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Adesmia ephedroides (Fabaceae, Faboideae), a new species from the Mediterranean-type ecosystem of Valparaíso Region, Chile
No full textA new species, Adesmia ephedroides, discovered in a restricted area of the coastal mountain range within the Valparaíso Region, Chile, is here described. Molecular phylogenetic analyses, based on five nuclear loci, were carried out to explore the phylogenetic position of the new species. Our findings robustly support A. ephedroides as a distinct species, positioned within a clade of Adesmia, characterised by shrubby growth habit, racemose inflorescences and bristled lomenta. This identified clade exhibits a distribution limited to the semi-arid regions spanning from the southern Atacama Desert to Central Chile. Adesmia ephedroides is readily distinguishable from its closest relatives through a combination of features, including green young branches and distinctive leaf morphology: glabrous, few leaflets and persistent, cylindrical petiole and rachis. A detailed taxonomic description, illustrations, field images, distribution map, ecological insights into its habitat and a preliminary IUCN conservation status assessment are provided
Assessing Accessibility of Health Care for the Oldest Old
No full textThis paper analyzes health care accessibility for the oldest old. The empirical basis for this work is data obtained through a qualitative sociological survey of individuals aged 85 and over. It has been shown that the current situation regarding access to medical care for this age group is extremely challenging. The most significant barriers are physical ones, caused by their physical and cognitive limitations, as well as specifics of health care organization within the national healthcare system. Additionally, sociocultural barriers limit health care accessibility for the oldest old. Discrimination against older adults, for example ageism among health care providers is common. The identified limitations and barriers reduce the accessibility of medical consultations and medications. The most vulnerable to limited access to health care are older adults with limited mobility, bedridden, and those with significant cognitive impairments. Effective measures to improve accessibility of health care for the oldest old require reliable data, reflecting the needs and problems of this age group. The study shows that standard sociological tools are extremely limited in their ability to survey the oldest old due to their physical and cognitive health. To obtain adequate data, sociological tools must be adjusted with due regard to the characteristics, specific to this age group, and specialized surveys must be conducted
Flowering and fruiting phenology of Solanum mauritianum – a potential invasive alien species in the upcountry wet zone of Sri Lanka
No full textFirst comprehensive investigation of Solanum mauritianum in Sri Lanka, focusing on its invasive potential, ecological traits, and management challenges in the upcountry wet zone. Field surveys (2016–2018) along the A7 road from Peradeniya to Horton Plains National Park documented rapid colonization of roadsides, agricultural lands, and disturbed habitats, driven by prolific seed production (100,000–200,000 seeds annually per mature plant), vegetative propagation, and long-distance dispersal via frugivorous birds. Phenological analyses revealed seasonal fruiting peaks (April and August) linked to temperature and humidity fluctuations, with seed dormancy broken under 12 hr light/dark cycles and gibberellic acid treatment. Self-pollination, generalist pollinator interactions, and genetic diversity (assessed via RAPD markers) further facilitated invasiveness, showing genetic clustering in-dependent of geographic distance. Despite toxicity, farmers utilize the species for crop support, though its aggressive growth threatens native biodiversity by displacing flora. Conventional control methods, such as herbicides, proved ineffective due to rapid regrowth, while pre-fruiting uprooting and community-led management emerged as viable strategies. Community engagement enhanced data collection and invasive species awareness, underscoring participatory conservation’s value. As the first study of S. mauritianum in Sri Lanka, this work highlights its dual role as an ecological disruptor and a resource with localized agricultural utility, emphasizing the need for adaptive management. Future research should prioritize long-term ecological impacts, biological control agents, and climate adaptation studies to refine sustainable solutions. The findings provide foundational insights for invasive species management in Sri Lanka’s biodiverse ecosystems
Remote sensing for monitoring and assessment of invasive herbaceous plants: the case of Oenothera drummondii in coastal ecosystems
No full textInvasive exotic species pose a serious threat to biodiversity, particularly in fragile and degraded habitats. This is the case with Oenothera drummondii, which significantly affects certain coastal areas of the Iberian Peninsula. This study area focuses on the Odiel Marshes Natural Area, where populations of this herbaceous plant are drastically affecting native vegetation. The objective is to develop a methodology for the automatic detection of individuals of this species with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) equipped with multispectral cameras. The final goal is to optimize monitoring, control, and potential eradication activities. A photogrammetric flight was carried out over 26.26 ha using a DJI Mavic 3Multiespectral. The model used to distinguish the invasive species from the native vegetation in the area was the C5.0 classification model. A total of 800 individuals were analysed using this model, including samples of the invasive species and three of the most abundant native plant species with a similar appearance. The classification tree results were extrapolated to the entire study area. The results indicate that the use of multispectral bands and vegetation indices allows the C5.0 model to classify the studied species with an error rate of 15.4%. The subsequent application of the classification tree obtained across the entire study area resulted in the detection of O. drummondii with an accuracy rate of 83%, demonstrating that this UAV-based technique enables the identification of exotic invasive herbaceous species. This methodology could contribute to management of the species and could be easily applied to other affected areas and species worldwide
On the taxonomy of the subgenera Tatsipolia, Chalapolia, and Kitapolia of the genus Dasypolia Guenée with the description of six new species from southern Xizang, China (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)
No full textSpecies of the subgenus Tatsipolia Benedek, Behounek, Floriani & Saldaitis, 2011 of the genus Dasypolia Guenée, 1852 are reviewed and the genus-group names Chalapolia Benedek, Behounek, Floriani & Saldaitis, 2011 and Kitapolia Benedek, Behounek, Floriani & Saldaitis, 2011 previously considered as distinct subgenera of Dasypolia are synonymised with Tatsipolia. Six new species are described from southern Xizang, China: Dasypolia (Tatsipolia) polymorpha sp. nov., Dasypolia (Tatsipolia) intermedia sp. nov., Dasypolia (Tatsipolia) amoena sp. nov., Dasypolia (Tatsipolia) diffusa sp. nov., Dasypolia (Tatsipolia) luxuriosa sp. nov., and Dasypolia (Tatsipolia) ultramontana sp. nov. Adults and male and female genitalia of all species in Dasypolia (Tatsipolia) are illustrated
Hypericum shunhuangshanense (Hypericaceae), a new species from Hunan, China
No full textHypericum shunhuangshanense, a new species of Hypericaceae from the Shunhuangshan National Nature Reserve in Hunan Province, China, is described and illustrated, based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence. The new species resembles H. faberi in morphology but clusters with H. seniawinii in phylogenetic analyses; it can be easily distinguished from both by its leaves sessile and decussate, inflorescence cymose, anthers yellow to deep orange, and locules 3
Two new species of mimetic Pachyrhynchini (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae) from Rizal, Luzon Island, Philippines
No full textTwo new species belonging to the genera Eupachyrrhynchus Heller, 1912 and Metapocyrtus Heller, 1912—E. joybelmonteae sp. nov. and M. (M.) daraitanensis sp. nov.—are described and illustrated from Tanay, Rizal, Luzon, Philippines. Notes on their mimicry complex and ecology are also presented
Markers or metagenomes: sequencing marine eukaryotic DNA for better biodiversity surveys
No full textMarker gene sequencing (“metabarcoding”) is the primary sequencing approach currently used for molecular biodiversity surveys, but this approach is taxonomically limited and hampered by amplification biases. In contrast, shotgun metagenomes avoid extensive PCR amplification and can theoretically capture the full taxonomic breadth of the eDNA pool. However, eukaryotic DNA is often a small component of metagenomes; consequently they have seen limited use in metazoan biodiversity surveys. Here, we compare metabarcoding and shotgun metagenomes on a large (>200 sample size) set of marine water column eDNA samples and show that metagenomes can provide biodiversity information comparable to that of metabarcoding surveys. They provide more consistent and even detections of important phytoplankton like chlorophytes and haptophytes and can detect metazoan taxa of management and conservation interest, such as the humpback whale. However, genus- and species-level taxonomic assignments are often inaccurate for metagenomic data and require more manual annotation relative to metabarcoding taxonomy. Reference database gaps remain an obstacle to accurate and comprehensive biodiversity surveys for both metabarcoding and shotgun metagenomes. We provide examples of taxa that may benefit from one approach over another and highlight cases of metagenomic utility
Butterflies (Lepidoptera) of the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam
No full textThe Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve is a unique transitional ecosystem between land and sea and represents a significant wetland area in southern Vietnam. Despite being recognized as a biodiversity hotspot, its butterfly fauna remains poorly documented.In this study, the Pollard Walk method was using on 72 sampling events in 12 fixed transects to we present the first comprehensive checklist and diversity assessment of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) from this region. A total of 46 species, belonging to 37 genera and 5 families, were recorded through systematic field surveys conducted across 12 sites during both dry and rainy seasons from 2024 to 2025. The family Nymphalidae exhibited the highest species richness (19 species), followed by Lycaenidae (9 species), Pieridae (7 species), and Hesperiidae (7 species). Two species of most abundance were identified: Catopsilia pomona and Ixias pyrene. Our findings reveal that the butterfly community in Can Gio is moderately diverse (H’ = 1.66 ± 0.52) and exhibits seasonal variation in species composition and abundance. The study provides baseline data for future biodiversity monitoring and highlights the importance of preserving the mosaic of habitats within this mangrove biosphere reserve
Characeen Österreichs. Checkliste, Atlas und Rote Liste der Armleuchteralgen (Charophyceae)
No full textIm Zuge des Projektes „Characeen Österreichs‟ wurden von 2005 bis 2025 7.577 Funddaten von Armleuchteralgen (Characeae) dokumentiert. Erstmals gibt es nun eine Monografie der Characeen Österreichs mit Checkliste, Verbreitungskarten der Arten und Roter Liste. Insgesamt konnten 35 Arten nachgewiesen werden. Nachweise und Gefährdungsgrade der einzelnen Arten werden detailliert für die einzelnen Bundesländer und Naturräume angegeben. Im allgemeinen Teil der Monographie werden die Erforschungsgeschichte der Characeenflora, Systematik und Nomenklatur, Ökologie und Physiologie, Lebensräume und Naturschutz behandelt. Im speziellen Teil werden Habitate und deren Gefährdung, Angaben zum Vorkommen der Arten auf verschiedenen Seehöhen, deren Morphologie, Ökologie, Bestandsentwicklung und Verbreitung mit Quellenangaben und Verbreitungskarten beschrieben. Die Characeen-Österreich-Datenbank mit allen Funddaten ist online abrufbar