Search Results (174)

Urban parks and gardens are important in multiple ways, but they are often mostly made of exotic species with little biodiversity value. Surveys conducted in public and private gardens and parks across diverse Portuguese cities reveal a surprisingly high level of ivy species diversity, even when there is no apparent ornamental value in growing multiple species. The analysis of 499 samples from Mainland Portugal, Azores, and Madeira shows that in Madeira, the endemic H. maderensis co-occurs with exotic species; in Mainland Portugal, H. hibernica is more common in the centre and north (49% of samples) and H. iberica in the south (50% of samples), following their distribution in nature, but co-occur with exotic species (mostly H. helix, H. algeriensis, H. maroccana, and H. canariensis). Often, different species are cultivated side by side in the same garden, thus depicting these gardens as hidden reservoirs of biodiversity and, simultaneously, as potential sources for biological invasion. Full article

Numerous studies have demonstrated that in residential areas of Western cities, both luxury and legacy effects significantly shape tree species diversity dynamics. However, the specific mechanisms driving these diversity patterns in China, where urbanization has progressed at an unprecedented pace, remain poorly understood. In this study we selected 20 residential settlements and 7 key socio-economic properties to investigate the change trend of tree diversity (2006–2021) and its socio-economic driving factors in Beijing. Our results demonstrate significant increases in total, native, and exotic tree species richness between 2006 and 2021 (p < 0.05), with average increases of 36%, 26%, and 55%, respectively. Total and exotic tree Shannon-Wiener indices, as well as exotic tree Simpson’s index, were also significantly higher in 2021 (p < 0.05). Housing prices was the dominant driver shaping total and exotic tree diversity, showing significant positive correlations with both metrics. In contrast, native tree diversity exhibited a strong positive association with neighborhood age. Our findings highlight two dominant mechanisms: legacy effect, where older neighborhoods preserve native diversity through historical planting practices, and luxury effect, where affluent communities drive exotic species proliferation through ornamental landscaping initiatives. These findings elucidate the dual dynamics of legacy conservation and luxury-driven cultivation in urban forest development, revealing how historical contingencies and contemporary socioeconomic forces jointly shape tree diversity patterns in urban ecosystems. Full article

Global interest in nematode communities and their ecological relationships as unique and complex soil ecosystems has remarkably increased in recent years. As they have a representative role in the soil biota, nematodes present great potential to help understand soil health through analyzing their food chains in different environments. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial and dynamic distributions of nematode communities and soil properties in two riparian areas of the Caatinga biome: one with native vegetation and the other with a history of agricultural use (modified). The study was carried out in a semi-arid region of Brazil in Parnamirim, PE. In both areas, sampling grids of 60 m × 40 m were established to obtain data on soil moisture, organic matter, particle size, electrical conductivity, and pH, as well as metabolic activity and ecological indices of nematode communities. There was a greater abundance and diversity of nematodes in riparian soils with native vegetation compared to in the modified area due to agricultural use and the dominance of exotic and invasive species. In both areas, bacterivores and plant-parasitic nematodes were dominant, with the genus Acrobeles and Tylenchorhynchus as the main contributors to the community. In the modified area, soil variables (fine sand, clay, and pH) positively influenced Fu4 and PP4 guilds, while in the area with native vegetation, moisture and organic matter exerted a greater influence on Om4, PP5, and Ba3 guilds. Kriging maps showed the soil variables were more concentrated in the center in the areas with native vegetation, in contrast to the area with modified vegetation, where they concentrated more on the margins. The functional guilds in the native vegetation did not exhibit a gradual increase towards the regions close to the riverbank, unlike in the modified area. The presence of plant-parasitic nematodes, especially of the genus Tylenchorhynchus, indicates the need for greater attention in the management of these ecosystems. The study contributes to understanding the interactions between nematode communities and soil in riparian areas of the Caatinga biome, emphasizing the importance of preserving native vegetation to maintain the diversity and balance of this ecosystem, in addition to highlighting the need for appropriate management practices in areas with a history of agricultural use, aiming to conserve soil biodiversity. Full article

Soybean (Glycine max) is a protein-rich legume crop that plays an important role in achieving food security. The aim of this study was to isolate soybean-nodulating rhizobia from Côte d’Ivoire soils and evaluate their potential as efficient strains in order to develop local bioinoculants. For this objective, 38 composite soil samples were collected from Côte d’Ivoire’s five major climatic zones. These soils were used as substrate to trap the nodulating rhizobia using the promiscuous soybean variety R2-231. A total of 110 bacterial strains were isolated and subsequently identified. The analysis of ITS (rDNA16S-23S), glnII and recA sequences revealed a relatively low genetic diversity of these native rhizobia. Moreover, the ITS phylogeny showed that these were scattered into two Bradyrhizobium clades dominated by the B. elkanii supergroup, with ca. 75% of all isolates. Concatenated glnII-recA sequence phylogeny confirmed that the isolates belong in the majority to ‘B. brasilense’, together with B. vignae and some putative genospecies of Bradyrhizobium that needs further elucidation. The core gene phylogeny was found to be incongruent with nodC and nifH phylogenies, probably due to lateral gene transfer influence on the symbiotic genes. The diversity and composition of the Bradyrhizobium species varied significantly among different sampling sites, and the key explanatory variables identified were carbon (C), magnesium (Mg), nitrogen (N), pH, and annual precipitation. Based on both shoot biomass and leaf relative chlorophyll content, three isolates consistently showed a higher symbiotic effectiveness than the exotic inoculant strain Bradyrhizobium IRAT-FA3, demonstrating their potential to serve as indigenous elite strains as bioinoculants. Full article

Bulgarian botanical gardens harbor more than 3600 plant species from across the world. Some of them are well-known plants widely used by humans, others are underutilized crops or little-known exotic species. The latter group constitutes a rich reservoir of plant resources whose potential to bring benefits to society is still untapped. The aim of this review is to describe the diversity of species and their potentially valuable secondary metabolites in three of the largest Bulgarian botanical gardens, with a focus on underutilized crops and medicinal plants that are typical of Bulgaria. With this, we aim to pave the way for future research on the most promising of these plants. The report includes currently available ethnobotanical data on the properties and composition of their bioactive components, known culinary or therapeutic uses, and nutritional profiles. We also outline the vast potential of these plants in providing healthy diets, as well as for performing future groundbreaking biomedical research. Finally, we present the approach that will be used to screen extracts from these plants for biological activity. Full article

Intensive forestry, particularly the establishment of monospecific plantations with exotic species, can deeply impact the ecological functioning of forest streams, where riparian leaf litter is the primary source of energy. In this study, we investigated the effects of Eucalyptus globulus afforestation on macroinvertebrate communities in 20 streams in Galicia (NW Spain) with varying levels of accumulated eucalypt leaf litter. Sampling was done in autumn 2020 and spring 2021. In autumn, six streams had leaf litter composed of >50% of eucalypt leaves, a proportion that increased to 12 streams in spring. A total of 24,705 individuals were found in autumn and 12,529 in spring, belonging to 125 taxa. Although some taxa decreased their abundance with an increase in the proportion of eucalypt litter, variability in overall macroinvertebrate abundance was mainly explained by season, stream flow, and water temperature. However, species richness and diversity were significantly lower in streams mainly subsided by Eucalyptus litter compared to those dominated by native riparian vegetation. Macroinvertebrate abundance, richness, and diversity peaked in autumn, coinciding with the influx of deciduous litterfall and lower proportion of eucalypt litter. The lower quality, low-nutrient content, and presence of feeding deterrents in Eucalyptus leaf litter compared to native deciduous tree species likely drive these observed patterns, underscoring the importance of preserving native riparian forests to sustain stream biodiversity, even in managed landscapes dominated by Eucalyptus plantations. Full article

Ambrosia beetles, known for their symbiotic relationship with fungi cultivated within the tissues of host trees, have become significant pests, particularly when they serve as vectors for pathogenic fungi such as Raffaelea lauricola. Given the regulatory and environmental constraints for chemical application as a tool for their control, entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) represent a promising pest management alternative. This review presents an overview of bioassays assessing the pathogenicity and virulence of EPF against ambrosia beetles. Most studies have been performed in vivo (artificial diet) under laboratory conditions, focusing on exotic species and testing EPF genera such as Beauveria, Metarhizium, Isaria, and Purpureocillium. However, variations in inoculation methods, environmental conditions, and fungal formulations, have led to diverse results. In addition, the complex biology of these insects, particularly their dependence on symbiotic fungi, represents significant methodological challenges. Field trials (in situ bioassays) are still scarce, and there is a need to move toward standardized protocols and more objective experimental models that consider not only insects’ behavior but also ecological factors. Bridging this gap is essential for successfully implementing EPF-based strategies to assess ambrosia beetles’ biocontrol. Full article

Freshwater fish is facing a great crisis due to the looming threat of biodiversity loss. Certain important target areas are difficult to survey owing to their accessibility, making them susceptible to data deficiencies. In this study, we surveyed 52 sites using environmental DNA techniques to investigate fish biodiversity in the Chishui River Basin of the Yangtze River, China. A total of 96,031 valid fish sequences were read, resulting in the identification of 77 species belonging to six orders, 62 genera, and 18 families. The dominant orders were Cypriniformes, Siluriformes, and Perciformes. Among the identified fishes, 71 were native and six were exotic, with the native fishes including 16 endemic fishes from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The Shannon–Wiener and richness indices of the tributaries in the upstream section were significantly higher than those of the tributaries in the downstream section. The Datong River is the most diverse secondary tributary of the Chishui River. Among the environmental factors in the Chishui River Basin, altitude and electrical conductivity had the greatest influence on fish diversity (p < 0.01). Our findings highlight the application of environmental DNA technology to modern biodiversity surveys and illustrate that the Chishui River Basin is primarily affected by environmental factors at this stage. However, continuing efforts are needed to protect freshwater biodiversity, and additional research is required to better understand the complex interplay between human activity and environmental factors. Full article

Biting midges, Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), are significant vectors capable of transmitting arboviruses, such as bluetongue virus, to livestock. New Zealand is free of Culicoides, and a national surveillance programme is in place for the early detection of an incursion. Traditionally, insect trap samples from the surveillance programme are analyzed using morphology-based diagnostics under microscopes, which is time-consuming and relies on specialized taxonomic expertise. Here, we assessed the effectiveness of DNA metabarcoding using insect bulk samples and environmental DNA (eDNA) from liquid samples collected in surveillance traps. Two Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) barcoding primer sets were employed to study biodiversity and detect exotic species. The results indicated that DNA metabarcoding with homogenized insect bulk samples had a higher overall detection accuracy rate (over 81% for both primer pairs) compared to ethanol fluid-derived eDNA samples from traps (68.42% and 55.26% for the primer sets LCO1490/HCO2198 and mlCOIintF/jgHCO2198, respectively) based on congruence with morphological identification. Detection failures were likely due to eDNA extraction issues or low target species abundance. Both approaches showed similar insect community composition and diversity in the surveillance trap samples, suggesting the potential of DNA metabarcoding for biosecurity surveillance and biodiversity assessments. Overall, DNA metabarcoding using bulk insect samples could enhance the efficiency of Culicoides surveillance, reducing workload and screening time. Full article

Human-caused habitat conversion, degradation, and climate change threaten global biodiversity, particularly in tropical forests where vascular epiphytes—non-parasitic plants growing on other plants—may be especially vulnerable. Epiphytes play vital ecological roles, in nutrient cycling and by providing habitat, but are disproportionately affected by land-use changes due to their reliance on host trees and specific microclimatic conditions. While tree species in secondary forests recover relatively quickly, epiphyte recolonization is slower, especially in humid montane regions, where species richness may decline by up to 96% compared to primary or old-growth forests. A review of nearly 300 pertinent studies has revealed a geographic bias toward the Neotropics, with limited research from tropical Asia, Africa, and temperate regions. The studies can be grouped into four main areas: 1. trade, use and conservation, 2. ecological effects of climate and land-use change, 3. diversity in human-modified habitats, and 4. responses to disturbance. In agricultural and timber plantations, particularly those using exotic species like pine and eucalyptus, epiphyte diversity is significantly reduced. In contrast, most native tree species and shade-grown agroforestry systems support higher species richness. Traditional polycultures with dense canopy cover maintain up to 88% of epiphyte diversity, while intensive management practices, such as epiphyte removal in coffee and cacao plantations, cause substantial biodiversity losses. Conservation strategies should prioritize preserving old-growth forests, maintaining forest fragments, and minimizing intensive land management. Active restoration, including the translocation of fallen epiphytes and planting vegetation nuclei, is more effective than passive approaches. Future research should include long-term monitoring to understand epiphyte dynamics and assess the broader impacts of epiphyte loss on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Full article

Hedgehogs are small omnivorous mammals prevalent across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The expanding intrusion of humans into hedgehog habitats and rising popularity of keeping exotic animals like hedgehogs as pets have disrupted the delicate balance of the human–animal–environment interface. Despite their ecological importance, hedgehog-borne flea species have received limited research attention, with most studies focusing on their vectorial role, and except one report, nothing on the species composition and genetic diversity of hedgehog flea specimens. An inventory and phylogenetic investigation, conducted for the first time in Algeria as well as in North Africa, allowed for collecting 45 hedgehogs (15 males and 30 females) and 303 fleas, and analyzing them through morphological and molecular approaches. The hedgehog specimens were subjected to macro- and microscopic examinations based on diagnostic morphological criteria and morphometric measurements, resulting in their identification as Atelerix algirus. This study represents the first report of this species’ prevalence in Djelfa. The ecological and geographical diversity of the studied areas, from arid deserts to humid regions, highlights the adaptability and resilience of A. algirus to diverse habitats. Additionally, 271 and 32 flea specimens were morphologically identified as Archaeopsylla erinacei and Ctenocephalides felis, respectively. Molecular examination targeting ITS1-rDNA further confirmed the morphological identification of fleas species. Phylogenetic analysis of fleas’ ITS1-rDNA sequences revealed heterogeneity, with the specimens clustering into two distinct clades. The first clade comprised two populations of A. erinacei, while the second clade included C. felis specimens of this study, grouped with homologous sequences from various regions worldwide. No correlation between flea species and geographical locations was observed demonstrating the sympatric distribution of flea specimens in the studied regions. In addition, no hybrid or genetic combination notion was observed among the flea specimens processed in this study compared with those coming from other countries. These findings contribute to our understanding of the species composition and distribution of hedgehogs and their flea ectoparasites in Algeria and provide a baseline for future epidemiological and entomological research in the country. Full article

Urban greenery is a key component of green infrastructure, contributing to environmental sustainability and urban well-being. Between 2019 and 2020, a comprehensive inventory of ornamental flora was conducted in Assemini (Sardinia, Italy), documenting 198 vascular plant taxa, including 155 exotic, 41 native, and 2 cryptogenic species from 65 families. Among the exotic species, most were neophytes (63%), and 14% were archaeophytes. In terms of life forms, scapose phanerophytes, with a tree-like growth habit, dominated (45%), while Mediterranean and American chorotypes were the most represented, each accounting for 21%. A total of 7356 plants were recorded, comprising trees (61.3%), shrubs (32.3%), and climbers (5.7%), belonging to 90 shrub, 89 tree, and 19 climber taxa. The highest number of plants was found in “Green Areas” and “Schools”, which also exhibited the greatest biodiversity, with 136 different taxa each. The most planted species were Quercus ilex, Nerium oleander, and Olea europaea. The survey also identified 21 allergenic, 36 toxic, and 35 mechanically harmful species, primarily located in “Green Areas” and “Schools”. Biodiversity analysis using the Shannon Index revealed significant diversity, with Fabaceae, Apocynaceae, and Fagaceae emerging as the most represented families. These findings highlight the importance of plant inventories in urban green space management for sustainable planning. Well-maintained green spaces can enhance ecological resilience, improve public health, and promote social cohesion in future urban developments. Full article

The riverine fish species are highly vulnerable and responsive to large-scale water diversion projects. These adverse impacts are more pronounced in the plateau river ecosystems, which may change the environmental conditions of fish habitats and community structure. We investigated the effects of various environmental factors on fish diversity in seven rivers of the Western Sichuan Plateau, which is the planned area of China’s South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Twenty-two fish species, including eight exotic species, were collected during September 2023 (Autumn) and May 2024 (Spring). The fish communities exhibited no significant difference between seasons but had prominent variations among different rivers. The heterogeneity of fish communities was significantly and positively correlated with the geographical distance between the sampling sites (based on a projected coordinate system). Furthermore, the canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) illustrated that altitude contributed more to the distribution of fish species than other physicochemical factors, such as channel width, conductivity, and water temperature. Rivers at low altitudes are likely to be vulnerable to invasion of exotic fish. Our results demonstrated that the dispersal limitation by geographical distance and altitudinal gradient were the primary regulatory factors on the spatial differentiation of fish communities in the rivers of the study area, which reflected a high dependence of fish species on local habitats. As the water diversion project is implemented, more attention is expected to be paid to protecting fish habitats and regime shifts in fish communities. Additionally, the risk assessment of biological invasion under inter-basin water transfers and human activities should be carried out as soon as possible. Full article

Systemic habitat destruction over the last 100 years combined with major anthropogenic stressors such as aquatic contaminants, exotic species, and economic endeavors is driving the decline in freshwater unionid species diversity. Global temperatures continue to increase, with January 2024 being the warmest on record according to the latest report by the World Meteorological Organization. Freshwater mussels play a crucial role in aquatic ecosystems, contributing significantly to benthic processes in rivers and streams, yet they remain highly sensitive to environmental changes. This study specifically investigates the thermal tolerance of the Texas pigtoe (Fusconaia askewi) under elevated temperature conditions and explores the implications for developing effective conservation strategies in freshwater ecosystems. Eighty-four individual adult Texas pigtoe mussels were collected from the upper Sabine River near Hawkins, Texas, and taken to the University of Texas at Tyler to evaluate the effects of elevated temperature, a likely factor impacting mussels in East Texas. In the thermal tolerance study presented here, 100% survival occurred at both the control (20 °C) and the 25 °C test points. The 30 °C treatment group had an overall mortality of 14% and the 35 °C treatment group showed a mortality rate of 43% by the end of the trial, suggesting the typical summer temperatures in Texas streams will result in the loss of a portion of an otherwise healthy population. Full article

This study evaluated the habitat quality of pollinators in La Cantera Park, a recently renovated urban area in Mexico City. First, we analyzed the presence and preferences of three main pollinators (bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds) with respect to the vegetation composition of the park. Secondly, we assessed the theoretical habitat quality for the pollinators across the zones of the park. Through systematic sampling, we recorded the following species: four hummingbirds, 20 butterflies, and 21 bees, among which we observed a strong preference for native plants such as Lantana camara and Salvia leucantha. While some exotic plants also attracted pollinators, native plants played a central role in supporting diverse pollinator populations. Areas with greater floral diversity and a higher proportion of native species consistently exhibited better habitat quality scores, underscoring the critical link between native flora and pollinator activity. These findings highlight the importance of landscape management practices that strategically combine native and exotic plants to maximize resource availability, improving urban parks’ capacity to sustain pollinator biodiversity. The study suggests that urban green space design strategies should incorporate both ecological infrastructure elements, such as water sources, and a careful selection of plant species to create suitable habitats for pollinators. This approach can contribute to the conservation of pollinators in densely populated urban environments, providing valuable ecosystem services and supporting urban resilience by promoting biodiversity. Full article