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A comparison of valuation methods for cultural ecosystem services in support of ecosystem accounting
No full textAssigning an economic value to cultural ecosystem services is important to promote their sustainable and rational use. Valuation of such services requires a non-market approach as they are not traded on markets and, thus, have no directly observable market price. The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EA) aims to develop a systematic approach to value ecosystem services aligned with the valuation approach of the national accounts. However, valuing cultural services in SEEA-EA is challenging and different approaches have been developed. In this study, we compare four prominent approaches for valuing cultural ecosystem services: resource rent, travel cost method, simulated exchange value and consumer expenditure. We test and compare these methods in a case study of Ugam Chatkal State Nature National Park in Uzbekistan and examine to what degree the methods are aligned with accounting valuation principles. We note that the methods assess value in a different way and, accordingly, we find considerable differences amongst approaches in recreational value: values ranged between US65.19M annually. The lowest value was provided by the resource rent approach and the highest value by the travel cost method including consumer surplus. This latter method is not aligned with SEEA-EA accounting; however, even the three methods that are aligned with accounting principles provide quite different value estimates. The two other approaches, simulated exchange value and consumer expenditure, provided an annual value of US13.5M, respectively. We find that a resource rent method is likely to underestimate the 'true' value of the service when used for accounting and that the simulated exchange value method seems to be best aligned with the valuation needs for cultural services for SEEA-EA
Monitoring of ant species surrounding the ports of South Korea
No full textThe introduction and spread of invasive insects is accelerating worldwide owing to human activities, such as trade and transportation development; in particular, ports are hubs and routes for invasive insects, including ants. We surveyed ant populations in eight ports from 2021 to 2023 using pitfall traps. A total of 316,975 ants belonging to four subfamilies, 26 genera and 44 species were identified as Tetramorium tsushimae, Lasius niger, Brachyponera chinensis and Nylanderia flavipes. The statistical analysis showed that the highest values by index were for the Incheon Port (0.25), the diversity index was for the Daesan Port (2.00), the evenness index was for the Daesan Port (0.71) and the richness index was for the Gamman Port (2.13). Non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) indicated that ants around the Ports of Gamman, Ulsan and Gwangyang had more dominant species than those around the other ports. Five species of alien ants, including Solenopsis invicta, Solenopsis geminata, Paratrechina longicornis, Trichomyrmex destructor and Nylanderia bourbonica were identified at Gamman Port, Paratrechina longicornis at Ulsan Port and Gwangyang Port. This study provides comprehensive insights into the distribution and status of ants around ports, offering foundational data for the early detection of alien ants to reduce the risk of their settlement and spread and to respond proactively
Some claim for the end of Botany… but what is Botany today?
No full textIn times of increasing interest in plants, a major challenge lies in effectively communicating the essence of Botany: What exactly does it encompass? Who are botanists? And how do botanical gardens differ from other types of gardens? To address these questions, refined definitions that account for the blurred boundaries between the fields of Botany, Agronomy, and Medicine are proposed. By representing these three disciplines in a ternary plot, I suggest defining Botany as a biological discipline where studies have a predominant (> 50%) component of basic plant science—this area is referred to here as the ‘Triangle of Botany’. In this context, a botanist can be defined as a professional or scientist whose primary research focus is on basic research related to plant organisms. A botanical garden, therefore, is a space dedicated to the cultivation, conservation, study, and display of plants, based primarily on scientific principles grounded in basic research. The overlap between disciplines contributes to the communication difficulties in clearly defining what botanists do, especially when compared to professionals such as agronomists or doctors. The lack of distinct boundaries between these fields can lead the general public to misinterpret Botany and its practitioners. As a result, people may seek advice from “experts” who may not necessarily have a strong foundation in Botany. Similarly, botanical gardens are often perceived by the public as merely aesthetic spaces, akin to vegetable gardens or parks, rather than as scientifically-driven institutions. Disseminating refined definitions could help bridge the gap in public understanding of the role of Botany, fostering a clearer appreciation of this essential scientific field
Corrigendum: Guo Y-J, An S-Q, Fang Z-G, Wei S-F, Shen Z-H, Chen Z-Y, He Z-Q (2024) A taxonomic revision of the genus Goniogryllus in China (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Gryllinae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 82: 567–584. doi: 10.3897/asp.82.e108699
No full textWe recently published the revision of Goniogryllus. However, the affiliation between Qingryllus striofemorus Chen & Zheng, 1995 and Goniogryllus ovalatus Chen & Zheng, 1996 is wrong. Q. striofemorus should be transferred to the genus Goniogryllus, as Goniogryllus striofemorus comb. nov. G. ovalatus syn. nov. and Q. jiguanshanensis Liu, Zhang & Shi, 2017 syn. nov. should be junior synonyms of G. striofemorus. Therefore, the corresponding description should be changed. We thank Dr. Holger Braun for pointing out the error
Morpho-phylogenetic analyses of two novel edible mushrooms from China and a mini review of Lyophyllum (Agaricales, Lyophyllaceae) cultivation and bioactivities
No full textLyophyllum plays an important role in the natural ecosystem and has significant economic value. Some species of this genus have been cultivated in Asia, America, and Europe. This study describes four edible species of Lyophyllum, two of which were newly discovered. Lyophyllum edulis has a dark grayish orange pileus, a grayish orange upper part of the stipe, and globose, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores, while L. sinense has a dark gray-orange when injured pileus, dark grayish orange points and lines on the stipe surface, and quadrangular to broadly fusiform basidiospores. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using the internal transcribed spacer ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 ribosomal RNA (ITS), the large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU), the second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α) indicated that L. edulis is related to L. shimeji, L. heimogu, and L. decastes, and L. sinense has an affinity to L. bulborhizum and L. nigrum. We also summarize the cultivation techniques of the two edible species, L. shimeji and L. decastes
Gymnema phuquocense (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae), a new species from Vietnam
No full textA new species of Gymnema from Vietnam – G. phuquocense – is described, illustrated, and compared with the similar G. yunnanense. Gymnema phuquocense differs from G. yunnanense by the length of peduncle (3–4 mm vs. 10–13 mm), hairs on corolla lobe margin (absent vs. present), shape of seed (broadly ovate vs. ovate-oblong), shape of scale with 2 prominent longitudinal ridges on corolla tube (lanceolate vs. linear), and length of seeds (9–10 mm vs. 13–15 mm). A diagnostic key of the Gymnema species in Vietnam is also provided
Palm community structure association with topography, hydrography and forest density in a remote site in the Iriri river valley, Eastern Amazon
No full textBackground and aims – Palms (Arecaceae) are crucial to Amazonian ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity, ecosystem services, and forest resilience, and providing non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for local populations. This study investigated how topography, hydrography, and forest density influence palm community structure in a remote Eastern Amazon site, addressing knowledge gaps in this region.Material and methods – A field survey was conducted in 100 plots along a 5 km transect within the Riozinho do Anfrísio Extractive Reserve, Pará, Brazil. Palm species were identified, and topographic and hydrographic data, including NDVI, altitude, proximity to permanent and intermittent streams, and terrain characteristics were collected. Species richness and composition were analysed using Redundancy Analysis (RDA), general linear models (GLM), analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bayesian regression models.Key results – Eighteen palm species were recorded, dominated by Attalea speciosa, Geonoma baculifera, and Euterpe longibracteata, providers of NTFPs. NDVI and altitude significantly influenced species composition, with denser forests favouring species such as G. baculifera, while others, such as A. speciosa, were found in less dense areas. The presence of igarapés (shallow, slow Amazonian streams) was the strongest predictor of species richness and composition, favouring E. oleracea and G. baculifera.Conclusion – Palm community structure in the study area was shaped by environmental gradients, particularly NDVI, terrain shape and proximity to igarapés. These findings highlight the ecological importance of topographic and hydrographic features in structuring palm diversity and offer insights for conservation and management strategies in the Eastern Amazon
Pternopetalum shunhuangensis (Apiaceae), a new species from Hunan, China
No full textBased on field investigations, morphological and molecular systematic studies, a new species, Pternopetalum shunhuangensis (Apiaceae) from Hunan Province, China is described. Diagnostic morphological characters, full description and a detailed illustration are provided. The differences between P. shunhuangensis and morphologically similar species P. tanakae are presented and discussed. Since no population assessment of this species in its whole distribution area is made, it is best to assign a conservation status of ‘Data Deficient’ (DD) for this species
Two new snake eels (Anguilliformes, Ophichthidae, Ophichthus) from Viet Nam, with redescriptions of O. macrochir (Bleeker) and O. rutidoderma (Bleeker)
No full textTwo new extremely elongate snake eel of the genus Ophichthus are described based on specimens collected from Vietnamese waters. Ophichthus cuulongensis Vo, Hibino & Ho, sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by having the dorsal-fin origin slightly behind the pectoral-fin tip, mean vertebral formula 14-63-202, range 12–17/60–64/199–207; teeth on jaws biserial to triserial; dorsal body dark brown, ventral body pale, anal fin initially white but changing to darker towards its tip. Ophichthus nguyenorum Vo, Hibino & Ho, sp. nov. is distinguished by having a snout rather pointed but the occipital convex (duck-shaped); body with numerous longitudinal wrinkles, weak on posterior abdomen; dorsal-fin origin slightly behind the pectoral-fin tip; one row of teeth on the maxilla anteriorly but increasing posteriorly; two rows on the lower jaw; all teeth small; body dark, usually including abdomen; dorsal fin darker with dark margin; anal fin initially pale but changing to darker towards tip; mean vertebral formula: 15-62-192, range 13–17/61–64/190–196. Descriptions of two related species, O. macrochir (Bleeker, 1852) and O. rutidoderma (Bleeker, 1852), are provided with updated morphological data
New synonyms of Tipula (Vestiplex) balioptera Loew, 1863 (Diptera, Tipulidae)
No full textThe Catalogue of Crane Flies of the World accounts for 196 recent species of subgenus Tipula (Vestiplex) Bezzi, 1924 distributed in Nearctic, Palaearctic and Oriental Regions (Oosterbroek 2024). The current paper provides taxonomic review of T. (V.) balioptera with designation of two new synonyms.Tipula (Vestiplex) perretti Alexander, 1928 is designated as junior synonym of T. (V.) balioptera Loew, 1863. Tipula (V.) bo Mannheims, 1967 is removed from synonymy with T. (V.) tchukchi Alexander, 1934 and designated as the second junior synonym of T. (V.) balioptera. Tipula (V.) tchuckhi Alexander, 1934 is exluded from the list of fauna of Norway, Sweden and Finland and from West Palaearctic Region subsequently