New perspectives, additions, and amendments to plant endemism in a North African flora.

BACKGROUND: Endemism is essential in biodiversity, biogeography, and conservation tasks. Based on herbarium specimens kept in some local herbaria, many published literature, and available information, we compiled a comprehensive list and an updated assessment of the Egyptian endemic and near-endemic taxa. The application of quantitative approaches to the distribution patterns, conservation status, and habitat preference of endemic taxa in Egypt was provided. Comparisons of the near-endemic taxa with other neighbouring flora were explained. For each taxon, the distribution patterns, most preferable habitat, biological spectrum, and taxa among 14 phytogeographical regions (Operational Geographical Units; OGUs) of Egypt were determined. RESULTS: In this study, 19 endemics (out of 70) and 76 near-endemics (out of 181) are newly added taxa. Differentiation indices represented the taxonomic degrees of differentiation among endemic taxa. Two different indices were used to assess endemism: single-region endemic taxa (SRET) and multiple-region endemic taxa (MRET). Most endemic and near-endemic taxa were recorded from the mountainous Sinai (S) and the Mareotis sector of the Mediterranean coastal land (Mm). Generally, the most represented families in endemic and near-endemic areas were Asteraceae, Caryophyllaceae, Lamiaceae, and Fabaceae. More than 60% of the endemic taxa occurred in the sandy plains, wadis (desert valleys), and rocky plains and mountains. Applying hierarchical cluster analysis to the occurrences of 70 endemic taxa in the 14 studied OGUs revealed five main floristic groups (I-V), each characterized by certain OGUs. We provided eight groups of near-endemic taxa that represented their extension in neighbouring countries. CONCLUSIONS: The presented data will help to fill the gap in our knowledge of endemism, provide baseline information to understand biogeographical processes and facilitate further cooperation toward conservation purposes.

Space-use strategy drives fine-scale spatial variation of chlorinated paraffins in indo-pacific humpback dolphins.

Contaminant accumulation in organisms can be influenced by both biological traits and environmental conditions. However, delineating the main factors affecting contaminant burdens in organisms remains challenging. Here, we conducted an initial investigation into the impact of diet and habitat on the accumulation of short- (SCCPs) and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (2003-2020, n = 128) from the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), a highly polluted estuary in China. The detected levels of SCCPs (5897 ± 3480 ng g-1 lw) and MCCPs (13,960 ± 8285 ng g-1 lw) in blubber samples of humpback dolphin are the highest among recorded values marine mammals. Both SCCPs and MCCPs exhibited biomagnification factor values exceeding 1, suggesting their biomagnification potential within the dolphins and their diet. Quantitative diet analysis using the dolphin fatty acid signatures revealed that humpback dolphins inhabiting the western PRE consumed a larger proportion of carnivorous fish than those from the eastern PRE. However, spatial analysis showed that humpback dolphins in the western PRE contained lower SCCP/MCCP concentrations than those from the eastern PRE. Based on these findings we suggest that, compared to diet differences, spatial variations of SCCPs/MCCPs in humpback dolphins may be predominantly influenced by their space-use strategies, as the eastern PRE is closer to the pollutant discharge source and transfer routes.

A new species of the genus Luciogobius Gill, 1859 (Teleostei, Oxudercidae) from Taiwan.

A new species, Luciogobiusopisthoproctus sp. nov., is described based on 18 specimens collected from Daxi Creek (Yilan) and Babian Creek (Taitung) in Taiwan. The new species is characterized by having a yellowish body with scattered spots on the sides, a black blotch on the caudal fin, the absence of free pectoral-fin rays, and more than 40 vertebrae. The new species can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: AAA distance (anus to anal-fin origin) shorter than twice the body depth at anus, 4.2-7.2% of standard length (SL); pre-anus length 80.0-92.8% of pre-anal-fin length; snout length 39.7-62.7% of AAA distance; abdominal vertebrae 20-22; caudal vertebrae 20-22; first anal-fin pterygiophore usually inserted behind the second haemal spine.

Assessing the global distribution and risk of harmful microalgae: A focus on three toxic Alexandrium dinoflagellates.

Harmful dinoflagellates and their resulting blooms pose a threat to marine life and human health. However, to date, global maps of marine life often overlook harmful microorganisms. As harmful algal blooms (HABs) increase in frequency, severity, and extent, understanding the distribution of harmful dinoflagellates and their drivers is crucial for their management. We used MaxEnt, random forest, and ensemble models to map the habitats of the representative HABs species in the genus Alexandrium, including A. catenella, A. minutum, and A. pacificum. Since species occurrence records used in previous studies were solely morphology-based, potentially leading to misidentifications, we corrected these species' distribution records using molecular criteria. The results showed that the key environmental drivers included the distance to the coastline, bathymetry, sea surface temperature (SST), and dissolved oxygen. Alexandrium catenella thrives in temperate to cold zones and is driven by low SST and high oxygen levels. Alexandrium pacificum mainly inhabits the Temperate Northern Pacific and prefers warmer SST and lower oxygen levels. Alexandrium minutum thrives universally and adapts widely to SST and oxygen. By analyzing the habitat suitability of locations with recorded HAB occurrences, we found that high habitat suitability could serve as a reference indicator for bloom risk. Therefore, we have proposed a qualitative method to spatially assess the harmful algae risk according to the habitat suitability. On the global risk map, coastal temperate seas, such as the Mediterranean, Northwest Pacific, and Southern Australia, faced higher risks. Although HABs currently have restricted geographic distributions, our study found these harmful algae possess high environmental tolerance and can thrive across diverse habitats. HAB impacts could increase if climate changes or ocean conditions became more favorable. Marine transportation may also spread the harmful algae to new unaffected ecosystems. This study has pioneered the assessment of harmful algal risk based on habitat suitability.

Habitat degradation changes and disturbance factors in the Tibetan plateau in the 21st century.

Land use changes driven by human activities significantly impact biodiversity in plateau regions. However, current research is largely confined to identifying correlations between various factors and both habitat quality and degradation, overlooking the nonlinear relationships between them. To address this gap, we applied the PLUS-INVEST model to investigate the spatial effects of land-use changes on habitat quality and degradation patterns across the Tibetan Plateau during the 21st century. By employing a geographic detector, we determined the contribution rates of disturbance factors to habitat quality and degradation, and established constraint lines and threshold ranges between these factors. The findings reveal that: (1) The PLUS model demonstrates an exceptional performance in land-use simulation, with an overall accuracy of 0.8465. (2) The high-quality habitat area exhibits a declining trend, while the habitat degradation index steadily rises from 2000 to 2100, indicating a significant loss of biodiversity within the region. Habitat quality displays a spatial distribution pattern characterized by higher values in the south and lower values in the north, with areas in proximity to road threat sources experiencing more pronounced habitat degradation. (3) NDVI emerges as the most influential factor in promoting habitat quality, while the interaction of NDVI_Temperature exerts the greatest influence on spatial heterogeneity. The distance to resident emerges as the primary disturbance factor contributing to habitat degradation, with the interaction strength of GI_Resident being the most significant contributor. (4) Threshold intervals for ANPP, NDVI, precipitation, temperature, and distance to resident of optimal habitat quality and most severe degradation. This provides a novel scientific approach for designating areas for targeted conservation and intensive management restoration.

The Impact of Wildflower Habitat on Insect Functional Group Abundance in Turfgrass Systems.

Urbanization is rapidly influencing the abundance and diversity of arthropods. Within urban systems, managed turfgrass is a prominent land cover which can support only a limited number of arthropod groups. To allow for more arthropod biodiversity and to support beneficial insects within turfgrass, increasing numbers of land managers are choosing to partially convert turf habitat to wildflower habitat using commercially available seed mixes. However, the population dynamics of arthropod groups in these systems are poorly known, with consequentially little information on best long-term practices for managing wildflower habitats in turfgrass systems. To address this gap, we sampled insects using pan traps in turfgrass systems pre- and post-implementation of wildflower habitats and examined the change in abundance of several insect families and functional guilds. Insect groups had variable responses to wildflower habitat implementation, with some groups such as sweat bees and skipper butterflies showing a decline two years post-implementation. Other groups, such as predatory flies, were relatively more abundant one and two years post-implementation. These variable responses point to the need for more research on the long-term effects of wildflower habitats on beneficial insects in turfgrass habitats.

Spatio-Temporal Influence on the Distribution of Forensically Relevant Blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.

The study of blowfly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) biodiversity and distribution is crucial for forensic investigations. Abiotic and biotic factors, such as season and habitat type, have a significant impact on blowfly populations. However, only a few forensic entomology studies have been conducted in South Korea, particularly in the Gyeongsangnam-do region. To address this, an extensive year-long survey was conducted to analyze the compositions, habitat preferences, distribution, and seasonal abundance of forensically relevant blowflies in urban and forested habitats of Gyeongsangnam-do, with sampling conducted twice a month using mouse carcass-baited traps set for 48 h each time. A total of 3470 adult blowflies were recorded, encompassing five genera and 13 species, with a noted absence of specimens during the winter months. The predominant species was Lucilia porphyrina, accounting for 37.2% of the total sample, followed by Chrysomya pinguis (27.6%), Lucilia sericata (7.6%), and Lucilia illustris (7.1%). The species composition was consistent across all surveyed regions; however, seasonal variation in species diversity was evident, with a peak in spring and a decline in summer. Notably, certain species exhibited clear preferences for either urban (Calliphora calliphoroides and L. sericata) or forested habitats (L. porphyrina and Ch. pinguis). This pioneering study elucidates the diverse blowfly communities in Gyeongsangnam-do, highlighting significant seasonal and habitat-dependent variations. These findings enrich our understanding of blowfly ecology in this region, offering valuable insights for forensic applications and underscoring the necessity for ongoing entomological surveillance and research.

Complex and highly saturated soundscapes in restored oak woodlands reflect avian richness and abundance.

Temperate woodlands are biodiverse natural communities threatened by land use change and fire suppression. Excluding historic disturbance regimes of periodic groundfires from woodlands causes degradation, resulting from changes in the plant community and subsequent biodiversity loss. Restoration, through prescribed fire and tree thinning, can reverse biodiversity losses, however, because the diversity of woodland species spans many taxa, efficiently quantifying biodiversity can be challenging. We assessed whether soundscapes in an eastern North American woodland reflect biodiversity changes during restoration measured in a concurrent multitrophic field study. In five restored and five degraded woodland sites in Wisconsin, USA, we sampled vegetation, measured arthropod biomass, conducted bird surveys, and recorded soundscapes for five days of every 15-day period from May to August 2022. We calculated two complementary acoustic indices: Soundscape Saturation, which focuses on all acoustically active species, and Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI), which was developed to study vocalizing birds. We used generalized additive models to predict both indices based on Julian date, time of day, and level of habitat degradation. We found that restored woodlands had higher arthropod biomass, and higher richness and abundance of breeding birds. Additionally, soundscapes in restored sites had higher mean Soundscape Saturation and higher mean ACI. Restored woodland acoustic indices exhibited greater magnitudes of daily and seasonal peaks. We conclude that woodland restoration results in higher soundscape saturation and complexity, due to greater richness and abundance of vocalizing animals. This bioacoustic signature of restoration offers a promising monitoring tool for efficiently documenting differences in woodland biodiversity.

Accounting for imperfect detection when estimating species-area relationships and beta-diversity.

Ecologists have historically quantified fundamental biodiversity patterns, including species-area relationships (SARs) and beta diversity, using observed species counts. However, imperfect detection may often bias derived community metrics and subsequent community models. Although several statistical methods claim to correct for imperfect detection, their performance in species-area and ß-diversity research remains unproven. We examine inaccuracies in the estimation of SARs and ß-diversity parameters that emerge from imperfect detection, and whether such errors can be mitigated using a non-parametric diversity estimator (iNEXT.3D) and Multi-Species Occupancy Models (MSOMs). We simulated 28,350 sampling regimes of 2835 fragmented communities, varying the mean and standard deviation of species detection probabilities, and the number of sampling repetitions. We then quantified the bias, accuracy, and precision of derived estimates of model coefficients for SARs and the effects of patch area on ß-diversity (pairwise Sørensen similarity). Imperfect detection biased estimates of all evaluated parameters, particularly when mean detection probabilities were low, and there were few sampling repetitions. Observed counts consistently underestimated species richness and SAR z-values, and overestimated SAR c-values; iNEXT.3D and MSOMs only partially resolved these biases. iNEXT.3D provided the best estimates of SAR z-values, although MSOM estimates were generally comparable. All three methods accurately estimated pairwise Sørensen similarity in most circumstances, but only MSOMs provided unbiased estimates of the coefficients of models examining covariate effects on ß-diversity. Even when using iNEXT.3D or MSOMs, imperfect detection consistently caused biases in SAR coefficient estimates, calling into question the robustness of previous SAR studies. Furthermore, the inability of observed counts and iNEXT.3D to estimate ß-diversity model coefficients resulted from a systematic, area-related bias in Sørensen similarity estimates. Importantly, MSOMs corrected for these biases in ß-diversity assessments, even in suboptimal scenarios. Nonetheless, as estimator performance consistently improved with increasing sampling repetitions, the importance of appropriate sampling effort cannot be understated.

Diets of white-headed langurs (Trachypithecus leucocephalus) inhabiting limestone forests: The effects of habitat fragmentation and implication for conservation.

Information about wildlife diets is crucial for comprehending how species adapt to varying environments in fragmented habitats and for developing effective conservation strategies. White-headed langurs (Trachypithecus leucocephalus) are exclusively found in fragmented limestone forests in southwestern China. To investigate the effects of habitat fragmentation on langurs' diets, we collected published dietary data and relevant environmental factors spanning from 1996 to 2021 at two regions with different degrees of fragmentation (Banli > Bapen), from 10 studies (three of Banli and seven of Bapen). The results demonstrated that the diets of white-headed langurs were significantly influenced by environmental factors, including habitat fragmentation, annual rainfall, and mean annual temperature. Food item diversity index was significantly and positively affected by the fragmentation index, the higher fragmentation the langurs suffered, the more diverse food items they consumed. Besides, fruit consumption was negatively influenced by annual rainfall and the consumption of other items was influenced by mean annual temperature. Notably, although there are no significant differences in the feeding proportions of food items or food item diversity indices were observed between the Banli and Bapen groups, the Banli groups extensively consumed ground-supported kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata), a plant rarely recorded in the dietary preferences of the Bapen groups, implying that the large plants likely lacking in the fragmented limestone forests. Our findings provide evidence of the major impact of habitat fragmentation on the dietary composition of white-headed langurs, highlighting the need of considering the possibility that the habitats of the white-headed langurs have all undergone extreme fragmentation, inferring the conservation efforts should prioritize protecting native vegetation and reducing human disturbance.

Competition and drought affect cleistogamy in a non-additive way in the annual ruderal Lamium amplexicaule.

Competition affects mixed-mating strategies by limiting available abiotic or biotic resources such as nutrients, water, space, or pollinators. Cleistogamous species produce closed (cleistogamous, CL), obligately selfed, simultaneously with open (chasmogamous, CH), potentially outcrossed flowers. The effects of intraspecific competition on fitness and cleistogamy variation can range from limiting the production of costly CH flowers because of resource limitation, to favouring CH production because of fitness advantages of outcrossed, CH offspring. Moreover, the effects of competition can be altered when it co-occurs with other environmental variations. We grew plants from seven populations of the ruderal Lamium amplexicaule, originating from different climates and habitats, in a common garden experiment combining drought, interspecific competition, and seasonal variation. All these parameters have been shown to influence the degree of cleistogamy in the species on their own. In spring, competition and drought negatively impacted fitness, but the CL proportion only increased when plants were exposed to both treatments combined. We did not observe the same results in autumn, which can be due to non-adaptive phenotypic variation, or to differences in soil compactness between seasons. The observed responses are largely due to phenotypic plasticity, but we also observed phenotypic differentiation between populations for morphological, phenological, and cleistogamy traits, pointing to the existence of different ecotypes. Our data do not support the hypothesis that CL proportion should decrease when resources are scarce, as plants with reduced growth had relatively low CL proportions. We propose that variation in cleistogamy could be an adaptation to pollinator abundance, or to environment-dependent fitness differences between offspring of selfed and outcrossed seeds, two hypotheses worth further investigation. This opens exciting new possibilities for the study of the maintenance of mixed-mating systems using cleistogamous species as models that combine the effects of inbreeding and reproductive costs.

Zygoptera / Anisoptera (Insecta: Odonata) ratio as a tool to assess anthropogenic changes in Brazilian Cerrado streams.

Aquatic ecosystems are among the most affected by anthropogenic impacts, and the rapid detection and measurement of these impacts are of great importance for the maintenance of such environments. The order of aquatic insects Odonata has emerged as an important bioindicator of environmental quality due to its sensitivity to environmental changes and its ecophysiological requirements, which make them closely associated with habitat conditions. The aim of this study was to test whether the Zygoptera/Anisoptera ratio can be used as an effective tool to assess anthropogenic changes in Cerrado streams. Our hypothesis is that the proportion of Zygoptera/Anisoptera is an efficient tool for measuring environmental alterations in Cerrado streams, with a positive relationship between habitat integrity and the proportion of Zygoptera and an inverse relationship with the proportion of Anisoptera. Adults were collected in 44 streams of the Cerrado Biome in the eastern Maranhão state. The Habitat Integrity Index (HII) was used to verify the environmental gradient. Our hypothesis was corroborated, with a positive relationship between the richness and abundance of Zygoptera and HII, while an inverse relationship was observed for Anisoptera. According to our results, streams exhibiting a Zygoptera abundance of 68% or higher and richness of 58% or higher can be classified as preserved, while those showing an Anisoptera abundance and richness surpassing 31% and 41%, respectively, may be deemed altered. The patterns detected in the Cerrado were similar to those found in studies of the Amazon Biome and the Atlantic Forest, confirming the effectiveness of this method even for naturally open environments, such as the Cerrado. We conclude, therefore, that this method can be used as a tool to generate rapid results in monitoring studies, with low cost and easy application, enabling the development of mitigation, control, and conservation measures for extremely threatened environments such as those found in the Cerrado Biome.

Global climate change-driven impacts on the Asian distribution of Limassolla leafhoppers, with implications for biological and environmental conservation.

Knowing the impacts of global climate change on the habitat suitability distribution of Limassolla leafhoppers contributes to understanding the feedback of organisms on climate change from a macroecological perspective, and provides important scientific basis for protecting the ecological environment and biodiversity. However, there is limited knowledge on this aspect. Thus, our study aimed to address this gap by analyzing Asian habitat suitability and centroid shifts of Limassolla based on 19 bioclimatic variables and occurrence records. Selecting five ecological niche models with the outstanding predictive performance (Maxlike, generalized linear model, generalized additive model, random forest, and maximum entropy) along with their ensemble model from 12 models, the current habitat suitability of Limassolla and its future habitat suitability under two Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5) in the 2050s and 2090s were predicted. The results showed that the prediction results of the five models are generally consistent. Based on ensemble model, 11 potential biodiversity hotspots with high suitability were identified. With climate change, the suitable range of Limassolla will experience both expansion and contraction. In SSP5-8.52050s, the expansion area is 118.56 × 104 km2, while the contraction area is 25.40 × 104 km2; in SSP1-2.62090s, the expansion area is 91.71 × 104 km2, and the contraction area is 26.54 × 104 km2. Furthermore, the distribution core of Limassolla will shift toward higher latitudes in the northeast direction, and the precipitation of warmest quarter was found to have the greatest impact on the distribution of Limassolla. Our research results supported our four hypotheses. Finally, this research suggests establishing ecological reserves in identified contraction to prevent habitat loss, enhancing the protection of biodiversity hotspots, and pursuing a sustainable development path with reduced emissions.

Harmful Ostreopsis cf. ovata blooms could extend in time span with climate change in the Western Mediterranean Sea.

Fast environmental changes and high coastal human pressures and impacts threaten the Mediterranean Sea. Over the last decade, recurrent blooms of the harmful dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata have been recorded in many Mediterranean beaches. These microalgae produce toxins that affect marine organisms and human health. Understanding the environmental conditions that influence the appearance and magnitude of O. cf. ovata blooms, as well as how climate change will modify its future distribution and dynamics, is crucial for predicting and managing their effects. This study investigates whether the spatio-temporal distribution of this microalga and the frequency of its blooms could be altered in future climate change scenarios in the Mediterranean Western basin. For the first time, an ecological habitat model (EHM) is forced by physico-chemical climate change simulations at high-resolution, under the strong greenhouse gas emission trajectory (RCP8.5). It allows to characterize how O. cf. ovata may respond to projected conditions and how its distribution could shift over a wide spatial scale, in this plausible future. Before being applied to the EHM, future climate simulations are further refined by using a statistical adaptation method (Cumulative Distribution Function transform) to improve the predictions robustness. Temperature (optimum 23-26 °C), high salinity (>38 psu) and high inorganic nutrient concentrations (nitrate >0.25 mmol N·m-3 and phosphate >0.035 mmol P·m-3) drive O. cf. ovata abundances. High spatial disparities in future abundances are observed. Namely, O. cf. ovata abundances could increase on the Mediterranean coasts of France, Spain and the Adriatic Sea while a decrease is expected in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The bloom period could be extended, starting earlier and continuing later in the year. From a methodological point of view, this study highlights best practices of EHMs in the context of climate change to identify sensitive areas for current and future harmful algal blooms.

Habitat Suitability in High Andean Butterflies: The Role of Land Cover in the Occurrence and Conservation of Species.

High Andean butterflies in northern South America are subject to landscape change processes. Our study used models to assess the habitat suitability of three Satyrinae species in the Upper Bogotá River Basin, Colombia. These three species include Pedaliodes polla (Thieme), Pedaliodes phaea (Hewitson), and Pedaliodes phaeina (Staudinger), the last two are endemic to Colombia. We used MaxEnt software to assess the habitat quality of these species, analyze the bioclimatic requirements that most influence them, and propose priority conservation areas. Our results indicated that, in most cases, the contribution of cover is more significant than 60%, so this variable determines the habitat capacity to support the species under study. We identified that the areas with suitable habitats are reduced with values less than or equal to 25% and are located in areas with a medium degree of intervention, which allows the species to occur. On the other hand, the climatic variables with the most significant contribution to the models were Temperature Seasonality and Precipitation of Driest Quarter (May-July). Conservation efforts must be focused on the most suitable areas, given the reduction in habitat for these species. Our research emphasizes the need to safeguard well-connected remnants of the high Andean forest and natural cover in agricultural matrices to counter the impact of agricultural expansion.

Variation in ecological scorecards and their potential for wider use.

Ecological monitoring is a vital tool to help us assess habitat condition and understand the mechanism(s) for habitat change. Yet many countries struggle to meet their monitoring requirements in part due to the high assessment workload. Rapid ecological assessment methods may have an important role to play in this regard. Following their success within several European habitats (e.g., semi-natural grasslands), they are now being developed for additional habitats such as heathlands, peatlands, and other agri-associated areas. Whilst some rapid assessments using ecological scorecards have been shown to be accurate compared to traditional ecological monitoring, less is known about the functionality of these scorecards in heterogenous landscapes. In this study, we selected four existing scorecards to test alongside a prototype. We assessed how these different scorecards measured habitat condition on the same heathland sites. We found that the choice of metrics, their score weighting, and the thresholds used for categorical scores cause scorecards to assess the same site with substantial variation (37%). Vegetation metrics were the primary cause of score variation, with vegetation structure and positive indicator species being the leading causes. Our study indicates that whilst current scorecards may be representative of project-specific goals, they may not be suitable for wider monitoring uses in their current form. Ecological scorecards have great potential to drastically increase the extent of monitoring, but caution is needed before adapting existing scorecards beyond the purposes from which they were designed.

Zoonotic pathogens in wild Asian primates: a systematic review highlighting research gaps.

Introduction: Ongoing global changes, including natural land conversion for agriculture and urbanization, modify the dynamics of human-primate contacts, resulting in increased zoonotic risks. Although Asia shelters high primate diversity and experiences rapid expansion of human-primate contact zones, there remains little documentation regarding zoonotic surveillance in the primates of this region. Methods: Using the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review to compile an inventory of zoonotic pathogens detected in wild Asian primates, while highlighting the coverage of primate species, countries, and pathogen groups surveyed, as well as the diagnostic methods used across the studies. Moreover, we compared the species richness of pathogens harbored by primates across diverse types of habitats classified according to their degree of anthropization (i.e., urban vs. rural vs. forest habitats). Results and discussion: Searches of Scopus, PubMed, and the Global Mammal Parasite Database yielded 152 articles on 39 primate species. We inventoried 183 pathogens, including 63 helminthic gastrointestinal parasites, two blood-borne parasites, 42 protozoa, 45 viruses, 30 bacteria, and one fungus. Considering each study as a sample, species accumulation curves revealed no significant differences in specific richness between habitat types for any of the pathogen groups analyzed. This is likely due to the insufficient sampling effort (i.e., a limited number of studies), which prevents drawing conclusive findings. This systematic review identified several publication biases, particularly the uneven representation of host species and pathogen groups studied, as well as a lack of use of generic diagnostic methods. Addressing these gaps necessitates a multidisciplinary strategy framed in a One Health approach, which may facilitate a broader inventory of pathogens and ultimately limit the risk of cross-species transmission at the human-primate interface. Strengthening the zoonotic surveillance in primates of this region could be realized notably through the application of more comprehensive diagnostic techniques such as broad-spectrum analyses without a priori selection.

Projecting the impact of climate change on honey bee plant habitat distribution in Northern Ethiopia.

Climate change significantly affects the diversity, growth, and survival of indigenous plant species thereby influencing the nutrition, health and productivity of honey bees (Apis mellifera). Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) is one of the major honey bee plant species in Ethiopia's Tigray region. It is rich in pollen and nectar that typically provides white honey, which fetches a premium price in both local and inter-national markets. Despite its socio-economic and apicultural significance, the distribution of H. forskaolii has been declining, raising concerns regarding its conservation efforts. However, there is limited knowledge on how environmental and climatic factors affect its current distribution and response to future climate change. The study investigates the current and projected (the 2030s, 2050s, 2070s, and 2090s) habitat distributions of H. forskaolii under three future climate change scenarios (ssp126, ssp245, and ssp585) using the Maximum Entropy Model (MaxEnt). The results show that land use (50.1%), agro-ecology (28%), precipitation during the Driest Quarter (11.2%) and soil texture (6.1%) predominantly influence the distribution of H. forskaolii, collectively explaining 95.4% of the model's predictive power. Habitats rich in evergreen trees and mosaic herbaceous with good vegetation cover are identified as the most suitable for H. forskaolii. The spatial distribution of H. forskaolii is concentrated in the highlands and mid-highlands of the eastern and southern parts of Tigray, characterized by a colder temperature. Across the three climate change scenarios, the size of suitable habitat for H. forskaolii is projected to decrease over the four time periods studied. Predictions under the ssp585 scenario reveal alarming results, indicating a substantial decrease in the suitable habitat for H. forskaolii from 4.26% in the 2030s to 19.09% in the 2090s. Therefore, given the challenges posed by climate change, research efforts should focus on identifying and evaluating new technologies that can help the H. forskaolii species in adapting and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Ecological drivers of nesting behavior in a subtropical city: An observational study on spotted doves.

Due to rapid homogenization in habitat types as a result of urbanization, some urban birds adapt their nesting strategies to changes in local habitat characteristics. Bird nesting decisions might have been mainly linked to resource constraints and ensuring reproductive success. In this study, we examined patterns of nesting behavior by spotted doves (Spilopelia chinensis) in a rapidly urbanizing area of Nanchang, China using ArcGIS 10.8, satellite tracking, camera traps, and field survey. To explore the mechanisms underlying nesting behavior in urban habitats, we assessed the correlations between nest reuse and reproductive success, and between nest reuse and nest predation. From December 2018 to December 2021, a total of 302 breeding nests were surveyed. The results revealed that the nest reuse rate was 38.08% (n = 115). Nests closer to trunk, with lower nest position and higher large-scale urbanization score tended to have higher reuse rate. In addition, nests with the higher the nest height and percent of canopy cover, and the lower small-scale urbanization score were more likely to reproduce successfully, and the reused nests also reproduce more successfully. The reproductive success associated with nest reuse was significantly higher than that associated with new nests (χ 2 = 8.461, p = .004). High degree of urbanization promoted nest reuse of spotted doves (large-scale urbanization score, z = 2.094, p = .036), which apparently enhanced their reproductive success (nest reuse, z = 2.737, p = .006). In conclusion, a nest structure with good permeability is the material basis for the nest reuse in spotted dove, while the relatively low risk of predation in urban habitat and the scarcity of nest site resources due to urbanization increase the tendency of birds to reuse old nests, which is associated with their reproductive success and evolutionary fitness.

Assessment of imaging risks for recurrence after stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases (IRRaS-BM).

BACKGROUND: The identification of viable tumors and radiation necrosis after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is crucial for patient management. Tumor habitat analysis involving the grouping of similar voxels can identify subregions that share common biology and enable the depiction of areas of tumor recurrence and treatment-induced change. This study aims to validate an imaging biomarker for tumor recurrence after SRS for brain metastasis by conducting tumor habitat analysis using multi-parametric MRI. METHODS: In this prospective study (NCT05868928), patients with brain metastases will undergo multi-parametric MRI before SRS, and then follow-up MRIs will be conducted every 3 months until 24 months after SRS. The multi-parametric MRI protocol will include T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging. Using k-means voxel-wise clustering, this study will define three structural MRI habitats (enhancing, solid low-enhancing, and nonviable) on T1- and T2-weighted images and three physiologic MRI habitats (hypervascular cellular, hypovascular cellular, and nonviable) on apparent diffusion coefficient maps and cerebral blood volume maps. Using RANO-BM criteria as the reference standard, via Cox proportional hazards analysis, the study will prospectively evaluate associations between parameters of the tumor habitats and the time to recurrence. The DICE similarity coefficients between the recurrence site and tumor habitats will be calculated. DISCUSSION: The tumor habitat analysis will provide an objective and reliable measure for assessing tumor recurrence from brain metastasis following SRS. By identifying subregions for local recurrence, our study could guide the next therapeutic targets for patients after SRS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05868928).