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Phylogeography of Dolichophis Populations in the Aegean Region (Squamata: Colubridae) with Taxonomic Remarks Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-18 Adam Javorčík, Ilias Strachinis, Evanthia Thanou, Panagiotis Kornilios, Aziz Avcı, Nazan Üzüm, Kurtuluş Olgun, Çetin Ilgaz, Yusuf Kumlutaş, Petros Lymberakis, Zoltán T. Nagy, Daniel Jablonski
In this study, we investigate the phylogeographic patterns of Dolichophis species in the Aegean region, aiming to elucidate their genetic diversity and putative historical colonisation routes through mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data. Our findings revealed distinct phylogeographic patterns: D. caspius exhibited a higher level of haplotypes within two shallow mitochondrial lineages, contrasting with
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Two New Species of Elaphoidella (Copepoda, Harpacticoida) from Subterranean Waters in Northeast Thailand, with a Record of a Gynandromorphic Specimen and an Up-to-Date Key to Elaphoidella Species from Southeast Asia Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-18 Chaichat Boonyanusith, Anton Brancelj, Laorsri Sanoamuang
Two new species of copepods of the genus Elaphoidella Chappuis, 1929 were discovered in a cave and a spring in northeastern Thailand. The first species, E. phuphamanensis sp. nov., belongs to species-group VII sensu Lang. It is most similar to E. turgisetosa Petkovski, 1980 in the armament of the male third exopod of the fourth swimming leg and the shape and armament of the fifth swimming leg in both
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Effects of Freshwater Inflow during the Rainy Season on the Benthic Polychaete Community in the Geum River Estuary, South Korea Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-16 Sang Lyeol Kim, Kyung-Hee Oh, Kongtae Ra, Ok Hwan Yu
In the estuaries of Korea, the freshwater inflow increases rapidly due to the Changma (Korean summer rainy season). To elucidate the effect of this massive freshwater inflow on the benthic polychaete community, a survey was conducted before, during, and after the rainy season. Comparing the environmental characteristics before and after the rainy season, the salinity and dissolved oxygen decreased
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Global Warming Drives Transitions in Suitable Habitats and Ecological Services of Rare Tinospora Miers Species in China Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-17 Huayong Zhang, Zhe Li, Hengchao Zou, Zhongyu Wang, Xinyu Zhu, Yihe Zhang, Zhao Liu
Tinospora Miers is considered a valuable medicinal herb that is suffering from severe habitat degradation due to climate change and human activities, but the variations in its suitable habitats and ecological service values remain unclear, especially in the context of accelerating global warming. In this study, we employed the MaxEnt model to estimate the suitable habitat changes and ecological service
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Ecology, Diversity, Conservation and Management of Ungulates Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-17 Friedrich Reimoser, Ursula Nopp-Mayr
Wild ungulates are important drivers of the dynamics of many terrestrial ecosystems and impact biodiversity at different system levels [...]
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Two New and One First Recorded Species of Xylaria Isolated from Fallen Leaves in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in China Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-14 Xiaoyan Pan, Zongzhu Chen, Jinrui Lei, Xiaohua Chen, Tingtian Wu, Yuanling Li, Yiqing Chen
Xylaria is a widely distributed genus in the Ascomycota phylum that can decompose wood. It is an essential decomposer in ecosystems and a source of bioactive secondary metabolites. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular evidence, this article thoroughly describes two new species discovered on the fallen leaves in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, along with illustrations and comparisons
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Effects of Invasive Smooth Cordgrass Degradation on Avian Species Diversity in the Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve, a Ramsar Wetland on the Eastern Coast of China Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Taiyu Chen, Pan Chen, Bing Liu, Dawei Wu, Changhu Lu
Invasive smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) has been expanding rapidly through the coastal wetlands of eastern China and these changes negatively affect local birds. In the Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve (henceforth referred to as DMNNR), rapid degradation of spartina occurs after an increase in milu (Elaphures davidianus; hereafter elk) numbers and ecological hydrological engineering. We
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A Systematic Review of Population Monitoring Studies of Sea Turtles and Its Application to Conservation Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Haley Hendrix, Sílvia Pérez-Espona
Sea turtles are keystone species in marine environments due to their essential role as seagrass grazers and population regulation of jellyfish and sponges in coral reefs. However, due to their predominant presence in coastal areas, sea turtle populations face significant threats due to the impact of human activities. In this systematic review, 655 peer-reviewed publications were analyzed to assess
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Geography, Climate, and Habitat Shape the Microbiome of the Endangered Rock Gnome Lichen (Cetradonia linearis) Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-13 Julianna Paulsen, Jessica L. Allen, Nathan Morris, Jenna Dorey, Jenifer B. Walke, S. Elizabeth Alter
Bacterial symbionts are essential components of healthy biological systems. They are increasingly recognized as important factors in the study and management of threatened species and ecosystems. Despite management shifts at the ecosystem level, microbial communities are often neglected in discussions of holobiont conservation in favor of the primary members of a symbiosis. In this study, we addressed
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Spatial Distribution Pattern of the Mesozooplankton Community in Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area (RSR MPA) during Summer Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-08 Sung Hoon Kim, Wuju Son, Jeong-Hoon Kim, Hyoung Sul La
The Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area (RSR MPA) is one of the most productive regions in the Southern Ocean. Mesozooplankton intermediates the primary product to the higher predators, such as penguins and seals, in this ecosystem. In this study, the mesozooplankton community structure and spatial pattern in the RSR MPA in January were investigated by using 505 μm-mesh-size bongo net samples. As
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Effective Field Collection of Pezizales Ascospores for Procuring Diverse Fungal Isolates Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-06 Alassane Sow, Judson Van Wyk, Benjamin Lemmond, Rosanne Healy, Matthew E. Smith, Gregory Bonito
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
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Structure from Motion Photogrammetry as an Effective Nondestructive Technique to Monitor Morphological Plasticity in Benthic Organisms: The Case Study of Sarcotragus foetidus Schmidt, 1862 (Porifera, Demospongiae) in the Portofino MPA Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-08 Torcuato Pulido Mantas, Camilla Roveta, Barbara Calcinai, Fabio Benelli, Martina Coppari, Cristina Gioia Di Camillo, Ubaldo Pantaleo, Stefania Puce, Carlo Cerrano
Porifera are essential components of marine ecosystems, providing valuable ecological functions. Traditional approaches to estimating sponge growth and biomass are destructive and often not suitable for certain morphologies. The implementation of new innovative techniques and nondestructive methodologies have allowed for a more sustainable approach. In this study, a population of Sarcotragus foetidus
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Application of Univariate Diversity Metrics to the Study of the Population Ecology of the Lizard Lacerta bilineata in an Ecotonal Habitat Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-07 Roger Meek, Luca Luiselli
The expansion of human activities across natural environments is now well known. This includes agricultural activities that effectively render many former natural environments sterile habitats for animals. Very often, what remains of the natural habitat are hedgerows that serve as habitat or pathways for movement between habitats for many species, including reptiles. In this study, we describe population
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Checklist of Basidiomycota and New Records from the Azores Archipelago Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-07 Martin Souto, Pedro Miguel Raposeiro, Ana Balibrea, Vítor Gonçalves
This paper presents an annotated checklist of the Basidiomycota taxa (including lichenicolous fungi and the subdivision Pucciniomycotina) from the Azores archipelago and reviews the published records to account for their taxonomic status. The number of Basidiomycota species recorded in the Azores has increased considerably during the 20th century and now stands at 544 species. This study provides distribution
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A Comprehensive Review of Disease-Causing Agents in Freshwater Turtles: Implications for Conservation and Public Health Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-07 João Rato, Raquel Xavier, D. James Harris, Filipe Banha, Pedro Anastácio
Freshwater turtles comprise 81% of all chelonian species despite freshwater systems only occupying 1% of the earth’s surface, and they are commonly exploited as pets and food resources. This contact between humans and turtles may put both sides at risk of disease transmission. Additionally, human impact on ecosystems can cause disease outbreaks in turtle populations. In this review, we focused on disease
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Low Resource Competition, Availability of Nutrients and Water Level Fluctuations Facilitate Invasions of Australian Swamp Stonecrop (Crassula helmsii) Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-07 Hein H. van Kleef, Janneke M. M. van der Loop, Laura S. van Veenhuisen
Australian swamp stonecrop (Crassula helmsii (Kirk) Cockayne) is invasive in Western Europe. Its small size and high potential for regeneration make it difficult to eliminate. Short-term experiments have demonstrated that the growth of C. helmsii depends on nutrient availability and resource competition. In order to confirm those mechanisms in the field, we studied the abundance of C. helmsii in Northern
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Nanopore Sequencing Technology as an Emerging Tool for Diversity Studies of Plant Organellar Genomes Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-07 Jakub Sawicki, Katarzyna Krawczyk, Łukasz Paukszto, Mateusz Maździarz, Mateusz Kurzyński, Joanna Szablińska-Piernik, Monika Szczecińska
In this comprehensive review, we explore the significant role that nanopore sequencing technology plays in the study of plant organellar genomes, particularly mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA. To date, the application of nanopore sequencing has led to the successful sequencing of over 100 plant mitochondrial genomes and around 80 chloroplast genomes. These figures not only demonstrate the technology’s
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The Changing Biogeography of the Ligurian Sea: Seawater Warming and Further Records of Southern Species Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-04 Annalisa Azzola, Carlo Nike Bianchi, Lorenzo Merotto, Alessandro Nota, Francesco Tiralongo, Carla Morri, Alice Oprandi
Global warming is causing poleward expansion of species ranges. Temperate seas, in particular, are undergoing a process known as ‘tropicalisation’, i.e., the combination of sea-water warming and establishment of southern species. The Ligurian Sea is one of the coldest sectors of the Mediterranean and has thus been characterized by a dearth of warm-temperate species and a comparative abundance of cold-temperate
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Diversity and Composition of Belowground Fungal Communities Associated with Picea abies L. (H.) Karst. and Larix sp. Mill.: A Comparative Study Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-04 Jūratė Lynikienė, Adas Marčiulynas, Diana Marčiulynienė, Artūras Gedminas, Valeriia Mishcherikova, Audrius Menkis
The aim of the presented study was to compare the diversity and composition of fungal communities associated with the roots and the rhizosphere soil of P. abies and Larix sp. in mid-age and mature managed forest stands in Lithuania. We also aimed to assess the presence of fungi–host-specific associations, i.e., whether Larix sp. stands could provide habitats for soil fungi currently associated with
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Revealing the Diversity of Thin Filamentous Cyanobacteria, with the Discovery of a Novel Species, Pegethrix qiandaoensis sp. nov. (Oculatellaceae, Oculatellales), in a Freshwater Lake in China Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-05 Kaihui Gao, Yao Cheng, Rouzhen Geng, Peng Xiao, He Zhang, Zhixu Wu, Fangfang Cai, Renhui Li
During the study of diversity in filamentous cyanobacteria in China, two strains (WZU0719 and WZU0723) with the form of thin filaments were isolated from the surface of Qiandao Lake, a large freshwater lake in Zhejiang Province, China. A comprehensive analysis was conducted, incorporating morphological, ecological, and molecular data. The morphological examination provided an initial identification
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Diversity of Fish and Decapod Fry in the Coastal Zone of Amvrakikos Gulf Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-06 George Katselis, Nikolaos Vlahos, Constandin Koutsikopoulos, Dimitrios K. Moutopoulos
Amvrakikos Gulf and its surrounding coastal lagoons are of primary importance for the local biodiversity and fishing activities. Fish species inhabited the coastal lagoons based on the seasonal ongoing migration movements of fry and adult fish individuals from the sea towards the lagoons. Information on the early stages of fish and decapod species in the Amvrakikos Gulf is limited only to the planktonic
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A Contribution to the Knowledge of Hydnum (Hydnaceae, Cantharellales) in China, Introducing a New Taxon and Amending Descriptions of Five Known Species Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-06 Hua-Zhi Qin, Yu-Ting Liao, Yu-Zhuo Zhang, Wen-Fei Lin, Xin-Quan Yang, Nian-Kai Zeng
Hydnum (Hydnaceae, Cantharellales), one of the edible ectomycorrhizal mushrooms, is of considerable ecological and economic importance. Although previous studies have focused on the genus in China, the diversity still remains incompletely understood. In the present study, in addition to the known species from China being reviewed, six phylogenetic species from the country were described/redescribed
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Ascaridoid Nematodes Infection in Anadromous Fish Coilia nasus from Yangtze River Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-06 Qingjie Zhou, Lijun Wang, Bingwen Xi, Congping Ying, Kai Liu
The longjaw tapertail anchovy Coilia nasus, which migrates from ocean to freshwater for spawning in spring, is an important anadromous fish with ecological and cultural significance. To determine parasite infection in anadromous C. nasus, a total of 103 fish from the Yangtze River were collected and examined in 2021 and 2022. The overall infection prevalence of nematodes in C. nasus was 100%, with
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The Potential of Foraging Chacma Baboons (Papio ursinus) to Disperse Seeds of Alien and Invasive Plant Species in the Amathole Forest in Hogsback in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-06 Lwandiso Pamla, Loyd R. Vukeya, Thabiso M. Mokotjomela
The invasion of alien and invasive plants into the threatened Amathole Forest in Hogsback, Eastern Cape Province (South Africa) is an emerging priority conservation issue. The objective of this pilot study was to document and compare the foraging visits of two chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) troops in their natural and human habitats and their foraging behavioural activities to understand their potential
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Shallow Hard-Bottom Benthic Assemblages of South Bay (Antarctic Peninsula): An Update 40 Years Later Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-05 Sol Morales, César A. Cárdenas, Diego Bravo-Gómez, Cristian Lagger
This work completes and updates the information about the diversity and distribution of benthic assemblages in an Antarctic fjord (South Bay, Antarctic Peninsula) 40 years after the first and only community-level study was conducted there. To determine the community changes, a photographic survey was conducted at four sites with different substrate inclinations along a bathymetric gradient of 5–20
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Sturgeon Parasites: A Review of Their Diversity and Distribution Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-05 György Deák, Elena Holban, Isabela Sadîca, Abdulhusein Jawdhari
Sturgeon species have inhabited the world’s seas and rivers for more than 200 million years and hold significant taxonomic significance, representing a strong conservation interest in aquatic biodiversity as well as in the economic sector, as their meat and eggs (caviar) are highly valuable goods. Currently, sturgeon products and byproducts can be legally obtained from aquaculture as a sustainable
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Global Subterranean Biodiversity: A Unique Pattern Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-01 Louis Deharveng, Anne Bedos, Tanja Pipan, David C. Culver
Since the 1980s, with the widespread use of the phrase biodiversity [...]
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Molecular Diversity of the Genus Plagiorchis Lühe, 1899 in Snail Hosts of Central Europe with Evidence of New Lineages Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-03-01 Petra Kundid, Camila Pantoja, Kristýna Janovcová, Miroslava Soldánová
Cercariae of Plagiorchis spp. are frequently reported in European freshwater snails, but their true diversity is difficult to estimate due to subtle differences in morphology. We molecularly characterized 67 isolates of Plagiorchis cercariae collected from four lymnaeid snail hosts, Ampullaceana balthica, Ampullaceana lagotis, Radix auricularia and Lymnaea stagnalis in freshwater ecosystems in the
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Advancing Sea Turtle Monitoring at Nesting and Near Shore Habitats with UAVs, Data Loggers, and State of the Art Technologies Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-28 Maria Papazekou, Amalia Kyprioti, Anastasia Chatzimentor, Charalampos Dimitriadis, Nikolaos Vallianos, Antonios D. Mazaris
In the face of environmental change, high-quality and fine-scale information is essential in order to monitor the highly dynamic environments on land and sea. While traditional approaches to data collection face a number of practical limitations, advanced technologies could supplement and further improve our efforts. Taking sea turtles as a modeling organism, we present a novel methodological framework
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Demersal Fish Community in the Near-Shelf Zone of the Cosmonaut Sea, Southern Ocean Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-29 Rui Wang, Ran Zhang, Xing Miao, Hai Li, Puqing Song, Yuan Li, Longshan Lin
Studies on the demersal fish composition of the East Antarctic nearshore region are very scarce due to the harsh physical geography of the East Antarctic region, which is covered in ice and snow year round, leading to a scarcity of scientific surveys. Based on the data from the bottom trawl survey conducted by the 37–38th Chinese National Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) program in the Cosmonaut
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Evaluation of Lake Fragmentation and Its Effect on Wintering Waterbirds in Poyang Lake, China Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-29 Muhammad Suliman, Wenyou Deng, Qingming Wu, Tariq Ahmad, Xueying Sun, Debela Megersa Tsegaye, Muhammad Sadiq Khan, Ngo Thi Kieu Trang, Hongfei Zou
This study was designed to determine the fragmentation of sub-lakes in winter and its effects on wintering waterbirds in Poyang Lake. Poyang Lake becomes fragmented in winter, which forms many seasonal sub-lakes every year, and have different environmental characteristics. These sub-lakes significantly impact winter bird habitats and result in susceptibility to various changes, because birds have different
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First Use of Free-Diving Photo-Identification of Porbeagle Shark (Lamna nasus) off the Brittany Coast, France Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-29 Armelle Jung, Arthur Ory, Paul Abaut, Lucas Zaccagnini
A large number of pelagic shark species have declined significantly in recent decades due to overfishing, bycatch, and habitat degradation. Whereas porbeagle sharks have become scarce due to a reduction in their populations around the world, recent stock evaluations are giving positive signals about the evolution of the North-Eastern Atlantic stock size. The porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus), an offshore
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GPS Tracking Reveals the White-Tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla as an Ambassador for the Natura 2000 Network Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-25 Remo Probst, Matthias Schmidt, Michael McGrady, Christian Pichler
The Natura 2000 network of protected areas is the backbone of species conservation in the European Union. We investigated whether Austrian-hatched white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) make particular use of this multinational network during their natal dispersal, and what habitats were of importance to the eagles. We analyzed the utilization distribution of 907,466 GPS locations from 38 dispersing
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And Yet They Differ: Reconsiderations of Diversity within Dactylochelifer latreillii (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-23 Christoph Muster, Jan Korba, Petr Bogusch, Petr Heneberg, František Šťáhlavský
Morphological stasis is a widespread characteristic of pseudoscorpions, suggesting that much cryptic diversity remains unexplored. Here, we revise the polytypic species Dactylochelifer latreillii in the framework of an integrative taxonomic approach, using DNA barcoding, multivariate ratio analysis, geometric morphometry of the male foretarsus, and genitalic morphology. The pattern of mitochondrial
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A Review of the Paleobiology of Some Neogene Sharks and the Fossil Records of Extant Shark Species Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-26 Olaf Höltke, Erin E. Maxwell, Michael W. Rasser
In recent years, new findings and new methods (stable isotopes of oxygen, zinc, and nitrogen; 2D and 3D modeling; and geometric morphometric analyses of the teeth) have enhanced our knowledge of the Neogene shark fauna and its paleobiology. Several papers deal with the large Otodus (Megaselachus) species, including the construction of a 3D model, as well as insights into its lifestyle and diet. In
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Aspects of Breeding Performance of Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea): The Case of the Largest Colony in Greece Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-27 Georgios Karris, Stavros Xirouchakis, Konstantinos Poirazidis, Marios-Dimitrios Voulgaris, Anastasia Tsouroupi, Spyros Sfenthourakis, Sinos Giokas
Here we report, for the first time, aspects of the breeding performance of Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) in one of its largest colonies in Europe, i.e., in the Strofades island group. We describe the chronology of the main events in the breeding cycle of this species on Stamfani Island, the largest island of this island group, including the evaluation of breeding performance and the influence
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Hilly, Semi-Mountainous and Mountainous Areas Harbor Landraces Diversity: The Case of Messinia (Peloponnese-Greece) Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-27 Ricos Thanopoulos, Ioulia Drossinou, Iasonas Koutroumpelas, Tilemachos Chatzigeorgiou, Maritina Stavrakaki, Penelope J. Bebeli
Landraces are identified for their genetic diversity and heritage value. Geographically isolated areas are gradually recognized for their agricultural diversity and importance in conservation. One of the consequences of agricultural intensification is an increase in crop uniformity and hence a reduction in the landraces’ genetic resources. Messinia, located in Southwest Peloponnese, Greece, is characterized
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Ecological and Biogeographical Imprints in a Beech Glacial Refugium Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-27 Ioannis Tsiripidis, Stavroula Stamellou, Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou, Andreas D. Drouzas
The distribution of vascular plant species and assemblages existing in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests was compared with the distribution of beech chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) haplotypes, aiming to identify possible interpretable trends of co-occurrence, on a small geographical scale, and to infer the relevant historical factors. Vegetation and genetic (cpSSR) data were collected from 60 plots on Mt
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Eco-Engineering Mangrove Restoration at Gazi Bay, Kenya Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-22 Gladys Kinya, James Gitundu Kairo, Rossa Ngendo Nyoike, Josphat Gachoki Nguu, Brian Kiiru Githinji, Michael N. Githaiga
Mangroves offer a range of globally acknowledged advantages, yet they continue to be lost and degraded. Efforts to restore lost mangroves using conventional techniques in high-energy areas result in low success rates due to the removal of seedlings via wave action. We assessed the efficacy of using modified Riley Encasement Methods in the restoration of mangroves in high-energy areas in Gazi Bay, Kenya
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Karyological Study of Acanthocephalus lucii (Echinorhynchida): The Occurrence of B Chromosomes in Populations from PCB-Polluted Waters Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-23 Anna Marková, Martina Orosová, František Marec, Daniel Barčák, Mikuláš Oros
In this study, we performed a cytogenetic analysis of Acanthocephalus lucii specimens from three sites with different levels of environmental pollution. Standard and fluorochrome staining (CMA3/DAPI), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with 18S rDNA and histone H3 probes, and silver impregnation were performed. Chromosome complements of 2n = 7/8 (male/female), n = 1m + 2sm + 1a (X), and CMA3-positive
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A Faunistic Revision of Longnose Skates of the Genus Dipturus (Rajiformes: Rajidae) from the Southern Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, Based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-25 Daniel Enrique Figueroa, Mauro Belleggia, Gabriela Andreoli, Silvina Izzo, Nelson Bovcon, Marcos Pérez-Losada, Agustín María De Wysiecki, Jorge Horacio Colonello, María Inés Trucco
The identity of longnose skates (Dipturus-Zearaja-like skates) in the southern cone of the Americas has been a topic of extensive debate. This study employs a comprehensive analysis encompassing morphometrics, claspers, and the examination of COI and NADH2 sequence data to conclusively demonstrate the existence of only two longnose skate species in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, extending south of
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Once Again on the Distribution of Syzygiella (Adelanthaceae, Marchantiophyta) in Indochina Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-26 Vadim A. Bakalin, Ksenia G. Klimova, Seung Se Choi, Van Sinh Nguyen
The distribution of known Syzygiella taxa in Indochina was reviewed. Currently, four species are known in Indochina: S. autumnalis, S. elongella, S. nipponica, and S. securifolia. This genus is reported for the first time in the flora of Cambodia, and S. securifolia is newly recorded for Vietnam. Herein, a description of oil bodies for S. securifolia is provided for the first time. A morphological
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Bryophyte Flora in Alpine Grasslands of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Based on Plot Sampling Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-23 Yan Liu, Ying He, Yue Tian, Zhengwu Zhao
The species number of bryophytes is the second highest among land plants. Alpine grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) are the largest among global alpine biomes. However, bryophyte flora in alpine grasslands on the QTP remains poorly explored relative to its large geographic extent. A total of 347 plots were surveyed across the QTP, and 149 bryophyte taxa in 24 families and 49 genera were
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The Morphological Differentiation and Evolutionary Origins of Artemia in China Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-24 Huizhong Pang, Kaixuan Zheng, Wenbo Wang, Mingjuan Zheng, Yulong Zhang, Daochuan Zhang
Artemia is a genus of halophilic zooplanktons comprising bisexual and parthenogenetic forms, which is an important model for investigating adaption to hypersaline ecosystems. The genus Artemia in China comprises four species: A. sinica, A. tibetiana, A. franciscana and A. parthenogenetica. To investigate the evolutionary relationship of bisexual and parthenogenetic Artemia in China, we analyzed the
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Morphological Variation and New Description of the Subcutaneous Gland of Sepiella inermis (Van Hasselt, 1835) in Thai Waters Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-23 Sonthaya Phuynoi, Charuay Sukhsangchan, Ran Xu, Xiaodong Zheng
The external morphology and morphological variations of Sepiella inermis vary across regions, necessitating investigation. However, the histological information on the subcutaneous gland has been insufficient to describe it. In this study, specimens were systematically collected and characterized from the Gulf of Thailand. Regarding external morphology, female cuttlebones exhibit greater width and
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Improved Wildlife Recognition through Fusing Camera Trap Images and Temporal Metadata Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-23 Lei Liu, Chao Mou, Fu Xu
Camera traps play an important role in biodiversity monitoring. An increasing number of studies have been conducted to automatically recognize wildlife in camera trap images through deep learning. However, wildlife recognition by camera trap images alone is often limited by the size and quality of the dataset. To address the above issues, we propose the Temporal-SE-ResNet50 network, which aims to improve
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Three New Periconia Species Isolated from Wurfbainia villosa in Guangdong, China: A Discussion on the Doubtful Taxa Clustering in this Genus Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-23 Chunfang Liao, Kevin D. Hyde, Kandawatte Wedaralalage Thilini Chethana, Wei Dong, Yunhui Yang, Mingkwan Doilom
During a survey of fungi on Wurfbainia villosa in Guangdong Province, China, three novel species, Periconia endophytica, P. yangjiangensis, and P. wurfbainiae, belonging to Periconiaceae in Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes are proposed based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Periconia endophytica was isolated from the healthy leaves of W. villosa, while P. yangjiangensis and P. wurfbainiae were
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Millepora spp. as Substrates of Their Hydrozoan Counterparts Stylaster sp. in the Pacific Ocean Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-23 Chloé Julie Loïs Fourreau, Daniela Pica, Emmeline A. Jamodiong, Guillermo Mironenko Castelló, Iori Mizukami, James Davis Reimer
The association between two hydrozoans, Stylaster sp. and Millepora spp., has been described as a case of pseudo-auto-epizoism, and has only been reported from the Caribbean region of the Atlantic Ocean. Here, we report on the occurrence of this association in the Pacific Ocean on coral reefs around Iriomote-jima Island, Japan, suggesting the association to be more widespread than had previously been
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Investigation of Potential Effects of Ibuprofen on the Storage Cells and Anhydrobiosis Capacity of the Tardigrade Paramacrobiotus experimentalis Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-20 Aleksandra Miernik, Filip Wieczorkiewicz, Sebastian Student, Izabela Poprawa
The surge in pharmaceutical consumption, particularly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, has raised concerns about their presence in aquatic ecosystems. This study investigated the potential ecological impact of ibuprofen, focusing on the ultrastructure of storage cells in the tardigrade Paramacrobiotus experimentalis, renowned for its resilience to environmental stressors
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What Is in the Bank? Assessing Persistent Soil Seed Bank Density of Sclerocactus wrightiae (Cactaceae) Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-21 David Lariviere, Val Anderson, Robert Johnson, Randy Larsen
Wright fishhook cactus is a small globose cactus endemic to an area of 280,000 ha in south-central Utah and was listed as endangered in October of 1979 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). There is a general paucity of information about this species, and no published data on the seed bank for any species in the genus. Our objective with this study was to provide insight into the established
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A Mitogenome-Based Phylogeny of Pilargidae (Phyllodocida, Polychaeta, Annelida) and Evaluation of the Position of Antonbruunia Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Sonja Huč, Avery S. Hiley, Marina F. McCowin, Greg W. Rouse
Pilargidae is a family of free-living and burrowing marine annelids. A lack of available molecular data for most of these species has precluded a molecular assessment of their phylogenetic relationships and has left uncertain the placement of Antonbruunia, which is hypothesized to be either a member of Pilargidae or its sister clade, the monotypic family Antonbruunidae. In this study, we describe the
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Identifying Molecular Markers for Ficus erecta Thunb. Based on Complete Plastome Sequences of Korean Figs (Ficus L., Moraceae) Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-20 Joonhyung Jung, Tae-Hee Kim, Seog Woo Kwon, Hyun Ji Park, In Suk Choi, Joo-Hwan Kim
Plastome sequences are crucial in plant studies due to their role in examining genomic evolution, understanding phylogenetic relationships, and developing molecular markers. Despite the collection of information about Korean figs, their genomic data remain underexplored. We utilize next-generation sequencing and PCR techniques to investigate genomic data and to develop and validate molecular markers
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Mass Mortality Event of Mediterranean Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) in the Middle Adriatic: Potential Implications of the Climate Crisis for Marine Ecosystems Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-20 Luca Bracchetti, Martina Capriotti, Massimiliano Fazzini, Paolo Cocci, Francesco Alessandro Palermo
The effects of the climate crisis are affecting ecosystems at different scales and magnitudes. This paper focuses on a massive Mediterranean mussel die-off observed along the middle Italian Adriatic coast in the summer of 2022. We considered the possible environmental causes of this phenomenon and carried out a climatic analysis of the last decade. We performed field surveys in different locations
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Opportunities for Biodiversity Conservation via Urban Ecosystem Regeneration Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-20 Gad Perry, Robert D. Cox
Conservation traditionally focuses on at-risk species and relatively intact ecosystems. As the human population and our global impact have risen, many more species and ecosystems are at risk and fewer intact ecosystems remain, with urbanization being a major contributing factor. Cities and their inhabitants are here to stay, and the prevalence of urbanization, often in the vicinity of areas of high
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Wind Farms and Power Lines Reduced the Territory Status and Probability of Fledgling Production in the Eurasian Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-18 Magne Husby
Wind power is commonly used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but often has negative effects on biodiversity. In this study, I investigated the effects of wind farm and power line construction on the territory status of the Eurasian goshawk Accipiter gentilis, whether fledglings were produced or not, and the number of fledglings. Included were 55 goshawk territories investigated before and after the
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Unrecognised Ant Megadiversity in the Australian Monsoonal Tropics III: The Meranoplus Ajax Forel Complex Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-16 Alan N. Andersen, François Brassard, Benjamin D. Hoffmann
Australia’s monsoonal (seasonal) tropics are a global centre of ant diversity, but are largely unrecognised as such because the vast majority of its species are undescribed. Here we document another case of undescribed hyper-diversity within a taxon that is formally recognised as a single, widespread species, Meranoplus ajax Forel. We recognise 50 species among 125 specimens of M. ‘ajax’ that we CO1-barcoded
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Disentangling the Anacondas: Revealing a New Green Species and Rethinking Yellows Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-16 Jesús A. Rivas, Paola De La Quintana, Marco Mancuso, Luis F. Pacheco, Gilson A. Rivas, Sandra Mariotto, David Salazar-Valenzuela, Marcelo Tepeña Baihua, Penti Baihua, Gordon M. Burghardt, Freek J. Vonk, Emil Hernandez, Juán Elías García-Pérez, Bryan G. Fry, Sarah Corey-Rivas
Anacondas, genus Eunectes, are a group of aquatic snakes with a wide distribution in South America. The taxonomic status of several species has been uncertain and/or controversial. Using genetic data from four recognized anaconda species across nine countries, this study investigates the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Eunectes. A key finding was the identification of two distinct clades
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Identification, Antimicrobial and Plant Growth Promoting Activities of Endophytic Fungi Associated with Cynomorium songaricum Rupr., a Traditional Medicinal Plant in Mongolia Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-14 Enkh-Amgalan Jigjiddorj, Amarbayasgalan Maidarjav, Bumtsend Byambasuren, Daritsogzol Nyamgerel
Endophytic fungi colonize the inner tissues and provide direct and indirect benefits to plants. Although Mongolia is rich in medicinal plants, due to climatic and anthropogenic reasons, the resources are being depleted, and many species are under threat of gradual extinction, while the endophytic fungi of Mongolian plants are largely unknown. In this study, Sa total of 24 culturable endophytic fungal
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Status of Marine Debris Damage to Adult and Young Black-Tailed Gulls (Larus crassirostris) in Their Breeding Colonies in South Korea Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-15 Mi-Jin Hong, Seongho Yun, Min-Seung Yang, Hye-Jeong Jeon, Jeong-Chil Yoo, Who-Seung Lee
Marine debris from fishing-related paraphernalia poses a threat to the survival of marine organisms, especially seabirds. Although the detrimental effects of marine debris on seabirds have been documented, studies on the extent of damage inflicted by marine debris on the seabird breeding population are scarce. Here, marine debris ingestion and entanglement damage to black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris)
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Predicting the Future Distribution of Leucobryum aduncum under Climate Change Diversity (IF 3.029) Pub Date : 2024-02-15 Puwadol Chawengkul, Patsakorn Tiwutanon, Nuttha Sanevas, Ekaphan Kraichak
Leucobryum aduncum is a moss species reported in many Southeast Asian regions, often found in forests with a high humidity. Climate change may impact the future distribution of this species. This study aimed to model the current distribution and predict the impact of climate change on L. aduncum distribution in the next 50 years across Southeast Asia. In the process, relevant climate variables in the