A5057666158- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution
- Orthoptera Research and Taxonomy
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Scarabaeidae Beetle Taxonomy and Biogeography
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Advanced Mathematical Theories and Applications
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Plant and animal studies
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
Universitat de Barcelona
2015-2024
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva
2016-2024
University of California, Berkeley
2001-2021
Harvard University
2016-2019
Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat de la Universitat de Barcelona
2019
Biodiversity Research Institute
2016
Finnish Museum of Natural History
2016
University of Helsinki
2016
Universidad de La Laguna
2013
Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología
2013
We present a phylogenetic analysis of spiders using dataset 932 spider species, representing 115 families (only the family Synaphridae is unrepresented), 700 known genera, and additional representatives 26 unidentified or undescribed genera. Eleven genera orders Amblypygi, Palpigradi, Schizomida Uropygi are included as outgroups. The includes six markers from mitochondrial (12S, 16S, COI) nuclear (histone H3, 18S, 28S) genomes, was analysed by multiple methods, including constrained analyses...
Abstract Aim To identify the biogeographical factors underlying spider species richness in Macaronesian region and assess importance of extinctions shaping current diversity. Location The European archipelagos Macaronesia with an emphasis on Azores Canary Islands. Methods Seven variables were tested as predictors single‐island endemics (SIE), archipelago indigenous Azores, Islands a whole: island area; geological age; maximum elevation; distance from mainland; closest island; older natural...
The major islands of the Western Mediterranean--Corsica, Sardinia, and Balearic Islands--are continental terrenes that drifted towards their present day location following a retreat from original position on eastern Iberian Peninsula about 30 million years ago. Several studies have taken advantage this well-dated geological scenario to calibrate molecular rates in species for which distributions seemed match tectonic event. Nevertheless, use external calibration points has revealed most...
We test the limits of spider superfamily Araneoidea and reconstruct its interfamilial relationships using standard molecular markers. The taxon sample (363 terminals) comprises for first time representatives all araneoid families, including data family Synaphridae. use resulting phylogenetic framework to study web evolution in araneoids. is monophyletic sister Nicodamoidea rank. n. Orbiculariae are not also include RTA clade, Oecobiidae Hersiliidae. Deinopoidea paraphyletic with respect a...
In order to study the tempo and mode of spider orb web evolution diversification, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis using six genetic markers along with comprehensive taxon sample. The present analyses are first recover monophyly orb-weaving spiders based solely on DNA sequence data an extensive We dated weaver phylogeny. Our results suggest that weavers appeared by Middle Triassic underwent rapid diversification during end Early Jurassic. By second half Jurassic, most extant families...
A large scale semi-quantitative biodiversity assessment was conducted in white oak woodlands areas included the Spanish Network of National Parks, as part a project aimed at revealing biogeographic patterns and identify drivers. The COBRA sampling protocol sixteen 1-ha plots across six national parks using nested design. All adult specimens were identified to species level based on morphology. Uncertain delimitations identifications due either limited information diagnostic characters or...
Abstract High throughput sequencing and phylogenomic analyses focusing on relationships among spiders have both reinforced upturned long‐standing hypotheses. Likewise, the evolution of spider webs—perhaps their most emblematic attribute—is being understood in new ways. With a matrix including 272 species close arachnid relatives, we analyze evaluate these lineages using variety orthology assessment methods, occupancy thresholds, tree inference methods support metrics. Our include families...
Research in Macaronesia has led to substantial advances ecology, evolution and conservation biology. We review the scientific developments achieved this region, outline promising research avenues enhancing conservation. Some of these discoveries indicate that Macaronesian flora fauna are composed rather young lineages, not Tertiary relicts, predominantly European origin. also seems be an important source region for back-colonisation continental fringe regions on both sides Atlantic. This...
Abstract The Catalan Initiative for the Earth BioGenome Project (CBP) is an EBP-affiliated project network aimed at sequencing genome of >40 000 eukaryotic species estimated to live in Catalan-speaking territories (Catalan Linguistic Area, CLA). These represent a biodiversity hotspot. While covering less than 1% Europe, they are home about one fourth all known European species. include high proportion endemisms, many which threatened. This trend likely get worse as effects global...
Molecular gut-content analysis has revolutionized the study of food webs and feeding interactions, allowing detection prey DNA within gut many organisms. However, successful is a challenging procedure in which factors affect every step, starting from extraction process. Spiders are liquid feeders with branched diverticula extending into their legs throughout prosoma, thus digestion takes places different parts body simple dissection not possible. In this study, we investigated differences...
A new gall wasp species, Cerroneuroterus yukawamasudai Pujade-Villar & Melika sp. nov., is described from China. The asexual generation induces leaf lenticular galls, and the sexual catkin galls on Q. acutissima variabilis. Sexual females males are not yet. Data diagnosis, distribution, biology of species provided, including a key to all species. Previous misidentifications host recorded in Japan commented on. Molecular analyses were performed assess validity genus affiliation
Spiders of the recently described linyphiid genus Orsonwelles (Araneae, Linyphiidae) are one most conspicuous groups terrestrial arthropods Hawaiian native forests. There 13 known species, and all single- island endemics. This radiation provides an excellent example insular gigantism. We reconstructed cladistic relationships species using a combination morphological molecular characters (both mitochondrial nuclear sequences) within parsimony framework. explored quantified contribution...
The spider genus Dysdera Latreille is an excellent model for the study of evolution cave life: ten species are known to exist exclusively in subterranean environment Canary Islands, where has undergone local diversification. In present paper, two new troglobitic (Dysdera madai, sp. nov. and D. sibyllina, nov.) previously unknown sex five additional described illustrated: males gollumi Ribera & Arnedo, 1994, hernandezi Arnedo Ribera, 1999 labradaensis Wunderlich, 1991; females andamanae...
Sardinia is the second largest island in Mediterranean and, together with Corsica and nearby mainland areas, one of top biodiversity hotspots region. The origin traces back to opening western late Oligocene. This geological event subsequent Messinian Salinity Crisis Pleistocene glacial cycles have had a major impact on local biodiversity. Dysdera woodlouse hunter spiders are most diverse ground-dweller groups Mediterranean. Here we describe first two species this genus endemic Sardinia: jana...
This study infers the higher-level cladistic relationships of linyphiid spiders from five genes (mitochondrial CO1, 16S; nuclear 28S, 18S, histone H3) and morphological data. In total, character matrix includes 47 taxa: 35 linyphiids representing currently used subfamilies Linyphiidae (Stemonyphantinae, Mynogleninae, Erigoninae, Linyphiinae (Micronetini plus Linyphiini)) 12 outgroup species nine araneoid families (Pimoidae, Theridiidae, Nesticidae, Synotaxidae, Cyatholipidae, Mysmenidae,...
Living fossils are lineages that have retained plesiomorphic traits through long time periods. It is expected such both originated and diversified ago. Such expectations recently been challenged in some textbook examples of living fossils, notably extant cycads coelacanths. Using a phylogenetic approach, we tested the patterns origin diversification liphistiid spiders, clade spiders considered to be due their retention arachnid plesiomorphies exclusive grouping Mesothelae, an ancient sister...
Unlike hexapods and vertebrates, in chelicerates, knowledge of the specific molecules involved chemoreception comes exclusively from comparative analysis genome sequences. Indeed, genomes mites, ticks spiders contain several genes encoding homologs some insect membrane receptors small soluble chemosensory proteins. Here, we conducted for first time a comprehensive RNA-Seq across different body structures chelicerate: nocturnal wandering hunter spider Dysdera silvatica Schmidt 1981....
Abstract Aim The main aims were to determine: (a) the relative contribution of species replacement and richness difference from components overall taxonomic (TDβ) functional (FDβ) beta diversity spider communities; (b) degree which TDβ FDβ can be explained by environmental or geographic predictors; (c) whether lower than expected given underlying variation. Location This study was carried out in 22 oak forest sites across Iberian Peninsula. area comprises two biogeographic regions,...
In recent years, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) has accelerated the generation of full mitogenomes, providing abundant material for studying different aspects molecular evolution. Some mitogenomes have been observed to harbor atypical sequences with bizarre secondary structures, which origins and significance could only be fully understood in an evolutionary framework. Here we report analyze mitochondrial gene arrangements six closely related spiders sister genera Parachtes Harpactocrates,...
The volcanic archipelago of the Canary Islands, 100 km off northwestern coast Africa, harbors 43 endemic species mostly circum‐Mediterranean spider genus Dysdera (Araneae, Dysderidae). This amounts to approximately one‐fourth all known in an area that represents 0.1% range genus. In order address origin this extraordinary number species, phylogenetic relationships among taxa and a sample 27 continental were reconstructed. A simultaneous cladistic analysis was performed on 66 morphological...
The Hawaiian happy face spider ( Theridion grallator Simon, 1900), named for a remarkable abdominal colour pattern resembling smiling face, has served as model organism understanding the generation of genetic diversity. is one 11 endemic species genus reported to date. Asserting origin island endemics informs on evolutionary context diversification, and how diversity arisen islands. Studies in Hawaii, elsewhere, have long been hampered by its large size (> 600 species) poor definition....
The development of an accurate and reproducible approach to measuring the tensile behavior spider silk has allowed characterizing comparing range mechanical properties exhibited by different species with unprecedented detail. comparison silks spun spiders belonging phylogenetic groups revealed that evolution locked in many important very early history orb-web weaving spiders, despite fact gland system is relatively isolated physiological terms from rest organism should thus mutate quickly....