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Faunistic study of Coleoptera (Buprestidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Lucanidae and Melyridae) on Gageodo Island, south-westernmost Korean Peninsula
No full textThe Korean Archipelago consists of more than 3,348 islands, many of which have an intact biodiversity. Gageodo Island, which is the south-westernmost island in the Peninsula, is characterised by floristic and faunistic features that are distinct from those of the mainland, making it of biogeographical and ecological interest. However, due to the difficulties associated with surveying this Island, it remains under-investigated. In particular, the Island's coleopteran fauna remains poorly understood.In this study, the authors surveyed Buprestidae (jewel beetles), Carabidae (ground beetles), Cerambycidae (longhorn beetles), Lucanidae (stag beetles) and Melyridae (soft-winged flower beetles) on Gageodo Island. Each species was identified and ecological notes were recorded. To update the coleopteran list for the Island, previous studies that examined samples from Gageodo Island were compiled and organised. As a result, 31 species and three families were recorded on the Island for the first time, for a total of 93 species within 16 families. Of these, the melyrid species, Intybia tsushimensis (Satô & Ohbayashi, 1968) is reported for the first time in the Korean Peninsula. This study contributes to understand the coleopteran fauna of the biogeographically important Island in Korea and will serve as a foundational piece for understanding the fauna of Gageodo
Larval description with notes on biology of Holotrichia fissa (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from central India
No full textThough economically important, the field of description of larval morphology and taxonomy of Scarabs is restricted to a very few publications specifically from India. This study was planned to study and document the morphology of developmental stages of one of the most commonly occurring species of scarab, Holotrichia fissa (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from central India. Here we describe in detail the morphological characteristics of egg, first, second and third instar larva and pupa along with notes on biology of the species. The details of third instar larva are described focussing on the structure of Cranium, Antenna, Labrum, Clypeus, Epipharynx, Mandibles, Maxilla, Thorax, Abdomen, and Raster pattern. This study adds to the knowledge of morphology of the developmental stages the species
Impact of Imports and Exports on Inflation Rate in Afghanistan: Does Political Instability Matter?
No full textStabilizing the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to protect the populace from the adverse effects of inflation necessitates appropriate measures at both political and economic governance levels. This study examines the impacts of imports (IM) and exports (EX) on inflation (CPI) in Afghanistan using data from 1990 to 2023. The findings from the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model indicate that both IM and EX significantly impact CPI in the short and long term. A robustness check employing the Kernel-based Regularized Least Squares (KRLS) machine learning technique further validates these results. The analysis confirms that international trade has a substantial and positive effect on CPI. Additionally, in the context of Afghanistan, political instability acts as a positive moderator, amplifying the influence of imports and exports on inflation. The study concludes that the country requires a reevaluation of its policies regarding exchange rates and economic growth to mitigate the negative effects of imports, exports, and political volatility on the stability of the CPI
Developing best management practices for the invasive monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) in urban environments
No full textManaging invasive species has become a major environmental challenge due to their global ecological and socioeconomic impacts. Prioritising effective strategies is essential, especially given the often limited funding. Data from real control programmes are crucial for developing long-term management plans. Between May 2021 and April 2023, the City of Madrid implemented a control plan to reduce its monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) population. This study assessed: (1) the plan’s efficacy, (2) the impact of removing different age classes on population viability, (3) the capture efficacy and cost-efficiency of various capture methods, (4) the optimal combination of capture methods and (5) the effectiveness of different baits in attracting parakeets. The plan eliminated approximately 87% of the juvenile and adult population present at the plan’s onset, reducing total population projections for 2023 and 2031 by 50%. Projections indicated that maintaining the second-year removal intensity for three additional years could have nearly eradicated the species. Removing juveniles and adults proved more than twice as effective at curbing population growth as targeting eggs and nestlings, leading to prioritising juvenile and adult removal year-round. Of the five methods used – shooting, folding net, hand-held net launcher, egg culling and nestling culling – shooting was the most effective in reducing population growth both in and outside spring. Optimisation models suggested prioritising shooting and the combination of folding net and net launcher in spring and exclusively the latter outside spring. We recommend using the shooting method year-round, complemented by the combined use of the folding net and net launcher outside of the spring season. Bread and a mixture of bread, apple and parrot feed were the most effective and cost-efficient baits attracting parakeets, with bread recommended for simplicity. This study enhances understanding of parrot management strategies, offering insights for more effective and cost-efficient control of invasive monk parakeet populations
Towards a monograph of membranaceous Vanillas: a nomenclatural revision of Vanilla subgen. Vanilla (Vanilloideae, Orchidaceae)
No full textBackground and aims – Vanilla subgenus Vanilla was established by Soto-Arenas and Cribb (2010) to include Neotropical species characterized by membranaceous leaves, a labellum without a penicillate callus, and a column attached solely at the base of the lip. Vanilla mexicana (= Epidendrum vanilla) was the first species attributed to this subgenus, and its nomenclature traces back to the Vanilla’s taxonomic origins, serving as the type species for the entire genus. Despite this, several biological aspects of membranaceous vanilla species remain poorly studied, including their taxonomy and nomenclature, which have not been thoroughly addressed. The lack of clarity regarding the circumscription of these fairly rare taxa has led to taxonomic confusion and neglect by botanists. This study aims to conduct a typological assessment of all names associated with Vanilla subgen. Vanilla. Material and methods – A comprehensive list of names attributable to Vanilla subgen. Vanilla was compiled from different sources. Protologues were studied for every name and type specimens were examined through direct visits or virtual herbaria. The International Code of Nomenclature of algae, fungi, and plants was followed for the type designation and nomenclatural notes. Key results – A comprehensive nomenclatural revision was carried out for 29 names. A total of eight lectotypes and one epitype are designated, with nomenclatural notes provided for most names within the subgenus
Inhibition of MERS-CoV papain-like protease by sunitinib: In vitro and in silico investigations
No full textMiddle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) remains a significant public health threat, with high mortality rates and no approved antiviral therapies. The papain-like protease (PLpro) of MERS-CoV plays a critical role in viral replication and immune evasion, making it a key target for drug discovery. This study evaluated the inhibitory effects of four anticancer drugs (sunitinib, olaparib, mitoxantrone, and bicalutamide) on recombinant MERS-CoV PLpro using a combination of in vitro and in silico techniques. Protease inhibition assays revealed that sunitinib displayed potent, dose-dependent inhibition of PLpro activity, with an IC50 of 1.75 µM, while olaparib, mitoxantrone, and bicalutamide exhibited negligible inhibition. Thermal shift assays confirmed the strong interaction of sunitinib with PLpro, showing a ΔTm of 26.64 °C, indicative of increased protein stability. Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and docking studies provided structural insights into the mechanism of inhibition. Sunitinib bound within the thumb domain of PLpro, forming stable interactions with residues such as D76, R82, and F79. Binding induced significant stabilization of PLpro’s structure, reducing flexibility in critical regions, including the thumb and catalytic domains, as indicated by a decreased radius of gyration and alterations in the free energy landscape. Importantly, the stabilization of PLpro by sunitinib was consistent between in vitro and in silico analyses, highlighting its robust inhibitory potential. These findings position sunitinib as a promising inhibitor of MERS-CoV PLpro, with strong binding affinity and the ability to disrupt enzymatic function. Further preclinical studies are warranted to explore its therapeutic potential against MERS-CoV. This study underscores the utility of repurposing existing drugs for emerging viral threats and contributes to the development of targeted antiviral strategies
New fungal genus, three novel species and one new record from mangroves, with reclassification of Melanconiella (Melanconiellaceae) species
No full textMangrove ecosystems, located in the land-sea interface, host a diverse array of fungi. In this paper, we introduce a novel genus, three novel species and one new record of fungi collected from mangrove environments in Pranburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand. We establish Pseudomelanconiella as a new genus in Melanconiellaceae, to accommodate Pseudomelanconiella mangrovei, a saprobe from submerged decomposing wood of Avicennia marina. Phylogenetic analysis indicates its close relation with Septomelanconiella, but they differ in the morphology of the conidia. Additionally, our analysis of Melanconiellaceae led to the reclassification of Melanconiella loropetali to Sinodiscula loropetali and synonymizing Sinodiscula camellicola and Melanconiella camelliae. This paper also introduces two other novel species: Peroneutypa hibisci, a saprobe found on Hibiscus tiliaceus and Pseudochaetosphaeronema bruguierae from Bruguiera cylindrica, the first species in this genus reported as a mangrove fungus. A new record of Rimora mangrovei from Ceriops tagal is also reported. These discoveries emphasize the rich fungal diversity in mangrove ecosystems supporting further exploration of this unique environment
A new species of Gaillardiellus Guinot, 1976 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Xanthidae) from the coral reefs of the South China Sea
No full textA new xanthid species of Gaillardiellus Guinot, 1976, is described from the coral reefs of the Xisha and Nansha Islands in the South China Sea. The new species, Gaillardiellus magiruber sp. nov., closely resembles G. rueppellii (Krauss, 1843) but can be distinguished mainly by its closer proximity of the outer orbital angle and anterolateral margin, which lacks an accessory lobe, a broader and non-protruding front, and notable differences in live coloration and size. Molecular analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequences further corroborates the validity of this new species. An updated identification key for Gaillardiellus is provided
First records of the Indo-Pacific Platax teira (Forsskål, 1775), Longfin Batfish (Perciformes, Ephippidae), in the Tropical Eastern Pacific
No full textPlatax teira (Forsskål, 1775) is distributed in the Indo‑West Pacific and with records in other regions, such as from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Persian Gulf. Several specimens have been recorded alive in the Mexican Pacific waters, in Bahía de Banderas and Cabo Pulmo, at the entrance of the Gulf of California. Its presence could be due to an aquarium release and raises concern about the potential invasiveness of this species in the Tropical Eastern Pacific
New records of riffle beetles in Vietnam (Coleoptera, Elmidae)
No full textWe present the first records of the riffle beetles Cuspidevia pilosa Bian, Hu & Tong, 2024 and Macronevia simplex (Hinton, 1936), and new records of Macronychus reticulatus Čiampor & Kodada, 1998, from central and northern Vietnam. The type locality of C. pilosa lies in southern China, while that of M. reticulatus is in southern Laos, and M. simplex in Western Malaysia. We provide DNA barcoding data (COI), along with illustrations of the habitus, aedeagi, and biotopes, as well as distribution maps of these species