Barcoding the Collembola of Churchill: a molecular taxonomic reassessment of species diversity in a sub‐Arctic area

Although their functional importance in ecosystems is increasingly recognized, soil‐dwelling micro‐arthropods are usually poorly known in comparison with their above‐ground counterparts. Collembola constitute a significant and species‐rich component of the soil biodiversity, but it remains a woefully understudied group because of the taxonomic impediment. The ever‐increasing use of molecular taxonomic tools, such as DNA barcoding, provides a possible solution. Here, we test the use of this approach through a diversity survey of Collembola from the vicinity of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, and compare the results with previous surveys in the same area and in other sub‐Arctic regions. The systematic barcoding campaign at Churchill revealed a diverse collembolan fauna consisting of 97 species‐level MOTUs in six types of habitats. If all these MOTUs are confirmed as species, this richness would be far higher than prior records for Arctic Canada and could lead to reconsider the actual diversity of the group in Arctic environments.     

Host specificity of the parasite fauna of perch Perca fluviatilis L. from the British Isles, with special reference to a study at Llyn Tegid (Wales)

Five-hundred and fifty-nine perch ( Perca fluviatilis L.) were examined from Llyn Tegid between January 1975-July 1976 for protozoan and metazoan parasites. Sixteen species of parasites were recorded, and these results were compared to previous studies at Llyn Tegid, and elsewhere in the British Isles. It was concluded that the parasite fauna of perch is influenced by the diversity and abundance of the local aquatic invertebrate fauna, the local ichthyofauna, the local piscivorous avian fauna and the history and geographic isolation of the environment. The importance of a large series of observations on a variety of habitats was stressed.     

Springtails (Hexapoda, Collembola) in karst landscapes of the Pinega State Reserve

The collembolan fauna of the Pinega State Reserve (Arkhangelsk Province) was examined. The study area is highly specific due to its karst topography. In all, 126 Collembola species were recorded in the reserve, a significant fraction of their diversity being restricted to karst habitats. Several species that had never been recorded in plain forest biotopes were of special interest. Such forms with distribution ranges mainly limited to the tundra zone comprised about 10% of the local fauna. Regarding the longitudinal sizes of the ranges, this group was not homogeneous and included both widespread circumpolar and east-Palaearctic (Siberian) species. Several arctoalpine forms were also recorded. Most of these arctic species were not numerous over the area studied and in general, the collembolan assemblages at the coldest sites of the reserve did not differ significantly from those typical of the forest zone, with the exception of two species, Desoria tshernovi and D. inupikella, which often predominated in the karst communities. The origin and appropriateness of the term relict for the revealed “insular” populations of arctic species are discussed.     

The large Branchiopoda (Crustacea) from temporary habitats of the Drakensberg region,South Africa

The Drakensberg forms part of the Escarpment which separates the coastal plain from the inland plateau in southern Africa. This mountain range runs for about 400 km along the KwaZulu-Natal/Lesotho border and into the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Altitude ranges from 1500 to 3000 masl. Rock pools and tarns are the main type of temporary pool habitat in the Drakensberg. 90 different habitats were sampled over a four-year period and various physical and chemical characteristics of these pools are presented. Large branchiopods occurred in 26 of these habitats. Five Branchipodopsis and two Streptocephalus species composed the anostracan fauna, while Triops granarius was collected only from the summit of the Escarpment at one locality. Four genera of Spinicaudata are represented in the Drakensberg but the current state of the taxonomy of this group does not allow identification to species level. Absence of large branchiopods from a high percentage of temporary habitats could be attributed to predation or many pools may not be sufficiently ephemeral. Most pools were inhabited by a single species of large branchiopod. This could be a result of low levels of food resources in pools, as indicated by extremely low conductivities. Restricted food resources could also be the limiting factor in the distribution of Streptocephalus and Triops which are only found in pools with higher conductivities. Four of the five Branchipodopsis species are endemic to the Drakensberg pools. These habitats are also inhabited by a high diversity of ostracods and other micro-crustaceans. Most of the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg falls within conservation areas but the Lesotho and Free State localities could be threatened by future development.     

Effects of anthropogenic habitat disturbance on local pollinator diversity and species turnover across a precipitation gradient

Anthropogenic habitat disturbance can have profound effects on multiple components of forest biotas including pollinator assemblages. We assessed the effect of small-scale disturbance on local richness, abundance, diversity and evenness of insect pollinator fauna; and how habitat disturbance affected species turnover across the landscape and overall diversity along a precipitation gradient in NW Patagonia (Argentina). We evaluated the effect of disturbance on overall pollinator fauna and then separately for bees (i.e. Apoidea) and non-bee pollinators. Locally, disturbed habitats had significantly higher pollinator species richness and abundances than undisturbed habitats for the whole pollinator assemblage, but not for bees or non-bees separately. However, significant differences in species richness between habitats vanished after accounting for differences in abundance between habitat types. At a local scale Shannon–Weaver diversity and evenness did not vary with disturbance. A β diversity index indicated that, across forest types, species turnover was lower between disturbed habitats than between undisturbed habitats. In addition, rarefaction curves showed that disturbed habitats as a whole accumulated fewer species than undisturbed habitats at equivalent sample sizes. We concluded that small patches of disturbed habitat have a negligible effect on local pollinator diversity; however, habitat disturbance reduced β diversity through a homogenization of the pollinator fauna (in particular of bees) across the landscape.     

The differences of butterfly (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) communities in habitats with various degrees of disturbance and altitudes in tropical forests of Vietnam

A survey was conducted on the species composition, richness and abundance of Papilionoidea (excluding Lycaenidae) butterfly fauna in habitats with various degrees of disturbance and altitudes in tropical forests at Tam Dao National Park, northern Vietnam in 2001. The transect method was used to collect data in the survey. Six transects representing different habitat types at two sites, one site located at a low elevation of 200–250 m a.s.l., and the other located at a high elevation of 950–1000 m a.s.l., were chosen: three transects for each site, with a length of 500 m for each transect. A total of 3594 individuals of 127 species in 240 sets of data were recorded from various habitats. The differences in butterfly composition, species richness, abundance and diversity in different habitat types and altitudes were analyzed. The results showed significant differences of butterfly diversity among the different habitat types and between the low and high altitude sites. The butterfly diversity, species richness and species abundance in the low elevation habitats were higher than in the high elevation habitats. The highest diversity of butterflies occurred in the mixed habitats of agriculture, scrub and clearing lands of high disturbance. However, butterflies most important for conservation are associated with undisturbed or moderately disturbed forests only.     

Fish species diversity in sand bank habitats of a neotropical river

The fish fauna of the Cinaruco River, an intermediate sized floodplain river that forms the southern boundary of the newly established Santos Luzardo National Park in the llanos of Venezuela, was sampled in 1993-1994. Due to highly seasonal rainfall, the nutrient-poor Cinaruco undergoes dramatic changes in water level, creating a variety of seasonally available habitats for fishes. Sand bank habitats are conspicuous features in both main-channel and lentic backwater areas, and support fish assemblages that are different from adjacent rocky shore and shrubby shore habitats. Seine samples from sand bank habitats revealed high alpha diversity, dominated numerically by a few species of small Characiformes. Comparisons among and between lagoon, side-channel, and main-channel sand bank habitats showed little assemblage similarity. Overall, sand bank habitats were used by 8 orders, 21 families, and 105 species of fish, mostly of size classes less than 100 mm. Several species are currently undescribed. Elements which may contribute to high fish diversity include proximity to a diverse Amazonian fauna, seasonally dynamic habitat availability, the influence of keystone predators, and episodes of intermediate disturbance, such as seasonal release from intense biotic interactions.     

甘肃河西走廓不同生境中鼠类群落结构初步研究

本文对河西走廓不同生境中鼠类群落的物种组成和多样性进行了初步研究,在6种生境中进行了定量调查和采集,共获13种标本,隶于6（亚）科9属,其中古北界种类占优势。多样性分析结果表明：6种生境的物种丰富度指数RMargaler在.6139-1.9689之间。Shannon-Wiener指数（H')为1.0695-1.5607,Pielou旨数（J')和Simpson指数（D）分别为0.7242-0.9735和0．2768－0．4683,不同生境的丰富种数量（N1)变化趋势与H'相似,而非常丰富种数量（N2）的变化趋势为：半莫荒灌丛生境＞山地草原生境＞戈壁荒漠生境＞农田生境＞森林生境＞山地半荒漠灌丛生境。降水对不同生境类型中鼠类群落物种组成和多样性起直接的限制作用,同时海拔和人类干扰也是影响的因素。     

A genetic determination of cryptic species (Copepoda: Calanoida) and their postglacial biogeography in North America

Allozyme electrophoresis of Hesperodiaptomus arcticus (Marsh) sensu lato at subarctic Churchill, Canada revealed significant deviations from random mating in several populations, as shown by the complete absence of certain heterozygous types. A broad geographic survey of 20 enzyme loci in 1077 individuals from 27 ponds at 11 arctic and alpine sites west of Hudson Bay demonstrated that there were three genetically distinct types. Morphological analysis of genetically classified populations uncovered consistent morphological differences that had been ignored previously. These morphological characteristics were used to reclassify preserved museum and private specimens from additional sites from the entire North American distribution of H. arcticus sensu lato. A detailed study of two of the distinct types co-occurring at Churchill showed reproduction timing and habitat differences consistent with reproductive isolation. I concluded that there are three species and each have different distributions. Most regions examined must have been repopulated by dispersal from glacial refugia after deglaciation. The nominal species is apparently restricted to western arctic localities in the vicinity of the Alaskan refugium while the other two putative taxa have dispersed widely into previously glaciated regions.     

Survey of aquatic macroinvertebrates and amphibians at Wupatki National Monument,Arizona, USA: An evaluation of selected factors affecting species richness in ephemeral pools

Ephemeral aquatic habitats in Wupatki National Monument vary from naturally formed pools in arroyos over 5000 years old, to constructed catchment basins with ages estimated at 60–1000+ years old, and borrow pits and stock ponds 30–60 years old. The different ages of these pools provide different histories of colonization by amphibians and aquatic invertebrates, especially temporary pool specialists such as spadefoot toads and branchiopod crustaceans. Ten pools of five different origins and ages were surveyed in August and/or September 1997 for aquatic organisms; a total of 13 surveys were conducted. Twenty-two taxa were found, with the number of species in a pool during any survey ranging from one to 10. Species composition of the communities changed from one sampling date to the next within individual pools. Community structure is an amalgam of species with different dispersal mechanisms that are influenced by different pool characteristics. Age appears to have little effect overall, but may have influenced branchiopod presence/absence. Distance to permanent water, frequency of disturbance, and current pool size were correlated with presence/absence of some species.     

The ground beetle fauna (Coleoptera,Carabidae) of Southeastern Altai

Long-term studies of the ground beetle fauna of Southeastern Altai (SEA) revealed 33 genera and 185 species; 3 and 15 species are reported for the first time from Russia and SEA, respectively. The following genera are the most diverse: Bembidion (47 species), Amara and Harpalus (21 each), Pterostichus (14), and Nebria (13). The subarid (35%) and boreal (32%) species prevail in the arealogical spectrum, while the mountain endemics comprise 13% of the fauna. The carabid fauna of SEA is heterogeneous in composition and differs significantly from that of the Western and Central Altai. The boreal mountain component mostly comprises tundra species with circum-boreal or circum-arctic ranges, while the subarid component (typical Mongolian together with Ancient Mediterranean species) forms more than one-half of the species diversity in the mountain basins. The species diversity increases from the nival mountain belt (15 species, predominantly Altai-Sayan endemics) to moss-lichen tundras (40, mostly boreal, species). The variety of habitats and constant hydrothermal regimes in the intrazonal valley communities determine high taxonomic diversity of Carabidae, including both tundra or meadow-steppe species typical of the region and some forest ones. Under the condition of moisture deficiency, many steppe species also concentrate in river floodplains.     

The ecology of ostracodes (Ostracoda,Crustacea) in western Mongolia

Aquatic biota in Central Asia witnesses and faces a changing environment. Because ostracodes contribute to both extant and fossil lacustrine diversity, they can be used to track evolution in water quality. Living ostracode communities in a variety of aquatic habitats of western Mongolia were analyzed in relation to environmental and hydrochemical variables of those habitats, based on presence/absence data from net samples. The sampled water bodies represent broad gradients in ionic concentration and composition. Ostracode community composition of springs differed from all other sampled habitats, which was also reflected in CCA analyses. Our data indicated that the ostracode fauna of western Mongolia shows a high response to calcium content, alkalinity, salinity, temperature, nutrients, and altitude. Species composition and diversity seem to be determined by solute evolution dominated by Ca-depletion. In general, this seems to be an important regulator of lacustrine ostracode species composition in several semi-arid regions. Binary logistic regression was used to predict the occurrence of the most common species with a minimal set of environmental variables. The resulting models showed on average low performance, and mainly demonstrated the potential of such modeling to predict the distribution of typical bio-indicator species.     

Pathways of formation of the fauna of the Solovetsky Archipelago,the White Sea,Northwest Russia

The fauna of the Solovetsky Archipelago represents an extremely depleted and reduced variant of the continental northern boreal one. The level of its depletion roughly corresponds to the latitudinal shift by one or two biomes, that is, by the number of species it is comparable to the mainland concrete faunas of the forested or hypoarctic tundra. Only very few arctic species, let alone more southern (nemoral) faunal elements, occur on the archipelago. The compositions of the basic fauna groups and their dominant species are determined there by three main factors: a wide distribution of intrazonal ecosystems (coastal wastelands and grasslands, birch sparse forests, peat bogs), limited living space, and extreme climatic conditions. Among the dominants are eurytopic polyzonal and, to a lesser degree, hypoarctic species. The isolation of the Solovetsky Islands is no significant barrier to the dispersal of numerous animal species, but these islands form a highly specific environment that strongly prevents the invasion of new species lacking relevant preadaptations to the local habitat and climatic conditions. The effect of “density compensation” of lower taxonomic diversity is revealed on the archipelago in many taxa, the range of abundant species being able to vary considerably in time depending on the climatic conditions. The Solovetsky Islands’ fauna is continental by origin, having been mainly formed in the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene (～9–10 ka before the present).     

Invertebrate survey of coastal habitats and podocarp forest on Ulva Island,Rakiura National Park,New Zealand

Abstract

Inventory of the invertebrate fauna is important to establish taxonomic diversity, abundance and distribution, and hence the conservation of indigenous biodiversity. Invertebrate assemblages have been documented in some broadleaf‐podocarp forests and grassland habitats in New Zealand, but not in dense stands of coastal forest or in mature podocarp forest. This survey aimed to provide a taxonomic inventory of terrestrial invertebrates and their habitat associations on Ulva Island (Rakiura National Park, Stewart Island), an off‐shore sanctuary of significant conservation value in New Zealand. We systematically documented the invertebrate assemblages collected in ground litter and on tree trunks on the island. The invertebrate specimens identified represented 4 phyla, 6 classes, 25 orders and 62 species. The invertebrate fauna reported in this survey was distinct from those of lowland shrubland and broadleaved‐Nothofagus forests on the mainland, but shared species with that reported from another similar off‐shore island, Codfish Island (Whenua Hou).     

Fish Species and Community Distributions as Proxies for Seafloor Habitat Distributions: The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Example (Northwest Atlantic, Gulf Of Maine)

Defining the habitats of fishes and associated fauna on outer continental shelves is problematic given the paucity of data on the actual types and distributions of seafloor habitats. However many regions have good data on the distributions of fishes from resource surveys or catch statistics because of the economic importance of the fisheries. Fish distribution data (species or communities) have been used as a proxy for the distribution of habitats to develop precautionary conservation strategies for habitat protection (e.g., marine protected areas, fishing gear restrictions). In this study we assessed the relationships between the distributions of fish communities and species derived from trawl survey data with the spatial distribution of sediment types determined by sampling and acoustic reflectance derived from multibeam sonar surveys in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Fish communities were correlated with reflectance values but all communities did not occur in unique sediment types. This suggests that use of community distributions as proxies for habitats should include the caveat that a greater number of communities within an area could indicate a greater range of habitat types. Single species distributions showed relationships between abundance and reflectance values. Trawl catches with low abundances had wide variations in reflectance values while those with high abundances had narrower ranges indicating habitat affinities. Significant non-random frequency-dependent relationships were observed for 17 of 20 species although only 12 of 20 species had significant relationships based on rank correlation. These results suggest that species distributions based on trawl survey data can be used as proxies for the distribution of seafloor habitats. Species with known habitat associations can be used to infer habitat requirements of co-occurring species and can be used to identify a range of habitat types.     

Contribution by possums to seed rain and subsequent seed germination in successional vegetation, Canterbury, New Zealand

Spider assemblages were sampled by quantitative sampling in pasture and arable habitats under different management regimes in the lower North Island of New Zealand. Density and species diversity increased with decreasing frequency and/or intensity of disturbance from two species and 1.8 individuals per m in wheat to 16 species and 130 indiv. per m in an abandoned, ungrazed pasture. The spider fauna was dominated by introduced species of money spiders (Linyphiidae). The most abundant species, Lepthyphantes tenuis, is also the most abundant one in British cultivated habitats. Additional pitfall trap samples from the same location and the Waikato, central North Island, indicated a similar species range containing mainly European species. A sample from a native tussock habitat had a completely different fauna, with only one species shared with the most undisturbed cultivated area. Comparative samples showed that similarly structured, but about twice as species- rich assemblages live in similar cultivated habitats in England.     

General aspects of the large branchiopod crustacean fauna of Mongolia

 The Gobi Steppe of Mongolia supports numerous temporary water bodies of various sizes. No accurate information is available on the factors that shape the structure of their fauna, partly because they have been regarded as less important environments than permanent lakes. This study represents the first comprehensive survey of the Recent large branchiopod fauna of Mongolia, which consists of at least 16 species. This faunal composition may have resulted from colonization through diversification in East Asia during the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era (ca. 135–65 My ago), and to some extent from immigration from Europe into Asia during the Cenozoic era. The distribution patterns of some geologically ancient taxa most probably reflect the ancient hydrosphere. Five new records from Mongolia are presented: three species of Anos-traca, Branchinectella media (Schmankewitsch, 1873), Chirocephalus mongolianus Uéno, 1940, and Chirocephalus sp. (undescribed); one Spinicaudata, Cyzicus sp. (undescribed); and one Laevicaudata, Lynceus sp. (undescribed). The three undescribed species are localized-endemic to the Gobi Steppe. The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to some of the scientific interest and value of ephemeral aquatic habitats in Mongolia, and to argue that hydrobiologists, water resource managers, and conservationists need to take greater interest in temporary habitats. Received: June 5, 2002 / Accepted: August 31, 2002 Mailing address: Daifukucho 5-13-1, Gifu-shi, Gifu 502-0934, Japan Acknowledgments Special thanks are due to Dr. Ján Brtek (Hornonitrianske Múzeum, Slovakia) and the late Dr. Denton Belk (U.S.A.) who initiated the first author into large branchiopod studies. We also thank Prof. Tatsuo Kira (Otsu, Japan) for giving us the opportunity to organize our project. In addition, we thank the staff of Kaze Travel Co., Ltd. [Tokyo/Yokohama/Osaka, Japan; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (Mongol Kaze Travel Co., Ltd.: MKT)] for making the travel arrangements. The present study could not have been successful without sponsorship from the Chunichi Shimbun Social Welfare Association (Nagoya/Gifu, Japan). The research team and many Mongolian laypeople provided advice and assistance in our fieldwork. Correspondence to:H. Naganawa     

Zoogeography, taxonomy, and conservation of West Virginia's Ohio River floodplain crayfishes (Decapoda, Cambaridae)

The crayfish fauna of West Virginia consists of 23 species and several undescribed taxa. Most survey efforts documenting this fauna have been conducted in lotic waterways throughout the Appalachian plateau, Allegheny Mountains, and Ridge and Valley physiographic provinces. Bottomland forests, swamps, and marshes associated with large river floodplain such as the Ohio River floodplain historically have been under-surveyed in the state. These habitats harbor the richest primary burrowing crayfish fauna in West Virginia, and are worthy of survey efforts. In an effort to fill this void, the crayfish fauna of West Virginia's Ohio River floodplain was surveyed from 2004 through 2009. From this survey, nine species from four genera were documented inhabiting the floodplain. Zoogeography, biology, and conservation status is provided for all nine crayfishes. The dominant genus along the floodplain is Cambarus, which includes Cambarus (Cambarus) carinirostris, Cambarus (Cambarus) bartonii cavatus, Cambarus (Procambarus) robustus and Cambarus (Tubericambarus) thomai. Cambarus (Tubericambarus) thomai is the most prevalent burrowing species occurring along the floodplain. The genus Orconectes consists of two native species, Orconectes (Cambarus) obscurus and Orconectes (Cambarus) sanbornii; and two invasive taxa, Orconectes (Gremicambarus) virilis and Orconectes (Procambarus) rusticus. Orconectes (Cambarus) obscurus has experienced a range extension to the south and occupies streams formerly occupied by Orconectes (Cambarus) sanbornii. Both invasive taxa were allied with anthropogenic habitats and disturbance gradients. The genera Fallicambarus and Procambarus are represented by a single species. Both Fallicambarus (Cambarus) fodiens and Procambarus (Orconectes) acutus are limited to the historic preglacial Marietta River Valley.     

中国阿勒泰地区鸟类物种编目、丰富度格局和区系组成

中国阿勒泰地区位于新疆北部, 与哈萨克斯坦、俄罗斯、蒙古国交界, 该区包含阿尔泰山及山前荒漠和绿洲, 属于全球200个生物多样性最丰富和最具代表性生态区之一的阿尔泰-萨彦岭生物热点地区。阿勒泰地区生境多样, 鸟类物种资源丰富。尽管以往曾在阿勒泰地区进行过一些鸟类调查, 但对于该地区不同景观和生境类型中鸟类物种丰富度和分布尚无详尽报道。本文通过2013-2016年在中国境内阿尔泰山及山前平原地区对不同生境类型中的鸟类进行实地调查, 并总结文献资料及观鸟爱好者的记录数据, 重新整理了阿勒泰地区鸟类名录及地理分布, 分析了鸟类的物种组成、区系成分; 通过鸟类分布位点数据, 选取气候、土地覆被类型、人类足迹指数及地形共4类环境因子作为自变量建立MaxEnt生态位模型, 通过模拟77种鸟类的适宜分布区并叠加分布图层, 获得了阿勒泰地区的鸟类物种丰富度分布格局。结果表明: 阿勒泰共记录鸟类344种, 隶属19目55科149属, 其中雀形目163种。在垂直海拔带上, 鸟类物种数分别为高山裸岩带24种, 高山草甸带35种, 山地森林草原带172种, 低山灌木带130种, 荒漠草原带84种, 平原绿洲带173种, 以及各海拔带的湿地与水域生境中水鸟92种; 在区系成分上, 以北方型鸟类为主(170种, 占49.4%), 其次为广布种(93种, 占27.0%)。阿尔泰山地的鸟类区系呈现出西伯利亚动物区系特征, 山前平原地区呈现蒙新区分布特征, 因此, 阿勒泰地区动物地理区系属于古北界欧洲-西伯利亚亚界阿尔泰-萨彦岭区阿尔泰亚区; 山前平原地区属于古北界中亚亚界蒙新区西部荒漠亚区。MaxEnt模型推测阿勒泰地区山前平原绿洲地区、山地森林草原带和低山灌木带具有较高的鸟类物种丰富度, 尤其是额尔齐斯河流域下游的绿洲带宽阔, 鸟类物种丰富, 而高山区和荒漠生境中鸟类物种相对较少。模型预测的结果与实际调查情况相符。阿勒泰地区应采用生态友好的经济发展策略, 加强对乔木和灌木的保护, 这有助于维持较高的鸟类物种多样性。此外, 降低生境破碎化不仅对该地区物种保护有重要作用, 也对维持阿尔泰-萨彦岭生物热点地区的山地鸟类多样性有重要意义。     

A hierarchical classification of freshwater mussel diversity in North America

Aim North America harbours the most diverse freshwater mussel fauna on Earth. This fauna has high endemism at the continental scale and within individual river systems. Previous faunal classifications for North America were based on intuitive, subjective assessments of species distributions, primarily the occurrence of endemic species, and do not portray continent‐wide patterns of faunal similarity. The aim of this study is to provide an analytical portrayal of patterns of mussel diversity in a hierarchical framework that informs the biogeographical history of the fauna. Location The study considered the mussel fauna of North America from the Rio Grande system northwards. Methods Patterns of mussel faunal similarity in 126 river systems or lake watersheds across North America were examined. The dataset was developed from the literature and consisted of recent species presence/absence (282 species) in each drainage unit; subspecies were not included. Patterns of mussel diversity were examined with hierarchical cluster analysis, based on a pairwise distance matrix between all drainage units. Results Cluster analysis revealed 17 faunal provinces within four major faunal regions: Mississippian, Atlantic, Eastern Gulf and Pacific. The Mississippian Region dominates the North American fauna with 11 provinces, including five not recognized by previous classifications: Mississippi Embayment, Upper Mississippi, Great Plains, Ohioan and Pontchartrain–Pearl–Pascagoula. Within the Eastern Gulf Region (containing three provinces), the Escambia–Choctawhatchee Province is distinctive from the Apalachicolan Province, under which it was previously subsumed. Patterns of diversity in the Atlantic Region (two provinces) and Pacific Region (one province) were similar to previous classifications. Main conclusions The classification proposed in this study largely corroborates earlier schemes based on the occurrence of endemic species but identifies additional heterogeneity that reflects unique assemblages of widely distributed species. The study proposes a hierarchical structure that illustrates relationships among these provinces. Although some provinces in the Mississippian Region have high endemism, all Mississippian provinces share a group of widely distributed species. The Atlantic and Eastern Gulf regions have distinctive, endemic faunas suggesting limited past connectivity with the Mississippian Region. The Pacific Region is the most distinct fauna in North America and bears close affinity to the Eurasian mussel fauna.