The study explores endemism among salamanders and newts (order Caudata) in Europe, emphasizing their critical role in biodiversity conservation. Endemism, denoting species unique to specific geographic locations, makes these species particularly susceptible to extinction from habitat loss, climate change, and other environmental pressures. European Caudata exhibit notable endemism due to diverse habitats and historical events like glaciation, creating isolated environments conducive to the evolution of endemic species. Data collection utilized the IUCN Red List to compile a comprehensive list of 40 Caudata species in Europe, identifying 27 as endemic. Detailed distribution areas were obtained as ArcGIS shapefiles from the IUCN Red List, facilitating the identification of endemism hotspots via Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis. This method enabled the precise mapping and analysis of habitat ranges, ensuring targeted conservation efforts. The study identified key regions in Europe with high levels of Caudata endemism, including Corsica, Sardinia, the Iberian Peninsula, Northern and Southern Italy, Greece, Central Europe, the Carpathian Mountains, the Pyrenees, France, the Southwestern Alps, and the Dinaric Alps. These regions are characterized by unique environmental conditions that promote the development and persistence of endemic species. The study concludes that European Caudata's high endemism is driven by diverse habitats, geographic isolation, varied climatic conditions, and historical factors. The findings underscore the importance of protecting these unique environments to preserve Europe's rich biodiversity, highlighting the necessity for ongoing research and conservation efforts to protect these vulnerable species from environmental changes and human activities.

The genus Solenopsis has attained notoriety around the globe for its housing of the aptly-named fire ants; S. geminata (Fabricius) and S. invicta Buren in particular have made their presence painfully known far outside their native ranges in the New World. Lesser in both stature and renown, their congeners the thief ants, however, have either yet to exhibit the invasive potential of their larger relatives, or have achieved so while evading collection (due to their cryptic behaviour) or indeed subsequent identification (due to the difficulty of their taxonomy). The findings presented here support the latter hypothesis, with a member of the thief ants being recorded for the first time from mainland Eurasia. Solenopsis globularia (Smith) is among the larger of the thief ants, with a similarly broad distribution in the New World. It has also been recorded as an exotic species in Africa and on islands in the Atlantic and Pacific, including the Philippines, which until now has represented the only part of its range that extended into Eurasia. Here, documented for the first time, is the presence of S. globularia in India, which was previously known to harbor only two Solenopsis species, S. nitens Bingham and the invasive S. geminata, from which it can be easily distinguished by its greatly dilated, globose postpetiole. All specimens were collected opportunistically from an urban area, with simultaneous recording of associations with other taxa. The absence of detailed ecological observations of this species, even in its natural habitat, make it difficult to predict the consequences of its introduction into the Old World, and further research is needed to determine the level of threat posed to native taxa.

More than 14,000 species and subspecies of reptiles have been described. The Reptile Database now provides descriptions for about 10,000 species from the primary and secondary literature. These morphological descriptions are currently supplemented by live photographs of more than 6,000 species and a pilot project for a reference library of 16,000 high-resolution images representing more than 1,200 species (preserved specimens). Online links to GenBank for ~8,700 species and to IUCN for ~10,000 species provide DNA sequences and range maps for genetic and geographic details, respectively.

Since full-text descriptions have limited practical value, we are working to convert textual descriptions of species into a structured database of traits so that characters can also be compared and analyzed more systematically. When integrated with geographic range maps, species identifications can be substantially simplified and also made available for non-experts. We will show examples of how these trait tables, images, extracted color patterns, etc., can be used to identify and describe reptiles on a large scale.

In combination with phylogenetic trees, our dataset will allow detailed macro-ecological studies and other biological studies.

Recent references:
Uetz, P.; Darko, Y.A.; Voss, O. (2023) Towards digital descriptions of all extant reptile species. Megataxa 010 (1): 027–042, https://doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.10.1.6
Uetz P, Patel M., Gbadamosi Z., ShoopeS., Nguyen A. (2024) A reference database of reptile images. BioRxiv preprint, https://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2024.03.08.584020v1

In the Chaco region, we can find one of the biggest protected areas of northern Argentina, the “El Impenetrable” National Park, with a surface nearing 130,000 ha. It provides multiple habitats that sustain notable plant and animal diversity, in which formicid assemblages are included. Ants are the most abundant arthropods in tropical forests and represent an important part of ecosystems, due to them providing important ecosystemic services. They are excellent bioindicators of anthropogenic perturbations; their diversity in tropical forests is associated with the forest’s canopy coverage. Despite this, no published studies of formicid diversity in “El Impenetrable” National Park evaluate canopy coverage in this important protected area of the subtropical region. A formicid survey was conducted following the recommendations of the ALL protocol, developed as a fast and standardized way of surveying ant populations in forests. True diversity (Hill numbers) for each forest and β-diversity between forests (Sörensen index) were assessed, and rank--abundance curves were constructed. D0 and D1 showed that diversity is positively correlated with coverage increase. Rank--abundance curves indicated higher dominance in forests with high and intermediate coverage, while low-coverage ones exhibited a more even abundance distribution. The βSOR indexes were higher than 50%, suggesting differences between the ant assemblages of each forest, with species turnover being the larger contributor (46%). We can conclude that canopy coverage directly influences the richness and diversity of ants.

Our study aimed to conduct a paleolimnological reconstruction of a shallow lake, Lake Balaton, based on Cladocera remains. An up-to-date understanding of Cladocera remains is a crucial aspect of paleolimnological research. The lake's sediment provides large quantities of high-quality Cladocera species. Acquiring information onexploration is essential in order to reconstruct the palaeo history of the lake. The varying evolution of Keszthely Bay gave us a good opportunity to study the sediments' composition; this European lake is superficial and nutrient-rich. Sediment columns were taken in both Keszthely and Siófok Bays. One was used for geochemical analysis and the other was used for cladocera remains. The zooplankton and benthic Chydorid Cladocerans provided previously unavailable information on the historical development of planktivorous fish populations and lake production which is used to document introductions of exotic species and human disturbance around lakes. In January 2006 in Keszthely and in May 2006 in Siófok Bay, we collected one-meter-long columns of sediment (0.05 meters in diameter). Lake Balaton has chydorid-rich sediment, with species belonging to the Alona genus. The open water is rich in Daphnia cucullata and Daphnia galeata, but in the sediment layers, only a few Daphnia ephippia were found, and no Daphnia remains. Bosmina coregoni is numerous in recent plankton, but the remains of this species are on the uppermost sediment layers, indicating the changes in the trophic status of the basins. Thirteen cladocera species were found in the remains of the sediment of Siófok Bay. Chydorid remains were common along the core. Twenty-five cladocera species were identified by their remains in the sediment of Keszthely Bay. Meanwhile, the remains of planktonic cladocera (like daphnids and cosmids) are under-represented. The cladocera remains, the organic material content, the CaCO3 content, the mineral material content, and the sediment chronology were studied.

The Moroccan populations of Alnus glutinosa have been established in a number of streams located in the Central and Western Rif regions. The objective of this study is to evaluate the status of natural regeneration in the distribution area of this species in relation to environmental conditions and anthropogenic factors. A total of twelve representative populations of Alnus glutinosa were selected for study. At each site, a quadrat measuring 100 m² was randomly positioned and replicated ten times. In each quadrat, the number of seedlings with different diameters was recorded, and their height was measured. Furthermore, Alnus glutinosa trees were counted, with each tree's total height and trunk circumference meticulously recorded. The impact of specific environmental factors, including the gradient of riverbanks, altitude, and vegetation cover, as well as anthropogenic pressures, such as the felling of mature trees and agricultural activities, were assessed. The density and size of the seedlings were determined. The Ksurkal–Wallis and Tau-B de Kendall tests were conducted. The results demonstrated a significant discrepancy in the natural regeneration of Alnus glutinosa between the studied sites, with a notable absence in some populations. With the exception of Tayenza, the various populations exhibited a low rate of regeneration. The Tanghaya population exhibited the highest density of seedlings, with an average of 18 per 100 m². The remaining sites exhibited an average density range of 0.2 to 12 young individuals per 100 m². Conversely, the populations at Oued Lakhemis, Ketama and Amlay exhibited a complete absence of young individuals. The majority of factors, both abiotic and anthropogenic, have affected the natural regeneration. The high slope and high and moderate altitudes promote the phenomenon of natural regeneration, as do the cover and other factors. In addition, anthropogenic pressure has a negative effect on the rate of natural regeneration.

ABSTRACT:

Prunus ceylanica (Wight) Miq. is an evergreen tree of the family Rosaceae that is native to India and Sri Lanka and is commomly called ceylon cherry. The species of this nomenclatureal type was collected from the Ceylon region. Ethno-botanical data on Prunus ceylanica were collected by conducting a field survey in tribal communities of the forest area between August 2022 and July 2023. The ethno-botanical data were collected from the tribal communities by field survey, open interviews with traditional healers, and questionnaires provided to the tribal populations in the forest area. The whole plant is used in the traditional system. The traditional usage of the plant by indigenous tribal communities was collected by interacting with the local people. Different parts are used in curing skin diseases, boils, and stomach ulcers. The fruits are eaten by jungle cats. Prunus ceylanica is an ethno-botanically useful plant. The wood is moderately hard and used in making raw furniture, wooden boxes, planks, and booths. The wood material is a good source of fuel for firing bricks. Prunus ceylanica is medicinally used in various ways by local tribal communities. When squashed, the bark, leaves, and fruits emits the smell of bitter almonds. Potent applications of the tree are documented. Prunus ceylanica was conserved by some ex situ conservation practices like seed collection and saplings protection. The seeds were collected from the tree and sown in poly bags, achieving a good number of saplings. Because it is endangered, conservation of prunus ceylanica was carried both onsite and offsite to increase the number of individuals. Stem cuttings show moderate success with the application of hormones. The present study focuses on the ethno-botanical utilization and potential application of Prunus ceylanica from the maredumilli forest region of Andhra Pradesh

This study examines different forest types and biodiversity characteristics in the Abruzzo region (Central Italy), within a landscape delineated by diverse large forests. Historically, agro-pastoral activities have altered the region's mountains ecosystems, leading to a decrease in forest cover and associated species. A significant reforestation campaign was run from the middle of the 19th century to the end of the 19th, primarily using italic black pine, aimed to remedy these changes. This research focuses on assessing the biodiversity of different forest types: oak, beech, and conifer compared by the diversity of Carabidae, Coleoptera. Carabid beetles were selected as bioindicators due to their sensitivity to environmental changes and ease of sampling. The study involved placing pitfall traps in various forest types to collect and determine Carabidae diversity in each habitat. This study, which should highlight the importance of these often-neglected taxa in maintaining ecosystem health, also aimed to integrate arthropod conservation into ecosystems management activities and into rewilding dynamics studies. The results of this study are preliminary. It is the first time when forests of this region are explored in that way, studying the combination of the vegetation with forest structure and related carabid species. This study fits into a broader context of studies dedicated to these issues involving various taxa from the various kingdoms of living beings.
In our study, a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) will be used to analyse the relationship between beetle Richness and Abundance and the various forest characteristics (i.e.: forest types and structure, necromass, vegetation and estimated age). GLM will also be used to analyse the activity/density ratio, to provide a more accurate representation of beetle populations, since richness and abundance can be biased by the degree of activity of certain species.

The increasing use of pharmaceutical drugs in medicine, agriculture, and domestic animals could increase active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the environment. The ccumulation of APIs in the environment could present an insidious threat to biodiversity, as APIs and their metabolites impact food webs. We assessed the potential effects of a widely used API, orlistat, on aquatic invertebrates. Orlistat, an active ingredient in weight loss drugs, interferes with the digestive enzymes that help breakdown lipids. We reasoned that orlistat could interfere with the assimilation of lipids in aquatic organisms and affect growth, reproduction, and survival. We selected Daphnia magna, a primary consumer, as a model organism for aquatic invertebrates. The experimental treatment involved orlistat dissolved in ethanol added to natural spring water; the control treatments (12.0 µl EtOH/L H₂O) were the same but without the orlistat. In replicated experiments, the survival of Daphnia in orlistat ( ~2 µg/ml) was less than that of controls (p ≤ 0.001). There was also an effect on productivity. We observed delayed egg development, failed egg development, and a lower frequency of neonate births in the orlistat treatment. This suggests that females in the orlistat treatment allocated less of their endogenous resources to reproduction. We also noted subtle differences in growth. The rate of body molts appeared to slow down in the orlistat treatment. We also noted a dose-dependent effect on survival when we increased the concentration of orlistat from 2.38 to 6.95 µg/ml. Although orlistat is hydrophobic, we suspect that it could accumulate in the surface layer, the edges of the littoral zone, and in sediments. We conclude that orlistat can affect aquatic invertebrates. Further research is needed to determine the potential impacts on aquatic food webs and the potential threats to biodiversity.

Urban tree planting is a vital strategy for mitigating the effects of climate change, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas like Ibadan, Nigeria. This study addresses the challenge of urban heat islands and air pollution, exacerbated by increasing deforestation and inadequate green spaces. The study aims to understand the determinants influencing residents' adoption of tree planting practices. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 450 households across five urban local government areas (South-West, North, Akinyele, North-East, and South-East) with the use of structured questionnaires which assessed awareness, perceptions, and factors motivating tree planting in Ibadan metropolis. The findings revealed a strong awareness of climate change, with residents citing benefits like shade, improved air quality, and aesthetic enhancement as key motivators for planting trees. A logistic regression analysis identified significant predictors, including environmental awareness and access to resources, which positively influenced participation in tree planting activities. This study concludes that enhancing public education and providing accessible resources are critical for increasing urban forestry participation. This implies that community-driven actions are pivotal in promoting sustainable urban environments and mitigating climate change. It is therefore recommended that targeted campaigns and government support should be enacted to increase tree planting, thereby enhancing urban resilience to climate change.