title: Drastic underestimation of amphipod biodiversity in the endangered Irano-Anatolian and Caucasus biodiversity hotspots.
abstract: Biodiversity hotspots are centers of biological diversity and particularly threatened by anthropogenic activities. Their true magnitude of species diversity and endemism, however, is still largely unknown as species diversity is traditionally assessed using morphological descriptions only, thereby ignoring cryptic species. This directly limits evidence-based monitoring and management strategies. Here we used molecular species delimitation methods to quantify cryptic diversity of the montane amphipods in the Irano-Anatolian and Caucasus biodiversity hotspots. Amphipods are ecosystem engineers in rivers and lakes. Species diversity was assessed by analysing two genetic markers (mitochondrial COI and nuclear 28S rDNA), compared with morphological assignments. Our results unambiguously demonstrate that species diversity and endemism is dramatically underestimated, with 42 genetically identified freshwater species in only five reported morphospecies. Over 90% of the newly recovered species cluster inside Gammarus komareki and G. lacustris; 69% of the recovered species comprise narrow range endemics. Amphipod biodiversity is drastically underestimated for the studied regions. Thus, the risk of biodiversity loss is significantly greater than currently inferred as most endangered species remain unrecognized and/or are only found locally. Integrative application of genetic assessments in monitoring programs will help to understand the true magnitude of biodiversity and accurately evaluate its threat status.
authors.affiliation: School of Biology and Centre of Excellence in Phylogeny of Living Organisms, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad-Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Katouzian
authors.affiliation: School of Biology and Centre of Excellence in Phylogeny of Living Organisms, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Ecosystem Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Macher
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Ecosystem Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saboori
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Ecosystem Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.|Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leese
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Ecosystem Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.|Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Weigand
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001211:Asia, Western; D044822:Biodiversity; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D064308:Ecological Parameter Monitoring; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics*; D056145:Freshwater Biology; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D005819:Genetic Markers; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV