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Towards a comprehensive view on evolutionary refugia in West African rainforests
No full textWest African rainforests are amongst the world’s premier biodiversity hotspots. Over time, the size and distribution of these rainforests have changed significantly due to fluctuations in climate. However, compared to other biodiversity hotspots, our understanding of potential West African rainforest refugia remains relatively limited. Studies from different disciplines have provided valuable insights into refugia location, age and evolutionary role. Fossil pollen data and comparative biogeography studies have revealed cycles of rainforest contraction and expansion linked to aridification and have used these patterns to identify large-scale refugia. Phylogeographic studies mostly corroborated the existence and locality of large-scale refugia, but also unearthed the putative presence of microrefugia; smaller isolated regions that jointly form larger refuge zones (macrorefugia). Moreover, some refugia seem to harbour deep evolutionary lineages, potentially reflecting long-term stability, whereas others may have been stable during more recent aridification cycles. Phylogeographic splits are congruent across species, but asynchronous and frequently align with both climatically unstable regions and landscape features, such as rivers. These temporal and biogeographic aspects have been further explored using demographic and Species Distribution Modelling (SDM). Across various rainforest taxa, these methods show that populations and suitable habitat retracted and expanded, promoting macro-evolutionary change. Climatic fluctuations thus appear to have played an important role in shaping West African biodiversity. Overall, research shifted from identifying refugia to quantifying their role in driving evolutionary change. However, the scarcity of studies linking detailed changes in demography with SDM limits our ability to make general statements regarding refugia dynamics, predict species response to climate change and prioritise future climate refugia. Highlights Palaeoclimatic cycles of aridification led to the fragmentation and contraction of West African rainforests. Several refugia (e.g. Mount Nimba, Cape Three Points, Cape Palmas and Niger Delta) have been repeatedly identified using pollen and biogeographic data, but phylogeographic analyses point to the presence of microrefugia within and beyond these regions. Some microrefugia may have sustained species persistence since the Miocene (i.e. Fouta Djallon and Ghana), while others supported species persistence during more recent aridification cycles (Pleistocene), suggesting refugia may have operated at different time-scales. Refugia are not the sole driver of diversification, but played a key role in driving diversification of rainforest-dependent species in combination with other factors like river barriers. Future research would benefit from investigating a broader range of taxa, exploring lesser-known regions (e.g. Fouta Djallon or Niger Delta) and adopting landscape demography approaches to achieve a comprehensive understanding refugia dynamics in varying environments
‘Ante litteram’ biodiversity research in central Italy: Antonio Carruccio and the first ornithological specimen-based research programme in Rome (1883–1914)
No full textThere is a lack of awareness that the current biodiversity knowledge has a long history of individual and institutional scientific enquiries well before the term was coined. Here, we deal specifically with the ornithological work coordinated by Antonio Carruccio, who was Head of the Institute of Zoology at Rome University from 1883 to 1914. An advocate of zoological systematics, Carruccio oversaw the establishment of rich collections in the Zoological Museum with a strong emphasis on the Roman Collection, which he established. In 1892, he also founded the Society for Zoological Studies which encouraged, for the first time in Rome, the growth of a wider audience of researchers, both professionally-trained and amateurs, interested in biodiversity. The legacy of Carruccio’s work was long-lasting and includes some interesting aspects, such as the collaboration between the academic world and interested citizens or the birth of a conservation interest, that deserves a greater attention by current generations of historians, zoologists and conservationists
Accountability en responsibility nader beschouwd
No full textHoe kunnen accountability en responsibility in een complexe, veranderende context worden vormgegeven, bijvoorbeeld tegen de achtergrond van uitdagingen, gecreëerd door de CSRD-regelgeving? Accountants en controllers voelen zich in hun werk vaak beperkt door tijd, de complexiteit van de standaarden, en door tegenstrijdige belangen van stakeholders. De traditionele scheiding tussen accountability (externe verantwoording) en responsibility (eigen verantwoordelijkheid) lijkt ontoereikend om hiermee effectief om te gaan. In deze bijdrage wordt gewezen op de relevantie van een dynamischere benadering van deze begrippen, die het onderhouden van relaties en reflectie op bewegingen waarmee een organisatie geconfronteerd wordt, benadrukt
Assessment of the nursery environment and distribution of Ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis (Actinopterygii, Osmeriformes, Plecoglossidae), in Vietnam
No full textThe distribution of larvae and juveniles of Ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis (Temminck et Schlegel, 1846), is shaped by intricate interplays involving environmental variables and anthropogenic influences. The intricate interplay and equilibrium among these factors will govern the distribution and abundance of Ayu fish larvae and juveniles in estuarine settings. In this investigation, a hybrid Ant Colony Optimization-Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ACO-ANFIS) model was utilized to enhance the precision of Ayu fish larvae and juvenile’s occurrence estimation for the period from 2021 to 2022. The outcomes evinced that the hybrid model displays strong predictive capabilities, with R2test > 0.75, and AUC > 0.79. Among the environmental parameters, temperature, salinity, and turbidity exhibit the highest correlations with Ayu fish occurrence, with R values of 0.47, 0.54, and 0.40 for the Ka Long estuary, and 0.49, 0.50, and 0.42 for the Ba Lat estuary, respectively. The presence of Ayu species is limited to northern Vietnam, albeit with a declining pattern from the Ka Long estuary to the Ba Lat estuary. The study’s outcomes propose that the identification of suitable habitats and the cartography of fish distribution are invaluable for scrutinizing the ramifications of natural and anthropogenic influences on species distribution
New records of Sturnira koopmanhilli (McCarthy, Albuja & Alberico, 2006) (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) from western and eastern Ecuador
No full textSturnira koopmanhilli (McCarthy, Albuja & Alberico, 2006) is a rare and vulnerable bat species dis‑ tributed mainly in the Chocó biogeographic region of Ecuador and Colombia. A field expedition in north‑western Ecuador collected two new voucher specimens and tissues. We sequenced the whole cyt-b gene to confirm the taxonomic identity of these specimens. Furthermore, we reviewed three natural history collections to find unreported specimens. The present study provides seven new records for S. koopmanhilli in Ecuador and expands this species’ occurrence to the eastern slopes of the Andes
Two new pestalotioid fungi from tropical fruits in Iran
No full textIn a survey of tropical plant diseases in southern and southeastern Iran, samples of diseased Mangifera indica and Psidium guava leaves with necrotic symptoms were collected between 2021 and 2022. Six representative isolates of Neopestalotiopsis and Robillarda (three isolates for each) were studied using morphological characteristics as well as multi-locus phylogenetic analysis based on (i) the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear rDNA, (ii) part of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), and (iii) the β-tubulin (tub2). After morphological investigation, our phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Neopestalotiopsis and Robillarda isolates under study differed from all previously described species within these genera. Based on our polyphasic approach, two new species, including Neopestalotiopsis guava sp. nov. from necrotic Mangifera indica and Robillarda khodaparastii sp. nov. from Psidium guava are described and illustrated from Iran
Our experience using tissue expansion in reconstructive surgery
No full textIntroduction: Expansion of tissues is a physiological phenomenon observed in processes such as pregnancy, breast growth, tumor development, and formation of seromas or hematomas. Over the last decade, there has been an increase in the number of patients with post-burn and post-traumatic defects and contractures. After Neumann introduced it in 1957, surgical treatment with tissue expanders has become an established method for managing major defects that do not have enough surrounding tissue to form a flap. This technique allows tissue defects to be covered with tissue that has similar color, thickness, and elasticity to the surrounding area. When combined with other plastic surgery methods, tissue expansion facilitates the coverage of large soft tissue defects of various etiologies with minimal formation of new scars and minimal donor site morbidity. Aim: Our study aimed to demonstrate the role of tissue expansion in reconstructive surgery, particularly in the treatment of soft tissue injuries in the scalp. Materials and methods: In this study we present ten cases treated for tissue defects using the expander technique. We used expanders of various shapes and sizes, with volumes ranging from 400 to 500 ml. Results: Reconstruction was deemed successful in 9 out of 10 patients. In one patient with scalp carcinoma, treatment was not completed due to rapidly progressing multiple metastatic lesions in parenchymal organs. The study observed particularly good results in six patients, good results in two patients, and satisfactory results in one patient. The total duration of treatment ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 months. Conclusion: Tissue expansion is an extremely suitable method for repairing the effects of thermal, mechanical, or combined injuries
Potential impacts of industrial tree plantation encroachment on tree species diversity and carbon storage in the riparian zones of Andanan Watershed Forest Reserve, Philippines
No full textRiparian zones within watersheds serve as vital interfaces between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, supporting key ecological and environmental processes. Despite their critical importance, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by human activities. This study evaluated tree species diversity and estimated carbon density in the riparian zones downstream of the Andanan River Watershed Forest Reserve through a systematic sampling method conducted across 12 plots. Two hundred and eighty-eight individual trees were recorded, encompassing 32 species from 17 families and 27 genera. The tree population included 19 native and 13 non-native species, with five native species endemic to the Philippines. Notably, eight species identified are listed on the Philippine or IUCN Red Lists of Threatened Species. The Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H’=2.76) indicated moderate species diversity, while the estimated carbon content was 83.15 ± 17.49 MgC ha-1. Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) analysis revealed that 1,525.305 hectares of the protected area, including approximately 729.07 hectares of riparian zones, have been converted into industrial tree plantations, leading to the displacement of natural forest species. These findings underscore the urgent need for policy interventions to restore a balance between natural and plantation species in protected areas, thereby preserving biodiversity, enhancing carbon sequestration and mitigating the impacts of climate change
Phytosociology, ecology, and distribution of Gymnospermium odessanum in Romania
No full textBackground and aims – Gymnospermium odessanum is a threatened plant species whose presence ranges from south to south-east in Romania. In this context, the study aims to ecological conditions and update the species distribution and identify the plant associations in which the species occurs. Material and methods – The species’ distribution was investigated for all the populations mentioned in the literature and other potential locations. Phytosociological relevés were collected in all locations in which the species is present. We applied Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering to compare the species composition of the plant communities and to identify the main clusters, which we assigned to phytosociological associations and EUNIS habitats. We compared environmental conditions among the identified vegetation units. Key results – The numerical analysis revealed five well-defined vegetation units, identified to five known associations. The associations in which G. odessanum was the most abundant were Artemisio austriacae-Poetum bulbosae and Gymnospermio odessani-Celtetum glabratae. The total number of individuals recorded in all locations is approximately 1107, with a density of 10 to 200 individuals/100 m2. Compared to the observations made in 2007 (2135 individuals), the number of individuals has decreased. The area occupied by the population tended to decrease as well. The population’s conservation status and changes in the range pattern of the habitat type are unfavourable-inadequate. Conclusion – In the two associations in which it was the most abundant, G. odessanum is limited to some locations in Dobrogea, where the occupied areas have been significantly reduced due to habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic impact, including overgrazing
Predation on endangered mussels by invasive raccoons: a case study from western Poland
No full textThe raccoon Procyon lotor is an invasive alien carnivorous mammal whose impact on populations of native species in Europe is poorly understood. Raccoon populations are rising both in range and density, which increases predation pressure. The raccoon is a food opportunist and its impact on local animal populations depends on the availability of food, especially during the critical winter period. In the winter of 2020–2021, we observed an extreme accumulation of empty shells of native mussels (Bivalvia, Unionidae) foraged by raccoons in the Lubuskie Lakeland in western Poland. The aim of this study was to determine whether mussels could be an important food source for raccoons during the difficult winter period in areas where they have been introduced. We hypothesised that raccoons would prefer thin-shelled mussels over thick-shelled species as their food. We identified the mussel species and estimated their numbers in the piles of shells found on the small river banks. The raccoons’ prey consisted of 2,340 mussels belonging to three genera (Anodonta, Pseudanodonta, Unio) and five species (Anodonta cygnea, Anodonta anatina, Unio pictorum, Unio tumidus, Pseudanodonta complanata). Two of them, the Anodonta cygnea and Pseudanodonta complanata, have the status of endangered species in Poland and are red listed by IUCN respectively as Vulnerable (VU) in Europe and Endangered (EN) globally