High resolution DNA barcode library for European butterflies reveals continental patterns of mitochondrial genetic diversity

The study of global biodiversity will greatly benefit from access to comprehensive DNA barcode libraries at continental scale, but such datasets are still very rare. Here, we assemble the first high-resolution reference library for European butterflies that provides 97% taxon coverage (459 species) and 22,306 COI sequences. We estimate that we captured 62% of the total haplotype diversity and show that most species possess a few very common haplotypes and many rare ones. Specimens in the dataset have an average 95.3% probability of being correctly identified. Mitochondrial diversity displayed elevated haplotype richness in southern European refugia, establishing the generality of this key biogeographic pattern for an entire taxonomic group. Fifteen percent of the species are involved in barcode sharing, but two thirds of these cases may reflect the need for further taxonomic research. This dataset provides a unique resource for conservation and for studying evolutionary processes, cryptic species, phylogeography, and ecology.Peer reviewe

The atlas of mitochondrial genetic diversity for Western Palaearctic butterflies

Motivation Butterflies represent a model in biology and a flagship group for invertebrate conservation. We provide four new resources for the Western Palaearctic butterflies: (1) an updated checklist comprising 552 species; (2) a curated dataset of 32,126 mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences for 532 species, including a de novo reference library for the Maghreb (Morocco, northern Algeria and Tunisia) and Macaronesia (Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands); (3) seven indexes of intraspecific genetic variation (IGV): observed and expected number of haplotypes, haplotype and nucleotide diversity, two fixation indexes and maximum p-distance; and (4) species-level maps illustrating the distribution of COI variability and haplotype networks. The updated checklist will be fundamental for any application dealing with butterfly diversity in the Western Palaearctic. The IGV indexes provide measures for genetic polymorphism and spatial structure and represent proxies for dispersal capacity. These resources will facilitate comparative studies of macrogenetics, foster integrative taxonomy and aid conservation strategies. Main types of variables contained A complete species checklist in table format, 32,126 mitochondrial DNA barcodes provided with metadata (species membership, WGS84 coordinates and sequence length) and a book in PDF format, including the IGV atlas and indexes, are provided. Spatial location and grain The checklist encompasses Europe up to the Urals in the east, north Macaronesia (the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands) and the Maghreb (Morocco, northern Algeria and Tunisia). COI sequences have been retained in the geographical interval of -31.3 to 67.5° of longitude and 27.5 - 71.2° of latitude. Time period and grain COI sequences originate from studies published between 1998 and 2022 and from de novo sequencing of 2541 specimens done between 2007 and 2022. Major taxa and level of measurement Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea), analysed from individual to species level. Software format Data and functions to manage the dataset are provided in the iodatabase R package (https://github.com/leondap/iodatabase) and in Dryad (https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9w0vt4bjj).Support for this research was provided by the Academy of Finland (Academy Research Fellow, decision no. 328895) and by a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship within the 7th European Community Framework Programme (project no. 625997) to V.D., by “la Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434) to M.M. (grant LCF/BQ/DR20/11790020), and by projects CGL2010-21226/BOS and CGL2013-48277-P (Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad), CGL2016-76322 (AEI/FEDER, UE), PID2019-107078GB-I00 (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and 2017-SGR-991 (Generalitat de Catalunya) to R.Vi., the grant BES-2017-080641 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ESF Investing in your future” to J.C.H., the project PID2020-117739GA-I00 (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) to G.T., and by the Direttiva Biodiversità 2019 and 2020 projects (Ministero della Transizione Ecologica) to L.D.1 INTRODUCTION 2 METHODS 2.1 Checklists and geographical ranges 2.2 Data acquisition, curation and quality control 2.3 Indexes of genetic variation 2.4 Maps of genetic variation 2.5 Haplotype networks 2.6 Script availability 3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FUNDING INFORMATION CONFLICT OF INTEREST BIOSKETC

Assessment of the sensitivity of model responses to urban emission changes in support of emission reduction strategies

© 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/The sensitivity of air quality model responses to modifications in input data (e.g. emissions, meteorology and boundary conditions) or model configurations is recognized as an important issue for air quality modelling applications in support of air quality plans. In the framework of FAIRMODE (Forum of Air Quality Modelling in Europe, https://fairmode.jrc.ec.europa.eu/) a dedicated air quality modelling exercise has been designed to address this issue. The main goal was to evaluate the magnitude and variability of air quality model responses when studying emission scenarios/projections by assessing the changes of model output in response to emission changes. This work is based on several air quality models that are used to support model users and developers, and, consequently, policy makers. We present the FAIRMODE exercise and the participating models, and provide an analysis of the variability of O3 and PM concentrations due to emission reduction scenarios. The key novel feature, in comparison with other exercises, is that emission reduction strategies in the present work are applied and evaluated at urban scale over a large number of cities using new indicators such as the absolute potential, the relative potential and the absolute potency. The results show that there is a larger variability of concentration changes between models, when the emission reduction scenarios are applied, than for their respective baseline absolute concentrations. For ozone, the variability between models of absolute baseline concentrations is below 10%, while the variability of concentration changes (when emissions are similarly perturbed) exceeds, in some instances 100% or higher during episodes. Combined emission reductions are usually more efficient than the sum of single precursor emission reductions both for O3 and PM. In particular for ozone, model responses, in terms of linearity and additivity, show a clear impact of non-linear chemistry processes. This analysis gives an insight into the impact of model’ sensitivity to emission reductions that may be considered when designing air quality plans and paves the way of more in-depth analysis to disentangle the role of emissions from model formulation for present and future air quality assessments.Peer reviewe

Pelopidas thrax, a new species for the Island of Kos and an update of its distribution in Greece (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea & Papilionoidea)

Volume: 37Start Page: 84End Page: 9

The Butterflies and Skippers of the North-Aegean Islands of Hios, Psara and Lesvos (Greece). New observations and an update on their distribution (Papilionoidea & Hesperioidea)

Volume: 42Start Page: 58End Page: 7

New data regarding the butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) of Romania, with additional comments (general distribution in Romania, habitat preferences, threats and protection) for ten localized Romanian species

Volume: 35Start Page: 93End Page: 11

De huidige status van Brenthis daphne (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae) in Belgie en aangrenzende gebieden. Update en notities betreffende een onverwachte vondst

Volume: 39Start Page: 115End Page: 11

Pseudochazara amymone (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) in Albania: Variability analysis, androconial scales and new distributional data

Volume: 38Start Page: 1End Page: 2

Butterflies and Skippers in the Dodecanese Islands (Greece): new data and an update on their distribution (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea & Papilionoidea)

Volume: 40Start Page: 66End Page: 8

Biogéographie, écologie et conservation d’Erebia oeme (Hübner) dans les Carpathes (Lepidoptera : Nymphalidae : Satyrinae)

13 páginas, 8 figuras, 1 tabla.[EN]The European endemic Erebia oeme (Hübner [1804]) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) is discovered in the Carpathian Chain, from where it was considered to be absent. The single population found is situated in the southern part of the Romanian Carpathians (Retezat Mountains), where it fl ies sympatrically and synchronically with Erebia medusa ([Denis & Schiffermüller] 1775). The similar external morphology of these two species probably caused E. oeme to be overlooked in the Carpathians, leading to an unexpected information gap in the otherwise thoroughly studied European continent. The morphology of the Romanian specimens is compared to populations from the rest of the species’ range and to E. medusa. In addition, we tested DNA barcoding as a method to discriminate between these species and confi rmed that it represents an effective identifi cation tool for the taxa involved. The habitat of E. oeme, adults of both sexes and their genitalia are illustrated in comparison with E. medusa. Based on the study of several collections, we show that E. oeme is likely to be extremely local in the Carpathians and provide arguments to consider the species as vulnerable in Romania.[FR]L’espèce endémique Européenne, Erebia oeme (Hübner [1804]) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae), a été découverte dans la Chaîne des Carpates d’où elle était considérée comme absente. La seule population trouvée se situe dans la partie méridionale des Carpates Roumaines (Massif du Retezat), où l’espèce est sympatrique et synchronique avec Erebia medusa ([Denis & Schiffermüller] 1775). La similarité morphologique externe entre ces deux espèces est probablement la raison pour laquelle E. oeme a été méconnu dans les Carpates ce qui a laissé un défi cit d’information inattendu au niveau du continent Européen ayant fait l’objet d’études approfondies. La morphologie des spécimens Roumains est comparée aux populations du reste de l’aire de répartition de cette espèce et avec E. medusa. D’autre part nous avons testé le codage à barres de l’ADN comme méthode pour identifi er ces deux espèces et avons confi rmé que ceci est en effet un outil effi cace d’identifi cation pour les taxons concernés. L’habitat d’ E. oeme, les adultes des deux sexes et leurs organes génitaux sont illustrés en comparaison à E. medusa. Basé sur l’étude de différentes collections, nous démontrons que E. oeme est probablement très local dans les Carpates et nous apportons des arguments pour considérer l’espèce comme vulnérable en Roumanie.Financiación para este proyecto de investigación: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (CGL2007-60516/BOS) para Roger Vila y Vlad Dincă, beca predoctoral de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona para Vlad Dincă, y subvenciones de NSERC y Genome Canada para Paul D. N. Hebert.Peer reviewe