The chromosome-level genome of Mesobuthus martensii provides insights into its evolution and the diversity of venom peptides

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  The chromosome-level genome of Mesobuthus martensii provides insights into its evolution and the diversity of venom peptides Abstract Mesobuthus martensii , the source species of the traditional Chinese medicine “Quanxie”, has long been utilized for its therapeutic properties. Venom peptides are recognized as the major active molecular basis of these pharmacological activities. Despite this, their development as therapeutic agents remains poorly explored. In this study, we performed an integrated multi-omics investigation to systematically explore the venom peptides of Mesobuthus martensii . We generated a chromosome-level genome assembly of Mesobuthus martensii using third-generation sequencing technologies, yielding a genome size of 1.08 Gb with a contig N50 of 46.46 Mb. Integrated genomic and transcriptomic analyses led to the identification of 51 putative novel venom peptide candidates. From the broader venom peptide set, five lysine- and arginine-rich candidates were select...

Where We're Going, We Won't Need Eyes to See: Distributional Range Size Drivers of European Subterranean Spiders

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Where We're Going, We Won't Need Eyes to See: Distributional Range Size Drivers of European Subterranean Spiders

ABSTRACT

Aim

Understanding why closely related species can have drastically different distributional range sizes is a fundamental question in biology. However, answering this question is challenging due to the multiple inter-related factors that shape species distributions, particularly in continental regions, where unclear ecological and geographic boundaries and long evolutionary histories obscure the main drivers of range size variation. Island-like subterranean ecosystems such as caves provide ideal models for studying species' biogeography and evolution due to their well-defined boundaries, reduced species pools, and often easily defined abiotic limiting factors. We aim to better understand the factors influencing distributional range size in subterranean species.

Location

Continental Europe.

Taxon

Spiders (Araneae).

Methods

We calculated the range size of all subterranean spiders in Europe. We used Variation Partitioning Analysis to determine the relative influence of phenotypic subterranean-related traits, historical factors, and potential sampling biases on various range size metrics while controlling for phylogenetic effects via different approaches.

Results

Subterranean phenotypic related traits emerged as one of the most significant determinants of range size. In addition, climatic events and conditions during the Last Glacial Maximum also played an important role in shaping the species' range sizes. Conversely, sampling biases, approximated as the density of roads and research institutions across the study area, had limited influence. We also detected that closely related species typically exhibited more similar range sizes.

Main Conclusions

While subterranean related traits emerged as the main predictor of range size variation, the processes shaping species' range sizes are complex and multifactorial. In addition to morphological specialization, historical events, phylogenetic relationships, and other unaccounted factors have also played a significant role in determining the current distributions of European subterranean spider species. Despite these uncertainties, our study represents an initial step toward understanding range size variation in subterranean spiders, with implications for cave evolution, subterranean biogeographic patterns, and conservation priorities—particularly given the close link between range size and extinction risk.


Bellvert, A., Nicolosi, G., Pavlek, M., Cresi, L., & Mammola, S. (2026). Where We're Going, We Won't Need Eyes to See: Distributional Range Size Drivers of European Subterranean Spiders. Journal of Biogeography, 53(5), e70237. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.70237