Search Results (624)

Colocasia kerrii Gagnep. has been treated as a synonym of C. fallax Schott in both the Flora of China and the Flora of Thailand accounts of Colocasia. However, detailed examination of the type material and additional specimens clearly demonstrates that C. kerrii is a distinct species. It can be readily distinguished from C. fallax and other species of Colocasia by the combination of the following characters: a spathe that is only strongly constricted between the spathe base and limb; a spathe limb reflexed and slightly coiled at staminate anthesis; a sessile or subsessile spadix; subsessile stigmas with very short styles; and a sterile zone between the pistillate and staminate zones nearly as long as the pistillate zone and covered with elongate, rhombo-hexagonal synandrodes. The specific status of C. kerrii is therefore reinstated. It is compared with the later described C. bicolor C.L.Long & L.M.Cao, which is here placed in synonymy. The name Colocasia kerrii Gagnep. is lectotypified, and an amended description, updated distribution data, ecological notes, and a preliminary IUCN conservation assessment are provided. Full article

Tulipa scardica (Balkan endemic) was last recorded in Greece in 1896, possibly attributed to longstanding taxonomic ambiguity, as it has frequently been considered as conspecific with T. gesneriana or T. undulatifolia. In the present study we aimed to investigate the historical Greek locality of T. scardica and to reassess its taxonomic status in comparison with the closely related T. undulatifolia (also native to Greece and member of T. scardica complex). Targeted field surveys were conducted to verify the presence of T. scardica in Greece. The newly identified tulip population was subjected to an integrated analytic approach, including qualitative and quantitative morphological assessment, seed micromorphology, DNA barcoding, karyological investigation, and habitat/soil properties analyses. These datasets were comparatively evaluated against four reference populations of T. undulatifolia. Molecular data did not provide consistent species-level resolution, whereas morphological and karyological evidence statistically supported their distinction. Mitotic metaphase chromosomes of T. scardica were documented herein for the first time, while first-time scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed the presence of different types of stomatal complexes in seed coats of both taxa. In addition, soil parameters differed between the examined taxa, and those of the rediscovered population were consistent with habitat preferences of T. scardica. Although both taxa exhibited considerable variability, the combined evidence derived from the present study strongly supported the rediscovery of T. scardica in Greece after approximately 130 years, unless proven otherwise in a wider context across its Balkan range. Full article

Assessing individual animal health is essential for detecting early ecological stress that may scale to population-level impacts. Yet, conventional capture-based methods are invasive and logistically challenging, particularly for large mammals. This study evaluates the accuracy of drone-based morphometric measurements as a non-invasive approach for estimating elephants’ Body Condition Index (BCI). Research was conducted in Way Kambas National Park, Sumatra, using a DJI Matrice 300 RTK equipped with a multisensor camera to acquire aerial imagery, primarily from a top-down perspective. Morphometric parameters were extracted through image preprocessing, segmentation, and edge detection using an OpenCV-based Canny algorithm, followed by coordinate and Euclidean distance analyses. Drone-derived measurements were validated against field-based morphometry in captive Sumatran elephants. Linear regression revealed strong agreement between methods, with R² values ranging from 0.91 to 0.97. Mid-body width showed the highest accuracy (R² = 0.97, MAPE = 2.66%, RMSE = 2.36), while other body dimensions also performed consistently well. BCI-related morphometric ratios exhibited minimal differences between drone and field measurements, confirming methodological reliability. As an exploratory extension, a preliminary allometric scaling framework was applied to estimate body condition proxies in free-ranging wild elephants except for mid-body width; however, these estimates are model-derived from total body length and should be interpreted as indicative rather than as direct morphometric assessments of body condition. These findings demonstrate that drone-based photogrammetry provides a validated, practical, and non-invasive method for morphometric measurement in captive elephants, with promising but as yet incompletely validated potential for application to wild populations. Full article

Conserving biodiversity requires identifying and prioritizing critical habitats at a fine scale, as coarse-scale approaches often fail to address the needs of specialized and threatened species. This study applies a fine-scale prioritization approach across temperate and tropical regions of North America and the Caribbean using a detailed map of 636 ecosystem types and high-resolution Area of Habitat (AOH) data. We then evaluated the current protection status and risk of future land use changes for each habitat type and prioritized them for conservation. Our results revealed that 38% of the area was identified in the top quartile of high-priority habitats, with 56 (33%) of identified IUCN threatened ecosystem types captured within these areas. Top priority habitats include the Meso-American Premontane Semi-deciduous Forest, Central American Caribbean Evergreen Lowland Forest, and Guerreran Dry Deciduous Forest, all characterized by low protection, high projected land-use conversion, and large numbers of threatened and habitat-specialist species, highlighting their urgent conservation importance in Meso-American and Caribbean tropical forests. Our findings emphasize the need for targeted conservation strategies that consider finer-scale habitat classifications and species requirements to improve the precision of conservation planning, especially where already at-risk species and ecosystems are located, and human land use intensities are high. Full article

Background/Objectives: The IUCN endangered spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii) demonstrates markedly reduced resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila-induced infections compared to the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta). This study investigates the immunological basis for this disparity by analyzing infection outcomes and splenic transcriptomes of both species post-pathogen challenge. Methods: In a preliminary experiment, 32 turtles (16 G. hamiltonii and 16 T. scripta) were exposed to A. hydrophila. Results: G. hamiltonii developed skin ulcer syndrome at a significantly higher incidence (81.25%) than T. scripta (12.5%) (p < 0.05). Comparative transcriptomic analysis identified 19 differentially expressed immune-related genes, with qPCR validation across five tissues (heart, liver, spleen, intestine, blood) revealing pronounced interspecies differences in IL18, STAT1, IFIH1, and CD28 expression. Notably, IL18 and its downstream effector STAT1 were robustly upregulated in T. scripta but were considerably lower in G. hamiltonii, correlating with delayed IFN-γ pathway activation and impaired epidermal barrier repair. Concurrently, CD28 upregulation in T. scripta facilitated rapid T-cell-mediated pathogen clearance, whereas its delayed induction in G. hamiltonii hindered adaptive immunity. These findings implicate dysregulated innate (IL18/STAT1) and adaptive (CD28) immune pathways as key determinants of G. hamiltonii’s susceptibility to bacterial infection. Conclusions: Despite the critical conservation status of G. hamiltonii, the immunological basis underlying its heightened susceptibility to bacterial infections remains largely unexplored; this study addresses this gap by comparing the splenic transcriptomes of G. hamiltonii and T. scripta following A. hydrophila challenge, identifying the dysregulated IL18-STAT1 Immune Axis and CD28-mediated adaptive immunity as key determinants, thereby providing actionable immune targets for conservation breeding and susceptibility screening in this endangered species. Full article

The Spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) is a long-lived terrestrial reptile listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List and protected under CITES Appendix II. As an ecosystem engineer, it plays a vital role in Mediterranean landscapes, yet it frequently faces anthropogenic pressures in urban environments. This study provides an ecological and ethological assessment of a captive T. graeca population (n = 42) in the historical Münire Madrasa Handicrafts Bazaar in Kastamonu, Türkiye. The methodology integrated spatial carrying capacity modeling (Boullon model), systematic ethogram-based observations (120 h), and ethnozoological surveys (n = 200). Spatial analysis revealed that the population exceeds the corrected Real Carrying Capacity (RCC ≈ 10) by four times (Overcapacity Index: 4.2) within the 70 m² area. Ethological findings documented chronic stress, with stereotypic pacing (H1) occupying 32% of the time budget, alongside a significant loss of anti-predator mechanisms due to anthropogenic habituation (İ1). While stakeholders (100%, 95% CI: 98.1–100%) perceive the tortoises as cultural symbols of abundance, the biological reality indicates severe welfare risks, including potential metabolic bone disease from a monotonous anthropogenic diet and a disrupted Ca:P ratio. The site is categorized as a ‘High-Constraint Interaction Zone’. We propose a management transition toward a monitored ‘Urban Wildlife Education Station’ to align local cultural values with international animal welfare and conservation standards. Full article

Despite the endangered status of the Oriental Stork (Ciconia boyciana) on the IUCN Red List, a critical lack of contemporary mitochondrial genomic data from its core distribution areas in mainland China has hindered our understanding of the species’ long-term evolutionary stability and spatiotemporal variation. This study addresses this gap by sequencing and assembling the complete mitogenome (17,608 bp) of a contemporary individual from Hongze Lake, Jiangsu (PX682155), and conducting a rigorous comparative analysis against a historical reference sequence published 25 years ago in Japan (NC_002196). Our results demonstrate striking structural and functional conservation across a quarter-century span; the 13 protein-coding genes exhibit highly synchronized gene arrangements, base composition biases, and Relative Synonymous Codon Usage (RSCU) patterns, indicative of stringent purifying selection maintaining oxidative phosphorylation efficiency. While phylogenetic analysis reinforces its sister-group relationship with the White Stork (C. ciconia), significant length polymorphisms were identified within the D-loop control region, primarily driven by microsatellite repeat variations. These findings provide a vital genomic benchmark for mainland populations, offering high-resolution molecular markers essential for future large-scale assessments of geographic isolation and the refinement of targeted conservation strategies for this flagship wetland species. Full article

As part of an ongoing investigation into the genus Polycarpon, the name P. prostratum var. littorale, described from Senegal in 1967 by J. Raynal and A. Raynal, was studied. It does not appear in World Flora Online (WFO), is unplaced in Plant Of the World Online (POWO) and in the International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Furthermore, no study appears to be published after that by J. Raynal and A. Raynal. With the aim to clarify the identity and taxonomic status of Raynal & Raynal’s variety, a detailed study of the type and other specimens is here presented. The name is lectotypified on a specimen preserved at P (barcode P00388964) and further two isolectotypes were traced (P00388965 and P00388966). Based on the morphology of Raynal & Raynal’s taxon and the current circumscription of the genus Polycarpon as monophyletic (with P. tetraphyullum) a nomenclatural change (P. tetraphyllum subps. littorale comb. et stat. nov.) is proposed. The subspecies is assessed as Endangered based on the IUCN criterion B2. Furthermore, a diagnostic key to the Polycarpon taxa occurring in Africa is presented. Full article

Bangka’s mangroves contribute to Indonesia’s species-rich coastal ecosystems, yet they have experienced substantial degradation, largely driven by human activities such as tin mining. Establishing long-term records of mangrove extent is essential for understanding distribution dynamics, assessing impacts, and guiding conservation strategies. In this study, we applied change detection techniques, a random forest classifier, and the LandTrendr algorithm to analyze Landsat time-series data from 1994 to 2023 across Bangka Island. We quantified multi-decadal changes in mangrove extent, periods of disturbance and recovery, and discrepancies between local and global datasets. Mangrove dynamics were spatially heterogeneous, with both expansion and loss observed across regions in landward and seaward settings. Over the 30-year period, total gains reached 4956.39 ha (10.30% of the baseline), yet the net change indicated an overall loss of 1055.85 ha. LandTrendr analysis further revealed sustained mangrove expansion since 1989. Observed changes reflect the combined influence of natural processes, including accretion and erosion, and human pressures, particularly tin mining. Although net area loss aligns with national trends, the drivers in this mining-dominated region differ from those elsewhere, and some mangrove areas remain absent from global datasets. These findings emphasize the need to better capture local gain–loss dynamics to support effective management and conservation. Full article

Understanding how rising temperatures driven by climate change affect biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is particularly relevant in fragile island environments. Terceira Island, part of the Azorean Archipelago (Portugal) in the mid-Atlantic Ocean, was selected for an in situ experiment to assess the effects of simulated warming on arthropod diversity and grass productivity in intensively managed pastures. Over one year, we examined the influence of a simulated increase in temperature via Open Top Chambers (OTCs) on ground-dwelling arthropod assemblages and plant biomass. We used several statistical methods to analyze both individual variables and overall community patterns to explore the relationships between treatments, grass biomass, and arthropod community structure. Although the OTC treatment did not result in any significant changes to the analyzed variables, an increase in diversity indices was observed over the course of the experiment. Distance-based redundancy analysis revealed significant effects of both OTC treatment and altitude on arthropod community composition. Models showed that the analyzed variables only partially explained the observed changes. Nevertheless, additional factors, such as vegetation structure and microclimatic variation, may also contribute to the observed patterns and warrant further investigation. These results underscore the importance of long-term, multifactorial approaches to understanding interactions between warming, plant productivity, and arthropod diversity. Full article

The Jianfengling region on southwestern Hainan Island is a sanctuary for a diverse range of wild animals. However, the exact extent of mammal species diversity and conservation status in Jianfengling remains largely unknown. Using camera-trapping data spanning from October 2020 to November 2021, this study focused on the diversity and distribution status of mammal species in Jianfengling, Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, China. The survey, with 41,571 camera days and 8091 independent detections, revealed 15 mammalian species belonging to 6 orders and 10 families. Among these detected species, one was categorized as Critically Endangered, and one as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. According to the Red List of China’s Vertebrates, one was categorized as Critically Endangered, one as Endangered, three as Vulnerable, and three as Near Threatened. Additionally, one was designated China’s national first-class key protected wildlife, and five were designated China’s national second-class key protected wildlife. Notably, populations of the Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) were confirmed to persist in the wild of Jianfengling. Occupancy modeling results showed that the occupancy of Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta), Hainan muntjac (Muntiacus nigripes), common palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), and Mainland leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) increased with increasing elevation. Vegetation type would only affect the occupancy of the Rhesus monkey. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and anthropogenic activities had no obvious effect on the occupancy of mammals. In terms of the relative abundance index (RAI) of mammals captured by camera traps, the most prevalent species identified was the Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus macrourus), followed by the wild boar (Sus scrofa), Pallas’s squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus), and Hainan muntjac. The monitoring also captured a significant number of images of domestic dogs and humans. These findings establish a baseline for species richness and occupancy of mammals in a typical island tropical rainforest in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. We hope that our findings could be used to assess the effectiveness of conservation monitoring programs in the coming years, as species richness surveys provide an important baseline for conservation planning. Full article

This study presents an innovative and interdisciplinary didactic approach for teaching biodiversity to high school students, aiming to enhance basic learning skills and promoting deeper understanding of biological concepts. The designed educational proposal aims to support policy-driven collaboration between schools and botanical gardens within the framework of coordinated and long-term educational policies. The intervention was designed to cultivate both cognitive and metacognitive skills within three (3) didactic hours, offering a holistic learning experience through the study of Tulipa members used as an alluring model. A total of 168 Greek first- and second-grade high school students (on average 16 years old) participated in the study. Biodiversity was examined in a multidisciplinary fashion, focusing on species’ diversity (phenotypic), genetic-karyological diversity, and habitat diversity. The core components of the approach included: (a) the completion of a corresponding worksheet module, which effectively engaged students in the learning process using the 5E didactic model, and (b) a karyotype lab experiment using living Tulipa specimens. The learning process was evaluated through two questionnaires assessing the acquisition of scientific knowledge and behavioral outcomes. The results showed a positive impact on students’ understanding regarding the genetic material and biodiversity, with the karyotype experiment playing a key role in achieving high performance in both cognitive and affective learning objectives. Knowledge scores were higher in the second-grade students (53–73%) than in the first-grade students (44–69%) of high school, especially regarding concepts such as karyotype applications and biodiversity-ecosystem balance. The karyotype experiment positively correlated with both the evaluation of the intervention and the shifts in biodiversity beliefs (Pearson’s r = 0.649, 0.515; p < 0.05, respectively). The modeled inquiry-based approach with living tulips and karyotype experiments can help schools and botanic gardens counteract plant blindness by enhancing cognitive and affective learning outcomes within a limited instructional timeframe. Full article

Background/Objectives: African swine fever is currently the most devastating viral disease affecting domestic and wild suids, causing major economic losses and severe impacts on natural populations. Oral immunization could become an important tool to control the panzootic and support wild pig conservation. However, this requires safe and effective vaccines, baits accepted by target species, and vaccine reservoirs that reliably release the vaccine during bait intake while maintaining vaccine integrity. Methods: We evaluated different bait types and vaccine containers in four wild Suiformes species, including Eurasian wild boar. In the same wild boar, we assessed oral vaccination with the live attenuated vaccine candidate “ASFV-G-ΔI177L”. Environmental monitoring approaches were applied to detect potential virus shedding, and vaccine immunogenicity and dissemination were evaluated. Vaccine stability was tested in vitro in two container types under different temperature conditions. Results: Bait uptake and container performance varied between manufacturers and among species. Environmental samples were largely negative for vaccine virus genome under controlled laboratory conditions, with only a few positive cotton ropes (0.43% of all samples). After oral bait vaccination, 45% (9/20) of wild boar seroconverted, with a higher proportion in animals receiving the vaccine in the slightly less attractive bait (gelatine-based). Vaccine virus dissemination was limited to a small number of organs, including gastrohepatic and mandibular lymph nodes. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that wild pigs can be vaccinated orally with “ASFV-G-ΔI177L” while virus shedding appears minimal. Although the tested baits show potential for multiple target species, baits and containers require optimization. Environmental monitoring methods also need refinement for field application. Full article

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is an apex predator and plays a fundamental role in sustaining biodiversity through its native range in Asia. By controlling populations of large herbivores and mesopredators, tigers help maintain the structural integrity of habitats, thereby supporting a diverse array of flora and fauna. Despite its ecological importance, the tiger is one of the most threatened large carnivores globally. It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, although threat categories vary among subspecies, and it is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which covers all tiger subspecies. Over the past two decades, global tiger populations have declined by more than 90%. Consequently, they have become the focus of conservation efforts, including captive breeding and reintroduction initiatives. However, the reintroduction of captive-bred tigers into natural habitats presents significant scientific and logistical challenges. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the complexities of using captive tigers for reintroduction programs, with particular attention to welfare and behavioral competence of captive individuals, and genetic diversity and health of founder populations. It further addresses critical considerations for habitat suitability and managing potential human-tiger conflict and evaluates the overall effectiveness and feasibility of tiger reintroduction as a conservation strategy. Full article

Rainbowfish of the genus Melanotaenia are highly endemic freshwater fishes found only in Australia and New Guinea. Although widespread, most species have narrow geographic ranges, making them particularly vulnerable to environmental change. Currently, 43 described (and many undescribed) Melanotaenia species occur in the Bird’s Head and Bird’s Neck region of Western New Guinea, 29 of which are currently classified as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, including two that may be extinct in the wild. We generated a high-spatial-resolution baseline land cover classification of rainbowfish habitats using low-cloud Planet Labs quarterly basemap mosaics and compared it with a moderate-resolution Landsat 8 OLI-derived classification to assess how spatial resolution influences land cover classification. Using the full 40-year Landsat archive, we quantified decadal land cover change around species type localities and identified localized disturbance events that may affect rainbowfish habitats. For species described from large rivers and lakes, changes in water-body extent over time were quantified. Deforestation varied widely, ranging from little or no detectable change in remote, difficult-to-access locations (e.g., M. misoolensis, M. sneideri), to landscapes heavily modified by logging, urbanization, mining, and agriculture (e.g., M. boesemani, M. arfakensis). Around the type localities, from the high-resolution imagery, we detected ~2939 ha of cleared land, whereas from the Landsat classification we identified only 31 ha of clearing, indicating that most of the fine-scale deforestation was not resolved at the Landsat scale. Time-sequence analyses indicate that over one-third of type localities experienced one or more localized disturbance events over the last 40 years. Land cover change in this region is highly dynamic and differs from commonly studied frontier deforestation patterns elsewhere. It also underscores a critical conservation challenge where rainbowfish species are being discovered in landscapes that are simultaneously undergoing rapid, spatially heterogeneous change. The same infrastructure that enables biological exploration also accelerates habitat modification. These changes threaten the persistence of highly endemic rainbowfish and underscore the value of multi-scale spatial and temporal remote sensing approaches for assessing habitat change in remote, biodiverse regions. The framework presented here is also broadly applicable to other narrowly distributed endemic taxa. Full article