Evaluation of the Effect of Ecological Factors on Cannibalism in Pelophylax bedriagae (Pallas, 1771) (Amphibia: Anura)

Marsh frog, Pelophylax bedriagae tadpoles habituate in temporary wetlands where intraspecific aggression has been observed. In this study, we examined the independent and interactive effects of predator cues, water level and density on head width size and head, tail and whole body cannibalism of larval P. bedriagae. We designed a 2×2×3 factorial experiment, by crossing two levels of predatory cues (presence/absence), two levels of density (low/ high) and three levels of water (low/ high/ decreasing) that were carried out within 29 weeks. Despite using conditions that might facilitate cannibalism (i.e., the presence of predator cues, low water level, and high density), a low rate of cannibalism was observed in all treatments. Independently, the highest percentage of total cannibalism was indicated in the presence of predator cues (2.26 %), high water level (2.04 %) and high density (2.24 %). Interactively, the highest rate of total cannibalism was recorded for larvae reared in the high density/absence of predator cues/low water level treatment (3.55%). In contrast, the lowest rate of total cannibalism was observed in the both the low density/presence of predator cues/decreasing water level and low-density/presence of predator cues/high water level treatments (0.44%). The results of the MANOVA indicated that predator cues, water level and density independently and interactively had not significant effect on rate of total cannibalism. At the end of experiment, the maximum size of head width was measured in low-density/absence of predator cues/high water level treatment (9.60±0.39mm), and there was no significant relationship between the maximum head width and the highest rate of cannibalism. According to the results of this experiment, it seems that P. bedriagae larvae may function to avoid the risk of cannibalism by conspecific

Niphargus sarii sp. n., a new subterranean niphargid (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Iran based on molecular and morphological characters

Niphargus sarii sp. n. was collected from Jo-Khanem Spring in Ilam Province. This species hypothesis is based on the analysis of morphological characters and 28S ribosomal DNA sequences. In this paper, we describe the morphological traits of this new species. Then, its taxonomic status within the genus is discussed in comparison to the 15 known Iranian species. Results revealed that N. sarii sp. n. is phylogenetically close to N. sohrevardensis. This species is easily distinguished from other Iranian species by some characters, in particular the equal length of rami in uropod I, lack of lateral robust setae on telson and the situation of dactylus to posterior margin of propodus in gnathopod II

Two new species of groundwater amphipods of the genus <i>Niphargus</i> Schiödte, 1849 from northwestern Iran

This study was conducted to describe and illustrate two new species of groundwater amphipods from the northern parts of the Zagros Mountains in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (28S rDNA) fragments as well as several morphological traits were used to characterize Niphargus urmiensis sp. nov. and Niphargus fiseri sp. nov. The phylogenetic analyses showed that the nucleotide differences between the recently described species and their close allies are attributed to their distinctiveness. The molecular analysis also introduced that the new species are placed within the clade comprising Iranian species as a sister taxon. The genetic distances between N. urmiensis sp. nov. and N. fiseri sp. nov. are 7.6% and 1.6%, respectively based on the COI and 28S rDNA gene fragments.</p

A new data of freshwater amphipod of genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 from Lorestan Province in Iran

Esmaeili-Rineh, Somayeh (2018): A new data of freshwater amphipod of genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 from Lorestan Province in Iran. Zootaxa 4531 (2): 242-250, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4531.2.

Two new species of groundwater-inhabiting amphipods belonging to the genus Niphargus (Arthropoda, Crustacea), from Iran

In Iran, the Elburz and Zagros Mountain ranges include substantial karst regions housing numerous aquifers and groundwater resources. Niphargus Schiødte, 1849, a diverse subterranean amphipod genus, inhabits Western Palearctic groundwater environments, with Iran marking the eastern limit of its distribution. This study examined specimens collected from springs along the Elburz and Zagros Mountains, revealing two distinct taxonomic units through a combination of morphological observations and molecular analyses, utilizing COI and 28S rDNA genes. N. elburzensis sp. nov. is characterized by produced epimeral plates I to III; a telson lobe with five distal, two lateral, and one mesial spine each, a rectangular shape of gnathopod II propodi with two L-setae on palmar corner and maxilla I outer plate spines with 2-2-1-1-3-0-1 denticles. N. zagrosensis sp. nov. is distinguished by a triangular shape gnathopod II propodi, pereopod VI longer than pereopod VII, maxilliped outer plate less than half of palp article 2, and uropod III distal article exceeding 80% of the proximal article. Pairwise genetic distances between N. elburzensis sp. nov. and other species ranged from 10.70% (N. fiseri) to 23.48% (N. daniali) for COI gene and 1.56% (N. urmiensis) to 10.98% (N. daniali) for 28S gene. Also, N. zagrosensis sp. nov. exhibited COI gene distances from 5.73% (N. alisadri) to 20.66% (N. daniali) and from 0.13% (N. alisadri) to 11.36% (N. daniali) for 28S gene distances. Bayesian analysis suggests that the two newly discovered species are part of the expansive local Iranian clade. These species are supported phylogenetically by separate and independent lineages, as indicated by high bootstrapping values

Two new species of groundwater amphipods of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 from northwestern Iran

This study was conducted to describe and illustrate two new species of groundwater amphipods from the northern parts of the Zagros Mountains in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (28S rDNA) fragments as well as several morphological traits were used to characterize Niphargus urmiensis sp. nov. and Niphargus fiseri sp. nov. The phylogenetic analyses showed that the nucleotide differences between the recently described species and their close allies are attributed to their distinctiveness. The molecular analysis also introduced that the new species are placed within the clade comprising Iranian species as a sister taxon. The genetic distances between N. urmiensis sp. nov. and N. fiseri sp. nov. are 7.6% and 1.6%, respectively based on the COI and 28S rDNA gene fragments

The description of a new species of Niphargus from Iran based on morphological and molecular data

The freshwater amphipods of the genus Niphargus Schiödte, 1849 are widespread in subterranean waters of the western Palearctic. The eastern half of the genus range has been incompletely studied despite the presence of karstic areas and large aquifers. In this paper, we describe a new species from Hamedan Province in Iran and name it as N. hakani sp. n. This species‌ hypothesis is based on the analysis of morphological characters and 28S ribosomal DNA sequences. The taxonomic status of the new species within the genus is discussed in comparison to the known Iranian species. Results revealed that this species is phylogenetically close to N. khwarizmi and is morphologically similar to N. borisi

Making future taxonomy of Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Niphargidae) in the Middle East easier: DELTA database of Middle East species with description of four new species from Iran

Esmaeili-Rineh, Somayeh, Sari, Alireza, Fišer, Cene (2015): Making future taxonomy of Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Niphargidae) in the Middle East easier: DELTA database of Middle East species with description of four new species from Iran. Zootaxa 4020 (3): 401-430, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4020.3.

Les amphipodes des eaux souterraines du genre &lt;i&gt;Niphargus&lt;/i&gt; Schiødte, 1834 dans la région de Boyer-Ahmad (Iran) avec la description de deux espèces nouvelles

Les recherches en systématique sur le genre d’amphipode Niphargus Schiødte, 1849 en Iran n’ont commencé que récemment, et de nouvelles études de terrain conduisent à la découverte d’espèces inédites non encore décrites. Dans le présent article, nous présentons les études faunistiques de la région de Boyer-Ahmad qui a révélé trois espèces. Par des analyses morphologiques et de phylogénie moléculaire (marqueurs COI et 28S), nous montrons que l’une des espèces peut être identifiée N. persicus Esmaeili-Rineh, Sari, Fišer &amp; Bargrizaneh, 2017, nouvellement décrit, tandis que les deux autres sont nouvelles pour la Science. Ces deux espèces, N. yasujensis n. sp. et N. nasrullahi n. sp., appartiennent au clade des espèces du Moyen-Orient, et diffèrent tant génétiquement que morphologiquement des autres espèces de la région. Les deux espèces font l’objet d’une diagnose, d’une description et d’illustrations.The systematic research of amphipod genus Niphargus Schiødte, 1849 in Iran has begun only recently, and new field explorations result in discovery of new, yet undescribed species. Here we report on faunistic surveys in the Boyer-Ahmad Region that unveiled three species. Using molecular phylogeny (COI and 28S markers) and morphological analysis, we show that one species should be classified as the recently described N. persicus Esmaeili-Rineh, Sari, Fišer &amp; Bargrizaneh, 2017, whereas the other two are new to Science. We show that both species, N. yasujensis n. sp. and N. nasrullahi n. sp., fall into the Middle East clade of species, as well as that both species are genetically and morphologically distinct from other species in the region. Both species are diagnosed, described and illustrated.</p