Search Results (27)

The Bignoniaceae family encompasses numerous species of ecological, medicinal, and cultural significance, yet its ethnobotanical value remains underexplored in many regions of Thailand. This study investigates the diversity, phenology, cultural relevance, and traditional uses of Bignoniaceae species in Maha Sarakham Province, Northeastern Thailand. Through semi-structured interviews with 260 local informants across 13 districts—alongside field observations and herbarium voucher collections—we documented 27 species across 21 genera. These integrated methods enabled the identification of key culturally significant species and provided insights into their traditional uses. Phenological data revealed clear seasonal patterns in flowering and fruiting, aligned with the regional climatic cycle. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices—including Species Use Value (SUV), Genera Use Value (GUV), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Cultural Importance Index (CI), and Cultural Food Significance Index (CFSI)—were employed to evaluate species significance. Results indicate that species such as Dolichandrone serrulata, D. spathacea, and Oroxylum indicum hold high cultural and practical value, particularly in traditional medicine, spiritual practices, and local landscaping. These findings underscore the critical role of Bignoniaceae in sustaining biocultural diversity and emphasize the urgency of preserving traditional botanical knowledge amid environmental and socio-economic change. Moreover, the insights contribute to broader efforts in cultural heritage preservation and biodiversity conservation across tropical and subtropical regions. Full article

Concerns about global food insecurity have been growing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to assess the determinants of food security among internally displaced persons (IDPs)—people who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, natural disasters, or other crises—and their children under five, as well as the influence on their nutritional status. Using random sampling, the caregivers of IDPs and children under five in households were included in the study. The caregivers were interviewed using a validated structured questionnaire, while nutritional assessments of both children and adults were conducted through anthropometric and clinical evaluation methods. The findings revealed a high prevalence of food insecurity, with 97.6% of IDP households experiencing some degree of insecurity. Additionally, 28.3% of the surveyed households had high dietary diversity. Among the children, 50.6% were stunted, over a third were underweight, and 15.8% were wasted, indicating severe nutritional deficiencies. Among adults, 28.4% were overweight or obese, while a significant number were underweight. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the caregivers’ monthly salary and the average amount spent on food were associated with a decrease in food insecurity. Conversely, large household sizes and coping strategies employed to mitigate food insecurity were linked to increased food insecurity. In conclusion, the study highlights a high prevalence of food insecurity among IDP households, forcing families to adopt coping strategies, mainly through dietary modifications. This, in turn, contributes to low dietary diversity and poor nutritional status, with children suffering from underweight, wasting, and stunting. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive interventions, including the distribution of food vouchers, cash transfers, food banks, and support for home gardening and small-scale farming, as well as education on meal rationing, meal planning, and family planning services. Addressing the root causes of food insecurity—namely low household income and large family sizes—can improve access to nutritious food and ensure the health and well-being of IDPs. Furthermore, addressing food insecurity within this vulnerable group is critical to the broader goals of planetary health, as it highlights the intersection of human health, social equity, and environmental sustainability. By promoting sustainable food systems and supporting vulnerable populations, these interventions can contribute to the resilience of both communities and eco-systems in the face of ongoing global challenges. Full article

A study of diatoms in eight watercourses (four spawning rivers and four streams) in the area of the Ozernovsky Mining and Metallurgical Complex (MMC) on the Kamchatka Peninsula was carried out for the first time. A total of 174 taxa were identified, and a comparative analysis of periphyton species diversity at the sampling stations was carried out. A new species for science was proposed: Gomphonema anissimovae Glushchenko, Kezlya & Kulikovskiy sp. nov. The composition and quantitative characteristics of plankton were analysed only in samples collected from rivers. It was shown that all rivers are oligotrophic in terms of phytoplankton biomass. The work includes lists of taxa with indication of their abundance, as well as illustrative material of found diatom taxa, which will provide an opportunity to monitor changes in planktonic and periphyton microalgae communities in the studied watercourses in the context of potentially high anthropogenic load from industry. Full article

This study investigates the species richness and distribution of ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) across various habitats on San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador. Through extensive field surveys, we catalogued nineteen species, including four previously known species (two endemics, Psyllobora bisigma and Scymnobius scalesius, and two natives, Cycloneda sanguinea and Tenuisvalvae bromelicola). We also identified nine possibly native species reported for the first time in the Galapagos islands in this study or correspond to the first voucher specimens for the island. We collected three previously reported non-native species: Cheilomenes sexmaculata, Novius cardinalis, and Paraneda guticollis. Three species belonging to the genera Stethorus, Calloeneis, and Delphastus remain undetermined, pending further taxonomic analyses. Our findings reveal a rich and complex community with notable differences in species abundance and habitat preference. Endemic species were found to be particularly scarce and restricted mainly to crops undergoing forest regeneration and deciduous forests, emphasising their vulnerability and specialised habitat requirements. The native Cycloneda sanguinea emerged as the most prevalent species, exhibiting broad ecological adaptability. Non-native species, like Cheilomenes sexmaculata, were predominantly found in disturbed habitats, with some showing early signs of spreading into more natural environments, raising concerns about their potential impact on local biodiversity. These findings contribute valuable knowledge to understanding Coccinellidae diversity on San Cristóbal Island and highlight the importance of continued monitoring, particularly in the face of ongoing environmental change and the introduction of non-native species. This study underscores the need for targeted conservation efforts to protect the unique and fragile ecosystems of the Galápagos Archipelago. Full article

Monogeneans are flatworm parasites that infest fish gills primarily but can also infect various other vertebrates, including amphibians, aquatic reptiles, mammals like hippos, and occasionally invertebrates like copepods, isopods, and cephalopods. Despite their remarkable diversity, our knowledge of monogenean parasites in Peru remains significantly limited, resulting in substantial gaps in our comprehension of their taxonomic identities, host associations, and geographic distribution. To address these knowledge deficits, we present an extensively curated checklist of monogeneans associated with aquatic vertebrates in Peru. This comprehensive compilation is derived from meticulous literature surveys, the examination of specimens deposited in both international and national collections, and the inclusion of additional freshly collected specimens. The checklist offers a thorough repository of data encompassing the diversity, host associations, and geographical distribution of these parasites. Taxonomic discrepancies are addressed through a critical review of the existing literature, supplemented by the direct examination of specimens, including type or voucher specimens, deposited within scientific collections. Additionally, we provide data on the DNA sequences of individual taxa. The compiled list comprises records of 358 monogenean species, including 270 valid species and 88 taxa identified at the family or generic level, all reported across 145 host species in Peru. Predominantly, these parasitic species exhibit associations within fish, with 335 infecting teleosts and 20 affecting chondrichthyans. Three monogenean species have been documented as infecting amphibians, namely Mesopolystoma samiriensis, Polistoma sp. and Wetapolystoma almae. Among the monogeneans reported, 141 were found in marine environments and 214 in freshwater environments. The most diverse families were Dactylogyridae and Diplectanidae, comprising 217 and 24 species, respectively. The hosts that harbored the highest number of monogeneans were Pygocentrus nattereri (with 23 species), followed by Stellifer minor (13 spp.) and Triportheus angulatus (11 spp.). We detected many species that do not have any material deposited in a scientific collection due to the loss or deactivation of the collection. These findings represent only a fraction of the potential diversity, considering the wide variety of aquatic vertebrate hosts inhabiting the tropical and subtropical regions of Peru. Full article

Pezizales are a diverse and economically important order of fungi. They are common in the environment, having epigeous form, such as morels and hypogeous, forms called truffles. The mature ascospores of most epigeous Pezizales are forcibly discharged through an opening at the ascus apex created with the lifting of the operculum, a lid-like structure specific to Pezizales. The axenic cultures of Pezizales fungi isolated from single ascospores are important for understanding the life cycle, development, ecology, and evolution of these fungi. However, obtaining single-spore isolates can be challenging, particularly for collections obtained in locations where sterile work environments are not available. In this paper, we introduce an accessible method for harvesting ascospores from fresh ascomata in the field and laboratory for obtaining single-spore isolates. Ascospores are harvested on the inside cover of Petri plate lids in the field, air dried, and stored. At a later date, single-spore isolates are axenically cultured through serial dilution and plating on antibiotic media. With this approach, we were able to harvest ascospores and obtain single-spore isolates from 12 saprotrophic and 2 ectomycorrhizal species belonging to six Pezizales families: Discinaceae, Morchellaceae, Pezizaceae, Pyronemataceae, Sarcosomataceae, and Sarcoscyphaceae. This method worked well for saprotrophic taxa (12 out of 19 species, 63%) and was even effective for a few ectomycorrhizal taxa (2 out of 13 species, 15%). This process was used to study the initial stages of spore germination and colony development in species across several Pezizales families. We found germination often commenced with the swelling of the spore, followed by the emergence of 1–8 germ tubes. This method is sufficiently straightforward that, provided with sterile Petri dishes, citizen scientists from distant locations could use this approach to capture spores and subsequently mail them with voucher specimens to a research laboratory for further study. The generated single-spore Pezizales isolates obtained through this method were used to generate high-quality genomic data. Isolates generated in this fashion can be used in manipulative experiments to better understand the biology, evolution, and ecogenomics of Pezizales. Full article

The role of the food environment in shaping nutrition and health has gained substantial attention from policymakers, public health researchers, and advocacy groups. To promote equities in food access and nutrition outcomes, understanding factors linked with the utilization of local community food resources is crucial. Using Andersen’s service utilization model, we explained how adults use their neighborhood food resources. In a cross-sectional study design, an online survey was conducted in REDCap Version 13.4.0 via the Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) involving 1830 adults with a mean age of 37.9  ±  12.1 years. Participants answered questions on predisposing, enabling, and need factors that influence their use of different community food resources. The predisposing factors that were statistically significant included age, family size, marital status, race, and ethnicity. The enabling factors included travel time, travel mode, income, and shopping decision motivators (such as being able to use Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) vouchers, delivery services, great sales, and coupons). Food security and community food resources need for lower food price were the significant need factors. However, these factors vary by the types of food resources. In conclusion, enhancing the utilization of community-based food access initiatives and programs among underserved families requires consideration of family composition, racial and ethnic diversity, and transportation access. Full article

Integrative taxonomy is necessary for advancing the field of phycology and understanding regional algal diversity. Collection-based studies for the purposes of providing descriptive voucher flora of living algal communities inform future long-term monitoring and genetic barcoding studies. In this study, littoral composite samples were taken from eight sites (Center Lake, Emerson Bay, Freda Haffner Kettlehole State Preserve, Millers Bay, East Okoboji Lake, West Okoboji Lake, Big Spirit Lake, Upper Gar Lake) in Dickinson County, Iowa, for the purposes of fine level taxonomy. This region has a history of eutrophication, and algal blooms have caused Iowa water resource issues in the past. Micrography for these voucher floras was conducted for taxa representing at least 10% or more of the total estimated algal biomass of evaluated slides. Our voucher floras comprise micrographs of living cells across nine different algal groups and 54 unique taxonomic entities. Unique taxa from these sites include Glaucocystis nostochinearum Itzigsohn, Draparnaldia acuta (C.Agardh) Kützing, and Chaetophoropsis elegans (Roth) B. Wen Liu, Qian Xiong, X.Dong Liu, Z. Yu Hu & G. Xiang Liu. We also document species belonging to toxin-producing Cyanobacteria genera Mycrocystis and Dolichospermum. Full article

Despite being one of the most speciose fish families in the Mediterranean Sea, knowledge about the diversity of gobies (Actinopterygii: Gobiidae) in this sea is still unsatisfactory, as documented by recent descriptions of a number of new species. Although very common in shallow water, Gobius incognitus Kovačić & Šanda, 2016, had escaped attention until 2016, when it was discovered. Due to its overall superficial morphological similarity, G. incognitus used to be confused with a much rarer species, Gobius bucchichi Steindachner, 1870, which was considered one of the most common shallow-water gobies in the Mediterranean Sea. In this work, we tested the suitability of the genetic data (mitochondrial gene encoding cytochrome b) for identifying and distinguishing between these two goby species, and assessed the congruency between the distribution records based on genetic data and those based on morphological identification. We analysed material of 304 specimens of G. incognitus and G. bucchichi from 49 localities covering a considerable part of the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean near Gibraltar, representing 19 geographically well-separated areas. We detected 270 sequences of G. incognitus, and only 34 of G. bucchichi. In both species, a high haplotype variability was observed. The sequence species identity matched morphological identification for all specimens for which vouchers were available. The mean uncorrected p-distance between G. incognitus and G. bucchichi was 13%, while the mean intraspecific distances were much lower (0.63% and 0.68%, respectively). We found 79 fixed mutations between these two species. Data on distribution based on genetic identification are completely congruent with published results based on morphological identification. The results of this study support molecular methods as a reliable tool for distinguishing morphologically similar fish species, which is particularly useful when only tissue is available for determination. Full article

Plants of the genus Physalis are of economic interest because of their fleshy edible fruits with high nutritional value. Some species have high medicinal value with a long history of ethno-medicinal use to treat diverse diseases. There is therefore a need to correctly discriminate the different species of Physalis for proper utilization. Although most Physalis species have unique morphologies, their vegetative stages are identical, making it difficult to accurately identify them based on morphological characteristics. DNA barcoding has the potential to discriminate species accurately. In this study, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large (rbcL) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions were used to discriminate Physalis species and to reveal their phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity. Physalis plant samples were collected from seven counties in Kenya based on the availability of the germplasm. The voucher specimens were identified using the botanical taxonomy method and were deposited in the University of Nairobi herbarium. Genomic DNA was isolated from leaf samples of 64 Physalis accessions and used for PCR amplification and the sequencing of rbcL and ITS2 barcode regions. The discriminatory ability of the barcodes was based on BLASTn comparison, phylogenetic reconstruction and cluster analysis, and the determination of inter- and intra-specific distances. The nucleotide polymorphism, genetic diversity and distance of the identified Physalis species were determined using DnaSP and MEGA 11.0 software. Species discrimination was more robust using ITS2 sequences. The species identified and discriminated by ITS2 sequences were Physalis purpurea, Physalis peruviana and Physalis cordata. The rbcL sequences were only able to identify Physalis to the genus level. There was high interspecific and low intraspecific divergence within the identified Physalis species based on ITS2 sequences. The ITS2 barcode is an ideal DNA barcode for use in the discrimination of species, as well as in genetic diversity studies of Physalis accessions in Kenya. Full article

Climate change and human activities may alter the structure and function of boreal peatlands by warming waters and changing their hydrology. Diatoms can be used to assess or track these changes. However, effective biomonitoring requires consistent, reliable identification. To address this need, this study developed a diatom voucher flora of species found across a boreal fen gradient (e.g., vegetation) in interior Alaskan peatlands. Composite diatom samples were collected bi-weekly from three peatland complexes over the 2017 summer. The morphological range of each taxon was imaged. The fens contained 184 taxa across 38 genera. Eunotia (45), Gomphonema (23), and Pinnularia (20) commonly occurred in each peatland. Tabellaria was common in the rich and moderate fen but sparse in the poor fen. Eunotia showed the opposite trend. Approximately 11% of species are potentially novel and 25% percent matched those at risk or declining in status on the diatom Red List (developed in Germany), highlighting the conservation value of boreal wetlands. This voucher flora expands knowledge of regional diatom biodiversity and provides updated, verifiable taxonomic information for inland Alaskan diatoms, building on Foged’s 1981 treatment. This flora strengthens the potential to effectively track changes in boreal waterways sensitive to climate change and anthropogenic stressors. Full article

The diversity and distribution of the amphibians in Rwanda was critically reviewed to provide a reliable species inventory for informed conservation management. The checklist of the amphibian species of Rwanda is based on results of our own fieldwork, historical records compiled from the literature, and examination of voucher specimens in museum collections. A total of 62 species are recorded, and 22 further species listed in field guides and open-access data bases are discussed, identified as erroneous records, and consequently not included in the country list. We provide diagnostic characters of external morphology and the advertisement call for each validated species, and a short synopsis of geographic distribution, altitudinal range, occurrence in the provinces of Rwanda, and habitat preference. We provide keys to all genera, and all taxonomically described species based on morphological characters and additional keys based on features of the advertisement calls. We discuss features of amphibian communities including local community structure and delimitation of altitudinal metacommunities. Based on the IUCN red list assessment and our field surveys, we propose for the first time a national red list of amphibians in Rwanda. Full article

Free-living terrestrial mites (Acari) have persisted through numerous glacial cycles in Antarctica. Very little is known, however, of their genetic diversity and distribution, particularly within the Ross Sea region. To redress this gap, we sampled mites throughout the Ross Sea region, East Antarctica, including Victoria Land and the Queen Maud Mountains (QMM), covering a latitudinal range of 72–85 °S, as well as Lauft Island near Mt. Siple (73 °S) in West Antarctica and Macquarie Island (54^oS) in the sub-Antarctic. We assessed genetic diversity using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequences (COI-5P DNA barcode region), and also morphologically identified voucher specimens. We obtained 130 sequences representing four genera: Nanorchestes (n = 30 sequences), Stereotydeus (n = 46), Coccorhagidia (n = 18) and Eupodes (n = 36). Tree-based analyses (maximum likelihood) revealed 13 genetic clusters, representing as many as 23 putative species indicated by barcode index numbers (BINs) from the Barcode of Life Datasystems (BOLD) database. We found evidence for geographically-isolated cryptic species, e.g., within Stereotydeus belli and S. punctatus, as well as unique genetic groups occurring in sympatry (e.g., Nanorchestes spp. in QMM). Collectively, these data confirm high genetic divergence as a consequence of geographic isolation over evolutionary timescales. From a conservation perspective, additional targeted sampling of understudied areas in the Ross Sea region should be prioritised, as further diversity is likely to be found in these short-range endemic mites. Full article

Species inventories are a prerequisite for biodiversity monitoring and conservation, particularly in protected areas. However, the possibilities of a standardized survey of species diversity using DNA barcoding have so far hardly been implemented, especially in species-rich groups. A first-time molecular-based and nearly complete inventory of the megadiverse insect order Lepidoptera in a protected area in the Alps (Cottian Alps, Italy) was intended to test the possibilities and reliability of DNA-based identifications. From voucher material collected between 2019 and 2022, we successfully sequenced 1213 morphospecies that grouped into 1204 BINs (barcode index numbers), whereas DNA barcoding failed for another 18 species. A total of 35 species shared a BIN with one or more taxa, but a majority of 19 species could still be discriminated by divergent sequences. A total of 12 morphospecies split into two BINs. These species and a further 22 taxa with unique BINs and barcode divergences >2% to the nearest neighbor require taxonomic re-assessment. Two additional cryptic species from the study area were described recently. Finally, 16 species are newly recorded for Italy. Our study, therefore, demonstrates the importance of DNA barcoding for both faunistics and the discovery of cryptic diversity, even in apparently well-studied protected areas. Full article

This study examines the relationship between the cultural consumption pattern and an individual’s subjective well-being. We divide the consumption pattern of cultural activities by frequency, diversity, and inclusion and estimate the monetary value of the participation in culture and arts activities through the marginal rate of substitution. To reduce omitted variable bias, various factors are controlled for, such as basic demographics and satisfaction with personal relationship, class awareness, subjective income level, charitable donations and voluntary activities. The results show that the consumption of cultural activities can improve the individual’s subjective well-being, thus suggesting the use of cultural vouchers. Specifically, we find that the coefficients on frequency are positive and statistically significant, indicating that the cultural activities in Korea have a positive relationship with an individuals’ subjective well-being. Our research provides insight to the government organizations involved in the promotion of leisure policies. Full article