionary role are still poorly understood. Although sea turtles may serve as ideal substrates for epibionts, within amphipods, only the genus evolved in obligate commensalism with turtles. Here, we report a new host record for on the hawksbill turtle and describe a larger distribution of the genus in the Atlantic Ocean on green and loggerhead turtles. spp. were sampled from nesting sites of and feeding grounds of and along the Brazilian coast. Insights regarding the coevolution of this remarkable genus with its hosts based on molecular analyses are inferred based on mitochondrial () and nuclear (18SrRNA) genes using new and previously available sequences from the infraorder Talitrida. Divergence times for are around the Cretaceous (~127.66 Mya), corresponding to an ancient origin and in agreement with modern green turtle (Chelonioidea) radiation. Later, diversification of species is dated at about 26 Mya, suggesting a coevolutionary association between amphipods and Carettini/Chelonini sea turtles.

(Coutière, 1897) is one of the first described species in the alpheid genus Coutière, 1897, a name later invalidated and replaced by Holthuis, 1955. The species was described based on material from Djibouti and was initially characterised by the presence of a pronounced, posteriorly extending carina on the mid-dorsal line of the carapace, a shoulder-like elevation of the orbital hoods, and a red-banded colour pattern. Relying mainly on morphological features, various authors reported from several localities in the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea to southern China and Australia. However, recently collected material attributable to on morphological grounds allowed for the combination of morphological characters, molecular data and colour patterns, demonstrating the existence of at least four species under the name of , including three species that are morphologically similar to, but phylogenetically distant from . Therefore, is redescribed herein based on recent material from Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as older material from Israel and Madagascar, with designation of a neotype from the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. Three new species, viz. sp. nov., sp. nov., and sp. nov., are described based on recent material from Papua New Guinea for the former two species, and New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands for the latter species. However, at least two of these new species seem to have wider distributions in the Indo-West Pacific.

Sea slugs are always covered in a mucus layer that has various functions including chemical defense that often involves aposematism and mimicry. Therefore, it is necessary for sea slugs to exhibit their body colors and patterns exactly, and the optical properties of mucus should support this requirement. We examined body mucus from heterobranch sea slugs collected in the Okinawan coral reefs. The refractive indices of mucus from 32 species ranged from 1.3371 to 1.3854 and were similar or slightly greater than the refractive index of seawater (ca. 1.34), indicating that light reflectance on the mucus layer is generally small. Moreover, dissolution of mucus into seawater would form a gradient of refractive indices and enhance the reduction of reflectance. We also obtained relative absorption spectra of the mucus from 32 species. In the range of visible light, absorption spectra of mucus suggest that the mucus layer is almost transparent and is not likely to interfere with the body colors. The presence of absorption peaks and/or shoulders in the UV (ultraviolet) range (280-400 nm) indicates that the mucus layer potentially serves as a sunscreen that absorbs UV radiation in 23 species, whereas prominent UV absorption was not found in the other 9 species. In a kleptoplasty sacoglossan , the refractive indices and presence or absence of UV-absorption showed that the optical properties of the mucus varied to some extent but did not show seasonal fluctuation. The UV-absorption in the mucus may also protect kleptoplasts in kleptoplasty sacoglossans. The present results support the importance of mucus as a functional optical layer for the shell-less life of sea slugs.

Plankton community respiration (CR) in aquatic ecosystems varies with environmental factors, which could be altered during tropical cyclones (TCs). A potential increase in CR resulting from the effects of TCs is generally understudied. Here, we examined the relationship between plankton CR and environmental factors, including during TC-affected periods, in a phosphate-limited freshwater ecosystem. We conducted an intensive sampling in Fei-Tsui Reservoir (FTR) from January 2010 to December 2015 during TC periods and non-TC periods. Our results showed a consistent temporal pattern that plankton CR increased between March to October and declined between November to February. These changes in plankton CR, primarily supported by bacterial biomass, were positively influenced by euphotic depth-averaged temperature. The CR also significantly increased with euphotic depth-averaged NO-concentrations and decreased with euphotic depth-averaged NO-concentrations. These results indicated that these factors typically influenced CR dynamics in the FTR. During TC periods, plankton CR was increased further due to a higher and ideal euphotic depth-averaged temperature (23-27°C) and increased supply of limiting nutrient resources via stream runoff. Overall, this study showed that a TC positively influences plankton CR by creating favorable water conditions. Notably, with a higher frequency of intense TCs projected for the Western North Pacific in most climate change scenarios, the impact of TCs on CR may increase in the near future.

Two species of land hermit crabs, De Man, 1902 and Nakasone, 1988 were described based on female specimens from Maluku, Indonesia and specimens from Cebu, the Philippines, respectively. However, no confirmed records of either species have been reported since their original descriptions. In this study, we examined specimens with typical morphological characters of from Papua New Guinea and from the Philippines and Indonesia, further supported by the analyses of the DNA barcoding marker, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (). The characters of male are provided for the first time, with coxae of male fifth pereiopods subequal, without sexual tubes developed. Their slender morphology is suggested to be an adaptation to utilize native terrestrial snail shells in inland forests, which may also explain its rarity. is very similar to H. Milne Edwards, 1837, but can be distinguished by the adult sizes, as well as the morphology of sexual tubes of male fifth pereiopods and propodus of left third pereiopod. Morphological variation and the fresh coloration of and are also provided in this study.

Understanding the age and development of a species provides knowledge about its longevity and growth, which are crucial in assessing its life history to maintain the sustainability of its fisheries. Over 3000 samples of were collected from trawl catches off Concepcion, Iloilo, Western Visayas, Philippines, from April 2018 to September 2019. Daily rings in the statoliths were used to determine their age. The estimated age ranged from 73 to 154 days old, corresponding to sizes of 3.1 to 28.1 cm mantle length. The presence of small individuals (~4 cm) throughout the year indicate continuous spawning of this species. Growth curve patterns of were examined using two techniques: growth from sizeat-age data (statolith increments) and growth generated from length-frequency data using the ELEFAN software package. Both methods yielded results that were remarkably different from one another. The growth curve generated from length frequency analysis produced an asymptotic growth. In contrast, sizeat-age data (mantle length-age relationship) revealed that does not grow asymptotically. The growth of this tropical squid is best fitted with exponential growth, exhibiting a continuous rapid growth and short lifespan, a prominent characteristic observed in neritic species of squids. This work provides evidence that asymptotic growth is not applicable for the tropical squid species in the Visayan Sea, Philippines.

larifying the effects of continuous cotton cropping (CC) on soil biological communities is essential for maintaining agricultural productivity. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was used to study the effects of different CC durations (0-yr, 5-yr, 10-yr, 15-yr, 20-yr, and 25-yr CC treatments) on soil microbial and nematode communities. The results showed that the dominant bacterial phyla were Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, and the dominant nematode genus was in all CC treatments. The richness indexes (ACE and Chao1 index) and diversity index (Shannon index) of bacterial and nematode communities were the highest in the 15-yr and 10-yr CC treatments, respectively. Bacterial community was significantly correlated with soil pH and available potassium (AK), and nematode abundance was significantly correlated with microbial biomass carbon (MBC). Soil bacterial PICRUSt analysis results showed that carbon metabolism and amino acid metabolism were the main metabolic functions of bacteria in the CC treatments. The composition and diversity of soil nematode communities were significantly related to the structure of soil bacterial communities, and the niche breadth of soil bacteria was negatively correlated with that of nematodes. and were the main genera of bacterialfeeding nematodes affecting bacterial communities, and their relative abundances were significantly positively correlated with the relative abundance of bacterial communities. Overall, long-term (10-15 years) continuous cotton cropping negatively impacts soil biota and the microecological environment of cotton fields in arid regions.

The integrity of natural landscapes is affected by human actions, mainly by the intensification and expansion of agriculture. Factors such as fragment size and the structure of the environment can determine changes in the structure and composition of bird assemblages. In this study we evaluated the bird species composition in three structurally different forest environments, defined as the Core areas, Edge areas, and Buffer areas. The surveys were performed in the Natural Park of Sertão (NPS) and its surroundings in the southern limit of the Atlantic Forest, southern Brazil. To record species composition of birds, the point count method was used. The bird species were categorized according to feeding habits, habitat use, and sensitivity to forest fragmentation. A total of 131 species of birds distributed in 18 orders and 38 families were recorded. The species composition varied between the three areas and there was a significant difference in diversity between the Core and Edge areas and the Core and Buffer areas. Omnivorous species were found more in the Buffer areas than in the Core areas. Species that use the Broad habitat were more frequent in the Buffer and Edge areas than in the Core areas. Species that use the Forest habitat were found more in the Core areas than in the Buffer areas. Most recorded species (66%) have low sensitivity to forest fragmentation. The assemblage patterns found in this study, notably the differences among the three areas in diversity and species composition, can be explained by the ecological traits and the sensitivity levels of birds to forest fragmentation, which in turn seem to reflect different forest structures in the NPS and its surroundings. Although the Edge and Buffer areas have greater diversity, the Core areas showed great importance in maintaining species that are more sensitive to forest fragmentation. Even the largest fragments (such as the NPS), considering the regional context, may have bird species that are widely distributed and less sensitive to forest fragmentation. Forested habitat species may no longer occur or be restricted to the core area of the fragments. For conservation of bird fauna in the NPS, the maintenance of the core areas is essential, especially for those species that require a structurally preserved environment.

The rapid expansion of road networks worldwide is one of the most serious threats to biodiversity conservation. Evaluating the effects of various anthropogenic factors on the distribution and abundance of birds in subtropical and tropical ecosystems is extremely important in the context of the dynamic developments that these areas have been subject to in recent years. This study assessed the impact of road traffic on the abundance and species richness of roadside birds on the subtropical island of Tenerife. The effect of road traffic on birds was assessed at 162 observation points located in different places on the island by use of the point-count method. During the counts, a total of 765 individuals from 35 species were recorded. The number of avian species was lower in the vicinity of roadsides. Seven of the 17 most numerous birds clearly avoided the vicinity of roads, but another seven actually preferred roadside habitats; three species were neutral in this respect. The assemblage of traffic-sensitive birds consisted of specialised and endemic species, mainly inhabiting endangered native habitats such as laurel and pine forests.

Ancient lakes contain unique and very vulnerable fauna. Determining and understanding the origin of such biodiversity is a key factor in promoting conservation and management actions in some of the most singular ecosystems on the planet. Lake Ohrid in the Balkans is known as a natural laboratory for speciation, containing a high number of endemic species. However, the identity and origin of the planktonic cladoceran is uncertain. Representatives of the genus were long considered to have invaded the lake, but recent morphological studies have suggested that they belonged to the endemic taxon in the Balkans, . Here, phylogenetic methods based on two mitochondrial gene fragments ( and 16S) were used to identify specimens from the ancient Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa in the Balkans and compare them with other species in Europe, including those living in nearby water bodies. Molecular evidence showed that was constrained to the ancient lakes Ohrid, Prespa, and Mikri Prespa, which suggests reproductive isolation within the lakes. Phylogenetic analyses supported previous morphological assessments and situated within the species group, which contains three sibling species (, , and ). Nuclear markers are needed to study intraspecific gene flow in these organisms and discard a potential formation of hybrids.

Environmental temperature is increasing while natural populations are forced to adjust their life cycle to new conditions, resulting in the expression of new phenotypic traits. Still, the links between these new environmental conditions and the subsequent phenotypic expressions are not fully explored. Here, we conducted manipulative experiments with embryos of the marine gastropod to assess the effects of warmer temperatures upon shell form. We observed lethal effects together with alterations in the shell form (size + shape) of embryos exposed to 18°C water compared to the control temperature environment (13°C). Our results reveal that from Patagonian coasts growing under warm temperatures will change their phenotype by developing smaller and more elongated shells during ontogeny, as well as an expanded shell aperture, increasing their predation vulnerability. Therefore, we consider that the embryonic shell shape change could be a good biomarker of thermal stress produced at early developmental stages in marine gastropods.

Distribution areas, in terms of size and shape, are usually related to dispersal capacity, and the latter is partly related to flight capacity in insects. Thus, wing condition (brachypterous or macropterous) is expected to correlate with the area size of the species distribution range. Here, we studied this aspect for the first time in Passalidae, a subsocial group of saproxylophagous beetles. To obtain the geographic distribution of species, we performed species distribution models in the Mesoamerican genus , which has seven species (including one new species from Oaxaca, Mexico) restricted to either side (west or east) of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (except for which is distributed in both sides of the Isthmus). Species distribution models were used to estimate biogeographic affinities among species and to compare the potential distributional area with respect to the species wing condition (four brachypterous and three macropterous). Additionally, we described the sound-emitting structures (, region located on hind wings) for all , being the first study describing it for all species of the same genus. Macropterous species tend to have larger potential distribution areas (between 149,027-364,107 km) than brachypterous species (9,063-15,716 km), and all brachypterous species inhabit montane areas. These results coincide with what would be expected if the loss of flight capacity reduced dispersal capacity. However, because of the limited data, we could not statistically test this relationship. Future analyses should evaluate the relationship between passalid species distributions (total area and elevation) and wing morphology, including species with narrow and wide distributions, both altitudinally and latitudinally.

Flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) exhibit a wide range of feeding habits including necrophagy, coprophagy, kleptoparasitism, parasitism, and predation. Among them are species of Meigen belonging to the subgenera Lopes and Enderlein that are specialized predators of spider eggs. These flies hover around spider webs and lay their larvae on the spider egg sac. While progress has been made on the taxonomy of and in recent decades, our knowledge about their biology, prey selection, and distribution remains limited, restricting our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of Sarcophagidae-Araneae interactions. Here, we describe and illustrate the first record of . (.) Hall preying on egg sacs of (Thorell) (Araneae: Araneidae) in Chile. The taxonomy of . (.) is revised, with two new junior synonyms proposed: Lopes and Tibana, syn. nov., and Tibana and Mello, syn. nov. Furthermore, we present an annotated catalog that comprehensively reviews the existing records of spider egg-predating Sarcophagidae, and provide an overview of the evolution of Sarcophagidae-Araneae interactions. Our catalog includes information on at least four species of and 10 species of that have been documented as preying on eggs from species of various spider families, such as Araneidae, Cheiracanthiidae, Clubionidae, Philodromidae, Salticidae, and Tetragnathidae. These records cover all biogeographical regions except the Afrotropical. Our results enhance our understanding of the evolution of Sarcophagidae-Araneae interactions.

Understanding and preserving biodiversity in natural habitats is crucial due to their rapid degradation and destruction. The meiofauna of natural areas is less well known than the macroscopic life. Tardigrades are common in limno-terrestrial meiofauna and can indicate environmental conditions. In this study, we expand our understanding of the taxonomy and ecology of tardigrade communities in two natural reserves in Argentina by examining the environmental factors that can affect them and the species that could be used as indicators. In 2018, sampling occurred in the Parque Luro Provincial Reserve (province of La Pampa) and the Poligono A Municipal Ecological Reserve (province of Salta). Samples were taken from epiphytic communities that grow on the bark of trees. Various environmental and microhabitat factors were taken into account. In the province of La Pampa, there were 1326 specimens of five species, and in the province of Salta, there were 212 specimens of nine species. The tardigrade communities in Salta exhibited statistically higher diversity than those in La Pampa. Temperature and moisture affected the tardigrade community of Parque Luro Provincial Reserve, while the microhabitat thickness affected those of Poligono A Municipal Ecological Reserve. The species turnover shaped the community of Salta, while nesting shaped the community of La Pampa.

Scyllaeidae is a small group of nudibranchs comprising three genera (, , and ) with striking morphological similarities, making their identification challenging based on external features alone. Previous studies have highlighted the significance of central radular teeth in distinguishing from and . The genus , commonly known as the sargassum nudibranch, currently consists of only two valid species, and . These species inhabit seaweed spp., feeding on hydroids. During a biodiversity survey conducted in April 2023, seven sargassum nudibranch individuals were collected from the seaweed spp. at a depth of 2 meters in Tai She Wan through SCUBA diving. Initially, the specimens were misidentified based on their resemblance to and previous local records. However, thorough morphological and molecular examinations confirmed them to be , representing the first record of this species in Hong Kong. Notably, our specimens lacked the blue spots observed in specimens from Thailand and the West Pacific Ocean, as reported in previous studies. Internally, a pineapple-like structure formed a honeycomb pattern on the surface of the masticatory edge of the jaw flap, with the presence of central radular teeth. A Maximum Likelihood tree analysis revealed to be the sister group of . Comparative analysis of intra-specific distances between individuals from the Philippines, French Polynesia, and Hong Kong indicated a close relationship between the Hong Kong specimens and those from the Philippines. Furthermore, we provide a detailed description of the external and internal morphology of in this paper, integrating valuable morphological information for future species identification purposes.

The differential exploration of natural resources by species has effects on fitness, with changes in life history and metabolic traits. There is a lack of research on the variation in these characters in different environments in Neotropical species of . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the profile of life history traits, including viability, development time, and dry weight (as a measure of size), as well as the metabolic pools of triglyceride, glycogen, and protein, in populations from the southern and southeastern regions of Brazil of four Neotropical species: , of the subgenus, and , , and , which belong to the subgenus. Life history and metabolic traits showed interpopulational variation in at least one species. When significant differences in life history parameters occurred, species of the same subgenus presented similar profiles, , southern populations were larger, less viable, and showed longer development time. This was also observed for triglyceride. However, for the other two metabolic pools (glycogen and total proteins), and presented inverse patterns to the other two species, with the highest values in southeastern populations and the lowest in southern populations. These populational variations indicate plasticity of the examined life history traits, which allows distinctive responses to different environmental conditions shared by speciesof the same subgenus. Nevertheless, interspecific comparisons did not reflect phylogenetic relationships, with the highest viability being found for and , which is probably correlated to the ability of these species to explore a broader variety of habitats. On the other hand, the storage capability of metabolic pools seems to be species specific, determined by the adaptive history to the quality and availability of resources, with (low) and (high) having opposing capacities to store metabolites from their diets.

gen. et sp. nov., a new hexactinellid-associated alpheid shrimp, is described based on a single specimen collected at a depth of 477-503 m north of Île des Pins, New Caledonia. gen. nov. is part of a clade of four genera all containing hexactinellid-associated species, for which a molecular phylogeny is presented. The evolution of several morphological characters, including orbital teeth, a bulgefossa system on the fingers of the first pereiopod chela, and groups of microserrulate setae on the second pereiopod chela, is discussed in light of phylogenetic results.

Long-term monitoring programs are valuable in assessing population trends and evaluating conservation status especially for threatened species exhibiting delayed maturity such as marine turtles. The loggerhead sea turtle is a globally distributed species with a regional population within the Mediterranean Sea. Loggerhead nesting in the Mediterranean occurs mainly in the eastern basin, with nesting areas classified as per their magnitude and density. A "moderate-dense" nesting area in Greece is the 2.7 km Koroni beach which has been monitored by ARCHELON since 1995 with the aim to collect reproductive data and to protect nests. Data collected over 25 years showed an average annual number of 55.8 nests, a nesting success (percentage of emergences resulting in egg-laying) of 38.0% and a nesting density of 20.7 nests/km. Nest numbers exhibited a significantly increasing trend in recent years, while clutch size showed a significant downward trend. Incubation durations, considered to be an indicator of incubation temperature and subsequently hatchling sex ratio, have been significantly decreasing over the years-a possible sign of global warming. A major threat is nest predation by foxes and dogs, which has been effectively controlled through the fencing of nests. This nesting population, despite its moderate size, may contribute to the genetic homogeneity of the larger western and eastern nesting aggregations of loggerhead turtles in Greece. The nesting beach has been recently included in the European Union's NATURA 2000 network of protected areas. Continuation of this long-term monitoring program is expected to provide further insights into the reproductive traits of this important loggerhead population.

Rhizocephala is a group of endoparasitic barnacles, the morphological characteristics of which are degenerated, and which has recently undergone active molecular identification. Despite several recent studies of Korean rhizocephalans, a comprehensive analysis of rhizocephalan fauna has not yet been conducted. In this study, we analyzed morphological and molecular characteristics of 64 rhizocephalan samples from 15 decapod hosts sampled across the Korean coast. We found 16 Rhizocephala species of six genera from four Rhizocephala families, , Peltogasterellidae, Peltogastridae, Polyascidae, and Sacculinidae. Combining morphological examination and molecular analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I revealed three new species candidates, , sp., sp., and sp. 1, and three rhizocephalans that have expanded their distribution range to the Korean coast, , , , and , whose expanded their distribution range to Korean coast. A synthetic update of Korean Rhizocephala fauna including a species checklist and remarks regarding distribution and taxonomy is also presented.

gen. and sp. nov. is described from the host fish Alcock, 1894 (Ophidiidae), at depths 300 to 650 metres from the southwest coast of India. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I () gene of the species was sequenced and compared with other closely related branchial cymothoid genera. Both morphological and molecular data corroborate the inclusion of this parasitic isopod as a new genus, and we describe gen. and sp. nov. The following combinations of characters characterise the genus: cephalon immersed in pereonite 1; dorsum vaulted; all coxae visible in dorsal view; coxae shorter than or as long as pereonites; pereonites 4-7 slightly decrease in width towards one side, slightly asymmetrical, lateral margins slightly constricted, in hunched side; relatively wide pleon, with large lateral gaps between pleonites; antennula narrowly separated by rostrum, slender, shorter than antenna; antenna with 13 articles, buccal cone obscuring antennal bases; brood pouch arising from coxae 1-4, 6; oostegite 1 bilobed; pleopods rami all simple, without proximomedial lamellar lobe, without folds or thickened ridges. The adult life stages, such as females (ovigerous and non-ovigerous), males and transitional stage of the new species are described. The species is currently known only from the type locality and the type host. The ecological remarks of the newly described taxon are also provided. The following species are transferred from Schioedte and Meinert, 1884: (Bruce, 1990) comb. nov., (Richardson, 1904) comb. nov. and (Schioedte and Meinert, 1884) comb. nov.

is a terrestrial semislug genus in the family Helicarionidae and currently comprises nine species recorded from Thailand and Myanmar. Two species, and , have been described based only on shell information, while the taxonomy of the remaining seven species is comprehensively treated herein using comparative morphology. Revised species descriptions are given for , , , and ; (previously placed in the ) is moved to this genus; and two species, Pholyotha & Panha, sp. nov. and Pholyotha & Panha, sp. nov., are described as new to science. Based on our findings, the combination of shell characters including shape, size, aperture, and umbilicus; the number of mantle extensions; and the genitalia, especially the penis, epiphallus, and dart apparatus, can be used to distinguish these nine species. Among these nine recognised species, only Pholyotha & Panha, sp. nov. has no dart apparatus.