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Bridging Language Barriers: Lessons from the French Translation of Latimer Core
No full textInternationalization of standards documentation is essential for pursuing global interoperability through the adoption of data standards that can be understood and competently applied throughout the world and across sociocultural contexts. Ratified by Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG) in 2024, the Latimer Core (LtC) data standard focuses on the representation and discovery of natural science collections (Woodburn et al. 2022). The first complete translation of the LtC standard documentation*1 was published in June 2025 into French facilitating access to the standard for francophone communities.Translating biodiversity data standards such as Latimer Core into French presents a series of intertwined linguistic and technical challenges. The rigor of the translation effort depends on consistent terminology inside a given standard, and is achieved through careful reuse of formulas, such as 'recommended best practice', and the support of translation management tools such as Crowdin*2 to ensure uniformity. In addition to intra-standard consistency, the reuse of Darwin Core terms, which were translated prior to the ratification of Latimer Core (see Saliba et al. (2025)), requires caution when retranslating definitions, to ensure homogeneity across standards.Aside from linguistic elements discussed in part in Saliba et al. (2025), challenges like documenting translation work remain. The latter is largely informal, relying on collaborative platforms and personal notes, which underscore the potential need for more structured, reproducible workflows, especially in the context of multiple translators working together on a given language, notably those with strong regional variants. Similarly, no universal threshold has been defined for the minimum content needed to achieve a “functional” translation. An incremental approach, beginning with labels and definitions and progressively expanding to webpage elements such as headers and footers, non-normative complementary information and supplementary documentation seems to emerge as good practice. To address these issues and others, a recommendation document aimed at defining good practices and workflows for translating standards is being prepared.Finally, the Latimer Core maintenance group is experimenting with having a point of contact for translation to act as a bridge between translators, the standard maintenance group, and users. The point of contact can answer domain-specific questions, gather feedback from users and report errors to the relevant translator.Ensuring that TDWG standards are available in French is a good way to broaden participation among underrepresented scientific communities across Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific and other francophone regions. Beyond opening doors for these audiences, the translation process itself offers a unique opportunity for contributors to deepen their understanding of a standard while making it, and subsequently connected standards, accessible to others. Far from being a mere technical task, translation is an intellectually rewarding and collaborative endeavor that amplifies the global relevance of TDWG’s work—ultimately enriching both the standards and the communities they serve
Balanophora xinfeniae (Balanophoraceae), a new species from Xizang, China
No full textBalanophora xinfeniae C.L.Fu, M.Li & B.Xu, a new species discovered in Xizang, China, is described and illustrated here. Molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons strongly support B. xinfeniae as a new species within the genus Balanophora. The most distinctive characteristic of the new species is its dioecious sexual system, with male flowers having a 3-lobed perianth, opposite leaves with serrated tips, and yellow scapes. Although it shares morphological similarities with B. henryi, B. xinfeniae can be distinguished by its flat spheroid tubers without stellate lenticels, yellow scape, prominently serrated apical leaf margins, and nearly spherical or ovoid-ellipsoid female inflorescences
Dual GLP-1/GIP agonist tirzepatide modulates hepatic mitochondrial fusion–fission gene expression and oxidative stress in diabetic rats
No full textType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is closely linked to oxidative stress–induced mitochondrial dysfunction, disrupting the balance between fusion and fission processes and driving hepatic injury. Tirzepatide (TZP), a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, is recognized for its potent glycemic and weight-lowering effects, yet its influence on hepatic mitochondrial dynamics in diabetes remains unclear. In this study, diabetes was induced in Wistar rats using a high-fat diet and streptozotocin, followed by treatment with varying doses of TZP. Diabetic animals exhibited marked hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, elevated lipid peroxidation, reduced antioxidant capacity, and altered expression of mitochondrial fusion and fission markers, accompanied by significant hepatic inflammation and degeneration. TZP administration improved glycemic indices, restored redox balance, enhanced the expression of fusion-related genes (Mfn1, Mfn2, Opa1), and suppressed the expression of fission-related genes (Drp1, Fis1) in a dose-dependent manner. Medium and high doses notably preserved liver histoarchitecture and reduced inflammatory changes. These findings suggest that TZP mitigates T2DM-associated hepatic injury by favoring mitochondrial fusion, alleviating oxidative stress, and protecting tissue integrity. The results provide mechanistic insights into TZP’s hepatoprotective potential and highlight the need for further validation at protein and functional levels
Revision of bush frogs, Raorchestes and Philautus (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from the northeast Indian biodiversity hotspot with description of thirteen new species
No full textAbstract Bush frogs currently in the genera Raorchestes and Philautus are poorly documented from northeast India when compared to the Western Ghats of southwestern India. They are morphologically cryptic, but variable in their acoustic repertoire and genetic divergence. We present a long-overdue revision of the bush frogs of northeast India by sampling 81 localities in eight Indian States (including nine type localities of known species) and by comparing historical (especially, type) material. Using an integrative approach that combines levels of divergence in mitochondrial DNA, a nuclear-encoded gene and comparing morphological and bioacoustic data, we demonstrate the existence of 13 new species, which are formally described here. In addition, based on the evidence from molecular and morphological data we synonymise four previously described species from this region. We resolve the taxonomic identities of three other frog species found in northeast India. After extensive survey across northeast India, we did not find a single specimen of the genus Philautus. The only species in this genus with ambiguous generic identity is P. dubius which requires further taxonomic investigation
Monochroa monellii (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae), a new species from Portugal
No full textA previously undescribed species of Monochroa Heinemann, 1870 has been found and repeatedly collected from a single locality in central Portugal since 2020. It is closely related to three species with larvae feeding on Primulaceae: M. conspersella (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854), M. servella (Zeller, 1839) and M. tetragonella (Stainton, 1885) but differs in genitalia and DNA barcode
Evolutionary relationships of Fish Lake Valley Tui Chub Siphateles obesus ssp. (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Leuciscidae) and a new genus of leuciscid minnows from the Alvord Basin, western United States
No full textThe Tui Chubs, Siphateles spp., are found widely across the Great Basin and in some adjacent regions. Nearly all diversity of Siphateles has been consolidated under the name S. bicolor and there are numerous isolated populations of Tui Chubs of uncertain taxonomic standing and therefore unclear conservation priority. The Fish Lake Valley Tui Chub (FLVTC) has been recognized informally as S. bicolor ssp. 4 with a limited natural distribution in Fish Lake Valley in southwest Nevada. Considering that a rigorous examination of the phylogenetic relationships of the FLVTC and other Tui Chubs has not been conducted, the FLVTC is placed in a taxonomic framework by first applying a species delimitation method to S. bicolor sensu lato using mitochondrial data and then conducting phylogenetic analyses of genome-wide SNP data. Siphateles bicolor is better characterized by seven species, all with existing names, which here are considered to be valid Siphateles species. Furthermore, the separation of Alvord Basin Siphateles from other Siphateles is apparent as a deeply divergent lineage. As a result, we propose Epizon Campbell & Finger, gen. nov. to contain these fishes. The Fish Lake Valley Tui Chub is found to be the earliest-branching lineage of S. obesus in our SNP data set and are highly differentiated from other S. obesus. These findings are concordant with geologic evidence that indicates that Fish Lake Valley became connected to the broader Lahontan Basin ~2 million years ago, with gene flow possible until ~0.5 million years ago. Based on the geographic distribution and magnitude of genetic divergence, we find the recognition of FLVTC as a subspecies of S. obesus is appropriate
beelibre.lu - Luxembourg’s open library of wild bee species profiles, pollen data, DNA barcodes and bibliographic references
No full textThe ultimate goal of the beelibre project is to provide a kind of “one-stop-shop” online resource, hosting within a single multi-lingual website (beelibre.lu) relevant information concerning the wild bee fauna of Luxembourg. This website will provide free and immediate access to information on the taxonomy, natural history and geographical distribution of the over 350 species of wild bees species recorded in Luxembourg. For this purpose, four sections (a.k.a “libraries”) are hosted within the website: i) a database of high-quality images taken from live bees and museum specimens (for morpho-taxonomic identification and outreach); ii) a bibliographic repository of all nationally relevant publications (for metadata analysis and knowledge exchange), incl. short summaries; iii) a pollen inventory pilot experiment aiming to uncover potential ecological interactions between regional host flowering plants and their associated wild bee pollinators and iv) a DNA barcode reference library of wild bee species from Luxembourg currently lacking reference material in BOLD systems (for molecular taxonomic identification).This initiative to produce and transfer knowledge about wild bees is aligned with Luxembourg's national action plan for pollinators and contributes directly to reducing knowledge shortfalls in relation to European bees. Therefore, all materials will be freely available to both researchers and the general public, socialising scientific knowledge to a wider audience and raising awareness on national pollinator biodiversity. With this initiative, we aim to provide a space that combines past efforts with current technology, building a platform that can be used to further assist and develop national conservation strategies protecting the wild bee fauna of Luxembourg
A New Platform to Build and Support Citizen Science Projects in Biodiversity
No full textCitizen science (CS) refers to the active participation of non-professional scientists in scientific research, where they contribute to data collection, analysis, and problem-solving (e.g. Jansen et al. (2024)). It has gained traction in recent years as a means to democratise science and enhance large-scale environmental monitoring, particularly in biodiversity and ecosystem research (Danielsen et al. 2024). The widespread use of mobile phones, together with built-in geolocation features, has facilitated the development and use of mobile applications for CS (Hognogi et al. 2023). However, their development and use require substantial effort, including the need for IT expertise to develop and maintain the app, the infrastructural costs associated with data collection and management, private information security, and the increasing demand for generating Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable data (Wilkinson et al. 2016). In this context, LifeWatch Italy (Tarallo et al. 2025) has developed a CS Platform*1, a comprehensive online resource designed to support every stage of a CS project, from project development to data collection and management. The CS Platform could help overcome the current fragmentation of CS initiatives in Italy by providing a unified framework for managing and sharing information, enhancing understanding of key environmental issues such as biodiversity loss and the spread of alien species. It offers various functionalities (Fig. 1): A knowledge hub dedicated to fundamental knowledge about CS, including its history, methodologies, and key principles. Users can access explanatory texts with bibliographic references and a curated collection of scientific publications searchable via filters. Best practices and tutorials for developing and managing CS projects. This section leads users through the essential steps of project formulation, community engagement, data management, and communication. Each step includes case studies, external resources, and video tutorials. A searchable repository of training materials to help users develop skills in CS methodologies and project management. A catalogue of CS projects, visualised on an interactive map. Users can filter projects by topic, age group, language, country, organisation, and project status. Registered users can contribute by adding new or existing projects. A toolkit allowing users to create mini-websites to showcase and disseminate information and results from their participatory projects, as well as web applications for data collection by citizens in a customisable manner for free. The user who creates a new project on the platform becomes the project administrator of their own website and web application. The project administrator can set up a customised observation-based data collection system tailored to their specific research needs, such as the collection of audio files, pictures, numerical data, etc., along with a customisable list of metadata. Project administrators can access and validate all the user-submitted data and generate analytical reports directly from the web app. The data are downloadable in CSV format compatible with the LifeWatch Italy Data Portal. Fields are described using controlled terminologies such as Darwin Core so that the data are also compatible with international initiatives (e.g., the Global Biodiversity Information Facility).Although the CS Platform has been released relatively recently and is fully operational, it has not yet been widely adopted. Dissemination activities are planned to encourage broader adoption. The objective is not to compete with well-established platforms, but rather to promote the use of the CS Platform in order to support a more uniform and coordinated approach to citizen-generated biodiversity data in the Italian context. This vision is supported by the platform’s integration within the wider LifeWatch Italy ecosystem (Tarallo et al. 2025). Its practical impact has been demonstrated through its use in national projects, such as the Hic Sunt Lupi, which monitors the wolf populations in the Apulia region (Italy). Under this framework, a dedicated web app is currently supporting a CS initiative to record wolf observations. Users can upload a photo to confirm the sighting. The system automatically records geographic coordinates, prompting the observer to confirm or modify them. Optional additional metadata can also be provided, such as whether human interactions occurred, the number of wolves observed, and the presumed life stage.Future developments will focus on building a direct integration of (meta)data flows to the LifeWatch Italy Data Portal and Metadata Catalogue
Unveiling hidden diversity in Odorrana (Anura, Ranidae) with description of a new species from Yingjiang, China and the first national records of Odorrana heatwolei in Thailand and Vietnam
No full textSpecies discovery within Odorrana has gradually increased over the years, establishing a remarkable diversity for the genus. During recent herpetological surveys, we collected specimens from Yingjiang County, Yunnan Province, China with additional samples from Thailand and Vietnam. Based on combined morphological and phylogenetic analyses, we describe a new species Odorrana sudianensis sp. nov. from Sudian Town, Yingjiang County, China and report new records of O. heatwolei for Thailand and Vietnam. Phylogenetic analyses, based on the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene fragment, confirm the new species as a distinct evolutionary lineage with a genetic divergence (p-distance) of 4.6% from its closest sister species O. dulongensis. Odorrana sudianensis sp. nov. is morphologically distinguishable from all its known congeners by having a robust medium adult body size, a head length longer than wide, a mottled grass-green dorsum with dark brown blotches on the posterior region, absence of dorsolateral folds and circum-marginal grooves for all finger discs expanded with lateroventral grooves. Additionally, the new species record sequences from Thailand and Vietnam nested within the O. heatwolei subclade with a low p-distance (0.0–0.5%) from topotypic sequences of O. heatwolei. Examined specimen shows morphological congruence with topotypic O. heatwolei in key diagnostic traits. Our new species and new species records increase the number of recognised species of Odorrana to 46 in China, seven in Thailand and 23 in Vietnam. We also address existing taxonomic disputes within Odorrana and provide comments and recommendations on the taxonomy of several species within the genus
Vegetation determines butterfly diversity and composition across the Arabuko-Sokoke coastal forest in Kenya, a tropical biodiversity hotspot
No full textCommunity structures, including butterfly diversity, are shaped by both biotic and abiotic factors, with forest type exerting a significant influence. The Arabuko Sokoke Forest (ASF), the largest remaining coastal forest fragment in Kenya and East Africa, is rich in biodiversity and endemic species. Given its varied forest types, ASF provides a unique opportunity to examine how these differences affect butterfly community structure. This study aims to investigate how vegetation diversity and structure influence butterfly community structures and species richness within ASF. We conducted butterfly and woody plant surveys during the dry season across four distinct forest types in ASF: Cynometra forest, Brachystegia woodland, mixed forest and the forest edge. Butterfly populations were sampled using transects measuring 10 m × 100 m and woody plant species were surveyed along overlapping transects. A total of 6,050 butterfly individuals were recorded, representing 86 species across 38 genera and five families. The woody vegetation comprised 178 species, belonging to 78 genera and 34 families. Significant differences in butterfly species abundance were observed across the forest types, though no significant differences were found in species richness. Beta diversity analyses revealed consistently high community dissimilarity across all forest types, driven predominantly by balanced variation in species abundances rather than nestedness. Brachystegia forest exhibited the highest total beta diversity, while forest edge exhibited the lowest. This indicates that species turnover, rather than richness differences, is the primary mechanism structuring butterfly communities at the landscape scale in Arabuko Sokoke Forest. Butterfly species diversity showed a strong correlation with plant species diversity. Additionally, butterfly wingspan size varied significantly amongst forest types. Our findings underscore the crucial role of natural plant forest diversity in supporting butterfly diversity and highlight the synergistic functions of the mixed forest and Brachystegia forest as key habitats. There is need for conservation strategies that account for multiple dimensions of biodiversity. While mixed forest serves as a reservoir of high species richness and abundance, Brachystegia forest offers critical value through their contribution to beta diversity at the landscape level. These results highlight the fundamental importance of conservation efforts directed to protect high plant diversity and structural heterogeneity to provide a broad spectrum of ecological niches and habitat connectivity for butterflies. Such strategies will enhance butterfly diversity and contribute to effective conservation in fragmented forests and especially in Arabuko Sokoke Forest