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Five new species of Cortinarius (Cortinariaceae) from Yunnan, China, based on molecular and morphological evidence
No full textCortinarius is a globally distributed, exceptionally species-rich genus of Cortinariaceae, serving as important ectomycorrhizal fungi. Yunnan province, located in southwestern China, boasts a vast array of environmental conditions and fungal resources, with numerous new Cortinarius species yet to be discovered. Based on morphological evidence and phylogenetic inference using a two-locus dataset, five novel species have been identified within the genus, namely C. brunneoverrucosus, C. coriaceus, C. fuscocandidus, C. neodisjungendus, and C. sinoconfirmatus. Notably, two of these species (C. brunneoverrucosus and C. neodisjungendus) occur in subtropical areas, while the other three species (C. coriaceus, C. fuscocandidus, and C. sinoconfirmatus) inhabit subalpine temperate areas. Taxonomic descriptions for these five species are provided
Temporal patterns of the introduced sponge Hymeniacidon perlevis (Montagu, 1814) in the Elkhorn Slough, California, USA
No full textHymeniacidon perlevis is a cosmopolitan sponge with a seasonal life cycle. We investigated seasonal and interannual dynamics of H. perlevis in Elkhorn Slough estuary, where it is an introduced species, and explored correlations between sponge cover and environmental conditions. We used sponge cover to estimate the potential effects of H. perlevis on its environment, and how those could vary across its seasonal life cycle. We found that recruitment is currently restricted to the upper estuary and while it varies annually, the frequency and density of sponge recruits have generally increased from 2007 to 2023. A seasonal life cycle was confirmed for Elkhorn Slough populations, consistent with other temperate populations of the species, with sponge cover peaking in October and declining to a minimum from March to May. Time-lagged Spearman-ranked cross-correlations suggest that sponge cover correlated with warmer temperatures and lower dissolved oxygen at all sites, with a time lag of 2–4 months. Precipitation from severe winter storms in 2023 also coincided with declines in sponge cover. Over the course of two years, we estimated that H. perlevis biomass and potential for water filtration are greatest in fall—corresponding with peak cover, and weakest to nonexistent in the spring. Understanding the seasonal and interannual dynamics of the H. perlevis population in Elkhorn Slough can inform future approaches to manage or mitigate its ecological impacts
Biogeographic patterns of community diversity associated with an introduced alga
No full textNon-native foundation species may alter physical environments and provide habitat, thereby impacting recipient communities. Along the US east coast, we assessed biogeographic patterns of free-living and parasitic community diversity associated with the non-native red alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla, which is characterized by fixed (with holdfast) or free-floating thalli depending on the availability of hard substratum. In summer 2019, we surveyed 17 sites across 3 biogeographic regions. We used a random quadrat design to collect G. vermiculophylla and associated mobile macroinvertebrates per site, and we took abiotic measurements. We also haphazardly collected 100 Ilyanassa obsoleta snails per site to assess trematode diversity. In the lab, macroinvertebrates were removed from thalli and identified to lowest taxonomic level, and snails were dissected to determine trematode prevalence and diversity. Biotic and abiotic variables were analyzed for the best sets of predictors for species richness, abundance, and diversity of macroinvertebrates and trematodes across bioregions. Gracilaria vermiculophylla biomass was used as an offset in free-living analyses. Across all our US east coast sites, we detected 10,113 free-living (mobile) macroinvertebrates across 39 taxa. Three Gammaridean amphipods (Gammarus mucronatus, Ampithoe longimana, and Gammarus lawrencianus) comprised >50% of all detected organisms. We found biogeographic region to be a key predictor of macroinvertebrate abundance and richness. Trematode prevalence and richness were best explained by G. vermiculophylla biomass, while biogeographic region best explained diversity. As a widespread invader, our study provides evidence for associations that have formed as this foundation species has become established outside its native range. Over time, the presence and spread of G. vermiculophylla could continue to impact macroinvertebrate structure and diversity, and future work should directly compare macroinvertebrate communities with G. vermiculophylla to other foundation species along coastlines it is now common
Movement patterns and habitat use within the home range of the Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans) prior to hibernation
No full textUnderstanding the movement patterns and home range of a species is essential for developing effective conservation strategies. However, research on these aspects in the Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans) in South Korea remains limited, highlighting the need for further study. This study used radiotelemetry to examine the movement patterns and home range characteristics of B. gargarizans, aiming to enhance ecological understanding and inform conservation efforts. Our findings revealed that immobility (0 m) was the most frequently observed behavior among individuals. Excluding instances of immobility, individuals’ movement ability was 32.1 ± 51.0 m (N = 131, range: 0.1–360.9 m). Home range size, estimated using the minimum convex polygon (MCP) method, was 2,484.0 ± 4,461.0 m² (N = 24, range: 40.7–20,644.9 m²), representing the general movement area of B. gargarizans. The kernel density estimation (KDE) method estimates 55,004.9 ± 113,702.5 m² (N = 24, range: 425.9–491,232.2 m²), representing the potential buffer zone within which B. gargarizans may move. Regardless of the analysis method or sex, over 50% of habitats consisted of grass, while approximately 20% was used areas. Although no significant differences in movement patterns or home range size were observed between sexes, males were primarily distributed at lower altitudes near breeding sites, whereas females were distributed at higher altitudes around valley areas. These findings provide crucial baseline data for the conservation and management of B. gargarizans populations in South Korea
Informing implementation of Nature-based Solutions in marine and coastal environments: the MaCoBioS Blue NBS Toolbox
No full textInterconnected societal challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and food security demand immediate and coordinated action across local to global scales, guided by coherent policies and management mechanisms. Reflecting on the critical need to address societal challenges, Nature-based Solutions in marine and coastal environments, known as blue NBS, have emerged as an important part of the response strategy. Blue NBS integrate actions to protect and restore marine and coastal ecosystems while managing human impacts, embedding nature and people into decision-making through multifaceted approaches. However, blue NBS implementation trails terrestrial NBS. To effectively inform blue NBS implementation, research must produce actionable science that is relevant, timely and usable, requiring collaboration and active knowledge exchange across the science-policy-practitioner interface. Working with stakeholders, we developed the MaCoBioS Blue NBS Toolbox to begin addressing some of the barriers facing blue NBS implementation. Containing a collection of multi-disciplinary, scientifically-grounded and stakeholder-informed tools and products, the toolbox guides practitioners through different stages of blue NBS implementation. This toolbox provides an important initial set of resources to support the design and implementation of effective blue NBS and pave the way for further collaborative work to operationalise these tools in different social-ecological contexts
Socio-economic and Demographic Factors of Excess Mortality Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic in Regions of Russia
No full textThis paper examines the factors associated with excess mortality in Russian regions during the coronavirus pandemic, analyzing them separately for different waves of the pandemic. The study utilizes data from 85 Russian regions on excess mortality – calculated as the number of deaths in each month exceeding the expected number based on the trend of the previous four years – along with socio-economic characteristics (income, unemployment, inequality, migration), vaccination rates, healthcare system characteristics, and the self-isolation index. The analyzed period spans from April 2020 to February 2022. Based on these data, panel regressions with fixed effects and OLS models of accumulated mortality were constructed separately for the second wave (September 2020 – February 2021) and the third wave (July 2021 – February 2022) of the pandemic. The key findings indicate that in both the second and third waves, there was a positive relationship between excess mortality and average per capita income. Only in the second wave was a positive relationship observed between excess mortality and the level of self-isolation, the number of doctors per capita, and migration, while a negative relationship was found with unemployment. In contrast, only in the third wave was there a negative relationship between excess mortality and vaccination rates, migration, unemployment, and the number of hospital beds per capita
Evaluation of lime treatment in reducing tannin content and enhancing nutrient utilization of mangrove fruits (Sonneratia alba) as an animal feed ingredient
No full textThe use of lime water is thought to be able to increase the nutritional value of feed by reducing the tannin content. This study examined the effects of soaking with lime water (calcium hydroxide) on the nutritional quality of mangrove fruits (Sonneratia alba) as a ruminant feed ingredient. A factorial experimental design was employed, with mangrove fruits treated with various concentrations of lime water solution (1%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) and soaked for different durations (10, 20, and 30 minutes). The study measured several parameters, including proximate composition, fiber fraction, tannin content, nutrient digestibility, and rumen fermentation characteristics. The results showed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in tannin content with lime water treatment (5%), which demonstrated the most striking effect in enhancing feed quality metrics. Lime water soaking did not alter the pH of the rumen fluid. There was a significantly higher digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein in feeds treated with 5% lime water (P < 0.05), which was consistent with the higher VFA and NH3 levels (P < 0.05), showing enhanced microbial fermentation. Also, the feed treated with 5% lime water had significantly higher (P < 0.05) digestible NDF, ADF, cellulose, and hemicellulose characteristics compared to the others. Treatment with 20 minutes of soaking time showed that the digestibility of feed ingredients and rumen fermentation was more optimal than 30 minutes of soaking time. However, the 30 minutes of soaking time treatment reduced methane gas production the most. Thus, the best treatment is 5% lime water and 20 minutes of soaking time. This study proves that carbonation as a cheap technological solution can convert mangrove fruit into a high-value material for livestock in an affordable and environmentally friendly
Amphibian and reptile dataset across different land-use types in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa
No full textWest Africa is exceptionally biodiverse, yet its wildlife remains largely understudied despite the rapid and ongoing land-use changes. Large swaths of Guinea-Bissau’s landscape were historically characterised by native forest-savannah mosaics. However, key areas of savannah habitats have been converted to rice agroecosystems and forests are being transformed into cashew monocultures at unprecedented rates. Amphibians and reptiles comprise some of the most threatened species by human-induced habitat change and yet are not as studied as other vertebrate terrestrial taxa. Here, we provide two comprehensive datasets on amphibians and reptiles (classes Testudines and Squamata) from northern Guinea-Bissau: (1) a standardised survey dataset (encompassing sampling events and occurrences) in forest fragments, cashew orchards and rice paddies and (2) an opportunistic dataset reporting occurrences across the entire study area. Standardised surveys were carried across 21 sampling sites, seven in each habitat type, while opportunistic surveys include all other records. For standardised surveys, a total of 703 amphibian and 265 reptile (class Squamata) encounters are reported, corresponding to nine and 13 taxa, respectively. Opportunistically, we report 62 amphibian and 93 reptile encounters, corresponding to 10 amphibian taxa, 25 Squamata taxa and two turtles (class Testudines).Based on 126 sampling hours of both diurnal and nocturnal standardised surveys, in addition to opportunistic surveys, these datasets comprise the first overview for amphibians and reptiles in mainland Guinea-Bissau across two seasons and different habitat types. Each of the 968 standardised and 155 opportunistic occurrences corresponds to a genus or species and is accompanied by geographic coordinates, a timestamp and, for standardised data, the land-use type. The datasets fill the distribution gaps in Guinea-Bissau of at least three species, including the frog Hildebrandtia ornata, the skink Trachylepis keroanensis and the snake Dendroaspis polylepis – and include the re-discovery of the lizard Latastia ornata in Guinea-Bissau. Before this work, the L. ornata was only known from the 1938 holotype in Bafatá (ca. 60 km away from the study area) and, in 2023, from Guinea-Conakry (ca. 700 km away from the type specimen location)
Prunus zhuxiensis (Rosaceae), a new species from Hubei, China
No full textIn the present paper, we describe a new species, Prunus zhuxiensis (P. subg. Cerasus), from Hubei, China, based on long-term field observations. This species closely resembles P. serrulata in having corymbose-racemose or subumbellate inflorescences, hairy petiole, pedicel, involucral bracts and black drupes. However, P. zhuxiensis differs distinctly from P. serrulata by its sweet edible drupes (versus bitter, inedible drupes in P. serrulata), stipules 4-lobed at the base (versus linear stipules in P. serrulata), smaller bracts, shorter pedicels and styles pilose at the base (versus glabrous styles in P. serrulata). Furthermore, molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that P. zhuxiensis and P. serrulata are placed in separate clades, supporting their distinction
Evaluating award-winning doctoral theses to reveal PhD research landscape: A case study of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade
No full textBackground: Doctoral programmes are an important pillar of medical education, and although many universities award the best theses, the criteria for selection of awardees and the topics of their doctoral theses are seldom analysed.Objectives: To analyse the landscape of doctoral research through assessing the temporal trends in the criteria related to recognising the best theses.Methods: A total of 55 award-winning doctoral theses, from those submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, over 7 years (2016–2022), were examined, focusing on the number of awardees, publications based on the theses, research subfields, and keywords.Results: The awardees comprised 36 women (65%) and 19 men (35%). The number of award-winning theses per year in clinical medicine and public health increased over the years (P .05). The subfields that accounted for at least 5 of the publi-cations were molecular medicine (13 publications) among the basic or translational fields, cardiology (5) among clinical medicine, and epidemiology (7) among public health. Mapping the co-occurrence of keywords from all the dissertations identified some research hotspots, which included cancer, oxidative stress, Parkinsonism, risk factors, genetic polymorphisms, and biomarkers.Conclusion: The increasing number of award-winning theses reflects the rising quality of doctoral research and the growing motivation of candidates to choose indexed journals as outlets for papers based on the theses. This approach can serve as a basis for strategic evaluation of the practices for evaluating PhD theses and for identifying strong and weak spots in the research landscape of medical schools to guide future doctoral research and the competitiveness of doctoral programmes