A5027223455- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Plant and animal studies
- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Gut microbiota and health
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Digital Imaging for Blood Diseases
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
Technische Universität Braunschweig
2016-2025
Zoological Institute
2012-2024
Berlin Zoological Garden
2021
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva
2011-2017
Google (United States)
2017
Nature Conservation Centre
2012
Universidade da Coruña
2012
Universidade de Vigo
2012
Universität Trier
2012
Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité
2012
Taxonomy is the biological discipline that identifies, describes, classifies and names extant extinct species other taxa. Nowadays, taxonomy confronted with challenge to fully incorporate new theory, methods data from disciplines study origin, limits evolution of species.Integrative has been proposed as a framework bring together these conceptual methodological developments. Here we review perspectives for an integrative directly bear on what are, how they can be discovered, much diversity...
Amphibians are in decline worldwide. However, their patterns of diversity, especially the tropics, not well understood, mainly because incomplete information on taxonomy and distribution. We assess morphological, bioacoustic, genetic variation Madagascar's amphibians, one first near-complete taxon samplings from a biodiversity hotspot. Based DNA sequences 2,850 specimens sampled over 170 localities, our analyses reveal an extreme proportion amphibian projecting almost 2-fold increase species...
BACKGROUND: Identifying species of organisms by short sequences DNA has been in the center ongoing discussions under terms barcoding or taxonomy. A C-terminal fragment mitochondrial gene for cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) proposed as universal marker this purpose among animals. RESULTS: Herein we present experimental evidence that 16S rRNA fulfills requirements a amphibians. In universality priming sites and identification major vertebrate clades studied is superior to COI. Amplification...
Globally, priority areas for biodiversity are relatively well known, yet few detailed plans exist to direct conservation action within them, despite urgent need. Madagascar, like other globally recognized hot spots, has complex spatial patterns of endemism that differ among taxonomic groups, creating challenges the selection within-country priorities. We show, in an analysis wide and geographic breadth high resolution, multitaxonomic rather than single-taxon approaches critical identifying...
Vocalizations of anuran amphibians have received much attention in studies behavioral ecology and physiology, but also provide informative characters for identifying delimiting species. We here review the terminology variation frog calls from a perspective integrative taxonomy, hands-on protocols recording, analyzing, comparing, interpreting describing these sounds. Our focus is on advertisement calls, which serve as premating isolation mechanisms and, therefore, convey important taxonomic...
Amphibians globally are in decline, yet there is still a tremendous amount of unrecognized diversity, calling for an acceleration taxonomic exploration. This process will be greatly facilitated by DNA barcoding system; however, the mitochondrial population structure many amphibian species presents numerous challenges to such standardized, single locus, approach. Here we analyse intra- and interspecific patterns variation two distantly related groups amphibians, mantellid frogs salamanders,...
Amphibians are rapidly vanishing. At the same time, it is most likely that number of amphibian species highly underestimated. Recent DNA barcoding work has attempted to define a threshold between intra- and inter-specific genetic distances help identify candidate species. In groups with high extinction rates poorly known boundaries, like amphibians, such tools may provide way evaluate richness.Here we analyse published new 16S rDNA sequences from 60 frog Amazonia-Guianas obtain minimum...
A precise knowledge of the spatial distribution taxa is essential for decision-making processes in land management and biodiversity conservation, both present under future global change scenarios. This a key base several scientific disciplines (e.g. macro-ecology, biogeography, evolutionary biology, planning, or environmental impact assessment) that rely on species maps. An atlas summarizing European amphibians reptiles with 50 × km resolution maps based ca. 85 000 grid records was published...
Species distributed across vast continental areas and major biomes provide unique model systems for studies of biotic diversification, yet also constitute daunting financial, logistic political challenges data collection such regions. The tree frog Dendropsophus minutus (Anura: Hylidae) is a nominal species, continentally in South America, that may represent complex multiple each with more limited distribution. To understand the spatial pattern molecular diversity throughout range this...
Abstract The last species list of the European herpetofauna was published by Speybroeck, Beukema and Crochet (2010). In meantime, ongoing research led to numerous taxonomic changes, including discovery new species-level lineages as well reclassifications at genus level, requiring significant changes this list. As 2019, a Taxonomic Committee established an official entity within Herpetological Society, Societas Europaea Herpetologica (SEH). Twelve members from nine countries reviewed,...
Abstract An accurate species‐level taxonomy is paramount for biogeographical research, and conversely, data are of importance species delimitation. We here review recent developments future perspectives direct relevance biogeographers. The understanding that independently evolving segments population‐level lineages, the rise integrative approaches to delimit such advent high‐throughput sequencing have considerably renewed discipline taxonomy. Using genome‐scale molecular datasets, extent...
Madagascar harbors four large adaptive radiations of endemic terrestrial mammals: lemurs, tenrecs, carnivorans, and rodents. These rank among the most spectacular examples evolutionary diversification, but their monophyly origins are debated. The lack Tertiary fossils from leaves molecular studies as promising to solve these controversies. We provide a simultaneous reconstruction phylogeny age based on 3.5-kb data set three nuclear genes (ADRA2B, vWF, AR). analysis supports each monophyletic...
Amphibians are thought to be unable disperse over ocean barriers because they do not tolerate the osmotic stress of salt water. Their distribution patterns have therefore generally been explained by vicariance biogeography. Here, we present compelling evidence for overseas dispersal frogs in Indian Ocean region based on discovery two endemic species Mayotte. This island belongs Comoro archipelago, which is entirely volcanic and surrounded sea depths more than 3500 m. constitutes first...
The origin and divergence of the three living orders amphibians (Anura, Caudata, Gymnophiona) their main lineages are one most hotly debated topics in vertebrate evolution. Here, we present a robust molecular phylogeny based on nuclear RAG1 gene as well results from variety alternative independent clock calibrations. Our analyses suggest that early amphibian dates back to Palaeozoic or Mesozoic, before breakup Pangaea, soon after lobe‐finned fishes. resulting new biogeographic scenario, age...
The genus Mantella, endemic poison frogs of Madagascar with 16 described species, are known in the field international pet trade and entered under CITES control for last four years. phylogeny phylogeography this have been recently subject study conservation purposes. Here we report on studies Mantella cowani group using a fragment 453 bp mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from 195 individuals 21 localities. This is represented by five forms: M. cowani, critically endangered vulnerable...
DNA barcoding of non-avian reptiles based on the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene is still in a very early stage, mainly due to technical problems. Using newly developed set reptile-specific primers for COI we present first comprehensive study targeting entire reptile fauna fourth-largest island world, biodiversity hotspot Madagascar.Representatives majority Madagascan species (including Squamata and Testudines) were sampled successfully barcoded. The new primer pair achieved...
Background One clade of Malagasy leaf chameleons, the Brookesia minima group, is known to contain species that rank among smallest amniotes in world. We report on a previously unrecognized radiation these miniaturized lizards comprising four new described herein. Methodology/Principal Findings The newly discovered appear be restricted single, mostly karstic, localities extreme northern Madagascar: confidens sp. n. from Ankarana, B. desperata Forêt d'Ambre, micra islet Nosy Hara, and tristis...
Amphibians are characterized both by a strongly increasing number of newly discovered species and high degree decline. The observed increase in numbers, over 25 percent 11 years, is largely due to the intensified exploration tropical areas application more efficient techniques such as bioacoustics molecular genetics, rather than elevation subspecies rank or distinction that were formerly considered synonymous. In mantellid frogs Madagascar, many described between 1992 2004 genetically...
Delimiting and describing species is fundamental to numerous biological disciplines such as evolution, macroecology, conservation. independent evolutionary lineages may often does yield different outcomes depending on the criteria applied, but methods should be chosen that minimize inference of objectively erroneous limits. Several protocols exploit single-gene or multi-gene coalescence statistics, assignment tests other rationales related nuclear DNA (nDNA) allele sharing automatically...
Abstract Aim Cryptoblepharus is a genus of small arboreal or rock‐dwelling scincid lizards, widespread through the Indo‐Pacific and Australian regions, with disjunct outlier in Malagasy region. The taxonomy within this controversial, different authors ranking forms (now some 36) at various levels, from species to subspecies single species, boutonii . We investigated biogeography genetic differentiation Western Indian Ocean region, order understand their origin history. Location Methods...
The Linnaean classification system provides the universal reference for communicating about diversity of life and its hierarchic history. Several limitations that challenge stability this have been identified and, as a result, alternative systems proposed since early inception. revolution caused by molecular phylogenetics has, more than ever, exemplified schemes are subject to degree instability may hamper their significance communication power. Our analysis recent changes in several groups...
Abstract Complex microbial communities inhabit vertebrate digestive systems but thorough understanding of the ecological dynamics and functions host-associated microbiota within natural habitats is limited. We investigate role environmental conditions in shaping gut skin under by performing a field survey reciprocal transfer experiments with salamander larvae inhabiting two distinct (ponds streams). show that are habitat-specific, demonstrating factors mediate community structure. Reciprocal...