DNA barcoding of scorpions from Kosovo, with the first record of Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae)

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  DNA barcoding of scorpions from Kosovo, with the first record of Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) ABSTRACT This study presents DNA barcoding data for Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) and Euscorpius hadzii Caporiacco. Barcode sequences were compared with publicly available reference data to support species identification, together with the evaluation of diagnostic morphological characters. Alpiscorpius dinaricus is recorded from Kosovo for the first time, representing a new national record and contributing to the knowledge of euscorpiid diversity in the region. Diagnostic illustrations of A. dinaricus are provided to facilitate reliable identification and to support future faunistic, taxonomic, and biogeographic studies. Euscorpius hadzii , previously known only from Prizren district, is now reported also from Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mountains (Western Kosovo). Geci, D., Ibrahimi, H., Bilalli, A., Musliu, M., Strohmeier, T., Koblmüller, S., … S...

Seasonal variation of arthropod diversity in agroforestry systems in the humid tropics of Mexico

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Seasonal variation of arthropod diversity in agroforestry systems in the humid tropics of Mexico

Abstract

Agroforestry systems in the tropics exhibit high heterogeneity in plant species composition and structural configuration. However, few studies evaluated the seasonal shift in arthropod alpha diversity and abundance in agroforestry systems in the tropics. This study was designed to analyze the composition, abundance, and alpha diversity of arthropod orders in five agroforestry systems in the humid tropic of Tabasco, Mexico. The agroforestry systems compared were shade trees in plantations (ShTP), living fences (LF), alley farming (AF), slash-and-burn agriculture (SBA), and grazing plantations (GP) during dry and rainy seasons. Arthropods were collected using pitfall traps, classified at the order level, and counted to estimate the abundance. A total of 10,271 arthropod individuals were collected that belong to seven orders. Hymenoptera was the most abundant group, accounting for 64.7% of the total count, followed by Coleoptera, Collembola, Araneae, Hemiptera, Diptera, and Orthoptera. Arthropod alpha diversity and abundance varied significantly among the agroforestry systems and between the rainy and dry seasons. The agroforestry systems AF, GP, and ShTP showed a higher diversity (Shannon index) and dominant orders (Simpson index) in the rainy season compared to the dry season. The seasonal shift of the different arthropod orders varied among agroforestry systems, while the Orthoptera did seasonally vary across the agroforestry systems. This study suggests the interactive effects of seasons and agroforestry systems on arthropod abundance and diversity.

Lara-Pérez, L.A., Villanueva-López, G., Oros-Ortega, I. et al. Seasonal variation of arthropod diversity in agroforestry systems in the humid tropics of Mexico. Arthropod-Plant Interactions (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-023-10001-0