Incorporating palaeogeography into ancestral area estimation can explain the disjunct distribution of land snails in Macaronesia and the Balearic Islands (Helicidae: Allognathini).

The systematics and biogeographical history of the Eastern Mediterranean and Macaronesian land snail tribe Allognathini (Helicidae: Helicinae) is investigated based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that the genus-group systematics of the tribe needs to be revised. We show for the first time that the narrow-range endemics Lampadia and Idiomela from the Madeira Archipelago belong to Allognathini and represent together the sister group of the diverse Canary Island Hemicycla radiation. We therefore suggest synonymising Lampadiini with Allognathini. Sister to these Macaronesian genera was the Balearic Island Allognathus radiation. Pseudotachea was not recovered as a monophyletic group and the two currently recognised species clustered in Iberus. Similarly, Adiverticula was not recovered as a monophyletic group and clustered in Hemicycla. We therefore suggest synonymising Pseudotachea with Iberus and Adiverticula with Hemicycla. The six genera in Allognathini, which we distinguish here (Cepaea, Iberus, Allognathus, Hemicycla, Idiomela and Lampadia), originated in Western to South-western Europe according to our ancestral area estimation and the fossil record. The disjunct distribution of the Balearic Islands and Macaronesian sister clades and the mainly Iberian Iberus clade that separated earlier can be explained by the separation of the Betic-Rif System from the Iberian Peninsula during the late Oligocene to early Miocene, along with independent Miocene dispersals to the Balearic Islands and Macaronesia from the Iberian Peninsula, where the ancestral lineage became extinct.

Diatoms from small ponds and terrestrial habitats in Deserta Grande Island (Madeira Archipelago).

BACKGROUND: Freshwater diversity, and diatoms in particular, from Desertas Islands (Madeira Archipelago, Portugal) is poorly known, although the Islands are protected and became a Natural Reserve in 1995. During two field expeditions in 2013 and 2014 to Deserta Grande Island, several freshwater and terrestrial habitats were sampled. The analysis of these samples aims to contribute to the biodiversity assessment of the freshwater biota present in Deserta Grande Island. Here, we present the diatom diversity in Deserta Grande Island resulting from that survey. This study contributes to improve the knowledge of Madeira Archipelago freshwater diversity, particularly in the Desertas sub-archipelago. NEW INFORMATION: To our knowledge, we present the first diatom data for the Desertas sub-archipelago. This work resulted in a list of 60 diatom taxa for Deserta Grande, from which 57 were identified to species level. From the 60 new records for Desertas sub-archipelago, 30 of them were also new records for Madeira Archipelago. Several specimens could not be assigned to a known species and may be new diatom species not yet described.

Molecular phylogeny and trait evolution of Madeiran land snails: radiation of the Geomitrini (Stylommatophora: Helicoidea: Geomitridae).

The Geomitrini is the most species-rich group of land snails in the Madeiran Archipelago. The phylogeny of the group is reconstructed based on mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers. The timing of diversification, the colonisation history of the islands of the Madeiran Archipelago and the evolution of characters of the dart apparatus are studied. The results of the phylogenetic analyses confirm the sister group relationship of Geomitrini and Cochlicellini, but also show that several previously accepted genus-group taxa are not monophyletic. A new classification for the Geomitrini is proposed, including the description of two new genera, Domunculifex Brozzo, De Mattia, Harl & Neiber, n. gen. and Testudodiscula Brozzo, De Mattia, Harl & Neiber, n. gen. The onset of diversification of Geomitrini was dated in our analysis at 13 Ma, which largely coincides with the emergence of the present-day islands. The ancestral state estimation recovered the presence of two appendiculae in the reproductive system as the ancestral state in Geomitrini. One appendicula was lost three times independently within the tribe and is even missing completely in one group. The ancestral area estimation suggests recurrent colonisations of Madeira (and the Ilhas Desertas) from the older island Porto Santo.