ARPHA Preprints
Not a member yet
49208 research outputs found
Sort by
Occurrence dataset of protected fungal species for the Red Data Book in Yugra Region, Western Siberia
No full textThe data paper describes a dataset of occurrences of fungal species listed in the Red Data Book of Yugra Region (Western Siberia, Russia). The dataset is based on all digitised records of fungal occurrences in the region. The authors conducted an assessment of the conservation status of fungal species for the revised third edition of the Red Data Book of Yugra. The third edition of the Red Data Book of Yugra includes a total of 61 fungal species (excluding lichens). Of these, nine species are listed on the IUCN Red List and six are included in the Red Data Book of Russia. At the time of publication, the dataset comprises 1180 records of protected species, including human observations, preserved specimens and material citations from literature.The paper provides the first overview of the history of fungal conservation in Yugra (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug–Yugra, KhMAO-Yugra). For the first time, open-source data are used for the assessment of the occurrence of rare species and evaluation of their conservation status for the revised third edition of the Red Data Book of Yugra. An integrated occurrence dataset for the species included in the new edition of the Red Data Book is presented
Not so deep in the rainforest: two new species of Anastrepha (Diptera, Tephritidae) and a pictorial key to species from Amazonas state, Brazil
No full textTwo new species, Anastrepha dorsidentata Uramoto, Zucchi, Araújo & Savaris and A. norrbomi Uramoto, Zucchi, Araújo & Savaris, from a fragment of the Amazon Rainforest in the city of Manaus, state of Amazonas, Brazil, are described and illustrated. Both species were collected in McPhail-type traps hanging from trees on the campus of Federal University of Amazon. A pictorial key to 47 species of Anastrepha recorded in Amazonas state is provided
Integrating herbarium data with spatial biodiversity assessment into conservation plans: A case study of the genus Carex L. (Cyperaceae) in Saskatchewan, Canada
No full textSedge (Carex L.) is the largest genus of vascular plants in Saskatchewan, Canada, where it is represented by 105 species. The aim of this study was to develop an effective procedure to assess the conservation status of sedges in the province. Data on 49 target Carex species were collected, validated, and consolidated from the Flora of Saskatchewan Association (FOSA) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) datasets, resulting in 277 specimen-based occurrences. Applying a novel assessment approach, target Carex species were classified as follows: Critically Endangered (CR) – six taxa, Endangered (EN) – four, Vulnerable (VU) – eight, Near Threatened (NT) – three, Least Concern (LC) – 24, and Data Deficient (DD) – four. This allowed for a substantial reduction to a list of rare sedges compiled by the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre (SKCDC) from 40 species (38.1% in the genus) to 21 species (20.0%). In terms of territorial protection, rare sedges (CR, EN, VU and NT conservation categories) have been recorded only in 13 or 4.0% of protected areas in Saskatchewan. Most sedges (12 species or 57.1%) have no recorded occurrences in the protected areas. This group is followed by five species (23.8%) found in a single protected area, three species (14.3%) recorded in two protected areas, and one species (4.76%) observed in three protected areas. Anthropogenic land use changes such as agriculture, urbanization, and industrial activities are the major threats to sedges in Saskatchewan. An effective action plan for the conservation of Carex species is crucial to reduce threats to this group of plants. Our results provide a scientific basis for the long-term conservation of sedge diversity in Saskatchewan
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
Comparison of effectiveness of the addition of neuromuscular electrical stimulation of quadriceps muscle to standard rehabilitation protocol of ACL reconstruction
No full textBackground: Weak quadriceps after ACL reconstruction (ACLR) may derail patients’ return to sport or regular physical activity levels. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) activates muscles in precise sequence and magnitude to directly accomplish functional tasks. This prospective comparative study compared the outcomes of rehabilitation post-ACLR with and without NMES.Methods: A total of 70 post-ACLR patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 received the standard rehabilitation protocol, and Group 2 received additional NMES therapy twice weekly for 6 weeks. Patients were evaluated for Thigh circumference, Quadriceps Strength, and Single and Triple leg hop. Results: The thigh girth in the NMES groups showed a consistent increase throughout the follow-up period, whereas in the control group, it showed an initial dip and later improved. The diff erence was signifi cant at 3 and 6 weeks follow-up (p < .001). The two groups had no signifi cant diff erence in Quadriceps strength at 6 months (p = .545). At 6 months, the single leg hop, triple leg hop, Lysholm score, IKDC score, and KT readings gave comparable results between the control and NMES groups.Conclusions: The addition of NMES in post-ACLR rehabilitation better restored the quadriceps muscle mass in the early phase but gave comparable results at 6 months in terms of quadriceps strength and functional scores
Anthropometric characteristics and wingate test parameters of adolescent female football players and track and field athletes
No full textAnthropometric characteristics and anaerobic fi tness are recognized as key factors for successful sports performance. Data thereof are used for more thorough analysis and a better understanding of the results of sports performance. However, the needed data regarding adolescent girls in many sports are still scarce or absent. The aim of this study was to make a comparative assessment of the anthropometric parameters and the characteristics of the anaerobic fi tness of 15-year-old female football players and track and fi eld athletes. The study included 32 subjects who had competed in national championships in Bulgaria. We used established standards to determine the anthropometric characteristics. To determine the anaerobic power, we applied the Wingate test to assess anaerobic fi tness, which is particularly important for sports such as football and track and fi eld athletics – sprint disciplines. The two groups of studied subjects did not diff er signifi cantly in age and height, but there were statistically signifi cant diff erences between the groups in terms of weight, BMI, and Fat%. The Wingate test results also showed a statistically signifi cant diff erence between the two samples regarding the indicators Relative Peak Power (RPP) (W/kg) and Relative Average Power (RAP) (W/kg). The 15-year-old female football players studied were characterized by height that was higher than average for the age, BMI and Fat% that were average for the age, and average RPP values. The studied 15-year-old female track and fi eld athletes were characterized by height that was average for the age, BMI and Fat% that were low for the age, and high RPP values. This study is the fi rst in Bulgaria to focus on adolescent female football players and track and fi eld athletes
Area and isolation influence on bird diversity in Eucalyptus plantations: An island biogeography perspective
No full textWe explored how patch area and isolation from a mainland affect biodiversity distribution patterns in anthropogenic monocultures resembling habitat islands and surrounded by a structurally contrasting matrix. Grassland afforestation with Eucalyptus plantations ongoing in Río de la Plata grassland provides a valuable opportunity to study how these spatial features relate to forest mainland-related taxonomic and functional diversity. We sampled birds in 17 Eucalyptus plantations located in eastern Entre Ríos province, in Argentina, using the point count technique. We measured patch area and distance from a forest mainland. We also recorded vegetation structure variables within plantations to control for the potential influence of habitat structural complexity. We analyzed the relationships between the spatial attributes of plantations (area and isolation) and species richness, functional richness, and functional originality using generalized linear models (GLMs) and Analysis of Deviance. Plantation area held no influence whatsoever on either taxonomic or functional diversity of forest birds inhabiting plantations. In contrast, we found distance to the nearest riparian forest to negatively affect species richness, functional richness, and functional originality of forest birds in Eucalyptus plantations. Unlike most natural habitat islands, traditional species–area relationship patterns seem to be hindered in strictly managed anthropogenic monocultures, probably due to the lack of a strong link between patch area and habitat diversity, and forest bird functional diversity was also not related to patch area. Instead, our study suggests that in anthropogenic monocultures isolation from a mainland promotes less diverse and more redundant assemblages. Highlights We adopted an island biogeography approach to study bird biodiversity patterns in Eucalyptus plantations embedded within agricultural-pastoral grasslands. Unlike natural habitat islands, plantation size had no influence on forest bird diversity, challenging traditional species–area relationship patterns. Distance from the natural forest mainland negatively affected both taxonomic and functional diversity of forest bird communities. Isolation from natural forests led to more functionally redundant bird assemblages in Eucalyptus plantations
Australosagola, a new genus of pselaphine beetles from southern Australia (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Pselaphinae, Faronitae) with descriptions of seven new species
No full textThe new Australian genus, Australosagola, gen. nov. supertribe Faronitae, is described with seven new species and three new combinations for species previously assigned to Sagola Sharp, 1874. This genus includes Australosagola tasmaniae (Lea, 1911), comb. nov. (type species), A. rugicornis (Oke, 1932), comb. nov., A. helenae (Oke, 1925), comb. nov., A. minsangi sp. nov., A. minhoi sp. nov., A. jiwooki sp. nov., A. sunheei sp. nov., A. doohyungi sp. nov., A. jungjooni sp. nov., and A. yongsooni sp. nov. A key, illustrations of major diagnostic characters, habitus images, and distribution maps are provided
Two new cave-dwelling Spiricoelotes species (Araneae, Agelenidae) from Hubei, China
No full textTwo new cave-dwelling Spiricoelotes (Wang, 2002) species are described: S. metyr sp. nov. (♂♀) and S. zhengi sp. nov. (♂♀). Moreover, Spiricoelotes zonatus (Peng & Wang, 1997) is redescribed due to the high similarity to S. zhengi sp. nov. All these three species are illustrated, and their collection localities are mapped. To ensure the correct gender match, the COI sequences data are provided
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