A realignment of marine biogeographic provinces with particular reference to fish distributions

Marine provinces, founded on contrasting floras or faunas, have been recognized for more than 150 years but were not consistently defined by endemism until 1974. At that time, provinces were based on at least a 10% endemism and nested within biogeographic regions that covered large geographic areas with contrasting biotic characteristics. Over time, some minor adjustments were made but the overall arrangement remained essentially unaltered. In many provinces, data on endemism were still not available, or available only for the most widely-studied vertebrates (fishes), an ongoing problem. In this report we propose a realignment for three reasons. First, recent works have provided new information to modify or redefine the various divisions and to describe new ones, including the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Southern Ocean, Tropical East Pacific, and Northeast Pacific. Second, phylogeographic studies have demonstrated genetic subdivisions within and between species that generally corroborated provinces based on taxonomic partitions, with a notable exception at the Indian-Pacific oceanic boundary. Third, the original separation of the warm-temperate provinces from the adjoining tropical ones has distracted from their close phylogenetic relationships. Here we propose uniting warm-temperate and tropical regions into a single warm region within each ocean basin, while still recognizing provinces within the warm-temperate and tropical zones. These biogeographic subdivisions are based primarily on fish distribution but utilize other marine groups for comparison. They are intended to demonstrate the evolutionary relationships of the living marine biota, and to serve as a framework for the establishment of smaller ecological units in a conservation context.This is the author's manuscript version. The published article is copyrighted by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%291365-2699.Keywords: Speciation, Fishes, Marine biogeography, Zoogeography., Endemism, Evolution, Regions, Phylogeography, Province

Phylogeography of sharks and rays: a global review based on life history traits and biogeographic partitions

Considerable research exists on the life history traits, evolutionary history, and environmental factors that shape the population genetic structure of marine organisms, including sharks and rays. Conservation concerns are particularly strong for this group as they are highly susceptible to anthropogenic stressors due to a combination of life history traits including late maturity and low fecundity. Here, we provide a review and synthesis of the global phylogeography of sharks and rays. We examined existing data for 40 species of sharks belonging to 17 genera and 19 species of rays belonging to 11 genera. Median joining haplotype networks were constructed for each species for the mtDNA cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI), and an Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) was conducted to understand patterns of genetic diversity and structure across the three major ocean basins—the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Haplotype networks showed very shallow coalescence in most species, a finding previously reported for marine teleosts. Star topologies were predominant among sharks while complex mutational topologies predominated among rays, a finding we attribute to extremely limited dispersal in the early life history of rays. Population structuring varied amongst species groups, apparently due to differences in life history traits including reproductive philopatry, site fidelity, pelagic habitat, migratory habits, and dispersal ability. In comparison to reef-associated and demersal species, pelagic and semi pelagic species showed lower levels of structure between and within ocean basins. As expected, there is variation between taxa and groups, but there are also some broad patterns that can guide management and conservation strategies

Transatlantic developmental migrations of loggerhead sea turtles demonstrated by mtDNA sequence analysis

Molecular markers based on mitochondrial (mt) DNA control region se quences were used to test the hypothesis that juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in pelagic habitats of the eastern Atlantic are derived from nesting populations in the western Atlantic. We compared mtDNA haplotypes from 131 pelagic juvenile turtles (79 from the Azores and 52 from Madeira) to mtDNA haplotypes observed in major nesting colonies of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. A subset of 121 pelagic samples (92%) contained haplotypes that match mtDNA sequences observed in nesting colonies. Maximum likelihood analyses (UCON, SHADRACQ) estimate that 100% of these pelagic juveniles are from the nesting populations in the southeastern United States and adjacent Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Estimated contributions from nesting populations in south Florida (0.71, 0.72), northern Florida to North Carolina (0.19, 0.17), and Quintana Roo, Mexico (0.11, 0.10) are consistent with the relative size of these nesting aggregates. No contribution was detected from nesting colonies in the Mediterranean (Greece) or South Atlantic (Brazil), although samples sizes are insufficient to exclude these locations with finality. The link between west Atlantic nesting colonies and east Atlantic feeding grounds provides a more complete scientific basis for assessing the impact of subadult mortality in oceanic fisheries. Demographic models for loggerhead turtles in the western Atlantic can now be improved by incorporating growth and mortality data from juvenile turtles in pelagic habitats. These data demonstrate that the appropriate scale for loggerhead turtle conservation efforts is vastly larger than the current scale of management plans based on political boundaries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Quasar / Galaxy Pair PKS 1327-206 / ESO 1327-2041: Absorption Associated with a Recent Galaxy Merger

We present HST/WFPC2 broadband and ground-based Halpha images, H I 21-cm emission maps, and low-resolution optical spectra of the nearby galaxy ESO 1327-2041, which is located 38 arcsec (14 kpc in projection) west of the quasar PKS 1327-206. Our HST images reveal that ESO 1327-2041 has a complex optical morphology, including an extended spiral arm that was previously classified as a polar ring. Our optical spectra show Halpha emission from several H II regions in this arm located ~5 arcsec from the quasar position (~2 kpc in projection) and our ground-based Halpha images reveal the presence of several additional H II regions in an inclined disk near the galaxy's center. Absorption associated with ESO 1327-2041 is found in H I 21-cm, optical, and near-UV spectra of PKS 1327-206. We find two absorption components at cz = 5255 and 5510 km/s in the H I 21-cm absorption spectrum, which match the velocities of previously discovered metal-line components. We attribute the 5510 km/s absorber to disk gas in the extended spiral arm and the 5255 km/s absorber to high-velocity gas that has been tidally stripped from the disk of ESO 1327-2041. The complexity of the galaxy/absorber relationships for these very nearby H I 21-cm absorbers suggests that the standard view of high redshift damped Lyman-alpha absorbers is oversimplified in many cases.Comment: Replaced with accepted version; 16 page

Geopolitical species revisited: genomic and morphological data indicate that the roundtail chub Gila robusta species complex (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) is a single species

The Gila robusta species complex in the Lower Colorado River Basin has a complicated taxonomic history. Recent authors have separated this group into three nominal taxa, G. robusta, G. intermedia, and G. nigra, however aside from location, no reliable method of distinguishing individuals of these species currently exists. To assess relationships within this group, we examined morphology of type specimens and fresh material, and used RADseq methods to assess phylogenetic relationship among these nominal species. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference tree building methods reveal high concordance between tree topologies based on the mitochondrial and nuclear datasets. Coalescent SNAPP analysis resolved a similar tree topology. Neither morphological nor molecular data reveal diagnostic differences between these species as currently defined. As such, G. intermedia and G. nigra should be considered synonyms of the senior G. robusta. We hypothesize that climate driven wet and dry cycles have led to periodic isolation of population subunits and subsequent local divergence followed by reestablished connectivity and mixing. Management plans should therefore focus on retaining genetic variability and viability of geographic populations to preserve adaptability to changing climate conditions

An Economic Analysis of the Appalachian Coal Industry Ecosystem: Summary Report

The decline in the demand for coal has led to significant negative impacts in areas throughout Appalachia. Consider the integrated effects across components of the coal industry ecosystem (CIE). As extraction activity is diminished, there are ripples through the industry supply chain that extends to a wide number of sectors, occupations, and county and multi-county regions of the Appalachian economy. As these suppliers are impacted, jobs are imperiled, and the fiscal health of communities i s weakened. Displaced workers will need to seek alternative employment opportunities that may entail investments in formal education and training, and this takes both time and resources. As the economic base suffers, state and local governments will see their capacity to fund education weaken as well. The decline in natural gas prices and increasing environmental concerns, along with the age of the capital stock, has affected coal-fired power generation in the Appalachian Region. When capacity is replaced by natural gas, the demand for the Region’s coal is further distressed. The shifting structure and spatial location of power generation creates additional impacts on the economic base, tax base, and employment prospects. A vibrant rail transportation infrastructure has developed to support coal-related commerce and this regional asset is now at risk. Retirement of portions of the railroad capital stock may translate into higher transportation costs and diminished opportunities for economic development tied to the movement of bulk commodities, inputs, and final products

Phylogeography of the reef fish Cephalopholis argus (Epinephelidae) indicates Pleistocene isolation across the indo-pacific barrier with contemporary overlap in the coral triangle

Background: \ud The Coral Triangle (CT), bounded by the Philippines, the Malay Peninsula, and New Guinea, is the epicenter of marine biodiversity. Hypotheses that explain the source of this rich biodiversity include 1) the center of origin, 2) the center of accumulation, and 3) the region of overlap. Here we contribute to the debate with a phylogeographic survey of a widely distributed reef fish, the Peacock Grouper (Cephalopholis argus; Epinephelidae) at 21 locations (N = 550) using DNA sequence data from mtDNA cytochrome b and two nuclear introns (gonadotropin-releasing hormone and S7 ribosomal protein).\ud \ud Results: \ud Population structure was significant (ΦST = 0.297, P < 0.001; FST = 0.078, P < 0.001; FST = 0.099, P < 0.001 for the three loci, respectively) among five regions: French Polynesia, the central-west Pacific (Line Islands to northeastern Australia), Indo-Pacific boundary (Bali and Rowley Shoals), eastern Indian Ocean (Cocos/Keeling and Christmas Island), and western Indian Ocean (Diego Garcia, Oman, and Seychelles). A strong signal of isolation by distance was detected in both mtDNA (r = 0.749, P = 0.001) and the combined nuclear loci (r = 0.715, P < 0.001). We detected evidence of population expansion with migration toward the CT. Two clusters of haplotypes were detected in the mtDNA data (d = 0.008), corresponding to the Pacific and Indian Oceans, with a low level of introgression observed outside a mixing zone at the Pacific-Indian boundary.\ud \ud Conclusions: \ud We conclude that the Indo-Pacific Barrier, operating during low sea level associated with glaciation, defines the primary phylogeographic pattern in this species. These data support a scenario of isolation on the scale of 105 year glacial cycles, followed by population expansion toward the CT, and overlap of divergent lineages at the Pacific-Indian boundary. This pattern of isolation, divergence, and subsequent overlap likely contributes to species richness at the adjacent CT and is consistent with the region of overlap hypothesis

An Analysis of Private School Closings

We add to the small literature on private school supply by exploring exits of K-12 private schools. We find that the closure of private schools is not an infrequent event, and use national survey data from the National Center for Education Statistics to study closures of private schools. We assume that the probability of an exit is a function of excess supply of private schools over the demand, as well as the school's characteristics such as age, size, and religious affiliation. Our empirical results generally support the implications of the model. Working Paper 07-0

Phylogeography Unplugged: Comparative Surveys in the Genomic Era

In March 2012, the authors met at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) in Durham, North Carolina, USA, to discuss approaches and cooperative ventures in Indo-Pacific phylogeography. The group emerged with a series of findings: (1) Marine population structure is complex, but single locus mtDNA studies continue to provide powerful first assessment of phylogeographic patterns. (2) These patterns gain greater significance/power when resolved in a diversity of taxa. New analytical tools are emerging to address these analyses with multi-taxon approaches. (3) Genome-wide analyses are warranted if selection is indicated by surveys of standard markers. Such indicators can include discordance between genetic loci, or between genetic loci and morphology. Phylogeographic information provides a valuable context for studies of selection and adaptation. (4) Phylogeographic inferences are greatly enhanced by an understanding of the biology and ecology of study organisms. (5) Thorough, range-wide sampling of taxa is the foundation for robust phylogeographic inference. (6) Congruent geographic and taxonomic sampling by the Indo-Pacific community of scientists would facilitate better comparative analyses. The group concluded that at this stage of technology and software development, judicious rather than wholesale application of genomics appears to be the most robust course for marine phylogeographic studies. Therefore, our group intends to affirm the value of traditional ( unplugged ) approaches, such as those based on mtDNA sequencing and microsatellites, along with essential field studies, in an era with increasing emphasis on genomic approaches