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Loss of habitat suitability and distribution range of the endangered Japanese giant salamander under climate change
No full textGiant salamanders are the world’s largest amphibians and keystone predators in riverine ecosystems where they face global declines. Identifying environmental variables influencing their distribution is, therefore, an essential step for their conservation. This study aims to assess the current habitat suitability and distribution of the Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) and to predict changes under future climate scenarios. We used species distribution models (SDMs) over a 282,916 km² area, including 477 high-resolution occurrence data of giant salamanders and seven remote-sensing environmental predictors (climatic, topographic and land use). We projected the prediction maps, identified the most contributing variables and calculated the shifts of suitable areas for three periods (2050, 2070 and 2090) under projected climatic conditions. Climatic variables highly contributed to the distribution of giant salamanders (76% of the total), with preferences for areas with moderate precipitations during cold and wet seasons and mild summer temperatures. A moderately steep surrounding environment was favourable for salamanders, whereas the land-use variables had less influence. Future climate predictions indicate a major decrease of suitable areas. Altogether, our results highlight the habitat preferences of giant salamanders at a broad scale and the negative impact of climate change on future suitable areas. These findings provide important steps for upcoming conservation actions for this threatened species in delineating favourable distribution ranges and priority areas that should be directly affected by climate change. Finally, they emphasise the need for new research at a fine scale on disturbances to the aquatic habitat to enhance the conservation of giant salamanders. Highlights We used a species distribution model (MaxEnt), high-resolution occurrence data and remote sensing data (climatic, topographic and land use) to identify suitable habitats for the Japanese giant salamander in Japan. The most suitable environments for the Japanese giant salamander are located both within and beyond its current distribution range, with the ‘Japanese Alps’ forming an impassable natural barrier. Among the variables studied, precipitation of the warmest quarter, precipitation of the coldest quarter, mean temperature of the warmest quarter and mean temperature of the wettest quarter were the most important environmental predictors of the species’ distribution. Climate change is expected to severely reduce the potential suitable geographical areas for the Japanese giant salamander in the future. The present work calls for new surveys based on the projected maps to improve the mapping of salamander distribution and to focus on ecological features and threats at the aquatic habitat level to understand the risks to their populations
Phenolic and amino acid profiles, and antioxidant properties of third generation snack foods adding Citrus mitis by-products and milk powder: impact of extrusion processing and microwave-heating “Impact of processing on obtaining healthy snacks”
No full textCurrently, there is a high consumption of snack foods worldwide, suggesting the improvement of their nutritional/nutraceutical properties by adding raw materials rich in bioactive compounds. This work aimed to study the impact of the processing stages on phenolic and amino acid profiles and the antioxidant properties of extruded snack foods by adding Citrus mitis by-products and milk powder. The color parameter C*, phytochemical, and antioxidant properties of four formulations were evaluated in the processing stages: unprocessed mixture (PS1), extruded pellets (PS2), and microwave-expanded products (PS3). The statistical analysis was performed using an unifactorial design with three levels (PS1, PS2, and PS3), evaluating four formulations (F1–F4) and a commercial product (COM). The mean values of the response variables were compared using the Fisher test (p ≤ 0.05). Color parameter C* increased in PS3 concerning the PS2 and PS1 processing stages. Total flavonoid content (TFC), hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (HRSA), and inhibition of human LDL oxidation (ILDLox) decreased in PS2 regarding PS1. Likewise, TFC decreased in PS3 regarding PS2, whereas HRSA and ILDLox increased. PS3 exhibited higher TFC, HRSA, and ILDLox values in all formulations regarding commercial snack foods. Sixteen phenolic acids, nine flavonoids, and a hydroxy acid were identified in free and bound extracts by UPLC coupled to ESI-MS. The amino acid profile was affected by processing, and Lysine showed the lowest stability. The microwave-expanded snack foods had acceptable sensory properties evaluated by consumers, and adding raw materials rich in phytochemical compounds and high-quality proteins enhanced their nutraceutical/nutritional properties
Rediscovery of a thought to be extinct beauty: a second chance for conservation
No full textRivulids are mostly specialized to live in temporary or ephemeral water bodies, and for this reason they are known as annual or seasonal fishes. Their limited geographic distribution, specialized habitats, and narrow ecological niches—along with other intrinsic traits—make them particularly vulnerable to conservation threats such as ecosystem degradation and climate change, and often puts them at risk of extinction. In Bolivia, one of the countries with the highest recent loss of primary tropical forests, of the 32 species recorded, more than half (19) are endemic, and nearly one-third (9) are known only from their type localities. Of the 20 species assessed by the IUCN that occur in the country, 8 have been classified in some threat category, and one of them, Moema claudiae, is listed as Critically Endangered and possibly extinct. The species had not been recorded in the wild for more than 20 years, and its only known locality—as well as much of its potential distribution area—have been severely degraded and are now occupied by extensive agroindustrial crops. In this work, we report the finding of a population of Moema claudiae recently discovered in a temporary pond within a small forest remnant surrounded by crops. This discovery allows us to provide the first live photographs of the species, along with previously unknown aspects of its biology and ecology. Furthermore, it offers an exceptional opportunity of having a second chance to conserve a species that was already believed to be extinct and lost forever
A new species of Lecanodiaspis Targioni Tozzetti, 1869 (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Lecanodiaspididae), with an updated checklist of the false pit scales of China
No full textA new species of false pit scale (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Lecanodiaspididae), Lecanodiaspis jiangxiensis Zhang & Wang, sp. nov., collected on Castanea mollissima Blume (Fagaceae) in Jiangxi, south China, is described and illustrated based on the morphology of the adult female. A taxonomic key and an updated checklist of false pit scales known from China are provided
Two new acremonium-like species, Paragibellulopsis sinensis sp. nov. and Phialoparvum sinense sp. nov. (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) from China
No full textParagibellulopsis and Phialoparvum, both erected in 2018, currently comprise merely one and three validly published species, respectively. The identification of two new species, Paragibellulopsis sinensis and Phialoparvum sinense, was achieved by analyzing morphological characteristics and phylogenetic data obtained from four molecular markers (ITS, LSU, rpb2, and tef-1α). Morphologically, Pa. sinensis possessed short conidiogenous cells and aseptate and smaller conidia. On the other hand, Ph. sinense had obovate conidia and longer phialides. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Pa. sinensis formed an independent branch as a sister species to Pa. chrysanthemi, whereas Ph. sinense clustered in a monophyletic clade with a stable topology. The maximum likelihood bootstrap ratio and the Bayesian inference posterior probability provided robust statistical evidence, indicating the presence of two novel species within the genera of Paragibellulopsis and Phialoparvum. The present study contributes to the discovery of species diversity in Paragibellulopsis and Phialoparvum
Metabolomic profiling and anti-inflammatory activity of Blumea balsamifera: Insights from in silico and in vitro studies
No full textBlumea balsamifera is a medicinal plant with recognized anti-inflammatory properties. This study employed both LC-HRMS and GC-MS to comprehensively profile its ethanolic extract. Distinct analytical objectives were pursued: LC-HRMS was used for untargeted metabolomic profiling, identifying 134 bioactive compounds, including fatty acyls and flavonoids. GC-MS, in contrast, focused on detecting volatile constituents, which resulted in the identification of proximadiol, a major sesquiterpenoid. Proximadiol was detected in B. balsamifera from the Ie-Jue geothermal area and confirmed by both analytical techniques. In silico analysis highlighted cytokine-mediated signaling and the JAK-STAT pathway as pivotal mechanisms, with proximadiol demonstrating strong binding interactions with interleukin-related targets. Molecular docking results were further supported by protein stability analyses, reinforcing its potential role in modulating inflammatory processes. Protein denaturation and inhibition assays confirmed significant anti-inflammatory activity of the extract, comparable to aspirin, with IC50 values of 103.85 ppm for the denaturation assay and 97.23 ppm for the inhibition assay, respectively. The combination of computational predictions, protein stability data, and in vitro anti-inflammatory assays provides strong evidence for the bioactivity of B. balsamifera, supporting the need for further pharmacological and clinical evaluation
Systematics and floral micromorphology of core Aster and its related groups (Asteraceae, Astereae): Taxonomic significance and phylogenetic insights
No full textFour floral microcharacters were examined within 40 species of core Aster and its related groups in the genus Aster L. (Asteraceae, Astereae). These microcharacters included corolla lobe, style base, endothecium cell wall thickening, and the relative length of the stigmatic line to sterile tip appendage of style branch. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using internal transcribed spacers (ITS), followed by ancestral traits reconstruction based on four microcharacters. The phylogenetic results supported the inclusion of Gymnaster, Heteropappus, Heteroplexis, Kalimeris, and Rhynchospermum within core Aster, as well as the possible segregation of groups B–D into multiple new genera within Astereae. Groups A (9 species) and C (4 species) displayed both equally and unequally lobed corollas. Group D (5 species) exclusively exhibited equally lobed corollas. Groups A (26 species), B (1 species), and D (5 species) included both types of swollen and unswollen style bases. Group C (3 species) displayed only unswollen style bases. Additionally, the endothecium cell wall thickenings and relative length of the stigmatic line to the sterile appendage were both highly variable among groups A–D. Given the complex variation of these floral microcharacters, the results of floral micromorphology and ancestral trait reconstruction indicated that the taxonomic significance of floral micromorphology within core Aster and its related groups is limited. However, specific micromorphological traits (e.g., unequally lobed corolla, radial thickening, and longer relative length) may be still useful for diagnosing particular species or groups. Therefore, floral micromorphology should be integrated with other types of evidence for more accurate infrageneric classification of Aster
Morphology, multilocus phylogeny, and toxin analysis reveal two new species of Amanita section Amanita (Amanitaceae) from China
No full textGlobally, many species of Amanita sect. Amanita (Amanitaceae, Agaricales) cause poisoning after consumption. Amanita flavomelleiceps sp. nov. and Amanita parvisychnopyramis sp. nov., two new species of A. section Amanita from China, are described here. Morphology and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on five genes (ITS, nrLSU, RPB2, TEF1-α, and TUB2) revealed these two taxa as distinct species. Amanita flavomelleiceps sp. nov. is characterized by a yellowish-to-yellow pileus covered by verrucose volval remnants; a subglobose basal bulb with shortly limbate; subglobose to broadly ellipsoid, inamyloid basidiospores. Amanita parvisychnopyramis sp. nov. is characterized by a brownish pileus covered by subconical volval remnants; an ovate basal bulb with a cream limbate; and subglobose-to-broadly ellipsoid, inamyloid basidiospores. Screening for the most notorious toxins by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) revealed the presence of ibotenic acid (IBO) and muscimol (MUS) in A. parvisychnopyramis and the absence of these toxins in A. flavomelleiceps
Unlocking the potential exploring pharmacological properties from Apiaceae family
No full textThe Apiaceae family, which encompasses a variety of economically important vegetables, herbs, and spices, stands out as one of the largest plant families. Crops such as anise, fennel, carrot, coriander, and parsley are not only valued for their culinary uses but also serve as important sources of botanical flavors and fragrances. Members of the Apiaceae family are known for their diverse medicinal properties, including antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as benefits for diabetes management and liver protection. In addition, these plants produce a number of unique, specialized metabolites such as volatile phenylpropanoids, furanocoumarins, sesquiterpene coumarins, polyacetylenes, and phthalides. Some of these compounds are rare phytochemicals found exclusively in this family, highlighting their potential for bioprospecting. The objective of this review is to support future research on Apiaceae by providing up-to-date information on their key characteristics, origin and traditional uses. It also collects and analyses the scattered information available in the literature on the chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils and various extracts from selected Apiaceae species, demonstrating their potential for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other industrial applications
Modelling timber offcuts utilisation: a case study in Victoria, Australia
No full textThis study evaluates the economic potential of utilizing timber offcuts for bioenergy in Victoria, Aus-tralia. Timber residues, often sent to landfills, present an opportunity for revenue generation through bioenergy production. We assessed chipping productivity and transportation costs, utilizing the Vermeer BC1500 chipper, which yielded an average productivity of 7.5 t/PMH and a cost of 1.5/t to 170/t compared to landfill disposal, thereby promoting sustainability in offcuts utilisation.