Assessing the Diversity of Ant-Associated Silverfish (Insecta: Zygentoma) in Mediterranean Countries: The Most Important Hotspot for Lepismatidae in Western Palaearctic
The Mediterranean Basin is considered one of the most important hotspots of biodiversity in the European region. Many taxa exhibit high levels of speciation and endemicity in this area. This is the case of the myrmecophilous insects of the families Lepismatidae and Nicoletiidae (Insecta: Zygentoma)...
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/5/635 |
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| author | Jairo Robla Miquel Gaju-Ricart Rafael Molero-Baltanás |
| author_facet | Jairo Robla Miquel Gaju-Ricart Rafael Molero-Baltanás |
| author_sort | Jairo Robla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Mediterranean Basin is considered one of the most important hotspots of biodiversity in the European region. Many taxa exhibit high levels of speciation and endemicity in this area. This is the case of the myrmecophilous insects of the families Lepismatidae and Nicoletiidae (Insecta: Zygentoma) that are further assessed in this study using unpublished and bibliographic data. A complete checklist of all ant-associated silverfish occurring in the Mediterranean Basin is presented, together with an updated identification key and interesting new records for several countries. Considering all described Zygentoma species, the myrmecophilous silverfish of the Mediterranean area represent 28% of all ant-associated species of the world and about 35% of the studied area. Even with the scarce knowledge of Zygentoma in other biogeographic areas and with insufficient sampling in other continents, we conclude that the Mediterranean region, and neighbouring areas of the Western Palaearctic, represent the most important biodiversity hotspot of ant-associated Lepismatidae (about 30% of the myrmecophilous species of this family described in the world so far), while the highest diversity of myrmecophilous Atelurinae is linked to tropical regions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:58:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-39de49fd277141e59cfd630f3868d46a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:58:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-39de49fd277141e59cfd630f3868d46a2023-12-01T01:27:41ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-05-0115563510.3390/d15050635Assessing the Diversity of Ant-Associated Silverfish (Insecta: Zygentoma) in Mediterranean Countries: The Most Important Hotspot for Lepismatidae in Western PalaearcticJairo Robla0Miquel Gaju-Ricart1Rafael Molero-Baltanás2Department of Conservation Biology, Doñana Biological Station (EBD), CSIC, C/Américo Vespucio, 26, 41092 Seville, SpainDepartment of Zoology, University of Córdoba, C-1 Campus de Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, SpainDepartment of Zoology, University of Córdoba, C-1 Campus de Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, SpainThe Mediterranean Basin is considered one of the most important hotspots of biodiversity in the European region. Many taxa exhibit high levels of speciation and endemicity in this area. This is the case of the myrmecophilous insects of the families Lepismatidae and Nicoletiidae (Insecta: Zygentoma) that are further assessed in this study using unpublished and bibliographic data. A complete checklist of all ant-associated silverfish occurring in the Mediterranean Basin is presented, together with an updated identification key and interesting new records for several countries. Considering all described Zygentoma species, the myrmecophilous silverfish of the Mediterranean area represent 28% of all ant-associated species of the world and about 35% of the studied area. Even with the scarce knowledge of Zygentoma in other biogeographic areas and with insufficient sampling in other continents, we conclude that the Mediterranean region, and neighbouring areas of the Western Palaearctic, represent the most important biodiversity hotspot of ant-associated Lepismatidae (about 30% of the myrmecophilous species of this family described in the world so far), while the highest diversity of myrmecophilous Atelurinae is linked to tropical regions.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/5/635<i>Atelura formicaria</i>identification key<i>Lepismina</i>myrmecophilous silverfishnidicolous insects<i>Neoasterolepisma</i> |
| spellingShingle | Jairo Robla Miquel Gaju-Ricart Rafael Molero-Baltanás Assessing the Diversity of Ant-Associated Silverfish (Insecta: Zygentoma) in Mediterranean Countries: The Most Important Hotspot for Lepismatidae in Western Palaearctic Diversity <i>Atelura formicaria</i> identification key <i>Lepismina</i> myrmecophilous silverfish nidicolous insects <i>Neoasterolepisma</i> |
| title | Assessing the Diversity of Ant-Associated Silverfish (Insecta: Zygentoma) in Mediterranean Countries: The Most Important Hotspot for Lepismatidae in Western Palaearctic |
| title_full | Assessing the Diversity of Ant-Associated Silverfish (Insecta: Zygentoma) in Mediterranean Countries: The Most Important Hotspot for Lepismatidae in Western Palaearctic |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the Diversity of Ant-Associated Silverfish (Insecta: Zygentoma) in Mediterranean Countries: The Most Important Hotspot for Lepismatidae in Western Palaearctic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the Diversity of Ant-Associated Silverfish (Insecta: Zygentoma) in Mediterranean Countries: The Most Important Hotspot for Lepismatidae in Western Palaearctic |
| title_short | Assessing the Diversity of Ant-Associated Silverfish (Insecta: Zygentoma) in Mediterranean Countries: The Most Important Hotspot for Lepismatidae in Western Palaearctic |
| title_sort | assessing the diversity of ant associated silverfish insecta zygentoma in mediterranean countries the most important hotspot for lepismatidae in western palaearctic |
| topic | <i>Atelura formicaria</i> identification key <i>Lepismina</i> myrmecophilous silverfish nidicolous insects <i>Neoasterolepisma</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/5/635 |
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